families separated by war–why? why? why? why?

September 30, 2006October 12, 2019 ~ thedifferentdrummer ~ Leave a comment

The Maine National Guard is offering military families life-size cardboard cut-out photos of their loved ones stationed in the Middle East. These cut-outs, know as "Flat Daddies," (or, presumably, mommies) are supposed to help families connect with their loved ones thousands of miles away. According to the article, these cardboard cut-outs are "toted everywhere from soccer practice to coffee shops to weddings."

My first response was to the picture was, "This is creepy." My second response was, "It's not the cardboard cut-out that's creepy."

seasons change and so do i

September 19, 2006October 12, 2019 ~ thedifferentdrummer ~ Leave a comment

The last few days, I've been living in abject denial of the fact that it's getting colder out. I've not been wanting to close my windows or even turn off my fan (though I do have it on "exhaust"), which means I've been waking up the last few mornings feeling very cold.

friday night co-op dinner: jazz improvisation in two parts

September 17, 2006October 12, 2019 ~ thedifferentdrummer ~ 2 Comments

What would move me to put a James Joyce twist on labels for leftovers? Was it inspiration that compelled me to be such a muse of the magic marker and masking tape? Um, I imagine that Joyce must be spinning in his grave.

bonding at the co-op house retreat

September 16, 2006September 8, 2019 ~ thedifferentdrummer ~ 3 Comments

With so many new people, we felt that we needed something that would establish a feeling of community rather quickly, and that’s where we came up with the idea of a retreat. It’s easy to get caught up in one’s own day-to-day life even in a co-op house, but we felt that if we could create a place where people could step away, connect, and openly put out on the table what they hope to get out of their co-op experience, we could have a much stronger community than we otherwise would.

crumbling buildings and delusions–9/11 reconsidered

September 11, 2006October 12, 2019 ~ thedifferentdrummer ~ 2 Comments

I ran into a woman my age who owned the framing gallery across the hall from my office and she said, “Go home, Steve. Go home. It’s getting too creepy here.”

getting lost at the memorial union terrace

September 7, 2006September 8, 2019 ~ thedifferentdrummer ~ 1 Comment

At about the first brat and second beer during my third hour at the Terrace, it dawned on me that I might be spending the rest of the evening there...