I have to be quick about this. I have a cheesecake to bake and a floor to mop and I still need to get to the liquor store and I forgot the walnuts for the sauce and what am I going to feed the vegetarians? But I promised myself two things today, besides the feast … Continue reading My Muse
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“After the Verdict We Watch Fireworks”
I'm feeling some ambivalence about this post. On the one hand, I am very, very excited to be appearing for the first time on The Rumpus! On the other, today is another particularly dark day at/for Penn State, and my essay (linked above) reminds me that we are still in the thick of it here … Continue reading “After the Verdict We Watch Fireworks”
Oprah & Me: A Fairy Tale
One day, when this book has been long published, and I am being interviewed by Oprah (what ever happened to laugh tracks, anyway?), I will tell the story about how the biggest challenge was, of course, managing my emotions while writing about painful stuff, but the second biggest challenge was figuring out the structure of … Continue reading Oprah & Me: A Fairy Tale
Beach Reading
I spent this morning on Siesta Key beach, reading Anthony Bourdain's last book, Medium Raw. I've read it before and enjoyed it, and it felt like a good choice for "beach read," since I feel certain my boyfriend Tony would approve of my mantra for this Florida trip: Eat seafood whenever possible. Preferably within five … Continue reading Beach Reading
Retreating
We don't get out the way some families do. We are, due to finances and personalities, basically a bunch of homebodies. But this spring we've already traveled to California and back to see Paul's parents and now we're leaving on Saturday for almost two weeks in Florida--a combination family vacation (going to grandma's house!) and writing/marital … Continue reading Retreating
Is This a Tunnel? Is That a Light?
Today a kind of big thing happened, and I wasn't even really aware of it until it was over: I finished the last of the planned essay chapters for the memoir. Now before we all pop the champagne cork and start dancing around to P-Funk (because that's what I plan to do when the time … Continue reading Is This a Tunnel? Is That a Light?
The Pizza Truck: An Anniversary Story
-~for Paul, 8 years later I got married two weeks ago. It was a simple but lovely do-it-yourself event in Hamden, Connecticut, at the home of dear friends for whom I provided childcare during graduate school. We were married outside, in their back yard, where they had created for us an arbor replete with clematis, … Continue reading The Pizza Truck: An Anniversary Story
Check Yourself Before You Wreck Yourself
Today marks the end of the first full week I've been able to devote to writing this summer and I've realized something important: even with this self-imposed deadline of August 6, I am going to have to pace myself. Writing every day can be (for someone who is out of the habit, anyway) exhausting; writing … Continue reading Check Yourself Before You Wreck Yourself
Overwintered
Every year we get all the way to Mother's Day, the day I traditionally plant my little garden plots, and I kick myself for not having started some of my veggies from seed. I regret having not gotten cold weather veggies like peas and lettuce into the ground earlier. Every year I say the same … Continue reading Overwintered
Dead Dad Day Meals: Chana Dal with Raita
1.5 cups chana dal canola oil for frying 1 onion, chopped 3 cloves garlic, chopped 1.5 inch piece fresh ginger, finely chopped 4 c. water ½ tsp sugar ½ tsp turmeric 2 tsp salt plus to taste 1 tsp ground black pepper 2 tsp cumin seed ½ tsp anise or fennel seed 1tsp coriander ½ … Continue reading Dead Dad Day Meals: Chana Dal with Raita
Sheila squillante 