Ana's Blog

Greetings. You have discovered my Blog Posts, also known as my Internet Writing Tablet. Please feel free to wander through my musings, and when you're done, take a moment if you will, to let me know how my writing touched you.

2021 POSTS
What I Am Reading May 23, 2021 What I am reading, but first… Who knows if you want to read what I read this last semester in my MFA Program at Iowa State. My reading list felt endless with Gothic short stories for my Gothic Literature class, … Continue Reading→		Hearts and Ashes on Brighton Beach February 21, 2021 Two weeks ago when I was lamenting not graduating in May from my MFA Program in Creative Writing and Environment because of three missing credits, I was in a serious funk. If I wasn’t graduating, should I procrastinate writing the … Continue Reading→
2020 POSTS
What I’ve Been Reading May 26, 2020 Reading for a masters degree is wildly different than reading for fun. It leaves me no time to read the latest and greatest novel or memoir?  Well,… I do make exceptions for memoirs. A slow reader, one of the most … Continue Reading→		Maintaining Happy in Times of Coronavirus—Get Me Some Eggs April 16, 2020 This morning, Avy and I had a little drive outing with our dear friend, Dog Gone Park owner, Jacqui Binford-Bell. Adhering to physical distancing, Avy and I followed Jacqui in her SUV to the Arco Farms on the outskirts of … Continue Reading→
Maintaining Happy in Times of Coronavirus—Having One of Those Days April 15, 2020 It’s been days since I’ve left the property, my barn garret, the house for mail. Driving, felt like a 2004 Maui Flashback. Two-lane roads. Nowhere to go. Lord, beam my Mercedes to the A8, 200 km/h the norm. Tom Petty … Continue Reading→		Maintaining Happy in Times of Coronavirus—Brief History of Acequia’s April 11, 2020 Last night we walked-about to see and follow one of the acequia’s that was opened yesterday on our property. Typically, I am not here in April, so this was an event Ed wanted to share. A bit of history: An … Continue Reading→
Maintaining Happy in Times of Coronavirus April 6, 2020 After an awesome workshop with my fearless OLLI writers, and a Zoom Viva la Vino Iowa State University Women’s Club gathering, I needed a walk. My neck hurt from sitting. Avy, always game, went with me. Serendipitously we walked to … Continue Reading→		Maintaining Happy in Times of Coronavirus—Vacuum the Carpet March 30, 2020 Today my happy was challenged. But I persevered. First it was my reoccurring-stomach-bug? Always the same symptoms. Nasea and fatigue. I’ve mentioned it to doctors, and they go cross-eyed. So, today after dragging myself through my morning workout on Zoom, … Continue Reading→
Maintaining Happy in Times of Coronavirus—Stumbling Upon Wayne Dyer March 26, 2020 Today in Angel Fire, it was rainy with wild wind gusts. I ventured only to the post office to mail letters, and to walk from the house to my barn office. What was I going to post tonight in my … Continue Reading→		Thank You Note Evangelist! March 8, 2020 The Thank You Note Evangelists’ Dream Come True: As I stood in my row on my flight to San Antonio waiting for my row mate to return from the lavatory, I glanced at the bent head of the passenger in … Continue Reading→
Epitaph of the Thank You Note Evangelist February 10, 2020 Tonight at my monthly wine group, our hostess distributed conversation cards. My question: what would you want written on your grave stone? In the moment I had no answer. Instead I told a story. When one of my girlfriends succumbed … Continue Reading→
2019 POSTS
Ocean Vuong—A Cento April 15, 2019 NaPoWritMo—Day 15 Continue Reading→		You Mourned and Rued the Day April 14, 2019 NaPoWriMo—Day 14 Continue Reading→
Dawn Dream April 12, 2019 NaPoWriMo - Day 12 Continue Reading→		April The Muted Month Left Lifeless April 2, 2019 NaPoWriMo - Day 2 Continue Reading→
The Kiss April 1, 2019 NaPoWriMo - Day 1 Continue Reading→		Stepping in Sh— On Kauai January 24, 2019 When I travel, I make a point to seek out and shop at independent bookstores. So, imagine my delight when I googled and discovered Talk Story Bookstore in Hanapepe, a short distance from Poipu where I was staying with my … Continue Reading→
2018 POSTS
Postcards from Fairfield Iowa, Near the McCracken Farm November 24, 2018 Driving through Fairfield Iowa on our visit to Ed’s family’s farm. Continue Reading→		World-Class Architecture in Des Moines November 16, 2018 The new Kum & Go headquarters building on Grand Avenue is spectacular. Designed by Renzo Piano Building Workshop, it is an architectural feast for the eyes. Continue Reading→
