Christopher Setterlund, In My Footsteps

Monday, October 20, 2025

Initial Impressions 2.0 Blog #91: Weird Sneezes, Hot Dog Head, When Henry Met Henry, etc.

1. Have you ever noticed how some people have odd-sounding sneezes? Like most people typically have a sneeze that sounds like what you’re probably thinking of right now. Every now and then, though, you come across a sneeze that stands out as weird. I was in my car in a parking lot when I heard a man start sneezing outside his car. Well, either sneezing or coughing. Anyway, it sounded like a human/bird combination. I was able to get a good read on it since the guy stayed outside of his car, sneezing loudly for several minutes. It got to be pretty disturbing because of how loud it was. I couldn’t tell if he was sneezing or having some sort of fit. Other people were looking, but nobody said anything. The guy ended up driving away without incident, but left us all with a strange story to tell.

2. It’s interesting how life comes full circle sometimes. In 1999, I’d go to the beach and listen to new(ish) Toad the Wet Sprocket on CD. All the while being inspired to write poetry in a notebook. In 2025, I’m listening to new(ish) Toad the Wet Sprocket streaming on Spotify while being inspired to write poetry in a Word document. From Quarter-Life to Mid-Life, some things still remain.

3. This is a bit of the weird and random stuff that I caused myself. In New England, we got a massive Nor’easter for a good 3 days. In all, we ended up with something like 4 inches of rain in total. I was out for a drive surveying the damage when I got an idea. My car is white, therefore it is almost always dirty. With the rain still falling at a good clip, I got an idea. I decided to stop at the store and buy some cleaning wipes and paper towels. You see where this is going. Since there was nobody else on the roads, I stopped at a park. I then proceeded to ‘wash’ my car using the cleaning wipes, rain, and paper towels. I ended up with a pile of wet garbage that I had to throw away. It wasn’t as sparkly clean like a proper car wash would have given, but all in all, my car looked much better after that. Laugh if you want, I know I did as I realized how crazy I looked. I would have died if someone pulled up and saw this idiot using a roll of paper towels to ‘clean’ his car.

4. Some people are an enigma wrapped in a riddle. Some are just idiots. There is a guy at my gym, probably early 50s. He works out in jeans, whatever that says about him. Anyway, he comes into the gym and exclusively uses the elliptical machine. He makes sure to thoroughly clean the machine before using it, which is great. Then he sweats all over it and never cleans it afterward. What is up with that? To top it off, I passed him at the grocery store, and upon entering, he put hand sanitizer on. I was confused. So this guy cares about getting germs from others, but not about sharing his? Okay, buddy, oh, and your head looks like a boiled hot dog in shape and shininess.

Yup, pretty much like that

5. An update from last week. The cute girl came back into my work. I had a client scheduled while she’d be there. As luck would have it, my client rescheduled to an earlier time, meaning I’d be free when she showed up. She ended up arriving 10 minutes late and mentioned being really tired. So even though I was able to speak to her, I knew I needed to keep it shorter since her appointment was behind. It ended up being good, brief but good. I guess I just have to keep practicing patience and persistence. She’ll be back in a few weeks. That’ll give me plenty of time to have some witty lines and try to make sure my schedule is open.

6. In October, as the weather starts to get cooler, we more often see an invasion at my work. Crickets begin to get inside and set up shop in the baseboards and dark corners. Their chirps echo off the cement floors and can drive you crazy. I began stalking one this week and swore that it was a ventriloquist because whenever I got to where I thought it was, the sound started coming from somewhere else. At one point, it slipped out from a baseboard, and I tried to catch it, but it went right back in and chirped like a jerk in my face. The next morning, I came in and there was the cricket sitting in the middle of the bathroom floor. I caught it in a paper cup and put it outside. It didn’t even try to escape. I wonder if it felt bad for humiliating me the day before and gave itself up?

7. I don’t know if this is embarrassing or not, but I only this week discovered that there are two different cookies, macarons and macaroons. I thought there was just the coconut macaroons, and that people sometimes misspell it as macaron. Nope. A macaron is what looks like a fluffy, soft Oreo in different colors. How is this something I’m just realizing? Next, you’re gonna tell me Hellman’s and Best Foods mayo is the same thing. Or that Carl’s Jr. and Hardee’s are the same restaurant.

