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The Days Of The Week &Raquo; Notes To Self By Mark Obrien

The Days of the Week

The story you’re about to read is true. The names haven’t been changed to protect the innocent because everyone in the story is innocent, some more than others. The telling of this story is inspired by my friend, Charlotte Wittenkamp, by whom I was moved to tell the first part of it in a LinkedIn […]

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The Waterloo Diaries: The Bedsore Conspiracy &Raquo; Notes To Self By Mark Obrien

The Waterloo Diaries: The Bedsore Conspiracy

Author’s Note: Since I published my graphic novel, The Waterloo Diaries: The Bedsore Conspiracy, the book has received reviews from several people, including Dennis Pitocco, Victor Acquista, Sigmund Freud, William Faukner, Brené Brown, Eckhardt Tolle, a sanitation worker named Moe Zambeek, Professor Herman J. Fleabeard in Piously Pedantic Prattle, the noted book critic, Wilbur Freemish, […]

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A Farewell To Arms &Raquo; Notes To Self By Mark Obrien

A Farewell to Arms

There’s been much speculation about Ernest Hemingway’s novel, A Farewell to Arms, which was published by Scribner in 1929. On the surface, it appears to be the story of the American, Frederic Henry, who’s serving as a lieutenant in the ambulance corps of the Italian army in WWI. But psychosexual scholars find a deeper meaning, […]

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An Ode To Billie Jean &Raquo; Notes To Self By Mark Obrien

An Ode to Billie Jean

Unless you came here from another planet, you’ve likely heard Michael Jackson’s song, “Billie Jean”, at some point in your life. Come to think of it, at least one person who came here from another planet did hear the song. Superman had it played at his wedding to Lois Lane. And he did the moonwalk […]

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Imatter &Raquo; Notes To Self By Mark Obrien

iMatter

It seems as if more and more people are in need of validation and positive reinforcement as of late. I don’t know if this is a reaction to our being in the last year of the first quarter of the 21st century. I’m not sure if there’s something in the water that’s causing levels of […]

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Like Floating On Air(Wheels) &Raquo; Notes To Self By Mark Obrien

Like Floating on Air(wheels)

I love reading spam emails for the same reason I love watching bad movies. They always make me wonder: Who wrote them? Did they actually make sense to whomever wrote them? Did the people who wrote them have any questions about them? Who released them? Did they actually make sense to the people who released […]

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Black, No Sugar: Part Two &Raquo; Notes To Self By Mark Obrien

Black, No Sugar: Part Two

If you read Part One of this series, you recall my having learned Melitta Coffee filters were invented by a German woman, Melitta Bentz. Since then, Anne has been to the store to buy more coffee Melitta coffee filters. And now I’ve learned they come in two colors — white and brown. Since I was […]

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Cut Me To The Bone &Raquo; Notes To Self By Mark Obrien

Cut Me to the Bone

I don’t know why, but ever since the Holidays, I’ve been spammed with ads for Coolina knives. They show up on my phone. They show up on my computer and my iPad. They even started showing up in my dreams, which is the only place I can prepare food without cutting my fingers off. And […]

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Expectations Vs. Intentions: Part Two &Raquo; Notes To Self By Mark Obrien

Expectations vs. Intentions: Part Two

In the first part of what I didn’t know at the time would become a series, I cited a conversation on the Friendship Bench, led by everyone’s friend, Phil “Don’t Call Me Hank” Williams, in which he asked a provocative question: What are your expectations for going into a relationship and how will you approach […]

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Expectations Vs. Intentions &Raquo; Notes To Self By Mark Obrien

Expectations vs. Intentions

The conversation on last week’s Friendship Bench was led by everyone’s friend, Phil Williams. As always, Phil brought his A Game and his soothing demeanor. He also brought a provocative question for us to contemplate as he sent us into breakout rooms: What are your expectations for going into a relationship and how will you […]

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