MonoRail. Noun.
Mono as is one. Rail as in to vent and rouse.

There is nothing I own that I value more than the collection of memories and stories captured on this website, as well as the subsequent conversations and friendships that maintaining this web property has afforded me. Thank you to all who participated.

The storytelling will continue, just not from this particular spot.

Bookguy and I shared a ski lift with two older men. We struck up a conversation as people do on the leisurely ascents up a ski hill. They mentioned they were from Oklahoma. We said we had been through there once. To this, one of the guys said:

If you are ever told you just have just one year left to live, you should move to Oklahoma.

Really? Why’s that?

Because a yea...

If there is one thing I hoped to get to on the Monorail but never did, it was to hold a poll on who sported the best hair in the DeArmitt-Walter family. There’s some in-house debate about this. Baya was an early front runner but as we all know, it's not about where you start the race. Multiple people have waged compelling arguments about a mane's potential in which case Aleo would have always stood a fighting chance. Though recently, Anfer has made a late and admirable push for consideration, and no doubt has game to give. However you cut it (just a bit off the top please), we are all fortunate and grateful souls for the beautiful heads of hair each of us were gifted.

My tattoo.

In 2023, I began a new ritual. Every morning, I write a number on my hand. It is the number of days until I turn eighty years old. The reason I chose eighty is because of a man I play tennis with in Michigan. When he was eighty, he was still more fit than many college kids and was giving me ten kinds of problems on the tennis court (I was 55). Inspired by his life approach and...

This will be the last week the Monorail and Monthly Photo Galley will be updated. What these two sections have in common is that they are areas that require routine attention. One of the many things I’ve learned managing this website over the last 25 years is that publishing on a schedule does not always produce one’s most thoughtful content. There was a time where that was more ok. But that time has passed, and I want, no, I need the things I make to be more deeply considered and never rushed.

I’ve tried a number of things to combat this failing, but have concluded I’m using the wrong tool for the job. So I’m setting that tool down. Going forward, I’m not sure when things will be released. Further, I’m not even sure all future creations will be released here (like a new photo contest I have in mind). While this has been a remarkably versatile platform over the years, there are limitations.

You’re welcome to check in from time to time as I do intend to continue using the site as a repository for conversations (TroyScripts), books & quotes (What I’m Reading), some photos (new panorama gallery), and longer-form writing (brand new section coming soon).