This is so damn hard. It’s embarrassing to be here again, like some shmuck constantly apologizing for forgetting your birthday. I suppose there are people who can just come back to a blog after a month or more and write like nothing happened. Like it’s ok that they were away from the blog, farting around, playing the stockContinue reading “Friends With Benefits”
Category Archives: Uncategorized
I Stand Here Freshly Pressed
I never thought it would happen. You bloggers out there know what I’m talking about. That startling moment when you are recognized. When your tiny corner of the virtual world gets someone’s attention. When your Stats page shows a bar chart on steroids and a wave of glorious comments pop up out of nowhere forContinue reading “I Stand Here Freshly Pressed”
Fifty-Five But Who’s Counting
Today is my birthday. I’m not that fond of birthdays. I think it takes a certain amount of courage and energy and self-confidence to really enjoy your birthday, and in general I cannot muster all these things at the same time on any given day, let alone on a hot muggy day in August. But I’mContinue reading “Fifty-Five But Who’s Counting”
What’s Under Your Collar?
It’s been a strange summer, full of humidity, thwarted plans and daily grind. Throw in a few come-to-Jesus moments relating to health and finances, our first home-grown tomato that looks like a pair of conjoined twins, and new windows in the kids bedrooms instead of vacation on the coast of Maine and that about sumsContinue reading “What’s Under Your Collar?”
For You, Mom
A year ago today my mother died in my arms. I’ve posted about it before (see Still Here) so I won’t go on. But here are some excerpts from a short story that give you some sense of her. The tense is a mess, and it’s a bit of a hodgepodge without the rest ofContinue reading “For You, Mom”
Help Yourself
I buy books about writing like other people buy self-help books. They inspire me for a few weeks, get me back to the writing and make me feel like I can finish and publish a novel some day. My latest find, however, is an actual self-help book, written by one of my favorite writers andContinue reading “Help Yourself”
Dear God, Where Have I Been?
Is leaving for a month without notice just blogging suicide? Will a humble apology do (mea culpa) or is there flogging involved? I don’t know exactly what happened. Oh, don’t get me wrong. I have a host of excuses. A million of them. Some could even make you cry. But I can’t roll out thatContinue reading “Dear God, Where Have I Been?”
Artist Envy
Today is my writing day, but I’m not doing a lot of writing. I am mostly thinking about visual artists. I want to be one. Instead of sitting hunched over at this desk getting carpal tunnel and vitamin D deficiency I would be out walking with a sketchbook drawing stuff. I’d collect interesting rocks, leaves, pieces of twine,Continue reading “Artist Envy”
In The Middle of our Street
It’s 10:00 at night. My kids are bathing the beagle because she smells like dead fish from an afternoon of rolling in worms, poop, and decaying leaves. My partner is screaming at the TV because some guy from the Mets pitched a no-hitter, the first in their history as a ball team. She finds thisContinue reading “In The Middle of our Street”
Say It Ain’t So
The libraries are closing. I know other things are closing too. Factories, big box stores, music/art/sports programs, restaurants, movie theaters, entire shopping malls. I know half our towns are broke, people are out of work, our house isn’t worth what we bought it for, Zuckerberg lost a few billion dollars, college graduates can’t find jobs, health care feels likeContinue reading “Say It Ain’t So”
In the Chair 