8. While at the grocery store, I bumped into my Uncle Steve, whom I haven’t seen in months. He was my running mentor since he became a marathon runner in his 50s. Now he’s retired from running and work in general, so it has become harder to bump into him. I was caught off guard a little by just how much he looks like my Grampa, just with shorter hair. I mentioned it to him, and he said that he looked so much like his father that people were mistaking them. The only problem is my Grampa died 6 years ago. My uncle joked that people must have thought Grampa’s ghost was haunting the nursing home where he died, which is also where my uncle worked. I laughed loud enough that people started staring at us, but who cares? I always leave a conversation with my Uncle Steve feeling better about myself. I never take that for granted.

9. This week marked what would have been my Grampa’s 100th birthday. I was thinking of him a lot, and when visiting my mom, we shared stories of him. My sister Ashley arrived, and we all were chatting. I noticed the sunset as the pink sky continued to grow. It wasn’t until my mom called for us that we saw the incredible sunset rainbow from the backyard. It had been raining, but never did I think I’d see a sunset rainbow. As we all took photos, we realized how symbolic it was that the rainbow was on Grampa’s birthday. Maybe it was a gift to him, or for us from him, but it made the day even more special.

10. A good chunk of this week’s blog will be dedicated to the When Henry Met Henry short film project. I had put together a fundraiser to allow us to hire cast and crew. This weekend was the big filming day. Being that in total it will likely be somewhere between 6-8 minutes in length it took us about 4 hours to film it. There were 5 of us total at the shoot, and things went as well as we could have hoped. So there’s a little overview.

11. They say you never get a second chance to make a first impression. I had promised to arrive at the filming location, a beach in Wellfleet, with a Box O’ Joe from Dunkin’. Yes, I did that part. As the crew trickled in, half of us walked the roughly 1/3 mile to where we’d be shooting. Only when we got there did one of the crew ask where the cups were for the coffee. Yup, I forgot the cups. Well, in all honesty, the people at Dunkin’ didn’t give them to me, as it was so busy, but I still should have waited and asked. That was my first impression. Hey, how about we all just chug scalding hot coffee from a box? Nah, I’ll pass.

12. Speaking of the location. It was perfect. A very secluded sand dune that went off the beach and into nearby woods. But as you just read, it was about 1/3 of a mile from the parking lot. Not too bad if you’re out for a leisurely stroll, but when you’re lugging equipment and making 3 trips each way, it can become a chore. I ended up walking well over 3 miles in the sand. All I can say is that it was a better workout than many I have had recently. After eating something small at 6am, and doing all of that walking, I was able to eat a big McDonald’s dinner and still was 400 calories below my allotment for the day.

13. They say the greatest accomplishments come when leaving your comfort zone. I definitely did that. I had no idea about directing, producing, or anything like that. I was dropped into the deep end on this film. Our sound person couldn’t make it, so I was tasked with that. I had to learn on the fly. I think I did all right, but it’ll be determined during the editing. While the actors and director were very loose and chatty with each other, I spent a lot of my time listening and learning all I could. My hope is that with each experience in film, I learn more and more until maybe one day I can lead my own project. We’ll see.

14. Oh, and by the way, just because it’s mid-October and summer is long gone doesn’t mean you can’t get sunburned. Take it from me and my red face. Well, except for the whiter areas around my eyes since I was wearing sunglasses. The only good thing about a sunburn in the fall is that the temperatures dropping into the 40s at night make sleeping easier than if it were 70 and humid at night.

15. Fun fact: we filmed When Henry Met Henry on the same weekend as the famed Wellfleet Oysterfest. It typically brings 10-20,000 people to the town over the weekend. Luckily, we all got to the beach way ahead of the crowds, so we didn’t worry about parking. Not too long after, several school buses showed up as they would be shuttling people over to the festival. When we headed out to the shooting location, there were maybe a dozen cars in the parking lot. When we returned at the end, not only was the lot full, but cars were lined down the street. On my drive home, going through Wellfleet, the vehicles were lining the streets in a lot of places. It just shows how luck was on our side with the film.

