So, last night was Book Group and my turn to host. Ever since my Facebook pal Chase recommended “The Orphan Master’s Son” and I read it, I had wanted to talk about it with other people. I thought I’d have to wait until August, but then Gail went AWOL (she does tax prep and is probably buried … Continue reading Bonus Post: Book Group at the Landfill and gluten-free baking, the maiden voyage
Category: books
This past weekend Tuki and I walked with R & Bailey again. We talked about her TV spot. She’s a city forester and was interviewed by a local station about damage to the trunks of her city’s streetside trees because of the extreme cold. She was pretty pleased with it but wished the reporter had included … Continue reading Trees on TV and a review of Judith Claire Mitchell’s “A Reunion of Ghosts”
If I ever get pulled over for “fitting the description,” the description will be “garden-variety middle-aged white lady.” It’s been an accurate description for most of my life (with the exception of the age part, which is following the conventional trajectory and means that if I live long enough, I'll be a garden-variety old white … Continue reading Pan-African Nationalism basics, plutocratic cookie pigs and Rabbi Hillel
I came home from my most recent Book Group and announced to Sweetheart that I had good news and bad news. “What?” he said. “Book group is going to be here in March,” I told him. I was originally slated for August, but a spot opened up and I jumped. I’ve been wanting to talk … Continue reading Packrats in Love Struggle to clear the Landfill called Home (with a little help from Marie Kondo)
Seven years ago, I decided to go to graduate school, because I don’t ever want to qualify for food stamps again. I want them to be there for people who need them, and I am all good with my tax dollars going to do that. In fact, I’m pretty good with my tax dollars going … Continue reading American Library Association declares war on former food stamp recipient, plus a mini rant and a throwback post featuring Israel, Palestine and feral cats
Four Februarys ago, I attended two funerals in the same week. It was the first time that had happened. A month later I was in New York hanging out with my niece and nephew. My sister had decided to fly down from Edmonton during their spring break, and New York is always a great place … Continue reading Ruth Goldbas & Ernie Banks, who died old, and Baki, who died young
One of the best things about finishing grad school is getting to read for pleasure again. I recently finished one novel - “The Orphan Master’s Son” by Adam Johnson, and am currently about halfway through “All My Puny Sorrows” by Miriam Toews. My Facebook pal Chase recommended the Johnson book in the wake of the … Continue reading North Korea and Canada between covers: A pair of mini book reviews
So, last Friday I took a half-day off work because it was Writer’s Lunch. Every December for the past five – or maybe six – years, Annie, Elaine, Judy, Shauna and I pick a restaurant and go out for lunch. We have the best time. We laugh, we drink, sometimes I empty my purse because … Continue reading Dave Margoshes, Ayelet Waldman and what matters
The dishes are back in the cupboards, the leftovers have been safely stowed in the refrigerator, the dog has been walked and another American Thanksgiving is about to be in the rear-view mirror. I have a writing deadline, and I really want to get this house set up and in order. We moved in while … Continue reading Write more, own less
Last year, Leonard Cohen did something I never thought would happen in a gatrillion years. He played a show in my city. I owe my Cousin-by-Choice Peter a huge debt of gratitude for that, because Peter’s the promoter who got him here. Turned out that Sweetheart had never heard of Leonard Cohen, which I discovered when … Continue reading Leonard Cohen, Suzzy Roche and parties
the sentence factory 