I've spent the better part of this week trying to write about what's been happening here at Penn State, about how it feels and has felt to be living and working in this community now and for the last 12 years. What resulted is messy, maybe incoherent and very probably self-indulgent. But regardless, here it … Continue reading We are?
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Lunch with Laura
I haven't seen her in twenty years, but suddenly I am thinking about Laura Thompson. We went to high school together. She was one of my best friends--smart, dryly funny, a little goofy (we all were) open and generous with affection toward all of us in our little group of near-nerds, or, as we were … Continue reading Lunch with Laura
Writin’ & Cryin’
I have decided to take a Rick Squillante approach to what would have been Rick Squillante's 66th birthday and work as much sardonic, sarcastic smart-assery into my conversations today as possible. The only problem is that I don't plan to have many conversations because I will be plugged into my laptop at Wegmans, doing what … Continue reading Writin’ & Cryin’
Such Beautiful Decay
On Sunday we took what was, for us, a very long hike in the woods with the kids. Though I have seen some younger than my own up there, there is pretty much no way we could haul ours up Mount Nittany. The chorus of "Up me, Papa!" would be never-ending. For now, anyway. But … Continue reading Such Beautiful Decay
Write, Writer!
A writer writes. That seems like the obvious thing, does it not? And yet. Apathy, lethargy, seventeen kinds of daily distraction, only five of which involve honorable pursuits like teaching and parenting and domestic whoseewhatsits, the rest flitting back and forth between Tom and Lorenzo, Already Pretty, Saveur and the Time Suck of the Cosmos … Continue reading Write, Writer!
Party Dresses, Pearls & A Proposition for You, Dear Reader
I believe in party dresses. I don't necessarily mean tulle and satin and crinoline and patent leather Mary-Janes. These days my party clothes are more like cashmere cowl-neck sweaters, black pencil skirts and my knee-high Docs with opaque tights. Fancy earrings. Maybe break out my blingiest ring. Today, of course, was a day primed for … Continue reading Party Dresses, Pearls & A Proposition for You, Dear Reader
Dear Sheila,
I spent a lovely couple of hours at Café Lemont with some even lovelier women friends this morning. A coffee celebration to mark the official yearly shift from "Ordinary Time" to "Birthday Time." This sounds very Catholic somehow, doesn't it? I do this, though. Every year, I start thinking about my birthday weeks in advance. I … Continue reading Dear Sheila,
Time to Rally
Normally by this time in the summer, I am ready and even kind of excited to be getting back into the semester. Looking forward to more structure and the excitement that can come with a new bunch of students. And the weather--how I love the fall weather. But not this year. Semester begins tomorrow and … Continue reading Time to Rally
Fairy Tale with Cheesecake
Once upon a time there was a girl who won a national essay contest in a popular women's magazine. Besides some very generous swag (that included a year's supply of makeup and ginormous Publisher's Clearinghouse-style checks and real ones she actually cashed), she was gifted with a conversation in a swanky NYC bar with an … Continue reading Fairy Tale with Cheesecake
Bird by Bird
I'm overwhelmed again. This happens rather regularly with me, especially as the semester looms. One would think that the experience of living with yearly/seasonal/monthly/whatever overwhelm might make one an expert on dealing with it. One would be wrong. At least in my case. No, my brain feels like...well, you know, I don't really have a … Continue reading Bird by Bird
Sheila squillante 