Hi readers! I'm still writing blogs, albeit somewhat sporadically. I've got a big project that is eating up a lot of my time (trying my hand at a new novel -- wish me luck). I enjoy all the short forms, but I've been working hard on plot and want to do something new that challenges me.

In much more important news, please send lots of healing thoughts to Lana and Charles Gramlich, both bloggers, artists, and writers I respect and adore. Lana was recently diagnosed with throat cancer. She's a wonderful visual artist (both painting and photography) and you can check out her work on the link to The Dreaming Tree. Sending lots of love to both her and Charles.

Happy St. Patrick's Day

Hey guys, Happy St. Patrick's Day! Hope everyone is having a great day. Baby Grouchie plans on having a green beer, but just one since his time in Promises. My drink for today comes from my dear friend Angela . . . enjoy!

Black Velvet
1/2 Champagne
1/2 Guinness

Cave Full Of Ghosts

Well, dear readers, it's March! We made it through the collective terror of February. And now what awaits -- St. Patrick's Day and the beginning of spring. A few things about which to be excited --

The return of Mad Men. Don Draper comes back to the screen. Last we saw, he was engaged to his young secretary, the strains of Sonny and Cher playing as Don looked positively befuddled and disturbed by his alarming quick engagement and said secretary peacefully asleep. Joan is with child (albeit not her husband's -- let's hope he can't count when he returns from his tour of duty), and Betty unhappy with her new husband who has realized that despite her incredible beauty, she's an evil harpy who can't be pleased. Bring on the drinks!

The new Billy Bob Thorton memoir, Cave Full Of Ghosts. Co-written by the always brilliant Kinky Friendman (my favorite of his songs being the one about Charles Whitman -- There was a rumor about a tumor/ nestled in the base of his brain). The foreword is written by Billy Bob's ex-wife Angelina and the book promises to explore Billy Bob's poor southern gothic childhood and weird phobias. What more could a reader want?

Cheryl Stray's new memoir, Wild. Love her essays in Best American Essays over the years. Honest and searing and completely disturbing in the best way, the book tracks Stray's long hiking journey across the Pacific Trail. Can't wait to see how she takes the reader through her paces.