Articles by Sand Pilarski

News

San Francisco's spring flowers

Touring San Francisco on your own

K9 units compete in Manteca

Part one of a three part series on dining and vacationing in Santa Cruz, California.

Part two of a three part series on dining and vacationing in the idyllic coastal town of Santa Cruz.

Part three of a three part series on dining and vacationing in Santa Cruz, California.

Chris Baty, founder of NaNoWriMo, throws a TGIO party in San Francisco every year, and guess who he actually knows exist?

Winter storms have been chilling the West Coast. Intrepid reporter Sand makes sure the wines and appetizers are weathering the winter okay.

Second weekend in March -- time for the Camellia Show!

Goodness, it's hard to believe that the Managing Editor used to be that much younger...!

Comics

Cartoon art a la Kliban

Forget about Burt's Bees. It's Bert's cockroaches you need to worry about.

Dog collars generally don't count when the invitation reads "Black tie only."

Howard Hughes: Aviator, movie producer, billionaire, turned scary old guy. Still has a way with the women, though.

Vintage Fever Dreams! Edwin slips a few last-minute gifts into his mother-in-law's carry-on to ensure a memorable flight.

Maybe Reading Rainbows should not include "Fear of Flying."

An inexplicable paranormal phenomenon made Mr. Smith's secretary disrespect him.

Behind the scenes at the Percy Platypus Puppet Place, the infamous dictator makes a decision to improve TV ratings...

Jeb and Marv find a solution to the age-old question of, "Is it dead, or is it just playing dead?"

It was only when he began to invite his friends that Babs minded her cat watching her take a bath.

Fashion fantasies versus the grim realities...

The number one reason to never flush small reptiles into the sewer.

Mysteries of the deep.

Midway through the Jones contract, did a bee fly into Ms. Barnes' blouse, or did she simply decide to seek employment elsewhere? We report, you decide.

Little Red Riding Hood hires Nunzio to be her new best friend.

Playing Dungeoness and Dragons.

The origins of war.

Mr. Smith should have known better than to get his secretary the good paper shredder.

Casual Fridays in the Antarctic.

Why kangaroos should never wear garter belts.

Kitty learns not to play in the fish tank.

Elves only get the week after Christmas off for vacation.

The Man in the Moon and Raiders receiver Randy Moss gets a message.

The only reason crocodiles buy vegetables.

Some appliances speak the secret language of animals.

A zebra's question ruins a beautiful friendship.

Billy Bob done saved us all!

Another fashion statement. Don't they look in a mirror?

Even the captain of the Nautilus had days where he muttered to himself, "Stupid squid."

Playing dead won't get you out of housework.

Commemorating the inventor of product warning labels.

The Future of Medical Help

A serious case of ponies envy...

The last not-so-funny joke by the royal sculptor Dumbhotep

The day indoor plumbing became cost effective.

Combatting the Rising Costs of Medical Care

Unmarketable Toys

Normally, Little Red Riding Hood knew better than to check the mail before breakfast.

Trapped in a relationship...

When unicorns quit smoking ...

The problem with teenage girl mummies ...

Flamingos with nothing better to do.

On impulse, Rhonda decides to spend the extra fifty and have the hairdresser kacked

Summer in the Jungle

Flying Fish

An injudicious mouse about to find the answer to his question...

Vintage Fever Dreams! It was an exceptionally hot summer in Pillsbury, and the doughboy went bad.

What suicide bombers don't seem to understand

It's no different in the insect world...

Bethie has no idea how to solve her ant problem.

Our image of the week - a photo of fortnight lilies.

Wrong time to lift the camera ...

The mathematics of cat ownership!

Oil painting, portrait of Babe and Howie

Junk Dogs of Two Types...

A red dragonfly visits the garden

Some studies show that thought processes differentiate between males and females at an early age.

Now we know why the rent was so cheap!

The tragic delusions of small appliances

How your cat sees you.

Mabel was naive enough to believe that Zeke would never change.

Lucy has found the best beach in the entire world.

Despite their dismal record, ticket sales at Oakland remained brisk.

A disguise that almost worked ...

Stunning intricacy of an anemone.

There's a new girl in town, and she's turning heads at the Monster Party!

Sure, they call him the "King of the Jungle" but you know his secret ...

Of course she's a real psychic...

The "Angel Trumpet" flower emits a strong fragrance -- but only between dusk and dawn.

Monarch butterflies cling to a eucalyptus branch at Natural Bridges State Park, California.

At dinner, Herbert realized his wife was right -- Junior did marry a pig.

Each year, Marge decorated with her favorite symbols of the Christmas season.

Sometimes you just have to call 'em as you see 'em.

Rattlesnake Christmas

Kwanzaa celebrates the richness of Pan-African family, community, and culture. Digital photograph of an oil painting (1985) by Sand Pilarski.

After the holiday dinner, Madge is unfortunately reminded of the old adage, "You are what you eat."

On New Year's Eve, it's easy to make all kinds of resolutions. Two days later, though, it's much easier to take a nap.

A memory of summer's warmth reflected in the colors of a turk's cap lily.

Although she knew it was wrong, Mr. Smith's secretary still often fantasized about him.

Bad backyard birding tips: Mr. Smedley has found a way to attract the elusive ferruginous hawk to his yard.

Shoes for pinheads, 2006

Mrs. Gott trudged to fill her bird feeder every winter day, accompanied by her faithful kitty.

The worst question you can hear from your sweetie ...

Although she told co-workers it was just a minor case of spontaneous human combustion, Zelda finally had to admit she wore too much perfume.

The futility of gang warfare.

Prozac laundry day.

Why do sandhill cranes dance?

Another unexpectedly successful experiment in the search for clean energy.

An April Fools' Day joke about to go very wrong ...

Horace the Fly grew spider plants just for the ego trip.

Passing thoughts -- insights or insults?

Pterodactyl Poetry.

Aarrr ... can't ye tell it be Monday? (Originally appeared 2005-09-19)

Harold decided to do what his wife told him and take out the trash. (Originally appeared 2006-01-09)

An aerial view of a "big" showdown. An obese woman is surprised by a cat.

Despite assertiveness training, Hans the Rug could not keep people from walking all over him.

A woman must dress in a professional manner to succeed in business.

Kickoff of the summer games, and the little guys are winning.

George Washington, the graffiti series: Angry George!

Despite many years of responsible wage earning, Gerald got no respect.

George Washington, the graffiti series: Goofy George!

During Summer, Mort regretted being a ninja.

Thoughts of the mysterious praying mantis revealed!

George Washington, the graffiti series! This week, Worried George.

A child with an unspent dollar bill and a big imagination can find someone to talk to -- maybe even the Big Guy himself.

Different styles, different opinions. Do you like what you see in the mirror?

George Washington knows that in matters of love, men must stick together. No matter what happens.

Deer in the headlights moment vs. Skunk in the headlights moment.

"Make the most you can of the Indian Hemp seed and sow it everywhere." Yes, George Washington really said that. Maybe he wouldn't approve of how we view hemp nowadays.

Never rush the artist.

Some men don't look good in certain beards. George receives one that he finds unflattering.

Fashion design meets public safety.

George was around in the Sixties, wasn't he? There were a lot of fans of cannabis then, but they didn't call it hemp any more ...

Don't let appearances fool you -- they're tougher than you think.

It's always tough to wrap around all those Monday morning workloads.

At times, you can be assured, George Washington is a master of disguise ...

"Hell hath no fury like a woman scorned," they say. Especially a woman with a pen.

Pink is the new black?

Uncompleted graffiti provides inspiration for a working student of the arts.

How flies seem in August.

Ohhh, Incognito George!

Maybe a reading rainbow ought not to include "Fear of Flying."

Playing with the colors of a dragonfly is fun!

George, sometimes you should know when to keep your advice to yourself.

The early beginnings of the hard core women's liberation movement.

At the restaurant with the woman who wears too much perfume.

Ooh - la - la, George!

A double red hibiscus catches the afternoon sun.

He who does not read comic books is condemned to be in one...

How toad phobias get started

Ahoy, maties, there be a great Captain on board!

Fever Dreams Classic Captain Nemo

Sometimes people can't even see what's in front of their faces.

The Woman Who Wears Too Much Perfume will live a long life.

The heart of a rose

Mondays in Cartoon Land

According to folklore...

Prime time TV Land...

That sweater appeared out of the darkness...

Due to unexpected injury, the left hand of the artist submits a guest cartoon

Fall color in California -- Gaillardia

What better way to start the year than with a cute puppy?

Sun warms a winter lemon.

Why divas always perform with arms upraised.

One last snort...

A valentine for an unseasonably warm day.

Almond Blossoms in Ripon, California

How love happens...

The woman who thinks she's better than anyone else gets a visit from the mirror fairy.

Mixed messages at the dinner table.

Before there were teeth-whitening strips, there was ...

Nerdak picks the wrong end for first contact. (Originally appeared 11-28-2005)

Tiger Swallowtail in Spring

A view of the intricate cluster of blossoms on a palm tree.

A young kildeer photographed while following his parent along the sidewalk.

A stormy summer Wyoming evening sky.

Billy knew his life had changed when his oatmeal became sentient.

Rain on the droughty Pennsylvania roadways

Careers in advertising for today's youth.

Morning light catches elderberry blossoms.

Hot air blloon on a summer morning.

A flamingo feeds at the Sacramento Zoo.

A mockingbird peers in a studio window.

Along Interstate 80 between Rawlins, Wyoming and Salt Lake City, Utah, amazing rock structures stand in the desert.

A Christmas Goldfinch

Brilliant colors adorn an ornamental pear leaf.

The toad appears again, usurping the place of the groundhog in announcing the coming of spring.

Droplets of water ornament a fern pine.

Cherry blossoms in California.

