"The only real access that I have to my mind is when I'm writing." – Kay Ryan
As much as I do not want to talk about politicians like DeSantis, Abbott, Lee, or Cox, I cannot stay silent about the effects that these shitheads are having on the mental health of young people and adults all across America. Let’s start with some statistics. But, even before I hit you with numbers, I’ll... Continue Reading →
Have you noticed that mushrooms are suddenly everywhere? No, I’m not talking about they’re growing everywhere. (Although they may very well be.) Instead, it seems like mushrooms have recently been showing up as ingredients in coffee and drinking chocolate. They’re the fear-inducing specter in HBO’s The Last Of Us and played a role in Chuck... Continue Reading →
I have two older siblings, and their children are closer in age to me than my siblings are. My nieces and nephews also have kids who are now in their tweens, teens, and even early twenties. From time to time, I like to sit down and write letters to my grand-nieces and grand-nephews. They don’t... Continue Reading →
My spouse, Jennifer, and I didn’t make it to NYC Pride this year. That’s partly due to the temperatures, which have us under a heat warning. It’s also partly because of the pandemic. We’re both vaccinated but still staying away from larger crowds. But it’s mostly because we are homebodies. You see, the only place... Continue Reading →
Howdy, y’all. My posting schedule has been hit-and-miss, I know. Looking back, I’ve been getting something new posted about every other week, but that trend will likely slow in the coming weeks. I’m scheduled for a rotator-cuff surgery early next week. And, I’m assuming the recovery process will limit how often I can post. I’ll... Continue Reading →
I have a deep-seated hatred for the game of golf. Some call my feelings about the sport irrational. But I disagree. I grew up in southern Arizona. As a child, I was about as horse crazy as it is possible to be. A lot of golf courses dotted the desert landscape near where I grew... Continue Reading →
This week’s post will be all over the map. Buckle up, y’all. The language will be profane and definitely not appropriate for children, work, or those who are bothered by swearing. If that’s not your cup of tea, then perhaps move along to a different post.This week’s title refers to the political unrest we’re facing.... Continue Reading →
In my last post, I mentioned that the speculative/SFF community is grappling with a swirling shitstorm of allegations about sexual abuse, misogyny, and/or racist behavior. Many of the writers or industry leaders who are being called out are among some of the better known in the community.In the two weeks since I last posted, that... Continue Reading →
Howdy, readers. This is my first post in twenty-four days. And there have been <gesturing toward the window at the maelstrom of events outside it> reasons. I won’t go into all of them. But if you’re wondering, perhaps reading a few of my older posts will enlighten you about where I stand on any number... Continue Reading →
I’ve been thinking a lot about the white privileges I have. And I remembered an incident from years ago in Tucson.My spouse and I were struggling college students at the time. We had started delivering newspapers, desperate for some extra income.Our newspaper route had us folding and delivering our papers very early in the morning.... Continue Reading →
Ruth F. Simon 