Halloween Miracles October 31, 2018 Charlie Brown, there is a Great Pumpkin! Imagine my dismay when two days ago I realized Halloween fell on my creative writing class night, with Ed out of town. You might say, “So? Turn the lights off. Leave the house.” … Continue Reading→		Mom’s Embroidery and Syrian Dynasty Dolls July 10, 2018 Several years ago, I lay on my back, eyes covered, acupuncture needles protruding from exposed limbs, soft music lulling me into oblivion. Feet warmed by a heat lamp, I sank into the massage table. “Make pillows out of them,” a … Continue Reading→
The Ungenerous Reader Recommends Five Books July 10, 2018 “How’s that book you’re reading,” I ask Ed, my husband. Ed learned how to speed read in a one-room school, and is always reading a book. “Ok.” “It’s good?” “Not necessarily.” “Then why are you reading it,” I ask. “I … Continue Reading→		Postcard from the South | Number 4 June 23, 2018 A WRITERS’ TOUR OF THE SOUTH Trip Highlights #2 A lot of Ed’s and my trip after we deposited the grandkid at Huntsville Space Camp was unplanned. Our one known destination was the battlefields at Vicksburg. As we lounged in … Continue Reading→
Postcard from the South | Number 3 June 23, 2018 A WRITERS’ TOUR OF THE SOUTH Trip Highlights #1 BOOKSTORES & COFFEE As I sit waiting to fly back to Des Moines, my thoughts return to a couple of trip highlights—authors, bookstores, and coffee. This brief post features coffee and bookstores. … Continue Reading→		Along the Loess Hills Scenic Byway June 4, 2018 Leaving Omaha today, I chose to take the scenic route home to Ames. So, I headed north up I-29 to Mondamin, and turned off to hook up with Hwy 183 to 141, which took me on the Loess Hills National … Continue Reading→
The Country Seemed to be Running June 1, 2018 Today, my long-time chum, Mary and I took a a break from the annual Willa Cather conference in Red Cloud, NE celebrating the centenary publication of My Antonia, and headed due south on US-281. A pilgrimage of sorts to stand on the … Continue Reading→		New Mexico Nature Photo Essay March 27, 2018 Nature greets me with majesty and ferocity on my departure from New Mexico. A short series of images set the stage for my day. Continue Reading→
2017 POSTS
Fairfield Thanksgiving Loop Photo Essay November 23, 2017 Avy and I walked the Fairfield Loop Trail, known as Fairfield’s “emerald necklace,” after Thanksgiving with Ed's family. I snapped a bunch of wintery, atmospheric photos that I've crafted into this photo essay. Continue Reading→		Skunk River Photo Essay November 19, 2017 Another winter walk reveals the angles and textures of a broken down old wood bridge as Avy and I stroll along the Skunk River Trail. Continue Reading→
Lone Hiker, Blessed Day Photo Essay November 12, 2017 On another winter walk in the forest, Avy and I meet a lone hiker whose greeting beautifully captures the day. Continue Reading→		Ames Woods Photo Essay November 8, 2017 Avy and I go for a chilly fall walk in the Ames Woods. Avy wants to go down and explore the creek that runs under the bridge, while I would rather take photos of the subtle beauty all around us. Continue Reading→
A Drive to See Author Dani Shapiro June 14, 2017 So, you might understand why five hours wasn't too far to drive to see my favorite author, Dani Shapiro... Continue Reading→
2016 POSTS
How Two Events Changed My Perspective on Life January 19, 2016 When my mother dropped my brother and I off for our first day of school at the Merz Schule in Stuttgart, Germany in 1971, I was already able to recite the ABCs and to count from one to 10 in … Continue Reading→		Life Happens January 1, 2016 In February last year, when I sent my invitation to announce my forthcoming Writer’s News newsletter, I thought it’d be a week or two before I hit the send button. But as I worked with my web-team to get the … Continue Reading→
2015 POSTS
Seven Books I Read in 2014 June 16, 2015 Once upon a time, I was a voracious reader. In my late 20s and early 30s, books were an appendage. I read while I gulped down my breakfast, at night alone at my table in my studio apartment, as soon as … Continue Reading→		On Top of Arnolfo’s Tower April 1, 2015 Today was Ed’s and my last day in Florence. The one thing on our list to do was to tool around the Uffizi. Kinda sorta underwhelmed after visiting the galleries on the top floor, we ordered espresso drinks and a fruit … Continue Reading→
Catwalk in the Florence Duomo March 30, 2015   What was I thinking today when I set off with Ed to climb to the top of the Duomo? He reminded me later as we sat at a cafe after our climb that Paul, our concierge, had mentioned getting to … Continue Reading→		Remembering Pompeii March 28, 2015 Today on the way back to Naples from Positano where I attended the Sirenland Writers Conference this past week, Ed and I stopped in Pompeii. We took a tour with a guide, who showed us, in his opinion, the most … Continue Reading→
