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Category: Lists

Avoiding “Sketcher’s Block”

an open book of drawing prompt, with watercolor paintings for each prompt, and the open watercolor box
November 10, 2025 ~ Kana Smith ~ 10 Comments

I have a weird relationship with drawing and painting. I'm utterly ignorant, have never taken so much as a weekend workshop, couldn't tell you if that Italian word describes a painting technique or a musical instruction. I've figured out some stuff, just playing---some stuff about light and shadow and perspective, at least. You can generally … Continue reading Avoiding “Sketcher’s Block”

The User’s Manual: 13 Rules

AI-generated cartoon of the writer's desk, with a thick manual labeled "Kana" beside her typewriter
November 7, 2025November 7, 2025 ~ Kana Smith ~ 17 Comments

Joshua Pantalleresco, who recently had me as a guest on his podcast, "Just Joshing," has ten Life Rules he tries to live by. I asked, after we went off the air, and he rattled them off for me. Number One is "Show up;" Number Ten is choose the option that's more fun (all other things … Continue reading The User’s Manual: 13 Rules

The Post-It Queen Strikes Again

AI-generated image of a woman sitting at her computer, surrounded by Post-it notes that are even stuck to her.
October 29, 2025October 29, 2025 ~ Kana Smith ~ 15 Comments

I'm sitting on the living-room couch with my MacBook, rather than the more serviceable office chair and desktop computer, because this window is where the sunshine is streaming in. We've had nothing but wind and storms this week---and although we generally only get 12 inches of rain a year here, in our High Desert climate, … Continue reading The Post-It Queen Strikes Again

Advice for Mr. Pickletoes

AI-generated drawing of a wall with many sticky-notes covered with handwriting
October 27, 2025October 27, 2025 ~ Kana Smith ~ 29 Comments

I had a pleasant email this morning from a fellow blogger, JJ Pickletoes, and one of his questions deserved some thought. And as I thought, I remembered a principle I followed as a teacher: if one person asked the question, other people probably had that same question too. In a classroom, I'd address it openly … Continue reading Advice for Mr. Pickletoes

Here a Duck, There a Duck

Filipino "Jeepney" (AI generated photo)
October 24, 2025October 28, 2025 ~ Kana Smith ~ 2 Comments

In the Philippines, the streets are crowded with--- Well, I could just make that a full stop. The streets are CROWDED. But among the things that crowd them are specimens of a form of public transportation known as the "Jeepney"---a sort of mashup between jeep and school bus, often open-sided and always painted with incredible … Continue reading Here a Duck, There a Duck

Drawing up a gratitude list 

November 4, 2017November 5, 2017 ~ Kana Smith ~ 12 Comments

November is a popular month for gratitude, given the holiday that’s named for the emotion, but my motivation this year is a little different. I’m grateful that October is over! "Isn’t that the same thing as being-in-November?" you ask reasonably. Well, not precisely.  The thing is, almost every major Drama, Trauma, and Tragedy in my … Continue reading Drawing up a gratitude list 

Like a (Dry-Docked) Sailboat: RV Living

April 13, 2017April 13, 2017 ~ Kana Smith ~ 8 Comments

Because I'm a sailboat skipper, I'm amused by RV terminology that borrows from the marine arena. Like the "shore cord"---the cord we plug in at an RV park to power the rig's electrical system. On a sailboat a shore cord (which you'd plug in at the dock when you stay in a marina) makes sense---it … Continue reading Like a (Dry-Docked) Sailboat: RV Living

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"As for me, I am tormented with an everlasting itch for things remote. I love to sail forbidden seas, and land on barbarous coasts."

~ Herman Melville, Moby-Dick

  1. Jimena's avatar
    Jimena on In Which We Don’t Sail Into the SunsetJanuary 29, 2026

    It looks good on you ;) In my case, it"s not like it has completely disappeared from my belongings... Once…

  2. Kana Smith's avatar
    Kana Smith on In Which We Don’t Sail Into the SunsetJanuary 29, 2026

    My "teal phase" has lasted four decades, and shows no sign of waning. ;)

  3. Kana Smith's avatar
    Kana Smith on In Which We Don’t Sail Into the SunsetJanuary 29, 2026

    Exactly true!

  4. Kana Smith's avatar
    Kana Smith on Cross My HeartJanuary 29, 2026

    It's satisfying, isn't it?

  5. Kana Smith's avatar
    Kana Smith on Avatar 3: Inadequately ImaginativeJanuary 29, 2026

    Could be...

"It is not down on any map; true places never are"

~ Herman Melville, Moby-Dick

What is WRONG With People? A Pain in the Neck If the Present is a Gift, so is the Past Cow Physiology 101 The “Year in Books” On the Palm Tree as an Antidepressant Untitled Dragon Biography The Christmas-Tree Trade-In
  • When you Assume... you make an ASS out of U & ME
  • Mythbusters Edition: "Depression is Just in Your Head"
  • Looking for YA Reading Recommendations
  • Freelance Job Opportunity!
  • Hunting for Answers in Pink Camo: Why is it...
  • One of My Very Bad Habits
  • Marginalia & Time-Travel
  • On the Ethics of Storytelling, and the Art of Making Shit Up
  • Burning the Script
  • hoMAge

"Not all those who wander are lost."

~J.R.R. Tolkien, The Fellowship of the Ring

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