Real Things Genesis Our lives are full of things. In fact, from a things perspective, we're probably living in the Age of Things -- an unparalleled richness of stuff, whether it be physical objects or available experiences. But not all things are created equal. I had casually identified things that I liked over the years -- hobbies, experiences, activities -- without thinking too much about why some things brought me so much satisfaction and fulfilment, while other things d

The pig that so recently haunted my bathtub has been completely, deliciously, exorcised. I'm happy to report that the pig roast was entirely successful. It was a long, full day of activity that built steadily from the morning and reached a crescendo right on time, around 7:30pm, with a lingering, smoky afterglow that lasted till after midnight sometime. None of the "what could go wrong" scenarios played out -- it was smooth sailing all the way through, in no small part due

There is a dead pig in my bathtub. I'm reminded of the opening sequence of "Breaking Bad," the television series that chronicles the life of Walter White in his transformation from mild mannered high school teacher to methamphetamine drug lord. In the first moments of the show a large RV careens down a desert road. We meet Walter, dressed only in his underwear and wearing a gas mask, as he swerves wildly from shoulder to shoulder. Behind him the interior of the RV is a cha