personal takes on life, the universe, and everything
Never before has “may you live in interesting times” been quite the curse it is today. Things are crumbling on the edges of our vision, all around. The 21st century seems intent on fast forwarding through ages past at a breakneck pace and repeating all the worst bits of what used to be. So far …
History is what happens while you’re trying to live your life… Read More »
I have rambled for much of my life, living and trekking around different countries, but ironically ended up with a bungalow back in my home town where Thor joined me to spiff it up. And now Thor and I are moving again. It’s been an interesting evolution…. People have been asking for updates on our move, so here’s …
The Rambling Writer’s Quest for Home, part 1: Moving Again Read More »
Originally published . . . last year? In this blog I had a number of thing to say, I have told myself, but I end up with only two. First, before I lay out my crossword frustrations, I want to do a circular “Six Degrees …” of my background films (that is, films and TV …
Crossword Puzzlements and How Did I Get Jam on my iPad? Read More »
I much prefer fresh black-eyed peas to dried and reconstituted. The fresh ones are much finer and creamier in texture, and never grainy. You can also taste some faint yet distinctly flavorful and complex sugars in the fresh peas, sugars that go stale when the peas are dried. Be aware that ham hocks are all …
Revisit with Thor and me an escape to the mountains. Seize the day! Way too much “Life” is swirling around us these past weeks, and today comuter gremlins invaded my blog post-in-progress, so we’ll get back to that new topic next week. (Hint: Moving) Meanwhile, here is a reminder that a getaway to “Be Here …
This year marks the 105th anniversary of the US’s entry into World War I…a topic which I happened to do a lot of research on for my YA fantasy What Lies Beneath. In observation of the event, I’m reposting a series of pieces I wrote around what was happening on the “home front” during that …
My husband recently entered a bake-off with the cast and crew of Motown: The Musical at the Oriental Theater in Chicago. Bless him, he wanted to enter my corn bread. I said, Hey, it’s just the Better Homes & Gardens cookbook recipe. You know. The book with the red and white checks on the cover? Then he …
Damn Yankee Chicken Pie In 1939 my Aunt Bec (Bessie) made the long and perilous train journey from rural Alabama to New England. She needed to check out my newborn eldest brother to make certain he was a fitting heir to the Radford name. Wedding photo Miriam Elizabeth Bentley and Edwin Smith Radford December 26, …
This month marks the 105th anniversary of the US’s entry into World War I…a topic which I happened to do a lot of research on for my YA fantasy What Lies Beneath. In observation of the event, I’m reposting a series of pieces I wrote around what was happening on the “home front” during that …
Join me for a celebration of Easter on my first trip through the Greek islands. Back in 1981, I fulfilled a dream to visit Greece, after my fascination with its mythology and culture since childhood. With my partner Jim, I loaded up my backpack for camping on the different islands and mainland. This is part …
My supermercado, Rogers Park Fruit Market, is a continual inspiration to me. I was in there Wednesday getting the usual stuff and as usual browsing the yummy things I can’t have (fresh fruit, Jamaican meat patties, locally-made rum-raisin ice cream with raisins soaked in real rum in it omg, bakery treats, oh never mind) and …
[As the title suggests, I am not able to actually revisit South Africa’s amazing Kruger National Park, but I am able to recall my two safari trips there in 2017 and 2018. This is a reprint of my original March 2017 post about my safari escapades.] We rise early, try to chug hot, mediocre coffee, …
