I was called to Jury duty on July 11th and made it on to a trial. I’m off from work so it really wasn‘t didn’t seem like a big deal but we’re now heading into our 3rd week, beginning deliberations. I can’t talk about the trial/case, or give details (I’ve been sworn!) but suffice it [...]

Posted in books, my latest man-crush, my writing, teaching, writers 2 Comments »

The NewYorker Summer Fiction Issue has arrived but so far I’ve only read the non-fiction parts of it. There are new fictions from George Saunders and Jeffrey Eugenides (two of my absolute faves) and Lauren Groff (I still need to read her book, The Monsters of Templeton). Again, I love these writers, but I thought [...]

Posted in books, fiction, my latest man-crush, teaching, vintage books, writers No Comments »

Here are some quick updates of this past week. Finished Cleopatra by Stacy Schiff. I loved the information about Egypt and Cleo and Mark Antony, but I was missing dialogue (the book is serious nonfiction). Still, Schiff impressed me with her knowledge and Cleo impressed me with her sheer tenacity. My office at home is [...]

Posted in Ink, Movies, San Diego Writers, art, books, crafts, cute photos of me, fiction, my latest man-crush, my writing, poetry, shopping, teaching No Comments »

Did I tell you that in the course of two weeks, two of my students from two different schools drew portraits of me on their homework. Here they are: and which do you like better?

Posted in cute photos of me, teaching 2 Comments »

Finished my first week back teaching after a far-t00-idle summer. Four classes and a fifth starts in October. I need to be busy again. Busy-ness makes me feel better. Having things to do, having places to be and responsibilities. I’d like to think it pushes me creatively, too. This summer was just a wash–too much [...]

Posted in art, collage, crafts, fiction, my writing, postcards, teaching, writers No Comments »

The last resident reading was Sunday night and I read the opening of my book. I was the first reader of the night and got to show several slides from my research–documents, photos that inform my work. It was a great night, with very positive response from the audience. Very uplifting. I shared the night [...]

Posted in Vermont Studio Center, art, books, fiction, my writing, teaching, writers 1 Comment »

Ted’s been away over a week and i’m going stir crazy! Thankfully he is coming home tonight. It was only a week, I know, but when it’s just me and the kitties it gets a little weird. I wonder what he’s going to do when i’m in Vermont for a month doing my writer’s residency? [...]

Posted in Vermont Studio Center, books, cute photos of me, my latest man-crush, poetry, questions that plague me, teaching, ted, writers 3 Comments »

Saw David Sedaris last Friday, the night before Halloween at the newly renovated Balboa Theater downtown. The tickets were $50, and actually belonged to my lovely friend Jess, but she was sick, and her boyfriend was busy with rehearsals for a show, so they offered them to myself and Ted (and one extra ticket that [...]

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So school is back in full swing now, but i’m making plans for how to keep my life organized, to keep writing, and how to keep my sanity intact. One goal of mine is to go to bed BY 11 PM EVERY WEEK NIGHT. I can’t say that i’ll be able to do that on [...]

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Here’s another gem from The Writer’s Almanac. I’ve never heard of this guy, Paul J. Willis, but I’m going to have to get his book/s. This poem is so unique and beautiful and spare but so rich. I love the story of this Grandfather. Common Ground by Paul J. Willis Today I dug an orange [...]

Posted in books, fiction, my writing, nonfiction, poetry, teaching, writers No Comments »