Blog

My Path to Becoming a Freelance Writer

freelance writer
I became a freelance writer in 2009. A year earlier my husband and I moved to Puerto Rico (from California) to buy an organic farm. We'd been working for Amgen (the world's largest biotech), had a house in the suburbs, two cars, two cats and two motorcycles. Despite all of the trappings of middle class,…
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WWII Vets and PTSD

I recently wrote an article for Big Buds Magazine about veterans and medical marijuana. I interviewed two vets and their wives about cannabis and their experiences in the armed forces. As they recounted their experiences, I was reminded of my own father. [caption id="attachment_2332" align="aligncenter" width="1275"] WWII vet George Orick[/caption] When he turned 19, my…
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10 Years in Puerto Rico

In November 2007, Paul and I made the decision to give up on corporate America, leave Southern California and buy a farm in Puerto Rico. I'll never forget the time and place we made the decision. (Although we're both from the East Coast—Paul is from Washington, D.C. and I was raised in New York City—we…
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Naomi Osaka is Both Haitian and Japanese

Naomi Osaka
Ever since the three controversial calls in the U.S. Open by Carlos Ramos that cost Serene a Grand Slam, apart from whether the calls were justified (I do not believe they were justified) Naomi Osaka's racial and ethnic heritage have continually been called into question. Cosmopolitan ran an article by Jasmine Ting with the title…
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Nike is Having a Banner Week

Nike
I'm not brand loyal. Nike doesn't fit me well—especially their sneakers. I have Freddy Flintstone feet, so I wear Asics. However, this goes beyond whose apparel you and I like the best: Nike, Puma, Asics, Adidas, Levis, Teva, etc.  It's about speaking out and having a voice, and being supported by those who got your back…
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Sarah’s Tips for Preparedness: Minimizing the Impact of a Natural Disaster

Sarahs Tips for Preparedness
Both before and in the aftermath of Hurricane Maria (September 20, 2017), whether in person or online, I have been involved in hundreds of discussions about preparedness. For those of us who've been through a natural disaster, we know being prepared was / is the difference between having one be an inconvenience or catastrophic. Obviously…
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Uses of Comparatives and Superlatives: One Cute, The Others Not So Much

comparatives and superlatives
The following is the first thought that came to mind after I read The 53 most stunning lines from Donald Trump's 'Fox & Friends' interview, an analysis from CNN's Chris Cillizza.  What it reminded me of were the comparatives and superlatives lesson in my 7th grade English class. Damn that was a long time ago! The…
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Self-Absorbed or Inability to See an Invisible Disability

[caption id="attachment_2154" align="alignleft" width="810"] Carmen Cruz after her humiliating experience. She managed to leave with her head held high in spite of it.[/caption]                     I know it's been a while since I've posted. I've actually had a lot to say but had to limit my time…
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Color Struck

[caption id="attachment_8512" align="aligncenter" width="960"] Paul and me in St. Thomas, April 2017. Photo credit: Toes in the Sand Photography[/caption] (more…)
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