There’s a new frenemy in town

July 14, 2019

Katie McDowell I am so hungry. Normally, I wouldn’t begin a column — or any piece of writing, really — by simply logging on and typing my current state. But I’m on deadline, and I just had a cup of blueberries for lunch — my whole lunch — so it’s pretty much all I can come up with at the moment. No readable memoir ever began with something so banal as “I am sad. Now read my stuff.” And while, yes, it would be fair to point to a lack of imagination on my part, I’m choosing instead to place the blame in the same spot I’ve placed it for every negative ...

‘You couldn’t watch it, the dog dies’

June 30, 2019

It’s no secret that I love murder shows and horror movies. Ever since I was old enough to appreciate a good story, I’ve been drawn to the drama of human suffering. Sad documentaries, slasher films, true crime podcasts, books with a dead body in chapter 1 — whatever the medium, if people are devastated in it, I’m down. But do not, under any circumstances, expect me to watch/read/listen to anything where an animal is harmed. And definitely not if one dies. This rule goes back even further than my preoccupation with human hardship. I remember as a child my ...

Can’t wrap my mind around all this guilt-free eating

June 16, 2019

Pointing, I asked Dan about the source of a rouge red spot at his waist. “What did you get on your new shirt?” I wondered. “Huh,” he said, looking down, thumbing at it a little. “I have no idea.” Seeing as how the conversation wasn’t exactly scintillating, we both just went back to watching TV. “Oh, wait,” he piped up a few minutes later. “I forgot, they had donuts at my meeting earlier and I ate a couple raspberry jelly ones. Totally spaced it. That must be it.” He turned his attention back to the TV once again, while I was left staring ...

Some new stuff hitting the boob-tube, as my mom would say

June 2, 2019

COMMENTARY I know a ton of people are still reeling over the end of “Game of Thrones.” I am not one of those people. Aside from the finale — seen only because I happened to be in the room when it was playing — I never watched a single episode. So, unlike many of my friends (and, it ...

Weekend away offers chance to get back in the book groove

May 19, 2019

I love to read. All my life, it’s been my No. 1 hobby, among the first things I list when asked about my passions. There have been, on many occasions, entire weekends where I do little else — eschewing any and all intrusions (all that pesky talking, eating and bathing) to devour multiple ...

Jenny Wilson Trio, Marc Harshman perform together Saturday at MAC

May 9, 2019

MORGANTOWN — The Jenny Wilson Trio will perform a jazz concert, “Sound Color Words,” at 7:30 p.m. Saturday at Monongalia Arts Center (MAC). Made up of Jenny Wilson on piano and vocals, Nathan Wilson on bass, and Evan Lintz on drums, the area trio will be accompanied by West Virginia poet ...