My Darling Beloved forbids me from ascending a ladder. Stepstools are borderline. Climbing on anything not built with the intention of helping you reach high places is an absolute no-no. She would much rather pay someone to go on the roof and clean the gutters than have me attempt such a life-threatening maneuver. I have … Continue reading Free falling
A coffee bean’s life ends violently. The ripened coffee cherry is plucked from a tree. Its remains are processed either with a fermented liquid or in the sun. The outer layers of peel and parchment are stripped away, baring its inner bean. That bean is roasted (over roasted if it's sold by Starbucks) and ultimately … Continue reading Special delivery
My apologies if I’ve been showing too much skin this summer. Modesty and professionalism usually prevents me from exposing my ostrich neck, but the recent "heat dome" has helped me lean into the men’s workplace fashion trend away from the necktie. The death of the necktie has been proclaimed for several years, and last year … Continue reading Fewer neckties
It’s only a slight exaggeration when I describe lunch as my favorite seven minutes of the day. After more than 30 years of work, I’m still learning to pad my calendar with time between meetings, and I often find myself squeezing in lunch while responding to emails, drafting content or catching up on breaking news. … Continue reading Method to my leftover madness
New South Essays 