PAULA WHYMAN
curiouswriter

In which we wonder about writing, food, music,
& random curious events.

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One of my kids took this in Wyoming. We did not see any other elk that day.

I'm a writer living in the Washington, DC, area. My work has appeared recently in the anthology, Writes of Passage: Coming of Age Stories and Memoirs from The Hudson Review, and on NPR's "All Things Considered."

For more about me, see the Bio page.

We like the shoes.

follow paulawhyman at http://twitter.com

"Mom takes a long time putting on her powders."

CURIOSITIES: THE BLOG

[YOUR CANDIDATE'S NAME HERE] Won!!

September 27, 2008

Tags: 2008 Campaign

Since I'm at least as qualified to be VP as Sarah Palin, I think I'm qualified enough to offer my take on the first presidential debate. (Note that NBC didn't invite Ms. Palin to comment following the broadcast--They asked Biden...and Rudy Giuliani. Do you think she didn't have anything to add? Maybe she told them what she told Katie Couric -- she'd have to get back to them later on that...) (more…)

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Three Books About...

September 23, 2008

Tags: Random curiosities

My essay, Angst Lurks Behind the Lawn Mower (Three Books about Desperate Suburban Men) will be broadcast this evening on All Things Considered!

If you miss it, you can hear the podcast on their website, and read the text, after 7pm EST. Read it here.

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But Does He Do Laundry?

September 22, 2008

Tags: Random curiosities

When I was in NY this weekend, I saw Eliot Spitzer, near Central Park, in the East 60s. He was driving a minivan. So now we know the real punishment for his transgressions: His wife is making him drive the carpools.

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The Real Writer's Life

September 18, 2008

Tags: writing, Random curiosities

See my guest blog on Leslie Pietrzyk's Work-in-Progress site today.

It's a parody in response to those books about writing that are written by famous, successful people, which are often of little use to most of the rest of us...

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For Those About to Rock, or, As It Were, STILL Rocking

September 17, 2008

Tags: music, Random curiosities

XM Channel 53 is running all AC/DC, all the time. I think it goes through at least the end of the month (who knew there WAS this much AC/DC??), and it will include their new album, Black Ice.

And, with Channel 51 still running Metallica 24/7, that's like, whoa. (more…)

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The New Bank of...Me?

September 15, 2008

Tags: Random curiosities

The financial companies are desperately seeking buyers, and the rates are cheap, cheap, cheap--shares of Lehman only $3.65! Seriously, that's less than a video rental at Blockbuster. As a taxpayer, I will soon own part of mortgage giants Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac. If I'm propping up these failing banks anyway, why not just buy one for myself? (more…)

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Selected Works

Fiction

"DRIVER'S EDUCATION"

Sexual and racial tensions in a classroom threaten to explode as a young teen faces choices that will haunt her in adulthood. ORDER HERE

"THE MIDDLE WAY"

A young girl in Thailand is sold into prostitution by her mother.

“STATUTE OF LIMITATIONS”

A woman is haunted by events from the past that threaten to disturb her domestic life.

"SAND PEOPLE"

A man battles neighbors to build his dream house, while his son resists the pull of the family heritage.

"MINOR OFFENSES"

A bored housewife has a sexual encounter with a utility worker, with disastrous results.

"THE ROSE GARDEN"

A psychologist confuses fantasy and reality as she travels alone for the first time after her divorce.

Humor

"CHECK, PLEASE: WHEN THE MENU IS A MINEFIELD"
Dining out with dietary issues, and Twizzlers. From the Washington Post.

“Potty Talk”
A homeowner finds something Very Special about her toilet. From the Washington Post Magazine.

“Contributor Notes” (parody)

“Reality Shows Currently in Production”