Is This My Chair?
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Let’s Start Here

Let’s Start Here

October 15, 2012 · by Bethany · in insecurity, interviews, non-fiction, writing, zen practice

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

In Direct Response to High and Low

October 5, 2012 · by Bethany · in obsessions, uncategorized, zen practice

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

Breathless. Back from the Rabbit Hole

October 3, 2012 · by Bethany · in art, beauty, cultcha, insecurity, obsessions

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

Moving Right Along

September 25, 2012 · by Bethany · in insecurity, non-fiction, uncategorized, writing, zen practice

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

Joko Revisited

September 19, 2012 · by Bethany · in fear, insecurity, non-fiction, obsessions, religion, uncategorized, writing, zen practice

  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)

If You’re in a Shopping Mood, you Can Pre-Order this Book (in Which I Just Happen to Have an Essay)

September 18, 2012 · by Bethany · in family, food, non-fiction, obsessions

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…

What’s That Burning Flesh Smell? Oh, Right. I’ve Been Branded: Part Two

What’s That Burning Flesh Smell? Oh, Right. I’ve Been Branded: Part Two

September 7, 2012 · by Bethany · in beauty, cultcha, love, obsessions, uncategorized, zen practice

So the voice, which I am coming to think of more and more, as God, said: “Get a Volvo.” I listened. I have a Volvo, a 2004 Cross Country Wagon with 100,000 miles on it. It cost $8,000, and once…

Cute, right?

This Person Should Be This Way: A Real Girl

August 25, 2012 · by Bethany · in beauty, cultcha, insecurity, interviews, non-fiction, obsessions, reading, writing

Finally, I finished Ms. Heti’s book. Ve-ry-in-ter-est-ing. Last night T and I hung out with some neighborhood friends and I was talking to the lady, who is a famous food person and a lovely human who I really admire, and…

Ok, Volvo. You win.

What’s that Burning Flesh Smell? Oh, right. I’ve Been Branded: PART ONE

August 23, 2012 · by Bethany · in beauty, non-fiction, obsessions, uncategorized, writing

It all started with my hatred for the Prius. I had been excited to trade in our inherited Subaru outback, not only to to enjoy the obvious advantages of driving a hybrid (the internal advantage being the erroneous, yet powerful…

It's a good question, Ms. Heti! Care to discuss?

Signed, Clueless in the Catskills

August 7, 2012 · by Bethany · in beauty, cultcha, insecurity, interviews, obsessions, reading, writing

Gosh, what can I say? As promised, I have been reading Ms. Heti’s book (I am on page 133, the beginning of the chapter “They Wander the City on Drugs,” which came shortly after the chapter “Interlude for Fucking,” a…

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ABOUT ME
My name is Bethany Saltman. I am 50 years old.

From as far back as I can remember, I have been searching for my place in the world. When my husband worked in a nursing home, there was an old lady there who used to repeat, "Is this my chair? Is this my chair?" I can relate to that lady.

My website is bethanysaltman.com, and my email is bethanysaltman@gmail.com.

ABOUT THIS SITUATION
I started this blog because I was so deeply fatigued by waiting for word on Non-Fiction Book Proposal #3 that, for the first time in my life, I needed something to do.

And because I was so over the hope that if I did this, or that, or the other thing just right, and schmoozed the perfect contact, crafted the most riveting pitch, delivered the juiciest proposal, then, then.....

I finally decided to just write what I want to write.

So that's the situation.

Eatables

  • 101 Cookbooks
  • Peekamoose

Go-tos

  • Zen Center of New York City/Fire Lotus Temple
  • Zen Mountain Monastery

Readables

  • A Public Space
  • Arts and Letters Daily
  • Brain Pickings
  • Corinne Purtill
  • http://www.spoonwiz.com/
  • Maud Newton
  • McSweeney's
  • My column. Flowers Fall: Field Notes from a Buddhist Mom's Experimental Life
  • n + 1
  • Rachel Zucker

Relate-ables

  • Annie Dwyer Internicola
  • Corinne Purtill
  • Heather King
  • Leanne Shapton
  • Lisa Catherine Harper
  • Rachel Zucker

Things That Intrigue Me

  • Who Were They?

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