October 16th, 2022 It’s just another day. It’s football day. My dread is warmer than usual, my anxiety sharper. It’s not just another day. My dad legally divorced the Minnesota Vikings in 1998 over an incident neither he nor millions of other sports fans had any control over. My mom stayed committed to them. ThatContinue reading “Just Another Day”
Author Archives: dennisvogen
Groundless
October 14th, 2022 I was going to write about fall today. I had a lot of feelings yesterday and thought of some words I was going to write this morning. I was going to take a stunning photo of an autumn tree. And then it snowed. And what I really wanted to talk about cameContinue reading “Groundless”
The MCU: Far Better World
October 13th, 2022 My favorite part about watching people complain about the current phase of the Marvel Cinematic Universe is that they are objectively wrong. The future belongs to those who can see it. At the convention in Rochester over the weekend, I had no problem choosing my favorite cosplay: a little girl, painted green,Continue reading “The MCU: Far Better World”
A Not-Slow News Week!
October 11th, 2022 Interviews! Awards! Mankato! This week is full of good news if you’re a fan of me or bad news if you don’t like me or want me to succeed at all. So shall we? First things first: I have a new interview up at CanvasRebel! It’s short and sweet and has someContinue reading “A Not-Slow News Week!”
On The Ground
October 10th, 2022 I just read an essay in which the writer was feeling paralyzed with fear because she felt as though she was living in the shadow of her audience’s expectations of her; she knows she can’t be the best of herself at all times, and people want to believe that you are theContinue reading “On The Ground”
NerdinOut Con 2022 Day 2
October 9th, 2022 Today at the convention, a kid walked up to my booth and picked up a copy of Brushfire. He looked carefully through it and then told me he wanted to look at everything in the room before he decided on what one thing he would buy. He told me he might beContinue reading “NerdinOut Con 2022 Day 2”
NerdinOut Con 2022 Day 1
October 8th, 2022 Holy cats, Rochester, you showed up today. One of the first things I saw was a young boy with his dad. He had just walked into his first convention ever and he was telling his father how amazing it all was while they were in the moment, experiencing it together. It wasContinue reading “NerdinOut Con 2022 Day 1”
Amsterdam
October 4th, 2022 I knew very little of what I wanted to be as a dad. My friend Kim and I were talking about our families after work tonight; as a special ed teacher, she encountered countless parents who weren’t sure how to react to their families being “different.” She shared with me a storyContinue reading “Amsterdam”
It’s All A History
October 3rd, 2022 “History is a guide to navigation in perilous times,” said David McCullough. “History is who we are and why we are the way we are.” When we think of history, we tend to think big. History of cultures, history of religion, history of cities and states and countries, history of the world,Continue reading “It’s All A History”
Edging the Sword
October 1st, 2022 It’s October! Did you miss me?! Back at the beginning of September, I decided to take the month off of writing. I needed to reset. Blow in the cartridge of my brain. I needed a break, an adjustment, and to think about what it is that I do and why I doContinue reading “Edging the Sword”
The Den 