I try to plan my months, weeks, and days. Every morning, I pick out stuff to get done, and mostly I make progress, chipping away at my novels, humor, and essays. Then a tick walks across my face at three o’clock in the morning and my world quickly sh...

Last week, we saw a movie (Hey, Viktor!) at the local film festival and it’s a hoot. It’s about a child actor who has hit rock bottom in adulthood, acting in porn, alcoholic, and about to lose his family. It’s a dark comedy and the strong sense of hu...

This past week, I bought myself an Atari “Gamestation Pro.” It has all the old Atari 2600 games, including classics from the arcades, such as Asteroids. It’s a lot of fun and was pretty close to a no-brainer for me, as I bought an open-box at a steep...

It’s spring break for most schools here in Lansing, so it’s quiet at the office and quiet in the hood. A lot of people I know have traveled to Florida. Good for them. May they find fun in the sun, and enjoy a good book on the beach. Reading on the be...

On the evening of the most recent Picayune, exactly two weeks ago, I was in my basement exercising and threw out my back. It was a pulled muscle and I felt the fibers tear as the pain exploded and sent me to my knees. Luckily, I was near one of the s...

When I first decided to become a writer, at the age of 17, I suffered from Dunning-Kruger Effect about writing. If you’re not familiar, Dunning-Kruger means your ignorant about, or bad at, something, but you think you’re excellent at it. It’s a cogni...

It’s Valentines Day, which is a nice holiday for adults with a romantic partner, but kind of bonkers for everyone else, especially school kids. I was in Target picking up chocolate as a gift for my wife (“Hey big spender…” 💘) and was reminded of how...

This past weekend, the Detroit Lions lost a tough game in the playoffs. It was more like a collapse, as they had momentum and swagger all through the first half. It was their game to win. After decades without a playoff victory, this seemed their yea...

I wrote a book when I was a little kid. Like five years old little. I know what you’re thinking: “Sure you did, and I bet your mom helped more than just a little.” In fact, Mom didn’t help at all until it was published. Once she had a copy in her han...