Tag Archives: Virginia

Some videos of me training.

No pain, no trains.  Or something.  [bites cheeseburger Ericly]

Gainsboro Road Overpass.  Roanoke, VA.

I feel seen.

This is actually a pretty accurate depiction of my writing process.



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That’s some nice shootin’, Tex.

Texas Tavern on Church Avenue in Roanoke, VA.  September 2021.




A pal of mine who grew up here advised me to go back and try the chili.  I’m glad I did.  Sorry for the loud slurp here.   It’s a thing with me and good chili.

The Roanoke Times publishes my letter about the 20th anniversary of 9/11.

I was so pleased this morning to see that The Roanoke Times published my letter to the editor about the 20th anniversary of the 9/11 terror attacks.  You can find it right here.

I’m honored that my thoughts about the occasion appear to have struck a chord with people.  This same letter was featured  first on Wednesday by New York’s Newsday (with a weekday circulation of 437,000), and then here in Virginia by The Bristol Herald Courier (with a circulation of 39,000).  As The Roanoke Times has a Sunday circulation of 85,000, this would mean that the letter was distributed to 561,000 readers.

Here’s a big word of thanks to the editors of The Roanoke Times for allowing me to communicate with with my neighbors through such a superb regional newspaper.




The Bristol Herald Courier publishes my thoughts about September 11th.

More good news — The Bristol Herald Courier also published my letter today about the 20th anniversary of the September 11th terror attacks.  (This is the longer version of my commentary that originally appeared here at my blog.)

You can find the letter right here:  “Your View: Wounded, unified America we discovered after 9/11 seems long gone.”

Thanks so much to the editors at The Bristol Herald Courier for allowing me to share my thoughts through this leading regional newspaper in southwest Virginia.



My buddy photoshopped me as Wolverine; now I’m seeking an audition with the MCU.

[UPDATE: You people DO realize this is s a joke, right? I am not actually seeking the role of Wolverine.]

Wish me luck.  Below is the full text of my e-mail to Kevin Feige:

*****

SUBJ: Eric Robert Nolan *IS* Wolverine!!!

Mr. Kevin Feige
President, Marvel Studios

Dear Mr. Feige:

I am writing to you today about an immeasurable benefit that I can bring to the Marvel Cinematic Universe — a definitive silver screen interpretation of Marvel’s iconic character, Wolverine. Behold, please, the photoshopped image of me attached to this e-mail, which shows that I am uniquely suited for the role. (To fully appreciate my uncanny likeness, Mr. Feige, I must ask you here to vocalize the classic sound effect “Snickety-snick” when viewing the photo.) Although my body at age 49 might look slightly different than conventional representations of the character, I feel certain that modern CGI could remedy this.

I studied extensively with the Mary Washington College Drama Department between 1991 and 1994. I studied comic books at the same time — outside of an academic program but with an unbridled enthusiasm I never showed any of my formal studies. I also periodically defeated my formidable classmate John Matthias in debates about whether Wolverine could beat Silver Surfer — and even wrestled him about it in the lobby of New Hall before the 1994 Fall Formal. (I surprised him with the classic tactic with which you are doubtlessly familiar, Wolverine’s roaring, berserker leap.)

There are other benefits as well, should you choose to employ me for this role — I am highly skilled with puns, free-verse poetry, and deconstructing arguments made by Donald Trump supporters. I feel certain that all three of these skills would promote an enlightened and entertained workplace. I will contact your office next week to determine whether an audition can be arranged.

Kindest regards,

Eric Robert Nolan
Roanoke, Virginia

ericrnolan@gmail.com
https://ericrobertnolan.com/

P.S. — You did an outstanding job with “What If …?,” by the way!  It’s truly amazing stuff!

wolvey

Roanoke, Virginia, September 2021

Beside Williamsburg Road downtown.

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Quick, Robin! To the Bat-Box!!

So I can return these Bat-Books to the Bat-Library!

I’m not real clear on why the drop box in front of the Roanoke Public Library has a bat symbol on it.  If I had to guess … it’s warning people about bats who might roost under its protruding slot at night?  That kinda makes sense.

Downtown Roanoke is no stranger to wildlife.  Just last night I saw a mid-sized raccoon scuttle up a tree right off Campbell Avenue — to the delight of a bunch of Labor Day weekend revelers returning from a bar.  They were filming its hasty ascent with their cellphones.  That raccoon got a lot of laughs.



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Sherlock Nolan.

So tell me these aren’t the coolest themed birthday gifts ever.  An amazing lady gave me the complete Sherlock Holmes library in beautifully bound collector’s volumes, a can of Victorian London Fog tea, and a magnifying glass for investigations of my own (because I’m on to you people).

What you see up top is a wool herringbone flat cap of the kind Watson would wear.  (My benefactor here wisely deduced that Holmes’ deerstalker cap would look funny on me.)

Another pal of mine (and an MWC alum) made me homemade pizza yesterday too — complete with herbs from his own garden.  (No, not the extralegal kind — we’re talking basil and stuff.)  I truly am surrounded by the best people in life.




presents

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