Author Archives: O

About O

I live in a suburb of an American City. I write to try and understand myself and the world around me. I love nature, art, music, literature and beauty in all its forms. I think the world has gone mad and many of us will soon go insane from living in this world. What I love almost more than anything is my garden. I love its trees, shrubs and its many flowers. I love the birds, their flying and singing and dancing movements in and out of the sky and garden. Their freedom. They always bring joy. My blog is whennothingworks because for a long time nothing has worked. Friends, family, jobs, money, houses, careers, lovers, things--- it all just doesn't work sometimes, or most of the time. The garden always works. Nature and its beauty always work. And, in my garden, I can sit quietly and think, or just breathe, and somehow manage to survive the world.

That Thing Hanging from a Branch Over the River

Posted on October 16, 2015 by O

Suddenly the cold. Suddenly the wind. Suddenly the skies darken again. Just last Saturday the guys came to put up the storms. Again. Summer just fled. The days of gentle delicious night breezes cooling off my feet. Gone. The vast … Continue reading →

Posted in Bus Stop Stories, Uncategorized | 2 Comments

The Windy Freezing Beaten Down Garden

Posted on October 2, 2015 by O

All night long I heard the howling wind, that sounded like it was whipping, slashing, breaking, pounding down everything on the house and in the garden. It’s been that windy now for three days, and today again and tomorrow it … Continue reading →

Posted in Always the Garden, Uncategorized | 1 Comment

Seven Great Happy Things

Posted on September 28, 2015 by O

I have not written all summer. Last entry May 29, 2015. Last night the super moon and eclipse and autumn here already. Ah, but the super moon! I forgot it was coming and suddenly saw it between the branches of … Continue reading →

Posted in Uncategorized | 1 Comment

Lilacs, Among Other Things

Posted on May 29, 2015 by O

I’m sitting in the garden, actually was (by the time this is posted) sitting in the garden, after a long long absence. It was as though a loud bell just went off singing throughout this land, “I Am Summer!” Come … Continue reading →

Posted in Always the Garden, Uncategorized | Leave a comment

Can I Handle Another Spring?

Posted on April 21, 2015 by O

I’m sitting in a cheap Chinese (Schezuan) restaurant in my ugly rich suburb. Drinking a Rob Roy, a type of Manhattan but made with Scotch. I seem to remember that you drank Rob Roys so I ordered one. Sometimes Manhattans … Continue reading →

Posted in Uncategorized | 1 Comment

Yes, It’s Still Cold and the Tree is Still Up

Posted on February 17, 2015 by O

Yes, it’s still cold and everyone is sick and tired of the cold and the shoveling of snow and the icy streets, and now the awful pockmarked black snow full of plastic bags, gum wrappers, cigarette butts, dog pee and … Continue reading →

Posted in Uncategorized | 3 Comments

Bowl of Stracciatella, Hot Bath and a Laugh

Posted on January 14, 2015 by O

Still cold, very cold but getting used to it. Dark early, coffee hot and bitter but good, Christmas tree still up, and sometimes in the early morning I light it and drink the hot coffee, sit by the Chinese red … Continue reading →

Posted in Eating, Drinking, Cooking, Uncategorized | 9 Comments

Oh My Icy Breath and Trees full of Starlings

Posted on December 31, 2014 by O

Icy cold today, maybe 10 below zero. Need to go out to post office and bank, bills, end of year things I forgot, almost overdrawn, wrote too many checks forgetting the money is draining like the bathtub. Slight hesitation. Still … Continue reading →

Posted in Uncategorized | 6 Comments

Shall I Fly North or South?

Posted on December 15, 2014 by O

I ran out without a hat this morning. Usually in the winter, once I put the hat on, it doesn’t come off until April. No hat, no gloves, jacket flying open. It was that warm this December, and I was … Continue reading →

Posted in Bus Stop Stories, Uncategorized | 1 Comment

Birds, Black Car Texting, Exhaust

Posted on December 13, 2014 by O

Woke up late. Too tired to start things in a hurry, like Saturdays of long ago. Sitting here with coffee, black as hell and bitter. But it tastes good. A grey fine day like someone’s antique silk dress fraying slightly … Continue reading →