ESSAYS Archives - Semi-Rad.com

Things Are Different Now

by brendan on July 27, 2023

In some of the more romantic fantasies I’ve had of how my life might look,…

MAKE 2023 THE YEAR OF MAXIMUM ENTHUSIASM

by brendan on December 29, 2022

FIRST, SOME HISTORY AND CONTEXT: I first published this essay in 2012, and every year…

Adventures In Radical Incrementalism

by brendan on December 1, 2022

Near the end of each year, I have a ritual I like to do: I…

We Interrupt Your Expectations To Bring You Your Actual Marathon

by brendan on November 10, 2022

The day before the New York City Marathon, walking in Central Park up to the…

Maybe I’m Not “Having Trouble Sleeping”

by brendan on November 3, 2022

The first time I had trouble sleeping at night was one Christmas Eve when I…

AC/DC, Life

by brendan on October 20, 2022

I. 1994 There were two CDs that sat next to the stereo in the weight…

One Of The Smartest Things Anyone Has Ever Said To Me

by brendan on September 22, 2022

A long time ago, I used to think it was a good idea to confront…

A Pessimist Plants A Tree

by brendan on September 8, 2022

[papercut art by Anna Brones] To listen to this essay on YouTube, click here: https://youtu.be/95ibA5Lo6aM…

He Was Just A Dog

by brendan on June 30, 2022

My dog died Tuesday. He had been battling lymphoma since early May, doing well with…

I Have Been Frying Eggs Wrong My Entire Life, Probably

by brendan on May 19, 2022

One of my greatest sources of wonder in life: At every breakfast joint I’ve ever…

Unearned Confidence Vs. Humility

by brendan on April 21, 2022

My friend Ace and I were hiking somewhere in the Utah desert several years ago…

There’s No Way I Could Have Seen This Totally Predictable Injury Coming

by brendan on March 10, 2022

“I don’t know if it’s luck or just taking it kind of easy, but I’ve…

Nostalgia: A Hobby, A Habit, A Survival Tactic

by brendan on January 27, 2022

At some point during the second or third episode of Once Upon a Time In…

Shoveling Season Is Upon Us

by brendan on January 13, 2022

Yooooooo we got a foot of fresh powder around here the other day, and you…

Make 2022 The Year Of Maximum Enthusiasm

by brendan on December 30, 2021

Note: I first wrote and published this post on December 29, 2011, calling it “Make…

My Friend Says It’s The Greatest Race In The World

by brendan on November 11, 2021

Just after the crest of the Verrazzano-Narrows Bridge, the longest and highest climb of the…

I Recommend Wikipedia

by brendan on October 21, 2021

Have you ever pulled your phone out of your pocket to do something useful, like…

Taking A Break

by brendan on August 19, 2021

—Brendan

Because You Never Know

by brendan on August 5, 2021

When it comes to my dog’s favorite humans, I will never be Number One. In…

The Old Bike-In-A-Bag Trick

by brendan on July 29, 2021

If you’re trying to sneak stuff onto public transportation, there are certainly many ways to…

Surely These Notebooks Will Help Me Create Amazing Things

by brendan on June 17, 2021

Perhaps you know someone like me, a person who cannot resist buying notebooks of all…

Getting Up Early: An Ode, A Lament

by brendan on May 20, 2021

Some mornings, after I have been jarred out of a deep sleep far too early…

The Joy Of Planning Trips I’ll Never Take

by brendan on April 22, 2021

I was opening a fifth browser tab when I caught myself. Researching an 600+-mile bike…

Going Fast, Going Far

by brendan on April 8, 2021

Even when I was just taping off my steps before the race started, I was…

I Hate Running

by brendan on February 25, 2021

[NOTE: To mark the publication of my new book, I Hate Running and You Can…

Make 2021 The Year Of Maximum Enthusiasm

by brendan on December 30, 2020

Note: I first wrote and published this post on December 29, 2011, calling it “Make…

The Life-Changing Magic Of Ignoring The Ratings

by brendan on October 15, 2020

Several years ago, I had an idea to collect some bad Yelp reviews of U.S.…