I've been reading articles about "Free Range Parenting." While the concept (letting kids have the sort of freedom I had, as a child in th e '70s) is admirable, it's sad that there has to be a "movement" in order to make it possible. And that name! Is it really an improvement to… Read full post »

Hello, everyone! I just wanted to alert you to the presence of a new blogger on my "favorites" list. Rosycheeks is my fascinating Bohemian/Californian mother. Artist. Story-teller. Veteran LGBT rights, anti-war and general social justice activist. One-time dancer and (almost) circus performer. Tattoo… Read full post »

A few days ago, I was talking with a friend about his "one-who-got-away." There was a woman he loved, many years ago, whom he might have been able to marry if he'd treated her better. He took her for granted, back then, and only realized, years later, that she was one… Read full post »

I'm a big fan of Judith Martin (aka "Miss Manners.") She is wonderfully flexible in her application of the principles of etiquette (which, she reminds her readers, are not stiff-necked prohibitions but guidelines that help people feel comfortable and have harmonious relationships.) I wonder, though,… Read full post »

I've just been exchanging emails with a friend, talking about tonight's "Dancing With the Stars." Assigned to do a "1980s style" Paso Doble, Donny Osmond wore a costume that was almost an exact replica of one worn by Adam Ant. I was a big Adam Ant fan in the 80s. The… Read full post »

Next Friday (yes, Friday the 13th) I'll be teaching the first session of another writing workshop. I know I've mentioned here, in the past, that I'm always trying to encourage my students to start blogs (on OS or elsewhere) because I think blogging is great practice for all types of creative… Read full post »

The little girl I've been calling my "Five-Year-Old Charge" turned six over the weekend. I'd asked her what she wanted for her birthday, and she said "lipstick, but my mother won't let me wear it, so lip gloss would be good." I gave her three lip glosses (grape, cherry and lime)… Read full post »

The NY Times has a series in the "Styles" section called "Generation B." The B stands for "Boomer." I read it once in a while.

No, I'm not a Boomer, at least not according to Douglas Coupland, who coined the phrase "Generation X" (in his novel of the same name.)According to… Read full post »

A couple of weeks ago, there was a NY Times article with a title that really appealed to me. It was called "The Secret New York Minute." It was actually about the fact that trains leaving from Grand Central Station routinely depart one minute later than the posted departure time, in… Read full post »

A couple of nights ago, I was rehearsing with my theater company (for one of our radio shows, which we performed last night.) My friend and long-time acting colleague, "Mr. A" told me, as rehearsal wound down, that he was hoping to start a web site, on which he would  provide information… Read full post »

I just read in the NY Times that the current Pope Benedict and Anglican Archbishop Rowan Williams have come to an agreement, whereby Anglican clergy and laity can join the Roman Church while keeping their Anglican rites. This would include admission of married (male) Anglican priests as Roman Catholi… Read full post »

One of the many things I enjoy about working with children is the way they make me segue "on a dime" from simple, earthy concerns to spiritual/philosophical ones. Children don't compartmentalize, when they're young. It's all stream-of-consciousness. I like that "head space." I'm inclined to be that w… Read full post »

My 20-something niece has just ended a long-term relationship and says she is ready to start dating again, "even though I hate dating." I hear that sort of thing from a lot of people. Everyone I know seems to "hate dating." I never really got to date (mine is the late… Read full post »

Cats are better than humans because:

1. They sleep whenever they want to and wake up whenever they want to.

2. They are beautiful even when they are fat.

3.They sleep where (and with whom) they want to; no questions asked.

4.They don't have to work.

5. They don't have to … Read full post »

While I'm on my fashion kick, I might as well admit to all of you: I'm a girl who wears glasses. Okay, I'm a 47-year-old woman who wears glasses. Except when I'm wearing my contact lenses.

I'm very near-sighted. During the last few years, I've kept my near-sightedness, for the most… Read full post »

An article in the "Room For Debate" section of today's NY Times asks the non-musical question: "Why do women wear shoes that hurt their feet?" The respondents gave varied answers. Sex. Empowerment. Class (if you can go around in high-heeled shoes, it implies that you don't need to work. That las… Read full post »

I know there are at least a few other "Dancing With The Stars" fans in this section of the OS Universe, and I'm wondering: what did you think of Donny Osmond's behavior on Monday? People who watched the show will know but, for the rest of you, let me explain. After… Read full post »

I might have mentioned, in passing, that I'm in a graduate program in Theology (via distance education.) One of my courses is on Jungian dream analysis.  I've begun analyzing my own dreams using Jung's techniques.

One thing I read in a textbook surprised me. The author stated that the most signi… Read full post »

Lainey wants to know what I sell. Well...

I don't sell any sort of material objects, but I do "sell" my services as a freelance Interfaith Minister. If you need someone to officiate a wedding, baby naming/blessing, funeral or memorial service, home or office blessing, healing service, or pr… Read full post »

I was thirteen years old and I desperately wanted to keep studying ballet.  I'd had a month of classes at my new ballet school (yes, I started late) but then my Dad lost his job (the new job which had been our reason for moving to San Francisco in the first… Read full post »

I'm not good at putting the breaks on my thoughts. I can do certain forms of meditation (and I not only want, but need to do them.) But "emptying" my mind? Yeah...right!

So, I'm trying to do this meditation technique I learned in one of my theology textbooks. You're supposed to focus… Read full post »

Someone asked whether my "Libertarian Rag" was inspired by Tom Lehrer's "Vatican Rag." Actually, it wasn't (though Lehrer is one of my strongest influences, as a literary and stage comedienne.) I had to think about it for a while to figure out what the major source of inspiration might be (I… Read full post »

The only person who commented on my last post was a guy I knew in Real Life about 15 years ago, who  was friendly with me then but is contemptuous now, because he turned conservative (okay; Libertarian. That's a conservative who hates anyone who believes in God, and likes to use a… Read full post »

According to the NY Times Sunday styles section, there's a new, booming business in sexy, young female spiritual counselors, coaches and "gurus," many of whom have read "hundreds of self-help books" (no, I am not making this up. Neither is Dave Barry.) They are making oodles of money on support group… Read full post »

'Though most mainline protestant denominations require an M.Div or an MS.Th as a prerequisite for ordination, my church (which is part of the Independent Sacramental Movement) does not. I went through seminary and...got ordained. I didn't get a degree. That meant that I was legally entitled… Read full post »