An oval novelty — The old Roman Colosseum had chariot races and now this newer coliseum will have our version. The Los Angeles Coliseum has been around for almost one hundred years. They have staged many events there. Spectacles of all sorts, including the spectators making spectacles of themselves. The Rams once were primary…

Then something weird happens — A hospital orderly with a wheelchair arrives with the nurse. “Okay Sarah, we’re ready.” Mike asked the nurse, “Is it okay if I go in with her?” The hospital orderly gives the nurse a quick look. “Getting stitches is a minor procedure that may take a little longer than you…

When a clean room looms — When it comes right down to it, the instrument of debris consumption has never improved. Oh sure, a cyclone of suction that draws the material particulates into a canister has replaced the bags of yore. No longer does the operator of the machine for floor-sweeping have to deal with the…

They never had it so good — A few days ago, I was on Facebook, and someone posted a photograph of their family. The picture was of their grandparents and their children before they left for California during the Great Depression. The kids were grinning and having a good time posing for the picture. The adults looked…

How a distant relative with OCD became a legend — While having a rare dinner with family members recently, we began talking about our maternal great-grandmother. She was quite opinionated and, with a fair amount of prodding, could get hysterically funny. She would verbally lambaste us whenever she felt we were being rude or overtly obnoxious. It was all in…

Top of the World, ma! — It was early morning when the janitor crew made it to the snowbank from Moose Creek, where they had to clean up after the previous nights festivities. “This is the dumbest place to have a pole dancing festival thing. Whoever thought of this has a screw loose.” the head of…

A story about how the spirit of fellowship could momentarily disrupt the cause that soldiers swear an oath to uphold — A British soldier peeked up over the trench at the German trench opposite him and saw a string of lights. He asked another soldier what it was about. As they looked closer, they saw they strung the lights through Christmas trees the German soldiers put up along the trench line. …

A boxer with an inordinate amount of grit and perseverance gives it everything. The dreams and security of his family depend on one visceral moment. — Pursuing the life of a pug. A boxer. The smell of sweat and deprivation matched the humidity and heat from the lights. There had to be a better way of making a living. That time has passed. Once the taste was acquired, it was all over. I could smell the…

I had just stopped for a smoke break when the UFO landed. — It had been a slow night driving a cab in Grover’s Mill, New Jersey and the fog had settled over a lonely meadow. It was a perfect place for some peace until the streak of light appeared. The craft settled silently as it landed. So quietly that the local dogs…