Not That Simple

The everyday, writ large.

[lolliblog]

Podcast Day!

This week on The Easy Chair: “What Lingers,” by popular returning guest author/master storyteller Saul Fussiner, a story of what happened one long-ago summer in Maine. It is about a boy and his knife, a friendship re-examined, the loss of innocence. Saul tells a coming-of-age story like no one else: hard, sweet wisdom without a trace of sentimentality. We also shoot the breeze some, and discuss family vacations, Saul’s introvert status, shared with President Obama, and telling vs. reading stories. This is a deeply warm and wistful episode to listen to as the nights get longer and cooler on the slide into autumn.

Next week: she’s back! Author Stephanie Spaulding spins another magical yarn, this one from her short story collection, One Tough Cupcake. For those of you who like their realism laced with humor and a touch of magic, Stephanie’s got a story for you. And keep those dating stories coming to me and Hannah at easychairpodcast.gmail.com. We are only two weeks away from Shoulda Swiped Left #9!

[camazon]

Hiatus?

Hi beloved readers.

I took a planned break from blogging while I was on vacation at the end of July, and then realized I might enjoy a longer break than that.

I started this blog in 2009 when I was diagnosed with breast cancer. That was seven years ago. In my life, as in anyone’s life, so much changed since then.

Not sure when I’ll be back, but soon.

In the meantime, please tell everyone you know who might be in need of expert college counseling (developing list, writing and editing essays, etc.) to email me to discuss. I can do anywhere in the country using Skype and I have testimonials to share. [email protected]

Catch you on the flip side, and this song isn’t very long.

Cameron

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#onmyown I bike to my yoga class and rearrange my brain on the mat. #myownbestfriend

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What you are looking at is a window in my kitchen. It’s open to the screen and fresh air is coming in. An hour before I took this picture, the window was clogged with vines outside and dead leaves inside and the screen was off its track. #Onmyown I cleaned it up so that it could be opened. The view from here is clear. The view is inviting. #onmyown #myownbestfriend

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When you’re on your own, you take selfies to capture the moment. #onmyown #myownbestfriend

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When you live alone, you don’t have to clean your projects up. #onmyown #myownbestfriend

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It took me a year to add metal and extend the pull cords on my daughter’s ceiling fans. But I did it today, #onmyown,#myownbestfriend. I’ve enjoyed becoming more handy around the house since being #onmyown

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I spend a lot of time with my dog, Roxy. Here, we’re about to go on a winter hike. #onmyown #myownbestfriend

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This bench, on my porch, is built for two, but one fits it just fine. #onmyown #myownbestfriend

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Here you have my left hand. I no longer wear my wedding ring. The blue-checked napkin was a wedding gift. And so it is. #onmyown #myownbestfriend

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I like my gym. It’s not a pick-up scene. And I go there #onmyown to enjoy a podcast while on the treadmill, as I did this morning. #myownbestfriend

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I’m launching a new project. It’s called #onmyown. After being married twenty years, I wasn’t anymore. At first, I was a little panicked about not having someone to do things with. I tried to rustle up friends and, if no one was free, I chose not to go. That is so two years ago. I have grown to love my solitude and it doesn’t stop me from doing anything. I have more than a few friends who don’t like to dine alone, and I get that. But it’s liberating to stop worrying about it. It opens a door. This photo is from yesterday when I walked to my favorite ice cream spot, bought myself a cone, and sat on the bench to enjoy it. I go to movies alone, go out for drinks or dinner alone, go to concerts and plays alone and I love it. This small project will be some photos of me doing things alone, sometimes with text but more often not. I hope it helps to lift the stigma about doing things alone, whether or not one has a partner. #onmyown #myownbestfriend

[thedogist]

Bushido, Akita (4 y/o), Spring & Thompson St., New York, NY • “He’s the smaller, Japanese Akita; the American Akita has about 20 pounds on him. His name means ‘way of the Samurai’.”

[camazon]

Nice Cage Magazine

Check out this new ‘zine, and also my three poems in it. The first one, “To My Nipple,” is a comic take on my nipple tattoo that I got after my mastectomy. I would love any reshares if you are so inclined! Thanks!

[thedogist]

Eloise, Labrador Retriever mix (12 w/o), School Street, Woods Hole, MA • “She’s not found her love of the water yet.” – Follow thedogist on Snapchat for Eloise’s attempt at swimming

[dsxsbx]

Grainau // Niko Brinkmann

[camazon]

My Fake Boob: A Love/Hate Relationship

"Girls! Please help me look!" I yell in the midst of the early morning dash for the door. "Do you see my boob anywhere?"

I wrote this article, and, yes, that is my breast prosthesis on my dog’s head. Enjoy it and pass it on! It appears in a great new zine called Maximum Middle Age.