Writing and Reading

A Searching Look

July 14, 2016

“You look like you’re doing long term research.”

I do? And what might that look be? … More A Searching Look

The Fellowship of the 10%

July 5, 2016

If money was not a consideration and you could do anything with your life, what would you do? … More The Fellowship of the 10%

In my September post titled ‘A Peek Under the Bandage‘, I mentioned an interview I did about writing and my novel-in-progress. It is now live and I welcome you to view it above and share your thoughts belowbelow. The interview is part of a series called Pre-Authorized, a unique initiative of Toronto writer and editor Erika Westman. … More Inside the Vase

A Peek Under the Bandage

September 26, 2015

Yesterday I did a recorded interview about writing in general, my own writing specifically, and the novel I have had in progress for the past four years. The video should go online here in about a month. Until then, I can pretend it never happened. I can pretend that the cat is still in the … More A Peek Under the Bandage

Silence of the Sheep

January 7, 2015

Around holidays, sheep are like to the streets of Addis as tinsel to a fir tree. Being in the city during Ethiopian Christmas for the first time since ’91, I have watched with practically new fascination and from the safety of my car and predator status as, throughout the city, said sheep are singled out … More Silence of the Sheep

bayte-what?

August 11, 2014

Sew le sew, the longest-running drama series in the history of Ethiopian Television I’m told, is over. I’m sad but I’m also glad. It had pretty much taken over my life. In true soap opera style, a plot line that could be resolved in ten minutes stretches out over many episodes, conversations that could be … More bayte-what?

The Black Hole: Or Top Ten Posts That Never Were But One Day Might Be

May 15, 2014

When Chris Rock does his stand-up, there’s often a part where, after he makes a statement that gets the audience rolling, he goes ‘Yeah I said it! I said it. I fucking said it.’ This feels like one of those moments. Except I’m not Chris Rock so whatever I have to say is not funny and … More The Black Hole: Or Top Ten Posts That Never Were But One Day Might Be

Happy SSDD

January 6, 2014

So, tomorrow is January 7 and if you know that it’s supposed to be Christmas and you’ve already got the doro wot simmering on the stove, then yaaay good for you, but if you’re so lapsed that tomorrow is going to be just another Same Shit Different Day kinda day for you, then this little thing I … More Happy SSDD

Code Error

December 2, 2013

Somewhere in Addis there is a house as old as me. All I ever had to do with regards to it was just live in there, stay cute, and be on my best behaviour, sorta like this: Until recently, that is. Decades since I last set foot in the yard, I was tasked with getting … More Code Error

The Elevation

September 8, 2013

Well here I am somewhere in the mountains of Banff. It’s taken a long time to get here. Literally: (eternity on the TTC: 7 mins bus from my front door to Warden station, 1.5 hrs from Warden subway station to Kipling subway station, 30min bus ride to Terminal 1 at Pearson, approx. 10 min wandering around trying … More The Elevation