This week has felt like a shift, the two tectonic plates of my life—Work and Writing—folding in on each other like so many Pacific Northwest overdue Big Ones. I can feel it in the air that’s just leaning toward spring here in Oregon, something ebbing up to the surface that’s remained unseen for the better … Continue reading
Little books have always had a special place in my heart. When I was a kid in the early 90’s, when malls still had Waldenbookses (and we still went to the mall), I was captivated by the spinning racks of tiny books next to the register. Full volumes shrunk to pocket-sized editions, small enough to … Continue reading
Last week, my husband and I got into a spat. Revelation one of this blog: I am a massive pain in the ass to live with. This particular tiff was, naturally, not about the catalyst–in this case, tortillas (don’t ask, I don’t even know). What erupted was the resentment over the fact that I am … Continue reading
When I was plugging deadlines onto my Outlook calendar this afternoon, watching November and December slide headfirst into 2016 before my eyes, I realized that the decade is over halfway over. And as I took stock of the tens, comprising the back half of my twenties, it struck me that I began my first semester … Continue reading
In the last week I’ve taken a break from Facebook. Okay, a 90% lower amount of time break at least. It’s been good for my heart, my soul and my brain. It’s made me think about how I can be a better literary citizen without leaning on Facebook, which has become this kind of happiness-hemorrhaging … Continue reading
Last weekend, I made the most perfect hash browns of my life. They were crispy-crusted, soft and billowy and delicious on the inside, salty and a bit spicy and ready to ferry sweet dollops of ketchup to our tastebuds. I’ve made okay hash browns in the past. Maybe a little too crispy throughout, maybe not … Continue reading
When I was in college, I was censured out of the school literary magazine. It was a Christian school, much more conservative at the time than it is now. At least that’s what I hear; nowadays they host TED Talk events and pimp their teaching degrees on the radio, so allegedly times have changed. Anyway, … Continue reading
I was Blog Tour Tagged by the incomparable Tonya Canada: Tonya Canada (@tonyacanada) found me wandering around the Reed College cafeteria at Tin House this July, late to the party and totally lost. She is one of the funniest, brightest literary flashbulbs I’ve had the pleasure of meeting, and definitely my first team pick if … Continue reading
One month ago I was sitting at a light near Clackamas Town Center in my brand-new car. At only three weeks old, the Toyota Prius V still had its temporary paper plate taped to the back. I didn’t have the tags yet. My first payment had yet to be submitted. While I waited, stopped at … Continue reading
Keyboard, you feel so damn good. In the past couple of weeks, it feels like I’ve done everything that the West holds. I crested the top of a Sedona cliff and looked straight over the edge–a huge triumph for a girl who had to crawl back to the family car on her hands and knees … Continue reading
West to West 
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