Power Plants, Power Trips, and the Powers That Be

Published on: August 31, 2013 by Missy O'Brien 4 Comments

More than two years after the nuclear disaster at Fukushima Daiichi, Japan has finally admitted what local fishermen, independent investigators, and everyone else on the planet (save perhaps our friends at FOX news) already knew: hundreds of tons of heavily contaminated radioactive ground water continue to flow daily into the Pacific Ocean. The extent of […]

Burning Issues: Goat Shit, Cheetos, and Chemical Weaponry

Published on: August 25, 2013August 25, 2013 by Missy O'Brien 6 Comments

“Is it safe?” asks Brand New Husband. I have just driven the car up through the middle of a rocky Vermont cow pasture and have come to an abrupt halt beside a ramshackle hovel. We have traveled an hour and a half from the nearest major airport. I have told him we’re taking the back […]

Oh Death, Where Is Thy Dance Card?

Published on: August 16, 2013August 16, 2013 by Missy O'Brien 3 Comments

For most women, a poignant moment in their wedding is the traditional father-daughter dance. Or so I hear. I’ve also heard that there are in fact people out there who don’t live and breathe Guilt, who don’t lie awake at night running through a rosary of remembered Mea Culpas and who don’t wake up every morning […]

A Dearth of Mirth

Published on: August 14, 2013August 15, 2013 by Missy O'Brien 3 Comments

“You really need to make time for some MIRTH,” says Husband, helpfully. “Oh?” I say, in full attack mode. “And just what is that supposed to mean? You find me uptight and humorless and dour, lately? You think I’m dying by grumpy degrees for want of a creative outlet? You’re suggesting that I need to […]

My Kingdom for an Outlet

Published on: July 23, 2013July 23, 2013 by Missy O'Brien 6 Comments

MIRTH has been on vacation. It wasn’t a mirthless one, mind you; I went back east to spend a few weeks with my fine fun family. Urging me years ago to start writing, my mother said, “I know you’re just waiting until we’re all dead so you can tell the truth about us.” Not so! […]