Sharry Miller

Summer Reading

Over at Goodreads this year, I set myself a goal of reading 60 books during 2013. So far, I've read 54, and am ahead of schedule for meeting my goal. No great surprise there. If you have a Goodreads account, too, "friend" me - I'd love to see what you're reading. My to-read list gets longer every day. Andi Cumbo (internet friend, writer, editor, and writing teacher) hosted a Super Summer Reading Program this year.... Read more →

Alaska Botanical Garden

Nestled between Benny Benson School and Campbell Creek, Alaska Botanical Garden volunteers have carved out cultivated oases in the midst of a boreal birch forest. Despite the herb beds, perennial planters, and native offerings, I thought the gardens would have been more aptly named Alaska Amanita Gardens this fall. Amanita muscaria specimens were growing everywhere. I finally had to put my camera in my pocket and force myself to stop taking pictures of them. I... Read more →

Lookin' for Friends in All the Wrong Places

(My apologies to Waylon Jennings for bastardizing his lyrics, but this post title was just too right not to use.) Overlooking beautiful Prince William Sound I'm sure I'm not the only one who sees familiar faces in crowds of strangers or in places where people I know would not be. The more exotic the location, the harder I search for something familiar, something to make the situation more normal. A few days ago, I was... Read more →

Power of Imagination

They're coming to take me away...away...away.... Oh, wait, no, that's paranoia, not imagination, although I suspect the two may be closely related. Imagination is a wonderful and terrible thing. It can soar us to the heights of wonderment or plunge us into the depths of terror. Certainly the ability to be entertained by books and movies depends on our capacities to suspend disbelief and use our imaginations, to fall into strange new worlds and live,... Read more →

Passions

I remember it so well. The surge of adrenaline that doesn't fade until after you collapse into bed. The excitement that spikes and spikes again higher. The pure joy of being surrounded by friends who all share your passion, and who, just for a night or two, are all riding the same high you are. You're all manic and silly and loud and alive! I feel the rush again as I watch my daughter ride... Read more →

Happy Right Here

The words repeated like a mantra in my head: Ollantaytambo, Huayna Picchu, Salcantay, Machu Picchu. I said them silently, carefully forming the words in my head, seeing them written in the space behind my eyes, correcting my unspoken pronunciation. I imagined the thrill of seeing these places in person. I lost myself in an imagined future in Peru. I was pedaling hard, enjoying the headwind for the challenge it presented, the opportunity to improve my... Read more →

Sea Turtle Arts Classes

I'm putting the word out through whatever means I can: my Sharry Miller and Sea Turtle Arts Facebook page (search for it and like me, please!), my STA e-mail list (let me know if you want to be added to it), and now here. I need your help! After taking the last year off from offering classes, I want to get started again, but I want to be sure I'm offering classes you want to... Read more →

I Am Woman; See Me Repair!

F2, SUD - codes to make a woman's blood run cold. I had no idea what they meant, but my washing machine kept flashing them at me just as it quit spinning and draining right after the wash cycle, but before the rinse. Thank the gods for the internet! I did a search for the two codes in conjunction with my machine, a Whirlpool Duet HT. A handy YouTube video indicated what the problem might... Read more →

Building Self-Esteem

"You're going to write a blog post about this now, aren't you?" It was really more of a statement than a question, and she said it with an assumption of rightness rather than resignation. Rowan simply assumed that her attending the local TBA theater camp for the sixth year was important enough that I had to write about it. I just smiled and gave some noncommittal answer. The conversation made me think, however. Rowan's assumption... Read more →

A Little More Summer

I am unwillingly acknowledging that Alaska's summer will be soon waning (I just can't bring myself to say ending), and I find myself wanting to share as much color as I can before the blue-white sets in. Enjoy. Read more →