Author Archives: mathdreads
Screenwriters’ Workshop
A week prior to attending this virtual workshop, I dusted off my one and only script, which I’d edited over a year ago. I’d received a thorough critique with examples of how to improve it, but at the time, I didn’t have the motivation to implement them. This workshop cured that apathy. With fresh eyes, … Continue reading
Half a Century Later…
Some people dread birthdays. Not me. Not even during a pandemic. After all, being blessed to spend five decades on this wondrous planet is truly the gift. Last year, one of my sisters had the bright idea to celebrate the “milestone” Virgo birthdays in 2020 since her youngest child would be 20, I’d turn 50 … Continue reading
Filming at The Crashbox
One of the reactions to George Floyd being choked for 8 minutes and 46 seconds by a former police officer kneeling on his neck, was a national call for submissions to The Breath Project. The organizers encouraged spoken word artists to record an 8 minute and 46 second performance to be used as a tool … Continue reading
The Latest Drill in Dentistry
When my part of the world halted in mid-March, I figured the situation wouldn’t be remedied by March 31st, the date of my latest dental appointment. The clinic texted a cancellation a week later. They only accepted dental emergencies at that time. Months later, I felt a potential dental emergency brewing among my left molars. … Continue reading
Condos & Campers
Austin had an unhoused population prior to the pandemic. Yet like all other inequities, this has become more visible with a growing population of recently unemployed people under the threat of being evicted. Despite this dire situation, new condos, still under construction, loom in the backdrop of these unhoused campers. There’s a severe disconnect between … Continue reading
Happy Blursday!
It’s been a long time coming, but I’ve finally reached a destination so many have reported: the Blursdays. I believe people with children, and just one child will do it, reached this destination sooner. It’s where one day blurs into the other with very little distinction. Since my days vary, but the weeks don’t, I’m … Continue reading
Lammas
Lammas AKA “Loaf-Mass” AKA “First Grain Harvest” is a Christian observation in some countries and a Pagan observation in others that occurs on August 1st. I’ve never celebrated it before, but I serendipitously invited myself to a friend’s house on this day, which conveniently enough fell on a Saturday. Since I sell CBD, I recently … Continue reading
Survival School
When I exited the public school classroom several years ago, I had no idea the unforeseen bullshit I’d spare myself. There were many anti-educational evils that I grew tired of battling, yet the fucking plague wasn’t among them. Followed by the political push to force in-person education amid the rising number of COVID-19 infections and … Continue reading
Namibia’s Good Bye
“I don’t care if the Earth opened up, swallowed you whole and shat you out in hell!” Namibia growled as she hurried around the living room, gathering her things before fast walking out the front door. The weathered screen door, still in desperate need of a paint job, creaked behind her as she sprinted down the porch steps two at … Continue reading
Born Free
One of my sisters, Renee, often takes advantage of my editing skills. Her latest endeavor was updating the family tree on our maternal grandfather’s side as a member of The Strange Family Historical Society (SFHS). Since SFHS published its first history book over 10 years ago, they’re gathering data via an Excel worksheet to update … Continue reading