Approaching the eleven-year memorial of Wendy Soltero’s murder and my self-preservation instinct finally kicks in.
Category Archives: Death
Body Memory
After years of healing, why does the body remember a painful day before the mind catches up?
Your Personal Message
If I had an audience of 1 million, this is what I would say. Day 10 of the Emerson “Self-Reliance” project.
Afraid To Do
Mr. Emerson and I are at odds today. Day 9 of the Ralph Waldo Emerson “Self-Reliance” project.
Come Alive
“In what areas of your life are you preparing to live?” asks Jonathan Mead for Day 6 of the Emerson “Self-Reliance” project.
The Story That Needs To Be Written
With only fifteen minutes to live, this is the story that I had to tell. Day 1 of the #Trust30 Ralph Waldo Emerson “Self-Reliance” Project.
The Forgotten Boneyard
In Prague there is a cemetery filled with open graves. Chapter 11 of “The Secret Life of Stone”.
There’s No Place Like Home
Upheaval in the world and personally brings up the ever-present yet elusive question of “Where will I find home?”.
The Culture of Violence
“I hold Sarah Palin responsible for all the deaths that took place in Tucson.” A new hybrid/AMBASSADORS blogring on the recent shootings in Tucson, Arizona.
Storm of the Century
Trapped on a freezing tram in a blizzard that shuts down Prague’s public transportation. A real-life nightmare.
A Love Letter To Grief
Approaching the ten-year memorial of my dear friend Wendy’s murder and I am struggling, still, to process the event and all the time that has passed.
Zuzu Irwin Dreams With Jellyfish
The first installment in a new Zuzu’s Petal series, Zuzu Irwin’s Global Safari, that explores an amazing encounter at the Long Beach Aquarium in 2001 and its reverberations to today.
The Old Man and the Vltava
Something monstrous lurks in Prague’s Vltava River, and it isn’t toxic sludge from Hungary. Chapter 3 in The Secret Life of Stone.
Remnants
The looming memorial of the September 11, 2001 tragedy has me thinking about things left behind.
A Love Letter To Beloved Dead
My friend Catherine’s amazing expat+HAREM post “Death at a distance”, one of the most powerful essays I have ever read, has left me processing a great deal of unresolved grief.
The Healing Power of Horror
From MARTYRS to AMERICAN MONSTERS to psychological methods of trauma healing to Toni Morrison’s Beloved to Cold Case while discussing the healing powers of horror stories. (But no Lady Gaga this time 
Intertextuality and Irony in Lady Gaga’s PAPARAZZI
My submission for this week’s www.RedRoom.com themed blog competition on “What is your favorite pop song?”
On homosociality, American masculinties, and violence against women in DEADGIRL
Delving back into my much-loved world of cultural anthropology via the horror film “Deadgirl” and its social significance.
The Assasination Of Marilyn Monroe
My review of the tragic “Assassination Of Marilyn Monroe”.
Portrait of A Killer
A review of Patricia Cornwell’s phenomenal forensic study “Portrait of a Killer: Jack The Ripper Case Closed”
On Angels, Demons and Living Paradoxically
My friend Vesper’s amazing blog post inspires me to consider my thoughts on good, evil and other things in between.
Born Hybrid
In 1990 Chris McCandless donated all of his life savings to OXFAM and went into the wild to live in the Alaskan outback. He had the feeling he didn’t belong in the life his parents planned for him. He knew they’d not take no for an answer, wearing him down like a chainsaw until he…
Inglourious Revenge
My impassioned review of Quentin Tarantino’s magnificent “Inglourious Basterds”.
The Sneeze
A short zombie story inspired by Franz Kafka, my Prague homeboy, and written for the www.RedRoom.com weekly blog competition.
Miep, Myself and Wendy
My reflections on Miep Gies’ death as well as Wendy Soltero’s would-be 32st birthday.
In the “Nought”ies I:
Many of the things that I did in the Naughts Decade. I probably left out a bunch, but anyway.
Why I Don’t Celebrate Halloween Like I Used To
When I first moved to Europe going on seven years ago I was bummed that I felt they didn’t really celebrate Halloween, American style. Dressing up, spider webs, pumpkin carving, creepy music, Trick-or-Treating…Halloween was always my most favourite holiday. I love costumes and basically will use any excuse whatsoever to dress up. Movie premieres, themed…
The Bane of Forgiveness
Here in Europe we have this amazing cream called Bepanthen that is phenomenal for healing wounds without any resulting scarring. Doesn’t matter how you got the wound, scrape, burn, but if you use Bepanthen on it you absolutely will not scar. I got to thinking that maybe forgiveness is like that cream. If you don’t…
In Memoriam
Eight years ago two planes flew into New York’s World Trade Centers killing thousands. I remember my then-boyfriend waking me up to tell me what had happened. It was 8am in California and so I laughed at the news, thinking that someone had pulled a Fight Club and destroyed two empty buildings. When he reminded…
A Love Letter to Janis Joplin
Written on a postcard made out of the “Me & Bobby McGee” sheet music: P!nk cries on stageJust like you,Weeping, wailingHer pretty heart out. Where a Jack Daniels stamp could go it says:PragueJune 11, 2009I wrote this watching P!nk’s concert, and immediately afterwards she dedicated a bunch of songs to you. How weird is that?…
Forever Isn’t Long Enough (Buffy Season 5, Episode 17; April 17, 2001)
This episode, “Forever”, was even worse than the last one, in terms of the tears spoutage. And look at the dates: It aired almost 2 whole months later. I wasn’t watching it back then, but for the Buffy fans that must’ve sucked. To be left with such a tragic ending and then wait so long…
Love Letter No. 1 to Alexander Supertramp: Wealth
Written on a postcard of Alex’s childhood home in Annandale, Virginia: There is too muchof youfor comfort. Where a stamp could be affixed by a father’s anger:Walking awayJanuary 29, 2009So abandon you he did.
Love Letter No. 2 to Alexander Supertramp: Faith
Written on a box car train postcard featuring a sleeping bag, tinned beans and the blur of a passing landscape: There’s not enoughof the good kind of youfor comfort. Where a stamp could be affixed by a mother’s tears:On the way from here to somewhereJanuary 29, 2009Would going into the wild help?
Love Letter No. 3 to Alexander Supertramp: Abstraction
Written on a postcard of the Denali National Park expanse: Sometimes you are the easiestpath towards understanding. Where the stamp should go it says:PragueJanuary 29, 2009Sometimes you leave us unprepared to perish.
Love Letter No. 4 to Alexander Supertramp: Choice
Written on an upside down postcard of The Magic Bus: I don’t rememberwhich way is up! Where the stamp should go but it’s in the lower left hand corner instead of upper right:SomewhereJanuary 29, 2009Trying to watch the bubbles and they make no sense.
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