Monday is Ray’s birthday, but since our children are all busy on a weekday, we’ll have our family celebration tomorrow. This afternoon I am making a chocolate cake with buttercream frosting per Ray’s request and I thought I’d share the recipe. This is from Rose Levy Beranbaum’s The Cake Bible, a book I would highly…
Tag: writing practice
Mock Trial at Southwestern Law School
Today Ray and I went with Liz and her boyfriend, Ron, to Southwestern Law School near downtown where we played the role of two characters in a mock trial that they were participating in. This was the culmination of their class, and Liz and Ron were the defense team for a man played by Ray…
My Old Student and His Ambitions
Today I had a treat. My student, Shaun, came to see me for the first time in three years. He is a junior at Boston University and is home for spring break. He called me a few days ago and started his conversation with, “Len, this is Shaun. Shaun Herzig. Do you remember me?” Now…
Liz: Almost There!
Here is my daughter, Elizabeth Beaty, who finishes her last final at Southwestern Law School on Monday and then starts a 2-month externship before graduating on May 12, 2013. This sweet middle girl of mine is about to complete law school in an accelerated two year program, which is called SCALE. Southwestern has one of…
The End of a Long Day
This has been one of those days… I was up and out of the house by 7:10 for church. Came home and worked with daughter Liz on her personal statement for post law school from 11 – 2:00. Ate a quick lunch with Ray, Liz and our friend, Ian, then watched 1/2 of Silver Linings…
Our Mexico Trip in Photos
I want very much to write about my trip to Mexico, but every time I try I find myself writing too much. I could write a 100 pages on this trip. So, in an effort to be succinct, I am going to combine pictures with commentary. Here is the house where we stayed by the…
Countdown to Christmas
Today was one of those days when I felt as if I were juggling a dozen different tasks in the air and getting none of them completely done. Frustrating since I am tired of dealing with work and task lists and am ready instead to shift my attention to Christmas and holidays. Alas, tomorrow may…
Fall Weather in Texas and Other Thoughts
We are getting to enjoy fall here in North Texas. The temperature is mild – up to 70 degrees today – and tonight the breeze was cool, not cold. The full moon lit up the night, which made an evening stroll quite pleasant. While we are here, it’s raining in LA. Over an inch today….
Hurray! Two Publications.
I am happy to report that two of my memoir pieces have been accepted for publication: one in the 2012 Story Circle Network hard copy anthology and the other in the SCN online anthology. The best part is that both of these pieces came from right here: my blog. I wrote them in my 20…
A Poetry Book That Pulls You In and Teaches You History
My daughter Rachael has introduced me to a book of poems from her poetry class at UCLA entitled Blue-Tail Fly by Vievee Francis. This is a wonderful volume of persona poems written in the voices of either real people or composites of people living from the pre-Mexican American War through the post-Civil War era. This book…
20 Minutes a Day 