Life According to E
I’ve just returned from ten days in Ireland…exhale. It’s my fourth visit and one of my longest. Damn, I love that place! So…apologies for the radio silence. No blogs or Substacks for a bit. I was there with my three […]
I remember those days. The days when I had all the answers, when I was the one who knew better. Those were the days when I could look into the eyes of my suffering friend and say with 100% certainty, […]
I was speaking with a friend of mine this week and she was lamenting the price of concert tickets (which I completely get) and saying that she just never goes to shows these days. She mentioned $300 a ticket for […]
This is heading back to high school for me. In May 2025 (clearly AFTER high school), my boyfriend and I attended the fourth annual Cruel World rock festival. By the way, what a great time this festival is! It featured […]
Is it just me or have scams lost their zip? Their zing? Their sense of adventure and whimsy? It’s been literally forever since anyone asked me about my penile enlargement needs. (I know, I know I’m a girl it doesn’t […]
In the last few years I have been making a special effort to find new bands. The thing is, I am middle age (and fabulous) and the bands and their members who I grew up listening to in high school, […]
I am drowning in my manuscript’s latest draft and in the holidays, so this week’s Musical Monday is the soul of brevity. Please enjoy… This song is for every loving, impossible to keep night, the ones that you’ll remember even […]
I find that in day-to-day life one runs across few opportunities to use an awesome word like “dastardly.” It’s a great word. So when I decided to write about the five things which can harm your wine, I simply had […]
It’s hard to believe how many good people we have lost, just in this past month, and had you asked me before who my favorite actresses are, I am not sure that Diane Keaton would have made the list. Yet, […]
This song has become a sort of anthem for me. Once upon a time, I met a boy. He was a bit arrogant and, truth be told, at first I didn’t like him very much. Still, we ran in the […]
If you’ve ever been wine tasting then you know that every winery under the sun has a wine club. While they are borderline universal, wine clubs do vary from venue to venue and some are definitely better than others. Let’s […]
I am clearly going through a goth phase and it’s SOOOOO fun! This is just a flat-out great song. I send this out to every different, odd, whimsical, outcast, lonely-in-a-crowd, for all of us who walk to our own beat, […]
This week’s song is a fun little diddy that danced across my TikTok. I was shocked. A country song about burning red hats? Is that even possible? Allowed? And then I realized my mistake. I saw all the bullshit misconceptions […]
Yep, I said moolah. Money, dough, cash, Benjamins, clams, greenbacks, bread, cheddar…ooh, bread and cheddar… goes with wine! And full circle, we are back to one of my favorite topics. I do love a nice glass of wine in the […]
This week’s featured song is a gorgeous one, albeit a cautionary tale. Girl With Golden Eyes is on Sixx:A.M.’s first album, 2007’s The Heroine Diaries. The album was actually a companion piece for Sixx’s book The Heroin Diaries: A Year […]
Happy Monday, People! I’m BACK- new website, new energy, new purpose. There are so many fun and exciting things in the land of all things Erika Gardner coming in the next few months and into 2026. It feels so good […]
***Disclaimer… I know, it’s actually Tuesday. I claim brain fog.*** God, this is a gorgeous song. And yes, it’s true. Ann Wilson is guesting alongside David Draiman and Disturbed. Wow. Two massive voices in rock. I wish I had been […]
As the years pass I find myself valuing personal integrity and authenticity more and more. Sadly, these are qualities where it is easier to talk the talk than to walk the walk. How many times have we held back from […]
On Monday March 13th I published my first blog in two and a half very rough years, then I put the link up on Facebook, both on my personal and my author page. After that, I left it and went […]
Well, hello there. How are you? It’s been a minute. Yep, I am still here. My personal life went to hell in a hand basket. The divorce gutted everyone. And now? We are regrouping, healing, trying to make sense of […]
Hello, friends…I seem to be in a bit of a Nightwish tear right now. As I put together a Gryphon play list and in doing so, a manuscript for The Dragon in The Garden’s sooooooo long overdue sequel, these are […]
This week’s song is “How’s The Heart?” by Nightwish off their new album Human Nature (which is AMAZING). I chose it for three reasons. 1.) It’s awesome- Go, Floor! Her vocals are at a new level! 2.) How’s the heart […]
