My family has been sick for the last week or so. Ray arrived back from Texas with a ragweed cough that just goes on and on. I wish I had insisted he go to the doctor, but I didn’t. Usually his coughs get better fairly soon. This one is getting better, but just not very…
Author: lenleatherwood
I am a native Texan who has lived for the past 30 years in Southern California. I am a published author of both short memoir and fiction, a two-time Pushcart nominee, a nationally award-winning writing coach, an editor, as well as a Licensed Professional Counselor in the state of Texas. In addition, I am the mother of three grown daughters of whom I am extremely proud, a grandmother of four darling children and the wife of a man I still love after 44 years.
Our Late Friend’s Art Show
On Saturday night, Ray and I attended an art show honoring our late friend, Peter Kempson’s work. Here are some photos of the event, which was well attended. There were two other artists showing their work, but the event was organized around Peter and his paintings. We all toasted him with champagne and the gallery…
A Thought-Provoking Question
One of my online writing students posed the question, “Why do we make some of the decisions we make?” She was recounting her early years when she made the decision to go to college across the state, and then moved out-of-state for a job. Her point was that her decision had long-term ramifications in terms…
Flash Fiction: A Surrealist-Inspired Social Experiment
Some people think Julia is a strange girl. She definitely likes to shock people. She is so dedicated to seeing how people will react to socially incongruent stimuli that one time in our senior year of high school she had a false mustache professionally applied to her face – it looked totally real – and…
Today with Luna
Today, Ray and I got to spend a fair amount of time with our little Luna Isabella. I am happy to report that she will be 21 months old on November 4th. Grandma is very tired after reading nearly every book Luna owns to her – many – and singing with her, dancing, playing, then…
A Quick Write Ramble
I am sitting with Oona. It is almost 8 pm. She is my last student of the day, which began at 8 am. I did have a few breaks. I made vegetable soup, cornbread and cookies during one of my breaks. I love vegetable soup. There’s something very satisfying about it, particularly in the fall….
Daily Progress, One Student at a Time
I have been sitting on this chair or standing near this table in my living room since 8 am when my first student arrived. I am not inclined to linger at this late hour and, therefore, will be writing only a brief blog this evening. I have, after all, being aiding in the writing process…
Birdman – A Thought-Provoking Film
Ray and I went with our friend David a few nights back to see Birdman or (The Unexpected Virtue of Ignorance) starring Michael Keaton. I would highly recommend this film. It is quirky, but also deep, and requires a suspension of disbelief in more than one place over the course of the story. Jorge Luis…
Ray and Ragweed – It Ain’t Pretty
Ray is upstairs and I can hear him coughing and hacking away. This will be a short entry since I think my husband might appreciate my presence since he doesn’t feel well. The culprit: Texas ragweed. He just returned after five days in Texas and he is highly allergic. He took Flonase the whole time…
20 Minutes a Day 