Ducks on Sunday afternoons.

Alstromeria in the garden look as though they were lit from within.

There was a reason that the Munchkins were so fond of Glinda ...

Why some countries serve fried cat.

A California poppy closes its petals at sundown.

A dragonfly rests, poised above the shell of her immature phase.

Closeup of a clarkia blossom.

Hot air balloonists test the propane burner in the darkness before dawn.

A morning glory in the evening sunlight.

Sunset illuminates a breadfruit leaf.

Finches feed hungrily in the winter in the Central Valley of California.

An unexpected treat from the heavens -- hail in Central California.

Almond blossoms take center stage in Ripon, California.

Painted ladies on photinia blossoms.

A novel in progress.

An unusual dragonfly visits the yard.

Macro of moss on a springtime log.

Almond blossom time in the Central Valley of California.

Freesias in first bloom in spring.

Killdeer eggs in an open nest.

Tadpoles dine on spinach leaves in a small aquarium.

Petroglyphs in Petrified Forest National Park, Arizona.

A visiting moth gives the photographer the chance to see its fur.

Bracken on a dried bank has a beauty in its form.

A wooly bear caterpillar predicts a normal-to-mild winter for Pennsylvania.

Flames of a fall campfire.

Reflections after a winter rain.

Study of sunlight and shadow.

Almond blossoms in Ripon, California, USA, 2011 crop.

Birdwatching surprise!

Ants help pollinate a lemon blossom in the Central Valley, California, USA.

Dietes bloom in morning light.

Artichoke blossom, close up!

A dragonfly suns himself in summer morning light.

Nandina berries drip after a winter rain.

The sweet spring blossom of a snow pea, a promise of winter's end.

A California poppy furls its petals at sundown.

Who likes peppers? Observe the classic charm of the leaf-cutter bee.

Behold the destructive power of this garden monster!

A red dragonfly sparkles in the evening light.

Back yard tightrope walker!

The marks of time tell a story of meatloaf, cakes, and a beloved kitchen utensil ...

A close look at the weathered bark of a eucalyptus tree.

A western scrub jay stops by to share breakfast.

Winter color in California's Central Valley -- cedar waxwings.

It's that time again in the Central Valley of California: almond bloom!

Droplets turn to gems in the morning light on a nasturtium leaf.

Was it the source of his inspiration? Did he run out of ideas? Or was he just trying to demonstrate that some people will buy anything? (Originally appeared 2004-03-27.)

Spring's promise of fruit to come.

And what's the first thing you'd like to see in the morning?

Late-season ferns at Del Valle Recreational Area near Livermore, CA, USA.

Close up photograph of a deceased tiger swallowtail butterfly.

Amazing to be on the scene, to hear the "boom" that signalled the winner of the 2013 Louis Vuitton Cup on the San Francisco Bay!

A sailboat sweeps beneath the Bay Bridge on San Francisco Bay.

Autumn, and another beautiful sky.

Golden hibiscus lights up the shadows.

A young tourist in San Francisco, California, USA.

At the late night laundry scene...

A Spring portrait of welcome guests.

Just when you thought you were safe...

Maurice liked to throw pieces of fish to his wife's cat.

Short

An Aser short story: a darker tale of dreams and symbolism

A science-fiction short story. A symbiotic relationship, an eternal love.

A fire sweeps along the grasslands, bringing destruction. Nature gives and nature takes away.

Moms used to shop while dads played a quick game or two at Bill Harry's grocery store and bowling alley. A little bit of everyone's lives changed the night it burnt down.

A planetoid comes on an irrevocable path of collision. Where will you go when the world ends?

Judging from the looks of things, Danner really must take a long look at her apprenticeship to the wizard Cloudraft... and whatever else is going on in his castle laboratory.

Gotta keep movin' when you're on the road...

Another of the Memoirs of Edgar Macassar

An Aser story about foreign customs, forebearance, and fabrications.

Time for a letter home to let the relatives know everyone is still more or less alive.

From the Memoirs of Edgar McCassar. Uncle Edgar remembers the most exciting Triple Crown of his life, when Secretariat won the hearts of horse lovers everywhere.

It's the story of a murder story, gruesome, sordid and inexplicably based in Des Moines. Again. An entry in the "Write Fiction Like Cheryl" contest, wherein the goal was to write a tale like assistant editor Cheryl Haimann would if Cheryl ever wrote fiction. Which she doesn't. And after reading this selection, we may just know why.

Amada's stories of her father made the winter's cold more painful. But Spring is coming, and with it, a new bloom.

Dorothy Hall found three more children to add to her family. The only problem with that is that they're in the garage, and have been dead for ten years. At Christmastime, even ghostly kids could use a mother who cares about them ...

Uncle Edgar was watching the evening weather with me the other day, and told me not to worry so much about the freakish unseasonable rains we've seen this Spring. "You want weather to worry about? I'll tell you what kind of weather you'd need to worry about!"

The "Calcutta Sly" was known in every port from Amsterdam to Mombasa by her distinctive flag and powerful sails, and no finer ship ever rode the indigo swells or carried a finer crew.

The hopseed bush can be grown into a nice tree, and adds color and texture to warm-climate gardens.

Writing a novel in 30 days? That's insane. The voices inside you head are all to glad to tell you what a thankless, silly challenge NaNoWriMo is.

What was the strange bush in the back yard when I was a child? The leaves were soft, it had no thorns, and in the summer I'd find grape-sized berries as white as snow ...

How can I tell if I have a big ass? The first of the Aser stories.

The prospect of writing stories that could be seen publicly might scare the bejabbers out of you. The only solution? A pen name.

Why on earth would you ask a hedge shaman for recipes?Ya think she's Betty Crocker or something?

A cold and dreary day dawned, with only laundry and the sound of her own footsteps to keep her company. No wonder Sarah was ready to fall in love.

Aser and her Twosday night beer are interrupted by a lizardman. A lizardman with love on his mind ...

Sometimes having the right answer doesn't help at all when you weren't supposed to actually respond the question.

Explanation of the difficulties we had from February 24th, 2007 to March 9th.

Relationships, undergarments and long-dead lechers mark keep Aser company along the road.

You know, there are things you can say when it's "just family" and then again, there are things you might say that are "just too much."

Illiteracy is a curable ill. Aser encounters a town in which the malady is preferred to the consequences of the cure.

Take a deep breath -- there's something on the breeze. Must be the Twosday Market in Crosspasses.

They're not pets, they're not a different race. You've got to take into consideration their future and what's good for them, or some shaman might have a talk with you.

In the middle of suburbia, a murder-suicide leaves a house haunted by the weeping of a baby, and a garage as cold as a tomb.(Originally appeared 11-07-2005)

What do you do with too much money?

Have you ever wandered around an art show and tried to figure out the rationale of the judges? Have you ever made a work of art so wonderful you were sure you deserved a prize?

He was everywhere; she could not escape him. Then she found her fortune and knew what she had to do. Short fiction based on the Fever Dreams comic.

Aser and Danner manage to unload some cash, score some authentic minestrone, and meet a wizard and a griffin.

Cloudraft the Wizard is eager to begin his vacation -- and my, won't he love to meet new people at the Nudist's Faire. Who knows, maybe he'll meet the broad and greasy sisters Knifeheart, Thiefheart, and Wolfheart ... The Aser Stories 13: The Price of Freedom (2007-05-21) short fiction fantasy

What are you willing to give up in order to do what you want? Will you sacrifice your time? Your morals? Your money?

Ase Ur-Jennan receives a letter asking for help, and remembers an incident in the woods ...

It's the ever-popular question: "Why me?"

Yet another time that a war was begun over a lovely woman ... but this time the war will end with a defeat, even though Bert will call it "a truce."

Fat, dumb and happy? Aser and Danner get it their way, right away, and it ain't over 'til the dwarf in the coconut bra dances the hula...

If you're hot and thirsty, the best thing in the world is a glass of ice water. If you're stranded in the snow, you'd just as soon be having your eyebrows scorched off at the seat next to the fireplace.

Win every bet? Make money hand over fist? Sounds good to some of the Jennan Clan, and they don't want to give up the opportunity, even to the point of war ...

Is it just societal molds and preconceived attitudes that make men and women seem so different? Are we all just pawns of the system?

At family get-togethers, why do relatives pick and snipe when what they really need is to make great harmony together?

She was an expert on office efficiency, but she had one thing more going for her: she was psychic.

Who eats this stuff, anyway?

People will judge you based on what you look like, but they can be very wrong. The truth is found when your actions do the talking.

Hoke the Horrible is hard at work, and Margot the Troll nearly trips over someone who is going to change her life.

If you teach your children how to behave properly, they might not have to face the consequences of having someone else teach them the hard way.

What kind of house suits you?

Why don't littering laws apply to your mailbox?

An Aser story.It's not always wrong to hide your emotions, and sometimes it's even a good idea to let people know when you're upset. However, if your job is to be attentive to patrons, then perhaps personal drama ought to take a back seat to making sure that the people who pay your wages are taken care of ...

Whether one cheats on taxes and gets away with it, or nicks the neighbor's tomatoes in the dead of night when no one sees, the deeds are still wrong, just like the big stuff of robbing and plundering and getting away with it because no one is willing to stop you

A courtroom drama! Which cousin really inherited the mill? Sometimes it's better not to know ...

Some experiments are better left undone. Raccoons are cute, but they lack certain social skills.

Be very, very careful when you listen to someone's tale of woe. Maybe you should even tape your mouth shut.

Rocklift the Mage is using a potentially disastrous tool to make money, not caring what she ruins or hurts along the way. If money is her only measure for good, then nothing Aser can say will convince her that her business plan is a mistake.

For some, pain is their mode of communication and their way of obtaining what they think they need.

