Author Archives: PMcG

Burbling borscht

As I often do while trying to think up new ways of saying nothing, I anchored my elbow on the arm of my desk chair and, into the splay of my fingers, I rested my chin–which, one might describe (if … Continue reading

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Shaking the sillies out

I held a press conference to announce my candidacy in 2016, but a lot of you weren’t there. Oh, yes, I noticed each and every one of you who didn’t show up, even after I sent all those engraved invitations. … Continue reading

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Run, you peckerwood

Can’t get started on your Great American novel? Don’t despair because A.) It probably won’t be any good anyway. B.) It will never get published and C.) It probably won’t be any good anyway. Still, to avoid writer’s block when … Continue reading

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Wake up and smell

Saw a movie the other night where Denzel Washington demanded kidnappers give him Proof of Life that the person he was trying to ransom was still alive. Still alive. Or as Monty Python would have it “Not quite dead yet.” … Continue reading

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The duck commander

While waiting at a stop sign for further instructions, I started thinking about the presumptions made by the boys and girls down at the highway department. When they decide what goes on a highway sign they presume that we—the un-neutered, … Continue reading

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1955 green linoleum

The New York Times interviewed me for a feature on novelists who are unpublished because they aren’t tall. Or, in some cases, because they are too tall. I agreed on the off chance a publisher might see it and say … Continue reading

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F.A.Stupid.Q. What is Redacted?

Q. Journalists complain about documents being redacted. What does  that mean? A. The short answer is I can’t tell you Q.Is there a longer answer? A. Maybe. Q. My mother said if I asked politely that you would tell me. … Continue reading

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