More pics from the motherland
Just some African wildlife
Chapter 6: Reunions
Next installment of “For Tomorrow”. Back to the present time, picking up where Chapter 4 left off. Remember to read the previous chapters 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5.
DISCLAIMER: This is a work of fiction. All characters are products of the author’s imagination. Any resemblance to actual people, alive or dead, is purely coincidental.
“Hello?”
“Jake?”
“Yeah, this is Jake, who is this?”
“Hey bwana, it’s Mike. Habari ya siku nyingi?” (How have you been for so long?) Continue reading “Chapter 6: Reunions”
The Hummingbird
I dreamed that a hummingbird landed on my outstretched finger. It wasn’t afraid, but I was. Not afraid of it, but afraid for it. It was too delicate. I felt it had entrusted me with its well-being, that I was now responsible for its safety. I felt that any involuntary twitch might startle it into flight, tiny wings buzzing, tiny heart racing. It sat there weightless and unmoving, its tiny beak like a hypodermic needle, tongue like a thread darting out, tasting the salt of my skin. I froze, unwilling to even breathe lest I disturb my new found friend.
Friday Music: Random Shuffle
New approach to selecting songs this week. I hit shuffle on my iPod and I’m posting the first 10 songs that it picked. If this were a radio station it would be the most eclectic station in the world. Without further ado, here they are: Continue reading “Friday Music: Random Shuffle”
Chapter 5: Waves
In this installment we flashback to see Jake and Wakesho in happier times in Kenya. Remember to read the previous chapters 1, 2, 3, and 4. Oh, and in case you were wondering, for the non-Swahili speakers, Wakesho is pronounced “wah-KAY-show.”
DISCLAIMER: This is a work of fiction. All characters are products of the author’s imagination. Any resemblance to actual people, alive or dead, is purely coincidental.
“Let’s go to the Seychelles for our honeymoon.” Wakesho had been flipping through a travel brochure, and now pointed to a picture of a white sandy beach and an impossibly blue ocean.
“Babe, I’ve been living on the beach for the past two years, I could use a change of scenery. Why not someplace like Cape Town? We could do a winery tour and go hiking in the mountains. Or what about Morocco? I’ve always wanted to see the Atlas Mountains.” Continue reading “Chapter 5: Waves”
Saturday’s Music
It totally slipped my mind to do a Friday music post yesterday, I guess I was preoccupied with doing absolutely nothing to acknowledge Halloween, in my Scrooge-like way. I went as far as to unscrew the light bulb from our automatic porch light to dissuade any would-be trick-or-treaters from knocking. Bah humbug. America’s too fat for candy, anyway. Continue reading “Saturday’s Music”
Book Review: The Girl Who Saved the King of Sweden
New feature here at Upscale Shack. Occasionally we’re going to review books. It’s rare that I select a book based on a written review. Often, when I do read a book review, it’s after I’ve already read the book, usually to see if other readers have come away with the same impression I have, or if I missed some vital bit of information that someone else picked up. I’m going to strive to keep these reviews short and simple, to not be tempted to divulge spoilers and plot details in the vein of a 5th grade book report, but to hopefully offer something more substantial than the one-line reviews so often offered by the philistine trolls on Amazon. You’ve seen them: “Reading is hard. This book sucks, bro. This writer is lame.” Continue reading “Book Review: The Girl Who Saved the King of Sweden”
Autumn Birdsong
My forested suburban backyard is abuzz on this autumnal morning with the soundtrack of life. The deejay is the Northern Mockingbird, who has worked all summer long on his repertoire, sampling the songs of everyone else, keeping the bits he likes, rearranging them, altering the pitch and tempo. Continue reading “Autumn Birdsong”
Musical Friday: Featured Artist
Time again for another musical Friday post. This week I’m mixing it up a little and instead of selecting a musical melange, I’m going to take a more in depth look at a single artist. This week’s featured artist is Grant Lee Phillips, both his solo work and the work of his band, Grant Lee Buffalo. In my opinion GLB and Grant Lee Phillips are among the most underrated artists of my generation and will hopefully someday receive the recognition they deserve. Amazingly talented, with songs of incredible depth and substance, each one of which reaches out and grabs you and demands your attention. Continue reading “Musical Friday: Featured Artist”
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