May 27, 2025
I participated again in the Hemingway Poetry Series this year. I read five pieces, all but one of which was written over the past six months; one was published in 2022, and a second is forthcoming. I also got my Mainer on for the
occasion (L.L. Bean sweater and jeans, and excruciatingly practical
Clarks shoes). Clicking on the link above will take you to series' blog page for our reading. Five of us participated, and the audio for each of our bits is
under our bios. We read in alphabetical order by last name, so you'll
need to scroll down the page for mine. Word was that I did alright. 
.jpg)
May 12, 2025
There's a member of the maintenance staff/grounds crew at my apartment complex who is friends with my downstairs neighbor. He's a nice young guy, but a bit of a hot mess. Anyway, it's been really nice out today and I've had my windows open all day, and earlier this afternoon I overheard the two of them talking. The maintenance dude said at one point a propos of allergy season that after he arrived home a few days back, he sneezed about ten times in a row and at the end of that, "My balls were shaking." So now on top of everything else, I have to cope with having that image in my head. 😫
May 4, 2025
Sunday night adventures in Stas's kitchen:
(1) My woke AF dinner entree for the coming week: pork chops with raspberry-orange sauce (what red blooded American eats pork chops with freshly squozed OJ and raspberry jam???)
(2) While I was cooking, I listened to Bruce Springsteen's Born in the USA LP for the first time in a while, and noticed a great couplet in the song "Darlington County": "Little girl, you're so pretty / Come with me and you can have your way." So contrary to the usual pickup lines, and coming from the Boss, I believe it. Not enough to turn me straight, but I was tempted.
