http://www.iknowhowitis.com An Online Community Magazine/Podcast of Essays, Short Stories, and Social Commentary Fri, 07 May 2010 03:24:02 +0000 en hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.0.1 2008-2009 jmh@iknowhowitis.com (J. Michael Haas) jmh@iknowhowitis.com (J. Michael Haas) posts 1440 Personal Journal, Gay, Culture The personal journal of J. Michael Haas, memoirist, actor, musician and podcasting personality. This podcast will consist of stories of life, love, and observations of the society at large. J. Michael Haas J. Michael Haas jmh@iknowhowitis.com No yes http://www.iknowhowitis.com/ikhii150.jpg http://www.iknowhowitis.com 144 144 http://www.iknowhowitis.com/?p=100 http://www.iknowhowitis.com/?p=100#comments Fri, 07 May 2010 01:43:37 +0000 J.M. http://www.iknowhowitis.com/?p=100 http://www.iknowhowitis.com/?feed=rss2&p=100 0 7:18 It's Spring. nbsp;Time to box up the winter sweaters, open the windows, and air your life out. nbsp;In the Spring of 2007, I was living ... It's Spring. nbsp;Time to box up the winter sweaters, open the windows, and air your life out. nbsp;In the Spring of 2007, I was living alone for the first time in my whole life and decided it was time for a massive Spring Cleaning. This story is called "Out with the Old" it was written and performed in April of 2007. Personal,Journal,,Gay,,Culture J. Michael Haas yes No http://www.iknowhowitis.com/?p=97 http://www.iknowhowitis.com/?p=97#comments Sun, 25 Oct 2009 20:07:10 +0000 J.M. http://www.iknowhowitis.com/?p=97 http://www.iknowhowitis.com/?feed=rss2&p=97 0 9:44 As Fall settles in, the leave change to brilliant orange and red.nbsp; The baseball season ends; football kicks off and I am left scratching my ... As Fall settles in, the leave change to brilliant orange and red.nbsp; The baseball season ends; football kicks off and I am left scratching my head when people around me ask about who I think will win any given game, I am reminded of my history with sports and how, as a child, I was forced to give all of them a try. This story is called ldquo;Strike Threerdquo; it was written and performed in 2005. Podcast J. Michael Haas yes No http://www.iknowhowitis.com/?p=85 http://www.iknowhowitis.com/?p=85#comments Sun, 30 Aug 2009 18:37:47 +0000 J.M. http://www.iknowhowitis.com/?p=85 http://www.iknowhowitis.com/?feed=rss2&p=85 1 6:17 Throughout the generations, people have expressed their anger, their joy, their confusion, their indignation, their pain, with expletives and adjectives that bring a curtain extreme ... Throughout the generations, people have expressed their anger, their joy, their confusion, their indignation, their pain, with expletives and adjectives that bring a curtain extreme tone to their point.nbsp; These very same words, when uttered by children, send parents past the threshold the rational thought and straight for a bar of soap. nbsp;This story was written and performed in 2006, itrsquo;s called. Watch Your Mouth! Podcast J. Michael Haas yes No http://www.iknowhowitis.com/?p=80 http://www.iknowhowitis.com/?p=80#comments Sun, 16 Aug 2009 00:41:04 +0000 J.M. http://www.iknowhowitis.com/?p=80 http://www.iknowhowitis.com/?feed=rss2&p=80 0 33:44 From 1999 until 2002, I worked for a summer enrichment program at Childrenrsquo;s Home in Iowa. nbsp;Working with youth in need was far and away ... From 1999 until 2002, I worked for a summer enrichment program at Childrenrsquo;s Home in Iowa. nbsp;Working with youth in need was far and away the most rewarding job of my life.nbsp; These children, through their bravery taught me about life and love, hope and faith.nbsp; In 2005, I wrote a 4 part story cycle about my time there and I present to you in its entirety. This is The Lost Boys. Podcast J. Michael Haas no No http://www.iknowhowitis.com/?p=75 http://www.iknowhowitis.com/?p=75#comments Sun, 26 Jul 2009 00:10:04 +0000 J.M. http://www.iknowhowitis.com/?p=75 http://www.iknowhowitis.com/?feed=rss2&p=75 4 11:29 Leaving school with a performance degree is always a tricky thing.nbsp; You are filled with hopes and dreams that your name will be in lights ... Leaving school with a performance degree is always a tricky thing.nbsp; You are filled with hopes and dreams