‘paradise is a state of mind.’
-dolly parton
lake superior – way U.P. in michigan
summer 2025
Sep13
Monthly Archives: September 2025
Sep12
another adventure.
another adventure begins today
wifi – iffy
I’ll be in and out of touch
tales forthcoming
some sooner
some later.
—
‘one way to get the most out of life is to look upon it as an adventure.’
-william feather, american publisher and writer
—
image credit: pinterest
Sep11
unexpected situations can be avoided.
Icelandic Writers Union sent its members an email about this Artists Residency in an uninhabited island in Åland. There is no running water, no electricity, and apparently another issue. But they promise that “as long as you are aware of this, unexpected situations can be avoided”
Källskär Artist in Residence
Källskär was the residence of free lord Göran Åkerhielm in the years 1958-1983. Åkerhielm transferred his part of the island to the government of Åland in 1984.
On Källskär there is a log house designed by architect Reima Pietilä and a magnificent garden surrounded by stone walls created by hand, as well as some smaller cabins at the harbor on the south side of the island.
One of the cabins in the southern port of Källskär is today used as an artist in residence and is administered by the Åland Cultural Delegation.
The artist in residence is primarily given to performing artists and cultural workers in all art areas and journalists who in their creation can be expected to have a special benefit from the environment the facilities offer, but who also can offer Åland new experiences and inspiration in the cultural field. A residence is usually granted 1 or 2 weeks during the period end of May-September.
The cabin of about 30 square meters holds two beds, has a gas stove and refrigerator but no electricity. Here you live according to motto simplicity. With the help of solar panels you can charge mobile phones and laptops, and can connect to the network via a telephone modem. There is also a fixed telephone connection in the residence.
The artist must bring linen and towels and food for the stay. Food can be purchased on the main Kökar island or in Mariehamn. The supervisor arranges for water in the residence.
Theres is no indoor toilet but an outhouse. The dishes are done outdoors at the sink located on the back wall of the residence. If necessary, there are three extra beds in the small boathouse next door.
There is a small fee that each residence guest must pay in advance to cover the costs of gas and waste disposal. You also pay an extra fee for accompanying family member.The artist pays for the travels to and from the residence.
There are quite a lot of snakes on Källskär but if you move carefully and on the walking paths and as long as you are aware of this, unexpected situations can be avoided.
question: what might those unexpected situations be?
asking for a friend.
noooooo…
—
‘if you do not expect the unexpected, you will not find it,
for it is not to be reached by search or trail”
.- Heraclitus, ancient Greek philosopher
Sep10
crime school.
in 2011, a man in a Gumby suit attempted to rob a 7-Eleven store but became nervous and escaped with only some loose change. Initially, the clerk thought the man was joking, but when the robber announced he had a gun and began fumbling with his Gumby suit, he changed his mind. When the robber’s accomplice in a car outside honked the horn, the suspect fled, dropping his take of 27 cents on the floor. (San Diego Police Department )
TWELVE THINGS I LEARNED AT CRIMECON
All cults share some common characteristics, including the CAT DOOMSDAY CULT where people were led to believe that cats (where you had to have at least 30 cats in your house, among other things), were your avenue to the afterlife.
Five motivated moms were capable of solving a complex case involving their daughters that the police did not even believe was a case.
Body language is a dead giveaway when trying to detect if someone is lying. (now that i’ve seen examples and an analysis of them, I’ll seem even more guilty when innocent as I’ll be trying to outthink what I should or should not be doing with my actions and will appear more suspicious and self-conscious.)
Transitions are the time when you are most vulnerable, in a parking lot, going from place to place, car to inside, etc. carrying things, 8 grocery bags, phone, coffee, small child, busy, thinking about what’s next,… best time to be aware and focused. also in remote spaces when alone. after learning about how to best avoid unsafe situations, realizing I’ve done all of the unsafe things numerous times and feeling glad to be here to attend this session.
There are still lots of missing people out there, and seeing a large board with pictures and names of people up there, to get as much exposure as possible to people from all over the country, sobering to see how many are still lost.
If parents are searching for a baby taken in the past they are now sometimes able to find them using technology that can use their baby picture to recreate what they would like at their current age, and vice versa if an adult finds out they were taken as a baby and wants to find their real family, by using the tech to use their adult picture to go back in time to what they might have looked like as a baby.
Always, always, always trust your instincts and heed the red flags. did I say always?
Criminals most always think they can get away with their crime.
Many law enforcement and legal system presenters spoke of the toll their job took on their personal lives and their mental and emotional health. pushing for more support in the future for themselves and others in the field. some spoke of importance of having friends and interests both inside, to talk to about the job, and outside of the field, to talk about anything else, to find a balance.
Hearing cases discussed that I remember from years ago, filled in a lot of blanks, what was real, what was not, what happened behind the scenes, and justice was not always served.
