I couldn't tell you what it is about Octobers, but nearly every drama and trauma of my adult life has landed on me in an October. It makes for a month littered with traumatic anniversaries and destructive memories. October has been a haunted month for me, for reasons entirely unrelated to Halloween. Some of those … Continue reading Giving Thanks: The “October Curse” Stays Lifted
Tag: Writing
The Post-It Queen Strikes Again
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
Podcast Debrief
For all my angst-ing ahead of time ("On the Subject of Being the Subject"), I very much enjoyed my conversation with Josh Pantalleresco of "Just Joshing". Although it occurs to me that I did rather deflect from being-the-subject by asking him questions... You would too, I think---he's literally walking and hitching across continents (Canada, then … Continue reading Podcast Debrief
Advice for Mr. Pickletoes
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
On the Subject of Being the Subject
"My eighth rule of success," the Interviewer says, "is to stay uncomfortable." He's talking about making choices in life, and not just staying in your comfort zone. I'm listening to this podcast---the Interviewer and his two subjects on topics ranging comfortably from Buddhist practices to travel to the character of Canadians compared to Americans---because I'm … Continue reading On the Subject of Being the Subject
Drama, Drama, Book Sale
Our little town of Pendleton, Oregon, is famous for its rodeo---but the RoundUp is not the annual event that goes on my calendar. That honor is reserved for the Pendleton Library's annual book sale. I can't think of any concert or rally or Black Friday sale that I'd stand in line for, but for the … Continue reading Drama, Drama, Book Sale
A Reading Proposal for You, Reader:
For those of us writers who are working outside the realm of big publishing-houses, we have to jump-start and generate our own publicity for what we write---so I have a proposal. For anyone who is game for posting a book review (on your blog or vlog or podcast or FaceBook, or wherever-it-is that you post … Continue reading A Reading Proposal for You, Reader:






