When I was 21 I went to Europe on a five-week student tour with my best friends. On our last day we were in England, and we went on a boat ride down the Thames to Greenwich. I have several memories of that day, a few funny stories, conversations, photos, but there was one image … Continue reading Sheltering-in-Place
Do you remember that scene in Out of Africa when Meryl Streep, playing Karen Blixin (later known by her nom de plume Isak Dinesen) was hosting Robert Redford and Michael Kitchen on her estate in Africa, and times being what they were--before CD’s and DVD’s—she entertained them with an after-dinner story. Robert Redford’s character gave … Continue reading Making Up Stories: my spiritual practice
Years ago, I whimsically folded a few of my original poems into paper airplanes and flew them into the audience at a reading. People were amused. This happened long ago, in the "Before Times," when no one had heard the names Microsoft or Apple iPhone. It was a simpler era, and yet today I say … Continue reading Free Books
This is a re-run from the early days of this blog, but still topical and seasonal. Enjoy! I pledge allegiance to this sand and gravel road that runs between the river and my house, clumps of California poppies rangy stalks of fragrant fennel burgeoning fig trees that grow wild on the river bank. I pledge … Continue reading Happy Birthday, USA
Greetings Blogosphere! I am excited to announce that I am releasing another book, a brief collection of short short stories (aka "flash fiction") and essays. It's called Wild Imaginings. Currently Wild Imaginings is available only as an E-Book for you to download onto your Kindle, Nook, tablet, computer or other device (even the one you're reading … Continue reading New Book!
Warning: spoilers ahead. I’ll wave a red flag when we get close, but stay alert. This book made me very sad. I don’t know why I’m surprised, it’s right there in the tittle. It’s not that I can’t handle sad—I mean, I’ve never missed an episode ofThis Is Us. But this book made me feel sad … Continue reading The Particular Sadness of Lemon Cake (a book review)
Recently I was doing a yoga DVD and I got my first taste of vertigo. I think it happened when I was doing one of those poses where you’re bent over, your head near your shins, and you lift one arm straight up, then you twist your neck to look at the ceiling. That seems … Continue reading Vertigo
Before paper, everyone spoke in rhyme or else you’d forget what was on your grocery list. You’d go out to buy a hat and be forced to buy food for a cat, even though you only had a pet mouse to keep you company in your house. Before paper, babies were given very short names … Continue reading Before Paper
Hey, I just found this in my journal. I remember writing it, but I don't remember when. Guess it's time to set it free. It's a bit of Matrix thinking! If I had it to do all over again, maybe I’d take the blue pill; I’d choose the illusion. I’ll get a job in a … Continue reading If I had to do it over again. . .
Join me to celebrate the launch of my latest novel Ghost Owl at a book-signing party next Thursday evening, November 2nd from 5:30 to 8:30 at Hoppy Brewing Company 6300 Folsom Blvd. in Sacramento, California Free appetizers No host bar Ghost Owl is the 3rd book in my Avian Series, preceded by Yellow-Billed Magpie and … Continue reading Living The Dream
