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Grandma's Banana Bread Recipe
Making Grandma Cain’s banana bread today prompted me to put this recipe out there for others to enjoy.
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Page Poem #2: Pairings
Blackout Poetry is my latest venture. I'll publish at least ten of these and then see if it's a venture I'll continue or something I'll abandon on the literary roadside.
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Page Poem #1 - Doors
Which will you choose?
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Poem: April Memories
April showers portend the arrival of May, but also remind of those who went before us...
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Epoch Vantage Point: A Generational Poem
Some, not all, of us consider the past routinely. I think there comes a time, though, when we all think about things to come...especially if we have kids and/or grandkids.
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I Hope You Catch It
I hope you catch it. I really do.
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I Like a Spring Day
When spring springs, it does more than just make the birds sing. It's one of the greatest times of year...
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Adapting to Motherless Mother's Days
In response to my friend Brenda Arledge's word prompt, I started on Mother's Day (and completed the next) this poem about adapting to a world without my own mom in it.
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Learning the Truth at 17
This short story is about one day in the life of those awful, awkward teenage years.
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Poem: Djinn View
A short poem about an encounter with a being from a bottle...
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Poem: Desultory...Is The Plan
Haphazardry isn't my favorite place to be...but these days, with this writing milieu, it's kinda where I am...
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Apologies, Part 1
Last year there was a prompt/question on another writing website: "Who owes you an apology?" I wrote this piece in response...part two is still in draft form and will come at a later date...
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Bass Guitar RApture #1 - Learning to Make Music Again
I stopped playing six-string guitar in my early 30s when I was diagnosed with RA. I was never great, but I loved playing and making music. When my hands couldn't make the chords anymore, I thought I was done for good. Now, at age 60, I'm learning to play the bass, learning to make music again.
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River Rocks #5: “The Chair” on Netflix, “The Weakness in Me” by Joan Armatrading, and Ripsnorter
Pushing awareness, admiration, appreciation, assessment, analysis, advancement, and advocacy for various works of literature, music, words and other ideas. Come pick up a few rocks and give them a look...
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Time for Tea
We used to say we wanted every day to be one big party. Not so much anymore.
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The Loneliest Words
Write the words and they will never be lonely.
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Bluer than Blue
We all know that blue can be sad...but let's not forget there's more than one shade of blue. It can definitely be a happy color, too!
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Run-on Rumination: Autumnal Appreciation
Fall is falling fast. It's my favorite time of year and I wish it would last. It's fleeting, though; and very fast, so enjoy it now before it's past.
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River Rocks #4: "A Monster Calls" on Netflix, "Under Pressure" by Queen and David Bowie, and Holus-bolus
Pushing awareness, admiration, appreciation, assessment, analysis, advancement, and advocacy for various works of literature, music, words and other ideas. Come pick up a few rocks and give them a look...
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The Marks of Freedom
This short story is a response to one of Brenda Arledge's word prompts: "Freedom."
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River Rocks #3: "The Miller's Tale," "A Whiter Shade of Pale," and Vestal
Assaying awareness, admiration, appreciation, assessment, analysis, advancement, and advocacy for various works of literature, music, words and other ideas. Come pick up a few rocks and give them a look...
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A Fibonacci Hibachi
One time I bought, and then sold, a Fibonacci Hibachi.
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The Me in the Mirror
This short piece of fiction was written in response to fellow writer, Brenda Arledge's one-word prompt: "Mirror."
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River Rocks #2: “Something Wicked This Way Comes” by Ray Bradbury, “Melissa” by the Allman Brothers, and Empyreal
The totality of my job here is to assay one, some or all of the following when it comes to the various works and words discussed herein: admiration, appreciation, assessment, analysis, advancement, advocacy. Let's together pick up a few media rocks and give them a look...
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The Give and Take of Age
This poem is about my dog, who is 16 years old as of this writing on 17 August 2021.
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River Rocks #1: "A Perfect Day for Bananafish” by JD Salinger, "Rock & Roll” by The Velvet Underground, and Canicular
A tidbit or two each from the vast universes of literature and music, and an even smaller pebble in the form of a word you may not have heard. That's River Rocks.
