I am cut off from myself. A dividing line runs through me. If you are looking for me, here I am– and here I am not. Since 2005, when the cord was cut (first temporarily, then permanently), I shut a door. I wedged it shut. I went out for a walk in winter and I…
10 Reviews and Counting
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Back in October I somehow found out about the Amazon Breakthrough Novel Competition. I don’t even remember how, or why I took the time to submit my novel. Part of me thinks it was because: a) I never expected it to go anywhere and b) It was easy: just upload and forget about it. Well,…
Noodle, Revisited
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I’m behind on my blog reading, so I just caught up to Ms JeanGenie’s excellent post on Noodles this morning. I had a revelation about Obama and Clinton the other day that rocked my world. It occured in an off-the-cuff manner by a newsman who was just talking about the Democratic race. He said: “If he doesn’t…
For Achievement in Transformer Watching…
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The Oscar nominations were announced today and as I scrolled through the list I have to admit this: it took a LONG time before I got to one I’d seen. Fortunately, I made it to “Achievement in sound editing” category, where I spotted the resounding critical success, Transformers listed. Phew. This was starting to get…
Joyce Carol Oates 1, Professor Buttercup 0
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At the Quick Center in Fairfield yesterday (where I was invited generously by my new buddy Carol), a simple author event became a righteous example of what happens when you are a man-professor of a certain ilk, with certain ideas about the world, and you set your puffed-rice expectations against a heady, hidden genius. I…
Scary South Carolina
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On NPR this morning, there were many quotes from South Carolinans who are backing Huckabee because “JESUS is our saviour and he would want it that way.” Now I am definitely a backer of Jesus. I am also a good friend of the Buddha and I think Allah has his good points too. In general,…
In a Crowded Room
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Time holds only the shape you give it. This week, it was pressed thin, squashed against the wall, hot and heavy. It was pressing, but lovely all the same. I am not sure, exactly what I am supposed to do with the time I am given. I only know what when I am busy, the…
Good Low-Flow Showerhead… Bricor
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Or… How Consumer Reviews Can Help Save the Planet In a simple twist of fate, it seems my desire to be green will inevitably test my patience– especially as a homeowner. This time, it’s waterflow, most specific, our showerhead. Too much water is being wasted whilst I shave my legs and Colin does whatever he…
Iowa in 2008: The Future is Already Here
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All my friends at The Warrington in England who didn’t know what or where Iowa is (“sounds familiar though”) are getting their quat-annual reminder today as my fair home state makes front page news internationally, including three front pages in the Guardian, The Independent and below the fold featuring McCain in the Tory Times. As…
On the Road Again…
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Or, Christmas… Elsewhere There are two kinds of traveling: have to and will to. Have to Travel Work Family Death Holiday Will To See Experience Chill Activate Interact Note the difference in the etymology of the two? First is static, nominative. The second is active, verbal, a way to BE in the world. We’re traveling…
The Most Perfect Handbag in the World
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Or, What to Buy A Woman, Any Woman and She’ll Like it, I Swear If you are madly last-minute shopping for ANY woman in your life, just save yourself the hassle and buy this bag from Changehandbags.com. At 50 bucks (now don’t wince… you’re up against it, brother) it’s pricier than a pair of earrings…
21st Century Tips to Holiday Office Parties
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Maybe I wouldn’t have been so inspired to write this if I hadn’t been rebuffed by UBS, my husband’s workplace, two years in a row now. UBS, that beloved multinational banking behemoth, which hit Working Mother’s Top 10 again this year for super companies to work for, hosts mammoth holiday parties every year for their…
90 Minutes from Door to Balloon
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Tis the Season to Keel Over…. Fa la la la luh. I’ll probably die of a massive coronary for writing this, but it’s a sad state of affairs — on the health, diet and media accounts — when we are to the point of worrying about aggravating our clogged arteries around the holiday season. My…
Do You Close the Bathroom Door Even When You’re the Only One Home?
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Or, A Prelude to How to Have an Existential Crisis I recently was hired to teach two courses next semester. I am thinking about quitting and I haven’t even started yet. In fact, I have pretty much already decided to quit, I just can’t be bothered to get around to it. I’ve decided not to…
Message from the Leaf Pile
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Top 10 Reasons to Read a Blog 10. The blogger is funny, but not funny ha-ha… funny hmmmm. 9. You are bored of internet porn… it is so done! 8. Procrastination is nine-tenths of the law. 7. You hate your boss. Your boss wants you to do something other than browse the internet. You fancy…
