Tamara MC
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Articles by Tamara MC
A Cornfield Persists
At the foot of Sentinel Peak on Tucson’s west side, gardeners cultivate four walled acres at Mission Garden, on the site of an O’odham village named S-cuk Ṣon. The living agricultural museum grows heritage crops in gardens representing the cultures and agricultural traditions that have shaped the region. In 2026, the site was added to the National Register of Historic Places. Dena Cowan, Mission Garden’s curator of collections and a Tucson native, guided me through the orchard one morning.
Venture Down the Dark Hollow
September 30, 2026 South African roots blend with the Rogue Valley By Tamara MC I met Anna Sephton this summer at a Savor Southern Oregon tasting, where she poured her family’s Dark Hollow Farm Riesling and a young Pinot Noir. Her parents, Brian Sephton and Anita Klingenberg, moved from Florida to Dark Hollow Road, a quick drive west of Phoenix in early 2020, about three weeks before the pandemic closed the country.
Three Fresh Ginseng Roots Go Into Every Bottle of This Wisconsin Whiskey
At Great Northern Distilling in Stevens Point, one of Wisconsin’s signature crops becomes an earthy, bitter 80-proof spirit with an unusual history. Wisconsin produces almost 98 percent of the ginseng grown in the United States, and Marathon County accounts for about 95 percent of Wisconsin’s annual crop. In Stevens Point, about 30 miles from Wausau, Great Northern Distilling uses the local crop in its American Ginseng Flavored Whiskey.
“Nature alone is antique; and the oldest art, a mushroom”*…
Every August, Telluride hosts the Telluride Mushroom Festival—an event that brings fungal science, conservation, foraging, cultivation, psychedelic research, art, and community together in the Colorado mountains. Tamara MC reports… … Nestled in the Colorado mountains, Telluride has long been a town of festivals: Bluegrass, Film, Mountainfilm, and Jazz. But for more than four decades, the Telluride Mushroom Festival has carved out its own niche as the largest gathering of its kind in North America.
“There were hundreds crawling across the trail.” Huge, hairy animals surround stunned hiker in Texas desert
I had come to Big Bend National Park, Texas, for the solitude, the sweeping desert views and the hope of spotting a black bear . It was a six-hour drive from El Paso airport, a journey through vast swathes of West Texas, where the open road stretched endlessly ahead. By the time we got to the park, the sun was already starting to dip behind the rugged peaks of the Chisos Mountains. Eager to get in a hike before dark, we set off on the Lost Mine Trail, one of Big Bend's most popular hikes.
Laura Biondo: Freestyle Football — Football Heritage
Words by Dr. Tamara MC | Published 08.08.2026 Laura Biondo has set 20 world records in a sport most Americans don't know exists. Twenty Guinness World Records. One world title. Biondo is the first woman ever to set a Guinness World Record in freestyle football, and the only Latin American — male or female — to win the world championship. Laura Biondo is the most decorated freestyle football athlete Latin America has ever produced.
Zip, Dip and Sip
July 31, 2026 Ziplines, whitewater and wine deliver a full day of Southern Oregon adventure By Tamara MC Our group drove into Del Rio Vineyard Estate, located midway between Medford and Grants Pass, and parked near an ample timber arch with the words Del Rio hung from the crossbeam. The vineyard opened beyond it in straight rows, green to gold in the afternoon light, and the Rogue River ran close by, bright below the old Rock Point Bridge.
Lost and Found: George's Serbian Textbook
The book wasnāt mine. This feels important to establish right away. Colloquial Serbian: The Complete Course for Beginners sat in my tote bag from Book Culture, wrapped with a note that said, āHold for George,ā secured by a rubber band. George had paid $54.95 in cash. I know this because the receipt was tucked inside the front cover like a bookmark to someone elseās life. I donāt know how it ended up in my bag.
All Done by Tamara MC — Five Minutes
I’m on my bike in a red helmet, the Catalinas swallowed by clouds, when I text my ex-husband for the first time in five years: "Our son is turning thirty! Can you believe it? Thirty years ago, I was twenty-three!" Two minutes later, he replies: "Too young, but now we have a thirty-year-old. All done. Enjoy your day." I stop pedaling. Too young. As if you can return a child. All done. Fifteen years divorced and I finally understand: He was always done.
