Photo by Devin Leary
Photo by Devin Leary
Photo by Devin Leary
Photo by Devin Leary
Ann Leary, author of The Good House
Author of The Good House
The Nutcracker
December 24, 2011 by 7 Comments
I meant to do a new Christmas video this year. Maybe today, between trips to Target and Stew Leonard’s, I’ll have time to make one. In the meantime, please enjoy The Nutcracker Sweeties:
Merry #*&^ing Christmas
December 24, 2011 by 17 Comments
Imagine this woman in a messy kitchen with no cameras and you’ll have a pretty good idea of what I’m like when it comes to wrapping presents:
Holiday Happenings
December 22, 2011 by 21 Comments
Last Sunday, I was at Housing Works Bookshop in Soho, taking part in the annual “What the Dickens” marathon reading of A Christmas Carol. Many authors and performers were there, each reading a portion of the wonderful classic. I loved the part I read; it was the part about the visit to the merry Fezziwigs and the dancing and gaity there. Who else read? Scott Adsit from 30 Rock, Ira Glass from This American Life, Susan Minot, my friends Julie Klam, Emma Straub and many others. And our own Arliss Paddock was there with Bruce and their lovely daughter Madeleine. Arliss and Bruce were kind enough to take the photos on this page.
Mice, Hags, Dogs and Books
December 15, 2011 by 25 Comments
I would like to issue this public service announcement. NEVER put poison down for the mice. We usually set traps but have had such a huge problem this year that we stupidly put bait in the cellar. Poisoned bait. Now our house smells like it’s filled with rotting cadavers. In fact, it is filled with tiny rotten cadavers, all inside the walls. I know that’s no excuse for not having blogged as much as I’d like, but, despite having to gag every time I enter our house, I’ve also been on a great writing jag with the book, madly preparing for the holidays and having a BLAST with Hash Hags these past few weeks.
It’s War!
December 7, 2011 by 63 Comments
Recent events including, but not limited to, the repeated sighting of our enemy in the occupied zone have forced me to reissue the following declaration. My apologies to the oldies (but goodies) who saw this post a few years ago, in its original form.
For more than a decade, the Learys have pursued patient and honorable efforts to defend ourselves against our enemies – The Mice – without war. In those years we have used various nonviolent efforts to reinforce our boundaries, while sending clear and indisputable signals that we will not tolerate their threats of invasion. These efforts have included completely reinforcing our basement walls and packing steel wool into every hole we could find, no matter how small. These nonviolent efforts to disable the rodent forces have failed again and again. Why? Because we are not dealing with a peaceful, law-abiding species. We are dealing with vermin.
The Language of Dreams, Etc.
December 5, 2011 by 9 Comments
I recently came across this fascinating interview with Jungian analyst Marion Woodman while doing some research for my book. It’s 25 minutes long, and if you have time, I urge you to watch it. It’s about the language of dreams, the calling of the unconscious, which our ego often subjugates, and the universal craving for ecstatic experiences which so often manifests itself in addictive behaviors. She discusses the way we tend to reject our earthy natures, how we tune out the rhythms of our own bodies. How important it is to embrace both the light and dark sides of our nature, because when we reject the dark side without examining it, it manifests itself in not just ourselves but in our culture. How her background as a teacher of poetry and drama was the perfect preparation for her practice as a Jungian analyst because of the importance of imagery and its meaning to each of us. So fascinating. Hope you enjoy it.
Utmost Integrity and Just SO Effing Hot
December 2, 2011 by 42 Comments
Last night, Denis had the great honor of hosting the annual Navy SEAL Foundation dinner. The Navy SEAL Foundation provides assistance to families of Navy SEALS who have been injured or killed in the line of duty and last night there were 1600 people at the dinner, which raised a tidy sum for the foundation.
How much?
I’m afraid that’s classified.
