How do you start to love someone you don’t really like? Say, for example, that you’ve mistreated this person for most of her life, repeatedly kicked her when she was down, constantly berated her for not measuring up and ridiculed her for her looks, her flaws, and her failures. Most people would never treat someone […]

Today I ran the Portland Shamrock Run. It was a huge race, over 15,000 people from 46 states and 19 countries. I usually avoid big races like this; they’re loud and frenetic and impersonal. But since I’m new to this city I thought I’d give this one a go. I’d signed up for the 15k […]

The title for this post is meant to convey that I had two revelations this week, just using the Bible chapter numeration style for fun. But just for shits and giggles, I also looked up the actual bible verse, and it turns out I like it: “I know your deeds, your hard work and your […]

I was listening to my friend S’s podcast today, and he was talking about beliefs and superstitions, and specifically mentioned a few things that have happened to him that he can’t explain. He also talked a bit about the fact that energy does not dissipate, which makes the idea of reincarnation completely possible. Bear with […]

My god, the things I’ve learned this week. I’m aboard yet another COVID-ridden death tube on my way back home to Portland after a week in Tucson and Phoenix. Rows 28-30, y’all better have your shit together and not be carrying any small round nasties. In fact, everyone on this silly metal canister with wings […]

I’m in yet another narrow cylinder with wings with a bunch of other schmucks wearing masks (most of the time). Rows 27-29, you bastards had better be vaxxed, boosted and germ-free. I’m on my way to Tucson to soak up some sunshine with a couple of women I barely know, but who seem nice and […]

In my last post, I wrote the following about a feeling of rejection I was getting from a potential romantic interest: “If he likes me enough, he will be clear about that, and he will be available. He will want to spend time with me, and the relationship will be on both our terms, not […]

How do you cope with rejection, dear Ghost? One thing I can say for my 24-year-long relationship is that it helped me to avoid rejection for that period of time. I’ve never been good at handling it, but now that I’m on my own again and back in the cesspool that is the dating game, […]

“‘A witch ought never to be frightened in the darkest forest’, Granny Weatherwax had once told her, ‘because she should be sure in her soul that the most terrifying thing in the forest was her.’” – Terry Pratchett, Wintersmith This is how I want to walk out of my apartment and into the city every […]

Crawling around in the mire and muck, trying to keep my head up from the mud, dragging, lurching forward in infinitesimal, sucking inches. Limbs pinned back, each forward drag of a shoulder moving lagging fingers a few wet centimeters. That’s what the past year or so has felt like. Never rising up enough to be […]