Category: Blog
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On Writing: Fear of Not Being the Best
Along with freezing temperatures and delayed school starts, March winds always blow in allergies. I don’t know what exactly I’m allergic to, but whenever the weather changes here in Tennessee, I find myself surrounded by a pile of tissues, bereft of the will to leave the couch. Thus, I’ve done a lot of reading this week, mainly…
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On Writing: What You Say and Do Matters
I’ve been a regular blood donor since 2016, the year after my stepfather died. During his fight with cancer, he needed several transfusions, so by donating I feel I am paying forward the generosity of his donors. Donating blood really doesn’t take much effort, and after you’ve done it a few times you get used…
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How I Met My Husband
Let me tell you a story. It starts 16 years ago with a turtle and a trip to Target. I went to college 100% on student loans. Even my apartment rent, food, and utilities were paid for through loans. So when I got my check at the beginning of the spring semester my junior year,…
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Cleaning Day
Saturday mornings in my house mean one thing: Cleaning Day has begun. I have kids and cats, so every day is Cleaning Day to some extent, but Saturdays are for getting into the corners, behind the furniture, moving appliances, on my hands and knees, Don’t-Bother-Me-Can’t-You-See-I’m-Busy-If-You-Can’t-Find-Something-To-Do-So-Help-Me-You-Can-Get-Down-Here-With-Me, THAT kind of cleaning. My favorite part of cleaning the house this…
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On Writing: To cliché or not to cliché?
Back in 2019, we had season passes to Dollywood, so I took my kids several times that summer. In case it’s been a minute since you last visited, there’s a ride in the Wildwood Grove called Black Bear Trail. You straddle a mechanical bear and then wobble around a track while squealing “Whee!” I had…
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Inside the Red Room
Achira’s first album, “Inside the Red Room”, is scheduled for release! Inside the Red Room
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Memories of a Boy Named Greg
During my semester of student teaching, I had several students who caused me more than a small amount of stress. There was Heather, who absolutely hated everything about me and would never do anything I asked her to do. John, who would deliberately get into arguments with other students so he could be sent out…
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Red
Originally posted on Just Taking Notes: I think we were all kind of hoping for a fresh start in 2021. But, uh…that certainly didn’t happen, huh? I think with COVID numbers soaring, unemployment numbers continuing to look pretty bad, and an attempted coup on our government, we’re all feeling a little unmotivated, worried, and ready…
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Why I Hate My Dog
Originally posted on Longreads: Richard Gilbert | Longreads | July 2016 | 18 minutes (4,584 words) Belle Krendl, “our” dog but really mine, is a furtive, ragtag creature. She suffers in comparison to our prior dogs—and to most we’ve known. In fact, she suffers in comparison to any pet we’ve ever owned, including jumpy, escape-prone…
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On Writing: Is It Okay to Sin Now?
When one of my dear friends moved away a couple years ago, she Marie Kondo-ed her house and came across a few books that she thought I would enjoy. The first, a non-fiction account of the 1893 World’s Columbian Exposition which was marred by the H.H. Holmes murders, looked promising. The second, an award-winning science…
Kate the Writer 