Jennifer's Art and Words

February 8th  from 6-9pm at the Poets’ Gallery , enjoy an eclectic evening of visual art created by writers, who are also visual artists, a reading of their work from the Sable & Quill anthology v.1 and musical guests including master guitarist George Sheldon and Proxy Moon . Contributors to the Sable and Quill include: Jo Ann Anglin , Jennifer O’Neill Pickering , Bethanie Humphreys , Ann Privateer , Hal Freeman, Tim Mchargue , Kimberly White , Jeanine Stevens , Jennifer O’Neill Pickering Trina Drotar , Mike Pickering, Sandy Thomas, Suzanne Caruthers, Sue Owens Wright , and Frank Andrick.   Artist Reception 6:00-7pm & music by George Sheldon Reading 7:00-8pm Music by Proxy Moon   8:00-9pm   Location: the Sacramento Poetry Center/Poets’ Gallery 1719 25th Street (25th between Q & R). Contact: 916-240-1897 Show runs through Feb.22, 2014 viewing every Monday night 7-9pm and by appointment see individual artis...

Jose Montoya, Sacramento poet and artist, has died By Stephen Magagnini smagagnini@sacbee.com By Stephen Magagnini The Sacramento Bee Last modified: 2013-09-27T07:25:26Z Published: Thursday, Sep. 26, 2013 - 11:59 am Copyright 2013 The Sacramento Bee. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. Jose Montoya, one of the most influential and inspirational figures in California Latino history, died Wednesday surrounded by family in his midtown Sacramento home. He was 81. Read more here: http://www.sacbee.com/2013/09/26/5771228/jose-montoya-sacramento-poet-and.html#disqus_thread#storylink=cpySacramento Bee

Cruise Bound Poet June, 23 2013             The worst part of a cruise is the check- in. Everyone told me this and it is true.  You will have a headache after airport security. I suggest using the cruise bus shuttle to get from the airport to the cruise ship, though a bit pricey it is worth the extra money and you will be in a better mood for the next round of cruise ship lines and security before embarking.  An Alaskan Memory in Water color             Gosh, I’m on a cruise. When did I become my mother? And when did I join the ranks of the bourgeoisie (even if only in comfort levels)? The truth is I’m just an aging Baby Boomer on the precipice of senior hood (well technically I’ve slid over the precipice or at least that’s how I feel some days). I just want a little pleasure without a lot of fuss.          ...

Friday, July 26, 2013, Seville, Spain by Tim McHargue ALL THE NAMES               Just finished a challenging book by the most famous contemporary Portuguese novelist, Nobel Prize-winner Jose Saramago, (1922-2010). The book is called “All the Names,” and it is a Kafkaesque book with its description of the depersonalization of the bureaucracy, including,ironically, the absence of names for most characters in the books.             It is challenging because it is written largely without paragraphs and no quotation marks or indentation to indicate dialogue. Conversation is contained within standard prose sentences and suggested by commas and a capital letter. The paragraphs are often pages long.             It is also a challenging read because it is about a lowly civil servant, a clerk, who works for the Cent...

Jack-a-lantern Smile by Jennifer O’Neill Pickering                     The receptionist at the front desk assured me I had 100% dental coverage for all the procedures the oral surgeon, I’d never met, would perform that day. This information improved my caffeine deprived headache--- a little. I sat down, flipped through a People magazine wondering what the rich and famous were up to (besides their perfect sets of teeth).  The weeks feature story was a photo essay on the progress of Princess Kate’s “baby bump.” Just look at her set of pearly whites!             A twenty something male technician, named Jimmy, called my name, and led me to the surgery room, where he explained the step-by-step procedures they’d be performing. After the third or fourth step Jimmy’s lips continued to move without me hearing any sounds. “We need to take ...

Hi, I just want to plug the Sacramento Bloggers. I am a member!  They have fun mixers,and readings from their writings. Some of them are preforming at the Crest Theater at a Listen to Your Mother Event. Sacramento Bloggers

I just finished cozying up to the latest Beanie and Cruiser mystery, Braced for Murder . It is one of my favorite books from the series. Sue Owens Wright focuses our attention on the serious issue of animal care in shelters with her whodunit wit. Calamity is the newest canine character that is partnered up with Cruiser to unravel the crimes. Your favorite human characters , Nona and Skip , are on hand as well helping Beanie with her amateur sleuthing. The story opens with a murder at an animal shelter. Add a ghost of the four-footed kind; a Native American healing for daughter, Nona; Skip’s new trainee, beautiful Rusty Cannon ; and a Basset Waddle, and you have quite a mix of levity and suspense. It is all set in the pristine backdrop of Lake Tahoe. You need to add this one to your summer reading list. Jennifer O’Neill Pickering