I’ve published this post before, but I believe it’s worth an encore. Warning: it’s a bit gross. Norwegians have a word for the week between Christmas and New Year’s: romjula. The closest we have in English is the word Taint, meaning it ‘taint Christmas any more, but it ‘taint New Year’s either. I’m indebted to Rex… [Read More]
The Most Over-Hyped Time of the Year
Christmas is just over two weeks away, and the holiday spirit is growing on me. I haven’t posted here since August, and in the meantime I had a near-death experience. Literally: a subdural hematoma brought me close to death’s door, and I’m grateful to be alive. More on that later. But there have been past… [Read More]
Colorado Chronicles: My new poetry book project
I’ve been AWOL from this blog since early July, but I’ve been busy with a new poetry project titled COLORADO CHRONICLES. I’ve already completed first drafts of eight poems and read several at open mics in the Capital Region. I’ve got more in mind, and I hope to include some illustrations as well. I’m thrilled… [Read More]
Boring in black: the me too movement and the Golden Globes
I wrote this opinion piece soon after the Golden Globes and sent it to the Albany Times Union, but since they haven’t published it, I decided to share it here. Reading it now, nearly a month later, I stand by what I said then. Awards shows are one of my guilty pleasures, and the Golden… [Read More]
Can my Blue Sky Day Designer get me organized in 2018?
I tossed off this poem yesterday afternoon so I’d have something new to read at the Caffe Lena open mic last night. The historic coffeehouse has been beautifully expanded and renovated, and it has a spiffy new lobby and an elevator that makes it handicap-accessible for the first time. Kudos to Carol Graser, who’s kept… [Read More]
Savoring the lazy days of summer
I launched this new website on the summer solstice, right on schedule. A few days later, I had lunch at Panera with Thom Francis, my web designer, so that he could bring me up to speed on how to use and expand on the various features. I took thorough notes, but I’ve misplaced them—unsurprising, considering… [Read More]