The cast and crew

16. To wrap it up, I plan on making a video where I go over more of the behind-the-scenes of the making of the film. I decided to get a jump on that this weekend. I was about 7 minutes into recording the video when my recording software froze up and I lost it all. Obviously, I was mad, but what made it worse was that this was the 2nd straight time I’d tried to record a video on that software only for it to glitch out mid-record. I was so blinded with rage that I nearly shattered my webcam slam dunking it on the floor. It took several rounds of embarrassing fail videos on YouTube for me to feel better.

Thursday, October 16, 2025

Washburn Island and World War II - Cape Cod History

Despite Cape Cod being a relatively small location (approximately 339 square miles), some places are far less traveled. Most of these locations come in the form of small islands located in and around the peninsula.

A few examples include Strong Island in Chatham, which is 75 acres and consists primarily of marshland. There is Sipson Island, which is 25 acres and has been privately owned for over three centuries. Sampsons Island in Cotuit is a 15-acre nature preserve. Bassetts Island in Pocasset is 60 acres of beaches and upland forest. There is even more to be explored, but none has the wealth of history and the air of mystery that exists on Washburn Island.

Washburn Island is approximately 330 acres in size and sits inside Waquoit Bay off East Falmouth. Today it’s a largely undeveloped, pine-and-oak–covered island with a popular primitive campsite and a handful of sandy beaches. That calm surface hides a layered past: Indigenous seasonal use, 19th-century farms and Gilded-Age summer estates, and dramatic storms. Perhaps most intriguing is the island’s surprising role in World War II amphibious training.

Long before European colonists arrived, the island was used seasonally by Native Americans. They referred to the island as Menauhaunt. Archaeological finds like shell middens, stone flakes, and other artifacts show human activity in and around Waquoit Bay and Washburn Island for many centuries. Through the 1700s and 1800s, the island was intermittently used for grazing livestock and small farms. In the 19th century, three farms existed on the island, two of which were gone by the end of the century. By that point, the future Washburn Island had attracted private owners.

In 1900, Henry A. Bryant, whose family had opened the Pacific Northwest to the shipping trade, acquired the property. On it, he had built a large three-story summer house overlooking Waquoit Bay and Vineyard Sound. For a time, a hand ferry connected the island to the mainland with a landing on the Seapit River at present-day Ferry Road.

Henry Bryant died suddenly on January 6, 1904, at the young age of forty-six. The estate on the island was left to his widow, Alida. She held on to the property until 1912, when it was sold to a group of bankers and corporate investors. This included the former U.S. Ambassador to Austria, Albert Washburn.

Albert Washburn c. 1920(Library of Congress)

At first, the purchase was only for the former Bryant estate, with the rest planned to be sold in parcels for development. Those plans fell through, and Albert Washburn and his wife, Florence, bought the rest of the island for their own private use.

The Washburns erected a wondrous compound. In addition to moving into the Bryant estate, the Washburns constructed a stable, a barn, a boathouse, a pier, and a narrow bridged causeway. The family name is what the island is usually called today.

The bridge to Washburn Island looking west toward the mainland.(Falmouth Historical Society)

The main house burned to the ground on October 26, 1926, thanks to a fire starting inside a defective chimney. The soft sand near the bridged causeway severely affected the arrival time of firefighters. By the time the blaze had been quelled, all that remained were the servants' quarters. The barn and most of the farm remained intact. A modest farmhouse was built to give the Washburns a place to live during their summers on the island.

Albert Washburn died suddenly of food poisoning in Vienna in April 1930, leaving the island in a state of flux. The estate never fully recovered, and the property shifted toward recreational use after that period. This was mostly because while the island was still owned by Florence Washburn, she never marked the property or imposed any restrictions on visitors.

Florence and the rest of her family began spending less and less time on the island in the early 1930s. It became a haven for those using the island for picnicking and recreation. Unfortunately, some took advantage of this generosity by looting the farmhouse and vandalizing parts of the island.

