You gotta have fear in your heart

Welcome back to May, dear friend and reader! Is this better? Are you again comfortable? Are you even there? Welcome, also, to another round of Remember When? as I parse my own archives. Last year’s Volume 10 was that in spades, compiling a Best of Me on the way to six thousand more words. I […]

Beer and football IX — playoffs, week four (bye)

The beer: Proclamation Derivative Vic Secret Pale Ale The commentary: Some people lose front teeth. Others lose old blog posts. (Transition: smooth.) My relationship with the Biff! Bang! words you’re reading is troubled, and if the Pats weren’t such a goddamn winning machine I might have signed off altogether following the Beefheart crowning achievement. It’s […]

Andy Dufresne and Anatoli Boukreev walk into a bar

Updated: January 1, 2020 Continuing, for some reason, to chronicle every book and short story I’ve read since The Lord of the Rings in the spring of 2017. Volume 1 (2017) | Volume 2 (2018) | “Selected readings from the Old Lady Book Club” Critical remarks are avoided while ratings are reserved for “Library Book Club” selections and other significant achievements/shame […]

Beer and football IX — playoffs, week three — AFC Championship

The game: Patriots at Chiefs The beer: Clown Shoes La Bestia Furiosa Mexican-Style Imperial Stout The result: Win, 37–31 The commentary: At eighty-eight miles per hour we copyedit last week’s thrilling conclusion: “With Edelman likely unsuccessfully neutralized I’m looking to James White, Sony Michel and Chris Hogan’s cloak of invisibility impressive athleticism and hands to […]

Beer and football IX — week four

The game: Dolphins at Patriots The beer: Peak Organic Fresh Cut Pilsner The result: Win, 38–7 The commentary: My cousin (the one on the right) got married in Maine on Saturday and, until a couple of months ago, the plan was for A. and me to make a grown-up getaway weekend out of it, complete […]