Most of the time you're not allowed to cause discomfort or pain to people around you. But there is one nasty, notable exception ...

Bad boys should know better than to mess with the girl whose mother knows the ins and outs of voodoo ...

When you camp for the night, and get ready to have your evening meal, you really ought to make sure you know with whom you're about to share your fire.

Rocklift the Mage is on a mission to make certain that fools who interrupt her cash flow become extinct.

What can you do with the unrepentant and unrelenting Bad Guy? Aser and Danner face the consequences of messing with the malevolent mage Rocklift.

Sometimes you need to ask before you fix a baboon's problems.

"Taking Sides" -- The idea of conflict over the results of weather really annoys a shaman.

Tied to your job and wish you had another?

"And they all lived happily ever after..." Now just how does that work?

Winter needs some kind of break from its cold and dismal days. After weeks and weeks of staring at the cold walls and hearing people cough, a little warm breeze and an unexpected smile can make a young woman's heart remember Spring ...

A golfer gives up his favorite game, Lady Seaguard no longer gossips and complains, and deception is daily routine. What the heck is that all about?

Office politics in action on the trail with an eight-foot troll, a talking dog, and two educated baboons.

Cloudraft the Wizard gets on Aser's last nerve and everyone runs right out of sympathy for his plight.

An Aser story. Drinking extra beer and crying outrage, Aser and Danner show Margot the troll what being a hedge shaman with a mission is all about.

Aser, Danner, and Margot the Troll find a really excellent tavern -- but it has a nasty secret, and not just that a certain bartender has a thing for trolls...

Staying mad at each other is easy until you realize how silly you look doing so. Cloudraft the Wizard and his hot former apprentice let two angry empaths trade insults for them.

An Aser story. A legal question besets the company: is conjuring an object the same as theft? And just to keep things interesting, is "demanding"a tip for delivering a message the same as theft? Do chickens really count as "theft"?

Okay, so maybe blowing up the evil wizard Fellmount's house wasn't the smartest thing Aser and Danner ever did. The clans of Ur suggest they not let the door hit them on the ass on the way out.

The encounter was just chance, but both of them knew that there is a fire that can be sought when one is cold and alone. Sometimes the world seems so cold, and a life can seem like such a lone spark in a vast emptiness, that finding fire is the only solution human eyes can see...

An Aser Story: The evil wizard Fellmount has every intention of tracking down the two shamans who exposed his wicked deeds -- now Aser and Danner have no choice but to pay their respects to certain deceased relatives.

Moonlight, a graveyard, and who can you turn to and call your best pal?

An Aser story. Is there anything sicker than an entire community of mimes? First appeared 2003-11-29

Kids never believe their elders about anything. Is it any wonder we can't stand them?

Part of a shaman's work is to tell how things are with the world of the Unseen. Spooky? Maybe. But sometimes being the Voice of a ghost is pure job satisfaction.

An Aser story. Planners, loggers, coopers, and whores -- this isn't your usual cast for "Singin' in the Rain."

Just what you need when you're feeling left all alone to face the music is one more crabby ghost griping about desertion.

Once again Aser and Danner are snatched from the evil wizard Fellmount's clutches in the nick of time. Whose stupid idea was this anyway?

Still on the run from the treacherous wizard Fellmount, Aser and Danner make a risky side trip to try to find the magical baboons Narsai and Guillaume. How do people get so attached to animals, anyway?

Aser and Danner take one last break among the Ghost-folk and find that fish-breath and spectral lounge-lizards inspire them.

Cornered between the deadly river and the fields of Kaladang the Axe, Aser and Danner get to insult the evil wizard Fellmount one last time.

Recent history gets tweaked as Dan Ur-Jennan relates how she single-handedly defeated the army of Kaladang the Axe. Well, of COURSE there's lots of beer involved!

In the great square of the western plaza in the mountain city of Shaddir, a story-teller gives a history lesson that may or may not be largely hearsay. So what does a crowd want, the McNeil-Lehrer Report?

Well, yeah, we knew what we were doing! Or did we? Good intentions sometimes have to backtrack for practicalities. Oh, and did we mention that wizards are jerks?

You know how they say "The first step's a doozy?" Well it's a piece of cake until you decide to put the next step in front of the first.

Sometimes you start out on the wrong foot, and hope for a way to put things right. And if you can't, you at least hope no one has anything to throw at you.

Aser and Margot are trying to figure out what to do with their tagalong Melody. The only problem is, Melody wants to figure this out for herself.

Set yourself on the auction block. What is it that makes you a marketable item?

No liquor, no elf sex, and no worries. Sometimes you don't need all the extra stuff that complicates your life and gives you stress-wrinkles.

Ask a smartass Ur-Jennan a question and get an involuntary education. Aser expounds on the origin of silk.

Tommy had eyes only for her, a passion, a partner ... a purpose...

A prologue to all the Aser stories. The lands of Ur, the seven Clans, and a creation story about the origins of birds and their gifts.

They told me it was the best thing I could possibly do for myself, and yet it took literally years before I could find the motivation to make the Big Step...

When family members visit, there's bound to be griping, gossip, and conversations about "what-is-your-hand-painted-on-so-you-can't-write-more-often?" But when the family member is also your boss, you know something's up, just like when you smell smoke, you know there's a fire somewhere ...

If you hear it, but don't see it, is it really there? What if it's just too cunning to be caught?

Good table manners aren't just a formality -- bringing uncouth guests to a dinner date really annoys people.

He knew the sound of the doorbell at that same time on certain days -- on the other side of the threshold was that which no man should have to face at the end of a busy day ...

Don't you just hate it when the worker at the next desk flumps down with two boxes of tissues, throat lozenges, cough syrup, a bottle of aspirin, and a sore red nose and says, "Yuck, I can't remember when I've been this sick! I was up all night coughing my guts out!" Ooo, so does Aser.

If your main concern is profits and not the health of your hired help, the neighborhood shaman is probably not the most auspicious person to ask for assistance -- unless you want what is really coming to you.

A ring around the moon is a sign to the weather-wise: a sign that says, "Get your old bones moving and get out while you can." At least that's what Aser is about to find out.

There are lots of tales worth telling, but few worth losing a beer over.

A familiar constellation is slipping away as the Northern Hemisphere oozes into Spring.

Banding together, people can accomplish more than they can on their own. What if a dragon shows up on your doorstep? Who are your allies then?

It's high time for the ghost of Garfer Miller to move on from the planter in front of Aser's door. Unfortunately old Garf isn't looking forward to what waits for him in the next world — or who.

Excitement! Adventure! A glittering creature of myth and legend to travel with! Who could ask for a better vacation than that? Dudalos the Dragon is about to help Aser find out.

A dragon centuries old might impart the Mysteries of the Ages, and traveling with him, Aser might have the adventure of a lifetime. Sure. And Aunt Tilla might have shown up naked for other reasons than bad decisions on her part.

There is a time of year when it's better to hold your tongue unless you want to set out on the road early, hungover, and on the outs with those you love.

The visit was lovely, the company so welcome -- until the snow and ice made visitors into residents. And even suddenly fellow residents are fine -- that is, until the beer runs out.

It's not just the chickens that do it ...

The monster lurked in its cave, waiting for Tristan to turn his back ...

Ted Gnarles made preparations for care for his exotic plants, even though he was 85 years old.

Another trip with Margot the Troll, but this one is starting differently. Looks like Aser did something unexpected, and not at all appreciated ...

If you knew civilization as you know it was about to end, how would you prepare? If the end of civilization took you by surprise, how would you survive? Piker Press staff and contributors hope you enjoy our various stories about post-apocalyptic times.

Suddenly the pieces of an relationship all fall into place ...

The message was clear and frequent -- someone had a greeting for Barney ...

An Aser story. Headed North towards Centaur Country, Aser finds that her companions still wonder what she was up to before their journey began ...

It was about this time of year that Uncle Edgar stopped by with one of the stories that led to the publication of The Memoirs of Edgar McCassar. Maybe Edgar was prone to the sampling of his father's still as a child ...

Part One of Five. The traveling shaman Aser finds more at the edge of field than a good night's sleep...

Part Two of Five. A child, forgotten and alone, yearns for someone to talk with. Does it matter if he's dead?

Part Three of Five. Sometimes a journey goes quicker when there is company -- even if you have to carry him in a sack...

Part four of five. Targold the ghost is about to see something he never imagined in life...

Conclusion. On a whim, Aser decided to carry off the remains of a boy to take care of his ghost. A simple enough task, but one thing makes it difficult...

He was her helpmate, her support, and her secret. And no one knew, especially not the constituents.

What could be more profitable than a catchy line of merchandise and a UFO convention?

All the troubles in the world -- where do they come from, and whom should we blame?

December, 2007. Oh, yes, the year the recession hit home hard...

Nonfiction

Kids, try this at home.

Percy and the Ghost

An Old Dresser for a New Bedroom

How to make a gorgeous outdoor bedroom. Including a 05-08-04 update to the original article.

Spiritual Intervention

When God makes macaroni salad, he uses this recipe

An essay for Memorial Day, recalling a time when all of Mifflintown knew its veterans by name.

Born, died, buried. Now what ghost could be content with that kind of story?

Was it an omen to steer two boys clear of a life of crime, or just an interdimensional rift that made this ghost appear?

The first thing you think when you see Babe is "BIG" and the second thing is "TEETH." Really, he's the best sweet honey-bunkums ...

Cover story.

A water lily blooms in a shaded pool.

Light and shadows in the morning sky

A seagull rests in the sunlight at Santa Cruz.

Almond blossoms announce the arrival of Spring in the Central Valley of California

My husband's Polish family gave me the gift of a recipe for golumpki, a cabbage roll that will undoubtedly be served in Heaven.

A nasturtium that survived the winter.

