Ever felt a trifle nervous on a new job? Told yourself, “Just act normal”? Or worse: “Be funny”? If so, you must read: “I Am So Funny”. “My brief and wondrous career at The Daily Show,” Lauren Weedman writes, “consisted of making jokes about the Amish and trying to get Jon Stewart to love me.” […] Read More

An excellent primer on stopping an obsessive thought is posted on Beliefnet, which is a great place to explore/talk about any sort of spiritual belief or doubt. The ideas in the piece are familiar to me–but then I’m quite a student of obsessions and the stoppage of them. However, I don’t recall seeing them so […] Read More

I find entertaining difficult, not while people are at my house, but in advance of the event. Has to do with cleaning up the house. We live in a log house in the woods and have one large dog and one very-large dog with us in the house; both of them, bless their hearts, are […] Read More

In the little I did about campaigning, I was plagued and hindered by the thought that I wasn’t doing any good for my candidate. Phone-banking–well, I did it, but at the same time I know I’ve never been persuaded of anything by somebody calling me from a campaign. Same thing with door-to-door canvassing. However, when […] Read More

Pivot is a move that has become familiar in my writing career. Just when I think I’m done with something I learn something new that will make my book better or more marketable in some substantial way. That happened once again yesterday in my writing group, led by Laurel Goldman. Fellow member Joe Burgo was […] Read More

A hope I have for this new administration: that the uncommonly calm-seeming Obama will make it hip to be understated. I have a stake in this. While I strive to be bold and clear, I’m naturally inclined toward saying things only once and none too loudly. Now we have a leader who has managed this […] Read More

I am happy! and grateful! at the election results. John McCain was heroic, showed true leadership, in his concession speech. It couldn’t have been more graceful. Barack Obama–well, you know how I feel. He makes me so proud of my country. The only moment I thought he showed his own pride and joy last night […] Read More

Sometimes when I’ve felt chilly in the car, I’ve reached over and turned on the radio. Not the heater, the radio. As if any knob would do. Yesterday, with this important election day looming, I had a strong impulse, not to campaign, but to vacuum my car. On deadlline for one project, I’ve sometimes madly […] Read More

If you haven’t already voted, please figure out when you’re going to do it tomorrow. Allow plenty of time. Take a book. Take a neighbor. I don’t think there has been a more crucial election in my lifetime (except, of course, when my brother has been on the ballot in NC.) Today it seems that […] Read More

Want to know what irks me about almost every campaign I’ve ever seen? It’s the idea that there are “average Joes” and “everyday Americans” and “the little man.” In my view, there are people — and every damn one is a big deal. That’s the point of the United States. And also of the Democratic […] Read More