I am in love with the LA Phil. Absolutely in love. I love going to the hour-long talks before the concert where we learn all about what we’re about to listen to, including aspects of the composer’s life which may have contributed to the writing of the piece. I love the free cough drops by…
Tag: timed writing
The Discovery of a Mentor
I had just finished a second draft of my memoir turned novel when my friend, David, invited my husband and me to dinner one evening. He told us that he had also invited another man, Michael, who we had met once time before, and he hoped that we would finally have a chance to get…
Lazy Sunday and the Oscars
I am sitting in my back yard here in CA enjoying the sun. The temperature is 66 degrees and there is not a cloud in the sky. There is just enough wind to make it feel cool, but not cold. The sun is warm, but not hot. Ah, lovely. Here is the back yard: Cordelia…
Aristotle, Tragedy and My Student, Cameron
My student, Cameron, is writing for 20 minutes, so I’m going to use this time to write my blog for today. Cameron is sitting over in one of our recliners with her feet up, her computer in her lap, and a cup of Tetley’s tea on the table beside her. She is 15-years-old, already a…
Wind and the Return to LA
It is 10:33 pm Pacific time; 12:33 Central time. I am back in LA after an early morning plane flight and a long afternoon of students. This evening I worked with daughter Liz on her post-law school personal statement. Now, I have two dogs lying here in bed with me and I’m eyeing that clock,…
A Change in the Weather and A Junk Trip
Today the weather has turned cold. I am literally sitting here in a long-sleeved shirt, a sweater, and 2 thins jackets. It’s not that the house is cold; we’ve just returned from the McKinney Restore and it is cold in that big warehouse despite big hanging heaters. So, I’ve just decided to get really hot…
A Little Bit of Heaven
I hear a train whistle in the distance and the hum of the space heater in the front room. Besides that, it is quiet here. I am back in Texas for only 3 days, a whirlwind trip to keep my drawl strong and my heart in the right place. We arrived yesterday evening and I…
Luna’s Baby Shower
We have just returned from baby Luna’s shower. We hosted this event at Liz’s boyfriend’s parents’ home in Hollywood since their location is central and their living room and dining room are huge. They were gracious to offer their home and we are grateful for their hospitality. We’re also lucky since we had at least…
A Great Make-Ahead Dish: Spinach Manicotti
This is one of those tried and true recipes that you can count on when you want something special. It’s slightly different from stuffed shells. A little prettier. INGREDIENTS: 1 (15 ounce) container ricotta cheese 1 (10 ounce) package frozen chopped spinach, thawed and squeezed dry 1/2 cup minced onion 1 egg 2 teaspoons minced…
Doctors, Pregnancy, and Daughter Sarah
I went with daughter Sarah today to two doctors’ appointments. One was to a cardiologist because Sarah’s heart has been beating a little too fast and there was some concern. The doctor came in – a grandfatherly man – and he assured Sarah (and me) that the tests had shown her heart was as healthy…
20 Minutes a Day 