So where have I been for the last year and a half? Why have I not been writing regularly, though I whine about it to nearly every friend I have? I’ve been asking myself those questions for quite a while, and some of the answers I’ve come up with aren’t too comfortable.

Yes, I miss journalism, and asking questions all day, and telling other people’s stories. But I also miss the instant cred and name recognition that came with having a regular newspaper column.

I’ve been worried that if I admitted I was still a journalist — or still wanted to be — it would somehow be a step off the hard-won path to my newer vocation, as someone who is painstakingly learning how to be a fundraiser, school communicator and manager in a culture I’ve never experienced before.

But almost every day I come up with a column idea, or get mad about something, or see a story — not all of them are at St. Mary’s, though some are — and think: I should be writing about that.

So here goes. Please read, comment and help me find my voice again. I hope it never really went away.

Dear Diva watchers: Beginning tomorrow, my blog will be untied (decoupled? unhitched?) from The Commercial Appeal’s Web site, and I will begin blogging early next week as the civilian I will soon become. My tech gurus assure me this is doable, but there might be a little down time as we figure everything out. Please stick with me … and come back … and link me with your (other) favorite blogs … and tell your friends. Let’s keep this conversation going. I can’t wait!

As you might have heard and read, my time as both editor of skirt! magazine and as a columnist and editor at The Commercial Appeal is officially over tomorrow. (The link above is my last CA column; here’s The Flyer story from this week.) Of course I’m excited about my new job as the Director of Advancement — that’s development, communications, alumnae relations — at St. Mary’s Episcopal School. But I’ve been spending a lot of time thinking this week about my time at The CA, and what it will mean to step away from this place after 15 years. (FYI, the photo with this post was taken in 2005, right as I was beginning iDivamemphis. I’ve always loved these pictures — Shane McDermott in the newsroom did my Diva face cartoon from it.) Read the rest of this entry »

So my column Sunday really touched a nerve — I have gotten lots of responses (a few below) to my observations about how Barack Obama’s Inauguration has changed the way our kids will see the world. I hadn’t really thought of it as a confession, but now that I think of it … it was. And I can’t agree with CLJ, below. Even if we eventually leave Memphis, the things we’ve learned here have literally changed our lives. Read the rest of this entry »

OK, you can tell from the headline on this post that I have already decided about Jeffrey Scott, and can’t imagine how even magician/defense attorney Leslie Ballin will get him off. Wanted to be sure that you are keeping up with the trial the best way — by reading the live blogging that’s going on. Clay Bailey, longtime reporter at The CA, is setting the standard, and I’ve even heard that other journalists covering the trial are following him for their stories. Here’s the link to his live blog. What do you think? Will Jeffrey Scott walk?