Bush League

This column first appeared in 2006.

An article in last Sunday’s New YorkTimes on money and class issues in America got me thinking.

Our country’s class systems used to run along lines that while certainly financially based were also at least partially skewed by education, lineage, a good backhand, and knowing how to spoon soup from a bowl.

Slowly, the use of class as a defining social stratum has eroded and while that may be a good thing, we’ve lost the concept of personal “class” along with it. (more…)

I’m a sucker for the season …

I’m a sucker for the holidays. Most of the year, I’ve got my nose to the proverbial grindstone, but the holidays bring out the kick-up-your-heels side of me.

I mean, really, from a female perspective, what’s not to love?

You get to dress up. You get to show a little skin. You get to wear ridiculous shoes and put sparkly stuff all over your neck and ears and legs and lips. You get to try on eighteen outfits and then go back to the very first one. (more…)

Upcoming book signing …

Circle Books on St. Armands Circle has invited me to have a book signing event at their store on Saturday December 27th. So, if you’re interested in picking up a copy of Sideways in Sarasota, swing by Circle Books between 1 and 3 p.m., that afternoon and I’ll be happy to sign a copy for you.

Circle Books, in case you haven’t been there — is a wicked charming book store. The kind that used to be ubiquitous in cities and towns everywhere. Books stacked floor to ceiling. Book sellers who know many of their customers by name and remember what books they bought the last time they were there … it’s that kind of place. The only thing they were missing was the standard mouser — large tabby sacked out in a sunny window waiting for nightfall and mice-chasing. I dropped by there today to give them a supply of books (yes, you can pick up a copy of my book there before December 27th, if you like!) and the place was BUZZING with people.

I’m a sucker for a bookstore and of course, was itching to recommend books to the customers, but I managed to rein in my book mania. Even if you’re not interested in Sideways — you should swing by Circle Books sometime — it’s worth the visit.

Book Signing — Saturday December 27 1-3 p.m. at Circle Books 478 John Ringling Boulevard, St. Armands Circle (pretty much right across from the Foxy Lady boutique). 941.388.2850.

Moon-howling mama

In honor of tonight’s full moon …

She practices French
While washing her hair
— Thinks life is that short.

Takes a lover — (more…)

MC on the radio tomorrow chatting up the All Faiths/Reality Reader fundraising drive

Emily Berno, one of the hosts of the popular local radio program — Truly Sustainable Sarasota — which airs Thursday mornings from 9 to 10 am, heard about the All Faiths/Reality Readers fundraising drive and has invited me on air tomorrow to chat the drive up and hopefully encourage listeners to chip in with their own donations.

It will be a quick piece — 5 or 10 minutes or so. 9:45 a.m., Thursday, December 11 and, if you feel like listening in, you can listen from your computer.

I’ll be posting an update on this blog sometime by Friday about how the drive is going and I sure do appreciate all the emails of support and the interest in the drive!

Café chess — très sexy

Here’s a column that ran in 2006, but today, I’m so jonesin’ for my life in Boston, that it feels apropos to post.
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I spent this past Monday morning, a holiday, lazily finishing what was left from the Sunday NY Times. Sitting outside, a cup of Joe percolating through my veins; the day, the city, seemed full of unforeseen possibility.

Throwing a few pens, a notepad, a book, my journal, and a pack of Marlboro Lights – all the accoutrements of café society — in an oversized bag, I headed off for one of my favorite lazy-day activities – hanging in a café, drinking coffee and writing letters. (more…)

Truglio’s Preserve

You and I
Cool and dark
In the blind (more…)

Party blast … or party bust … it’s up to you to make it fun

This year, be the party captain of your soul, be the mingling master of your fate. Whether you’re a host or a guest, the next party you’re at can either be a bust or a blast – and it’s all up to you.

Party-goers owe it to their hosts to be at the top of their game — the “I’m terribly fun, fabulously witty, and oozing with Clooney-like charm … and so are you!” game. So what if it’s your third party in a week and you’re not feeling it? Then you’ve got to fake it, baby! Trust me, the fun will follow. (more…)

Loafing … creatively

Hey, I have to send a major THANKS out to the new editor at Creative Loafing — Cooper Levy-Baker — for providing a link on his paper’s website to my MC Reality blog. The exposure is massively appreciated and my column is the only non-print-associated blog listed in the section of Suncoast Links.

Makes a girl feel kinda special.

For those of you who don’t know Cooper, but who voted for Obama — didja know that he was the mastermind (or at least one of them) behind the wildly successful Obama headquarters/campaign mission here in Sarasota? Well, he was!

You can check out Creative Loafing’s website and see lots more about what to do in and around Sarasota and also read some hot shot writers in the area — I particularly enjoy the food critic column by Brian Ries — read his latest here.

Pricking our hearts … giving pelican-style

I heard from All Faiths today, and in just one week, Reality readers have donated $612 to help feed the needy and hungry folks in our community. That’s the equivalent of 970 meals if you can believe it! Isn’t that amazing?

I’m really blessed (and I don’t say that lightly) and very grateful for the response from so many of you. Thank you SO VERY MUCH for participating in the drive.

There’s still time to make donations — the drive continues through December 18th. (more…)