I write a daily blog called One Mind Snapping at tinywhitebox.com. Manchester InkLink is now publishing a weekly piece drawn from these, and I figured you might want to know a bit about me. If not, I won’t be crushed, although I will be surprised. Hurt, even. But not crushed. At the bottom are links … Continue reading For Those of You Joining Us Now . . .
Month: September 2017
A Fairy-Tale Memoir
A memoir in sonnets would be a great thing. While I’ve written sonnets, both Petrarchan and Shakespearean (in form, not talent), 14 lines seems too short to explain a decision to leave a job I loved to live in a tiny white box, much less a marriage, its slow demise and its aftermath. Hell, I … Continue reading A Fairy-Tale Memoir
A Phrase that Will Not Pass My Lips
I’ve got a dirty mouth. I don’t say this with pride exactly, but there’s no shadow of shame either. I wish I could plead an inability to prevent these words from coming out of my face, but I can and have controlled myself. My daughters were young when their mom and I split up, my … Continue reading A Phrase that Will Not Pass My Lips
Doing Time in Waukesha–A Prisoners Story
I’m not a for-real criminal, but I’ve done time. Three bids in fact. If being in a cell can be called a bid and if a total of about five hours in jail cells can be called time. Let me explain. I’ve been locked up three times. In each case, I was guilty, and in … Continue reading Doing Time in Waukesha–A Prisoners Story
If You Don’t Want to Think, Don’t Read This
A few weeks ago, I was a guest on Peter Biello’s public radio show. In this space I talked about how Peter, instead of asking to recommend five books, had asked me for some examples of writing prompts. It turns out the prompts, more than anything I said, were of interest to some folks. Full … Continue reading If You Don’t Want to Think, Don’t Read This
My Political Astrological Reading: An Ominous Force for the Environment!
It’s another eerily beautiful day here in the Great North Woods. Yesterday’s blog post—on my personal responsibility to leave others alone when it comes to their personal responsibility (or, more succinctly, the standing for the national anthem issue)—generated a lot of traffic to tinywhitebox.com (good) and a few fairly negative comments to my email (not … Continue reading My Political Astrological Reading: An Ominous Force for the Environment!
Biscuits from a Baked Brain
Last night: I’m sitting by a quiet riverlet. It’s 7:40 on a Sunday evening. September 24. Three days into fall and it’s dark outside. I’m in Pittsburg, NH, less than 10 miles from the Canadian border. And I’m wearing a freaking t-shirt! Today was 80 degrees!! I haven’t turned on the heater in the Tiny … Continue reading Biscuits from a Baked Brain
A Patriotic Rant with a Twist: A Veteran’s View of the Anthem
I am an American who loves this country. I am a voter who participates in democracy. I am a patriot who served this country. I take my hat off when I enter a building. I stand when I hear our national anthem playing—oddly, I do the same when I hear the anthems of Canada, England … Continue reading A Patriotic Rant with a Twist: A Veteran’s View of the Anthem
Reader Mailbag II–Rewriting and Adoption
Reader Mailbag II I am a horrible correspondent. It’s not that I don’t respond—eventually, I do, and I never know whether it will be with a brief squirt of syllables or a fire hose of verbiage. Here, I will try to briefly answer some questions that have been emailed me by readers (keithhoward@gmail.com). … Continue reading Reader Mailbag II–Rewriting and Adoption
A Shameless Plug for a Smartphone App (that might make my dream come true)
A press conference with the New Hampshire Attorney General. A participant named Howard. Cameras whirring and reporters attentive. I’ve pictured this scene many times, the only change being which crime I’m being charged with. Sometimes, I’ve kept my promise to every employer I’ve ever had: “Everyone’s got a price. Mine is $10,000,000. If I ever … Continue reading A Shameless Plug for a Smartphone App (that might make my dream come true)