The skeleton of last summer's papyrus and a rainbow combine to bridge the seasons.

Red, white and blue flowers in nasturtium, carnation, and lobelia.

We remember Flanders Field and all the places our servicemen have given their lives to preserve the peace of their citizens.

A choppy San Francisco Bay tosses the sailboat "French Kiss."

A juvenile scrub jay comes back for seconds when the food is peanut butter.

California poppy illuminates the garden.

A white-throated sparrow stops by for the winter in the central valley of California.

Sand recalls a favorite recipe, and a family tradition, from her childhood.

Getting ready for the big game? Just looking for a tasty snack to take the edge off winter? Try some delicious and trouble-free nachos!

A simple soup, easy to prepare and quite delicious, can be made with the greatly overlooked Great Northern beans.

Excess fabric in the closet, too many plastic grocery bags in the world. There's a inspiration there, and a wholesome direction to take. Making your own grocery bags isn't that difficult.

An easy Lenten soup with lots of flavor? Try spinach soup and you'll be ashamed at how delicious a meatless meal can be.

Tecomaria Capensis -- brilliant orange flowers in winter in temperate zones, rich growth -- and about as welcome as ants at a picnic.

Some people are willing to admit addiction to the mundane and wondrously crunchy iceberg lettuce. Sand Pilarski details her habit.

Managing Editor Sand Pilarski shares a favorite barbecue appetizer: bacon-wrapped mushrooms.

The main problem with this recipe for chicken wings is that it's very difficult to make enough of them.

Chicken Cordon Bleu is a rich and delicious entree, and not all that difficult to make, either. Here's how ...

No other sound is like it -- it's not a hiss, it's not like the sound of the wind; though loud, it is nothing like a shout or an explosion. The sound of purposeful flames leaping out to heat the air, to make the air lighter than you ever thought it could be -- that sound is a jubilant roar, the sound of a dragon exulting in power, the power to make people fly ...

There is nothing to compare with pesto made from fresh basil, right out of the garden. This is an easy recipe for a delicious pesto.

It's not about perfection, not even about the finished product; Creativity is never still. A child's sketches have a lot to teach ...

Sand Pilarski shares a savory soup recipe for the last of the leftover turkey.

In winter you treasure the memories of summer past, and the hopes for summer to come...

Tomatoes, cucumbers, crisp white onion -- add juice and seasoning, and presto! a delicious and refreshing cold soup!

Here is a recipe for a very hearty and delicious breakfast or brunch casserole -- and it's easy, too!

A sweet treat to share with family and guests: banana bread.

"What the heck is that?" ask the guests. "It's a pumpkin pie," I tell them. "Just shut up and try a bite. Oh, so now you want the whole pie for yourself? Tough, you're going to have to share!" An heirloom recipe from my father's family brightens our gloomy winter season.

Food of the gods - recipe and history.

Half a century later, a cook learns how to make some of her favorite foods...

Somewhere, out there in the wide world, there was a minestrone just waiting to happen...

Opinion

An essay on the life cycle of the Central Valley almond tree.

November is for taking stock of mortality. A look at death and the cycle of all things.

Sports coverage of the Derby? Where? Where? Noooo, not NBC!

He upset the race in the Kentucky Derby. He won the Preakness by nine lengths. But bad weather and two big colts ended Funny Cide's run for the Triple Crown.

Whether you want them or not, Sand and Bernie give you their opinions on Arnold's new movie Terminator 3: The Rise of the Machines.

Sand and Bernie hit the theater again this weekend, and review Pirates of the Caribbean. Say, sweetheart, who's shivering ye timbers now?

Oh, dear, another day over 100 degrees, and off Sand and Bernie go to the movies again. We love you, Sean, but it's time to put an icepack on your head and cover your ears...

Bernie and Sand sneak off to the movies again, to check out the Triple Crown horseraces' hype of Seabiscuit. Was the little horse really that much of a superstar?

Bernie and Sand slither off to the movies again to see if Tomb Raider 2 is really as bad as some critics have claimed.

How do I love the dry white wine called Pinot Grigio? MMmmm, let me count the ways!

Sand drags Bernie off to the movie theater again. "Look honey, this one has horses and fish and shotguns in it! I call that a Must See!"

We've been wanting to try this restaurant for years. At last we had the time to spare, at the right time of day, and the properly dressy clothes -- time to check out the fabulous One Market Restaurant!

Run for your life! Hold your breath! Get the gas mask! Weapons of Mass Destruction, move over! When perfume allergies can cause you to cough until your throat bleeds, trying to get people to ease off the Eau du Paris is worth raising a stink.

Welcome to the Piker Press, now celebrating our FIFTH anniversary as a weekly ezine dedicated to keeping writers WRITING. Five years go by very quickly, and it was with a good bit of surprise that I realized how far we've come on this merry adventure.

A new feature from the Press: information and maybe a little opinionatin'.

The winds are bringing about a change in the climate of writing ...

The Piker Press Staff considers, remembers, and instructs about salads.

Founded in April of 2002, the Piker Press got its start with a tiny band of writers who, having giddily written their first full-length novels during National Novel Writing Month in November of 2001, found themselves eager to write more, but with no venue willing to take a chance on unknown, unpublished authors. What this has meant is that the Piker Press has had one goal from the very start: encouraging writers to keep on writing.

Managing Editor Sand Pilarski weighs in with an explanation about Mondays.

When your job suddenly ends, or is summarily suspended for an ambiguous length of time, what do you do when the house payments simply can no longer be made?

Things look a little different, and don't seem to work? You call this progress? Well, yes ...

What's coming up in the future? A "Birds" issue?

The latest news from the desktop of the Piker Press.

Yes, it's late, but it's worth waiting for! The Staff of the Piker Press comes through with all kinds of ideas that have just been waiting for the right moment ...

It's almost time for the annual writing challenge, ten thousand words written over Labor Day weekend: 10K For Labor Day!

Upcoming themed issues include October 19: Witches, and January 11: Time Travel.

Sand Pilarski escapes the heat wave the usual way -- to the movies! This time the film is "Surrogates."

If you love to write, then write is what you should do, and stop worrying about whether it will win awards or make you rich.

Welcoming new authors Paula Petruzzi and Effie Collins.

Excuses, excuses. Oh, wait, dog barf?

Notes From the Office 24: Time Travel

With this last issue of March, my mind is already beginning to spin at the thought that the Piker Press is coming up on EIGHT years as a weekly ezine.

What a fine, fat issue for the 8th Anniversary of the Piker Press!

Sand Pilarski reviews Sam Gridley's novel, "The Shame of What We Are."

News, news, news!

Notes in February from the Editor's Desk.

Well, if we told you what was going on, we couldn't say that it was ...

From April of 2002 to the present, each week a new set of wonders appears ... in the pages of the Piker Press.

Yes, we noticed that we were dead in the water for a week! Now we're back ...

A day of suspicion, a day of wariness ... who knows what foul villain is going to trip you up just because it's the first day of the fourth month!

While Bernie gets back in line for more movie popcorn, Sand sneaks in her review of "Captain America: The Winter Soldier."

"Read this book!" A richly told coming of age story set in pre-casino Atlantic City, "Mr. Boardwalk" by Louis Greenstein is a brilliant mix of humor and heart.

Finally the local theater gets around to showing "Birdman," an Acadamy Award Nominee for Best Picture...

How many computers have I used up in the past 13 years?

Charlotte "Muddy" Rewis is getting up there in years, and knows how precious memory -- and life -- are. Her own memories seem more real to her than the world around her in Niles Reddick's book "Drifting Too Far from the Shore."

The Editor doesn't often review books, but a new one by Ralph Bland? The Editor couldn't wait to read it!

Poem

Just when you thought it was safe to get back in the water... From silly limericks to hymns of praise, a collection of poetry dedicated to the fish face phenomenon.

Poem

Poem

Poem

Poem.

Poem

Let's celebrate "Can't stand Tom Cruise Week" with a sonnet from a Piker Geeze! "How do I loathe thee ... ?"

A woman can listen to the flocks of sparrows and understand what they are saying. Is it about the tragedy of global warming? About the pollution of the air?

A ride in the trunk is what this woman needs ... and the secret, savory destination ...

This lover meditates upon the end of All, and the loss of the Beloved. Originally appeared 2006-03-06.

You know them when you see them, and you can never forget how some people have them...

On my doorstep -- So different -- After so many years ...

... She called to them from darkened windows, promising passionate embraces ...

Write a complete story in just under one hundred words ...(Originally appeared 2002-07-05.)

What other hidden food delights did Mom and Dad hide from their daughter's plate?

...What whispers in the dark? stars in the night, white on black ...

An illustrated poetic treatise on politics and the flies of summer.

The value of life, in verse.

The historical chronicling in lighthearted verse of Jimmy the Rat and his run-down motel.

Not only is it April Fools' Day, April is also Poetry Month.

Serial

Solange Ambris fell in love with Mr. Wrong. And oh, now the scumbag has trashed their marriage and disappeared. Sully recalls her life and the healing help of dreams. Book I -- Fish and Froth.

Book One -- Fish and Froth: Musing on her dreams, Sully also ponders whether or not her sister is a little golddigger.

Book I -- Fish and Froth: Sully describes her two greatest passions -- dreaming, and Adam. One has been the best thing to happen in her life, and one -- oh, guess which one -- the worst. Adam is the one nightmare she doesn't want to wake from...

An ocean of overlapping memories with a sky painted with dreams... Sully talks about bathroom dreams, dreams about falling, and falling dreamily in love with the handsome and hormonal Adam.

Meeting Adam was like a dream come true. You know the kind of dreams we're talking about -- the ones you never tell your mother.

Desire, death, and destruction! When you play with fire, expect to get burned. When you play with Adam ...