10 wonderfully weird festivals to add to your bucket list this year
1 hour ago Some people have guts of steel, while others are … a little more sensitive. Here are tips for preventing stomach discomfort and motion sickness on trips. We’ve all encountered that traveler with an iron stomach — the one who never gets queasy, much less sick, even after slurping down lukewarm …
10 wonderfully weird festivals to add to your bucket list this year Original
Every January, millions of kites take to the sky over India, dancing and diving in a colorful competition that lasts from dawn until well after dark. In October, 1,500 sheep parade through an Idaho mountain town, bells ringing as ranchers on horseback guide them down Main Street. Finland crowns a world champion for air guitar, where performers shred on instruments that exist only in their imaginations.
Mein Freund machte an Weihnachten Schluss, obwohl ich seine Traumfrau war
Während der Feiertage im Jahr 2021 erhielt die Autorin (nicht im Bild) ein unerwünschtes Weihnachtsgeschenk von ihrem Freund. getty images Mein Freund und ich hatten ein perfektes Weihnachtsfest mit einem venezolanischen Essen, einer Feuerstelle und Tanz. Aber an diesem Abend machte er mit mir Schluss; vielleicht trauerte er um sein früheres Leben mit seiner Ex und seinen Kindern. Seitdem hatte ich keine Dates mehr und habe meine Unabhängigkeit genossen. Die Feiertage feiere ich mit meiner Familie.
Why I Purchased My Inheritance at an Estate Sale
Some of Tamara MC’s extensive milk glass collection I wish I could say I collect milk glass, but I don’t. I’m the keeper of someone else’s collection—a dead woman’s life work that I rescued from an estate sale almost twenty years ago. The Blue Woman, as I think of her, lived in a house completely immersed in blue: blue carpet, blue couch, blue curtains.
Prompted
All-Genre Prompt By Tamara MC Introduction (10 minutes) Read Vahni Capildeo’s “Investigation of Past Shoes.” Discuss how shoes function as storytellers and witnesses. What happens when we give objects permission to speak? Prewriting (20 minutes) Select any pair of shoes. Alternatively, if shoes aren’t accessible or relevant, choose another object that accompanies you: mobility aids, clothing, objects you interact with daily. Visualization (5 minutes) Close your eyes. What colors and textures?
Mother, Daughter, Memory Keeper: Julie Brill’s Triple Role
Julie Brill’s memoir Hidden in Plain Sight: A Family Memoir and the Untold Story of the Holocaust in Serbia explores a little-known chapter of Holocaust history while examining the challenges of motherhood across generations. The book documents the destruction of Belgrade’s Jewish community, where 90% of 10,000 Jews perished within 12 months of Nazi occupation. Brill’s father, born in 1938, survived the Holocaust as a young child.
My Husband Told Me He Couldn't Be Married Anymore - So I Made A Decision I've Kept Secret For 12 Years
Courtesy Of Tamara MC In 2010, after a 17-year marriage, my husband asked for a divorce, saying he couldn’t be married anymore. We had two sons, 14 and 16, not quite two years apart, whom I had nursed over four years straight. My once-perky breasts weren’t the same after. Whose are? They weren’t terrible, just more deflated, like a helium balloon the day after a birthday party. I used to joke with my husband that I was planning to have breast surgery when I finished nursing.
“There were hundreds crawling across the trail.” Huge, hairy animals surround hiker in Texas desert
The Emmy Award-winning "CBS News Sunday Morning" is broadcast on CBS Sundays beginning at 9:00 a.m. ET. "Sunday Morning" also streams on the CBS News app beginning at 11:00 a.m. ET. (Download it here.) Hosted by Jane Pauley COVER STORY: Phobias - How to overcome your worst misguided fears An estimated …
My Husband Told Me He Couldn't Be Married Anymore - So I Made A Decision I've Kept Secret For 12 Years
The author after surgery in 2011. Courtesy Of Tamara MC In 2010, after a 17-year marriage, my husband asked for a divorce, saying he couldn’t be married anymore. We had two sons, 14 and 16, not quite two years apart, whom I had nursed over four years straight. My once-perky breasts weren’t the same after. Whose are? They weren’t terrible, just more deflated, like a helium balloon the day after a birthday party.
