My new motto

Writing’s on the wall. In NYC in 1981, I was walking with some friends when I spotted this, so I took a quick shot instead patiently setting up a better one. I’ve been scanning old negs; this one’s faded a bit.

Stupidity has a knack of getting its way; as we should see if we were not always so wrapped up in ourselves.

—The Plague

Albert Camus was born on this date in 2013

UPI Photo from Wikimedia Commons

My evocation of The Lantern Ghost of Oiwa did not win our book club’s pumpkin contest.

Bill Clinton working the line after cheering on Pitt County, NC, Democrats Saturday afternoon. The last time I saw him was dusk of Election Day 2016, doing selfies on the East Carolina University campus. What I took then as a good omen turned into a poignant portent that I hope is not repeated.

She looks an awful lot like our Allie, who’s maybe 5 months

So it’s here—the hardbound, revised edition of my short stories, available from Kindle. Ebook version there and from Nook and Apple. Reminder: I will do a short reading from three stories this Saturday, May 25, at Cindirene’s, 559 E. Third St., in Ayden.

Osprey takes flight, Roanoke Sound, NC

To mark the fifth anniversary of publishing my book of short stories, I have re-edited and I hope improved “Middle Distance.” And now a hardbound edition is available from Kindle. The paperback and ebook editions are available there, too, and from Apple Books and Nook. Please check it out!

From a recent trip to my hometown, the 16th Street Bridge across the Allegheny in Pittsburgh

A cat in a box on a rocking chair. Mimi is every bit her namesake— dramatic and vocal. Going on 10, rescued with litter-mate Molly from Kinston.
#ProofOfCat

As close I’ve been able to get to this guy, except for when we TNR’d him a few months ago. Bet said he’s about 7. I hope he discovers the heated pad on our back porch.

The Elgin Marbles were in the news today—Rishi Sunak declined to meet with Greek PM Kyriakos Mitsotakis—so here are some b/w film shots I made earlier this year