The heart of the matter: Adam, and Sully's faith. If you leap from the top of a tree, but have true faith, will you fall? What if you're leaping for the most attractive man in the world?

It's Moving Day for Sully, whose memories of how much she loved Adam exist side by side with the sense of loss when he divorced her. New place, new town, new life.

"Mommy, Mommy, last night I dreamed I was the leader of commando assassins!" But wait, isn't that just what a kid needs to get through grade school? And wouldn't it be helpful knowledge to get through some adult days, too?

Sully walks into a bar and sees Adam with a pig under his arm. "Where'd you get the pig?" she asks. And the pig says, "He pulled into town this afternoon..."

Poor suffering Sully gets the chance to wallow in the lap of luxury while she sorts things out -- unaware that what she will learn at the Estate is going to change her perspective on life completely.

Crossing new thresholds, Sully remembers learning that her attraction to Adam was more like an addiction, she admits to a reliance on her religion, and parasails above the Aquaducts of Roth.

Book Two -- Seeking Sanctuary: The death of Sully's father is unexpected, untimely, and leaves the boulders of the mountain grieving along with his family.

Book Two -- Seeking Sanctuary: How the heck did Sully's little sister get away with digging up the back yard when they were kids? Aha, Dad figured out a way ...

Book Two -- Seeking Sanctuary: Bodie and Andersol next door are like Siamese twins -- but joined at the mind, not the body. Sully, curious about allegations of incest goes next door to check it out.

Book Two -- Seeking Sanctuary: Did the lady who leads the singing at church really sound like a three-year-old with fingers up his nose?

Book Two -- Seeking Sanctuary: Sully's mother wants no one's help and no one's sympathy, even in the face of her husband's death. Her life has been steeped in disappointment, leaving her as strong and bitter as coffee brewed far too long.

Book Two -- Seeking Sanctuary: Nightmares by night and by day -- sometimes the only place you can battle feelings of despair is in your dreams.

Book Two -- Seeking Sanctuary: The sorrows of the present have their foundations in the past. Sully recalls her mother's sucesses at bartering garden goods and forgery for hire.

Book Two -- Seeking Sanctuary: Enjoying the security of a dog with Very Big Teeth, Sully once again asks prying questions about romance in the lives of her neighbors.

Book Two -- Seeking Sanctuary: Some dreams don't mean anything; they're just for fun. Sully's subconscious mixes snakes and figure skating, and in waking hours, Sully mixes a little Cheech and Chong with a game of marbles.

Sully flashes back to the kind and easy days of simply indulging in neighborhood gossip, pondering parents and children, and whether Mary LeMay's son is really a major league jackass.

We dream of knowing the future so that we can win the lottery or know which stocks to buy. What if what you saw in the future was a nightmare? There's a flip side to the phrase "a dream come true."

Sully makes a leap of faith and relies on her closest family -- her brother-in-law Charles, who has only the tiniest clue about life without riches. His children have a better grasp on what tears should be for.

Sully's mother has a will of iron. Have you ever heard someone say that they'd rather die than accept help from someone else?

Sully and her sister Jesse start sorting out their feelings about their mother's death, with five children snuggled around them. Sully tells of a dream of seeking fanciful creatures in a barren place; in her dream is she hoping to find some good in the face of loss?

Sleeping in a tent can make you wonder why on earth people ever built houses. Sully finds that camping out with five nieces and nephews under the age of ten can be enough fun to nearly make her forget that she never had any children of her own.

Single and childless. Not what Sully had in mind for the rest of her life when she met Adam. Musing on her attachment to her sister's children, Sully reminisces about coming to terms with Adam's infidelity and her own middle age.

Both parents died. Now the daughters have to go through a houseful of personal effects. Sully doesn't want to face what she'll find out about her mother, and she's not quite sure how to face her sister Jesse, either.

Book Two: Seeking Sanctuary Pity the poor child who thinks she could have prevented her mother's death. Will anything ever expunge that sense of guilt?

Book Two: Seeking Sanctuary A burden of guilt and a sense of isolation put Sully into a sad spiral downward into self-disgust and depression. Where are all her friends now?

Book Two -- Seeking Sanctuary: Bodie and Andersol left suddenly, and have returned in tears. Sully's grief over the deaths of her father and then her mother is heightened by hearing that there are worse ways to become an orphan.

"It was the worst year that we could ever remember," Sully would say in later days. "By the end of the summer we were nearly afraid to let anyone we loved out of our sight." The death of her brother-in-law makes Sully reexamine her own life, and gives her the resolve to lay some ghosts to rest.

Autumn leaves, spring blooms; summer's greens and snow scattered all about -- marble and granite and flagstone: images of remembering the timeless Dead.

Every action that we make contributes to the edifice that we become, like bricks building a foundation or tower. Sully dreams of houses unfinished, and houses with pink walls, and of a heart that has to answer to no one.

Book Three -- Remembering At Last: "I was ready to put up a sign in my front yard," Sully said. "One that said 'No solicitors, and that includes anyone who tries to fix me up with single friends and relatives.'"

In a small town church congregation, you can run but you cannot hide. Sully does not want to meet John. John does not want to meet Sully. Mary LeMay traps them in the church where they have to at least pretend to be nice to each other. Well, mostly.

Bodie and Andersol and Sully join forces to plot a day of total irresponsibility. They're going to shirk work, avoid family, and party till they fall down. Yes, sounds like a plan!

Bodie Talles has arranged a play-day in the city of San Francisco with lots of food, drink, and fun. But is there an ulterior motive, and is that a hint of romance in the air?

"Just what I wanted for the holidays," Sully muttered to herself sarcastically. "A hysterical sister and all five of her kids in trouble. Merry Christmas to all."

After Jesse's five children take on the schoolyard bully and break his nose for him, Jesse has a Christmas gift for Sully -- she gets to pick up the pieces and sort them out. "I don't even worry about it," says Jesse. "Sully just eats that kind of crap right up."

Sully's sister has decided that she loves to visit Sully often -- as long as the next door neighbor hunk is home. "When her husband was alive, I practically played her role as wife. Now that he's gone, I'm just about playing her role as mother," Sully grumps. "Am I a faithful sister or am I just stupid?"

Change comes running through peoples' lives like a freight train whose schedule includes no stops in the near future. Standing in the middle of the tracks with your hands on your hips, saying, "No, I don't think I like this" gets you exactly where?

The Bride and Groom are closeted, the wedding celebration is done. What is left to do besides lure a single man off to the wilderness to look at wildflowers? "Get your mind out of the gutter," Sully says. "You people all have sex on the brain."

Sully, you are so up-tight that you squeak when you walk. Why not take a walk on the wild side with the dude from the East Coast? You know he's hot.

Why is the one who wanted to keep the vows the one who is considered a dope? When did integrity become a liability? Why is an abandoned wife supposed to hang out a flag that says, "For sale by owner?"

The children decided that they had had enough of private schools and uniforms and strictness, and arranged to go to public school. They didn't request the change of schooling from any of us adults, didn't ask for our input, preferences, requirements -- none of that. They planned their campaign and went directly to war.

"In my dreams," Sully said, "my sister is always still a child. That's probably because I think she's evaded her responsibilities as a mother. If her second husband didn't like the kids so much, she'd probably have sold them by now."

"You can only turn down a free summer on the Riviera once before everyone you know calls you an idiot for the rest of your life," Sully said. "So I went. And while I was there, away from friends and family, I found out what I missed, and what I didn't miss."

"His mother, my sister, my best friends all wanted me to jump into John LeMay's lap. Maybe they wanted me to do that so that they didn't have to worry about an old maid. But maybe they should have asked him first who all he was keeping company on a late Saturday night," Sully says irritably.

Sully finds estate life very easy -- until she finds out that her sister and her in-laws find her sex life to be a matter of speculation on a daily basis. Worse yet, the kids overheard everything.

Does Sully really want to know the truth about the woman in John's apartment? The truth is that Sully didn't want her to be there, and has only just figured it out.

Sully has been the proverbial paragon of virtue since she married Adam so many years ago, even after he deserted her. Everybody knows that, even her admirer, John the romantic policeman. Fate knows all about virtue, too, and is not always sympathetic.

Sometimes it's only when you're about to lose something that you realize how valuable and necessary it is. A dream symbol of a silvery sky makes Sully shimmer suddenly.

Okay, for five years Sully has pretended not to have any interest in John LeMay. Now she knows, he knows, his mother knows, their friends know -- duhh -- yes, there is an interest. And ohh, Sully does remember that she used to be Hot Stuff.

First John backs away from Sully in the kitchen, then Sully walks off and leaves him in annoyance. Are these two never going to figure out what they want?

"Blame it on him nearly getting killed. Blame it on a mid-life crisis. Blame it on me, I don't care," Sully says. "I'm not passing up the chance to spend a weekend alone with the Romantic Policeman."

The paragon of virtue, Aunt Sully, has feet of clay. She knows that, and can live with that weakness ... but can she explain away that weakness to the kids? And we know she can't hide from it in her dreams.

There has got to be no worse time in history to have a lover who's a New York City policeman that on Tuesday, September 11, 2001. Sully and John are dropped into the crucible of the disaster, and must find a way to keep their relationship intact -- or admit that it would never have worked out, anyway.

Sully remembers at last who she is, and why she is, and what she has to do. No one is going to like the solution much, but the symbols of Sully's dream are inescapable.

John and Sully are ready to pay the price for being "right." It's a high price, but no where near as valuable as being able to say the word "love."

Oh, my goodness, there really is a counted cross stitch panel with "John + Sully" in a heart on a tree! Is it really time for Sully to consider that her life should mesh with that romantic policeman?

Oh, Patient Readers, it's The End, and someone named Adam shows up at Sully's front door ...

