You might recall that I’ve written about my back problems before: two herniated disks in my lower back, successful surgery, months later I have pain in another location of my back, yada, yada, yada. (In case you don’t know, yada is code for “more bullshit”) After having an MRI on my back, I met withContinue reading “On Thursday I met with my surgeon — yada, yada, yada”
Tag Archives: creative writing
Mother’s Day meal created by Larry, the man with a crack in his back who happens to like green eggs and ham.
This is the big time — Mother’s Day — when I step forward and prepare the meal. My wife, daughter, her two daughters, husband, and a dog named Bailey, will be joining hands around the table, anxiously waiting to see what I have prepared. Our other daughter, husband, and two daughters live in Madison, WIContinue reading “Mother’s Day meal created by Larry, the man with a crack in his back who happens to like green eggs and ham.”
How to write a “kick-ass” sentence
It’s interesting how skills acquired during one occupation are applied to a future endeavor. I’m thinking about the connection between music and writing: how to perform or write the perfect phrase. I have my bachelor’s and master’s degrees in music, played first trumpet in the US Navy Band in Washington, D.C., and taught trumpet atContinue reading “How to write a “kick-ass” sentence”
Truth? You have to work at it.
Lies, lies, there are so many lies. As a society, we’ve become very good at spinning tales which are presented as the truth. And the biggest lies of all are broadcast over the airwaves; nonstop, twenty-four hours a day. It’s so bad that each political slant has it’s own network hell-bent on promoting their ownContinue reading “Truth? You have to work at it.”
Cowboys & Indians, to Gangsters, to War Games, to Stand your Ground.
Oh my, where have the years gone? I’m 71 years old and have seen lots of stuff: good, bad, and some that I can’t talk about. But with the help of a good therapist, and a load of self exploration, I believe that I have grown both spiritually and intellectually. Too bad I can’t sayContinue reading “Cowboys & Indians, to Gangsters, to War Games, to Stand your Ground.”
Philip Seymour Hoffman — tell me your secrets.
The recent death of Philip Seymour Hoffman brings admirers to their knees, and gives reason to reflect on his magic. Hoffman was possibly the greatest actor of our generation. Each time I’ve viewed one of his performances, I came away with a clearer vision of life. His creativity was never in question, and the masteryContinue reading “Philip Seymour Hoffman — tell me your secrets.”
Fiction or Nonfiction, characters need depth.
I was in a small room waiting to see my pain management doctor. There, taped to the wall, was a series of bright yellow faces staring at me, ten of them as I recall, each with a particular facial expression, indicating the level of pain that I was experiencing. At the time, the pain inContinue reading “Fiction or Nonfiction, characters need depth.”
To the mentally ill who have no voice. Please listen.
After visiting family in Wisconsin, a place where cold people have warm hearts, it is good to return to our home in Southern Illinois. I have been thinking about what my next blog would be. The answer became clear while I was surfing over the internet and discovered a blog that grabbed my attention. BecauseContinue reading “To the mentally ill who have no voice. Please listen.”
Bleeders make the best writers.
I had to post a quotation that was shared by Teretha G. Houston on her twitter account. “There is nothing to writing. All you have to do is sit down at a typewriter and bleed.” — Ernest Hemingway. Wow, is what I thought when I first read Hemingway’s quote. I certainly feel that way whenContinue reading “Bleeders make the best writers.”
When I first heard the words in the dark black night. Part II
I feel like I need to elaborate on my previous blog — “When I first heard the words in the dark black night.” I just finished watching a concert of Jason Mraz on my television. It was so obvious that Jason goes to that well of creativity which I referred to in my previous blogContinue reading “When I first heard the words in the dark black night. Part II”