Writing
I See You, Melania
I was so hyped to vote early in person that the experience inspired me to write a poem–something I hadn’t done during the quarantine months until now. Strangely enough, the poem came to me as what First Lady Melania Trump would do when her hubby lost the 2020 election. You say you packing up early … Continue reading
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
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
Here’s to the Black Men Who Breath Freely
Memorial Day commemorates the men and women of the Armed Forces who have died in the defense of the United States. Yet, like every other thing existing with the COVID-19 pandemic in the background, even this celebration morphed into the latest wave of international protest. On Memorial Day 2020, two black men, one in New … Continue reading
The Gift of Relaxation
On a bright and beautiful Saturday morning during the umpteenth day of self-quarantine, I ventured out to pick up a massage chair my cousin had gifted me. Pre-pandemic, he’d hosted movie nights at his place. I’d had the joy of sitting in that chair while we talked and joked so much that sometimes a movie … Continue reading
Saturday Lunches
Prior to many Americans taking the impending pandemic seriously, but just in time to be racist, the mob-mentality overcame some people, who in turn blamed Chinese people for the coronavirus. In practice, racists targeted any nearby Asians. To the point of shunning them on social media, in public and committing acts of violence against them. … Continue reading
Anti-Anxiety Dream
My earliest recollection of a reoccurring anxiety dream was when I was a preschooler. I had a digestive issue as a young child, where if I ate French fries or “mixed” my food versus eating all of the greens, then all the mashed potatoes, followed by all of my meat, I’d vomit. The reoccurring anxiety … Continue reading
Creativity in the Time of Coronavirus
All the creative pursuits on my social calendar dissolved, starting around March 1st. Most were flat out cancelled, but some optimists declared they were merely postponed. Even though I wasn’t going to SXSW, I knew the shit got real when it was cancelled. Since I already worked from home, I didn’t make any special work-related … Continue reading
Hair Revolution
I’ve been working on the world’s sexiest dictionary for a couple of years because I’d used a labor-intensive process to illustrate the rough draft pictures. I recently bought a tablet and an app to facilitate illustrating. Total game changer! So much easier than the assbackwards method I used for the rough draft. Yet the rough … Continue reading