Jun 23
Well, when I should have been writing this week’s column, I was instead writing the first chapter of a story that may or may not come together. I have some ideas moving forward. Not sure if it’s going to the back burner or if I’m going to give it more love in the coming week. …
Jun 16
How Many Polacks Does It Take to Build a Garden Gate? Well, I’ve been working on this fucking fenced enclosure for my wife’s garden for the better part of three months. I’ve got the wire fencing mostly vertical in a horizontal sort of way and the support stakes are anchored into the ground in such …
Jun 09
Art Appreciation A couple weekends ago, I had the opportunity to ride with the excitable crew of Rockin Robbie Billz, Maniacal Mike Matthews and Trevor up to Nashville for Galaxycon. I never miss the chance to show up for these pop culture conventions so long as I know Billy Zane isn’t going to be present. …
Jun 02
The White Trash Devil “Ellen’s invited us to her church to see Lovella get baptized,” the wife said, having busted into the bedroom like a snack cake chomping dervish. I sat there at my desk frozen for a moment. An untrained eye would have mistaken my industry for literary endeavor. The reality of it was …
May 26
Demon Country The simmering cold war that existed between Lovella Sampson and I escalated into a near white trash holocaust over a pilfered extension ladder. My ex-stepmother-in-law lived in the neighboring trailer. She wanted to recycle the ladder for the few bucks she hoped the aluminum would bring. I wanted to keep the ladder in …
May 19
Taking a Moment for a Little Self Evaluation It’s that time of year again for the employees of Hydra Hydraulics, the annual employee evaluations. Ideally, there’s a meager raise involved with the evaluation to offset the slimmest fraction of rising inflation. Of course, there are no raises for me any time in the near future. …
May 12
Having Lived Past the Age of Reason “I’m really sorry I’m the one who has to be telling to this,” I tell my wife the other day. The tone of my voice doesn’t sound like I’m sorry, though. My wife who’s become a bit of an expert on my voice tones cocks a skeptical eyebrow. …
May 05
Just One Puff…Piece Sunday afternoon finds me straining to grasp at a subject I’d like to exploit for another weekly installment of the Polish Hammer Poetry Corner. After fifty-something odd columns I’ve written for “In Conversation,” have I finally exhausted my mental filing cabinet of petty grievances and wry observations? Not fucking likely. But I’ll …
Apr 28
Coon Dick Toothpicks and Other Political Atrocities The batshit crazy coming out of Washington doesn’t let up for a second. I’m tired of hearing about it, though it seems I’m intent on continuing to comment upon it. I’ve had enough of my eighty-year-old live-in father-in-law, Milt, offering his Fox News perspective. Finally, I just told …
Apr 21
Jesus Freaking with Frankenhooker I hadn’t thought about Patty Mullen in well over twenty years, I’m sure. When I saw her name listed as a guest at the Full Moon Tattoo and Horror Convention in Nashville, I failed to put name to face. The biggest draw for me this year, aside from the fact that …
