by John Walters*
*I’m not “back.” I’m simply here right now. Believe those were Jesus’ first words to the apostles as soon as they finished the inaugural Easter brunch (writer boy has a messianic complex… to accompany all his other issues). Anyway, after years of waking up in a five-story apartment, often huddling beneath a blanket on the couch as I typed this before taking a subway to work or heading out to serve diners, it’s nice to wake up in the desert on the ground floor and embark on long morning constitutional before sunrise. I’ll type here occasionally between semesters, but it’s nice to be living more of an al fresco existence. Highly recommend. Just don’t move here, please. Kthanxbye.
Urban Out (Fitting)
After 13 games, two wins, one failed Tim Tebow career resuscitation, an ill-fated lap boogie and a kicked kicker, Urban Meyer is out as coach of the Jacksonville Jaguars. Meyer, often considered (justifiably so) as, at worst, one of the top three coaches in college football this century, has always been problematic. But also, too, before this experiment, successful.
Even as a studio analyst at Fox, Meyer was fantastic. Had he stuck around there another season, Meyer likely would have had his pick of gigs at USC, Oklahoma, LSU or even a return to Gainesville. Now he’s just another wealthy, miserable, middle-aged man in Florida headed toward a divorce and a pickle ball game in The Villages.
Oh, Bitch!-uary
This funny and seriously irreverent obituary could only have been written by a gay, New York City-based son of the deceased. This appeared in multiple newspapers. The subject, above, is Renay Mandel Corren and the son/author is Andy Corren.
Look out, David Sedaris. You’ve got competition.
Thunder, Then Lightning
The finish of last night’s Pelicans-Thunder game was peak-This is what your insane range has wrought, Steph Curry. Thanks a lot…
You’re not “back”!? Well, this between semesters posting will have to suffice.
JW, I dropped Twitter (like it’s hot) in January 2020. I posted rarely, but had become addicted to my feed. Beyond the time-suck it’d become, I came away from it unfulfilled and oft-times sad, angry or mad.
Then, you “had” to go out and move to Arizona, get a teaching gig (what kind of journalism school hires a guy who never took a journalism class to teach journalism?!), and all of a sudden had no time to post to my favorite morning go-to blog? (<—— Obvious, I hope, sarcasm here.)
So, what do I do to fill the void? I go back on Twitter. Thanks a lot, man! I should say, I did not re-download the app, but just bookmarked your feed so I can still get a micro dose of what your brought to MH without hitting my feed and kickstarting my previously kicked addiction. All that to say, welcome not back!
Not for nothing, but my parents moved to The Villages just over 2 years ago. And, they can't stop talking about it and how much they love it. So, count my dad among the "wealthy, miserable, middle-aged man in Florida headed toward a divorce and a pickle ball game in The Villages." Besides not being overly wealthy (though he's very well off), he's not middle-aged (the man is over 70), nor does he play pickle ball (he prefers golf).
Lastly, he's not miserable in the least. From what I can tell from all his incessant reports from The Villages, is that it's basically like college for old people and no need to go to class. There's happy hour every day, parties, live bands, food everywhere, and a club for any interest under the sun – and from what I've learned, it's sunny there almost all the time except for the afternoon rainstorm that rolls through and vanishes quickly.
Again, welcome not back, JW. Looking forward to more short MH posts during winter break. (As an aside, do they even call it winter break in Arizona?)
The daily IAH! will never be matched, JW. Waking up and going straight here became common practice for me. I learned so much. I was 17 when you started writing here, so in many ways I grew up in this comment section. Kinda neat now that I reflect on it. Thanks for taking the time to share your thoughts and wisdom.
May the solitude of the desert treat you well.
Wish you well with all you do. I do miss the daily dose. Was checking daily, fell off to weekly, now maybe every other week. Can you make this a class project for your students? Might be interesting to get their perspective.