Writer
Finding Myself Here — Dennett
Featured Writer at Flint & Steel
How did you discover Medium and how long have you been writing here?
I’ve been here since the mind-boggling, soul-sapping 2016 presidential election. And, honestly, I have no idea how I discovered Medium. I remember nothing about that introduction. I blame my memory loss on presidential depression! All I recall is setting up my profile a couple of weeks after the election.
What are you reading, listening to and/or watching these days?
Of course, I’m always reading on Medium! But, on my bedside table is “The Library at Night” by Alberto Manguel. Its bookmark indicates I’m about 1/4 into the book. I’m loving it so far. Next to that book are the not-yet-started “The Wild Silence” by Raynor Winn and “White Spines — Confessions of a Book Collector” by Nicholas Royle.
I should point out two things here. First, I recently discovered the British bookseller, Blackwell’s, where I can often find books cheaper than on Amazon (and the prices include shipping to the USA) and where I can find the Brit Lit that I love so much. After discovering Medium, my book reading diminished. Last year, I realized I missed books and made a point to reincorporated books into my daily habits. I’ve been averaging two a month since then.
Second, I listen to Audible books when I walk and recently finished “Browsings” by Michael Dirda, a collection of essays about his literary life. That book spurred my interest in reading more from book collectors and book reviewers, leading me to “The Library at Night” and “White Spines”.
On Audible, I’m now listening to the totally delightful book, “Lillian Boxfish Takes a Walk” by Kathleen Rooney.
I also regularly listen to Mayim Bialik’s (Yes, Amy Farrah Fowler from “The Big Bang Theory” TV show) podcast and YouTube channel, “Mayim Bialik’s Breakdown”, which features different guests each week discussing, among other things, mental health. Did you know that Bialik is a neuroscientist as well as an actress and game show host?
As for watching, there are a few network comedy shows I enjoy — “Young Sheldon”, “Call Me Kat” (starring the aforementioned Mayim Bialik), and “Pivoting”. And, on Netflix, “Grace & Frankie” and on Amazon Prime, “The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel”. Also, I’ve been following “I am Jazz” on TLC since its inseption. And, I always look forward to new seasons of “Finding Your Roots” with Henry Louis Gates, Jr. on PBS and “Home Town” on HGTV. But, my TV obsession at this moment is baking competition shows!
What is around you while you write? Describe the places you like to write, using all the senses.
90% of the time, I’m sitting in my swivel-rocker in our living room typing on my Acer Spin laptop. Sometimes, a cat sits next to me. I can see out our patio doors into our backyard that slopes down to Unicorn Lake.
(The photo above is of me in my chair. I’m not writing and it was, in fact, storming that day. Our dog Syau rarely sits with me but did that afternoon because of the booming thunder. This is where I do most of my writing. And, you can also see the patio doors that lead to our porch. Beyond that is our small patio and a wooded path to the Unicorn Lake.)
Often, Captain Argentina is watching TV. Fortunately, I am able to tune out sounds as I write. And, having such an amazing view of nature from my chair helps.
When I’m doing my last writing of the day, usually around 8 pm, Ben is washing dishes and cleaning the kitchen while music plays from his computer, which sits on a small desk between our dining room and living room.
I have two desks, one in our spare bedroom and another in the primary bedroom, but I rarely use those for writing.
Before semi-retiring, I would grab moments at work to write. My coffee and lunch breaks were writing breaks. I would tune out all the superfluous noise and type like crazy for 10 or 15 minutes.
What is your guilty pleasure(s)? (Binge watching something, reading, baking cakes, what do you do for yourself?)
I would never consider reading “a guilty pleasure” because everyone should be doing it. Reading keeps your brain nimble.
I don’t binge-watch, per se, but I do have a current obsession for baking competition shows, and I enjoy watching several HGTV home renovation shows. My favorite is “Home Town” and I’ve been known to watch episodes multiple times!
After being sick last year and needing to take control of my diet due to food allergies, IBS, and colitis, I started baking, an activity I used to do with my grandchildren and hadn’t done since they moved away in 2018. I began by viewing baking as a necessity for my health but now, it’s a passion. I bake from scratch at least three times a week and recently purchased a bread-making machine.
And, I enjoy gardening, which is definitely done in binge-worthy blocks of time! Here in Florida, you have to quickly grab the cool, springtime days before the heat of summer sets in. During the steamy summers, gardening can only be tolerated in tiny packages of time. Late fall delivers a few cool, but not cold, days that allow a marathon of preparing-for-winter gardening.
What must be in your fridge (and/or cupboards) at all times?
Coffee, almond milk, eggs, rice, Morningstar Tofu Crumbles, Gardein Seven Grain Crispy Tenders, gluten-free flour, sugar, spices, and Glucerna and graham crackers (for Captain Argentina).
Interesting fact, Captain Argentina creates his own coffee blends, using as many as eight different coffees from different countries and with different flavors/strengths. His coffee blends are delicious!
If you could travel anywhere right now where would you go? (in the perfect bubble where money, covid, and the world is not an issue)
Two of our favorite places: Mount Dora near Orlando and Manhattan. We haven’t been to Mount Dora since 2020 and our last trip to Manhattan was in 2018.
Tell us about one of your Medium articles that you loved writing, that you are the most proud about?
On February 1, 2017, I wrote a tribute to my mother-in-law who passed on the same date the year before. She was one of the most giving and loving people I’ve ever known. I took a great deal of time writing this piece but I was new to Medium at the time and it didn’t get a lot of attention. Still, I am more proud of it than any of my other offerings here on Medium.
Tell us about your favorite Medium writers, ones you read on a regular basis.
Oh, there are so many! To limit the list, I will name those that I subscribe to so I never miss what they write:
Jack Herlocker / Louise Peacock / Louise Foerster / Ann Litts / Suzanne V. Tanner / Remington Write / Jenine Bsharah Baines / Anne Bonfert / Ronald C. Flores-Gunkle / Erik Smith / Tracy Aston / Lucy Dan 蛋小姐 (she/her/她) / Ellie Jacobson / Penny Grubb / Susan Alison
And your favorite Medium publications to write for and why?
Well, of course, my own publications of Weeds & Wildflowers and In My Life. Also, Snapshots for which I am an editor. The others vary from time to time — I may submit several pieces to one in a month and then, not again for several months. But, right now, I am mostly contributing to Wildlife Trekker, Scrittura, The Brain is a Noodle, Flint & Steel, Reciprocal, and Six Word Photo Story. The list could be different next month!
Where else can we find you outside of Medium?
Nowhere, really. I left Facebook in 2016, then created a new account in 2017, and left again in 2019. Don’t plan on going back. I’ve never done Twitter or Instagram and certainly haven’t Tikked or Tokked! I find that most social media sites are trite, manipulative, and annoying. I have more important things to do with my time.
I recently joined Goodreads and hope to be active there in the future. I’m also on The Garden of Neuro but haven’t had time to get very involved with that site.
Honestly, I am perfectly happy with Medium as my only online social platform. Why would I need anything else?
© Dennett 2022
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Thank you, Ellie Jacobson, for giving me this opportunity to be a feature writer on Flint & Steel!
