Reflections of Life in Our Town is a satirical look at life and values in small town America. The book is occasionally absurd, occasionally offensive, sometimes sensitive, but mostly just funny. Our Town does not exist in a time, nor does it really inhabit a specific place, though most of it's inhabitants believe that they are somewhere in Ohio, and all agree that they are definitely on the planet Earth. The citizens of Our Town live life pretty much as any Americans do, dealing with such issues as the spread of communism, the rise of the superstore, and rampaging ogres at the end of the street (?), as we all would. The cast of characters in Our Town is wildly varied, from the senile village elder, Grandpa Genkaku, to the physically indescribable Laughlin twins. There is a child prodigy with a fish bowl on her head, a many tentacled alien from the dark side of Saturn, and of course, the aforementioned ogres. Though varied, together they form a relatively tight community trying to cope with the trials of everyday life. And everyday life in Our Town is pretty much like life in any town. You have your good days and your bad; your successes and your failures. One day, a wandering band of angels is scandalizing the local women, the next day, the circus comes to town. Life is kind of like a roller coaster that way. The citizens of Our Town also offer forays into outer space in order to rediscover previously discovered planets, and a quest for god while in pursuit of a red balloon. While life in Our Town may not be quite as exciting as life in places like Toledo, we generally manage to fill our days quite well. So, these are my reflections of life in Our Town. While some may seem a bit bizarre at first glance, upon closer inspection, they really are not that much different from the things most people experience in life. After all, its about values, and an appreciation for the things which we hold most dear. So, join me as I take a stroll down memory lane. Relax, and have a laugh, just be careful not to step in any ogre $#!?...

A work of startling originality when it debuted in 1938, Thornton Wilder's Our Town evolved to be seen by some as a vintage slice of early 20th Century Americana, rather than being fully appreciated for its complex and eternal themes and its deceptively simple form. This unique and timely book shines a light on the play's continued impact in the 21st century and makes a case for the healing powers of Wilder's text to a world confronting multiple crises. Through extensive interviews with more than 100 artists about their own experience of the play and its impact on them professionally and personally – and including background on the play's early years and its pervasiveness in American culture – Another Day's Begun shows why this particular work remains so important, essential, and beloved. Every production of Our Town has a story to tell beyond Wilder's own. One year after the tragedy of 9/11, Paul Newman, in his final stage appearance, played the Stage Manager in Our Town on Broadway. Director David Cromer's 2008 Chicago interpretation would play in five more cities, ultimately becoming New York's longest-running Our Town ever. In 2013, incarcerated men at Sing Sing Correctional Facility brought Grover's Corners inside a maximum security prison. After the 2017 arena bombing in Manchester UK, the Royal Exchange Theatre chose Our Town as its offering to the stricken community. 80 years after it was written, more than 110 years after its actions take place, Our Town continues to assert itself as an essential play about how we must embrace and appreciate the value of life itself. Another Day's Begun explains how this American classic has the power to inspire, heal and endure in the modern day, onstage and beyond.

In this mix of memoir, guidebook, and travelogue, a married couple documents the year they took off from work and traveled the world together. Wait for me . . . Who knew these three words said to a near stranger would start an international travel adventure? A Year Off is one part memoir, one part travel essays and one part travel guide, documenting the story of Alexandra and David Brown, a couple who decided to take a year off from their jobs and “regular lives” to travel the world together after only knowing each other for four months. Each chapter tackles a different part of the journey, including: -Practical takeaways for how to take the same leap and travel, like tips on budgeting, planning, pacing and adjusting to culture shock -A look into David and Alexandra’s story as they traveled the world together and got to know one another -Colorful memories of their travels, like a dramatic kayak ride in Milford Sound, New Zealand, an emotional evening in India, a life-changing meal in the Loire Valley, France, a hilarious makeover in Romania . . . and many more This inspiring book is for all the dreamers, would-be adventurers and endearingly practical professionals looking to scratch the travel itch. With many gorgeous photographs and actionable travel advice, A Year Off captures all the beauty and magic of the wanderlust spirit, guiding readers on how to take the same leap and showing them just how doable a journey this type of round-the-world travel is. Praise for A Year Off “In A Year Off married couple Alexandra and David Brown chronicle a trip around the world and provide advice for travelers who may want to follow in their footsteps. Filled with personal stories, useful takeaways, beautiful photos and great design, chapters like “Identity Crisis” and “Financial Freak-outs” make it clear that the Browns haven’t airbrushed their story.” —BookPage “Have you ever dreamed of quitting the rat race and taking a year off—and then swiftly jolted back to reality? If so, A Year Off will give you the inspiration and the courage to make it happen in real life.” —The Independent

Community developer and urban activist Robert D. Lupton looks to the Old Testament example of Nehemiah as a role model for community transformation and renewal.

A humorous collection of essays on home ownership, renovation, and improvement.

First Published in 1997. Routledge is an imprint of Taylor & Francis, an informa company.

Tom Murphy, and his family, lived in Buffalo NY. At various times he was employed as a landscaper, appliance salesman, insurance agent, real estate developer, and civil servant. He worked for, and with, some of Buffalo's most noted, and controversial business and political figures, including Joseph N Desmon, Harold Farber, Robert J Bradley, Philip B Schwab, Edward H Cottrell, as well as Frank Sedita, Stanley Makowski and Jimmy Griffin. Murphy loved each and every job, and yet he always found time to laugh and to play with friends and family.