Oh, Sandy
Sitting here at Steve and Jessie’s kitchen table, trying to get my work done before the lights go out. The kids playing. Jessie ironing. Turkey sandwiches waiting in the wings. Watching the Pakatakan Mountain wait, too. A little rain. Some…
The World’s Most Famous Bored Lady
Yesterday, Sunday, T spent all morning at the monastery, where he runs the Zen Teens program with another senior student (and friend of ours). Azalea slept until 10 (!) and then played with a friend. I figured, hey, if they…
Man, this Sucks. Oh, Well. (And Other Thoughts About Letting Go)
Heard back from another small press yesterday. A little part of me always falls when I don’t get what I dearly, dearly, dearly want (and we are not just talking about books here). And this is of course why I…
Anything Else?
I have been reading the 200 page transcript that Tom L. from Australia posted online from the six years when he and Joko did dokusan, or face to face teaching, over the phone, something she did a lot. It is…
Let’s Start Here
Wow. Ten days since I posted. Sorry, you 336 Unique Visitors from last week! I promise to make it up to you. Thing is, I have three drafts in the pile. It’s been that kind of ten days. At the…
In Direct Response to High and Low
Sometimes (often, most of the time?), I forget I am a “Zen Practitioner.” This is usually a good thing because Lord knows nobody would want to be around a stinky Zen person, offering up teachings for whatever ails you. And…
Breathless. Back from the Rabbit Hole
Dang. I almost didn’t make it out. I have things to do—Deadlines, dinner, grading, art practice, big plans to make. So what a dumb time to follow a link I found in Jezebel about Victorian portraits, and the cute trend…
Moving Right Along
So I heard back from Coffeehouse Press today. Not interested. It’s ok. I really doubted they would take it, but my friend knows someone there, so hey, what the heck! I am trying to keep myself gathered as I continue…
Joko Revisited
I had the good fortune of spending last weekend at the monastery. It was the 2nd annual senior’s retreat, which means that the 20 or so people who have gone through the process of becoming empowered as senior students…
If You’re in a Shopping Mood, you Can Pre-Order this Book (in Which I Just Happen to Have an Essay)
Last year, just as I was fixing to prepare my very first Thanksgiving dinner, the lovely people Lisa Catherine Harper and Caroline Grant asked me if I would like to write a piece about “mindful eating” for a book of…
