Drawing Dinosaurs

Posted by smgrady on October 9, 2014 · Leave a Comment 

In the first weeks of kindergarten I thought I’d died and gone to heaven. Everyday I got to go out on my own to a place full of other kids and play and read and learn stuff. ALL MORNING. All the best things in life were crammed into that room. We had a proper playhouse, … Continue reading →

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A sense of seasons

Posted by smgrady on October 8, 2014 · Leave a Comment 

The crisp-apple air of autumn has begun blustering about. Tiny cold and warm fronts battle in eddies above my tea mug; on the window sill; at my upper lip. The invisible becomes tangible in this shifting season, and as the birds rang in the dawn an epiphany woke within me. Autumn will forever be scented. … Continue reading →

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#MakingTime (Days 4-22…)

Posted by smgrady on September 22, 2014 · Leave a Comment 

I’m taking on Do What You Love‘s 31-day experiment #MakingTime. Each day in September we’ll carve out an increasing number of minutes (one minute on Day 1, two minutes on Day 2…) to make time for the here and now and the big picture stuff that gets shoved under the sofa most nights. I’m going … Continue reading →

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#MakingTime: Day 3

Posted by smgrady on September 3, 2014 · 4 Comments 

Today’s assignment was to read something outside my comfort zone. I love reading articles and ideas from all sorts of people, and social and cultural commentary are one my secret loves. I am glad to be alive today (not exclusively) because the advent of internet periodicals feeds an heretofore unmet need in my word-hungers. Beyond … Continue reading →

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The Return

Posted by smgrady on November 6, 2013 · Leave a Comment 

I thought a break from writing would help me better process the crazy changes in store this autumn and leave space for my private life to flourish, but it seems I was wrong. Writing is, by its essence, an act of processing. To put new things into words requires attentive thought unlike any other I … Continue reading →

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The woes of the privileged

Posted by smgrady on July 31, 2013 · 3 Comments 

Once upon a time I wrote a story. It got published in an anthology. (I was pretty excited.) Now my publisher wants to print a limited edition novella of my story. Not the whole anthology, just my story. On its own. My name on the front cover. So far, this is all rather fairy-tale-ish. And … Continue reading →

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Poetry Season

Posted by smgrady on April 12, 2013 · 1 Comment 

In America and Canada it is National Poetry Month. And in that lovely, internet-erly world of camaraderie and social campaigning, it is also National Poetry Writing Month, or NaPoWriMo to the nerds among you (e.g., me). Some members of my family are taking the expedition to heart, and it’s filled my world with lots of … Continue reading →

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Travel Tuesday: Chicago

Posted by smgrady on April 9, 2013 · 1 Comment 

Travel Tuesdays : where I can look back fondly at wonderful places, people and journeys while we prepare for the exciting adventure ahead… Chicago, like most urban centres, can be carved up into smaller pieces: neighbourhoods, districts, regions, each defined by some homogeneity be it geographical, cultural, or  historical. In some ways the city can … Continue reading →

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