20 December 2008• byJ.D. Roth
Lactose Intolerant: The Pros and Cons of Cereal Milk
Warning: This story is funny, but it’s a little gross. You’ve been warned. Yesterday, Kris and I went to Big Lots! for the first time. A neighbor had told us they had cheap bird seed, and we wanted to stock up. While there, I picked up a box of “Tooty Fruities” breakfast cereal for seventy-five …
30 November 2008• byJ.D. Roth
The Man with the Meaty Claw
I borrowed the neighbor’s pressure-washer on Friday. After five years at Rosings Park, I decided it was time to clean the gunk and the moss off the sidewalks. It was fun, actually, and strangely satisfying. I encountered a problem, however, while working next to the house. As I sprayed the sidewalk, the mud and grime …
24 November 2008• byJ.D. Roth
Those Sorts of Movies
After watching Michael Clayton and re-watching Casino Royale for the fourth time, I told Kris I “like those sorts of movies”, though I couldn’t really put my finger on what “those sorts of movies” were. I decided that the Bourne films probably fit the bill, so I put them on the our Netflix queue. I …
05 October 2008• byJ.D. Roth
Half Full or Half Empty?
Kris and I are taking a short vacation to Washington State’s San Juan Islands. “What time does the ferry leave from Anacortes?” I asked last night before bed. We were planning our agenda. “5:25,” Kris said. “And if we miss that, the last ferry is at 6:00. What time do you think we should leave?” …
30 July 2008• byJ.D. Roth
She Rules a Crowded Nation
It’s one o’clock when we reach the house. Neither Mom nor I have eaten all day. She took her meds sometime before I picked her up at nine; I ate half a bag of peanut M&Ms on the drive to Salem. When we walk into the kitchen, she sets her purse down and says, “I’m …
09 July 2008• byJ.D. Roth
Five Eight (and a Half)
On my recent visit to the doctor’s office, a nurse weighed me and measured my height. “How tall am I?” I asked. “I can’t ever get a good measurement.” “You’re five-eight,” she said. “Ah,” I said. “I thought I was five-nine.” She laughed. “You’re like every other guy — always trying to say you’re taller …
16 May 2008• byJ.D. Roth
Three out of Three
Here’s a good old-fashioned Foldedspace post for you long-time readers who pine for them. Last weekend I exercised my heart out. On Saturday I went for a 12 mile run and a 29 mile bike ride. Before my ride with Paul and Susan, I prepped my bike for the road. “That’s strange,” I said as …
28 April 2008• byJ.D. Roth
Lost in the Woods
On Saturday, I got up for a long run in the woods. Normally I would have joined the marathon training group in Portland, but we were on our annual vacation in Sunriver, so I decided to be disciplined and run on my own. While my compatriots were scheduled to do a seven-mile road run, I …
24 March 2008• byJ.D. Roth
Goodbye My Lover
Last fall on our trip to Lincoln City with Mac and Pam, I witnessed one of those small perfect moments that linger in memory. After clam chowder at Mo’s, we stopped at Cold Stone Creamery for dessert. It was about 7:30 on a Friday night, and the place was dead. We were the only customers. …
In which Rhonda joins us for a trip to purchase canning jars.