 Welcome to The BackpageMy dream job has always been to be the guy who writes the article on the back page of a magazine. Actually, "Pop-Up Video Researcher" is a very close second when it comes to dream jobs, but I don't think they make Pop-Up Videos any more. It's kind of sad to think that all those guys are out of work, huh? The back page author has the opportunity to be funny and poignant without being too controversial. If anyone makes a fuss he can always say, "Hey, back off! It's just the back page! It's not a real article!" That'd be one sweet gig. When I started this webpage I knew one thing I'd want was a backpage section. In my real life job I do a lot of creative writing. It's something I've come to really enjoy and I think I have a certain amount of skill for. Wait...should that be "and for which I have a certain amount of skill?!?!" Where's an editor when you need one?!?! Either way, there are few things I find more humbling and gratifying than receiving a compliment or--more amazingly enough--a "thank you" for something I've written. I cannot express how much that means to me. At the very least I hope you enjoy reading these articles as much as I enjoyed writing them. And if you ever hear of a Pop-Up Video revival please let me know. Bret |
|
|
Written by Bret Hammond
|
When You Can't Do It Yourself I SAT in the driver's seat and peered across the hood at what seemed like an open ravine below me. My brother-in-law and I were spending the afternoon knocking out a few caches far south of our normal area. The map on the  GPS clearly showed a road in front of us. However reality showed that road had gone from pavement to gravel to dirt and now we were looking down into a running stream that blocked us from the other side. We knew another paved road was waiting for us just a few yards ahead, but getting there was more work than our two dimensional maps had let on. "Hmmm," I said, "looks like we'll have to turn back." "What do you mean, 'turn back?'" he countered. "You have four-wheel drive. Use it." | |
|
Read more...
|
|
|
Written by Bret Hammond
|
Easter I HAVE to admit; I put off Easter as long as possible. Back when we first got married, Trish and I decided that the focus of Easter would be nothing more than the resurrection of Christ. There would be no bunnies, no eggs, no Easter grass, no marshmallow peeps and no chocolate eggs (ok…maybe some chocolate eggs). | |
|
Read more...
|
|
|
Written by Bret Hammond
|
Dealing Withthe Winter Blahs ONE sociologist I read maintained that the long Nordic winters contributed to the violent behavior of the Vikings. They would huddle together in their communal homes for weeks—maybe months—sitting around the fire staring at the same person sitting on the other side of the fire. It almost seems understandable that sooner or later someone would snap; grab an axe and say, "Let's go pillage something!" | |
|
Read more...
|
|
|
Written by Bret Hammond
|
On Turning Forty As of the date of this writing, I am two days away from entering my fourth decade. On June 29th I will be two score years old (I can't tell if that sounds better or worse than saying I'll be forty). I have friends who were genuinely traumatized when they turned forty. What keeps me sane though is the realization that they are all older than me . . . and they always will be. | |
|
Read more...
|
|
|
Written by Bret Hammond
|
The Krispy KremeExperience SCOTT LIVENGOOD is passionate about his job, but why shouldn’t he be? He’s the CEO of Krispy Kreme Doughnuts. If you’ve ever gone to a grocery or convenience store that sells Krispy Kremes, you might be a little passionate about them too. However, if you’ve never been to an actual Krispy Kreme Doughnuts store, you’re missing out on something! | |
|
Read more...
|
|
|
|
Backpage 
