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Drinking Like a Writer
In the 1940 classic “The Philadelphia Story,” C.K. Dexter Haven tells Macaulay Connor “I thought all writers drank to excess and beat their wives. You know, at one time I secretly wanted to be a writer.” He tells Macaulay that Tracy Lord never understood his “deep and gorgeous thirst.” I’ve always thought that writing and substance abuse go ( Read more... ) -
Equality of Choice
It's official. I've made my choice of grad schools. Of the ten I applied to, I chose Antioch University, Los Angeles. Of the programs to which I applied, Antioch was rated fifth in the country for low-residency programs. Numbers one and two had already turned me down, and I wasn't very interested in number four. I wasn't going to hear from number ( Read more... ) -
Nobody Loves US Anymore!
Look, America, I'm gonna play it straight with you. I know that you and I haven't seen eye to eye about things. I know I'm not the most popular kid in school, but I've got my friends. I hear things. What I hear is that you're not so popular anymore. Seriously - nobody likes you.
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Grad School: What Do I Hope to Get Out of This Program?
I've now been accepted to two grad schools, and I've come to realize that what they say on the websites about "what our school has to offer" and what the admission officer will say to you when they call you to tell you that you've been accepted are two entirely different things.
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My Plant Karma Is Changing!
I have told people for decades that I am the Kevorkian of houseplants. No matter what kind of plant it is, from the moment it enters my house, it is doomed to die a slow, sad, lingering death. People have given me ficuses (ficii?), cacti, orchids, azaleas, ferns, spider plants - all with the assurance that "you can't kill this." Oh, but I could.
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Grad School: Progress and Process
Most of you know that about six weeks ago, I applied to ten different grad schools with the intent of getting an MFA. I made my choices based on Poets and Writers magazine's list of the 10 top low-residency programs in the country. I chose low-residency programs because, while I don't have a day job anymore, I do have a family that requires looking ( Read more... ) -
Love Song for Gladys Kravitz
A bit of poetry for a soft summer evening.
Love Song for Gladys KravitzYour name is Welsh and means "territorial ruler ( Read more... ) -
Good-bye Home Economics, Hello Decline of Western Civilization!
This evening, as I was doing the washing up in opera-length rubber gloves after having liberally slathered my hands with thick, greasy hand cream, I was thinking about how I always feel transported back to the 1950s when I do that. (And I'm using "back" in the figurative sense, as I was not yet born in the 1950s, just to be perfectly clear. I'm old ( Read more... ) -
Hi!
Remember me? I'd almost forgotten me. But I'm still here ( Read more... ) -
Calling a Spade a Spade
I know that I'm going to be skewered, and I'll probably offend a few people whom I otherwise love and respect, but I have to say something that's been brewing in my mind for a while now. To all of those people who are very vocal about the fact that they do not like children, I tell you: You are a bigot ( Read more... )