A tall, dark, handsome man and hundreds of white roses -- the redhead who wouldn't tell her name -- Sully's mother recounts the tale of her romance. Too bad it had to end this way. (First appeared 2003-10-20)

Chapter One of Time Traveler, a novel by Sand Pilarski. It should have been a lazy, romantic morning, full of smug memories from an evening of lovemaking. Instead, it wound up being the moment the rose-colored lenses fell away, revealing a battered woman living in a cage made partially from her own permission. For better or for worse, this is the moment one woman begins defying conventions to make paths of her own choosing. But the less traveled path is always the rockier one. *Parental Advisory*

Part Two of Time Traveler. No one really knows how Life, the Universe, and Everything came to be. Origins are lost from memory, even the origins of the people we come to be ...

Augusta accepts a lunch invitation from the phallus-obsessed Radigan, and finds heavenly food and a disconcerting observation by a tall, dark stranger. "I wasn't looking for anything more than food," she says. "Maybe it would have been better if I had just gone hungry."

Why is it time to think of romance? Is it the sound of the waves against the cliffs? Is it the caress of the fleece blanket against Augusta's cheek? Is it missing the old familiar face of Moersgard, or can it be -- the thought of something new?

It's the social event of the season, and for the first time in nearly ten years, Augusta doesn't have a date for the occasion. In fact, her ex-lover Moersgard is going to show up with his new hottie ... but that's not the most disturbing incident of the evening ...

Paperwork, paperwork, and every second has to count to get through the day. But what if your concentration is broken by an arrangement of flowers that puts you in mind of a phallic symbol? Quick! Think about something else!

And now Augusta finds out: Valentine is not only handsome and talented, but is charming as well. "Where have you been all my life?" he asks, and what her heart might answer is, "In the dark and alone."

In class, the discussions turn to Heaven and Hell. But this week, the teacher is the one who cannot pay attention. Hell: the handsome violinist hasn't called. Heaven: he's sent a note. Hell: it was sent last Friday and Augusta has only received it now. Heaven: Augusta is getting more and more involved with this captivating young musician. Hell: sweet as it all seems, Augusta knows better to fall into a trap like this. But it seems she's about to anyway.

In the classroom, the topic is Purgatory -- getting rid of the old earthly baggage before beginning a new existence in the afterlife. Roman Catholic shedding of earthly sins. New Hebrides shedding of pigs. Outside of the classroom, Valentine shows up to court Augusta sporting a fat lip and a cut-up face -- the scars earned shedding an old relationship. Does this mean he intends to embark on a new relationship with Augusta? Despite her best efforts, this flirtation doesn't seem to want to stay casual.

Since Ariadne fell for the mostly naked Theseus and gave up both the magic ball of string and her virginity, people have been doing foolish things for love. Augusta still recalls when "good girls" didn't call boys on the phone. Now, with a first kiss that couldn't be more romantic or tantalizing, she's left contemplating the change over her lifetime of sex -- from something that decent people simply didn't do outside of marriage to something that professors were almost certainly going to do with handsome young musicians they had only recently met.

He'll show her his if she'll show him hers ... but this is a more adult show and tell, with unspoken issues clouding their views.

It's all about Time. Time the vast distance, Time the villain. Augusta could travel back in Time to tell herself how good life has become, and how to avoid the mistakes that were made. But if she did, she wouldn't grow up to become Augusta. Ah, but maybe that would have been better and she would have missed Time's cruelest trick of all.

Images of the children she babysat while in high school press against Augusta's brain. Every single one of them is older than Valentine. When she began her affair with Moersgard, Valentine would have been a boy of sixteen! What should have been romance has become a horror story.

If Valentine promises to love her until the end of Time, will Augusta believe him? Will she lose her resolve to leave him? And will she follow through on her decision to be honest with him?

What would you be willing to give up for the person you love most? Riches? Power? Everything, you say, but what if what you had to give up were your fears and preconceptions?

At last, a rainy night with no conflicts or worries, and only one thought in common. The door opens, and Valentine steps across the threshold.

Love is patient, Love is kind ... Love is selfless, Love makes life worth living. Doesn't Love overlook our faults and rejoice in our differences? Doesn't it?

Where is the playful lover who kissed from her hand all the way up her shoulder and neck to find his way to her lips? He's not in Augusta's bed, or her arms, or her kitchen, and she no longer knows where to look for him.

Heartbroken, Augusta turns once more to her best friend Kimsky. But Moersgard, her former lover, shows up on Augusta's doorstep for a visit. Is it enough to take her mind off of Valentine?

The phone rings. But the voice is not the one Augusta most wants to hear, and she limps back to Ohio, to Kim and Burlie's home remedies for heartbreak. Hope there are plenty of munchies!

"I read books about older women and younger men; I talked about what it was like being in love with a younger man; and I thought about the younger man almost all the time, except when I was cooking or stoned," says Augusta. "Kimsky said I should get a prescription for medical marijuana and become a chef."

Neil Radigan is new and improved, and a date with him actually starts out with fun and laughter, but then Fate steps in to rub Augusta's face in her heartbreak.

Why does knowing that it's better this way hurt so damn bad?

The lusty Moersgard has some revelations for Augusta, and a tentative job offer.

It's showdown time, and Valentine and Augusta are both furious -- but they're angry about things that don't even exist.

Augusta makes her plans for escape, but Jacob Moersgard has plans of his own, and is a manipulative mastermind who knows just what buttons to push.

The bittersweet conclusion of Time Traveler. Augusta speaks to her class of karma, not as retribution, but acceptance of self, acceptance of consequence and release. A return to true love's arms doesn't mean happily ever after, but sometimes to break the cycle, you have to accept the reality of self.

This week in the Piker Press, we begin a new serial fiction feature: "Transitions." Told from Owen Reich-Ambris' point of view, the story recounts a season of changes that occurred in his family's household, and how one weekend of the past summer affected them all ...

The Five have collected information from their most recent sortie -- but now they have to figure out what it all means.

There's a room in the mansion that belongs to Owen alone ... and it holds a precious secret.

Blended families tend to have an overabundance of uncles and aunts unrelated to one by blood. Owen's family is like that, too. It's just about like having your own personal standing army hanging around ...

Who understands each other best? Twins, and people who are truly in love. Who is there to understand you when you're neither a twin, nor in love?

The reasons for Aunt Andersol's odd behavior are unknown, but certain things don't look too good ...

Marca makes a dangerous decision to try to solve the riddle of her aunt's strange behavior. It's one step closer to understanding, but not enough ...

Drama at school, drama at home ... the only thing left is to go outside and take a walk. But good luck with that, with a monster storm raging.

Both Aunts arrive at the mansion, but they act very differently from one another. Owen has been stationed to greet them and get as much information as possible.

Mysteries are no longer important when the family has to hear the bad news ...

Things are settling down a little in the house, enough so that Owen's mind is free to find things to get into ...

Aunt Sully finds out that there's much, much more to the mansion than she ever knew before. Owen has plans for this unexplored territory ...

He sweet-talks the aunt, he sweet-talks his mother -- is any wonder Owen's oldest sister feels she must thrash him now and then?

The rest of the weekend is at peace. Monday, however is going to knock someone's socks off!

The mysteriously-behaving aunt returns, but the situation is anything but improved ...

There are concerns, and there is family drama, but what really matters is whether the pretty girl is going to smile at him ...

The week is much like any other week for the older Reich-Ambris kids: school, activities, formal dinner ... yet their age is starting to catch up with them, and they are no longer the cute little kids in adult style clothing...

While Aunt Andersol throws a fit, bad news is just waiting to be found out...

What a way to begin Fall Break -- the dog is gone, and Owen's secret identity is revealed ...

How do you get through the day when the girl you always imagined dumps you before she's even your girl?

Years have gone by, the estate always being the same for the children. As they've grown older, the gap between 'outside' and 'inside' has grown wider.

Fall Break has begun, the family has gathered, the feast is served -- yes, what everyone needs is a surprise and a shock to kick things into high gear.

The big secret is out -- but once again, eavesdropping is the only way for the kids to find out the whole story ...

They got away with the goods -- now, what to think about the knowledge they've accrued?

The eavesdropping has been moderately successful ... but there's a cop in the house and the Five could be busted for their crime ...

Suddenly all those riding lessons make a whole lot of sense ...

Rachel manages to hold her own with the ebullient Reich-Ambris clan, with the help of John LeMay, Sully, and the legendary scrapple.

Sometimes what is supposed to seem like an important experience is just everyday stuff. But then, everyday stuff is kind of comforting, isn't it?

Even for a rich kid, can't a friend just be a friend?

Riding again with his aunt, Owen gets a lesson in land management.

A hinge is beginning to turn, creaking a door open. Things are changing more rapidly now, and who knows what will lie beyond this door?

A growth spurt and the unexpected invitation of Andersol to Claire's rooms give Owen the opportunity to learn something new ... something that has his grandmother interested.

Owen breaks open his journal to clear his thoughts, and finds more questions than answers.

A roaring fire, a powerful storm, hallways darkened but for flashlights -- excitement! Adventure!

If the touchiest hothead in the house is hungry and pregnant, maybe it would be a good idea not to make her angry ..

Having lived a life of relative luxury, the family is becoming aware of the many benefits of electric power when they have none. But at first, the darkness and simplicity and ways of coping seem like an adventure ...

Without heat, the house is damp. With damp comes mildew. What the hell is up with being rich and having to put up with that?

It's time for heroic efforts! They'll clear the road! They'll ride over the mountain for supplies! High adventure for the whole family!

Oh, so this is what real work actually is?

Riding off to rescue on her snowy white pony sounded exciting enough, but once again, the Five are reminded of just how hard work can be ...

From hard work and cold, the family moves into town where electricity and comfort are again available. However, along with the ease of take-out food comes the complications that arise in 'normal life'...

