I remember: Warm pavement under my bare feet Doodle bugs tickling my arms Train whistles in the distance My father’s biscuits and gravy My mother’s typing The smell of chlorine at the pool in summer Chicken and dumplings Incense at church Freshly mown grass My dad’s old farm truck My Uncle Doc’s café My Uncle…
Category: Timed Writing
4 Star Honey-Sweetened Chocolate Cake with Chocolate Glaze
This recipe is from Rose Levy Birnbaum’s The Cake Bible, my favorite book for cakes, hands-down. This cake is moist and delicious. Don’t let the addition of mayonnaise throw you off. This is a cake you can depend on with company coming. I have never had one problem with it even when substituting honey for…
After a Long Day and a Pesky Cold
I need to go to bed. We have been up and running since early this morning. My nose is also running from that malady that my family had last week, which is apparently contagious. I am alternatively stuffed up and then drippy-nosed. I say, “Pick a position and stick with it, for goodness sake,” but…
Sitting in My Living Room in Texas
I am sitting in my living room in Sherman, Texas. It is 10:35 and I need to write for 20 minutes. I have had a long, but good day seeing old friends and making at least one new one. Tomorrow, we will be up early so we can attend to business that needs to be…
Lost Innocence
My recent jury experience brings one lesson home to me loud and clear: we are not in the 1960’s anymore. Gone are the days of anti-establishment thoughts and feelings, Us against The MAN. No, this is a time of strict adherence to the rules, coupled with a distinct distrust of the motives of the little…
It is Done!
Jury duty is over! Hurray. I can’t say that I am happy with the verdict, but it was certainly a fair process – everyone taking turns to express their opinions and standing up for important points. Still, my side was voted down. This was a civil case about a young woman who believed that a…
On this May Day
Ray is sniffling and coughing in the next room. His eyes are red and he looks tired. I am certain he is suffering from a hefty allergy attack. Rachael has already gone upstairs to bed after deciding to take the day off from work so she “can feel better” after throwing up several times two…
Jury Duty Woes and Lunch Spots
I am sitting here tonight wondering what to write about. I can’t write about the trial since I can’t talk about any of it until it’s over, so what else is there to discuss? My life is somewhat on hold until we are finally dismissed from duty, and I have already reported on the few…
Family Sickness and Jury Duty Update
Ray and Rachael – both of whom rose at 5 am and drove to Ojai to fertilize our orange trees – are now sick in bed. Ray has been congested all afternoon since returning, and Rachael has thrown up at least 5 times. Ray’s ailment is probably related to allergies; Rachael’s looks a bit more…
After a Long Week…
I am dead tired. Perhaps it’s 7 days of jury duty so far or getting up at 5:30 am to go cook for 200 people at the St. Thomas homeless breakfast or maybe it’s the relief of having all three of our family’s babies born safe and sound in these past few weeks. Whatever it…
20 Minutes a Day 