I’ve never really liked pancakes, besides as a delivery vehicle for maple syrup. I’ve never really liked school dances, except as a way to try and dance with my crush. I’ve never really liked grading student papers, except as a way to keep my job as a teacher. I’ve never […]
Category: rick life
Arigata-meiwaku
Arigata-meiwaku is a Japanese phrase that doesn’t really have a simple English translation. It means the not-so-great feeling of having to thank someone when they’ve done something for you that you didn’t really even want them to do. When I first heard about this phrase, I immediately started thinking about […]
Gratitude
It can definitely feel like there’s not a whole lot to be grateful for. Fires, typhoons, hurricanes, COVID. Ooooff. #2020, amiright? But if you’re reading this, you’re still better off than the 43% of the globe that still doesn’t have regular internet access. I’m not going to go on and […]
Koalas
When I visited Australia in 2006, I went to a koala preserve to see koalas in the wild. They’re adorable, have a slow metabolism, but also can bite, claw, and bellow loudly if provoked. I think we can all be more like koalas – approachable and social, but with strong […]
Frank’s Gonna Frank
I have a dove that lands in my backyard occasionally, and just walks around pecking at my brick patio. I think it’s pecking seeds, or bits of flower, or ants maybe? I’m not a dove expert, but I have named this dove Frank. Frank sometimes comes in the afternoon. Sometimes, […]
Sides
On one side of the aisle, you have unity, hope, and admittedly some half-truths. On the other side, you have division, hate, and blatant lies and outright disinformation. On one side you have the support of teachers and scientists. On the other you have the support of white supremacists and […]
Hedgehog Cafes
I was visiting Japan for the first time, so I went to a hedgehog cafe. If you’re unfamiliar with this, Japan has a bunch of themed cafes with live animals in it that you can hang out with while you drink coffee and snack on crepes. We bought about 30 […]
Bad Comebacks
I was on an evening walk the other day, walking south on our fairly busy street, when someone heading north on a motorcycle turned onto the perpendicular side street we would soon be crossing. They made a quick U turn on the side street, and headed back towards the main […]
Halloween
I love Halloween not for the fact that I get to dress up and watch horror films. I love Halloween for the fact that this is the time of year that allows everyone else to celebrate the same things that I celebrate year-round. What I’m saying is that Halloween is […]
Store Bought Costumes
As a kid, I only had handmade costumes, as I couldn’t afford to go pick out something from the local pop-up Halloween store, or Toys ‘R Us (RIP). While I deeply love my care bear costume my grandmother once sewed me, as I grew older I remember always being a […]