AmiMaxine

The Barry Manilow Experience

My first memory of Barry Manilow was as a kid. I knew my mother was a big fan of his, but I also knew that my dad didn’t care for his music. I was eleven or twelve when he gifted her a box set (this was back when a box set was CDs and VHSContinue reading “The Barry Manilow Experience”

Route 66 – Missouri

I made it to the IL/MO border a bit before noon on my second day. I’d never been to St. Louis before, and the skyline is pretty spectacular with the arch – even in the overcast foggy morning. I had originally planned to stop and check out the arch, but the weather was pushing meContinue reading “Route 66 – Missouri”

Route 66 – Illinois

Full disclosure, I took the start pic when I was in Chicago for an event earlier in the year. This way, I wouldn’t have to stop and pay for parking to grab it. I could just drive the three and a half hours from home to the start – and then just keep going. ItContinue reading “Route 66 – Illinois”

Route 66 – Tips and Tricks

At the start of this summer, I was set to embark on a trip I’ve been wanting to take for a long time. I don’t remember when I first wanted to take this particular road trip, but over this last winter break, I finally decided this was the summer I would go. I planned toContinue reading “Route 66 – Tips and Tricks”

Rapidan Dam

I spent two years living in Mankato, Minnesota. In the grand scheme of my life thus far, that is starting to feel like a blink. Even so, Mankato made its mark on me, and I still hold dear some of the folks that I met while I was there. Which is why when I firstContinue reading “Rapidan Dam”

Inside Out 2

Every year, it doesn’t officially feel like summer until I get to go to the drive in. Specifically, when we get to watch that Pic commercial before the movie starts – and yes, they still sell the product in the snack bar. 🙂 I’ve made it to the drive in twice already this summer, theContinue reading “Inside Out 2”

If I Had Published My High School Poetry

A little while ago, I attended a poetry reading at my local book shop. April is national poetry month here in the states, so it’s common for such readings to be in an abundance. End of April/start of May also happens to be the busiest time for my job, and the reading fell on aContinue reading “If I Had Published My High School Poetry”

Book Clubs

After grad school (many moons ago), I found I missed talking about books so much that I convinced my new boss (my now bestie) to read a series with me – and we spent each morning before work discussing them. (Well, complaining about them…because they were awfully written…) Whether for fun or learning, there isContinue reading “Book Clubs”

Wisconsin Pride

A few months back, I had the opportunity to attend the launching of UW-Green Bay’s digital archive – Our Voices, a series of LGBT+ narratives from Northeast Wisconsin. In tandem, there was a screening of Wisconsin PBS’s documentary WI Pride, currently a two-part series. Now, as someone that has lived in WI for most ofContinue reading “Wisconsin Pride”

GvM: Where Your Coffee is Served with a Side of Puns

I often hear how isolating writing can be. And there is a lot of truth to that. It’s usually a writer and the page. Now, not everyone types their manuscripts (like my writing bestie, Jack Lelko, who hand writers his entire first draft) – but for the sake of this argument, let’s just say theyContinue reading “GvM: Where Your Coffee is Served with a Side of Puns”