Category Archives: Family

“Asynchronous in Sewanee”

Posted on April 30, 2020 by Uncomely and Broken

A piece I wrote for Sewanee Features called “Asynchronous in Sewanee” just came out.

Posted in Dogs, Education, Family, Mythology, Sewanee, Time, Trees & Flowers | Leave a comment

Notes from the Corona Diary: Facemasks on the dogwalk

Posted on April 6, 2020 by Uncomely and Broken

Here I am with my son out dog-walking on April 5th, 2020. As you will see, we are wearing facemasks, made for us by friends (mine has corkscrews on it, as telling a symbol of these days as the mask … Continue reading →

Posted in Dogs, Family, Uncategorized | 3 Comments

Notes from the Corona Diary: goobye, Ronnie Mac

Posted on March 26, 2020 by Uncomely and Broken

Tonight, on the advice of friends, we watched Knives Out with the boys. It’s a fun movie, a good old-fashioned murder mystery with twists and turns, the sort of things you smile at the whole time. Sitting with the boys … Continue reading →

Posted in Family, Sewanee, Time | Leave a comment

Back to the office, or unlearning the old normal

Posted on March 23, 2020 by Uncomely and Broken

This is my office. The place that has been the center of my working life for a decade and a half here at the University of the South in Sewanee. It’s in the basement of Gailor Hall, but it has … Continue reading →

Posted in Education, Family, Sewanee, Time | 1 Comment

Last Call

Posted on March 16, 2020 by Uncomely and Broken

“Can we get Shenanigan’s?” Daniel asked me. Kelly’s out of town, and I had plans to make chili. I flinched a little. Shelter in place. Stay at home. These are the mantras of the day. “I just feel like,” he … Continue reading →

Posted in Family, Sewanee, Time | 2 Comments

Goodbye, dogwood

Posted on January 12, 2020 by Uncomely and Broken

A sad tale. In order to bring in fiber optic cable, quite a few trees in town have needed to be removed, including our beloved dogwood by the roadside. In its time, the dogwood had held up Christmas lights in … Continue reading →

Posted in Family, Sewanee, Trees & Flowers | 2 Comments

In Search of Elijah Smith: Glastonbury

Posted on March 3, 2019 by Uncomely and Broken

If you’ve been following my inquiries (here and here) into the mysterious inscription in my old edition of Cicero, you know that I’ve pinpointed Glastonbury, CT, as the place where all the principals lived. I was at Yale with some students … Continue reading →

Posted in Cemeteries & Funerals, Classics, Education, Family, New England, Rivers, Uncategorized | Leave a comment

“The American Cincinnatus”

Posted on February 10, 2019 by Uncomely and Broken

Jean Leon Gerome Ferris, “The American Cincinnatus” (1919) When I was a kid, I picked up a copy of the 1932 Georgetown yearbook for a dime at a second-hand store my mother and I used to go to. Being a … Continue reading →

Posted in Classics, Education, Family, Military, Race, Slavery, Time | Leave a comment

Foulke (P) to Mientkewicz (1B) for the final out of the 2004 World Series

Posted on January 26, 2019 by Uncomely and Broken

He knew what he held in his hand. Gingerly he removed the ball from his glove, took it in hand, and looked intently at Doug Mientkewicz, standing at first base.  They exchanged a glance, and if they thought of Bill … Continue reading →

Posted in Boston, Family, Sports & Games, Uncategorized | Leave a comment

Fake Jan!

Posted on December 28, 2018 by Uncomely and Broken

You may not know this, but January 2nd is, to some online hipsters that I do not count myself among, sometimes called “Fake Jan” Day. Jan 2. Get it? The whole thing involves the Brady Bunch Variety Hour in some … Continue reading →

Posted in Bible, Boston, Drama, Family, Music, Rome, Time | Leave a comment