In July I attended my high school reunion. I had a great time and enjoyed reconnecting with friends. Some of them I see often even now and some I had not seen since high school. We danced, drank, ate, stayed […]
Sometimes our partners in life do and say the most amazing, perfect things. Things we can hold on to, treasure, and weave into the fabric of our lives. Touchstones that sustain us. Sometimes our partners are perfect. Don’t worry, honey, […]
This will be short, but honest. Some people haunt us. They come up again and again. No matter where we go… they are there. Don’t lie- you have them, too. I have one friend I met when I was when […]
This week’s song might not make a lot of sense at first, but bear with me… yes, I KNOW it’s NOT Monday. Over our kids’ Winter Break we visited Maui. We had a great time, but I have to admit… it’s […]
It’s been a while since I have posted, but then that’s Cross Country season. There is one song I’ve meant to put up for weeks. It’s called Scars to Your Beautiful by Alessia Cara. Everyone, man or woman, should listen […]
Let’s face it. The news has not been good. I wish to be clear on my politics: The news makes me cry. Just about every day now it seems. I support our brave police forces. They lay their lives on […]
Happy Wednesday! So, a bit by way of explanation. The prevailing internet logic regarding blogs is that one should focus subject matter, thereby establishing a stronger fan base sooner. For example one will peruse the web and find fashion blogs, […]
It happens every year. Sometimes it sneaks up on us and the flurry, the mayhem, sweeps through and traumatizes us. We’re overwhelmed with everything to do, the lists, the rigid organization, all the people to remember and reach out to, […]
2016 has already proven to be the year of the dead rock star. Especially if you happen to be a male, say 68-72. We’ve lost some greats: David Bowie, Glenn Frey, Dale Griffin, Paul Kantner, Natalie Cole, Maurice White, […]
I owe my dear friend, Debbie Oakland, an apology. She asked, and I promised, for a Musical Monday derived or inspired in some way from this year’s Grammys. Debbie, I’m getting there, I swear. However, I had to go where […]
This week’s blog, like last Monday’s, is something of a bonus. You get a two-fer. Meaning, this is an introduction to a stellar book and a fabulous song to act as its soundtrack. Win-win. The book is The Fall and […]
Originally my intent was to write a blog celebrating and mourning the life and loss of the inimitable David Bowie. Then last Friday we lost Alan Rickman (one of my very favorite actors), next Dan Haggerty (aka Grizzly Adams), Glenn […]
Look at this- me, you, and on a Monday to boot. Big Smile. This could be a thing– a me being on time thing. This week I want to discuss opposing views. While I have gotten pretty politically confrontational on […]
Yep, I missed Monday again… but I had an excellent reason for it. Originally, I prepared another blog, which will appear next week- on Monday in fact, when I spied a Facebook message from my friend Michael with the song […]
And, looking at my title this week, I hope some men. Everything I am going to say has been said before. I just hope I can add my voice to the throng. I am one of the many. May the […]
Looking around at life, love means an awful lot of things to an awful lot of people. I watch people and I see what is in my own life. As with so many things, the disparities are striking. The greatest […]
So, if you follow the wine blogs, magazines, or just plain wine speak in general you’ll know that one of California’s greatest gifts is simultaneously our bane. Yep, in a word? Zinfindels. I mean, come on! Our weather, our terroir, […]
Happy Hump Day! For me Wednesday is the day when one can truly hunker down and plan out one’s weekend. Monday is spent mourning the passing of the previous weekend and Tuesday is the day actual work gets done, so […]
I first watched David Letterman in the early eighties at a sleepover at my friend Lisa’s house. Must have been seventh or eighth grade. We were up too late. That experience proved to be a game changer for me, a […]
Recently I made it out on the town with the gals. Each of these ladies has a child or children who ran middle school track. This is relevant because I too have children who run plus I coach Track and […]
As I mentioned in last week’s column, I recently attended the Dallas-Fort Worth Writers’ Conference. In addition to all the wonderful people I met, informational classes and lectures I attended, we were also treated to some pretty kick-ass keynote speeches. […]
This week’s post is about two kinds of ghosts. The first relates to my creative process. The second refers to the ghosts my characters may be dealing with. I spent the past weekend at the Dallas-Fort Worth Writers’ Conference in […]
