I’m embarking on a new literary discovery adventure, presently titled “MALICE.” The story revolves around a Eurasian woman in nineteenth century Calcutta and the civil lawsuit she filed in 1883. Mary Pigot publicly accused an esteemed Scottish missionary with malicious libel — an intentional act meant to cause harm. The case was reported in full
TEDDY BEAR PICNICS
“If you go down in the woods today, you’re sure of a big surprise If you go down in the woods today, you’d better go in disguise For every bear that ever there was will gather there for certain Because today’s the day the teddy bears have their picnic.” Well, technically, the teddy
Our Ongoing Accomplishment
Not everyone agreed the North American colonies should separate from Great Britain. The debate among delegates to the Second Continental Congress took place on July 1, 1776. Delegates met on a hot and steamy morning. At 10:00 the doors to the debating hall were closed. Richard Henry Lee’s motion that the colonies should declare their
SLIP, SLOP, SLAP
Ah, summer time. Especially when there’s soft sun and cool breezes like this sunset picture of Tauranga Harbour on the North Island of New Zealand. But the sun isn’t entirely our friend. Its UV rays damage our skin and eyes. Despite warnings about skin cancer, a day in the sun remains one of our
Summer Solstice Stories
Tuesdays are getting noticed this year. Last week Tuesday was Flag Day. This week, June 21st marks Summer Solstice in the northern hemisphere. As this diagram illustrates, Solstice is the moment when the sun reaches its most northerly point on the celestial sphere. In other words, it’s the longest day of the year. The next
Our Grand Old Flag
In our rush from Memorial Day to the Fourth of July, we often miss Flag Day. I’m guilty of that myself. I think the reason we pass by the day honoring the adoption the American flag is because there’s no holiday attached. No fireworks. No bands. Just a day like any other. In June 1777
Old Maid’s Day – Really?
Darn – I missed it. Saturday, June 4th was National Old Maid’s Day, still on the list of June holidays and observed with reluctance by writers who rush to assure us modern women do quite well without marriage. And yet, I think the day shouldn’t pass completely unnoticed. Up until the 21st century,
MEMORIAL DAY – A Time to Remember
It’s an awesome sight – row upon row of uniform white gravestones, each with a small American flag. The grass is verdantly green. The trees majestic. Far from the horror that brought many of the permanent residents to Arlington National Cemetary. There are 147 national cemeteries across the United States. In addition the American Battle
PRIDE, PREJUDICE, & ELIGIBLE
Over two hundred years ago Jane Austen observed : “It is a truth universally acknowledged, that a single man in possession of a good fortune, must be in want of a wife.” As a writer Jane Austen saw and recorded many human foibles but this quote from Pride and Prejudice is the one most often
WALKIN’ THE MALL
On average Hilo gets 126.72 inches of rain annually. It’s not all hard rain, but I’m a ‘fair-weather’ walker. I don’t even like drizzles. So for me when it rains, Liliuokalani Park isn’t an attractive place to walk. Unless of course, I’m already there when the skies open up. Once I’m wet, I’m wet. But,
Travel Light
I have a research trip to Scotland coming up this summer, and have vaguely started thinking about what to pack. My desire to travel light seldom happens, because I’m usually going to places with opposite climates or have a gamut of activities from research jeans wear to elegant evenings. But this trip the possibility of
RHODODENDRONS BLOOM IN THE SPRING — Tra-La
I spent a few days in Seattle last week. To my delight, flowering rhododendrons reminded me of the best part of a Seattle spring. The season is all too short — delightful blossoms replaced by green foliage by summer. But while they bloom, rhododendrons are nothing short of spectacular. As I strolled through a
SURMOUNTING “THE WALL”
How often has this happened to you? You’re concentrating on a task … or thinking about concentrating on a task, and suddenly you realize you’ve been asleep. If you were in the act of writing at the time, there’s a wiggly line slithering off the edge of the page. Not only are the notes
Liliuokalani Gardens: An Oasis in Time
Twice a week I treat myself to a morning walk around the perimeter of Liliuokalani Gardens, one of Hilo’s best known landmarks. On a perfect morning, the combination of morning sun, glittering sea, and the emerald lawn of the Japanese Garden are the perfect renewal for body, mind and spirit. Liliuokalani Gardens sit on 30
Koa Cat’s Illustrious Ancestors
This is Koa Cat in her younger days and she’s about to get her 10 minutes of fame, because Koa provided today’s inspiration. Tuesday morning I was sitting in my garden while talking to my daughter via cell phone. Koa Cat was trotting around doing cat-like activities. Suddenly there was a distinct thump and Koa
“Spring-Clean” is a Verb
Until today, I didn’t know “spring-clean” is a verb. So the ladies in our featured image may not be sweeping the floor. They could be spring-cleaning it. If so, I’m sure they’ll remember to clean their brooms afterwards. When used as a noun, a spring clean is a thorough cleaning of a house, often undertaken