There’s this woman that comes into my workplace. As a writer, I’ve discovered the isolation everyone talks about, the zoning out in front of a white screen for hours, delete delete, run-on sentence, ramble, eyes blurring, come back and look at it later, time to get some fresh air – so it’s good to step…
Words, Music and Musings from Mississippi’s Shannon McNally
“I hate the term ‘female singer-songwriter’, or ‘woman musician’. It makes me recoil,” says singer-songwriter, accomplished guitarist and sought-after collaborator Shannon McNally. I also hate hearing about ‘girls’ night out, or ‘ladies night’ – let’s get one thing straight; if you’re a lady, and you’re at a bar alone, you shouldn’t have to buy your…
In Pink Pursuit: A Day on the Slopes with Komen Aspen’s Ski for the Cure
The last race/competition/knock-myself-out-for-a- cause was a Team-In-Training marathon I ran about 8 years ago. I raised $3000 for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society and ran the Mardi Gras Marathon in pre-Katrina New Orleans – the course was below sea level, totally flat, full of free strands of beads and beer-filled aid stations; all-in-all, my kind…
Valentine’s Day Revisited – A Hearts, Flowers and Cards Committee for Change
Sunday, February 13, 2011 – It was finally a decent temperature today or as my friend put it, “It’s about 70 degrees warmer than last week. Let’s go skiing.” I’ve been sick all week and today seemed like a good day to try and participate in the outside world. The three of us boarded the…
The Real Spin on Pole Dancing
Snowmass Village, CO – Snicker. Smirk. Raised eyebrows; I can virtually see the raised eyebrows on the profile pics of about 13 of my close, personal 399 Facebook friends. I’d taken to the cyber streets to drum up some input for an article about the Pole Dancing fitness craze. Base Camp Grill was hosting a…
Behavioral Issues
I’ve started going to the climbing gym in the morning. During my freshman year in college, I judged a class’ merit by its starting time. I majored in whatever subject started at noon. Similarly, I’ve arranged my workday to start a little later, in time with my body clock. This also allows me some stolen…
No Coffee on Tuesdays
All I want is sleep. I parked the endlessly rolling tires on Wednesday and it’s taken some adjustment to realize my bed isn’t temporary and that the earth isn’t humming underneath. I wake up around 5:30, thinking of my new resolution to get up each day at 7:30, then snuggle in a little deeper, saying…
El Colibri
The heat in Nicaragua was a presence, an overbearing guest who laughed too loud, came on too strong and interrupted each and every private conversation. It was so hot that it was impossible not to personify the thick, humid night. I was sporting a new knee brace courtesy of an oddly painful knee twist on…
Jamie Lynn's Pen 