Author: neil.bansil
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Boring Life
I lead an incredibly boring life. I have a day planner that basically has the same things written in it every day. There’s daily reminders that I would like to be 200 lbs, creative, and a real estate guru. I would say that the only thing that I’m consistently doing is writing into my day… Read more
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Sometimes You Have To Put It All Out There
“Mr. Bansil, just have a seat on the examination table and the doctor will be right with you.” The door closes behind her, and I’m standing there alone in an examination room. It’s got all the things you’d expect in one. Blood pressure machine, weight scale, little sink, a couple of glass jars filled… Read more
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Public Restrooms vs. “Comfort Rooms”
So, I walk into a small dark stall and close a short, pale blue door behind me. The floor is grimy and wet under my flip flops. I take a breath in of humid, musty air. It’s not surprising because the only ventilation in this room is from a long narrow window that’s cracked open… Read more
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They Said I’d Never Make it
“OH YEAH, THEN YOU GET AN “F”! THAT’S YOUR GRADE. “F”! My 1st-year poly-sci professor stared into my eyes and then turned around and walked away from me into his classroom. I just stood there in the hallway, shocked, wondering if I should still go into his class. What the hell just happened? We were… Read more
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Getting Punched
It started out like any other lunch recess, just a bunch of kids running around going nuts, playing tag or kicking a ball around. I was in grade 5, and standing by the goal posts on a soccer field behind St. Joseph’s Catholic elementary school. Read more
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What Punishment Did You Receive as a Child that Changed You Forever?
What Punishment Did You Receive as a Child that Changed You Forever? Read more
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Bombing
So, I’m standing on a stage in front of 700 people and beads of sweat start trickling down my back. I can feel the grip of my fingers tightening around the microphone as I stand there staring out into an audience. The lights are bright and it’s hard to see past the first few rows,… Read more
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Booty Shake
I woke up to my wife grabbing my arm and shaking it, “Neil, Wake up! I think there’s someone outside!” I squinted at the digital clock on my bedside table and wiped the sleep out of my eyes. 3:03 am. I fumbled for my glasses, put them on and turned to the window that faced the… Read more
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Computer Love
I met my wife online. Through email. If you think falling in love with someone in person is hard, try doing it via hotmail. I actually went to college with her best friend and she was the one who electronically introduced us in 2003. One day, she was like, “Neil, can you reach out to… Read more
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Swag
So, I did something recently that I don’t normally do. I decided to go see a concert by myself, like confident, cool people would do. Tickets were only $10 so I was like, “Why not? It’s only $10 bucks! I had nothing else to do.” But the moment I walked into the venue, I knew… Read more