I have been dating a wonderful man for three months—not dating really, more like visiting, sharing, writing to each other, holding hands, and laughing; yes, lots of laughing. What is this exactly? I wonder. Friendship, kinship, romance? “You’re it,” he said once. I should have been ecstatic. Instead I think, What is It? What is Its definition? Then another time, he called me his girlfriend. I should have been pleased. Instead, Does that mean I’m a friend who’s a girl? Or… Continue

As you may remember from my last episode of groveling and begging, I entered my three mastiffs in a local pet photo contest, sponsored by KDKA, which is affiliated with CBS. One of my mastiffs, Webster, seemed to be in the top 50 for some time, and at one point, was the top dog. Now it's hard to say where he is, so I was wondering, if you are interested in helping, would you mind clicking… Continue

I'm leaving for Ireland tomorrow, beginning my Irish residency for my MFA Creative Writing program, part of Carlow University, Pittsburgh and Carlow College in Carlow, Ireland. I'll be studying with Brian Leyden, author of The Home Place, Departures and Death and Plenty.

I refuse to remove my Penguins jersey, shower or leave home. The clocks have been stopped and mirrors draped in black. All the curtains and shades are drawn. I wander through the dark house, wringing my hands and sighing. I love my Pens; I miss my Pens; and I'm going to be like this until I'm not like this any more. Then I'll go do something else―hopefully something less dismal.