Another quiet late evening here in LA. An occasional car goes by, the television squawks quietly from an upstairs room, an old clock here in the living room ticks rhythmically while I’m sitting at the glass table. The dogs are nearby, Cordie lying asleep by the back door; Sammie sleeping underneath the table near my…
Tag: flash essay
Flash Essay: Hats off to a True Olympian
We watched the Olympic television coverage today and it was inspiring to see Oscar Pistorius, the South African runner who is a double amputee with carbon – fiber blades instead of lower legs and feet, come in second in his qualifying heat. This allows him to compete tomorrow in the 400 meter race. He is…
Flash Essay: A Day of Critter Control & A Few Pictures
Tonight I have just returned from Ojai after two days of hard work. I am dead tired, but want to honor my twenty minutes a day. So, I’m posting pictures of the orange grove and neighboring organic farm. We got much accomplished today, primarily around ground squirrel-proofing our Spartan trailer, which is in the middle…
Flash Essay: A Matter of Time
Time has always been a bug-a-boo for me. Having enough time; taking enough time. Is this just me or does everybody have this problem? I can’t quite tell. I am beginning to think this is an American malady, or maybe specific to a large city like LA, since it’s not uncommon to overhear people saying,…
Flash Essay: Have Mercy on Me, a Sinner
One of the toughest moments I have ever witnessed in my life is when many years ago a beloved priest of mine unexpectedly lost his daughter, Ruthie, in a tragic event. She had gone to a party and had drunk too much, then came home and passed out in the back seat of the car….
Flash Essay: A Documentary to See: The Queen of Versailles
I went to see the documentary The Queen of Versailles this afternoon and highly recommend it. It is the story of David and Jackie Siegel, who live in the billionaire world of South Florida and who were building the largest private home in the United States before the housing bubble burst and life started changing…
Flash Essay: From Reluctant to Willing: A Journey in Faith
I am a spiritual person. I like to think I am, at least. Just this very morning, I was up at 6:30 and at church by 7:15 so that I could lead morning prayer and then serve as the acolyte at the 8 am mass. I wear a black robe with a white cotta and…
Flash Essay: A Must-See Photo Exhibit If You Love Rock & Roll
We just returned from the Annenberg Space for Photography in Beverly Hills where we saw an exhibition called, “Who Shot Rock and Roll.” This featured 166 photos from the top rock photographers of the ’50’s – present, with photos of the Beatles, the Rolling Stones, Led Zeppelin, Janis Joplin, Joni Mitchell, Frank Zappa, Boy Dylan,…
Flash Essay: Born to Clean
Today I tackled an unsightly and rather unsavory task in our 1954 Spartan Manor, aka old trailer, up in Ojai. I tracked down all the old ground squirrel nests tucked into the out-of-the-way spots in the cabinets and swept up all of their droppings. Yuck. My work required a mask, gloves, a broom and dust…
Flash Essay: A TV Series Worth Watching
I would like to highly recommend the new HBO series The Newsroom. The acting is first-rate, the dialogue real and strong, and the story lines compelling. I would not be surprised if a whole crop of young people are inspired to head off to journalism school as a result of this series. Not only does…
20 Minutes a Day 