Articles written by Mark Zeiger

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About me - Mark Zeiger

I live with my family in a little log cabin in the forest at the edge of Lynn Canal in Southeast Alaska. I began writing as soon as I learned to read and write. I especially like to write dark fiction, and have had a couple of stories purchased for publication,

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Creative Writing > Reflections Reflections: Thoughts on what could have been: 1 of 46
February 4, 1903Grandma gave us a story before going away to a place in her mind where we could not follow; where Grandpa couldn't go, though he loved her dearly. He died caring for her, and she lived in that far place for many years, coming back occasionally to smile at us, and chat.The story concerns her mother, Clara Maud ... More..
Creative Writing > Memoirs Memoirs: My first tattoo: 1 of 46
Jimmy Buffett recorded a song with an unusual title. He told a story explaining it. He related a family gathering at which a young woman rationalized at length her choice to tattoo a large portion of her back. As she concluded, the group's matriarch spoke up, pronouncing the tattoo "a permanent reminder of a momentary feeling... More..
Creative Writing > Memoirs Memoirs: My freshman year in college: 1 of 17
I met my wife the first night of our freshman year in college. I wouldn't figure this out until a couple of years later. I don't mean that I would later realize that she would be my wife, I mean that I wouldn't know till then that I had met her that night.Our first days of college involved a lot of orientation activities, man... More..
Celebrations & Holidays > Christmas How the image of Santa Claus has changed in the 20th century: 1 of 12
Santa Claus! The name conjures so many images. For Americans, a common perception of Santa Claus solidified during the 20th century. As the United States' influence on world cultural increased, this image spread across the globe.Nicholas, the Bishop of Myra, lived in the third century A.D. Legends grew around him, and soon af... More..
Home & Garden > Home & Garden (Other) Why versatility is key for homesteaders: 2 of 12
If you were to ask me how versatile a homesteader must be, I'd invite you to come see for yourself. Hike across the tidal basin and over the ridge to my homestead, perched on the ocean's edge in southern Alaska.Strictly and legally speaking, this is not a homestead. The Federal Homestead Act that allowed Americans to claim 16... More..
Creative Writing > Memoirs Memoirs: Learning to cook: 6 of 31
To my parental pride and gustatory delight, my 15-year old daughter has taken an interest in cooking.Encouraging this pursuit in no way contradicts my efforts to nurture her independence or her liberation from traditional female roles. On the contrary, I believe everyone should learn to cook. An individual's independence and ... More..
Jobs & Careers > Resumes & Cover Letters What is the objective of a resume?: 1 of 5
You may be thinking, "the objective of a resume is to get the owner hired, of course!" and you would be right. However, the "objective" is actually an extremely important component of a quality resume, one that should be carefully crafted.The objective tells the reviewer what your purpose is, what you want to achieve with the... More..
Home & Garden > Vegetables & Herbs How to grow chives: 1 of 5
Fresh chives make a welcome addition to just about any dish! Cutting up a few chive leaves with scissors over a salad, pot of soup, or omelet adds a pleasant, savory, mild onion flavor. Chives can be found growing wild in many places, and are very easy . . . perhaps too easy . . . to grow in your garden! Chive, allium schoeno... More..
Politics, News & Issues > Climate Change Is our planet really dying?: 1 of 5
We must be clear about this: "our" planet is dying, but the planet itself will continue to live.This is more than semantical nitpicking. Earth is, at this moment in its vast history, hospitable to man. It was not always so, and it will not always be so.In the incomprehensible sweep of time, the planet's features: climate, atm... More..
Creative Writing > Memoirs Memoirs: Buying my first house: 7 of 34
I have always been fascinated by "moments," those instances in life where we face something that will have great impact on our lives. Most of the time we don't know that life will become entangled with this thing at that particular moment. We may see a person who will later become our spouse. We might hear of a tropical storm... More..