2014 POSTS
On The Banks of Plum Creek August 19, 2014 When I was in 7th grade and newly transplanted in Peoria, IL from Stuttgart, Germany, I spent hours losing myself in the world of the Little House on the Prairie books by Laura Ingalls Wilder. Her books were my constant … Continue Reading→		In The Loo August 14, 2014 Two days ago I traveled from Angel Fire (AF), NM to Oakland. Not an easy trip. Best case scenario, a 3-hour drive from AF to Albuquerque (ABQ), followed by a 2.5 hour flight. Construction along the way caused the need … Continue Reading→
On The Road to Positive Thinking with The Reluctant RAGBRAI Biker June 4, 2014 RAGBRAI COUNTDOWN: 46 days, 11 hours, 32 minutes, and 14 seconds… Yesterday riding my road bike on the Alpine/Portola Valley loop and trailing behind Ed, I sifted through my thoughts to find good ones. Positive, inspiring thoughts that would keep me company … Continue Reading→		Blog Hop—Writers Writing May 19, 2014 When I was ten, my family moved from Los Angeles to Stuttgart, Germany. To stay connected to my friends, I started writing. The only one who wrote back consistently for over 20 years, was my best friend and next-door neighbor, … Continue Reading→
Training Report from the Reluctant RAGBRAI Biker May 12, 2014 Okay! I couldn’t help myself. I had to take a distressed biking selfie. Dangerous while riding, yes! But the headwind on Foothill was dreadful and I wanted proof that I was riding in it. As I peddled at a mere … Continue Reading→
2013 POSTS
The Goodbye December 18, 2013 Years ago in conversation with my mother, she admitted to me that she’d hardly shed a tear after her mother’s death. Why, I’d asked her perplexed. Don’t people cry when a parent dies? Mom reasoned that grandma had been comfortable … Continue Reading→		Golden Poop! October 31, 2013 How do you sightsee in Bali when the heat and humidity is oppressive? Hire a driver. Thankfully we met I Wayan Suta on Saturday, when he rescued Ed and me from our unsuccessful foot-tour of Ubud in the raging heat. The … Continue Reading→
Rice Farmer Ed! October 28, 2013 Did you know that Ed grew up on a farm outside of Fairfield, Iowa? One of my favorite stories about Ed’s upbringing is how his dad gave Ed and each of his three siblings a cow. The family had land, … Continue Reading→		This is Bali? October 27, 2013 After a two-and-a-half hour KLM flight from Singapore to Bali, Ed and I landed at Denpasar International Airport. Five minutes passed until someone brought up the gangway. When the doors of the plane opened, I scurried after Ed. He wanted to … Continue Reading→
Shanghai – No Size 40! October 27, 2013 Before we arrived in Shanghai, Ed asked me if I’d feel out of place in China because of my height. If I were blond and tall I concluded after arrival, it would have bugged me. Instead what caused me distress … Continue Reading→		Shanghai Favorite #1 October 24, 2013 Shanghai Favorite # 1 – The Fairmont Peace Hotel where we stayed. A landmark art deco building built by prominent businessman Sir Victor Sassoon, and is located on the Bund facing the Pudong area over the Huangpu River. The hotel … Continue Reading→
Shanghai – A Skyscraper Sprawl October 24, 2013 What to say about Shanghai? In my wildest dreams I never imagined a skyscraper sprawl like the one Ed and I encountered. It boggled my mind. But when our tour guide on our last day proudly recounted that Shanghai city … Continue Reading→		Meet Me at Facebook Anonymous Anyone? October 22, 2013 On Thursday, October 17th, I woke in Shanghai dazed and confused from jet lag. Reaching for my iPhone, I clicked on my Facebook App intending to type my first honeymoon Shanghai post. It took awhile of watching the little syncing … Continue Reading→
Germans—The World’s Best Drivers August 25, 2013 When I was ten, my family moved to Stuttgart, Germany. My father was a university professor and our family of four lived on a tight budget leaving little money to purchase the Audi, Mercedes or Porsche my brother and I … Continue Reading→		Why Didn’t Someone Notice? June 19, 2013 Ever wonder why someone does or doesn’t notice you? Remember those days on the playground when all you wanted was the cool girl to say something nice to you? Invite you to sit with her at lunch. Continue Reading→
Note to self June 5, 2013 As Ed and I sat waiting in a lobby for a meeting today, I bemoaned my time-out from my MFA program. “At the very least,” I said, “the program kept me writing.” “Well,” Ed said, “maybe you should write a … Continue Reading→