Tonight we went with friends to see Ira Glass from NPR’s This American Life. This is the second time I’ve heard him speak and it’s always funny and inspirational. For those of you who don’t know This American Life, let me say that it’s one of the best “truth-life” programs on all of radio. We…
Tag: 20 Minutes a Day of writing
Jamie Lee and Me…
Tonight, while I was gathering up my computer and trying to decide what I was going to write about, I glanced at the bookshelf in our bedroom. There is a book there entitled Tony Curtis, The Autobiography and on the book is a picture of Tony Curtis as an older man. This made me think…
Still Working at 11 pm
Today has been one of those days – hectic. It is now 11 pm and I am still sitting in front of my computer at the glass-topped table in our living room. I have been here on and off since 1 pm. Ugh. I guess there are just some days when you can’t get everything…
One of My Writing Students Receives a Gold Medal!
I am pleased to announce that my student, Madison Stingray, has won a gold medal for California for her short story through the Scholastic Artists and Writers contest. Her story will now be sent on for the national competition and if she wins, then she and I will travel to Carnegie Hall for a celebration…
Anticipating Baby Luna
I am lying in bed with two dogs and a husband. Is that a bad sign? Everyone is sound a sleep except for me. I am feeling wide awake at the moment. Today we drove out to Arcadia and saw Sarah and Gregorio. Sarah is getting rounder by the day, looking distinctly more and more…
Honoring Those Who Have Died
At St. Thomas the Apostle, we have a book in which the names of loved ones who have died can be recorded. These people are prayed for every year on or near the anniversary of their death. This evening at the Vigil Mass, two names were called out from those I have loved: my father,…
A Memory Worth Sharing – Carnegie Hall
Written June, 2002 I sang last Monday night on the main stage at Carnegie Hall. Len Leatherwood from little Bonham, Texas, sang at Carnegie Hall in New York City. How did THAT happen? I am not an exceptional singer. I wish I were, but I’m not. I’m a good singer with a decent soprano voice….
“Bored” – A Hot-Button Word for Me
The word “bored” is a loaded word for me. One of my greatest pet peeves is when I hear a child say, “I’m bored,” and then watch a parent snap to attention trying to amuse little Janey or Johnny. I want to step forward and say, “Let the little tyke be bored. He/She might discover…
For Barry: Sailing into the Sunset
An old friend of mine died today. Barry Norcross, aged 80, was a faithful parishioner at St. Thomas the Apostle, Hollywood; a leader at the Breakfast Club, the homeless feeding program at St. Thomas; and also a seasoned sea-captain. He was over 6 feet tall, slim, with bright blue eyes, handsome features and a regal…
Stumbling Back Upon My Voice
Tonight I was in the bathroom surrounded by tile walls and before I knew it I was singing Joan Baez’s Silver Dagger: “Don’t sing love songs, you’ll wake my mother She’s sleeping here right by my side And in her right hand, a silver dagger She’s says that I can’t be your bride. All men…
20 Minutes a Day 