HENRY: So, Max, how you comin’ with that breathing idea of yours? It’d be phenomenal if you could ever iron out the mechanics. Here on Madison Avenue, we’re big on mechanics. Big ideas are only as big as the mechanics that make ‘em work. MAX: Mornin’ Henry. I’m on it. I went to see Urinetown […]
Don’t Let Superman Near My Plates
Silver Nugget in Crystal Lake, Illinois, was my favorite pizza place and hangout for years. The pizza was deep dish, like Gino’s East in Chicago only better, situated in a country-style roadhouse whose décor, garnished with touches of whimsy and elegance, could only be described as Barn Dance Chic. Antique kerosine lanterns and cowboy paraphernalia […]
The Day Cigarettes Saved My Father’s Life
I was 14 when my father got word that his doctor wanted to schedule a follow up visit to discuss his recent chest x-ray. My mother explained this was atypical as my father was accustomed to receiving annual calls to say his x-rays were “all clear.” The look in her eye and tone of her […]
When the Words, the Music, and the Dance Line Up
Before psychologists are unleashed on the public, they’re formally trained in a variety of therapeutic approaches, each with characteristic ways of looking at human behavior. But it’s the informal descriptions of human interaction that psychologists use most to understand and guide their clients. One of those I learned from Dr. Vilma Ginzberg, while attending one […]
What’s Your Comfort Restaurant?
I was talking to a group of polyamorous friends recently when a woman made an interesting comment. She likened lovemaking with men other than her husband to fine dining—different, exciting, and occasionally exceptional. By contrast, she said, sex with her husband was like returning to her favorite restaurant—comfortable, consistent, and deeply satisfying. “Like an old […]