Just caught up on e-mail completely. Even the ones that were harder to answer, or took time. (There’s one pending that requires a piece of info I don’t have yet, but that doesn’t count.) I consider this quite bold. Sometimes I’ll open and close one a few times before answering it: not bold. It feels […] Read More

We showed up at 9 a.m. at the courthouse, half a courtroom full of varied individuals. The man sitting beside me, Sean, was an art director maybe in his late 30s. In front of me were two black women who seemed to know each other. A lot of men in shirtsleeves, not a single tie. […] Read More

I’m in organizational tying up loose-ends mode today. In a way that I wasn’t when the year actually ended. Just finished the major part of a very large project, and have a moment to clear off both my desktops (virtual and physical) and create a little order. It’s very satisfying. And I always resolve to […] Read More

I’m hooked on sweet fast-food iced tea. One large one a day. It used to be two, and I successfully cut back to one. The reason for this moderation is that caffeine is for me a bit of a depressant and an anxiety builder. My remaining one large cup can still muddy my skies a […] Read More

My husband Bob would like everyone to know that he was very sensitive and thoughtful in his celebration of my recent birthday. This is to counter the few lines of iffy publicity he received here after his BOLD choice of a 25th anniversary present was not well received. (This happens sometimes with bold choices.) Anyway, […] Read More

Do go visit the lovely and wildly flattering piece written about me and Sister India on Mojo’s blog. Here’s why (other than because it’s so nice about me): There’s a five minute clip from a Bollywood movie that shows Varanasi, the holy city where my novel Sister India is set. It’s a beautiful trip along […] Read More

At last: the actual day. As of 2:34 p.m. today, I have lived for sixty action-packed years. And more to go. When my husband Bob turned sixty, my mother said: “You tell him I’ve had 20 good years since that age SO FAR.” Now she’s up to 26. I’m thinking the same way. My big […] Read More

Yesterday’s post was about the gumption of a lawyer-turned-jewelry-designer. Here are a couple of William Spear enamels from my own permanent collection. Looking at them, I saw a distinct theme emerging: SOARING. Especially when I consider that my next acquisition will be the High Diver pin (blurrily photographed from the catalog.) Soaring seems the right […] Read More

Bill Spear got his law degree in Nebraska and moved to Alaska to become an assistant Attorney General. But then he threw it all over to follow a passion sparked in him when he was four years old and saw some bright enamel pins from a military school. He’d always liked to draw isolated objects. […] Read More

“…When I meet visionary teachers who feel isolated on their own campus and ask them what they have done to make their vision known, the answer is often nothing — which is why they are isolated. The lost will never be found until they send up a flare.” from The Courage to Teach by Parker […] Read More