Yes, I'm participating in NaNoWriMo this year. What's NaNoWriMo? It is National Novel Writing Month, a self-described "seat-of-your-pants approach to novel writing." Last year, I made the grand attempt only to realize there was no way I could write 50,000 new words plus study for comps. So I've decided to give it the proverbial second shot … Continue reading If at first you don’t succeed…
The Mermaid
The night is black without a moon…
It is Halloween. One of my favorite evenings of the year. Halloween brings to mind the stir of fallen leaves, children's laughter in the air, the scent of candles, the rustle of candy wrappers, and the itchy, sticky weight of wigs, grease makeup, and costumes. Brad and I used to dress up every year. Every … Continue reading The night is black without a moon…
I am but a sparrow
I decided to go to confession this afternoon. Lately, I have felt very in need of this sacrament, but have been coming up with excuses not to go. Some of the same excuses I've been using to miss Mass. Altogether, lame excuses. Deep down I knew what was ahead of me. Once I entered my Father's … Continue reading I am but a sparrow
Pause before you exhale
I'm not sure if Terry McMillan ever intended for society to use the title of her successful book, and later movie, as a source or description of how we live our day to day lives, always holding our breath. If I remember correctly, "waiting to exhale" meant a women was waiting for or still searching for her … Continue reading Pause before you exhale
All about Eve (part II)
Two things happened yesterday after I posted my transgressions against Eve. A very good friend who is aware of what I've been dealing with in regards to erratic menopausal symptoms and my mother's diagnosis, asked if the post was therapeutic. I explained I felt better moments after posting. Then I accompanied my mother to her surgical appointment … Continue reading All about Eve (part II)
If you see Eve, tell her I’d like to speak with her…
Yes, I'm talking about Eve, the first of our kind. One of God's first children. The one who let some slithering snake talk her into eating forbidden fruit and ruining it for the rest of us. If you are unfamiliar with Eve's short story, here it is in a nutshell: God created Adam and Eve, gave … Continue reading If you see Eve, tell her I’d like to speak with her…
Hello, autumn. How I’ve missed you.
It is officially autumn. The autumnal equinox, when the sun is directly above the equator and the length of day and night are nearly equal, occurred last night. Around 10:09 pm. I sat on the deck with a Samuel Adams Octoberfest in hand, KMUW's jazz cafe streaming through the outdoor speakers, and watched the red-gray clouds pass … Continue reading Hello, autumn. How I’ve missed you.
Game Day
The first time I went to a Bears game was in the early 80s. I believe it was 1983. The Bears played the Baltimore Colts. Yes, the Baltimore Colts. Before Indianapolis. Before Peyton Manning. Baltimore. It was a Sunday in late September, but the air in Chicago was already hinting of the cold to come. … Continue reading Game Day
Red Swan Diaries is temporarily off the air
And I was afraid I'd become a weekly blogger. More like bi-weekly, soon to be monthly. Quarterly at this rate. I thought I'd have more time to write and read once I graduated. I was so wrong. I'm not sure where the day goes, but before I know it the National Anthem is playing and … Continue reading Red Swan Diaries is temporarily off the air
Inspired, yet uninspired
Not sure how that happens. To be inspired. Yet, uninspired. I've been inspired by many things as of late. By the crazy rain storm that positioned itself last week directly over our house. While it poured for an hour in our neighborhood, most of Wichita experienced only droplets of rain. Then the temperature dropped 20 … Continue reading Inspired, yet uninspired
Mermaid of the Plains 