A massive hurricane in 1938 dramatically changed the island's appearance. It washed away the causeway and bridge. This left Florence Washburn with no easy access to the island where the farmhouse remained. The storm surge also ripped a channel open in the area that was 125 feet wide and seven feet deep. For the first time in decades, Washburn Island truly was an island.

Washburn Island’s most dramatic chapter came along with World War II. Florence Washburn, who had been living exclusively in Hanover, New Hampshire, said in June 1942 that she wanted to rebuild her beloved island that had been severely damaged by vandals. However, she couldn’t get the assurances needed to protect her property rights.

A perfect storm came up as the U.S. military rapidly expanded amphibious training in the early 1940s. Needing coastal areas to prepare troops for beach landings in both the European and Pacific areas, the military looked to Washburn Island. With Florence unable to rebuild the island the way she wanted, she instead leased several tracts of land to the federal government.

The Army’s amphibious units (Engineer Boat and Shore Regiments and associated training commands operating out of Camp Edwards and nearby facilities) used the island for landing exercises. To create a proper base, there was the construction of a crisscross of several temporary roads and five finger-like piers that stretched nearly 900 feet out into the water. Washburn Island also saw drill fields, parade grounds, and an obstacle course. Once completed, the island served as a training ground for two years.

Despite wishing for the operations at Washburn to be secret, it was easy for locals to spot what was going on. It became commonplace to spot barges landing on the beach and soldiers wading through the water in full gear with rifles held overhead. After the war ended, Cape Codders proudly referred to Washburn Island as the ‘Cradle of Invasions,’ and the troops as ‘Cape Cod Commandos.’

Perhaps the wildest scene during these operations was the full-scale mock invasion the troops performed on Martha’s Vineyard. This included traversing the rough seas of Vineyard Sound and landing at designated sites at Vineyard Haven and Oak Bluffs on the north side of the island, more than five miles away.

A World War II amphibious vehicle, the DUKW.

For training purposes, the island was temporarily reconnected to the mainland via a sand causeway and wooden drawbridge that began at Ovington Point. Temporary structures were also built to support the effort. Contemporary accounts and later histories emphasize Washburn Island’s role as one of the local training beaches where soldiers practiced the skills, including small-craft landings, that would be vital in Normandy, the Mediterranean, and Pacific operations.

Washburn Island’s importance began to dwindle in 1943 due to harsh weather. The majority of the program was moved south to Carrabelle, Florida. Another major hurricane roared through in September 1944. This storm again destroyed the bridge and causeway. For a time, the military decided not to rebuild. It seemed as though this chapter of the story was over.

As World War II was coming to a close in the summer of 1945, Washburn Island got a new purpose. It became a place of recovery for those G.I.s returning from battle. The island that was not long before filled with amphibious vehicles and soldiers preparing for battle now looked far different.

On August 9, 1945, Washburn Island opened the Convalescent Hospital. It was staffed by twenty-five officers and men and was visited daily by 800 men who were transported to the island over the causeway via bus.

Recovering soldiers had access to surfboards, diving rafts, boats for fishing, lounge chairs, and various other beach games. Lt. Victor Dauer, the commanding officer of Washburn Island, emphasized that the facilities were meant for total physical and mental relaxation. Soldiers from all across the country came to Washburn. They got a slice of the good life as the highly regarded Coonamessett Club temporarily operated only to serve those veterans.

When all of the soldiers who had needed help had been taken care of, it was time for Washburn Island to be returned to its namesake. The structures that had been erected were all torn down, leaving only cement slabs on the island. The government gave the island back to Florence Washburn; however, it had changed dramatically.

Numerous trees had been cut down to make way for the military buildings, or they had been felled by the hurricane. The structures that did remain included the old farmhouse, the barn, an ice house, and a bath house. One thing that would not remain was the bridge. In late September 1946, the wooden bridge was removed, and Washburn truly was an island again.

The structures left on the island were left to slowly decay over the years, leading to their eventual razing. Despite the island being deserted, Florence refused to sell, even stating on numerous occasions that she would ‘never’ sell the island. She did, however, continue to allow visitors to the island for recreation up until her death on January 27, 1953.

