tomstraw

Snapped this on the WGA picket line outside CBS TV City in 2007. Phil Rosenthal, Jesse Jackson, Steve Skrovan, Patricia Heaton, Ray Romano. RIP, Reverend. You put pep in our step that day.

Monday morning, and I've got all my ducks on a floe.

Shelby Foote said he wrote his Civil War trilogy with a dip pen because it made him write at the speed of his thoughts. Your essay resonated greatly, RJ. Love my tech, but always begin my work with fountain pen and ink. On deadline, I resort to the keyboard, but miss the flow of brain, hand, paper.

Almost paella. Waiting for the clams to open.

Assembling authentic ingredients for Valentine’s Night paella.

RIP Lamonte McLemore (center) who has departed this dimension at age 90 leaving us a legacy of great music and insightful, uplifting photography. A true talent.

I fell you pain.

I would only require a moist toilette for my fingers.

BOTD, Abraham Lincoln. Photographic proof who was the most transparent president in our history.

The paradox of chaos and authoritarianism. Which, I guess, does not mean authority.

If you'd like to see the video of my podcast discussing THE ACCIDENTAL JOE with the great Jeffrey James Higgins, I see there's a YouTube link. Click below.

Jeffrey James Higgins is a retired supervisory special agent who chased terrorists across 5 continents. Bagging me for his Elaine's Literary Salon podcast to talk about THE ACCIDENTAL JOE was a piece of cake. Jeff's a brilliant author and lively interviewer. We had a blast. Podcast link below.

Hands-on research today at the Culinary Institute of America. Knife skills, flavor profiles, and soup making. Great class, great instructor, Chef Aaron Foglietta. He never once said, "No soup for you!"

Starting my mission at the Culinary Institute of America. The other CIA.

Jeff Bezos, who started Amazon by selling books from his rented garage, just shuttered the Washington Post Book Department, thereby closing the book on his legacy.

Curse you, Mr. Groundhog!

Weekend reading.

John, she was a wonder.

And warm, and kind, and generous of spirit.

I met Catherine to talk her into a comedy demo I was directing. I had no budget for actors and was nervous. She loved the concept. I said, "About money." She said, "I don't care as long as it's favored nations." "Done," I said. "Because you'd all be getting nothing." She aughed and said, "I'm in!"

YouTube video by The Beatles Stuff Rooftop Concert - The Beatles

OTD 1969.

It is a writer’s daily search if you’re doing it right. Doing fine, thanks. Hope the same for you.

I salute your brave ad-lib.

With your daring pen and ink swap, laughing in the face of conventions. My kind of rogue, Serg!

You rogue!

The sun today is brilliant but offers no warmth.
How many people like that have you endured in life?

Federal agent secured gun from Minn. man before fatal shooting, videos show A Post analysis of videos sheds light on the encounter that left 37-year-old Alex Pretti dead.

We have met the enemy and he is ICE.

Assignment: 18 inches of chilling powder.
Bring it.
Some spies are meant to be out in the cold.