My first writing group — back at the very start of my transition to being a writer — was in Alice Springs, Australia. Such groups come and go — when they survive for long periods, it is often on the wings of one energetic person. The person you depend on to show up with the … Read more
This past weekend, my friend tried mushrooms for the first time. It had been on her list of things to try for a while because she was intrigued by reports that they make you feel smarter, more creative and happy, and even give you spiritual insights. She wanted to have spiritual insights! [youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F5kqThVON18&w=560&h=315] Lots … Read more
August 21, 2017 5:40 AM I open my eyes and squint at my glow watch in the dark. 5:40 am. No Paul in the bed. I make my way downstairs to where he sits on the couch with his laptop. “Are you and Mom ready?” “No. Getting ready was supposed to happen after you wake … Read more
I guess I’m posting to this blog, like, once a month now? I started to post earlier this week, but then the post got longer and more involved and I realized it was an essay. So now I have this essay I’m working on. That will take a few weeks, and then maybe I’ll submit … Read more
This past Memorial Day, I did not feel like BBQ’ing. Instead I was struck with the idea that I should tackle a task that has been on my To-Do list for nigh on five years: transferring a dozen VHS tapes to a digital format so that the tapes could be discarded. This entailed purchasing a converter … Read more
The other night we ate at a restaurant that has a tropical fish tank. I had a good view of the fish over the shoulders of my dining companions, and I noticed that one of the fish had a small, rectangular protrusion from it’s “belly” region. For a moment I wasn’t sure. “Is that a … Read more
In our oddly laid out apartment, we have a little square area of hallway, which is a conduit to two bedrooms, office and bathroom It also houses some built-in cabinets and drawers, which we use for linens and such. A few weeks ago, there started to be a peculiar smell. Not a full smell, but like … Read more
I want to learn new skills. That’s not exactly true. I want to have new skills. If I could get them injected directly into my brain with a big syringe, I would do it. Although it seem like it might hurt. How much pain would you suffer for an hour in order to acquire a completely … Read more
Ohmigod friends, I think I’ve actually finished something. By “I” I mean, “we”–my co-writer on Lovers In Their Right Mind and me. Two years ago last month, we finished the first outline, and since then we’ve been writing and re-writing, re-carding and doing a lot of “my draft,” “your draft,” “my draft.” For the last … Read more