Stories


	One of my hobbies is writing short stories.

There are only a few links to my stories at this time.


	*The Man of the Ward*

My novella chronicalling my work as a specialist in the Elgin State Mental Hospital.
I created a book-on-tape version of this work and that effort gave me a whole new appreciation for those people who read books for thier listeners.


	*Family Owned!*

A bizarre and funny novella about working as an Information Technology professional in a highly dysfunctional family owned business. (submitted to the Chicago Tribune’s 2003 Nelson Algren contest).


	*Uncle Chuck’s Plucks*

The death of my uncle Chuck, the prankster.


	*Chicken Rats*

A frightening morning in the railyards while working as a brakeman.


	*The Farm Hand*

I took a weekend job working on a farm in southern Illinois to make money to see a concert in Macomb.
(submitted to Atlantic Monthly)


*Jimmy Two Pants*

	A search for an old friend.

	*My Vasectomy*

	The truth about a vasectomy.

		*No Failure at Phelander’s*

Vindication of a failed attempt to swim the length of Lake Geneva by working in a flooded basement many years later.


	*Peppermint Raspberries*

One of the most difficult interviews of my life due to the unusual handicap of the interviewee.


	*The Dog House*

My dad’s dog, Dresden and their relationship.


	*Homeless Man*

Pulling a prank on a young team of Arthur Andersen auditors during the final days of my companie’s bankruptcy.


	*The Silence of the Pigs*

High school biology class and dissecting recently deceased baby pigs.


	*The Snickers Mole*

Removal of a mole under my nose and my daughter’s fright.


	*My Colonoscopy*

What was I worried about? It was no big deal, but it could have been.


	*The Zen Master and Afondasia*

A search for a higher meaning in college.


	*Satan’s Clubhouse*

Growing up a Catholic and being caught with Playboy Magazines in my clubhouse by Father Cheevers.


	*My Hedonistic Adventure*

I went on a business golf outing and a few days later something amazing happened.


	*Who Moved My Toilet?!*

A rant about being out of work and having to read that ridiculous book about the moved cheese.


	*The Little Man’s Cigars*

Remembering an incident in my wild youth about a visit from a stranger.
Submitted to JR Cigar’s writing contest - Won second place!


	(Click the picture)


	*The Conductor of the Easter Town Rachmaninoffs*

Working in a local theme park in the late 1960’s and teaching chickens how to play the piano.


	[Home] [Professional] [Family] [Drawings] [Stories] [The Man of the Ward] [Uncle Chuck's Plucks] [Chicken Rats] [Jimmy Two-pants] [My Vasectomy] [Homeless Man] [My Colonoscopy] [The Zen Master and Afondasia] [Who Moved My Toilet] [The Silence of the Pigs] [Contact] [Personal] [Events]