A few minutes ago, I saw a post on Facebook from a man I respect, and was startled to realize that the events described below happened a full decade ago. I won’t ask “where did the time go?” — there are records of much of it, scattered around this very house — but will note … [more]
Blood Brothers
3-March-2015 by 11 Comments
Symbols. We were surrounded by ’em. The American Lake VA campus used to house a hospital. It doesn’t anymore. There are specialty clinics there — urology, dental, blind rehabilitation, psychiatry, others — but these days emergency care is handled “across the street” at Madigan Army Medical Center. Symbols abide, though. Large, mission-style institutional buildings symbolize … [more]
Help Me Vandalize This Map!
16-February-2015 by 11 Comments
I’m a rambler, I’m a gambler, I’m a long way from home And if you don’t like me, well, leave me alone I’ll eat when I’m hungry, I’ll drink when I’m dry An’ the moonshine don’t kill me, I’ll live ’til I die! –“The Moonshiner,” a traditional Celtic lay Just a quick hello here; my name is … [more]
Are you not… ENTERTAINED?
9-February-2015 by 2 Comments
So NBC is undergoing a gut check, and it’ll be interesting to see if they discover an existence proof. Brian Williams’s imaginary traumas in the desert have come home to roost on his head like loose-boweled pigeons, and the network is in a bit of a tizzy. What to do? Dozens of millions of dollars are … [more]
Cool story, bro
5-February-2015 by 7 Comments
Image stolen from a Pinterest poseur boy. Well, sure, it got pretty intense that time, but I wasn’t scared. With Brian Williams at the controls of our chopper, what could possibly go wrong? Showing complete disregard for his personal safety, Reporter’s Mate First Class Williams hovered the bird over our enemies in the face of withering fire. … [more]
Knock this chip off my pedestal
23-January-2015 by 4 Comments
Enough about the sniper guy, already. If you believe that Chris Kyle was a hero without flaws, you’ve gone woozy from the intoxicating smell of his jock. He was, at the least, an occasional liar and notable braggart. Not that I begrudge him his well-earned braggadocio (per the Oakland Raiders of yore, “it ain’t braggin’ if … [more]
Onward & Upward
9-January-2015 by 13 Comments
I’m learning to fly, but I ain’t got wings. Coming down is the hardest thing. —Tom Petty & the Heartbreakers, Learning to Fly “Are you scared, Jack?” “No way, Dad!” I stood there, looking up the hill at what’s now named Straddleline ORV Park. It’s been closed off and on over the years. Back … [more]
Want to Break New Ground?
14-December-2014 by 5 Comments
Head Check: What it Feels Like to Ride Motorcycles is live on Amazon.com, which means that just any old person can buy it, from all over the world. That’s an exciting notion for me. But what does it mean for you, Loyal Reader? Yeah… you. Over there. The tall, good-lookin’ one with critical thinking powers and … [more]
"Jack Lewis takes the overall literary crown with his new book...there’s a lot more to Lewis’s work than what it feels like to ride motorcycles.” — Ultimate Motorcycling
"Insightful and from the heart ... a driven and much recommended look into the mind and conflict of the next generation of war veterans. " — Midwest Book Review (Reviewer's Choice)