Author Archives: mathdreads
Farewell to 2014
I boldly limped into you With the ambition to end a few things… My second novel My horrible job My insomnia My doubts I painted novel scenes Climbed Machu Picchu Worked from home Worked out of my comfort zone Derailed my train of thought Blurred my lines Dangled my participles Argued against Oxford commas Obeyed … Continue reading
Cowboys v. Redskins
For the second time ever, I attended a professional football game. One of my sisters had graciously invited my other sister, her son, our father and me to use four of their Redskin season tickets. Normally, my sister cheered for the Redskins…except for when they played the Cowboys. I’d attended my first pro football game in … Continue reading
Xmas Paintings
Back in June, I visited Peru and bought everyone in my family a pair of alpaca socks for Christmas. As thrifty as I am, I knew simply giving everyone a pair of socks was a little lean. Yet, buying for 9 people adds up very quickly. I’m not sure when I got the brilliant idea … Continue reading
Xmas in the Poconos
This vacation started off a bit rough. The mid-morning flight I’d booked to fetch me from Austin to DC had been cancelled by the time I arrived at the airport. I only had three options to arrive in DC much later on the same day. This began my warped sense of time. Once I reached … Continue reading
Typical Austin Saturday
One of the deciding factors to relocate to Austin when I completed my 8-year self-imposed exile from the US was the mild winters. That paid off once again this past Saturday. Low 70s weather in mid-December found me outside, participating in a marimba demonstration. I’d volunteered to work the Sustainable Food Center’s information table at … Continue reading
Good Hair
A woman’s hair is her crowning glory. So said my Primitive Baptist grandmother, Mama Bea. My crowning glory has graced several different cultures and transformed from frivolous to practical. I attended one of those high schools where every day was a fashion show. I dutifully permed my hair about once a month and styled it, … Continue reading
Anthem of the Sun
About two and a half hours before showtime, I learned that one of my younger cousins was in a rock band, playing less than ten minutes from where I live. The door guy was about to charge me an entrance fee when I told him that my cousin was in the band. When he asked … Continue reading
Adult Orphans’ Thanksgiving
Every Thanksgiving since I’ve lived in this fine town of Austin, there’s been a “fun” run. Actually, people around here find any reason to run–rain, shine, or sleet! So, I left for yoga a few minutes earlier than usual for the inevitable traffic delay. Other than a clueless runner disregarding the crosswalk sign at an intersection … Continue reading
Bloody Mary Research
This impromptu research all started because one of my cousin’s sent me a picture of her Bloody Mary; so I had to go to the same restaurant and see for myself. Sure enough, their standards were consistent. Every Bloody Mary came decked out with a full strip of crisp bacon and a skewer of cheddar … Continue reading
Dr. Velma
As a child, whenever I became sick, Dr. Velma, as Mom referred to herself, came to the rescue. She’d never attended any recognized medical school. She’d just survived growing up with my grandmother, who we grandchildren affectionately called “Mama Bea.” Under Mama Bea’s care, Little Velma, the youngest child, drank sugary beer slushies so she’d … Continue reading