Grandma Z made lists. I found lists in her cupboards, lists on her refrigerator, lists in her bible, and lists in her picnic baskets. She once told me she loved writing things down because she was so forgetful. Making the lists helped her stay organized. When it comes to lists, I am a lot like my grandmother… Read more
Uncategorized
Thursday night I was driving down to the church when I realized my fingers were freezing, my heart was beating, and my mind kept thinking of all the ways I was going to embarrass myself. I wasn’t headed to a solo performance with my clarinet. It was the rehearsal with the choir. The music I was playing for… Read more
“You know all those paintings your mother makes and then throws out?” My sister and I nodded as my dad said this. We knew. “Well, I pulled a few out of the garbage and stuck them up in the attic. Remember to get them out of there when I die so she doesn’t toss them.” I understand why… Read more
On Monday, I hobbled into my teaching job. Every other step, pain zipped though the right side of my hip and forced me into a jerking sort of movement just short of a collapse. I could not keep my face straight or look people in the eyes until it eased up again. Over and over I heard… Read more
I promised last week to write about deadlines. Sigh. I don’t want to write about deadlines. I spent the last two months working toward two deadlines: an application for a project I would love to do and a fiction contest. I’m tired. And I’m scared. I’m scared the people reading my submissions will laugh. I’m… Read more
One more deadline this week so another post heavy on pictures today. (More on deadlines and productivity coming up. Wow! Those things are motivating!) I spent Valentine’s Day at the zoo with my two guys and my wonderful Seattle family. I hadn’t considered it before we went, but it turns out other people think Woodland Park… Read more
I am staring down two deadlines this week so this week’s wonders will be long on pictures and short on words. Flaming Geyser State Park has a very small flame from a natural methane source (in the concrete circle), but the wonder there and at Neely Mansion in the Green River Valley kept us entertained this weekend… Read more
When Quinton first found The Girl she was in a pile of stuffed animals at a rummage sale stacked on shelves taller than I am. From all the bears, doggies, and other critters, Q pulled out a mermaid with pink yarn hair and in a purple bikini. At first, I my heart squeezed… Read more