But every now and then, Toula restrains herself. These moments are few and far between, and they fascinate me. It speaks to the energy exchange between dogs and humans, I learned. When dogs sense care and calm are needed, they invariably fall in line.
On Being Handy
No Assembly Required: three little words I long to hear. Call me many things, but handy does not come to mind. Artsy, quirky, eclectic (eccentric?), and kind of out there–I have many signature traits. But building a cabinet or tiling the bathroom or fixing a fixture that needs a little this or that has never…
Spring in the Green Seat
It’s been a spell. I figure everyone’s thinking, writing, talking about this quarantine life that’s lasted almost five months. A writing series I enjoyed from my futon said that writing a novel about the pandemic will be a tough sell: it’s hard to make something novel when everyone’s experienced it. Fortunately, I’m not a novelist….
Yard Sale in Green Fringe
I start the day early because I didn’t put a time on the signs. I figure the sale will start when I’m ready to drag all my shit out and lay it across the lawn. But I’m wrong. The rummagers come early and while I’m partially set up by 8:15, one seriously- seasoned expert in…
My Boyfriend Bruce
I love Bruce Springsteen. That’s different than saying I’m in love with Bruce Springsteen and want to start a life with him, have his children, ride off into the sunset with the Boss while he gazes lovingly over his shoulder and slows his pace, as my horse trips over a tree stump. “If as we’re…
Surf, Turf and Mansions
A mid-September sojourn to Newport, Rhode Island can be remembered for so many things: bobbing yachts, fresh lobster, ghost stories and lighthouses, sailors, and the way they party…there are a slew of cultural, culinary and natural wonders to behold. However, my preferred way to spend a sunny Saturday on the coast involves walking and surfing…
Japanese Cowboys
Wyoming is the least populated state in the nation. Cows, steers, road construction and legendary wind are the main signs of life. People, however, they usually come from elsewhere, just temporarily, for a brief glimpse at the last frontier. With more cattle than full-time residents, Wyoming beef is legendary. Even the road signs tout…
Sometimes I Think I’m Tift Merritt
As seen in No Depression, the Journal of Roots Music Sometimes I Think I’m Tift Merritt Resting across this floral couch, a two-seater love seat by the window, I feel the breeze coming through the muggy, sweet-scented night air. I’m taking in the humidity, the thick oxygenated air and the seaside climate of Newport,…
Discovering Sunset
Discovering Newport, Rhode Island in late August was a 180 degree change from my Rocky Mountain backyard. A friend’s wedding invitation, via evite, promised warm breezes and a “booze cruise” and the Jimmy Buffet soundtrack playing in the background as I scrolled through the list of events swept me up into the realm of possibility…
Heather
It’d been over 20 years and I wanted to know what happened to my wild, spiky-haired friend from high school. Married, three kids, two of them twins; still in great shape and dancing in an all-female revue, of the non-exotic variety, 40-something and strutting across the stage like she did in our show pop choir…
Jamie Lynn's Pen 