The Ocarina

In 2012, I purchased a type of flute (or whistle) called an ocarina. I had a brief foray into learning how to play it.

The Braai

My first night in South Africa, my host decided to treat me to a traditional South African braai. My first order of business was to figure out what exactly a braai was.

The Two Speeches

Most of us have had the experience of preparing for a difficult conversation. We go over in our head what we’re going to say, what the other person’s response might be, and so on. In some cases we even labor over a prepared statement, a sort of mini-speech, to make sure we accurately and articulately

The Simple Pleasure

One of my favorite things to do on a lazy Saturday afternoon is to browse a used bookstore.

The Kiddie Pool

Throughout my youth I was a Boy Scout. An important part of Scouting was, of course, Summer Camp.

The Move to North Carolina

2007 was a year of transition for me. I was finishing up my master’s degree and looking for a job. Given that I was unlikely to find a job in rural Virginia, that also would mean a move.

The Epic Leap

The elementary school I went to had the most amazing playground. It was not the safe, sterile, plastic affairs you see on playgrounds today. No, it was multistory wooden structures and a zip line and a massive tire swing. Today this playground has been fully replaced, of course, since these days it would be a

The Shiny Civic

In early 2020, after the Downfall of the Fiesta, I found myself in need of a new (to me) car. I greatly dislike car shopping and was already somewhat disgruntled at how short a time the Fiesta had lasted me, but circumstances were forcing my hand.

The South Africa Trip

For my 30th birthday, I decided that my present to myself would be a solo trip to South Africa. Why South Africa? Well, I’d always wanted to visit Africa, but as a solo trip I wanted something that wouldn’t be too massive a culture shock. I chose South Africa as a sort of “entry-level Africa”.

The Lost Backpack

JanSport say that their backpacks have a lifetime warranty. Apparently that is true, since when the JanSport backpack I had since high school wore out, I got it replaced for only the cost of shipping with a completely new one. I still have the replacement backpack, and it often accompanies me on trips.