Punching Bag

Perhaps you remember the post I wrote about Rex Ogle’s memoir Free Lunch. That book centered on the year Rex was in 6th grade and detailed the physical, verbal and emotional abuse he suffered while living as a child with his mother, stepfather and younger brother. While I’ve never been physically abused, the book landed … Continue reading Punching Bag

Keeping it together as the Beatles fall apart 

I’ve been binging on Peter Jackson’s documentary series, Get Back, about the Beatles and it really couldn’t have come at a better time. It’s the kind of show, in my opinion, that doesn’t require acute attention and that’s kind of where I am at present. The project most certainly was a labor of love for … Continue reading Keeping it together as the Beatles fall apart 

10 great things I did this past weekend in upstate New York.

Friday night I went to the beautiful Argus Hotel for an event. It was a cocktail party fundraiser for Historic Albany and the space was absolutely gorgeous. I didn’t take full advantage of the venue and explore the guest rooms, but I did take a few moments to imagine how civilized it would be to sit … Continue reading 10 great things I did this past weekend in upstate New York.

Wine me a river – The Peripheral Wine Fest in Hudson

You know how sometimes you imagine how something is going to be and it ends up being totally different in reality? I’m not speaking in code, here, either. This is not about romance or relationships. What I’m trying to say is more like, you picture one thing and from the moment you arrive there are … Continue reading Wine me a river – The Peripheral Wine Fest in Hudson

October CivMix recap

I try to publish a post weekly over at CivMix.com. Sometimes, I’m even successful in meeting that goal. This month, I managed to push out 3 pieces and, in typical Silvia fashion, they are pretty disparate in terms of topics. Subjects discussed include drinking, drugs and donuts. Hope you enjoy them. 3 Orchards, 0 Apples … Continue reading October CivMix recap

I dream of words

The other night when I woke up for my usual nocturnal visit to the bathroom, I opened my eyes with an unusual dream fresh in my memory. It was odd because my mind wasn’t filled with images or sounds or sensations from the dream I had been having, it was only occupied by words, and … Continue reading I dream of words

Rex Ogle is my spirit animal

When I first encountered the book Free Lunch, I never imagined the slim volume relating the author’s experiences as a sixth grade student in Texas would revive so many of my own elementary feelings, if not experiences. In the work, published in 2019 and awarded the ALA Excellence in Young Adult Nonfiction medal, Ogle shares … Continue reading Rex Ogle is my spirit animal