Florence’s son, Dr. Lincoln Washburn, continued his mother’s policy of allowing visitors and also to never sell the property. This finally changed in 1976 when large increases in taxes in Falmouth got Dr. Washburn’s attention. Talks were loud in the coming years about potentially building a fifty-luxury-home subdivision complete with a 150-spot parking lot and a 200-foot dock. Luckily, the state stepped in to preserve the natural beauty.

In June 1983, the Commonwealth of Massachusetts acquired the island for $2.1 million($6.83 million in 2025). This was a far better option than the alternative.

Washburn Island was incorporated into the Waquoit Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve, which manages it for habitat protection, research, and low-impact recreation. Today, the Massachusetts Department of Conservation & Recreation (in partnership with the Reserve) manages camping, trails, and visitor access; the island contains primitive campsites, composting toilets, and marked trails but no developed utilities, preserving much of its wild character. What remains today on Washburn Island includes the natural features like a barrier beach, dunes, and salt ponds. There are also oak and pine forests and marshes, which are habitats for shorebirds and marine life. Except for the very small concrete slabs being overtaken by nature, there is nothing that remains from the days when the island was used as preparation for battle and the recovery from it.

Those looking to visit the island may do so. There can be day visits, beaching boats, hiking, and a small, reservation-only primitive campground (ten sites, plus one group site). Access to Washburn Island is by private boat only; there’s no public ferry. One can easily kayak to the island. The closest point to Washburn is at the Menauhaunt Yacht Club, which is less than one hundred feet. The island’s management emphasizes research, stewardship, and low-impact recreation.

In a local newspaper article in 1951, Washburn Island was seen as a place so badly damaged by storms and people that it could not be able to be salvaged. Nearly eighty years later, it stands as a pristine escape within an escape on Cape Cod. From the Native Americans, to the Bryants, to the Washburns, to the military, back to the Washburns, and finally to the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, this 330-acre property has had an incredible story. Luckily, it will remain a beautiful getaway for hikers, campers, and beachgoers when it easily could have become another private haven for the filthy rich, which makes up too much of Cape Cod as it is.

Looking across Waquoit Bay with Washburn Island on the right.

Wednesday, October 15, 2025

In My Footsteps Podcast Episode 216: When My Grandfather's Ghost Visited Me, A Disturbing Railroad Safety Short Film, Best 1960s Horror Movies(10-15-2025)

The stories of when my grandfather's spirit visited me as a child. A disturbing educational short film about railroad safety. Some of the best horror movies from the 1960s.

Episode 216 brings all of the spooky from fiction, to truth, to somewhere in between.

It begins with an educational short film, sure to give kids nightmares. The Finishing Line, released in 1977, is a British film that highlights the dangers of playing on railroad tracks. How do they do this? By turning it into a disturbing Game of Thrones style massacre where the players don't win, they just survive.

We move on to love from beyond the grave. As a small child, I was visited on numerous occasions by the spirit of my grandfather, who had passed more than a decade before I was born. It was a part of a creepy but all too real time in my family. Now I share all of the details from all of the stories straight from the mouths of those who were there.

The new Top 5 looks at some of the best horror movies from the 1960s. These are some of the most influential and highly regarded films ever. Which is your favorite?

There is, of course, a brand new This Week In History and Time Capsule centered around the very first World Series in Major League Baseball.

You can support my work by becoming a member on Patreon. Or you can Buy Me A Coffee!

Helpful Links from this Episode

Listen to Episode 215 here

Monday, October 13, 2025

Initial Impressions 2.0 Blog #90: Fall Flavors, So Close But So Far, Birthdays and Books, etc.

1. Things I get way too excited for at this time of year: (, etc.), (it’s toasted marshmallow), ( is amazing), and yes pumpkin-flavored everything. You can bet that each time I go into a grocery store in October I will be leaving with one or more of those things. Seltzer and Greek yogurt is good, boxes of sugary cereal not so much.