Warm and dry once again, the kids nevertheless must re-enter the dull and inevitable world of school ...

The change in the household is accelerating, and Owen is aware of the future coming towards him faster and faster ...

The family is back on an even keel with one another, but the changes that are about to happen to the estate may shake things up ...

Things are getting ready to change in the Reich-Ambris household, and Grandmother is the first to take action over it.

In which a reporter snaps a picture of the family, and Andersol begins to worry about being seen in the newspaper. The family is going to have to come up with a plan.

Once again, Owen becomes aware that he and his siblings have led anything but a normal life as children ...

Plainly times are changing for the Reich-Ambris family. What has been a blessedly private existence is about to become a family under the magnifying glass of the public press ...

A spy is discovered, and only increases the need for a plan of action ...

This year has been all about change; and now Owen has to realize that change is about him, too.

Multiple big changes have come to the Estate; the Five mostly are trying to stay out of the way, but the changes will affect all their futures...

Owen is counting down the days until the change in the household takes place -- will he find satisfaction in his new status, or disappointment?

The family is breaking up to separate continents, but what is on Owen's mind is ...

With most of the family in Italy, Owen is finding communication to be changing in his life, and perhaps it's time for him to share some of the words his father handed down ...

The mansion is very empty, but all that quiet provides a space for a lot of thought ...

Sure, Owen and Rachel have been pretending to be engaged, but what about when real feelings start to surface?

Owen, John, and Sully discover a secret in the mansion that has been kept since Owen's father's death years ago ...

There's more to the Estate than just the estate. Knowledge of that could change the way the family sees the world ...

Travel is broadening, they say, but does it also set the travelers apart from what they have known?

As spring moves in, the changes in the family relationships are moving more and more quickly ...

The new suite is finished, and it is time for Owen to move to the third floor. Yet doesn't that move of a few steps put him a lot farther away from the comforts of his childhood?

News has come from Italy -- but this time it's of a rather disturbing nature for a son filled with concern about his mother.

They're not little kids anymore, and the events of the past months have put the Five into new molds. Things will be changing even more soon ...

Four children have been born. Half-siblings, siblings once removed --? What are the new babies supposed to be?

Owen may be the upcoming Man of the House, but that doesn't mean he won't make mistakes ...

Summer brings Owen yet a few more steps out of the world of his childhood...

Summer is hot, and so are the situations one can get into ...

Christine shows up to heat up a summer morning ...

Owen finds anger lurking in his adolescent body, first for being too young, and then for being old enough to face some new responsibilities.

Conclusion.

Serial fiction set in the time of the 2007 economic crash. Gloria Melton finds out the rocky truth behind her parents' life.

In disbelief at her late father's secret life, Gloria runs head-on into her mother's reality.

Gloria's mother's time to act was apparently years ago -- and she missed it.

Food and shelter -- those are the important things, right? Unfortunately, to get them, you have to have money...

There is a chance -- if they can manage to find jobs, they can keep the house. But where do you find a job when times get rough?

Gloria thinks she can keep the family together in their own house because she's got common sense and a work ethic...but her education in the real world is just beginning.

There's a good reason your mother taught you to be nice to the people you meet...

Will has made it through his first day in the orchards, Philli found full time work -- but will it be enough?

This is it -- the pivotal moment, can they keep the house or are they on the street? Or is it?

The gardening service, the newspaper subscription, the cleaning lady have all been eliminated from the budget. Even the boyfriend is gone. What else can they do without?

It's easy enough to open a bank account...but do you have any money to put into it?

Gloria knows she can do whatever job she has to in order to keep her family in their house...and now is the time to prove it.

The recession of 2007 is all too real for Gloria. No money, no jobs, no security...

You've learned that you're in dire straits financially. You've learned that there are no jobs out there to bail you out. The next lesson is finding how to survive on what little you still have...

Gloria and her mother are back on the same side again, but there's only one thing that will keep them side by side in their own home...

Just when Gloria thought her prospects had darkened, a second chance at the job of cook's assistant arrived. It's a chance she mustn't screw up...

Well, it's a job...

In a gleaming commercial kitchen, Gloria expects magic and culinary wonders. But maybe even the rich just put their pants on one leg at a time...

After the shock of the first day of work, Gloria can't help wishing for the life she used to have...

Starting a new job, cooking for the family, managing the bills...Gloria thinks that should be enough to earn her some breathing space. Wait, it's not?

Gloria is beginning to understand the real value of money -- that's how you pay for food. And if you don't work, you're not going to be able to eat...

Observing Maria the cook in the kitchen is something of an eye-opener to Gloria. She keeps learning things that she'd never want to do...and doing things at home she never thought she'd have to.

Two days off? Two days to prepare for the whole next week, but at least the Meltons will have some family time. Really?

Gloria has learned how to take charge of the family finances, how to deal with teen drama, and how to effectively shop for food. The next rite of passage awaits her...

You cook, you clean, you get through another day...

A month ago, they were just three bereaved kids. Now they've become something more...

The Meltons have found a new meaning in life -- keeping a roof over their heads. And for Gloria, it's actually becoming less about the paycheck...

No more trips to the mall; no more dinners at the chain restaurants. Gloria must not only re-think spending money, she must also learn to think about food in a different way...

"An easy day," Maria had told her assistant. "Just one meal." Gloria finds out what one meal can contain...

Interesting perspective, working for people who have everything they need, as much as they want, and a future that's certain. Wait, didn't Gloria used to live like that? How quickly we forget...

The Melton household is in flux; her lifestyle is suddenly solitary; but there is one place that Gloria is starting to feel comfortable...

The Melton kids have taken over their household, but don't they still have a mother to watch over them?

Taking a job as a cook's assistant wasn't the career that Gloria had anticipated, but there's a lot to be learned in a kitchen, and not all of it is about the food...

Gloria has accepted her role, and Will's, as wage earners. Can their mother?

As much fun as Gloria is having with her job, the backdrop is still a hungry, hurting economy...

The Melton kids have rolled with the punches and taken on things they never thought they'd have to do. And yet, their old lives still have a lot to contribute...

Just when Gloria thought her job was getting easy...

Another week gone by, another day off. With the mortgage paid again for another month, Gloria can just let her mind relax...

The mother-daughter relationship is wearing thin between Philli and Gloria, but they still need to respect each other to get through their economic crisis...

In spite of the economic down-turn, Gloria is grateful for the new way of life that is keeping food on the table. Life can be good even if money is tight...

Maria is gruff and grumpy to most people, but she does know when to kick the chicks out of the nest...

Three days to prepare for Maria's departure. And then Gloria will have to take a big leap of faith in herself and land on her feet...

So her late father's mistress has come to live in the Melton household. The mistress her father supported financially is now going to be supported by his widow and kids? How wrong is that?

At any time, Lolo could walk into the house. The only solution? Get out of there!

With Lolo in her mother's house, and Maria in the hospital, Gloria has to find her footing again in her own kitchen...

Gloria has faced the worst she can imagine -- meeting Lolo face to face. And she made it through that horror. But she has to make her way through every day after, too, and where the on earth is Will?

This is it, Gloria's in charge. In charge of the kitchen, that is...

And when does life ever go on the same way, every day?

Will has moved out, made a little home for himself elsewhere. What is "home," anyway?

Will is gone. Gloria and Ben can take up the slack in the household chores, but are they close enough as siblings to ride out the changes coming?

Gloria has just found out that her mother is thinking about moving the family out of their house. Is this what a day off is supposed to be like?

Death and financial loss changed her family's life forever. Gloria faces another change -- this time from inside herself...

And now Gloria can see Lolo with different eyes, ones that aren't looking through a red haze of anger. Are people ever what you think they are?

Good food, fellowship, peace in the household ... until the anchor of the family begins acting strangely...

Since Will left home, Ben has been on his own -- all too long?

Philli is up to something, but she's not telling what it is. Steve is looking awfully good, but is that really the right thing for Gloria to see? And Will -- he's happy...is younger brother somehow leading the way?

When everyone pitches in, a party isn't an expensive affair...and when the party's over, it doesn't have to be an ending.

In an autumn full of changes for the Meltons, change itself has become the new normal...

Ben and Gloria have been trying to figure out what their mother is up to with her secretive behavior. Sometimes secrets reveal themselves...

So dear old Mom has a boyfriend. Why would she want to keep him a secret from her kids? Not like Gloria's keeping Steve a secret...

Gloria realizes that she has to take Steve seriously. Her brothers are working every chance they can because they're taking money seriously. Why can't Philli do that with motherhood?

Conclusion. The relationship with Steve is solidified, and now they just need to keep on going. But is the destination really finalized?

Emily has been married to Mark for many years, and life has treated her well enough. But New Year's Eve is about to reveal to her some things she'd rather not see...

After that outrageous New Year's Eve party, Emily is more than ready to just settle down and try to forget what she saw. If only she hadn't drunk so much! Oh, the if onlies...

With the dawn of New Year's Day, Emily has destroyed thousands of dollars' worth of her husband's prized antique statuary. But there's nothing to do but keep on going...

Emily has spent New Year's Day feeling ill while cleaning up the house after the party the night before, and she's just about done with it all...

Emily has had a rough start to the new year. But surely that's all behind her now...

January 2 has turned out to be much better than New Year's Day, and Emily is ready for life to turn happy again...

The secret forest friends may provide entertainment for Emily, but they're a more dangerous secret than most. She could cover up a broken statue, but there's no covering up the smell of skunk. But maybe Emily is luckier than she thinks...

About to run to her father for help, Emily remembers how she met her father's wife...

Remembering how Middi had come to be a friend, Emily heads for haven in Santa Cruz.

Safely in Santa Cruz, Emily can begin to relax a little -- but only a little...

