Isn't it about time that Catholic priests give up the vow of celibacy? 

Isn't it about time that the leaders of the Catholic religion join the rest of the world in acknowledging their own sexuality? 

The reports pour in on the news. More and more and more reports of rape and… Read full post »

My trip to Florida over, I drove to Atlanta last Monday to stay with some friends, but specifically to have dinner at Kevin Gillespie’s restaurant, The Woodfire Grill. Kevin was a finalist on the most recent season of Top Chef, and though Mike Voltaggio won (what a dick!) I was rooting… Read full post »

Yes, I’m back in frigid WNC, back since last Wednesday. I rushed back so I wouldn't have to drive in the snow on Thursday, so lucky me, I got to be snowed in immediately after my Florida vacation. I am losing the feeling  of being there, and rather quickly in the… Read full post »

 This was written 2 days ago, on Monday, when I arrived at the park. There is WiFi, but difficulties piled up, as I will describe in the post. I'll post again about the 2 missing days tomorrow, about forts and beaches and friends. 

This morning I left Jacksonville, but not before… Read full post »

Well, needless to say, I made to to Jacksonville last night, just ahead of a harrowing storm. It was a terribly boring trip - interstate all the way - but I made good time, and I wanted to be there to meet Sharon for dinner. 

I rolled into the Riverside area… Read full post »

What with the prep for my trip, I forgot to share my good news, (and now jane is starting a new meme!)

A woman I met at a workshop last summer is a college professor in art, and she wants to spend her sabbatical... with me! She wants to spend 8… Read full post »

It's 9:30pm and I'm almost packed. I'm leaving in the morning on a road trip to Florida. The van has been jump-started, new batteried, vacuumed and filled. The cat has a sweet little old lady to visit and feed her. All other responsibilities are done, other than the usual paperwork that… Read full post »

Just wondering if my blog exists now that I can't get to it.

I'm wondering what's happening in there - are they mopping? Did they notice where I stained the couch? Is the FBI going through my files? Who knows?

All I get is a move-along-nothing-to-see screen and I'm… Read full post »

I don’t have a top ten list for OS. Luckily I was giving a workshop the last 3 days and I missed all the ruckus over editors, EPs and all that. But I do have some thoughts on the past year. 

As I look back, the thing that stands out is… Read full post »

11:33am - Good Morning! Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays, Solstice, and Friday around lunchtime. We lost power here for a minute and I had to reboot everything, but I'm back online. I took advantage of the… Read full post »

OK, I'm ready to start. Welcome to my little HOLIDAY block party. 

First, does anyone  just really NOT want to talk about the C word? Please start a live post that is fiercely off that topic so we can go to your blog and get some relief from over-analyzing. I am… Read full post »

 I'm depressed. I have never felt so embattled. I can't bear to listen to anything Rachel Maddow has to report. The banks, healthcare, religious nutcases, stupid sex scandals, more religious nutcases. It's all bad news. And here comes Christmas. 

Since I will be alone again (natur… Read full post »

Well, we just got our first snow of the season, like everyone else in the Blue Ridge mountains and now it's moving up the coast to DC and New England. Better get that shovel ready, folks! Like an idiot, I sold mine at my July yard sale (*sheesh*)

So here are… Read full post »

It was very strange to hear on national television tonight - on Rachel Maddow's show, in fact - that the seating of a new Asheville city councilman is being challenged because he's an atheist. The North Carolina constitution does specify that  “The following persons shall be disq… Read full post »

Sitting here at the OS cafe, watching the new post feed, I focus on those anonymous avatars and their posts. Yes, I am one of those obsessives who flag all the fake posts that actually are ads for viagra or uggs or whatever those people are paid to flog.

Right this… Read full post »

This is high school Detective Cruz. What is a friend anyway?
-- Violette, "Jawbreaker"

I really don’t know why I inspire screaming in my friends. I have again been screamed at for a reason that she alone knows and I cannot even fathom. This happens to me over and over and… Read full post »

 During the recession of the early 90s, when I was out of a job, rolling pennies to eat and collection agents were hounding me to get a job at Burger King to pay them their 30% interest rates, I realized that it costs more to be poor.  If you can't pay… Read full post »

A boy living in a New York apartment can see across the alley into the building next door. In one of the apartments he can look directly into the bedroom, and  nightly he watches the woman who lives there. She lies on the bed in her nightie, rubbing her body all… Read full post »

Senator Chuck Schumer is trying to save 100 jobs in his area,  New York state.  (see story here)  This doesn't sound like a big deal, and it's only 100 jobs, right?

But those jobs are with American Classic Outfitters who has a contract with Adidas. Adidas, who makes NBA's basketba… Read full post »

A few days before I had to leave for the show in Winston Salem, I got my hair cut and the salon is in this cute little section of my town that's built for the well-off retirees that live in that area. Nice shops, good restaurants and this spiffy salon. I… Read full post »

 Hi all-

I just got back from my show in Winston Salem, just unpacked my van and have lots of last minute things to do before I can post a recap. None of these to-do items have anything to do with Thanksgiving, unless you count catching people on the phone before… Read full post »

I am so behind in everything, I can’t keep track of what has fallen through the cracks. I am terribly behind in reading OS posts, and just like my shameful inability to be a good friend, I would rather not keep in touch if I can’t give my full attention. As… Read full post »

 The Republican purge continues apace, with Graham the unlikely next victim.  :

First they came for Kerry, and I did not speak out—because I was not a Democrat;

Then they came for McCain, and I did not speak out—because I was not bi-partisan; 

Then they came for… Read full post »

 This post is actually something that has been percolating in my brain for some time. Healthcare reform is something that I have thought about for years, since I had 3 doctors in my family, but had heretical thoughts on the subject. Being a doctor's child in the 60s meant I got… Read full post »

To turn the tradition on it's head, I'm soliciting recipes for quick lunches. Maybe some of you are also in this predicament - I never know what to make for lunch. Somehow, going out for lunch seems much more interesting, partly because I don't have to make it! Cooking during the… Read full post »