My parents hosted a Christmas party every year in the wee hours of Christmas morning after Midnight Mass at our tiny Holy Trinity Episcopal church in Bonham, Texas. This party was for all the church people and anyone else who happened to be awake and available for a party that began around 1 am on…

Since baking is my coping mechanism for stress, I thought I’d share another recipe. This is from Rose Levy Beranbaum’s The Cake Bible, a book I would highly recommend if you love baking cakes. I have tried many of the recipes for cakes and buttercream frostings and they are all delicious. Since I bake with…

Don’t ask anybody anything about this movie; don’t read anything about it.  Just go see it. Don’t watch a trailer.  Zero.  Again, just go see it. Best to see it with no knowledge whatsoever.  Let it unfold before you.  Expect to feel.  Not always the way you would prefer, but it will be worth it….

Ray and I rushed this morning, finishing up all of our LA work, so we could drive up to the orange grove and enjoy an afternoon and night of rain as we nestle in the Airstream. This was definitely an excellent plan. I took a two hour nap in mid-afternoon to the pitter-patter of raindrops…

Congratulations to my writing student, Alyssa Hance, who learned today that she has been accepted into the 2017 freshman class at Loyola Marymount University here in Los Angeles. Alyssa lives in Tucson, Arizona and is a very talented writer. She was selected from over 14,000 applicants to fill one of the 1350 freshmen slots available…

I am writing this blog for those of you who worry about punctuation as much as I do, which, admittedly, might be a small group. However, if you are indeed a member of this group, here’s what I discovered a few days back in reference to commas and names. (I apparently have been getting this…

I made this cake last week. It was delicious. Let me know if you try it! Happy eating. INGREDIENTS • Unsalted butter, softened, for pan • 1 3/4 cups all-purpose flour, plus more for dusting • 3/4 teaspoon baking powder • 1/2 teaspoon baking soda • 1 teaspoon coarse salt • 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon…

I am happy to share that my writing student Alexa Nourafchan, a senior at Harvard-Westlake, received her acceptance letter today from University of Pennsylvania, where she will be entering the freshman class in the fall, 2017.  Alexa and I have a long history since I first learned of her existence when her mother announced she…

Good night, Alisoun.  I have enjoyed our time together, but I really do need to get some sleep. I believe we served you well. As for now, adieu.