Miles O'NealMay 31, 20191 minA Tale of Two ThunderbirdsI saw Lynyrd Skynyrd on their first big tour, opening for the Who in Atlanta. Both bass players that night (Leon Wilkeson for LS and John En
Miles O'NealMar 8, 20192 minNappy Headed ThingUp to this point we were just two normal-looking customers awaiting service, but eventually we felt we had to take action. "Keep Austin
Miles O'NealMar 1, 20192 minMy Brief Career as a Cartoonist"It's a joke, son, Ah say, it's a JOKE!" (I remember hearing Foghorn Leghorn in my head, and having to argue myself out of
Miles O'NealFeb 22, 20192 minLost StuffAll of us have lost, tossed, sold, or given away stuff over the years that we've later wished we hadn't. When I dropped out of college...
Miles O'NealFeb 15, 20191 minRiffing on the Past That Wasn't ThereYou're at a vow renewal where your spouse knows the bride, but you know only your spouse and two people sitting on the bride's side. At...
Miles O'NealFeb 8, 20193 minLove Your LibrariesI've read as far back as I can remember. During my teen years and most of my adult life, I read at least 2-3 books a week; during peak...
Miles O'NealFeb 1, 20191 minBrazen ShoreOn a brazen shore In southern Alabama Thousands of years ago Where false idols fell In a barren waste By a rocky cairn By a boat's dried...
Miles O'NealJan 25, 20191 minA Brief History of the TV Remote ControlWhen I was a kid, I was the remote. I had to actually get up and walk all the way to the TV to change the volume or channel. Or stop it...
Miles O'NealJan 18, 20194 minGrowing up Miles (T2 is for Train Trestle)"There's something about a train that needs watching. I think we forget that." -Neil Ellis Orts "In Soviet Russia, train watches you!"...
Miles O'NealJan 11, 20191 minDedication Part 2Twenty years or so ago, I was trying to get serious about writing. I wasn't getting anywhere, and experienced what we commonly call...
Miles O'NealJan 4, 20192 minMilestones vs GoalsI'm on author Dan Koboldt's email list. His new year's eve email included the nugget below based on something Tobias Buckell (another...
Miles O'NealDec 28, 20183 minDedication Part 1I had a number of influential teachers, but none more so for my writing than Ms. Marian Unger, my subversive high school senior year...
Miles O'NealDec 21, 20181 minSmile for the CamerasA bass player acquaintance related a story of his band's drummer making silly faces at their new singer during rehearsal. The singer took...
Miles O'NealDec 7, 20181 minStone Age CartoonsA year or so ago, there was a Facebook chain post asking who your favorite childhood cartoon character was. When I was a kid we didn't...
Miles O'NealNov 30, 20181 minEven More Ado About Nothing"Don't take life so serious, son ... It ain't no how permanent." -Porky Pine (Pogo comic strip) The same sentiment should apply to how we...
Miles O'NealJun 10, 20152 minThe Reality of my FantasyA recent Sunday NY Times column Sunday Book Review titled "Between Books" by Ann Packer contained the following bit which I found...
Miles O'NealMay 18, 20151 minThere is no box.I used to say, "I've written pretty much everything but novels and romance. I can't write those." Then I accidentally (yes, really!)...