Dave’s Diaries: Life, writing and more

  • Out to pasture with Uncle Grumpy

    Buggy whips. Gas lamps. TVs with rabbit ears. Cars without seatbelts. Rotary phones. Dial-up modems. Pauly Shore. Copy editors. Everything listed above is obsolete, old hat, antediluvian, bygone, timeworn, and generally kaput. Why do I mention “copy editors,” a group of fine hardworking Americans that includes my own self, your obedient language guardian Uncle Grumpy?… Read more

  • The night the bed fell: 21st century update

    If you’re about my age* and had good English teachers in high school, you might have been assigned to read a classic James Thurber piece called, “The Night the Bed Fell.” I won’t even try to recount this delightfully loony story, but I will shamelessly appropriate the title for my own true (!) tale of… Read more

  • I approved this message. Please listen.

    A polarizing Republican, both loved and reviled for his views and his record, widely suspected of dark misdeeds. A game but weakened Democrat, lacking the passion and charisma of other Democrats and struggling to overcome campaign blunders. A young voter unhappy with those choices. I know this sounds too familiar. But I’m not talking about… Read more

  • The armies of life

    It’s nearly Labor Day and the dragonflies are back, zipping over the deck against a bright blue sky. Somewhere south in the Gulf of Mexico is a storm that might (1) give us some rain and wind, (2) miss us altogether, or (3) come ashore as a full-on hurricane that would send us running for… Read more

  • Anti-social security, or “Ten things to know about getting old”

    Dear Sir,* We’ve received your application for Social Security. We welcome you to the ranks of the senior beneficiary retirement subgroup, or as some of our younger staff call it, “Geezer Gulch.” Before we can start payments, we need you to answer just a few questions to be sure you’re eligible. After all, we wouldn’t… Read more

  • Reds

    Author’s note: This is the first time I’ve posted fiction here. None of the characters are based on real people, the setting is not a particular place in Atlanta, and the story is not based on actual events. **************** Brianna was afraid she wouldn’t get to see the president. The principal confirmed the rumor right… Read more