Ten Things I’ve Learned About the Art of Blogging

My one month NaBloPoMo exploration of the art of blogging draws to a close this very day. I had several interesting Q&A sessions, explored some of my own sojourns to the local arts scene and been a bit more pensive than usual. My project was slightly derailed when I learned that my dog has a […]

Artistic Q&A: Chelle Stein on the Art of Creativity

Chelle Stein

As part my NaBloPoMo examination of art and blogging, I asked a few folks to consider some of the same questions I’m pondering. Today, we are chatting with Chelle Stein.   I “met” Chelle on Facebook via a group for bloggers. I had a terrible wordpress fail which I shared with the group. Chelle graciously […]

When UPMC and Highmark Work Together: Saving the Life of a Newborn Baby

I was so saddened to learn that a neighbor of mine from the Northside was killed in a terrible car accident Wednesday evening. Her name was Jodie Guthrie and while I did not know her, I am a regular customer at the Rite-Aid where she was killed. She lived near my neighborhood. Jodie was pregnant, […]

Leftover Pet Photos

Pet Portrait

Sometimes the best part of a pet group portrait is the various blooper shots. My crew never lets me down when it comes to looking the other direction or sticking out their tongues.        

My Elf On The Shelf And The Legend of Belsnickel

Elf on the Shelf is creepy. The face, the disproportionate limbs, the mythology dating back to the mid-1990s – it is all creepy, commercialized and secularized. Obviously, it is destined for greatness. The history of Christmas as a holiday and tradition is rife with cultural appropriation, secularization and lots of red-n-green washing. Trees became mainstream […]

12 Lesbian Thanksgivings

This year, Ledcat and I will celebrate our 12th Thanksgiving as a couple. Our plans include dinner with our family of choice (aka The Sarahs and their 2 kids) who are vegetarian but prepare turkey breast for us. I’m pretty sure we’ll be schooled in a video game by the 8 year old and get […]

What Does It Mean to Amplify?

How To Be An Ally

The word amplify has been rolling around my brain for months now. I’ve been following two distinct, but interconnected threads on social media about the need for allies to amplify the voices of people of color and transgender people – in lieu of speaking for them. And let me be very clear here – these […]

The Risks of Moving Beyond the Blog

This past weekend, I was part of a panel discussion about the #ArtisticVisionPgh project. The audience was small, but asked terrific questions. I think it went well. Video will be available in a few months. This panel also marked my unofficial entry into the world of blogger artist in residence. To be honest, that’s a […]

Giveaway: Mary J. Blige Album The London Sessions

Enter to win The London Sessions from Mary J. Blige! THE LONDON SESSIONS the new album from global superstar MARY J. BLIGE Featuring the hit single “Therapy” and groundbreaking collaborations with UK talent including Sam Smith, Disclosure, Naughty Boy and more! Available December 2: http://smarturl.it/TheLondonSessions Follow Mary J. Blige on social media http://www.maryjblige.com http://facebook.com/maryjblige http://twitter.com/maryjblige […]

Artistic Q&A: Vannevar Bush on The Art of Urban Observation

As part my NaBloPoMo examination of art and blogging, I asked a few folks to consider some of the same questions I’m pondering. Today, I’m sharing the responses from local blogger Vannevar Bush.   I first met Vannevar via Facebook when I posted about my fear of cycling in an urban environment. That conversation led […]