2. One thing I have yet to buy is my annual small pumpkin. I get a pie sized pumpkin, roughly softball-sized, and give it some sort of face. Next up is weeks worth of social media posts featuring photos of said pumpkin in various Halloween-themed areas. But of course there is a shelf life for a . The end comes for my little pumpkin is a horror movie way, typically getting smashed or run over. However don’t be said because this ending doesn’t come until the following June. Yes, the last 3 years I’ve had pumpkins they have lasted well into Spring before yes ultimately becoming (thank you).

Last year's pumpkin

3. My birthday is in less than a month. I used to create big social media events where friends and family were invited to gather in celebration. Since I stopped drinking 5 years ago I haven’t done any such thing. The meetups used to be at bars. I don’t want to go hang out in a bar as a sober person but I miss those days of getting to see many people around my birthday. It’s like the older you get the fewer and further between such meetups become. I think that’s one of the biggest things I miss as I get older: the accessibility of loved ones. Social media allows you to be able to contact virtually anybody at anytime, but it’s not the same as in person hangouts. If my birthday was in the middle of summer maybe I’d try to set up a beach party. Sadly it’s in November when temperatures are usually in the 50s and the sun sets before 6. It’s hardly beach weather. So I’ll likely just lament not being able to meet up with people for my birthday but it’s kind of par for the course when you give up the waste of time and money that alcohol is.

4. This entry is a bit of a throwback to the original Initial Impressions. Back then in 2010-2013 I had a lot of posts where I spoke about girls I was interested in. They ranged from ones dating d-bag idiots, to ones that I chased for so long I needed to buy new shoes. It was a lot of cryptic posting, no naming names. This is similar in that there is a girl that is a customer at my work that I have always thought was really cute. After a few years of wondering I finally got the word that yes she is single. She stopped in unannounced one day this week and I made it a point to chat her up more than ever before. I felt great. She then came in again the next day. It was a slow day but of course the only time my boss needed me to do something was the time that she was there. So I missed out on the chance to gain some momentum. I was so disappointed. It was like someone had deflated me as I watched her leave without getting to say a single word. On one hand it was embarrassing that not getting to speak to someone I barely know affected me so much. On the other hand it actually felt good to feel deeply again. It has been years of being career-focused and not even thinking of dating. So we’re 1 and 1 since finding out she’s single. She is set to come in next week. That will be the decider. If we get to talk a lot again maybe I’ll pursue her more. If something comes up again and I don’t speak with her I’ll take it as a sign that it’s not meant to be. Stay tuned.

5. When training people at my day job I connect my phone to the speakers in the gym via Bluetooth. I can have my phone in the next room and still be connected. When I get finished training people I naturally disconnect from the Bluetooth. The funny thing is that those speakers can be temperamental. Several times a week the speakers won’t connect to the phone. It’s become a common thing. However I wasn’t ready for the speakers to refuse to disconnect. This week I got done with my training and disconnected the Bluetooth. I know it disconnected because I clearly heard the speakers make a loud beeping noise to signify it was. I got up to do something when I heard another beep. Out of curiosity I checked my phone and sure enough the speakers had reconnected themselves for some reason. I disconnected them a second time but stood around waiting for the speakers to reconnect again. It didn’t happen, which I was actually disappointed by. I kind of wanted that moment with me as Curly going into the gym and screaming at the speakers to stay disconnected.

6. I have said so many times that from Labor Day through the end of the year is my favorite time. There are so many holidays, birthdays, and such. That being said it is still a shock to the system when the first truly cold weather shows up. Waking up one morning this week with temperatures in the upper 30s was no fun. Mid-October is way too early to turn the heat on so you kind of just deal with it. As luck would have it the temperatures rebounded to be in the 60s with lows around 50. Of course it was accompanied by a major , but hey at least it wasn’t snow...yet.

7. There was nearly a cuteness overload during a walk on the bike path. A father was riding his bike with a baby riding in front of him. It wasn’t just on the handlebars or anything, it was safely harnessed in. This little one had to be no more than 18 months at most. They were screaming with laughter, chatting with people passing by, and waving. I know all of this because they passed me three times within a half hour. I was walking a section of trail that cuts through a golf course and I think the father had parked in the golf course lot and was riding just that length of trail. It was so cute and a perfect addition to what was a great early fall walk.

