May 8Member-onlyDr. EdseDid you ever have to deal with the Gestapo? — Office Hours “Come in,” he commanded in a heavy German accent, “Have a seat.” I entered and sat down in the chair in front of his sprawling desk. …Gestapo8 min readGestapo8 min read
Published inAn Idea (by Ingenious Piece)·May 2Member-onlyPraying to the ‘Curve God’Don’t want to put any pressure on you, but if you flunk this one, you’re gone! — Backstory: Writing my last book I discovered, ‘I’ve got too much material! Got to cut some of it out!’ But, cutting out material from your ‘book-in-progress’ is like cutting out grandma’s apple pie from your diet — can’t do it! Well, after much sorrowful deliberation, I began cutting out chunks…Ohio State11 min readOhio State11 min read
Jun 20, 2021Member-onlyBut, what if house prices keep dropping?Why is it that most people buy when prices are high and run away when prices are low? — BUT, WHAT IF HOUSE PRICES KEEP DROPPING? Here’s a BUT question I encountered a lot while searching for property in Florida in late 2010. Seemed like the conventional thinking was property prices were going to drop to zero. I remember a particular encounter when this question popped up. It was…House Prices4 min readHouse Prices4 min read
Published inAn Idea (by Ingenious Piece)·Jan 15, 2021Member-onlyAccidental ParentingWhat do you call it when your daughter uses your ‘joking around’ advice and it works? — Many years ago my daughter Chez came home from high school and announced, “Teacher says I have to wear navy blue pants. These black pants are not allowed.” We had just arrived in England. My daughter’s new school reminded me of Hogwarts, right out of Harry Potter, complete with creepy…Dad Jokes4 min readDad Jokes4 min read
Published inAn Idea (by Ingenious Piece)·Jan 3, 2021Member-onlyHow do you know when you’re old?Answer: When your daughter makes it official! — I recently discovered I’m old. Let me tell you how this discovery came about. It happened one early evening. I sat in the comfortable chair in our living room, quietly watching TV, minding my own business, not bothering anyone, causing no trouble, and generally, being a ‘good boy.’ …Old Age2 min readOld Age2 min read
Published inAn Idea (by Ingenious Piece)·Dec 31, 2020Member-onlyThe best ‘Why I didn’t show up for work’ excuseNeed an excuse for missing work? Here’s one. — NOTE: I’m writing the follow-up to my current book, ‘ The Adventures of an Air Force Medic.’ My ‘work in progress’ answers the question, ‘What crazy adventure does Sean Mitchell (main character) get up to next?’ This article is a snippet from my first draft. Setting: Ohio State campus, circa…Excuses3 min readExcuses3 min read
Published inAn Idea (by Ingenious Piece)·Dec 27, 2020Member-onlyDodgers-Giants GameCandlestick Park, Summertime, and no coat. — This is an excerpt from my book, ‘The Adventures of an Air Force Medic.” It’s fiction but based on my two years as an air force medic in northern California back in the early ‘80s. Jane and Gail dropped by our dorm room. Leandro and I, sitting on our beds…Candlestick Park5 min readCandlestick Park5 min read
Published inAn Idea (by Ingenious Piece)·Dec 23, 2020Member-onlyNight Shift Medical Ward ChecklistIt never got approved, I wonder why? — As a young air force medic, way back in the early 1980s, I remember writing a ‘new and improved’ medical ward night shift checklist. I couldn’t wait to show my boss, Staff Sergeant (SSgt) Elen, when she arrived with the rest of the day staff team in the morning. When…Hospital4 min readHospital4 min read
Published inAn Idea (by Ingenious Piece)·Nov 18, 2020Member-onlyHave you got an ambulance license?Two ‘firsts’ in one trip: First time to San Francisco and first time driving an ambulance. — This is an excerpt from my book, ‘The Adventures of an Air Force Medic.” It’s based on my two years as an air force medic in northern California back in the early ‘80s. Lt. Sharon Taylor called down the medical ward hallway, “Sean, Elen wants you. She’s in the ER.” …Air Force Medic4 min readAir Force Medic4 min read
Published inAn Idea (by Ingenious Piece)·Sep 2, 2020Member-onlyHow do you create fiction from your real life story?Not sure of the best way, but here’s how I did it. — My book, Dreams of the Philippines: Escape from Clark Air Base, is fiction but based on a trip I took to the Philippines as a young air force lieutenant way back in 1989. The challenge facing me as an author — how do I take the real life trip and…Writers On Writing6 min readWriters On Writing6 min read
