April Fool's Day may be my least favorite day of the year. I despise pranks. The idea of people playing a joke on me fills me with the same dread and nervousness that I get when people sing Happy Birthday. It's a fear of embarrassment at the core, really.I remember many years ago when I … Continue reading April 1st
I don't get up terrifically early. That shouldn't be a surprise for those that are familiar with my 2-11 work schedule. I don't sleep 'til noon anymore (usually) but I'm looking at a 9:30 or 10 awakening. It's rare that I actually exhibit what my brother and I referred to as narcawakey: waking up early … Continue reading Early to Rise
How am I doing?That's a difficult question to answer. I have felt like I've fluctuated all over the board lately. It's like there are two completely different people inhabiting my body. There's Normal, Adjusted Rhys. The one that smiles, that does his job, that hangs out with friends. It's the public face. And it's not fake. It … Continue reading [no title]
I eat out. A lot. I eat out every day for lunch, and once in awhile I'll eat out before work or after. I have been feeling it lately, and not just in the way my clothes fit me; I've been getting increasingly sick of fast food. It's the same thing, over and over again. … Continue reading Weight
I started writing this on 10 November. Tonight I did what I do just about every Thursday, which is watch a few episodes of The West Wing with my neighbor, Amanda. One of the episodes tonight revolved around a main character’s father battling Alzheimer’s and the feeling of loss that accompanies such a devastating illness. … Continue reading One Year Later
It's difficult for me to accept help. When Dad died, I had an outpouring of sympathy and offers for assistance, but I don't recall taking anyone up on it. I remember a few phone calls, people asking how I was doing. Fine. I'm always fine. In the quiet moments of the night, when I let … Continue reading Support
Like many kids, I grew up thinking my parents knew it all. Any question I had could be answered. Any problem I had could be solved. No matter what was going on, I knew I could turn to them for support and assistance. And like many kids, I remember the moment when that curtain fell.I … Continue reading Heroes
I never quite understood the Auld Lang Syne traditional song. May old acquaintances be forgot? No. I thrive on my interactions with people. If I shed the people from my life I would be a miserable person. I rather think it should be 'may old acquaintances be remembered' as people tend to forget others in … Continue reading Routine
I didn't have any Christmas Eve plans this year, so when one of my fellow managers at work asked if I could close for him (working 4-1 instead of my normal 2-11) I said it would be no problem. I put on a festive red shirt (a vest, too, to showcase my new Doctor Who … Continue reading So This is Christmas
After some schedule juggling at work this past week, I found myself with a Saturday off for the first time in a long while. Fatefully, this happened as I read an article about the abandoned mining town of Picher, Oklahoma and a random dinner engagement with my friends Leah and Darci. All of these happenings … Continue reading Empty Picher
Rhys' Pieces 