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Thoughts on Plot and Structure: A Fairy Tale
A story's plot and structure can move out of the box, if the writer chooses to make it so. Lots of different ways a tale can go...
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A Wandering Mind
This poem is a product of my early morning environment: cup of coffee in hand, TV playing the Olympics opening ceremony, dog asking for my participation in her morning routine, a lifetime of experiences to draw from, ponder, put to paper. It's about everything and it's about nothing at all.
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Chocolate Peanut Butter Banana Malt-O-Oatmeal Recipe
Oatmeal, Malt-O-Meal, peanut butter, banana, and the wonderful taste of chocolate all in one piping hot breakfast bowl. What a great way to kick off the morning!
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Show Me That Gooseneck: A Basketball Lyric
An ode to form and function of the three point shot.
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Letters From Space #1
As the door opens on a very near future that includes space tourism, there are so many different possibilities in that future. This letter alludes to just one of those possibilities...
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We Regret to Inform You: A Letter from Management
Did you ever wonder why they start out rejection letters with "We regret to inform you..."? If they really regretted it, would they do it so often to everyone? Asking for a friend...
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A Trip On the Plane of Existence
Dreaming in a dream, or living in a nightmare?
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Whose Broad Stripes and Bright Stars
Thoughts on freedom of expression in the USA.
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Raindrops
Burt Bacharach, CCR, The Band and My Mom - When I hear the word raindrops, these are some of the things that come to mind...
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Tatanka: A Poem
Bison once roamed these lands in tremendous numbers. They are still here, and though their numbers are not nearly what they used to be, they have returned to a most revered status.
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Musical Mondegreens From My Teens
Mondegreens—the mishearing of words and phrases in verse and song—have featured prominently in many people's lives. In this article I recount a few (hopefully) humorous memories of mondegreens from my early adolescent years.
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The One Day Around You
This very short poem was written in response to a one word prompt—"Today"—that was put out there by my friend and fellow writer Brenda Arledge. I hope you enjoy it.
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The Proof Is Out There
This short poem was written in response to a one word prompt--"Proof"--that was put out there by my friend Brenda Arledge. I hope you enjoy it.
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Ask Me Again
This poem is about a persistent little guy who, for some reason, kept wanting me to ask the same question over and over...
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Respite From the Storm
This short poem is a response to John Hansen's prompt included in his article, "How to Write a Poem Using One Sentence as a Prompt."
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So Very Majestic
This poem is a response to Brenda Arledge's one-word prompt: "Majestic."
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Spring is a Thing
This poem was written in response to fellow Maven writer Brenda Arledge's one-word prompt: "Spring."
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Yesterday: A Day in the Life
In response to Brenda Arledge's one-word prompt: "Yesterday."
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Take Me Out to the Crowd
It's not quite time yet, but that doesn't mean I don't miss the crowds. When they come back, I'll hate them like I used to, but right now I'm feeling kind of nostalgic.
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Three Words I Learned this Month – Photoperiod, Logophile, and Apricity
This article discusses three words that weren't part of my personal vocabulary before January 2021. They're new to me if not to you!
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A Brunch in Nawlins
There are lots of different names for the Tuesday before Ash Wednesday. There are also lots of good things to eat on that day, too. This can all be very fun, particularly if you're with a loved one in The Big Easy for Shrovetide...
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Jemma and Cousin Nan
I wrote this short story in response to a writing challenge put out by a fellow writer, Ann Carr. I changed the main character from female to male, but I believe I have achieved the spirit of the exercise...indeed, I've written and rewritten this piece about a dozen times. It may change yet again.
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The Yellow Rainboot
Out on a bike ride, something yellow caught my eye...
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Here's a Day
Here's a day just for you. What will you make of it?
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The Old Man, The Child and the Swing
I wrote this little two-chord song (the lyrics are spoken, not sung) when I was about 14 years old. I'm giving it a home here for posterity's sake.
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Good or Gone
The plea: Be gee double oh dee or be gee oh en e.
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You Should Pay Yourself First and Put That Money in an Index Fund
When I was a young man, I received some sage advice from my dad. I eventually got around to following his advice, and I fine-tuned it with counsel from the Oracle of Omaha himself, Warren Buffett.
