Category: Culture

Meticulosity… OR, How to Succeed in Everything

I’m driven mad by the meticulous. That doesn’t make me admire them any less, however, or realize that they, in the end, will always succeed. Case in point, the magnificent stone-man, Lew French. One rock at a time, he creates magnificent walls, fireplaces, cottages. One wall, in a home on Martha’s Vineyard, took him a…

Poems of 2022 Artful August

Elizabeth Howard poetry artful august 2022

One month of illustrated short poems by Elizabeth G. Howard Since April I have been working on a 100 Day Challenge to write 100 poems in 100 days. Over the summer there were some distractions and I started to miss some days. As I approached August I decided to approach the month with more focus.…

When you read poetry …

what happens when you read poetry emily dickinson quote

A list of things the might happen to you when you read poetry you finish quickly you don’t feel full you encounter nature odd feelings come up you go somewhere else, on a trip of the mind everyday objects reveal themselves language unravels and twists around you feel uncomfortable, but not unhappy about that you…

The Wind in the Story

The Wind in the Story Aesop Fable

What inside the podcast In the podcast, Vanessa Aricco tells the moral story her dad told her of the wind and the sun hanging out behind the clouds. They see this human walking down with a jacket on and the wind says: I bet I can get that jacket off him before you can. And…

She is limitless

She is limitless Pleasant Pond the county Maine

“Never limit yourself because of others’ limited imagination; never limit others because of your own limited imagination.” – Mae Jamison She is as simple as daybreak. I don’t think she’s ever had a new pair of glasses — not least the frames — in the 13 years I’ve known her. She commutes to work in…

Artists I Love on Instagram

There’s a lot to be said about social media scrolling– both good and bad. Since I am perennially awake in the middle of the night, scrolling happens. Thank god for artists and Instagram. I follow those artists I know, those I like, and those whose work makes me happy. For me, Instagram gives me a…

Hey Gals! Let’s Celebrate Our One Measly Day!

Why are we celebrating International Womens day March 8 again?

Happy International Women’s Day, Bitches! What are we celebrating this International Women’s Day? First, let’s check in with the boys… Raise your hand, fellas, if you — like Gov. Andrew Cuomo — should resign for sexual harassment. Anyone? Bueller? Interesting, considering at least one-third of women have experienced sexual harassment at work. And 81 percent…

If You Want Creativity at Work…

Creativity at work John Cleese guide book

You do have to have some peace and quiet One of the truths about creativity is that it takes time. But sometimes, when you work in a creative “workplace,” you find yourself having to be creative, but also under the gun of having to crank shit out. It helps to be good at what you…

How to Live with Purpose

How to live with purpose, when you find your true calling, focus and work and passion

Measuring the distance between living, giving, and making meaning It is the soul and curse of the Enneagram 8 to not only know how to live with purpose, but to be unable to avoid it. Having done all I can to resist this label, I have eventually just given in — I have a calling…

What the moon tells us

Every 28 days, the full moon returns. Why is that monthly reoccurrence so magical? Why does it appear like a stranger in the sky? Why are there names for our full moons — the Strawberry, the Cold, the Harvest — and why are we made blue when two of them visit us in a calendar…

Straight Outta Downton

Remember Anne Hathaway? A few years back she Hosted the Oscars. A guy who shall remain Nameless was also there but Was he really? Because She danced, sang and Joked circles around him. I’ll never be Anne Hathaway (Or Rebel Wilson, for that Matter) but I do remember The fine figure she cut that Evening…

Yes. You Can Definitely Stop By

Nick Pekar

In my dream last night, I was at home with the kids (naturally not at any house I’ve ever lived in or recognize!), when a thing I love happened. People started just stopping by. The first person to come by was a few neighbors. They just came on in. Turns out that one of them…

Always Running Away

Carry the World Kids Artwork Running Away with the World

We are all, always running away. I think at some point we have to accept that some people are not meant to stay still. They are always running away. But then again, who doesn’t? Why don’t we do it more? Just like we have to accept that some people don’t want children. Some people play…

What is Waiting for Us In the Afterlife

The Existential afterlife

I had 30 minutes in the car yesterday to think about what is waiting for us in the afterlife. It just so happens we were on the way to church. The kids traditionally read their books while we drive, but there was no “we” this weekend. Colin was out of town. So I had some…