Bill Brenner

Time To Kill The OCD Diaries?

by Bill Brenner February 8, 2012 Uncategorized

For a variety of reasons, I’m starting to wonder if it’s time to pull the pin on this grenade. There are good reasons to do so. Mood music: I started this blog to come clean about my demons and break all the stigmas attached to them. But I’m at the point where I’ve said about all I can say about it. –The emotionally-scarring back story? Check. –The story of how I used to be and…  [Read More]

Gisele Bundchen Ain’t My Cup ‘O Joe, But I Give Her A Pass On This One

by Bill Brenner February 7, 2012 Fitness

My interest in football is minimal. I love a good story of athletes overcoming the odds and showing us that anything’s possible. In that regard, Tom Brady is a hell of a role model. I’m also not a fan of the Patriots quarterback’s wife, Gisele Bundchen. Mood music: It’s nothing personal. The world of professional modeling and fashion bores me, except for the occasional episode of Project Runway. And that’s just to see the train wrecks. As…  [Read More]

Playing Chicken With The Wedding Train

by Bill Brenner February 6, 2012 Communication Skills

It’s a common pain in the ass when a couple is planning their wedding: Someone threatens to boycott the event unless so-and-so is uninvited. Mood music: In the run-up to my wedding in 1998, a close cousin pulled this when he got into a fight with my aunt — his mom. She went to the wedding and he skipped it. I haven’t seen or heard from him since then. Erin and I were paying for…  [Read More]

A Honey Badger Who Cares (A Little)

by Bill Brenner February 4, 2012 Lighthearted

I’m a big fan of the honey badger, widely regarded as the most fearless creature on Earth. In my efforts to spit in the face of fear, there has been no better role model. Behold: It’s been said that the honey badger doesn’t give a shit about anything. Some would say that’s not a positive attribute. But I choose to look at this with some tunnel vision. Anyone with a soul — good or bad…  [Read More]

The Job Performance Review

by Bill Brenner February 3, 2012 Job discrimination

A confession that probably won’t shock you: I used to turn into a pile of jelly each year when it was time for the job performance review most employed people endure every 12 months. Mood music: I bring this up because my annual review is Monday. Today I’m supposed to turn in my self-evaluation. And I feel an absolute lack of drama about it. Overconfidence? Perhaps. Apathy? Definitely not. It’s just another indication of where…  [Read More]

Three Suicides

by Bill Brenner February 2, 2012 Depression

It saddens me to see that three people — one a 12-year-old boy — chose to end their lives in recent days. Most of you heard about legendary “Soul Train” creator Don Cornelius. The other suicides are Mike Kelley, a famous artist who worked with the band Sonic Youth, and, most heartbreaking to me, 12-year-old Clifford Rodrigues of New Bedford, Mass. Mood music: According to WCVB Channel 5 News, emergency responders found Clifford Rodrigues, 12, unconscious. An uncle said…  [Read More]

To Those Who Can’t Stop Trollin’

by Bill Brenner February 1, 2012 Adventures in writing

“Fact: Energy powered by asshole fumes is unsustainable.” — Bill Brenner I get self-righteous in how I look down on people for trolling — throwing cryptic statements on the social networks that beg for attention. But I’m guilty of it, too. Mood music:  I can’t help but think of the Stooges song “Trolling” — especially these lyrics: You can’t tell me this is not a suave thing to do You can’t tell me ’cause I know…  [Read More]

Me And My Facebook Unfriend Finder

by Bill Brenner January 31, 2012 Communication Skills

Yesterday Mashable had an article about a new plug-in that alerts you when someone unfriends you, de-activates their page or ignores your friend request. Mood music: “That would be bad for my mental health,” I told myself, seconds before hitting the “install” button. I was reminded of the Black Flag song where Henry Rollins screams: You say you don’t want it You don’t want it Say you don’t want it Then you slip it on in…  [Read More]

A Confession (Or Four)

by Bill Brenner January 30, 2012 Coping tools

This is for those who believe in a higher power — especially the messed-up Catholics among us. Those who might take offense should go away and come back tomorrow.  I won’t think any less of you. In the Catholic Faith, there’s a Sacrament of Reconciliation — modern language for going to confession. Duncan did it for the first time Saturday. Sean, Erin and I used the occasion to do it, too. Because you tell your…  [Read More]

RIOT Guitarist Dies From Crohn’s Disease

by Bill Brenner January 26, 2012 Crohn's Disease

I’m sad to report that Mark Reale, founding guitarist of the legendary metal band RIOT, died yesterday from Crohn’s Disease complications. Mood music: Here’s the news from Blabbermouth, a heavy metal news site: Reale died yesterday (Wednesday, January 25) in a San Antonio hospital due to complications of Crohn’s disease — an ailment he had battled for most of his life. He was 56 years old. Reale had reportedly been in a coma for the past…  [Read More]

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