The Writer’s Craft – Captivating Catchphrases

(Pensacola, Florida; May 5, 2023,) – "He's dead, Jim," "Make it so," "I'll be back," "Well, gang, it looks like we have another mystery on our hands," "I'm a doctor, not a…" Crafting captivating catchphrases is one of the more enjoyable parts of writing fiction. Catchphrases that click with the public can enter the cultural … Continue reading The Writer’s Craft – Captivating Catchphrases

Just My Thoughts – I’m Gay, I Love Drag Shows, and They Have NO Place Around Children

(Pensacola, Florida; Mar. 9, 2023,) – I'm gay. Yep, gay; I'm a dude who's into dudes. I love drag queens. In fact, drag queens are some of the most creative, innovative, and talented performers I've ever seen. Drag shows have NO place around children. Drag queens (and the less common drag kings) are performers with … Continue reading Just My Thoughts – I’m Gay, I Love Drag Shows, and They Have NO Place Around Children

On the Waterfront – A-Fording an Island

(Pensacola, Florida; Feb. 26, 2023) – Very few jobs involve hanging out underneath a 555 metric ton (nearly 612 regular ton) steel superstructure swinging over one's head, but the Navy is not just a job, it's an adventure! This adventure played out on a cold, snowy day in Newport News, Virginia, as the final piece … Continue reading On the Waterfront – A-Fording an Island

On the Waterfront – Leapfrog!

(Pensacola, Florida; Feb. 17, 2023) – I haven't played leapfrog since I was about four feet shorter than I am now; that is to say, since I was rather little. Imagine my surprise in 2010 at finding myself in a game of leapfrog, but one played with thousand-ton warships instead of schoolmates on the playground! … Continue reading On the Waterfront – Leapfrog!

Veteran Talk – The Trauma Olympics

(Pensacola, Florida; Jan. 25, 2023) – The Trauma Olympics don't actually exists, but there are many people, both veterans and civilians, who still try to root for them! I've never tried to hide my frustration, indeed, my outrage and indignation, that I've been sidelined and marginalized by many veterans organizations and other trauma support groups … Continue reading Veteran Talk – The Trauma Olympics

The Writer’s Craft – The Winning Formula

(Pensacola, Florida; Jan. 12, 2023,) – The familiar cry often echoes across the hallowed halls of entertainment: this is boring; it's too formulaic! We often disparage disliked books, movies, and TV shows as being 'too formulaic.' However, as writers, we have to ask the question, "What does 'too formulaic' actually mean?” The short answer is … Continue reading The Writer’s Craft – The Winning Formula

On the Waterfront – Pongsona + 20

(Pensacola, Florida; Dec. 8, 2022) –Typhoon Pongsona schwacked the island of Guam twenty years ago today. I arrived on the island for my new assignment at the Fleet Imaging Command, Pacific's photo lab aboard Naval Base Guam barely three weeks earlier in November. I landed on island just after my 32nd birthday, but don't let … Continue reading On the Waterfront – Pongsona + 20

On the Waterfront – Kris Kringle’s Critically Cautionary Christmas Carol

(Pensacola, Florida; Dec. 1, 2022) – The holiday season is upon us! For Christians such as myself, the Christmas season marks the birth of Jesus Christ. For Jews, Hanukkah commemorates the retaking of Jerusalem during the 2nd Century B.C.E., as well as the Miracle of the Oil (when the supply of lamp oil, only enough … Continue reading On the Waterfront – Kris Kringle’s Critically Cautionary Christmas Carol

On the Waterfront – Thanksgiving in Jolly Old England!

(Pensacola, Florida; Nov. 23, 2022) – I became a Yeoman (an admin clerk) when I enlisted in the Navy. I didn't know what I really wanted to do long-term, but every command has administrative personnel, so what better rate to choose in order to actually see the Navy and figure out my ultimate path? The … Continue reading On the Waterfront – Thanksgiving in Jolly Old England!

Just My Thoughts – Who Gets to Define ‘Misinformation?’

(Pensacola, Florida; Nov. 7, 2022,) – There’s been a lot of hue and cry, Sturm and Drang, hand-wringing, gnashing of teeth, and pulling of hair over Elon Musk’s purchase of Twitter. In fact, much of the reporting has been hysterical screeds against free speech because it means ‘misinformation’ will reign supreme. Many journalists, pundits, politicians, … Continue reading Just My Thoughts – Who Gets to Define ‘Misinformation?’