Writing

The energy shifted Her expression contorted Pointed finger wagged in my face Words shot out of her mouth As I sat confused Then the magic word RETARDED Slowly Fresh oxygen circulated I took a deep breath Explained I’d said the R-word In reference to An assbackwards TX educational policy Not a person Never would I … Continue reading »

The pursuit of seeking logic behind anything the women’s fashion industry does is foolhardy since its sole purpose is to convince as many women as possible that she’s not wonderful the way she is, but can come closer to achieving the ideal beauty if she buys into their nonsense through buying their overpriced, sweatshop-produced clothing … Continue reading »

Her scream startled me awake. I listened. More noise meant I had to get up. Silence, I could linger in bed. Regardless, I closed my eyes again. I held the irrational belief my mosquito net protected me from all danger and hullabaloo. Hullabaloo defined by my Merriam-Webster word-a-day calendar as “a very noisy and confused … Continue reading »

By the time I resigned from teaching full time at the end of March 2014, I still had stars in my eyes. I’d dutifully paid off all debt, saved up six months’ worth of money and had big dreams of launching my freelance writing/editing career.  Although I’d landed a couple of lucrative writing/editing contracts, there … Continue reading »

“Redemption” means “being saved from sin, error or evil” and it also means “getting the possession of something in exchange for payment or clearing a debt.” So thanks to the craziness of the English language, Jesus redeemed all Christian souls through his sacrificial blood in a related manner that customers redeem coupons. Granted, one deal … Continue reading »

A woman’s hair is her crowning glory. So said my Primitive Baptist grandmother, Mama Bea. My crowning glory has graced several different cultures and transformed from frivolous to practical. I attended one of those high schools where every day was a fashion show. I dutifully permed my hair about once a month and styled it, … Continue reading »

About two and a half hours before showtime, I learned that one of my younger cousins was in a rock band, playing less than ten minutes from where I live. The door guy was about to charge me an entrance fee when I told him that my cousin was in the band. When he asked … Continue reading »

This impromptu research all started because one of my cousin’s sent me a picture of her Bloody Mary; so I had to go to the same restaurant and see for myself.  Sure enough, their standards were consistent. Every Bloody Mary came decked out with a full strip of crisp bacon and a skewer of cheddar … Continue reading »

As a child, whenever I became sick, Dr. Velma, as Mom referred to herself, came to the rescue. She’d never attended any recognized medical school. She’d just survived growing up with my grandmother, who we grandchildren affectionately called “Mama Bea.” Under Mama Bea’s care, Little Velma, the youngest child, drank sugary beer slushies so she’d … Continue reading »

Prologue A few years ago, I surveyed a group of my female friends who train capoeira, a Brazilian martial arts. At that time, my mission was to discover their fellatio turnoffs. Collectively, they came up with twenty-eight objections. I compiled the data into a charming little essay called “How Men Blow Fellatio.” I’ve read it … Continue reading »