Jaxwords WED 16 JUN 10

Hooliganiacal (hoo-le-guh-nie-i-cal) adj. 1.  Suggestive of or afflicted with insane lawlessness. 2.  Characterized by excessive enthusiasm for aggression. 3.  Obsessed with riding Aprilia motorcycles.

I Hate Myself

Someone needs to be jealous of me right now, and if You won’t do it, I’ll have to. Sitting poolside at the Riviera Golf Club right now, relaxing after a ride on Ducati’s newest Monster baby, the bike in pole position to make people wonder why in heck they ever considered a 696.  For $9995, … [more]

Prepare to Monster

There’s a Monster out there with my name on it, literally. Specifically, a Ducati Monster 796, their new model with the single-sided swingarm, spiffin’ new headlight and other tasty bits.   A little gold foil stickie on the tank says “LEWIS.”  This may be important later; take the wrong Monster out of the paddock at Misano … [more]

Two-Minute Drill

Last fall, I was privileged to teach a writing seminar to wounded warriors of Task Force Phoenix at Fort Lewis, Washington.  Part of the classroom curriculum was a two-minute writing exercise requiring use of an image to convey a feeling.  No particular venue, theme or genre was prescribed; nevertheless, all but one participant wrote a … [more]

Bending the Bard

Poor old Bill.  He zags from genius to fraudulence. Everyone wants a piece of Shakespeare (yeah — I recognize the irony of criticizing the impulse in the very act of typing out his name…).  Quasi-avant garde lit geeks want to rediscover him as Chris Marlowe.  In a perhaps even lower cut, menstruating-edge feminists insist on … [more]

Coat of Many Colors

I had this garment, see: a coat of many colors. A Levis jacket, Chinese-made with American fade, it had almost every unit patch I’ve ever worn sewn onto the back. Peacetime insignia were in full color:  Second Infantry Division, my first assignment in Korea; III Corps where I worked personnel security for the corps artillery, … [more]

No buddy’s puppy

They’re some of the biggest dogs in the world. Pretty Wife has wanted one for 20 years, but it’s never been the right time. It’s still not the right time, but what could it hurt to look? The Craigslist picture was unprepossessing — a sad puppy with a blotchy gray coat stood staring dull-eyed at … [more]

Good Save

With the rain slowed to a drizzle, we sat around a guttering fire, working cuss words into the conversation for practice. Intent on winning this little competition, I was the last to notice that the other guys had shut up. And looked up. “Can I help you, sir?,” said the kid across the fire. That … [more]