In July, I was visiting Leakey, Texas -- with the daughter, grandkids, and their assorted relatives.  Not being willing to hike in Lost Maples Park in 100 degree weather, I opted to drive out one of the winding roads through the hills.  And, being at my own pace, stopped to read… Read full post »

starting from the left:  the sky from my backyard just before a storm

my brother's old pick-up truck.  He recently sold it -- long story short, he survived a brush with death and now -- thanks to the American Plan, is penniless, can't work and doesn't qualify for… Read full post »

I've spent a good bit of my summer with my grandsons.  Most of it was with their cousins and other grandparents and other aunts and uncles.  Except for 4 glorious days when I was alone with them.

I'm a hermit and I don't tolerate stupidity very well.  I realize that stupidity… Read full post »

Talking with a friend of mine at work about the sad state of network news.  And through stream of consciousness -- it reminded me of this song from Tim Rice & Andrew Webber's musical from the 70's -- Jesus Christ, Superstar.

What if Jesus (or his heir) had… Read full post »

1. The Reckoning, by David Halberstam  (1986).  One of the first "grown-up" non-fiction books I read.  He lays out the sequence of events behind the American and Japanese automotive industries (ironically Mr. Halberstam died in a car crash in 2007).   My favorite part about th
… Read full post »

It took a lot of bribes and boucoup copyright fees, but here it is, at long last -- my Bump & Grind Valentine to almost all of my favorites here on Open Salon.

 See if you recognize yourselves -- it you look closely, I've labeled pictures with your names.

Without… Read full post »

AthomePilgrim recommended this talk and I think it is so important, I wanted everybody to hear this remarkable woman's experience.

  Read full post »

Inject some Happy into your World

After immersing myself in hours of reading books and watching documentaries about serious, sad, scary realities of our world, I was determined to find something uplifting to lighten my soul.  Without resorting to a Lifetime Channel sappy movie about overc… Read full post »

Think Peace. 

I didn't know Howard Zinn personally.  I'd never met him, never sat in the room during one of his talks.  But he affected me down to my core.  This past Thursday, I went to many people in the office where I work and asked them if they'd ever… Read full post »

It was late afternoon and Marie was stirring a pot of beans on an open fire in the alleyway just outside of their small apartment.  Jean Paul, a three-year-old, plays with a wooden spoon and an aluminum pot on the dirt.  Little Rene, 12 months old, is gurgling happily in his… Read full post »

For the first time ever, I have watched The Big Lebowski.  Whenever I heard someone describe this movie as "you know, that movie about bowling" I thought it was that Woody Harrelson movie Kingpin which I had to sit through once.  The only scene in that movie I remember to this… Read full post »

 I don't typically post about political issues -- but I can't pass this up.  I am a registered Democrat in a lake of Republicans floating in a sea of apathy.  I frequently email my congressmen/women with my opinions (which typically are complaints about how they're voting o… Read full post »

There’s some kind of undercurrent running through my brain.  Some as-of-yet unidentified but fast moving river of discomfort that is about to blow up and destroy all the current settings of my inner iPod.  I’ve had two dreams that tell me something’s up. 

First dream… Read full post »

Somebody said in the comments to Sparking's post about Teapot Karma, that we would all like to send her a teapot.

 That was my first reaction, too.

 Then I thought -- why not? 

 I found this teapot high on the shelf in the back of my pantry -- haven't used… Read full post »

I’m writing today about my dog, Einstein – he’s looking for a new home.  I’ve spent the past year coming to terms with the fact that my situation must change before it gets changed for me – the whole house-owning thing has lost its charm and I’m circling the d/… Read full post »

A rather proper looking Mick Jagger.

Interviewing John Lennon in the middle of eating his chinese take-out.  Wearing high-waters, black socks and white tennis shoes. 

I can't believe Mick Jagger calls him Winston.

Be sure you catch the "I wanna hold your man" line.

&nb… Read full post »

Hey all you   groovy dudes  and hip chicks    

Check out this  new blogger, Markacoustic  

He posted a video of his own song and it’s pretty damn good. 

  Read full post »

It became the highlight of her life.  Every evening, anxiously awaiting the familiar “Welcome” to the world-wide social club.  The quickness of it, the intellects and the sharp wits were exciting after a day spent answering phones and editing contracts, over and over again. … Read full post »

Last night I was out visiting my daughter and grandsons at their OTHER grandparents' house.  My daughter was frantically trying to pack everybody's Christmas haul into the same suitcases that brought their absolutely necessary items when they came back in mid-December.

 My mission wa… Read full post »

When I was 7 years old, my Grandmother bought me a used piano.

This is the look on my face when I was summoned home to see the big surprise.

No one ever had to tell me to practice.

Through the years, that old piano was my refuge --… Read full post »

This is a question I would have asked many years ago between the violent outbursts of my rage-filled ex-husbands.

Well, here we are and I guess I won't sleep tonight until I get this off my chest.

The first time a man hit me I was about 19 and he had been… Read full post »

The other night my daughter was telling us a story and when she paused at one point, my other daughter and I drifted off to another conversation.  First daughter then spoke up and said, hey! I wasn't finished with my story. 

This morning it came to me -- the big… Read full post »

You'll just have to use your imagination about my dance moves (careful there, I ain't a slut!).  But every time I put Supernatural on to play, I can't help it, I gotta move!

Here's the first -- just a little background music for our New Years' Eve.

Enjoy… Read full post »

1.  Why is it that the one EP I got was for bitching about an email I received?  Most of the words in that post were not even mine.

 2.  Why do I eat vegan (just had a delicious black bean veggie burger, with organic hot mustard on a whole wheat… Read full post »