We just returned from the Annenberg Space for Photography in Beverly Hills where we saw an exhibition called, “Who Shot Rock and Roll.” This featured 166 photos from the top rock photographers of the ’50’s – present, with photos of the Beatles, the Rolling Stones, Led Zeppelin, Janis Joplin, Joni Mitchell, Frank Zappa, Boy Dylan,…
Category: Flash essay
Flash Essay: Born to Clean
Today I tackled an unsightly and rather unsavory task in our 1954 Spartan Manor, aka old trailer, up in Ojai. I tracked down all the old ground squirrel nests tucked into the out-of-the-way spots in the cabinets and swept up all of their droppings. Yuck. My work required a mask, gloves, a broom and dust…
Flash Essay: Ojai, Perfect Weather & Lots of Stars
We have been in Ojai since last night, making good on our plan to come up 2 days a week and organize our storage bins. Right now we’re down in Ventura so we could go to a Del Taco and then to a local health food store for dessert since we don’t eat refined sugar….
A Few Favorite Books and A Wish
I have started re-reading The Color Purple by Alice Walker and I am reminded why it held the distinction for a very long time of being my favorite book. “Dear God,” the book starts and is written all the way through in a series of short letters with such a powerful and distinctive voice that…
Flash Essay: A TV Series Worth Watching
I would like to highly recommend the new HBO series The Newsroom. The acting is first-rate, the dialogue real and strong, and the story lines compelling. I would not be surprised if a whole crop of young people are inspired to head off to journalism school as a result of this series. Not only does…
Flash Essay: When Inspiration Isn’t Coming
I am struggling to come up with something to write tonight. My mind is blank. I have had several false starts already, meaning I’ve picked a topic, written half a page, then deleted the whole paragraph. I don’t usually do that, but tonight appears to be one of those nights, where all ideas seem not…
Flash Essay: Back in LA after Two Productive Work Days
We’re back in LA after a productive, but hot couple of days in Ojai. We are well on our way to getting organized up there; our plan is to return next week and spend two more days working. Ray has already gone to bed (he went up at 9), the dogs are both sacked out…
The Orange Grove, the Dogs, and Ray’s Studebaker Truck
Today was the first time we have seen our little foster dog, Sammie, truly happy. She was running down Ventura beach, light on her feet, barking with excitement, playing with a German Shepherd and “sister” Cordelia. And Cordie is so happy to have this litte friend. She is calmer with Sammie’s presence, less barky and…
The Orange Grove, the Dogs, and Ray’s Studebaker Truck
Today was the first time we have seen our little foster dog, Sammie, truly happy. She was running down Ventura beach, light on her feet, barking with excitement, playing with a German Shepherd and “sister” Cordelia. And Cordie is so happy to have this litte friend. She is calmer with Sammie’s presence, less barky and…
Enroute to Ojai, CA via the Pacific Coast Highway
Ray and I are heading up to our orange grove in Ojai for a few days. That means tent camping and no electricity. Still, we will be connected thanks to the internet. We are continuing our “organization” summer by going up to Ojai to dig into our storage bins there. We are going to pull…
20 Minutes a Day 