Knock-Out Hero I was at my niece's birthday party last week (her mom took the picture above), when a former student asked me, "Have you ever saved someone from drowning?" The young lady had just finished describing a rescue she'd witnessed. She'd felt helpless, unsure of her swimming abilities and unable to help a friend … Continue reading Knock-Out Hero
What the Twerk? I don't know how to process it. Last week, I chaperoned the local high school prom, and thing is, the kids weren't twerking. Not a one of them. Not at all. Not one booty bounce among the hundred-odd teens gathered on that dance floor, living it up. None. Instead, they were happy-dancing, … Continue reading What the Twerk?
Be Nice to the Trees, Or Else My short story "A Taste of Robins" won the 2025 Winter Hauntings competition, earning me a creepy doll and a hundred dollar award. Autumn Ware, the competition's creator (popping out behind me in the photo), claimed the hundred dollar bill was sewed up inside the doll. I am … Continue reading Be Nice to the Trees, Or Else
Nature: An Unrequited Love As Valentines approaches, I'd like to declare my undying and unrequited love for nature. Nature, of course, doesn't care about me. Red in tooth and claw and all. But, like other quasi-relationships I've known, a lack of reciprocity doesn't phase me. This love for nature has now led me into the … Continue reading Nature: An Unrequited Love
I'm a finalist in the January 29th Winter Hauntings competition for my short story "Taste of Robins." This is exciting, as I was also a finalist last year and am hoping this time, I'll win. Winter Hauntings required ghost stories of 1300 words or less, with a Carteret County connection. My entry from last year, … Continue reading For the Love of Trees
My Wolf-Dog You should not get a wolf-dog for a pet. For one reason, I'm pretty sure it's illegal. Also, it's not fair to the wolf-dog - they're too wild to tame. With over 360 dog breeds, there's a better choice available. But do as I say, not as I do. My dog Triton was … Continue reading My Wolf-Dog
And the Cat Came Back On to the second pet-post to celebrate the publication of my essay "Pet Pack" in Next Chapter LitMag and a definite-maybe from Chicken Soup from the Soul: What I Learned from my Dog, for my essay "Rebel Heart." Fingers crossed, ya'll. Now let's talk cats. But first, a full disclosure: … Continue reading And the Cat Came Back
Lizardo In honor of Next Chapter Literary Magazine publishing my essay "Pet Pack" in their upcoming issue, I'd like to kick off a series of pet posts. Let's start with my lizard, Lizardo. My brother won Lizardo in a dart game at the Seafood Festival when I was in high school. Lizardo was one of … Continue reading Lizardo
Ten Years with My Gingineer My husband and I are celebrating our ten-year wedding anniversary this week. How is that possible? I mean, our eight-year-old son is good evidence of our longstanding relationship, but it seems like just yesterday that I met the man of my dreams. Was it in a bar, you ask? At … Continue reading Ten Years with My Gingineer
A Farewell to Horses So far, readers, you've met Phoenix, Sugar, the three paint mares, and the mustang. But that's only six horses out of fifteen. In this last post, let's visit the other nine horses and find out why I left them. Behind Horace's barn was a stately black draft gelding and a gray … Continue reading A Farewell to Horses
Jessi Waugh Writer 