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The Secret to Making Money Writing for HubPages and The Arena Group (in Ten Words or Less)
If you take this advice and happen to succeed…please don’t run off and tell all your friends. It’s supposed to be a secret.
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Memorable Quotes From 13 Great American Presidents
Here are a few memorable quotes from 13 of our greatest U.S. presidents.
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How the Greatest American Presidency Came to an End
We all—each and every American—owe a debt of gratitude to the greatest President in our history, and we should also be grateful for how his presidency came to an end.
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Folly's End
This poem is just a short, imaginative romp about nothing and no one, and also some things and someone. It's what the muse wanted to do in the first few hours after wakeup.
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Care to Be My Friend?
This poem is about the troll culture and just how very dark these days can be for those who get trampled by trolls on the internet. The relative anonymity of a keyboard and an ISP has brought forth and made popular a whole new kind of very disturbing behavior...
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Delicious Sausage and Shrimp Gumbo Recipe: A Step-by-Step Guide
Flavorful and hearty gumbo is perfect with basmati rice for a cozy winter warm-up or perhaps even a rockin' summer social. Either way, it's sure to be a hit with all your family and friends!
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Oh My! Banana Cream Pie
My son loves banana cream pie, and so do I! Here's an easy make-at-home recipe for one of the best banana cream pies you'll ever have.
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Another Visit From Saint Nick
With a chapeau and, perhaps, a small apology to Clement Clarke Moore, this poem is a slightly different take on a skeptic's encounter with everyone's favorite elf on Christmas Eve.
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A Night at the Skating Rink
What might it be like to be the first to skate on fresh ice just after the Zamboni passes through?
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Making Rain
It looks like rain...
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Poem: Four-Leaf Pennies
This short poem is a love story of sorts...
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Don't Write What You Know
This poem was inspired by an article of the same name, which I read recently in an old issue of "The Atlantic."
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Way Down Inside
This poem is a short imagining of an evening shared by two people who both recently ended another relationship...
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Lever du Soleil
There's a miracle that happens every single day. I love to get up in time to witness it...
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Two Quick and Easy Go-to Bread Machine Recipes
The following two bread recipes are among the staples of our everyday life.
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Celebrating Family Birthdays in 2020
We make do the very best that we can...
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I Saw Elvis
It's as true as you want it to be...
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Nostalgic Night at the Dumpster Fire
This is a response to Chris Mills' challenge from the 11 October 2020 edition of Writer Without a Clause
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Remembering Childhood Days in Papillion, Nebraska: A Response to Billybuc's Challenge
This is a brief memoir of childhood days in Papillion, Nebraska, where I lived for a short time as a youngster. It's a response to Billybuc's writing challenge posted back in the third week of September 2020.
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The Curtain
The wizard and the emperor have stuff in common...
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What I’ve Learned After 180 Days on HubPages
HubPages is, more than anything else, a community of writers. If you're looking to join that community, here are my thoughts after six months writing and publishing here. If you're already a member, thanks for letting me be part of your community.
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If You Push Through the Turnstile
Strange and wonderful things can happen if you get there on time...
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Freewrite Friday: Remembering 9/11 and Other Trauma in Technicolor
I will never forget 9/11 and the unifying moment that followed...
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Hey Mister, Your Lincoln Is Stinkin'
Car emissions are pretty good these days. And they could be even better still...
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Freewrite Friday: When Airplanes Crash
Just a few things on my mind...
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Billybuc Writing Challenge #5: Visitors
My dog (and my cat) and I love it when we have company...especially when it's my granddaughter!
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Router and Hammer Tie the Knot
No one ever wrote a nursery rhyme about tools...
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The Samerjian Myth Drawer
The truth is out there...and so are the other guys.
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Gaia and Me: An Origin Poem
It seems Gaia–Mother Earth–wasn't always bound to terra firma...
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All You Need Is... for These Words to Last
Will the message get through? Will our words say what we want them to say? And will they last? Is it true...that you...only need love?
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Remembering Comet NEOWISE: Video, Prose and a Short Poem
This article has a great video of comet NEOWISE in the Oregon skies just before sunrise. It also proses a bit on NEOWISE’s passage in Summer ’20. Finally, the article concludes with a brief celebratory poem about NEOWISE’s awe-inspiring near approach to our home here on planet Earth.