that your name will be in lights in no timehellip; then reality crashes down on you, your bills are due, your checking account is overdrawn, your credit cards are maxed out and the only food left in your cupboard is half a roll of stale saltine crackers. But you are an artist, and you make it work. You find time to audition and you get a second jobhellip; at Starbuckshellip; just like me. This story is called Venti Working Man, it was written and performed in 2005. Podcast J. Michael Haas yes No http://www.iknowhowitis.com/?p=71 http://www.iknowhowitis.com/?p=71#comments Sat, 18 Jul 2009 02:21:18 +0000 J.M. http://www.iknowhowitis.com/?p=71 http://www.iknowhowitis.com/?feed=rss2&p=71 0 14:51 The Big Apple, The city that never sleeps, A town so nice, they named it twice.nbsp; In the summer of 2006, I spent a week ... The Big Apple, The city that never sleeps, A town so nice, they named it twice.nbsp; In the summer of 2006, I spent a week in New York City, visiting friends, seeing shows, but mostly to be a tourist. Little did I know I would experience an awakening; a renaissance. Podcast J. Michael Haas yes No http://www.iknowhowitis.com/?p=64 http://www.iknowhowitis.com/?p=64#comments Sat, 01 Nov 2008 21:21:50 +0000 J.M. http://www.iknowhowitis.com/?p=64 http://www.iknowhowitis.com/?feed=rss2&p=64 0 7:12 In 2006, the people of this nation voted for change when the Democratic candidates overwhelmingly took over the house and the senate.nbsp; This was a ... In 2006, the people of this nation voted for change when the Democratic candidates overwhelmingly took over the house and the senate.nbsp; This was a clear message to the powers that be that the American people were fed up with what was going on; the war, the fear, and an ignorance of human decency that seemed to permeate the current administration.nbsp; This Tuesday, the American people has that opportunity again.nbsp; We can change this nation for the better. We will only need your hope for the future, and your vote. This story was written and performed in November of 2006, right before the elections. Itrsquo;s called, Worth The Fight Podcast J. Michael Haas yes No http://www.iknowhowitis.com/?p=61 http://www.iknowhowitis.com/?p=61#comments Sun, 05 Oct 2008 21:19:09 +0000 J.M. http://www.iknowhowitis.com/?p=61 http://www.iknowhowitis.com/?feed=rss2&p=61 0 15:10 Every October, high schools, colleges, and universities celebrate a homecoming.nbsp; This gives their alumni a chance to come back, see a football game, and visit ... Every October, high schools, colleges, and universities celebrate a homecoming.nbsp; This gives their alumni a chance to come back, see a football game, and visit with their friends that they may not have seen since they graduated.nbsp; For me, this has always been a great opportunity to see how old, bald, and fat people gotten.nbsp; But most importantly, to relive, if only for a weekend, the carelessness, simplicity and stupidity of college life. This story was written and performed in October of 2007. Its called, The Fainting Goat Podcast J. Michael Haas yes No http://www.iknowhowitis.com/?p=58 http://www.iknowhowitis.com/?p=58#comments Sun, 21 Sep 2008 21:16:23 +0000 J.M. http://www.iknowhowitis.com/?p=58 http://www.iknowhowitis.com/?feed=rss2&p=58 0 10:21 Going to the dentist is something that people, young and old, fear alike. Between the sound of the drill, the sterile smell of the clinic, ... Going to the dentist is something that people, young and old, fear alike. Between the sound of the drill, the sterile smell of the clinic, the scraping of teeth with sharp metal instruments or the panic that you feel when you realized that you probably having flossed as much as you should have, the anxiety of sitting in that chair is enough to make people put it off until it is absolutely necessary. The first time you go to the dentist as a child however, you know nothing of whatrsquo;s to come. This story was written and performed in 2005, itrsquo;s called Tooth Hurty. Podcast J. Michael Haas yes No http://www.iknowhowitis.com/?p=55 http://www.iknowhowitis.com/?p=55#comments Sun, 14 Sep 2008 21:13:51 +0000 J.M. http://www.iknowhowitis.com/?p=55 http://www.iknowhowitis.com/?feed=rss2&p=55 0 