It’s been a bit. How are you? How have you been? Well? Well-ish? Life has consumed me, but I need to start blogging again. Well, crap on a cracker, but what a sad reason to return. Sunday we lost Chris […]
I shudder just typing the phrase “fo’ shizzle,” but then I used to shudder whenever anyone used it. However, those old enough to remember can likely guess our next decade of songs to review and rank. The 2000’s definitely held […]
It was a time of flannel, cardigans from Good Will, and combat boots. The skies were gray-like, always- even in California. The music held angst. Musicians seemed to take pride in only knowing three chords. People emphasized the emotion, dude, […]
Another year, another Big Bike Build! As has become our tradition my family participated in the annual Bike Build in San Jose. Volunteers come together to assemble more than 2500 bikes. Charities’ trucks line up to give the bikes to […]
Last week, my honey brought me a Conundrum. Mind you, he didn’t mean to. But, you see, I wasn’t answering the phone. Why? I went to the pool for a Mai-tai and left my phone in our room. (Now before […]
No, I didn’t drop off the end of the earth. No matter what certain religious groups will tell you, the earth is not flat. I just got busy… again. Hope your Thanksgiving, or for those friends in other countries, your […]
If you grew up in the United States, or hey, maybe other countries, too- I can’t say, you have likely had “Mystery Meat.” This is especially true if you bought lunch at the school cafeteria. Maybe yours was called “Wednesday […]
As I type I am on a visit to San Diego. My hostess, a dear friend, served us two bottles of this amazing wine. It was new to me and I simply cannot wait to hunt some out once I […]
On July 1st I took my son, David, to see his first concert. We saw Queen with Adam Lambert. Sadly, it can never be the Queen of yesteryear. Freddie Mercury left this world in 1991 and John Deacon retired from […]
My kids, especially my daughters, like when I put together playlists for my phone or iPod. Summer 2012, Winter 2013, you get the idea. As music so often does, when we listen to the lists after a break the songs […]
This was to be another piece. One on teachers. Then, later, one, on the importance of immunization. Then, a note on tolerance. In the end, it boiled down to one simple fact. A good man died today. And I do […]
Riddle me this? What does a sick extremist terrorist fear the most? Answer: a little girl with a book in her hand. Unless you’ve been under a rock, you’ve heard about Malala Yousafzai, the Pakastani schoolgirl who spoke out in […]
It’s rare that I join a wine club any more. There have been times when my husband and I belonged to six, seven, eight clubs. That’s way too many. It gets expensive and you lose the special anticipation of a […]
This week’s blog is going to be vague. Sorry, I need to rant, but I can’t give details. Thanks in advance for your patience. Gazing around the world, I am struck by the effect that a strong personality can exert […]
A couple of weeks ago (‘kay, maybe a month and a half, but who’s counting?) my dear friend Monica said to me (I’m paraphrasing), “You’ve warped (shaped) my daughters… Erin is a Doctor Who convert and Emily keeps stopping me […]
Happy Monday… and happy St. Patrick’s Day! Slainte mhath! This week’s song is one I’ve known all my life, albeit in slightly different forms. It is Far Over Misty Mountains Cold, lyrics by John Ronald Reuel Tolkien, and music by […]
Ah yes, the distraction that is the three-day weekend. Hence, it is Tuesday and my blog comes out. But, honestly, doesn’t it feel like a Monday??? This time of year invariably sets people reflecting on their goals and aspirations, as […]
Looking back over my “Wine on Wednesday” posts I can see that I have neglected one of my very favorite types of wine: the blend. This is a wine that has more than one variety of grape in it. Now, […]
And I emerge from the Silly Season at last… Welcome back to the cornucopia of emotion, goofiness, and occasional pathos that is my Musical Monday Blog! This week’s song is Pompeii by Bastille. This post is dedicated to one of […]
It’s been a while, Musical Monday fans. I finished “Sea Strand.” It’s a work that I am very proud of. That said, I no longer have the happy gleeful view of, “Whoopee! I finished the book– let’s publish!” I now […]
Yep, it’s me, playing fast and loose with the days of the week. What can I say? I’m a rebel. A rebel who’s had a horrible cold these past eleven days. Today is the first day in five that I […]
