Author Archives: sheilawill

De-stigmatizing mental illness

Posted on December 6, 2010 by sheilawill

I used to be afraid of going crazy. There’s serious mental illness in my family, which I won’t discuss because I can only out myself. I’ve lived through the Women’s Movement, the Civil Rights Movement, and now the Gay/Lesbian/Bisexual/Transgender Revolution. … Continue reading →

Posted in Mental illness/civil rights | Tagged , , , | 3 Comments

March brings the Tucson Festival of Books

Posted on December 1, 2010 by sheilawill

It’s been unseasonably winterly in Tucson. Three nights in a row that temperatures have plunged to below 30 degrees! Pastel sheets and pillowcases are spread over my plants. Car windshields had to be scraped by early risers. There were many … Continue reading →

Posted in Tucson Festival of Books/good books | Tagged , , , , | 2 Comments

“Great House”

Posted on November 29, 2010 by sheilawill

I didn’t get it. I read “Great House” by Nicole Krauss in a day, hoping the disparate parts would come together in the end but it didn’t happen. At least not for me. So I went to the reviews expounding … Continue reading →

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My post-Thanksgiving thoughts (rant?)

Posted on November 26, 2010 by sheilawill

Who would have thunk it? One of the highlights of Thanksgiving was having breakfast at Joe’s Pancake House. The Greek omelet was exceptionally tasty — stuffed with pieces of gyro meat and kalamata olives — but Joe himself was a … Continue reading →

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Journalism is not a hobby — damn right

Posted on November 24, 2010 by sheilawill

How outrageous, how contemptuous, how idiotic is Sarah Palin? Really. “As for doing an interview, though, with a reporter [Katie Couric] who already has such a bias against whatever it is that I would come out and say? Why waste … Continue reading →

Posted in Journalism/Writing | Tagged , | 1 Comment

Sheila talks about writing

Posted on November 23, 2010 by sheilawill

I’m no Stephen King, nor do I want to be, but his “On Writing: A Memoir of the Craft” is worth reading. It’s a generous work, published the year after King was nearly killed walking down a Maine country road, … Continue reading →

Posted in Journalism/Writing | Tagged , , | 4 Comments

Tour de tour

Posted on November 21, 2010 by sheilawill

Today was El Tour de Tucson, a giant bicycle race that raises funds for non-profit charitable agencies. Around 9,000 folks cycle all over the city, 109 miles in one race, a bunch more go for 66 miles, and some head … Continue reading →

Posted in Bopping Around Tucson | Tagged , , | 2 Comments

Bran Donuts

Posted on November 20, 2010 by sheilawill

That’s how Rachel McAdams, playing morning-everything-TV show producer Becky Fuller, portrays combining news and entertainment in the cute new movie “Morning Glory,” which we saw tonight. McAdams is like a buzz saw in the lead role, with an always terrific … Continue reading →

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Hippening Up History

Posted on November 19, 2010 by sheilawill

History is a big topic for me: I’ve taught it, lived it, written about it, and pondered its future. I’ve also jetted around the country presenting workshops for teachers, “Connecting History: Their Lives, Our Lives.” No one is objective; it’s … Continue reading →

Posted in For Love of History | Tagged , , , , | 2 Comments

Hoofer, father

Posted on November 15, 2010 by sheilawill

That’s how Savion Glover describes himself in the UApresents program. I’d call him the most creative, stupendous tap dancer ever. His body resonates music — there’s no need of instruments. “Bare Soundz,” his latest show, performed last night with Marshall … Continue reading →

Posted in Bopping Around Tucson | Tagged , , , | 2 Comments