Matthew's Blog
The Muddy Middle: Novel Writing and Hip Surgery
In novel writing there is the challenge of “the muddy middle.” The interest of the opening is over (usually 20%) , and the exciting climax of the ending has yet to come (usually 15-20%). It's the middle part, the 55-60%, which can make or break a book. Curiously, my...
On Going To Conferences
For the moment, we are in a CoVid lull, and in-person conferences (both medical and writing) are back. I have found attending in-person medical conferences has usually involved some blending of three purposes: to learn, to connect, and to have fun. There was usually...
Lessons From My Cat: Finding Delight
My cat, Roo, finds delight in the simplest of things: a peacock feather, a thrown Temptation, a little bit of grass, a box to sleep in, and a cat tree to jump from. Now, for me, the foundation of a life well-lived means a life of purpose, a life of meaning. But...
My Blog is Boring
My wife thinks my blog is boring. She thinks it’s too unfocused to attract a consistent readership, and too idiosyncratic to keep them. She’s also pretty sure it will never attract a large readership. In other words, from a digital business perspective, she thinks...
My Odd Relationship With My Disabled Parking Pass
I have an odd relationship with my temporary disabled parking pass. On the one hand, two weeks out from my hip surgery, it's very useful. Because disabled parking spaces have a good buffer of space on the sides of my car, it allows me to swing my door wide open,...
Knowing vs. Doing
Knowing how to eat well is one thing; eating well is another.Knowing to save for a rainy day in one thing; saving for a rainy day is another.Knowing to exercise every day is one thing; getting up at six a.m. to go for a walk is another. Knowing I have to do something...
My Rookie Tweeting Mistake
I've tweeted over 16,400 times, yet I continue to make a rookie mistake: I post a comment to a tweet I am interested in, and then, 1-2 minutes later, I delete it. Why did I originally write the comment? Usually because it's a topic I am fired up about. But then why...
My Two Week Hip Replacement Update
As I write this post, I am exactly two weeks out from my hip replacement. Although it's a big surgery (and no surgery, let alone a big one, is an enjoyable experience) the post-op course has been smooth. I've needed no pain medicines other than the occasional Tylenol,...
The Joy of Standing Pain-Free
The day after my hip replacement—for the first time in 2 years—I was able to stand up in the kitchen pain-free. Sure, I had some post-op bruising and swelling around my hip so it wasn't comfortable, but the arthritic pain (the pain within the joint) was 100% gone. I...