History
One hundred and twenty-five years ago, one of my great-great-grandfathers decided to disappear. He succeeded so completely that no one in the family ever knew what became of him. Albert Gallatin Stuart was born in 1865 in Kaufman County, Texas, just southeast of Dallas. He married my great-great-grandmother in 1887,
Life
Perhaps the best piece of advice I ever got from someone other than my father was that if you're mourning a major loss (of whatever kind), the best thing to do is to patiently let the back of your mind adjust to your new circumstances. Don't
Life
"Hope is itself a species of happiness, and, perhaps, the chief happiness which this world affords: but, like all other pleasures immoderately enjoyed, the excesses of hope must be expiated by pain; and expectations improperly indulged, must end in disappointment. If it be asked, what is the improper expectation
Life
On the one hand, I own enough already to keep me busy for the rest of my life. On the other hand, I still want everything on my Amazon wishlist.
Life
I've come to think of commitments as the structure of life. Make the right commitments, and I have a platform to stand on. Make the wrong commitments, and I have a prison to live in.
Life
Home sick again today. My fifth illness in the last two months. I'm glad I have a couple of weeks off over Christmas and New Year's—I clearly need it.
Life
I have had an Inspector Maigret mystery checked out but unread, in case I needed something to read while sick in bed. Coming in handy today…
Life
Aside from the more obvious indicators, there seem to be two reliable indicators that I'm feeling stressed: 1. I don't blog. 2. I don't read.
California
It was 20 years ago last night that I spent my first night in the dorms at Ohio State. Last night, I dreamed that I was checking in to Morrill Tower all over again, but this time I was 38. (The number of people who know me who would be
Life
If there is a better motivator to clean a messy desk than spilling a half a glass of water across it, I do not know what it is.
Commerce
In Book II (369a-372d) of the Republic, Socrates reasons step-by-step through what would be required to create a simple and harmonious city, one in which the citizens "will live in peace and good health, and when they die at a ripe old age, they will bequeath a similar life
Life
I'm back to work in less than 12 hours. It's been a good time off. Mostly relaxing. Of the seven things I had hoped to do during the vacation, I finished two and made serious headway on a third. Round about Tuesday, my will to get