…and I think I’m in love. I’m still wrapping my mind around my second (third) identity as a “writer.” It’s wild to sit down with an idea — a spark, a hint of a connection — and write towards discovery. …

The minute I started reading I saw it coming, and indeed, GRACE has officially jumped to become one of my *all-time* favorite books. The kind of book I hugged, often, between laughter and tears. Written by Obama’s chief speechwriter, GRACE is an intimate glimpse into the process of creative…

and why I don’t want the fall OF democracy — I harbor crazy-mad passion for late-stage autumn. The crunchy music of sidewalks littered with leaves… how the air thins with the crisp, damp scent of seasonal decay. How sunlight oozes through foliage and bakes the last threads of chlorophyll before we’re left to inhale only “left-over” oxygen for winter. Fall…

…in which probability, geography & luck will be part of the strategy — Notwithstanding the fact that hundreds of millions of us have been relegated to status as livestock — no longer in control of our own reproductive choices and here primarily to replenish the “dwindling supply of domestic infants” — I’d like to focus on the unplanned pregnancy piece of this puzzle…

and also, men, want to know what’s really sexy? — While I was out for a walk this morning in Denver I saw a man wearing an Avs cap. Denverites were hoping for a thrilling, come-from-behind Game-5 win in the Stanley Cup playoffs last night. I’d watched through slightly swollen eyes and was disappointed when a late tie was lost…

The loyalty I feel towards all things Carhartt was firmly established in the spring of 1997 with the purchase of my first pair of carpenter pants. They were the real deal—camel-colored carpenter pants with extra pockets, a hammer-hook, and a second layer of denim attached with grommets to protect knees…

Everything about this -- from the first word to the ultimate conclusion -- resonated for me. I'm a photographer and the biggest secret I've learned is that getting a great photo has little to do with equipment or background or how many followers a photographer has. It's whether or not a photographer can make a client FEEL comfortable, beautiful, connected and in the moment. I tell my clients all the time (when halfway through the session they say, "how is it I'm having such a great time?!") that I learned long ago: if they aren't having a great time they won't be getting shots they love. THAT is my true job. Making a connection -- in writing as in photography -- is the secret. Thank you for sharing this and I love your author photo!

and the footprint this photo was really about… — I’ve had a low level obsession with trains for most of my life. So it’s not surprising that, though I make my living as a photographer, I’m always honored and all too willing to share when Amtrak wants to use a photo of mine on their feed. But this time…

{ two stories of one hour on the same day } — 3pm yesterday, Springfield ILLINOIS: A fierce, ten year old girl (who happens to be my niece) presented testimony as the opening witness on a bill she’d worked with her State Representative to craft with the goal of protect pollinators. Her vision is long and her approach was wise, resisting the…