I was lucky: I discovered I needed a double bypass the easy way (c) Copyright 2023, All Rights Reserved In June of 2022, a cloudless sunrise found me rowing my sculling shell over glassy Quartermaster Harbor, the inlet that splits Vashon Island, my home near Seattle. As my teammates and I accelerated into a sprint, […]
I have some ideas for a third novel, also set in Trieste. I remain fascinated with how World War II came to an end in Trieste and love digging into (and imagining) how individuals affected the outcome. One of many dramatic historical aspects was the race between New Zealand’s 2nd Armoured Division, coming from the West, and […]
As a friend of my recently-departed father told me, “When you lose your parents, you lose your youth.” No one has your back. Your guaranteed cheerleaders have vanished. It’s just you patrolling the edge of the precipice, making sure nobody gets too close and falls off. And one of the things I’ve learned in the […]
The pileated woodpecker struck first. The fiery red streak across the top of its head stood in sharp contrast to the muted yellow of an alder grove as it hunted carpenter ants up a 15-foot snag. A golden eagle rose from the slope below the road to Tiffany Mountain, 20 feet away as it lifted […]
I need lots of sleep. I fell into bed last night around 10:30 and woke up just after 8. The first thing I did (after taking care of my dog Jessie), I sat down to write. Just whatever. I opened my journal, picked up a pen, and started writing. About a dream. I wrote what […]
With some improvisation, my Pappardelle al Ragu di Cinghiale came together and proved delicious. All natural, hormone- and antibiotic-free pork; organic carrots, onion, celery and Italian parsley; house-grown organic garlic, rosemary and thyme; organic whole wheat flour and tomato paste; Scarpetta’s Fricco Rosso Tuscan blend; Costco’s pecorino romano, and fresh pappardelle. I think I’m going […]
Ever since my son died, in 2001, I’ve gone on retreat the last week of October. The 26th marks the anniversary of Andrew’s death. Cancer. He was 16. I come to Mazama, just outside North Cascades National Park, at the head of the beautiful Methow Valley. Just me and my lab, Jessie. We get easy […]
Having been involved with the national rollout of Smartfood, a brand built on white cheddar cheese (who ever heard of orange milk?), I cracked up when I spotted this billboard in Seattle.
On June 30, I suspended work on my second novel, working title Lidija. I’ve just posted the opening scene. As they say in the business world, I ran out of runway, and for the foreseeable future, I will be back in that business world. For more information about my business activities, please visit my LinkedIn […]
Andrew provided one of several minor miracles during a week-long retreat at the St. Leo Benedictine Monastery in Florida. The day of remembrance for bereaved parents fell during my week there. At 7 pm, I borrowed a votive candle from the church and took out my photo of Andrew. I lit the candle and once […]
