I am a liberal Democrat, but I do not believe in going into attack mode with any of my many Republican or Libertarian friends. I am a great believer in healthy dialogue about issues, but have no desire to draw a line in the sand between us and them. I believe that is what has…
Category: Writing as a Discipline
A Little Under the Weather
I don’t feel very well tonight. A bit dizzy, a little stuffed-up, a little achy. Ray read that the Santa Ana winds are bringing in high levels of ragweed and mold. I am highly allergic to mold; not so much ragweed, not that I know, at least. But mold, definitely. My ears are itchy, too. I…
Highly Recommended: M.E. Neidhardt’s Fantasy Novel: Abysmal Canyon
My old friend, M.E Neidhardt, has written and published a highly entertaining young adult fantasy novel entitled, Abysmal Canyon. I can highly recommend this book to any fantasy lover. There is intrigue, romance and a plot that will keep you guessing. You can buy is for a trifle on Amazon ebooks at http://www.amazon.com/Abysmal-Canyon-Crossworlds-Science-Fantasy-ebook/dp/B014C2UTP2. Learn more…
What’s Good about “Six Feet Under”
Ray and I are down to the last four episodes of the television series Six Feet Under, which aired from 2001 to 2005. (Yes, I know we are slightly behind the rest of the modern world.) I have a few thoughts on this series before I view these last episodes. I may not feel a…
Back in the City
We are back at home after two days in Ojai. What a switch from almost no sound at night except for coyotes versus driving through Hollywood with hundreds of people on the street and lots of neon. It doesn’t take long to get used to that more rural experience. We were in Hollywood because we…
What We Are NOT Doing
Dear folks, We need to look long and hard at what is happening in our society related to firearms and teenage boys. We have a serious problem on our hands and these mass murders are getting far too commonplace to be considered an aberration. In the most recent case in Oregon, news reports state the…
Art of the Personal Essay
I visited the Beverly Hills library yesterday and found this book by Phillip Lopate, who is considered one of the top American essayist of our time. This is an anthology of wonderful essays spanning from ancient times to the present with writers as varied as Seneca to Joan Didion. I love the form of the…
Feeling Heartened
I am in Week Two of my “Writing Short” class that I am teaching for Story Circle Network and I just have to say how much I am enjoying this experience. I have taught this class many times over these past several years and each time, there is a wonderful coming together of personalities and…
My Day with Some of My Family
I have had the chance to spend much of the day with two of my three daughters and my sweet granddaughter, Luna. I also saw my son-in-law this evening for a little while I am happy to report that all is well with everyone I saw – except, of course, the amount of work our…
Home At Last!
Finally back home after what seemed like a very long trip from Texas to Ojai and then down to LA. I am just glad to be here. We are both exhausted, but happy to have made it through Texas, New Mexico, Arizona and California pulling almost a 20 foot trailer with a fifteen passenger van….
20 Minutes a Day 