June 20, 2020, I woke up thinking of this lovely, feisty woman I’d met at a Jim Haynes Sunday dinner in Paris a few years back. In her thick, familiar southern accent, she introduced herself, “Dudley Shearburn. Shear like in cut, burn like in burn.” We corresponded a couple of times but then lost touch. …
Job Hunting During Coronavirus
Last month, I graduated with an M.A. in English/Professional Writing. I began my masters program in 2007 after moving back to Louisiana from NYC. But due to several factors including my mother’s death, I didn’t complete my studies. In 2018, jolted by the impending end of an eight-year contract job (it began as a three-month …
Morning Birdsong
Saturday, April 4, 2020, around 8am. There are now over one-million confirmed cases of Covid-19 in more than 200 countries. Media outlets teeter-totter from doom and gloom to hope and compassion. The neighbors are getting restless, the pool has been cleaned twice this week (including once yesterday by the singing pool guy) and Nana and …
Life in a Brave New World
Have you ever wanted the world to stop spinning, just for a little bit, so you could catch your breath? Well, be careful what you ask for. Yesterday I had a lovely conversation with a very good friend in Scotland. While I’m not unaware of the doom and gloom plaguing the world and our news …
A Snob’s Guide to Restauranting
Photo by Ben Lodge on Unsplash My culinary memories begin with my family. My mother’s guidance through global flavors: escargots, gefilte fish, artichokes, caviar, and fondue, for example. My grandmother’s catfish courtbouillon (pronounced couvillion in Louisiana), homemade ice cream, morning biscuits, and baked chicken & rice. My great-grandmother’s cathead biscuits, chicken & dumplings, strawberry pies, steak with rice …
Finding Lost Family
March, 1988 We knew it all along, didn’t need a judge to tell us. But maybe he did. Besides, it was a way for me to finally meet him, my dad. When he walked inside the courtroom that day in 1988, I knew right away that it was him. He was bigger than the man …
Beet Break
When you need a break from the laptop, and a quick, creative nosh ... It's a bit wobbly, but so am I. 😜 Beets stacked with goat-ricotta cheese and herbs.
Cuban Food Stories
I want so much, not only to watch this film, but also to be there with all the aromas and colors and sounds and tastes. Le sigh. Cuban Food Stories - Trailer by Asori Soto from First Run Features. https://vimeo.com/ondemand/cubanfoodstories
Oh, Seattle
Oh Seattle, you ole salty dog, you. I was just nowhere near your neighborhood. But I was looking for a little fresh air, and, well, you do know how to draw a gal back in. You're always there when I need you. Refreshing sea air whispers over my skin with the sweetest kisses not even …
Strong. Brave. Proud?
Time to get real. My past posts have been personal, but this is something different. It's about my recent visit to see my uncle in prison. And if you would rather look up cookie recipes than read about something darker, then I completely understand. There's a lot of dark stuff out there already; cookies sometimes …
