Driving Up South

We live on the northern side of the capital, literally on the last street before you find yourself outside city limits. Because of the fact that a mountain range rests just south of the city, here to drive south is to drive up since you're literally increasing your elevation the more south you go. And … Continue reading Driving Up South

All The Things That Shouldn’t Be But Are

Bazaar workers shouldn't have to work all day long for peanuts. Their fingers, toes, and noses shouldn't freeze from the cold trapped in all the concrete and metal shipping containers that surround them. They shouldn't try to milk you for every last cent. Yet they do. A service called Drunk Taxi—no joke—shouldn't be a thing. … Continue reading All The Things That Shouldn’t Be But Are

So You Want Your Master’s Degree?

The young man across from me was enrolled in a master's degree program in engineering at a state university. His story was not exactly one that warmed the cockles of my heart. "I went to talk with my thesis adviser," he said. "He told me that our dissertations are due in June. He said that … Continue reading So You Want Your Master’s Degree?

Our Tinted Lenses

With baby formula and fruit in hand, Laura knocked on the woman's door. In a moment, a bright and welcoming face appeared and ushered Laura inside. Her cheerfulness beamed from behind her head covering and ankle-length dress. Laura took off her shoes in the closet-sized entryway/kitchen/pantry. To the right, two electric burners on top of … Continue reading Our Tinted Lenses

Our Fingers Didn’t Freeze and Break Into Little Pieces

This past weekend temperatures plunged to -15 degrees F (-25 degrees C). We turned our gas furnace up. Then we turned it up again. We got dressed and put our bathrobes back on. Our friends asked if we could reschedule the get-together we had planned for Sunday because of how cold it was and because … Continue reading Our Fingers Didn’t Freeze and Break Into Little Pieces