The Shroeder dwarf wasn't what he appeared to be, and now Emily must chart a new course...

Emily returns home from her father's house to find something she would never have expected...

Something is not adding up in the Fatzer household. Secret keys and secret skunks and secret papers...maybe someone needs to be straightforward?

Mark now knows his dwarf is a phony, and he's pretty mad about it, but Emily still wants to find out what's up with the Michigan connection...

Once words are said, they are out there in the universe, echoing forever, and you can't put them back in your mouth. Maybe Mark should have remembered that and kept his trap shut...

Emily has rebelled and bought herself a computer, a new secret to match Mark's secret communications with the university in Michigan. And she's willing to give Mark enough rope to hang himself...

Emily has made things easy for her husband to continue his mysterious plans. Is she right about her speculations?

Unnerved by the prospect of an FBI investigation, Emily must still face the ongoing mysterious behavior of her husband...

The photo that Emily has found is troubling, but not completely damning. If it is another piece of the puzzle, then Emily doesn't know how it fits...

Alternating between dismay and fury, Emily begins to take stock of what her life has become...

With Mark gone halfway across the country on his mysterious errand, Emily has had some time to take stock of her life. There is no choice but to keep moving forward...

Mark is gone, visiting his parents in Michigan. Back in California, Emily and her investigative partner Spoon are going to search for more clues...

Confronted with seeming proof of Mark's misbehavior, Emily must begin to make her way past it, or through it, or...?

Shaken by her discoveries, pushed to her emotional limits, Emily grabs her wooden spoon and takes a step -- is it in the right direction?

Mark is still keeping his real purpose of his trip to Michigan secret, and Emily follows suit by keeping secret all that she has found out about him. Life has changed...

Things just don't make sense. And while Emily has to admit she's been deluded, there still ought to be a way to put all the clues together...

Her latest round of espionage lands Emily and her car in an icy ditch. Can she accept a rescue?

Was a car wreck the best part of Emily's week?

Much makes sense to Emily now, but there are still connections to make...

So much is now so clear about what went on at New Year's; but the journey isn't over yet...

It doesn't matter that the skunk back-tracked Emily to her house; and who cares if the skunk sprayed the neighbor's cat? Emily has only begun to imagine the solutions she needs...

Conclusion. This author rather wishes that Emily could stick around longer, but it's time to say good-bye...

Everything happens so fast, and you can't make it go away again...

They were out to kill her boyfriend, but Roj got in the way. But that wasn't the end of it...

Roj has found out for certain that she is dead. But not completely gone -- and apparently there's a few things she can still do...

They killed Roj, they killed Danny Chuster ... but weren't they gunning for Matt?

Roj is heartbroken that Matt can't recognize her, even though he heard her speak to him, but after all, she wasn't there to idly chat...

Roj left Matt sleeping, and trashed Garrison's pristine office. What else does a disgruntled ghost do?

Pleased by Garrison's reaction to the state of his office, Roj continues her investigations...

With Garrison's credit card information safely tucked away in the Personnel Department, Roj is ready for wider investigations...

It was such a satisfying lunch date with Garrison that Roj simply must learn more...

In shooting the thug, Roj may have saved Laurella's life and family, but what will it do to Roj's soul?

Trashing Garrison's office had been fun for Roj, shooting Thug Boy had been disturbing, but trying to figure out how to be properly dead ...

There are voices out there in the world of the spirit, and they are bothering Roj. Surely they can't be right, can they?

Spending Garrison's money was entertaining, but Roj has some real business at hand...

Roj doesn't think of herself as a ghost, even though she's dead. On the other hand, who's there to teach her about being a ghost?

Finding Matt drunk with a loaded gun by his bed is not going to make Roj any more sympathetic to the man who wants him dead...

He's not the biggest trout in the pond, but Roj knows that Garrison is up to a lot of fishy business...

Roj has done her best to ruin Garrison's plans, but somehow, that's not all she's here for...

Inexplicably, Matt's gun is reloaded -- even though he's passed-out drunk. And yet, that's not the only mystery Roj has to solve...

Gerry has been driven away by the revelation of her less-than-stellar spirit. What has Roj got left to do but spy on Duchamps?

Roj and her hauntings have begun to make a number of people uneasy. It's time to up the ante...

Bashing Hammer was satisfying, and haunting illegal drug production was okay, but Roj knows there's more to learn...

Having learned painfully about the choices she made in life, Roj turns again to Matt's dilemma...

Along with the satisfaction of getting the corrupt Hammer in trouble, Roj has managed to get Matt to safety. But is it enough?

Matt is awake and sober for about ten minutes before someone tries to kill him. What's it going to take to save this guy?

Roj has seen how love changes a human being into a new creation. Did she and Matt have that, or was that stolen from them by her death? What more must she understand in order to save him?

Learning so much even after being murdered has Roj ready to play hooky from school, and Hennessey is an easy target for her to tease. And let's not forget Garrison! But sometimes play goes a little too far...

Having irrevocably destroyed the trust between Hennessey and Garrison, Roj spies on Duchamps to see his organization crumbling, but she's gone too far...

Roj has learned a tough lesson about teasing the wrong people, but that's not going to get her the answers she needs...

Gerry the ghost's memories have given Roj something new to think about: a life spent in relationship with God. But Roj has no life left, so now what?

Gerry has disappeared, and Roj has had an interesting review of memories with Desai. Something is still eluding her, though...

Gerry the ghost found some answers of her own, and passed on her wisdom to Roj in a way Roj could finally understand ...

Conclusion. "All things have a purpose," Desai says. What is the purposeful key Roj must find to open that one last lock?

With her mother about to leave widowhood behind, Gloria Melton must reassess her own footing within the family...

Time for Maria to set out the Sunday Baker feast, and ponder the changes in her life...

Now let's see Sunday morning through Gloria's eyes...

Is it worth worrying about? Or is it just that it's dark and damp and ugly...?

Gloria is comfortable working with Maria in the Bakers' kitchen, but that doesn't mean there are no surprises...

Gloria has her life under control, or thinks she does. At least it seems that way as long as no one else is around...

A make-shift room in a barn...is that the secret to happiness?

Being hired to work in the Bakers' kitchen was a life-changer for Gloria; with the job, she was able to keep her family off the streets. Renting a room in Maria's house...how is that going to change things even more?

The Melton siblings still have their secrets...

And then there's Ben...

Maybe we should have a look at another side...

How long did Maria live alone? With Gloria in residence, things may begin to change...

In one day, Maria got rid of every bit of the upstairs furniture in her house except for Gloria's room. Why?

Finally, some breathing room in their lives, finally, a reunion...

Love is in the air in the Bakers' kitchen, sharp and sweet...

It's nearly Christmas, and inevitable that moms expect family to be home for the holiday...

Ah, the Downfall of the Americas...

A week off from the Bakers' kitchen! Celebration time, indeed...

Gloria is hosting her first Christmas potluck...

Tom had his secrets, Philli had hers; Gloria keeps some secrets from her brothers, and Ben -- well, Ben keeps some secrets, too...

Love is rarely simple...

Steve's getting transferred, and maybe that gives Gloria some breathing room for other important things...

Something has to be done for Lolo, to be sure, but right now the task is bringing Maria's house into the 21st Century...

"Just a little something for sandwiches," she says...

Finally, a chance to just sit and talk...

Food can make a lasting memory. Gloria thinks she's found a bridge to get by her mother's wrath...

The holiday is approaching -- why not have a party...

Lolo is safe for the time being, and Maria wants to eradicate the memories of her bad marriage...the solution?

Lolo is safely at work, and a rainy day makes Gloria think about food...

A rare visit by Will brings the Melton siblings together again, and sparks memories...

The hailstorm is past, but has left some unexpected benefits...

It's the end of the year, time to take stock of what is in the kitchen, and what is important in life...

A house party is perfect for a rainy holiday ...

A peaceful afternoon after a tumultuous morning. The house party could use a simple, fun day...

Life is so good when there's more to it than just enduring...

There's a time for grief, and a time for remembering...

Conclusion. You have to know where you want to be, and you sometimes can't do it unless you take a stand...

Unknown

Cover Story

Mr. Smith never should have made his secretary arrange his vacation travel.

Essay

What? Some of the Staff of the Piker Press have gone missing? Maybe they're sitting at their keyboards, trying to figure out how to stretch "And then a giant gopher came up out of the ground and ate them all" into say, 500 words or more? Looks like it's that time of year again ...

Happy Mother's Day this week! Our cover story is dedicated to mothers everywhere, a bouquet of exotic blooms from the Modesto Tropical Plants Show held on 14th and 15th of April, 2007.

You wake up in the dark, wondering if the dog or the cat or the alarm is going to be the first to force you to get up. Everything is silent, and you don't move, not wanting to stir up the household by blundering about the room in the dark to look for a clock. And in the misty musings that tangle thoughts in the night, you remember that the date is going to be December 31st, the last day of the year. New Year's Eve. A thrill races through you: by this time tomorrow, dawn will be about to break on an entirely new year.

Once upon a time, there were a bunch of Writers who had all kinds of words trying to pour out of their heads, through their fingers, and into print. Having little opportunity to get published, the Writers felt sluggish and sad, like highways with a magical traffic jam. Then one day, a tall blonde editor with a silver sword and an imagination like a wizard par excellence appeared, struck a computer with a spell of coding, and made The Piker Press appear ...

April of 2009 brings the Piker Press another anniversary as a weekly ezine. To kick off our eighth year, this issue presents the thoughts of some of our writers about their writing itself. Many thanks to all who have contributed to the Piker Press in the past, and best wishes to all who will share their words and images in the Piker Press in the future.

If only birds could read, we'd put warning labels on the patio door...

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A quick overview of this week's Press.

A quick overview of this week's Press.