7:57 One of the most important things in a fathers life is his legacy. The values and traditions that were instilled in them by their fathers ... One of the most important things in a fathers life is his legacy. The values and traditions that were instilled in them by their fathers hold special meaning and urgency to pass on to their children.nbsp; Unfortunately, sometimes their kids are resistant to bare the family crest. In my family, the tradition is fishing and I, a very unwilling fisherman. This story was written and performed in 2001.nbsp; Its called Gone Fishinrsquo;. Podcast J. Michael Haas yes No http://www.iknowhowitis.com/?p=52 http://www.iknowhowitis.com/?p=52#comments Sun, 07 Sep 2008 21:08:22 +0000 J.M. http://www.iknowhowitis.com/?p=52 http://www.iknowhowitis.com/?feed=rss2&p=52 0 6:31 If there is one thing that we, as a people, should never underestimate it is the imagination and creativity of youth.nbsp; This imagination can manifest ... If there is one thing that we, as a people, should never underestimate it is the imagination and creativity of youth.nbsp; This imagination can manifest into a refrigerator box that turns into a space ship, a fort made of a card table and blankets can be a castle, or a pink costume dress can ordain a princess. One of the more popular uses of my young creativity was playing House. This story was written in 1998. Its the second part in my preschool series.nbsp; Its called, Eat This. Podcast J. Michael Haas yes No http://www.iknowhowitis.com/?p=48 http://www.iknowhowitis.com/?p=48#comments Sat, 30 Aug 2008 21:04:59 +0000 J.M. http://www.iknowhowitis.com/?p=48 http://www.iknowhowitis.com/?feed=rss2&p=48 0 12:05 Itrsquo;s back to school time. The summer of leisure for kids across the nation is now ending and it is time to back to the ... Itrsquo;s back to school time. The summer of leisure for kids across the nation is now ending and it is time to back to the days of structure, homework, and social interaction.nbsp; I always remember the first day of school to be an exciting time.nbsp; My brand new backpack filled with brand new school supplies; my new trapper keeper, my new pencils, my new homework planner that I would use for about a week and then never touch again. I would get to see all the friends that I didnrsquo;t see all summer and life would start anew.nbsp; However, there was one first day, the very first day, which I was not so excited about.nbsp; It was my first day of preschool. This story was written in 1998 as one of two parts in my preschool series.nbsp; Itrsquo;s called Emergency Pants. Podcast J. Michael Haas yes No http://www.iknowhowitis.com/?p=44 http://www.iknowhowitis.com/?p=44#comments Sat, 23 Aug 2008 20:57:18 +0000 J.M. http://www.iknowhowitis.com/?p=44 http://www.iknowhowitis.com/?feed=rss2&p=44 0 00:01:01 The subject of race has been put in the forefront of American politics as we get ready to elect the first African American man as ... The subject of race has been put in the forefront of American politics as we get ready to elect the first African American man as the president of the United States.nbsp; While in a perfect world, the color of someonersquo;s skin wouldnrsquo;t matter; they wouldnrsquo;t have to have polls that asked likely voters if the country is ready for a black president. In 1984, the subject of race entered my life when my mother bought me a black Cabagepatch Kid, who I named Timothy-John. This story was written and performed in July of 2005. Podcast J. Michael Haas yes No http://www.iknowhowitis.com/?p=23 http://www.iknowhowitis.com/?p=23#comments Fri, 15 Aug 2008 16:58:25 +0000 J.M. http://www.iknowhowitis.com/?p=23 http://www.iknowhowitis.com/?feed=rss2&p=23 0 15:26 One of the biggest transitions in life, if not the biggest, is the one that happens while you are in middle school.nbsp; Between the braces ... One of the biggest transitions in life, if not the biggest, is the one that happens while you are in middle school.nbsp; Between the braces face, the oily skin, the changing voice, and a constant and annoying erection, you are some how supposed to get an education.nbsp; Tonight, my Middle School story, written and performed in 2004. Podcast J. Michael Haas no No