“You’re mother lied to you. That’s the truth.” Those were the first words my father said when he came to see me in the hospital. Thanks, Dad. I appreciate your sensitivity. Why was I in the hospital you might ask? I was having a delicate brain operation to remove a tumor. I had been suffering from…
Category: Timed Writing
Saturday Night Quotes on Writing
Here are a few of my favorite quotes on writing: “Write hard and clear about what hurts.” Ernest Hemingway “There is no denying the wild horse in us.” Virginia Woolf “Get it down. Take chances. It may be bad, but it’s the only way you can do anything really good.” William Faulkner “Mistakes are the…
Ojai Today
We have spent the day in Ojai today, arriving early this morning to talk to a solar guy about what it would entail for us to put in a few panels so we could have electricity. We learned some encouraging information – government grants and low-interest loans for agricultural lands – and are going to…
In Memory of Dr. Jim Leatherwood on Veteran’s Day
My brother, Jim, rose to the rank of Lieutenant Commander in the U.S Navy, serving as a medical officer to the Marines. He was stationed at Camp Lejeune and Camp Pendleton after graduating from medical school. He loved the military and often said that if they had been more kindly to gay men, he would have been…
In Search of the Source for a Dylan Quote
I am listening to Bob Dylan. I have been trying to track down a quote that came from him: “Something large far off, up close ain’t never that big.” I’ve actually found the quote, but can’t find the song it is attached to. So, I decided to listen to some of his songs on Youtube…
Flash Fiction: Lies
My grandfathers lied to my grandmothers. I guess it runs in the family. You can always tell when my family is lying, just watch their mouths moving. Yes, that’s the truth. I am from the most dishonest family I’ve ever come in contact with. I don’t quite know how to explain it, but I’ve watched…
Great Turkey Chili Recipe
This is a wonderful turkey chili recipe offered by the Food Network. It’s easy to make and just perfect for these cool fall nights. Happy eating! Total Time: 1 hr 20 min Prep: 20 min Cook: 1 hr Yield:5 (1-cup) servings Ingredients 1 tablespoon olive oil 1 cup chopped sweet onions 1 tablespoon minced garlic…
Coughing, Temperatures and Pink Eye, Oh Dear.
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…
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…
20 Minutes a Day 