So - am working on a memoir-ish type of book about me and my dad - the redneck, born again, gun loving tea partier... we don't have much in common. In fact, we didn't speak for years... but through a series of roadtrips, vacations and holidays starting in 2003 we have fought to forge a relationship. I mean - after all, when you meet someone with whom you have nothing in common with and who is antagonistic - you usually walk away. Right? But what is that person is family and you cant?

So. I wrote a small essay about it for XoJane.com (here it is: http://www.xojane.com/family/paula-fr...).. and it seems I'm not the only one. Which makes me feel better. Heh.

But the writing is hard - how to tell a true, sometimes hard story, without being hurtful?

The answer is to step away. Often. Which makes things a little slow going.

And in between read a few books that you want it to be like (David Sedaris "Naked," Susan Jane Gilman "Hypocrite in a Pouffy White Dress," "Lets Pretend This Didn't Happen" etc)...

In the meantime, Karl the wonder dachshund is sick of me - and is threatening to grudge poop if i dont take him for a walk, so...