Mary Phillips-Sandy

…it’s not my favorite skyscraper, it’s not the roof of the Met, it’s not the bridges, it’s not the statuary. Mostly it’s the bleary light on the tiles and the free papers in the gutter and the sharp smell of dyed carnations. It’s the traffic island at the mouth of Second Avenue and the sensation [...]

It’s the gift that will never ever stop giving.

We start with guilt, because I had intentions of taking these things I’m about to tell you and polishing them into professional shapes and sending them into the world through a proper conduit, a gate with a keeper, a lit blog at least. I intended to pitch this story over the walls of my nut [...]

I saw this headline:
Tobias Wolff Wins $20,000 Story Prize
and then this video screencap:

And my first thought was 1. Included in this amazing $20,000 prize was the privilege of sitting on stage with John Darnielle! My second thought was 2. Or maybe sitting on stage with John Darnielle WAS the prize! Valued at $20,000! Third thought, [...]

I’ve had this story from the Tennessee Chattanoogan bookmarked for the past five days. It’s a re-reader, trust me.
The headline: Wamp Replacement May Have Been at Choo Choo Breakfast.
And, as if on cue, the intrigue ensues…
Rep. Zach Wamp was working the crowd at the Chattanooga Choo Choo on Saturday morning in the governor’s race, [...]

Top 10 albums
10. The Mountain Goats – Heretic Pride
9. The Mountain Goats – Heretic Pride
8. The Mountain Goats – Heretic Pride
7. The Mountain Goats – Heretic Pride
6. Phantom Buffalo – Take to the Trees
5. The Mountain Goats – Heretic Pride
4. The Mountain Goats – Heretic Pride
3. The fun part of the Beyonce record
2. The Mountain [...]