Recently, Guardian columnist Victoria Coren Mitchell wrote about how oppressive the current news cycles are and then suggested a list of things that make her happy. I think this is both an excellent idea and a relatively stress-free exercise for someone looking to maintain a weekly blog-posting schedule. In that spirit, here is my list. … Continue reading On happy thoughts
Tag: Anti-Toska
The Anti-Toska
Toska: "No single word in English renders all the shades of toska. At its deepest and most painful, it is a sensation of great spiritual anguish, often without any specific cause. At less morbid levels it is a dull ache of the soul, a longing with nothing to long for, a sick pining, a vague … Continue reading The Anti-Toska
It’s a Perfect (Work) Day
You crazy Americans work longer and, maybe, harder than comparative first world countries and it's insane. We have only a finite time on this earth and somehow you have perfected the system where there's an agreed-upon dollar value for each hour of your life, so you can sell it to corporations, store owners, and anyone … Continue reading It’s a Perfect (Work) Day
On Xmas Traditions
As an Englishman abroad, Xmas can be a time of mixed feelings. Life in Austin is mostly wonderful, but it's easy to feel maudlin about family and friends so far away. Although distance does mean there's definitely less pressure on the present-buying front... Starting new traditions is basically a self-serving way of forming a holiday … Continue reading On Xmas Traditions
On Sugar
Like a playboy about to head into a monastery; like a drug addict about to spend hard months in rehab, I was a man about to (make a serious attempt to largely) give up sugar, and this was my last weekend of naturally flavored sweetened goodness. In theory. I made a list of the things … Continue reading On Sugar
Small Change on Strangers 