Archives

15 Most Recent Entries

October 26, 2009 10:13 PM
On walking || No. of Comments: 0
I was five and it was a beautiful summer day when my grandmother taught me to walk like a boy. “Your steps are too short. Boys take long strides,” she said. “Like this.” She demonstrated, exaggerating a swagger across her front lawn that looked like John Wayne with hemorrhoids. I tried it, stretching my legs long with each step. It felt unnatural, and I was embarrassed as my twin sister, my grandmother and all the cars driving by looked on. It had never occurred to me that boys walked one way and girls walked another. It reminded of the recent…

January 6, 2009 12:22 PM
Gone || No. of Comments: 4
I knew that it had been a good vacation when yesterday I went to tie my tie before work and completely forgot how. I put it around my neck, one end longer than the other and then I froze. I simply could not remember what to do next. A brief moment of panic passed over me. Did I have a stroke that erased that piece of knowledge? If so, what else did I lose? Would I get on the bus and forget when to get off? Would my words come out garbled and confused? I tried a few combinations, but…

December 29, 2008 11:46 AM
Christmas Day 2008 || No. of Comments: 0
When the rental car lady attempted her upsell on Christmas Eve, I fell for it. “You can upgrade to a four-wheel-drive Jeep for only $90,” she said. I looked outside, where Michigan winter had hit early. The snow was falling hard, and the roads were covered in snow and slush. “Let’s do it,” I said. Good thing, too. Thirty miles from my parents’ house, a firetruck blocked the highway, lights flashing, protecting a scene of towtrucks and ambulances that were buzzing around a vehicle upside down in the ditch. They gave no instructions on how to get around the barrier,…

November 5, 2008 10:01 PM
Progress || No. of Comments: 1
For weeks, hopes and polls traveled in opposite directions. What happens to a dream deferred? No one wanted to find out, so millions of people — myself included — willfully ignored Obama’s rising stance in the polls and braced ourselves for the worst. What happens to a dream deferred? Thankfully, we don’t need to know. Hope has turned into progress. Obama feels like my president. Last night, as I watched the reactions of the crowd in Grant Park, I suddenly realized that everyone present felt like Obama is their president. It’s why, when I walked in to my neighbor’s…

October 4, 2008 9:49 AM
Autumn at Split Rock Lighthouse State Park || No. of Comments: 3


October 1, 2008 10:24 AM
Chaff in the Wind || No. of Comments: 3
Thursday afternoon I was waiting in line at the Target Cafe when I felt a warm hand on my shoulder. I turned around to see my co-worker Ginny smiling at me. “Good luck with your presentation this afternoon!” she said. “You’ll be great, and you’re looking good, too.” “Thank you, Ginny,” I replied. “You’re looking good, too. It looks like you got a haircut?” “I’m leading a missions trip to Africa next week, so I had it all shorn off.” “A missions trip, huh? You’ll have to watch your mouth while you’re there!” Ginny’s salty tongue made surprising appearances, often…

September 15, 2008 12:21 PM
Showdown || No. of Comments: 0
The squirrels in my apartment complex are getting fatter. Some primordial DNA is kicking in and telling them to eat all day… eat all night… eat Aaron’s window screens if there is a tempting loaf of bread inside. This morning one gave me the stink eye as I walked to the garage; I think it was contemplating how many calories my calves could add to its diet. We stared each other down. After I passed, I turned around to see it following me. “Try it and die,” I said. I wasn’t kidding, and my voice had only a slight tremor….

September 10, 2008 12:28 PM
Dear Democratic (big D) organizations || No. of Comments: 1
We’re quickly moving toward a large event in early November. I’m planning to take the following day off work to celebrate or mourn, and I would prefer it be the former. Can we talk? Can we fix some things? 1) I’m spying an increase in negative advertising. This disappoints me because it means that you believe your positive messages aren’t strong enough to overcome negative ones from the grand ol’ party. Instead of advancing what we’ve come to believe in — hope, change, free Big Macs for all — you’re bombarding us with slander and soap operas. E-mail subject lines…

September 2, 2008 7:54 AM
The Next Two Years || No. of Comments: 6
This is the official and requisite “First Day of School” portrait. For the next TWO YEARS my Tuesday and Thursday evenings are shot. The University of Minnesota and its Strategic Communications MA program is the culprit. Hopefully it doesn’t suck….

August 18, 2008 7:09 PM
Next Olympic Medalist || No. of Comments: 2
This is me executing a perfect 10 dive through three child-size inner tubes. All for the pleasure of my co-workers. When I’m called to the podium and accept the gold medal around my neck, I will be sure to share the glory with my countrymen….

August 16, 2008 10:23 PM
They were just Ray-Bans || No. of Comments: 1
“I’ve never heard you scream like such a girl,” Adrian said. “That’s because I haven’t had a reason to,” I replied. My thighs ached from gripping his waist like a nutcracker. Bile rose in my throat. A word of advice: Never ride on a waverunner with someone who also drives stock cars. Especially when this particular waverunner is more powerful than many cars. Adrian laughed maniacally as we raced across the water at 55 miles per hour. He, of course, had the advantage of knowing what he would do next, which way he would jacknife, which wave he would pound…

August 11, 2008 10:48 PM
Scoot! || No. of Comments: 10
I need help naming my new friend. Suggestions welcome. I think it’s a boy….

July 21, 2008 7:15 AM
Four Years of Helloaaron || No. of Comments: 12
I almost missed it! July is the anniversary month of Helloaaron.com. We’ve made it four years. One of the reasons I keep this little site around is so that I can look back and be reminded. The first “real” entry on Helloaaron.com was this one. Reading it immediately brings me back to that Fourth of July weekend and reminds me of other times since that have been similar. For example, this time in Canada (which not incidentally contains two of the same cast members — Justin and Adam). The more things change, the more they stay the same, right? While…

July 20, 2008 10:07 PM
Canadian Resolution || No. of Comments: 2
I’ve been neglecting to tell you that I’ve posted more photos from Canada here. Those are all I’ve got. There was a lot of beauty in the 11 days of this Canadian vacation, from the Parc du Saguenay a few hours north of Quebec City, to the architecture of Quebec City itself, to the hours of driving with mountains flanking one side and wide-open water on the other. Looking back, though, the thing I most enjoyed was simply spending uninterrupted time with good friends. Those memories are what will carry me through the coming weeks and months of work…

July 2, 2008 11:49 PM
Kayaking || No. of Comments: 0
Adam, our guide, Adrian and Justin….

Browse Entries by Month

October 2009
January 2009
December 2008
November 2008
October 2008
September 2008
August 2008
July 2008
June 2008
April 2008
March 2008
February 2008
January 2008
December 2007
November 2007
October 2007
July 2007
June 2007
May 2007
March 2007
February 2007
January 2007
December 2006
November 2006
October 2006
September 2006
July 2006
June 2006
April 2006
March 2006
February 2006
January 2006
December 2005
November 2005
October 2005
September 2005
August 2005
July 2005
June 2005
May 2005
April 2005
March 2005
February 2005
January 2005
December 2004
November 2004
October 2004
September 2004
August 2004
July 2004

Browse Entries by Category

Geekery
On the Web
Personal
The State of Things
Young 'n' Gay