Lots of people came to crimecon for different reasons and they were interesting, sincere, eccentric, and bright. I enjoyed talking to them all and there was truly never a dull moment.
My last seminar called ‘is there a serial killer among us?’ made me look around at the people sitting in the room with me, and I’m quite sure they were doing the same.
—
‘the most difficult crime to track is the one which is purposeless.’
-arthur conan doyle
*Arthur Conan Doyle, Scottish writer best known for his creation of the detective Sherlock Holmes, one of the most vivid and enduring characters in English.
Sep9
finale.
in a wonderful wrap up to the Crimecon conference
who should pick me up at my hotel
but blogger writer/poet friend
Sarah Russell
https://sarahrussellpoetry.net
who I had never met in person before
but felt like I’ve known forever
from reading and commenting back and forth
over the years
sarah and her husband roy
created a lovely zen garden waterfall dinner and dessert
and wine and good company evening for me,
complete with chauffeur service
wonderful all around.
then of course
in the very early morning hours after
at the airport
that darn coffee place
still could not quite
make out who I was
and I knew i was home.
—
‘curtain! fast music! light! ready for the last finale! great! the show looks good, the show looks good!’
-florenz ziegfeld
*Florenz Edward Ziegfeld Jr. was an American Broadway impresario, notable for his series of theatrical revues, the Ziegfeld Follies, inspired by the Folies Bergère of Paris.
Sep8
‘nobody ever commits a crime without doing something stupid.’ oscar wilde.
Shroyer’s defense for robbing a bank – “The cat made me do it.”
He was apprehended a little later when he lost control of the car he was driving and was hit by pursuing law enforcement. Shroyer told police that the cat told him to do all of those things. Shroyer received jail time and the cat did not receive a sentence.
—
Crimecon is over
whirlwind of stories, knowledge, people
sharing the best, the worst
mysteries solved, puzzles remain
some lost, some gained.
—
‘i’ve learned so much from you. part of it is admittedly criminal behavior.’
-enid
Sep7
missing person.
in between crimecon sessions
one option is to run outside
to a variety of food trucks
to grab a quick bite to eat
but alas
it’s not so quick this time
after waiting such a long, long time
someone from the chili con quesadilla truck
finally pops out with a food order
calling out ‘Debra! Debra! Debra!’
but Debra! does not answer
there is no Debra!
she tries again
and again.
a few people
both male and female
offer up themselves as Debra!
they are hungry
tired of waiting
the chili truck woman
knows they are not Debra!
will not give them Debra’s! food
she calls out Debra!
yet again.
being at a crime convention
I casually mention
to my new crime friends in line
it seems odd
that someone who wait in line for so very long
would just walk away
right when her food was finally ready
without her food
now I’m suspicious
has Debra! gone missing?
why has Debra! gone missing?
where is Debra?
has something happened to Debra!?
now the whole line is asking
where is Debra!?
now the whole line is calling
Debra! Debra! Debra!
—
‘i went to the missing persons bureau but no one was there.’
-george carlin
Sep6
a revolutionary act.
after a busy day
packed full of crim-ing,
this message,
from someone teaching
about keeping oneself safe,
stuck with me.
—
‘trust your instinct to the the end, though you can render no reason.’
-ralph waldo emerson
Sep5
street food.
sometimes, local street food is the best thing ever,
i’m here for the spaghetti.
‘street food i believe, is the salvation of the human race.’
-anthony bourdain
*anthony bourdain, (1956-2018), was a gifted chef, storyteller and writer who took TV viewers around the world to explore culture, cuisine and the human condition for nearly two decades,
Sep4
shhh…i’m solving a crime in my head.
I’ve always been a fan of crime (not as a criminal), was part of The Four Crows, my childhood neighborhood detective club, looked forward to each new Nancy Drew book, read Agatha Christie as I got older, then moved on to the true crime writers, listened to crime podcasters, watched documentaries and films, and took a community class with my county sheriffs.
Tomorrow, I’m off to the world’s largest true crime conference, CrimeCon, in Denver, Colorado and it’s sure to be a crazy mash up of presenters and attendees. I have no desire to be part of an actual crime or work in law enforcement, but as a person who loves puzzles, I’m always trying to seek the solutions, and figure our how and why the criminals chose to commit these crimes, thinking they can get away with them. I’m especially fascinated by heists for some reason, because they are usually quite brazen and bold and they really take some detailed planning. It’s sure to be interesting…
—
‘he who does not prevent a crime when he can, encourages it.’
-seneca
*Lucius Annaeus Seneca the Younger, usually known as Seneca, was a Stoic philosopher of Ancient Rome, a statesman, a dramatist, and in one work, a satirist, from the post-Augustan age of Latin literature.
art credit: Gary Larson, The Far Side
I didn't have my glasses on.... 