Find yourself in the sea
My course on humor ends today at 5pm. At, oh, say, 5:01pm, I’ll be heading to the beach. And so, a poem from e.e. cummings in celebration of a few days at the sea: "maggie and millie and molly and may" maggie and millie and molly and maywent down to …
Learn in relationship
I love to teach. Even without air conditioning. And when I teach, in addition to learning as much as I’m teaching, I’m always reminded of Parker Palmer’s remarkable book, The Courage to Teach, from which this quote comes: "To teach is to create a space in which the community of …
Record your temperature
Always proud to be involved in something historic, I’m pleased to announce that I am participating – albeit without that grand, modern invention of air conditioning – in record temperatures in Portland, Oregon. I hate to admit it – and I’ll work on changing this unfortunate piece of my personality …
Teach and sleep
Dear Friends, I’m writing from a dorm room in beautiful Portland, Oregon, where I’ll spend the rest of the month, teaching. Since I won’t have the time or available brain cells to write any essays, I think I’ll post something simple each day, perhaps a quote I love and that …
Bust your toast rules
“Any fool can make a rule and any fool will mind it.” – Henry David Thoreau As my plane touched down in Washington, D.C., on June 25th, I could see the heat waving to me from the tarmac, a siren song of sweat and grumpiness. The jet way to the …
Celebrate INTERdependence Day
"The world in which you were born is just one model of reality. Other cultures are not failed attempts at being you: they are unique manifestations of the human spirit." – Wade Davis Perhaps today’s national celebration of independence in the U.S. should evolve into a celebration of a new …
Translation, anyone?
I need a translation of the characters on this messenger bag – can anyone help? UPDATE: I don’t have a photo of the characters unobstructed by the strap, but am adding a photo of the back, in case that helps… I’m interested in buying one of these bags, but don’t …
Show me Portland
I’ll be teaching in Portland, Oregon, for most of July. (Come, play!) If you live there or know Portland, what sights should I see, which restaurants should I try? Best place to buy berries? Odd little places to visit? Where can I get Japanese things for Emma who is spending …
Wear goggles in a tiny plastic pool
“You have succeeded in life when all you really want is only what you really need.” – Vernon Howard Recently the humble cardboard box was inducted into the National Toy Hall of Fame, joining just 36 other toys: Alphabet Blocks, Barbie, Bicycle, Candy Land, Checkers, Crayola Crayons, Duncan Yo-Yo, Easy …
Burn those jeans
In the July issue of the fantastic Skirt! magazine, you’ll find a 37days essay, urging us all to renounce unreasonable goals by burning those jeans. It was originally posted here. I hope you’ll enjoy it (again?).