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There Once Was a Man (and a Woman) From Nantucket
The PawSox are moving from Pawtucket in 2021. This season, the 2020 season, was supposed to be their farewell soiree. Those circumstances, and an age-old limerick inspired this piece of poetry.
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Crossword Creations #2: What's in a Name?
For this flash fiction project, I set out to use all the words contained in a crossword puzzle solution. The result is a brief recap of one man's visit to his doctor's office.
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Great McDonald’s Commercials Throughout History
McDonald’s is an American icon, and they've made some great commercials in the past 60+ years. Here are a few highlights from that collection of ads, along with my own top 3 favorites of all time.
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Crossword Creations #1: There's an Ogre on My Ulna
For this flash fiction project, I set out to use all the words contained in a crossword puzzle solution. The result is a quick and wild look at how one young lady may have discovered her destiny.
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My Father's Magic Bag
My dad’s tackle box holds lots of gear and lots of great memories of days on the water with him.
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Canning Recipe: The Very Best Taco Salsa
I haven't bought salsa or Picante sauce from the store for more than 18 years. This recipe from my Uncle Bert is the reason why.
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Time: A Limerical, Lyrical Look
I didn't have enough of it to do all I wanted to do on the day I wrote this poem, which made me think of how I used to think about time, how I view it now, how I might see it a few years from now.
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Nikola Tesla and the 1893 World's Fair in Chicago
Join us for an interesting trip back in time to the year 1893. See the Chicago World's Fair, or parts of it anyway, and learn about Nikola Tesla's famously mystifying egg.
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The Papers Might Not Ask About Your Shirt
On Saturday, 30 May 2020, at 1222 PDT, SpaceX Falcon 9 launched with NASA astronauts Bob Behnken and Doug Hurley aboard. Their boldly going was a big deal, but it was not the next day's headline story.
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Poem: We Need to Chat
Sometimes you just need to say what's on your mind...
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Recounting a Memorial Day Speech from 28 May 2018
In May 2018, I was asked to be the keynote speaker for the Memorial Day ceremony in Moscow, Idaho. The local VFW and American Legion chapters (Hawley Jameson Post 2905 and Dudley Loomis Post 6, respectively) hosted the event at Latah County Fairgrounds. These are the remarks I gave that day.
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13 Great Quotes About Bikes and Cycling
Looking for a little two-wheeled inspiration? Enjoy this series of quotes about bikes and cycling. Many are worthy of framing, and all would look great as prints. Pick your favorite, get it printed in your favorite font over a nice graphic, and hang it on the wall right next to your bicycle!
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Poem: An Ode to Opacity
This poem is a response to the challenge issued by Ann Carr.
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We Came Ashore in Steilacoom
We really (probably) are not alone. This imagining is just one of many that could be true, could be happening at a shoreline very near you...suspend disbelief for a moment and enjoy...
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The Flight of a Thought
If you write, you know well that ideas can be fleeting lest we catch them and pin them for posterity. Sadly, sometimes they come and go before they have been given a proper home.
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The Latah Trail
Sometimes you make new friends while out on the bike...
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The Real Secret to Trout Fishing: My Dad's Legendary Lure
Beyond my family, the greatest joys in my life have come from helping others get what they want. Sometimes you can even do that while out fishing.
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The End of a Rainbow
Finding the end of a rainbow is an ambitious and worthy goal. The journey can be very nice, too.
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Essential Items for Your Bike Seat Bag in Case of a Flat Tire
When you're out on the trail, miles from home, you don't want to find out that you don't have the right tools to fix a flat on your bike.
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On a Train Ride Across Canada...
On a wonderfully scenic family vacation train ride across Canada, things take a turn for the interesting and somewhat embarrassing...could have happened to anybody, really.
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The Stockdale Paradox and the Coronavirus Hill Ahead
“This is a very important lesson. You must never confuse faith that you will prevail in the end—which you can never afford to lose—with the discipline to confront the most brutal facts of your current reality, whatever they might be.” Admiral James Stockdale