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…
Category: Writing as a Discipline
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…
A Publication!
I am happy to report that one of my memoir pieces, My Mother’s Pain, has been accepted for the 2014 True Words Anthology. This is the story of my mother’s reaction after she learned that my oldest brother, John, had been diagnosed with AIDS. I am not sure of the protocol of sharing my work…
Money Relief
Today is a good day. Ray and I have made some big financial decisions and changes that will affect our future. We have secured a private loan on the house that is for sale in Texas, which means that we are taking it off the market. Instead, we will keep it and lease it out….
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…
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…
20 Minutes a Day 