Early in the tenth grade at University High School, one day at lunch in the patio, a cluster of us from Emerson Junior High were spooning up our yogurt when someone said, “You know, we should also form a Tri-Y.”…
We are over the moon exultant at the news of cinematographer Christopher Ripley’s achievement in the Venice Film Festival. Chris is boon companion of our granddaughter, James Francis Whelan IV. Last year, young Chris spent months in the Kalahari Desert–pure…
Department of Misery Loves Company…Mayhap… ~By Sylvia Thompson, A Cook Who’s Been Working in A Kitchen 82 Years… So a special bunch was coming for supper—three of Bill’s grandsons plus two extra gents, one from Paris! A wowzer occasion. Had…
Yesterday I wrote my children asking if they remembered where they were forty years ago on that day… We all were en route to Galveston, Texas, to celebrate the first wedding in our family—eldest daughter to the treasure she…
Husband Bill—Professor Emeritus of Eighteenth Century English Literature, American Literature, and Film Studies—loves detective stories. The author of What is Film Noir?* is a particular devotee of Dashiell Hammett and Raymond Chandler—Sam Spade and Philip Marlowe transcribe wonderfully to the…
Decades ago (in my previous lifetime) I was privileged to have dinner in London at Manzi’s. Known for fine seafood, a lovely dish of fish was what I ordered… Did the waiter ask, “Fresh spinach with that, Madam?” I’ve no…
Old Sleeping Beauty here, rousing from her slumbers… Looking around and about…shaking her head at her DUMBNESS in taking so long to open her eyes. I didn’t wake up on my own. Jim Dodge—the great one, America’s Baker—did it. Saturday,…
Last Wednesday, after our early gym time then a special massage appointment for me (addressing a rascally hip), since we were close by, Bill and I decided to treat ourselves to Eggs Benedict at the Silver Spur in Capitola. That’s…
Headline in theatlantic.com July 14, 2025 as well as many other news organizations: “The Trump Administration Is About to Incinerate 500 Tons of Emergency Food”* In its zeal to prevent waste and—I’ve blocked the other jargon words—the Trump Administration has…
“Love your eyeshadow!” “Thank you!” “…I like your lavender eyes…” “Thank you very much…” “Hey, nice purple—your—” “Thanks, appreciate it…” And so out and about in a day—rounds of the gym…the bakery…farmers’ market…the pharmacy…somebody’s office…I receive random compliments from perfect…