Jane's Page

I finally got around to reading my short story course's instructors first novel, Skinny. It's interesting to me (less to others) to see how some of the things that she taught us reverberates within her work - a demonstration in how to show and not tell. I can see the universal appeal in this regardless of the specifics of the family (their ethnic background, individual personalities and interdynamics) because of the ...can't think of the word right now, but you will know what I mean when you rea… Continue

Hmm, I started getting into family guy recently, not sure how that happened, but it's quite funny. Especially the almost live comedy ones are interesting to watch. Other than that, I also started watching Craig Ferguson interviewing funny people - I'm not usually that interested in late night shows, but he has a such great way goofing around with those celebrities that he connects with.

Ok, on a completely different note, near my house there is a little Chinese barbecue place, a take-out place… Continue

It's been a while since I have written last. It seems that the time between the entries are being stretched out more and more. Maybe I needed a little break, but I don't think that I'm done with this blog ... quite yet.

The past couple of months have been rather quiet on the creative front: I stopped writing completely. My notebook is still in my napsack, always ready in case I feel like scribbling in the bus, but I have been avoiding it instinctively, a quasi self-imposed incubation phase fill… Continue

Lately I've been catching myself doing a funny (and sad) little thing - when something or someone makes me angry, I start thinking "wait until I write this down about you / it". I guess it's always easier to be passive-aggressive rather than coming right out and saying something to someone's face. Then again, I don't relish doing that either not because I'm being a chicken but just because I am not 100% sure if I am right in what I am saying. Hell, what am I saying? I can NEVER be 100% sure that… Continue

I think this has been my longest blogging break so far. Between the short storying and shuffling Italian relatives around in car caravans (after spending an entire week simply ... cleaning), not a lot of time was left for much else. I'm still in the middle of "The Visit", but it's somewhat settled down a little. Working does introduce a comfortable routine into life - as opposed to spending 12 hours a day running around showing things to people (that may or may not want to be shown things). On t… Continue

I'm finding that I can use this blog as an accompanying place to write my thoughts on my writing tribulations and trials. As I am executing the writing exercises and trying to make enough time for creativity to emerge from the heap of initial crap (or compost, as another book so eloquently describes), I find that another voice is perched in the background, listening, mulling over and reviewing my progress / non-progress in my word-laden endeavours. Unfortunately, most of those thoughts tend to o… Continue

A few days ago a friend sent me an email asking why I hadn't blogged in a little while. That email prompted two reactions at my end: One, someone is reading my blog still! Two, hmm, I guess I really haven't written for a while, I wonder why? Before I really had a chance to think about it, my fingers had already started typing an email response which was mostly centered about the Introduction to Short Fiction writing course that I am currently taking. Granted, I only started it last week, but I t… Continue

I'm an eater: Not the kind of person that only eats to sustain nourishment and to continue living, but also not the gourmand type of eater who will only swoon when the dish in front of her costs at last $50 dollars or more. No, I enjoy the act of eating and the relish the various types of food that I can put into my mouth (and my stomach, and occasionally I will seek out a particular establishment to get just the "right moment" meal or food item. It's no secret that I love my bread and cheese. E… Continue

My mother just called me tonight, her voice cracked and hoarse from the cough that she has been exhibiting for the past few days. This early morning, my dad asked her to get him to the emergency because he was feeling faint, weak and had a blood pressure of 150 over something (and that with the blood pressure medication), but because ambulance would have brought him to the closest hospital, my brother drove them. Apparently they have been in an isolated room for fear of the swine flu but quite h… Continue

Murphy's sitting in the office room with me, cleaning himself. A few hours earlier we had a little scare with him that started out innocently enough: Murphy is an indoor cat but just like any young adolescent 1-year-old cat, he was curious about the outside and always stood on the ledge near our door or just in front of the door whenever we were leaving or coming into the house. This morning Ed had to leave to go to work and was backing out of our garage, so I thought I'd be helpful and close th… Continue