ron stempkowski

Dear, Diary…

Posted on January 29, 2016April 22, 2017 by Ron Stempkowski

When I’m in the mood or just when I run across them on the shelf in my bedroom, I love to pull out one of my old diaries and read a few entries. It’s a portal to a different time. A different me. ... Read More

The Special of Today

Posted on January 12, 2016April 22, 2017 by Ron Stempkowski

Today is my sister’s birthday. It always has been. As long as I’ve been on earth. It was the first thing I thought of today when I looked at the date on the calendar to medicate my dog Kal... Read More

Peter Comes Home with a Secret: A Story of Christmas, Coffee and Coming Out

Posted on December 14, 2015December 13, 2015 by Ron Stempkowski

Back in the days of only three broadcast networks, no one was in as big a rush as they are today. Commercials seemed epically long and some of them were like mini serials. Remember the Taster’s... Read More

5 Years of “The Xanax Diary”

Posted on December 7, 2015December 7, 2015 by Ron Stempkowski

It seems like I’ve always had this blog; that it has always been here to engage me and calm me and focus me and distract me. But I haven’t. I’ve always written for those reasons, bu... Read More

The Club No One Wants to Belong To

Posted on November 15, 2015October 14, 2017 by Ron Stempkowski

I’m lucky in that I only go downtown to work in my company’s office once or twice a week—or sometimes not at all. I’ve worked from home for the better portion of the last ten years. (I can’t... Read More

Running for Chocolate

Posted on November 10, 2015November 12, 2015 by Ron Stempkowski

The Hot Chocolate 5k is the biggest race I’ve ever done—by far. I had my doubts about running in November in Chicago. But as Halloween gets packed up and put away and Thanksgiving and Christmas be... Read More

Exploring the 606

Posted on October 29, 2015November 2, 2015 by Ron Stempkowski

Living in a city like Chicago leaves a constant opportunity to explore new places and parts of the city–something I don’t do often enough. And something Ken was relentlessly good at remi... Read More

15k

Posted on October 11, 2015October 27, 2015 by Ron Stempkowski

Bright-eyed and bushy-tailed after my first 5k... Read More

On Ken's 50th Birthday

Posted on September 21, 2015July 12, 2017 by Ron Stempkowski

I’ve felt the pull of this day for a couple of weeks. Uneasiness and my social impotence returned, leaving me tired and usually in the desire of no one’s company. For someone as far down ... Read More

A Hoosier Boy’s State of Mind

Posted on September 12, 2015November 2, 2015 by Ron Stempkowski

As my knees buckled, and my body careened to the hard cement at the top of the steps, I could hear the kid next to me saying, “Don’t lock your knees.” How do you stand for hours in ... Read More

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