8. This week was the 24th birthday of my niece Emma. She is my middle of three nieces. I feel like I have different connections with each of my 6 nieces and nephews. With Emma my connections start with smarts and humor. She is super intelligent which I appreciate since when I was a kid I was seen as borderline genius level smart. That being said I didn’t go as all out when it came to college as Emma did. I only got a 2-year degree so I have so much respect for her finishing that chapter in the way I wish I had. Also I feel that our sense of humor are on the same wavelength. We are obviously generations apart but I feel she has the same dry, sarcastic wit that my father’s side of the family has. My Nana called it being ‘sharp.’ So if I make birthday cards for her I know I can make them pretty crazy and she’ll appreciate them. Or if I say buy a roll of toilet paper and sign it like a birthday card she will also appreciate that. I am very proud of who Emma is and all that she has done and will do. Of course I wouldn’t mention crazy birthday cards and not share one.

9. I am glad that I have a vivid and strong imagination. That means that I can see a situation clearly so I don’t need to act it out in reality. What am I talking about? While out for a walk I was going through one of my favorite neighborhoods. A few hundred feet ahead coming toward me was a single man walking four good sized dogs. I could see it was a battle for him to control them. All I could think of was what if something startled or excited the dogs? I could envision them dragging this poor guy all over the street, or tripping him as he goes flying into the air. It would have been a great comedy sketch. I was smiling widely as I passed without incident and waved. Lucky for him I have that imagination, and a little self-control.

10. Fun fact: Three people from my high school class are published authors. Yes, one of them is me. Patrick Hinds had a best-seller that told stories of his life called . He is a very well known podcast host of both and . has had several successful young adult books published including her newest one . She has a series of book signings on Cape Cod in the fall and I was thrilled to go out to one at the to show my support. It was fun to catch up as I haven’t seen her since we graduated. It was also fun being on the opposite side and just getting to relax while she had to chat and sign books for fans. Obviously I linked to those books so you can order copies. I know they’re not the only ones from my graduating class, but I will say that I am very proud to be in this little club of Class of ‘96 authors with a pair of genuine good and nice people like Patrick and Nicole.

11. A major Nor’easter came barreling through New England this weekend. It was set to bring heavy rain and winds gusting over 40mph. Of course I wanted to get in a little run before the bad weather came so that’s what I did. As is tradition I saw some oddities on my walk. Not sure if it was the weather but I came upon an intersection in a quiet neighborhood. There I saw an older man walking his golden retriever. By walking I mean going in a wide circle but never leaving the intersection. I personally saw him make three laps and he was still going as I got out of his sight. I don’t know if he was worried about going too far and getting caught in a sudden monsoon. The rain didn’t end up starting for another hour or so he would have been fine either way.

Wednesday, October 8, 2025

In My Footsteps Podcast Episode 215: 2001 The Year In Pop Culture(10-8-2025)

*Donate on GoFundMe to help me direct my first short film!*

There is no space odyssey to be found in this 2001!

Episode 215 features all things pop culture from the year 1984. Television, music, weird news stories, and more!

Set your TiVo because we're diving deep into all things television in 2001. New hit shows like 24, returning juggernauts like Friends, and the dawning of the reality TV revolution with Survivor. There are also some fails like the XFL, as well as memorable commercials.

Find a safe website to legally download MP3s because we are going to look at music in 2001. The arrival of iTunes, fails by music legends like Mariah Carey, new stars on the rise like Alicia Keys, and the never-ending battle between pop, rock, and hip-hop. It's the start of the digital revolution.

The Top 5 is filled with weird and funny news stories from 2001 that might be the wildest ones yet. One man goes postal in an odd way, another man really loves his dog, and who would have thought McDonald's Monopoly game was rigged?

There is, of course, a brand new This Week In History and Time Capsule centered around Barry Bonds breaking the single-season home run record in Major League Baseball.

This entire episode is a celebration of the birthday of my niece Emma. I hope that you enjoy it!