Clearly, I have some weeks that are better in the blogosphere than others. This is turning out to be a bloggie week. My Wine on Wednesdays blogs are not intended to be a weekly thing. They only happen when I […]
Sometimes my Musical Mondays have a commentary. Other times, there’s a bit of pop culture or nostalgia. Then there are the times when I just like the song. Read it into it what ye’ may. This is one of those […]
Okay, this started out as a joke posted on my FB Page by my friends (and sometime Beta Readers), Kit and Michelle. It read as follows: “Kit and I think that this would be a great “what-not-to-do” piece for Music […]
Of course, it didn’t start that way–this feud, I mean. It began with Miley expressing admiration for O’Connor, so much so that she claims the video for her song, Wrecking Ball, was inspired by the iconic video for O’Connor’s cover […]
Oh, my blog. My poor, beloved, NEGLECTED blog. How I have missed you. Sorry, readers, it’s been nuts. You can always tell when I’m drowning- the blogging stops. And hey, thank you to those of you who noticed- you rock! […]
This past weekend was a girls’ weekend… and a good one. One of the things that I adore about wine is that the right wine goes with food AND friends. The elegant bottle and lovely glasses lend a celebratory air […]
So, the thing is… this column can be rather challenging to write. I like to feature music I actually like, preferably love, and I also like to have a point. Making said point can be difficult, people love when you […]
My friends all know that I am a hard-core devotee of red wine in all its luscious glory. However, there is something about sitting on the back deck during a beautiful Californian summer evening sipping a lovely chilled sparkling wine […]
No, despite the title I will not be referencing Monty Python, much as I adore them. Today’s slice of Musical Monday is dedicated to the song The Lesson off the 2012 debut solo album, British Lion from Iron Maiden founder […]
For the past couple of days I have been immersed in a project for my other blog; the one I contribute to with the rest of my critique group. It works out that we each write once every five weeks. […]
Okay, people, do not, I repeat, do NOT get too used this. Yes, this is the second Wednesday in a row that I am blogging on wine, but that’s only because the stars aligned JUST right. This week’s wine gem […]
Well, it’s been five days since DOMA was struck down and I am still married. Quite happily, if I’m allowed to be honest. We’re defending our marriage just fine on our own, thank you very much. Although, the fact that […]
I’ll say it again… there’s no shame in pink. The 1990’s and crimes committed against white zinfindel and its fans have a great deal to answer for. For starters, I now frequently meet people who believe that all rosé wines […]
When I began thinking about this Musical Monday blog, a few thoughts came to mind. The first was a litany of the various jokes, gripes and semi-complaints that most people have about getting older. The other was a profound sense […]
My critique group recently started a blog. We call ourselves the Beer & Bacon Babes so our site is named The BBB Gals- This One Time… At Writers’ Group. (What? We can call ourselves “babes” if we want to– I […]
Now, given the challenge I’ve faced trying to be consistent with my Musical Monday blogs, I would have to be a great fool to try to start another weekly featured post. I am not a great fool (mostly) so I […]
Friday I had one of those runs that makes life shining and glittery… simply awesome. Forgive me as I descend into clichés, I’m sorry- it simply can not be helped. The sun was shining, but it was early enough so […]
I was reading the paper yesterday, yep, old school, and I came across an article regarding a pending court case here in California. Our state attorney general is accusing several stores, including: Target, Trader Joe’s, 99 Ranch Market, Island Pacific […]
Memorial Day. It’s not always what we would hope it to be. It isn’t that Americans are shallow or forgetful. We aren’t. Though I admit, at times, we do not represent ourselves well. Anyone in the US can tell you […]
Yep, I missed Monday again, but I did get another chapter and a half done of Sea Strand, so I have that going for me. My apologies, let’s get with the musicality. Last Thursday Eric and I said good-bye to […]
It’s been three long years. Years without concerts where Ronnie’s voice belted out, shaking the beams of the building and moving our souls. This is the post I wrote two years ago, on the first anniversary of his passing- marking […]
So, here’s the thing, and actually, it’s not so much as a thing as a simple statement of fact, in June I turn forty-four. Talk to me at twenty-four and forty-four would have been a HUGE drama-fest. Now, I have […]
