A Different Street

by Satchel Pooch

Archive for November, 2007

While wandering around my kid’s middle school yesterday I stopped to read a poster (likely left over from Halloween) displaying the results of a 6th grade poll on “My Favorite Scary Movie.” I was quite surprised to discover that the far-and-away favorite was “Saw.” Yes, this movie, which IMDB says is “rated R [...]

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In the last year I finally bowed to necessity and acquired a pair of bifocals.  Their shape allows me to dip my chin down and eyeball people over the tops.  This is the best gesture ever — it can wordlessly express skepticism, annoyance, amusement, or simply seriousness.   I wonder how I ever got along before.

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On endings

Thursday, November 29th, 2007

A pastor friend told me recently that his church decided to discontinue a ministry that they’ve carried on for more than 40 years.  Their reasons for doing so were completely solid and understandable, but there was also some sadness associated with the decision.  My friend took a few minutes in a Sunday service to talk [...]

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In which God gives me a lunupi

Wednesday, November 28th, 2007

My spouse’s grandmother, of Finnish extraction, says that “lunupi” (sp?) is a Finnish word for when you give someone’s (probably a kid’s) head a hard flick with your finger. My father used to do this occasionally (though he was not Finnish) — and he had big wide fingers so it really stung!
Anyway, [...]

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Despite my best efforts …

Monday, November 26th, 2007

… at denial (fingers in ears, eyes squeezed shut, chanting “LA LA LA LA”), the Christmas season has come.  Sigh.

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Peelers get dull just like any other cutting tool. If you can’t remember when you got yours, go get a new one, and then LOOK OUT! Potatoes and apples step off, you are about to be pwned!
… And on that note:  Happy Thanksgiving!  Over and out for a few days.

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The body never lies

Tuesday, November 20th, 2007

Sure, I can say I’m okay, not stressing over the holidays.  I can even, for some period of time, believe it.
But the acute insomnia and the erupting cold sore?   They suggest otherwise.

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The invisible nature of my work

Monday, November 19th, 2007

As I was shopping for one of my kid’s class Thanksgiving luncheon tomorrow (which said kid was very disappointed to discover does not include a whole roasted turkey, mashed potatoes and gravy, &c. — remarked how it was just “representative” of Thanksgiving), it occurred to me how very much of my parenting and volunteer work [...]

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Third grade jocks

Monday, November 19th, 2007

You might not think that jock culture could be present as early as third grade. I’m here to tell you that you are mistaken. There are three boys in my kid’s class who play football — play it, watch it, read it, sleep it, eat and drink it as far as I can [...]

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Divisions and competition

Sunday, November 18th, 2007

I have a long-standing issue with how society is structured along competitive lines.  It is so in the grain that most people don’t notice, and if they do, most don’t see a problem with it.  But I add it to my long, long list of things that divide us rather than unite us, and it [...]

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