Weddings—my ONLY sibling, my big sister, got married this month! Goats might have made an appearance, now I have a brother, my sister looked F-A-B-U-L-O-U-S, and the unconditional love was felt in everyone's hearts!!! A Star is Born. No words, just me alternating between grinning like an idiot and crying like a baby sitting in … Continue reading October 2018 Favorites
The Flying Busman
The Flying Busman keeps his poems on the small elevated landing at the front of the bus. Two of them are folded into paper airplanes. A woman sitting next to me engages him in conversation. Something about a writing group that meets at a Wegman's in Camillus every Thursday night. She's holding a big box. … Continue reading The Flying Busman
On Rejection
Recently my application to a prestigious scholarship was rejected, which provoked a range of emotions. My initial thoughts and feelings? Hurt. Disappointed. Might brb and silently cry in the bathroom. Then, bitterness and despair. Why was I audacious enough to believe I had a chance? Then, bored of self-pity fairly quickly, I became indignant. They … Continue reading On Rejection
Who Lives, Who Dies, Who Tells Your Story
Alexander Hamilton By Ron Chernow 832 pages, Penguin Books, New York, 2005 The sacred rights of mankind are not to be rummaged for among old parchments or musty records. They are written, as with a sunbeam, in the whole volume of human nature by the hand of the divinity itself and can never be erased … Continue reading Who Lives, Who Dies, Who Tells Your Story
On Tearing My ACL(s)
The forward was coming on fast, perpendicular to me, both of us racing for the same ball. I was on defense, and my team was up 1-0. I beat him to the ball, but just barely, and he made his arrival known. I can’t remember how he ended up on the ground, the ball and … Continue reading On Tearing My ACL(s)
September 2018 Favorites
Or, a list of bomb things I discovered last month (late to the game on most of them, classic). Aesop Rock's song "Get Out of the Car." Challenge me to a rap battle and I'll somehow fit in the line "true friendship in a tugboat way". (Completely serious when I say I memorized the entire … Continue reading September 2018 Favorites
A long, cathartic walk through the wilderness
Wild: From Lost to Found on the Pacific Crest Trail By Cheryl Strayed 311 pages, Vintage Books, New York, 2013 The idea of a woman taking off on a solo hike on the formidable Pacific Crest Trail was enough of a premise for me to want to read Wild by Cheryl Strayed. Wild is as … Continue reading A long, cathartic walk through the wilderness
Four camels, a canine sidekick, and a journey across the Australian outback
Tracks: A Woman's Solo Trek Across 1,700 Miles of Australian Outback By Robyn Davidson 254 pages, Vintage Books, New York 1995 Originally published in Great Britain by Jonathan Cape Ltd., London, 1980 The decision to walk 1,700 miles through the Australian outback with four camels and a dog named Diggity isn't a light one. But … Continue reading Four camels, a canine sidekick, and a journey across the Australian outback
Book Rating Scale
5 stars: Absolutely outstanding. This book stayed with me for a long time. 4 stars: Extremely good. I thoroughly enjoyed the book. 3 stars: It was good. Although not a favorite, I would still recommend. 2 stars: Certain aspects are redeeming, but overall was not a fan of the book. 1 stars: Don't bother reading. … Continue reading Book Rating Scale
A Personal Manifesto
Live your life by a set of core values you believe in and make decisions based on those core values. Define these nebulous terms for yourself: happiness, success, freedom. Show up. Do the work. Concern yourself only with things within your control. Don't let the value of an effort be anchored to its results. Empower … Continue reading A Personal Manifesto