Bill Brenner

Let’s Stop Calling It Ground Zero

by Bill Brenner September 19, 2011 Communication Skills

I’ve written a lot about 9-11 in this blog. How could I avoid it? Nothing has fueled the fear, anxiety and depression of a nation like that terrible day. Whenever I’m here, I visit Ground Zero. Part of it is a need to pay my respects to all who died there. Some of it is an obsessive-compulsive impulse. A lot of it is that whenever I see the construction workers hauling ass down there, it inspires…  [Read More]

I’m Told I Repeat Myself A Lot

by Bill Brenner September 17, 2011 Communication Skills

Update March 19, 2012: I touched on this issue in today’s Salted Hash blog post on @CSOonline. There has been some good discussion on the matter of how often to tweet and how best to achieve variety. After reading this from my friend @Beaker, I remembered that I had indeed touched on the issue here as well… I’m asked a lot lately why I push out multiple posts through the day and why many of…  [Read More]

They Say You Shouldn’t Go To Bed Angry

by Bill Brenner September 17, 2011 Family

When Erin and I were still engaged, we did the two-day marriage course that the Catholic Church makes you take before you can get married (Pre-Cana). We got this priceless advice early on: “Never go to bed angry with each other.” We’ve worked hard in 13 years of marriage to follow that advice. When we argue, as any married couple does, we always try to work out our differences and make up before going to…  [Read More]

Some Days It’s The Best Thing To Do…

by Bill Brenner September 17, 2011 Communication Skills

Losing Friends

by Bill Brenner September 17, 2011 Adventures in writing

I find myself worried this morning that, by opening up in this blog, I’ve lost another dear friend. That’s the challenge with expressing one’s feelings publicly: Even when you think you’re taking care to protect one’s privacy, leaving out names and such, you find a way to hurt someone anyway. Writing this blog has been a lifesaver most days. A lot of people have told me it helps them. But sometimes I curse the day…  [Read More]

For Brian On His Wedding Day

by Bill Brenner September 17, 2011 Family

My stepbrother is getting hitched today. Here’s a little song in honor of his special day:

A Relapse Isn’t The End Of The World

by Bill Brenner September 16, 2011 Addiction

When a person relapses back into addictive behavior, it seems like the end of the world. Everything they’ve worked for is in ashes, and they embrace their old demon with reckless abandon. It shouldn’t have to be that way. Mood music: [spotify:track:1JKiRbc7uA6B9QrO3I1zZH] I’m thinking hard about this because I came close to a relapse recently, and a friend now finds himself in a full, free-falling backslide. A lot of people have a hard time seeing…  [Read More]

Before You Punch That Guy In The Teeth, Play These

by Bill Brenner September 15, 2011 Coping tools

Like any human being, I have days where my attitude sucks and I want to punch someone in the teeth. I never really would, but I can see how easy it is to cross the line. Today is one of those days. It’s been a tough week, though it has been highlighted by some beautiful moments. When a week is rough, Thursdays are usually the day lava starts pouring from my eyes and ears. That’s…  [Read More]

The Wit And Wisdom Of Duncan Brenner

by Bill Brenner September 15, 2011 Children's issues

Today is Duncan’s 8th birthday, and we’re all very proud of him. In honor of this special day, I share with you some of my favorite Duncanisms. Let’s begin with his retelling of the morning he was born: Mood music: What happened: Erin’s labor pains came on violently and we rushed to the car. I sped out of the driveway and slammed the pedal to the floor as we approached the train tracks. As we…  [Read More]

I Miss The Fighting

by Bill Brenner September 13, 2011 Communication Skills

In yet another sign that I’m not playing with a full deck, I realized this morning that I miss the fighting between my best friend and his father. Mood music: It’s another stray memory that came to the surface as I went to the wake and funeral for Al Marley. Al and Sean used to have some blistering arguments at the dining room table over religion and politics, appearances — you name it. At the…  [Read More]

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