The actions of a random stranger proved the existence of kind people in the world — I have to pay it forward after the experience I recently had. I had gone across the street to the gas station to get cigarettes, milk, and a few other basics. Before going, I checked my bank balance to ensure I had enough money. I did. Once I got everything…

A second, darker stoner’s analysis of death’s design — I attended a writing group earlier tonight and one of the prompts triggered another essay about death’s design, this one darker. Life is but a fleeting sensation. It lasts a moment, and then it’s over. …

Does the Grim Reaper have a plan for everyone or is death random? — I was recently stoned and watched the 2000 movie “Final Destination” (2000), where one of the characters foresees the explosion of the plane he’s on and disembarks. Some of his classmates try to stop him and seven students get off or get kicked off the flight. But everyone on that…

A poem — The peculiar scent of lilies always makes me think of you, Enticing me to look into the backyard of your life. The fences you erected, you hid your sorrows in the suitcase of your soul. But I can still see them. I can see the heavy cross-traffic of your thoughts…

The final trip — Serena spent the next two days weighing the pros and cons of going back in time 150 million years. Despite her con list being longer than her pro list, she had a visceral desire to see the magnificent animals. She had to go, regardless of how dangerous it might be. …

It’s one of my guardian angels — Cats are nocturnal animals. They sleep all day and are awake at night. If I wake up in the middle of the night to use the washroom or get a drink, my cat, Alex, takes it as a sign I’m awake and comes to me to pet her. I’ve always…

The Find — Dr. Serena Mulligan was hot, sweaty and dusty. She’d been excavating a dinosaur footprint fossil for over three hours, but it didn’t appear she had uncovered any more of the fossil. An experienced paleontologist, Serena knew excavating a fossil took time and patience. She was working alone, something she preferred…

The Past — Dr. Andrew Lerner leaned back in his leather chair, running a hand through his blond hair. Dr. Serena Mulligan, a paleontologist, had found his writings from his travel back 150 million years. …

Chasing away the winter blues — Last weekend we changed the clocks, losing whatever natural light was left. This can result in the ‘winter blues,’ not to be confused with depression from Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD). SAD vs. The Winter Blues The winter blues are characterized by sadness in the fall and winter months, some trouble sleeping and a lack of…