An unexpectedly uplifting experience yesterday: I went to “tea” with five friends, as the guest of one of us, photographer Karen Tam. We were celebrating a combo of birthdays and Christmas. Tam took us to the Umstead, a still-newish hotel at Research Triangle Park that has been years in the making. It’s extremely well-appointed and […] Read More

Being a self-employed writer isn’t conducive to what used to be called dressing for success. Even though I have an office away from home, I could get away with going to work in my purple fleece Couch Sack if I were sufficiently what-used-to-be-called laid back. Today, however, I went hog-wild in the other direction and […] Read More

How did I not know about this guy: Parker J. Palmer? I’ve just discovered his book The Courage to Teach–only now after all the wrestles I’ve had with this very matter. Where was he my first day of teaching at Duke when, as I later learned, the students and I had received different starting times […] Read More

The magazine Pink has a highly specialized set of blogs on its website. Aimed at women, but there’s wisdom here for anyone. Note: Wake Up Inspired, and The Courage Expert. Also blogs on such subjects as Romance, Style, PR and Copywriting. Manage Yourself is currently exploring a particularly interesting question: “How do I know when […] Read More

What has happened in Mumbai — the attacks at hotels, train station, other sites — disturbs me in one way that I’m not hearing mentioned in the interviews I’ve seen. This dreadful assault is getting worldwide attention, apparently because there have been foreign victims and because the site is a world financial center. But there […] Read More

I believe I mentioned that I, a non-cook, was venturing to make the turkey dressing for the family gathering this year (rather than buying my assignment.) Here’s how the project shook down. I stirred stuff up and cooked it and it was bad: no taste, weird texture. So I tore it up and added milk […] Read More

Having trouble getting yourself moving? Have a look at this wee newborn elephant’s first efforts to stand. Also, note to writers of books: novelist Bill Henderson has a good three-part post on getting an agent. And Happy Thanksgiving! If you like this post, please bookmark it on del.icio.us, share it on StumbleUpon, vote for it […] Read More

What caught my attention was an ad for a Lincoln in an old New Yorker. Standing beside the car in the picture was a twentyish woman, radiantly beautiful, an athlete, doing her stretches. Then I noticed her legs: one was metal. Sarah Reinertsen is the first woman to complete the Hawaii Ironman triathlon with an […] Read More

Usually for potlucks, I choose the lucky pot at Whole Foods on the way to the event. This week, for unknown reaons, I’m going to cook my own Thanksgiving pot. My assignment is stuffing for twelve. I found a recipe that is perfect for those who have issues with authority (or simply crave creative latitude): […] Read More

Two friends yesterday offered to give me professional feedback on my 394-page novel manuscript and get back to me in a couple of weeks–never mind that the holiday frenzy is cranking up. And they both refused my earnest offers of cash or kayaks. (They could get a couple of good kayaks for the going rate […] Read More