Last week, I was in the suburban kitchen of one of my closest friends.  It was a catch-up day, which we hadn’t done in forever.
We had just picked up her 3 ½ -year-old, Daniel, from pre school and were preparing lunch for us and snacks for him.  While we chatted near the kitchen sink, Daniel [...]

Last night, as I left PS1, where I saw the intriguing Jonathan Horowitz show, And/Or,  and Leandro Erlich’s Swimming Pool, I was struck by the beauty of the lines of the walls constructed around PS1’s perimeter, angular and clean, with brick and bright graffiti building tops peaking over the wall from across the street.  I [...]

While music is essential to any road trip, there are certain songs that fall into the category of perfect driving songs.  Long drives on country roads, shiny blue skies, wide open spaces, oceans or mountain or rolling hill views.  Ideally, heading to the beach or the country. Today, while driving back from upstate, Synchronicity II [...]

Looking through some older poetry as I choose songs for recording this summer, I am seeing where I was:
Stroll on Egg Shells
By J. Diels
c. 2004
Strolling on egg shells
Knowing any moment it can all go to hell
So we dance any way to skirt the issue
Push an envelope thin as tissue
Guessing at every word, every step
Lest it [...]

‘Tis the season for this flower that I find glorious and poetically intoxicating.  I treated myself to a pot of white ones and it is so sweet and delicious. Easter, Passover, pure Spring anticipation! 

As I’ve shared in previous posts, I am fascinated about how people get where they are in the world.  Sometimes it is just a calling.
This morning, I paid a visit to Girl in Rome’s blog and read her post about this week being her one year anniversary to giving up her life and career as [...]

Last weekend, in a vintage shop in Saugerties, I modeled a 1940s hat for Marina, and said, “I wish I could wear these out but I’m too shy.”  I actually collect them because I love them and like myself in them but they sit in a hatbox in my closet on a shelf.  She was [...]

PERIPHERY
I tried too hard so it all fell to pieces
Scratching and clawing
No room left for breathing
One track mind
Turned a blind eye to answers on breezes
Blowing right by
but I could not see
So focused was I on the struggle before me
I lost sight of all the options in the periphery
Find my options in the periphery
by J. Diels [...]