Author: Jordan Brady

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Combating Stereotypes Courtesy of a (Terrifying) Penguin Mask

Jordan Brady

This past summer my husband’s D&D group started a new campaign, and one day he sent me an Amazon link.  It led to this: An over-the-head penguin mask.  My husband can be a living non sequitur sometimes, so I had to stop for a moment and think hard about why he would send me this horrifying and tacky item out of the blue.  Then I remembered that his character for the new campaign was a penguin. I bought it for him, and I got to the page where Amazon shows you a list of things that other people who’ve looked … Continue reading Combating Stereotypes Courtesy of a (Terrifying) Penguin Mask

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I Don’t Survive the Apocalypse

Jordan Brady

If the world stopped right now – zombies, natural disaster, disease – and, as is likely to happen, you become one of hundreds of millions to quickly vanish in the ensuing panic, what would the few lucky survivors find in your home as they scavenge for supplies?  What could they eat?  What clothing is left behind?  Are there any first aid supplies?  Would your home be a safe place for them to stay?  Is it defensible?  If this hypothetical survivor is contemplative – which could be dangerous in a world where paying attention is likely the difference between life and … Continue reading I Don’t Survive the Apocalypse

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Frustrated

Jordan Brady

I spent a good deal of this past weekend frustrated.  It wasn’t “ruin-the-weekend” frustrated; more like “life’s-little-annoyances” frustrated.  I had three distinct frustrating events, each eliciting drastically different feelings that all still somehow could be described as “frustrating”.  The first frustrating experience of my weekend involved chocolate chip cookies.  That’s right, chocolate chip cookies.  Strap into your spaceship chair, close your eyes, and clench your butt muscles in preparation for warp speed, because we are heading for the Worm Hole of Serious Conversation.  I am not an excellent cook or baker by any means, but given a recipe, a kitchen, … Continue reading Frustrated

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A Storm Passes South

Jordan Brady

My window is a black rectangle at night.  When sitting on the couch the angle is enough to hide the lights of the town below, and only the cell towers lazily blinking – three red points, two white – on the distant hills that pass for river bluffs in this part of the world are visible.  When the night is overcast, these towers serve as poor substitutes for stars.  Persistent flashes of bright white light observed from the corner of my eye distract me from the television.  There it is again, and again.  Lightning, nature’s strobe light.  A storm system … Continue reading A Storm Passes South

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Staring Out A Window

Jordan Brady

Whenever I’m searching for words I reflexively stare out the window.  I let them tumble around a little in my head before I try and put them on paper or a screen.  This means it looks like I daydream way more than I write, but I prefer that to staring blankly at a pen or keyboard.  When I stare out a window it feels like I might be imagining something.  When I stare at a pen or keyboard it feels like writer’s block.  Occasionally when I stare out the window, I see cool things, such as the storm front on … Continue reading Staring Out A Window

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A Beginning

Jordan Brady

When writing, your first sentence, and your first 100 words, should draw the reader in and hook them. I have already failed at this, because that sentence you just read is an overused cliche that isn’t really interesting to readers despite its undeniable validity to the writing process. Despite this questionable choice, I’m going to keep writing on the assumption that anyone who actually reads this blog post will fall into one of four categories: You’re my mom (Hi Mom. I love you too) You’re a family member or friend who feels obligated to check out whatever I’ve decided to … Continue reading A Beginning