Author Archives: Al

Salt Lake Stories: Just Like Starting Over – I

Posted on April 1, 2025 by Al

[Beginning a new story cycle. These are very preliminary first drafty] “Let’s go back to that one in the Avenues,” Cheryl said to the burly real estate agent driving us around the Salt Lake valley. We’d been touring pleasant homes … Continue reading →

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VW Bus — Chapter 1

Posted on March 29, 2025 by Al

[Envisioned as the first chapter of the second section of the memoir of Cheryl & Al’s Early Days] “Right. You can tell the year of your bus by its color.” The salesman at Marina VW took another drag on his cigarette and … Continue reading →

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Road Trip — IV

Posted on March 28, 2025 by Al

[Concluded] Apparently Jim smiled all the time because he was stoned all the time. Who wouldn’t be with the world wired like he had it? As I’d never tried skiing stoned before (and don’t smoke cigarettes), he had to show … Continue reading →

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Road Trip – III

Posted on March 26, 2025 by Al

[Part Three of Four] The excitement of our gas scare had fully revived Dave, and he offered to drive. “Which way?” he said. “Just follow 93 until we get to Baldy – it’ll be on your left when we reach … Continue reading →

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Road Trip — II

Posted on March 24, 2025 by Al

Learning took time; four years in medical school, and another four in training at a hospital. Oh, they let us out now and then, blinking and coughing in the LA sun. And every free day (what few there were), I’d … Continue reading →

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Road Trip — I

Posted on March 21, 2025 by Al

I’m perusing some of my old writing, looking for additional material for a memoir-ish book I’m working on. This story, written circa 1985-90, carries its own preface. I’m breaking it into 3 or four parts, lightly edited… [Ed. note: This … Continue reading →

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Which Novels Would You Read Again?

Posted on March 10, 2025 by Al

Last December, I read James, by Percival Everett. The story loosely parallels The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, told from Jim’s perspective. Since it had been 40 years since I read Huck Finn, I took the opportunity to do something I’m always putting off – … Continue reading →

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Polostan

Posted on January 2, 2025 by Al

Neal Stephenson has been churning out novels at the rate of one every four years or so since 1984. His interests are protean. Early on (The Big U, Zodiac), he skewered higher education, environmentalists and corporate polluters. He then shifted … Continue reading →

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Viagra and Aortic Dilation

Posted on November 6, 2024 by Al

On the Mayo Clinic prostate cancer forum, someone asked about the risk of Viagra in the presence of aortic dilation of 4.1 cm. An echocardiogram is often done during investigation of potential cardiac problems. I have had several done since … Continue reading →

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Is Starbucks Doomed?

Posted on October 30, 2024 by Al

Starbucks new CEO, Brian Niccol is trying to streamline the ordering process, eliminate bloat on the menu, and return the coffee giant to its roots as a nurturing place to visit. I believe Starbucks will go the way of Boeing, … Continue reading →

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