Dispatches from Storyville

Category: Uncategorized

  • Spare Parts

    Let me preface this: I’m not saying anything supernatural is happening here, but I’m not not saying that, either. But when I wish for things, sometimes the Universe cranks it up to 11. For instance, I feel mildly responsible for the current state of…<gestures wildly at everything>. You see, even as a wee Phelan, I…

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  • Excellence

    Your grammy, your aunty, your momma, your mammyI’ll take those flannel zebra jammies, secondhand, and rock that motherfuckerThe built-in onesie with the socks on that motherfuckerI hit the party and they stop in that motherfuckerThey be like, “Oh that Gucci, that’s hella tight”I’m like, “Yo, that’s 50 dollars for a t-shirt” Limited edition, let’s do…

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  • Lavender Haze

    Restarting this blog has been a balm to my soul, especially these days when, you know…<gestures wildly at everything>. When the chips are really, truly down in my life, there are only three things for it: Aaron Neville singing Ave Maria on repeat, cookies dunked in liquor (e.g., Oreos and whiskey – don’t knock it…

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  • Go Time

    When I say I’m trying to take my writing to the next level, I’m not playing – I am going to take this thing as far as I possibly can before I die. That may never be much further than this blog, and I would never presume to know what life has in store for…

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  • The Resurrection of Woman

    I don’t believe in coincidences. Wise words from a wise man greeted me this morning as I rolled into one of my favorite coffee shops to write. I’ve wanted to restart the blog for a few months, but I’ve struggled mightily with how, exactly, to do so. So much has happened that catching you up…

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  • Warrior Women

    I can’t speak for everyone, but I suspect most of us have little lies we tell ourselves in order to get through difficult situations. I know I do. For instance, when I’m in a room full of really intimidatingly attractive people (given that I’m a deeply introverted and committed homebody, this happens to me significantly…

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  • Beautifully Absurd

    Fourteen years ago, I landed what was, at the time, one of my dream jobs: theatre critic for my local newspaper, the Shreveport Times. My tenure lasted only about a year – after I married The Guy, who, at the time, acted frequently in community theatre productions, the editor of the paper felt I could…

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  • Going Boldly

    Last night, Charlotte told me she prefers Star Wars to Star Trek. I would’ve rather she punched me directly in the face. In fact, I told her so. As a lifelong Trekkie, this revelation was far worse than finding out she likes McDonald’s McRib and powdered coffee creamer. Growing up in rural East Texas, my…

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  • The Legs

    Earlier this week, I took my 7-year-old son, Truman, who’s on Spring Break, for a quick, three-day holiday in New Orleans. I realized on the drive down that it was my first time traveling alone with one of the kids, and, I’m happy to say, it went even better than I hoped it would. We…

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  • Life 2.0

    If my memory is correct (and it probably isn’t), it’s been about a decade since last I blogged without getting paid to do so. To those who are reading me (whew, just said a mouthful there) for the first time, that statement means nothing, but to the homies, The Peanut Gallery, the O.G.s…that’s insane. Unthinkable.…

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