Advertising may not seem like a dull business, but it sure has its mind-numbingly dull moments. As in Peter Smith’s early ad-agency job. This is the final installment of Peter Smith’s series of “Lesser Horrors.” Missed his previous entries? You can catch them here. ——-Lesser Horror: Any glimmer, thought, or memory from one’s personal past … More Peter Smith’s Lesser Horrors: Welcome to Dullsville.

You know that feeling when you’re being accused of something, know you’re innocent, but still somehow feel vaguely guilty? It’s awkward, says Peter Smith, but at least it makes for good writing. MPR’s Peter Smith’s series of “Lesser Horrors” will run on Mondays for one month on this blog. Missed his previous entries? You can … More Peter Smith’s Lesser Horrors: "Innocent until proven guilty"? Not if you ask my old seventh-grade principal.

Sauk Centre’s “Original Main Street,” which author Sinclair Lewis brought to life in his book Gopher Prairie. Here, Peter Smith tries to channel Lewis as a college sophomore. Image source. MPR’s Peter Smith’s series of “Lesser Horrors” will run on Mondays for one month on this blog. Missed his previous entries? You can catch them … More Peter Smith’s Lesser Horrors: Sinclair Lewis doesn’t really want you to channel him.

MPR’s Peter Smith’s series of “Lesser Horrors” will run on Mondays for the next month on this blog. Missed the first one? You can catch it here. ——- Lesser Horror: Any glimmer, thought, or memory from one’s personal past that for whatever reason causes a small, brief but recurring episode of psychic pain. BY PETER … More Peter Smith’s Lesser Horrors: Here’s what happens when you don’t listen to Sister.

Today the UMP blog is kicking off a monthlong series by MPR contributor Peter Smith, author of A Porch Sofa Almanac and, most recently, A Cavalcade of Lesser Horrors. This series will appear on the UMP blog on Mondays throughout September and October. We will update this page with links to subsequent posts as they … More New series: "Lesser Horrors" from MPR’s Peter Smith

Downtown St. Paul, MN, at dusk. Photo courtesy of Wikimedia Commons. BY PETER SMITH Regular MPR contributor and author of A Porch Sofa Almanac. There’s something about the first few days after we change the clocks back in the fall that gets your attention, gives you reason to pause and take inventory, and serves as … More Peter Smith: Have you got a case of the Central Standard Blahs, too? Chin up.

Brett Favre is here and Minnesota is rejoicing—and perhaps remembering how Al Franken totally called this last week. We’ve got football on the brain (and not to mention cautious hopes at a Super Bowl championship). In honor of the season, we are happy to share an essay by Peter Smith, who remembers with “fondness” his … More MPR’s Peter Smith on high-school football: "We stunk and we knew it."