It's raining cats, dogs, politicians, and likely a wide range of other, assorted, small animals, outside my study corner window, tonight. Situation 'Normal' in SG's world, in other words. So, where have I been?. Why so absent?. I'm short on words these days, just as I'm short on sleep, excu… Read full post »

When Red & Black Heartbreak Strikes

A week ago, the proud city of Christchurch, New Zealand that my great-great grandfather helped to settle in the 1800s, and where my family have been born and resided in for generations (myself included) had its heart torn out, its humble, yet staunch resol… Read full post »

When the Personal Merges with the Political:

For me to write explicitly here on OS about what has lately been dubbed as being “The Tuscon Tragedy” by some media outlets, in terms of rationalizing what happened, or what might subsequently unfold as a consequence, would be being purely… Read full post »

Denis Dutton: Contrarian, Critical Thinker & Skeptic.

Two weeks ago, my former university-the University of Canterbury in Christchurch, New Zealand awarded Philosophy Professor Denis Dutton a Research Medal. It is that University’s highest academic honor. Denis’s acceptance response t… Read full post »

Will Botox Become My New BFF?

Just before the Memorial Day weekend, my husband and I drove five and a half hours south to Stanford University Hospital and Clinics, for my appointment with a Neurologist in the Neurosciences Department. Incredibly, the consultation took close on two hours… Read full post »

Oh, My Dysfunctional Head: A Non-'Poor Me' Story

Yesterday, I got an award in the postal mail-from my current University. President’s List Honors for earning a 4.0 GPA for the February, 2010 term. I also received a phone call from Stanford Hospital… Read full post »

My father circa late 1930s (SG Private Collection)

Some people who listen to me talk about my father’s premature death are of the opinion that I can discuss it as naturally and freely as several other subject matters that are really close to my heart and… Read full post »

Firstly, thank-you to all of you who offered me your condolences on the recent death of my family member in New Zealand. Truthfully, I have not been in much of a mood, nor of a mind to write.  Being so far away from important events and decisions about the… Read full post »

“Rest satisfied with doing well, and leave others to talk of you as they please.” ~Pythagoras

 … that it was to be such a slow news/scandal-free weekend here on OS?. Not I. But, lo!. Part of people’s brains mysteriously began falling… Read full post »

My Palest Ink-My Obit-Open Call.

“The palest ink is better than the best memory.” (Chinese proverb)

It is an all-consuming and daunting task to have to compose it, much less having to even contemplate the contents of… Read full post »

Dreams Are Made Of This – Torman’s Open Call

In Arthur Miller's Death of a Salesman, Willy Loman says, "A salesman has got to dream, boy. It comes with the territory."

And, to an extent, dreams are just that...

Dreams can… Read full post »

Missing Out On F, T, S and H

"Old man/take a look at my life/I'm a lot like you: -Neil Young: "Old Man" (1971)

 No-one can tell us exactly how long it is that my younger brother has been severely hearing impaired or deaf. He’s lived… Read full post »

Here on OS, there has been some fascinating dialogue on personal legacies-their meaning (if any), who should feel entitled to leave them (and why or why not). On just what all that means within the wider context of having lived and left our impressions on humanity and the world at large.… Read full post »

The Anti-Anti Christmas.

 This year, perhaps more than ever, it has seemingly become ‘trendy’ to be as staunchly anti-Christmas as possible. 2009 has been a difficult and ‘watershed’ year for many, with the impositions of unexpected austerity, and sharply marked incre… Read full post »

Once upon a time, in a misty land far, far away, my early adulthood took on seemingly soap-opera-esque connotations and proportions. Somewhere, underneath all of that toxic sludge, was a speck of gold-dust, otherwise known as, "The Simple Life". I think that we all evolve, change, meld, merge, 'grow'… Read full post »

How To Opt-Out of A/H1N1-Virus Interuptus?

I woke up this morning pondering a slight dilemma looming on the horizon of a new week.

 Do I have A/H1N1. Or, not?. I’ve been symptomatic for the past five days-runny nose, headache, chest pain, cough, ‘feeling as… Read full post »