Book Review of a Well-trained wife: My escape from christian patriarchy
Tia Levings’s powerful memoir, A Well-Trained Wife: My Escape from Christian Patriarchy, delivers a searing critique of patriarchal religious systems through the lens of her own harrowing journey. As a Gen X survivor of religious fundamentalism, Levings provides a revealing window into the oppressive structures of Christian patriarchy, offering both personal testimony and broader cultural commentary.
Barbie’s Blue Leather Case
by Tamara MC Twenty hours stretch between Tucson and Mazatlán, Mexico on a highway that never ends. Hour one, 6 AM: inside the 1969 baby blue VW van, metal heats and expands as the dawn breaks pink over the Catalina Mountains. Saguaros cast long shadows across Interstate 19. My mother spends hours preparing the back for our journey—layering serapes, arranging pillows. She tucks the blankets around the edges with careful hands, smoothing their bright stripes.
A Perfect Palm Springs Weekend
Palm Springs sparkles with mid-century glamour, healing hot springs, and endless sunshine. Named for the natural hot springs of the Agua Caliente Band of Cahuilla Indians, this desert oasis sits at the base of Mount San Jacinto, creating a unique microclimate that attracted Hollywood stars beginning in the 1920s.
Three Poems
MC sits on a hard chair shaking her head. It is pre-summer 2013 and MC's big breasts fall out of MC's flowered razorback bra. MC's black thong swings up from MC's black yoga pants. It is 11:06 am and horns are honking on the avenue. Later, when MC will be eating cornbread casserole with the boy, MC will put on a white blousy dress. When the boy and MC sleep, the room's windows will frost over. The boy will shiver. MC flashes heat, but MC CANNOT be old enough to have hot flashes. MC waits for the blood.
A Monstrous Boy
James laced a telephone cord around his mother’s neck and pulled until he asphyxiated her. I knew James since first grade. In fourth grade, he sat behind me in Ms. L’s class. He kicked my chair throughout the school year. My head bounced back and forth like a rag doll. One day, before lunch, James was desperate to get my attention. “Tamara! Tamara!” I ignored him as always, and then he pleaded more.
The "I Love Lucy" Experience at Chautauqua Harbor Hotel
I cherished watching I Love Lucy with my Bubbe, lying side by side on her shag carpet as matzoh ball soup lingered in the air. Those evenings with Lucy's polka dots and my grandmother's love have stayed with me always. And why I wanted to experience "I love Lucy" at the Chautauqua Harbor Hotel in Lucy's hometown. From the moment you step into the Chautauqua Harbor Hotel on the shores of Celoron, NY, you're in for a lakeside escape filled with laughter, nostalgia, and stunning views.
A Lakeside Escape for Lucy Fans
I cherished watching I Love Lucy with my Bubbe, lying side by side on her shag carpet as matzoh ball soup lingered in the air. Those evenings with Lucy’s polka dots and my grandmother’s love have stayed with me always. And why I wanted to experience “I love Lucy at the Chautauqua Harbor Hotel in Lucy’ hometown. From the moment you step into the Chautauqua Harbor Hotel on the shores of Celoron, NY, you’re in for a lakeside escape filled with laughter, nostalgia, and stunning views.
Return to Chautauqua: A Love Story 30 Years in the Making
When I was 21, I discovered Chautauqua Institution during a summer stay in a family cottage belonging to my sister’s boyfriend’s mother. My sister and I lived as residents in the charming summer home in upstate New York, part of the tradition where properties pass through families. We were in that beautiful in-between period of life—having left our family home but before marriages and children, when the world felt full of possibility and uncertainty.
The 7 Best Beaumont Restaurants: Cajun, Tex-Mex, and Beyond (Beaumont, TX)
Sharing is caring! In the heart of Southeast Texas, Beaumont surprises visitors with its rich culinary landscape. Located about 90 miles east of Houston and just 30 miles from the Louisiana border, this city offers a unique blend of small-town hospitality and big-city flavors. Known for its oil industry heritage, Beaumont has evolved into a destination that tantalizes taste buds with an array of dining options reflecting its diverse cultural influences.
A Pumpkin Lover's Journey into Southern Tier Brewery's Pumpking
Last Updated on October 29, 2024 Pumpkins have always been my favorite part of fall. Though I grew up in Arizona, these cheerful orange harbingers of autumn helped inspire my own fall traditions. My love for pumpkins runs so deep that I once owned a Prius in bright pumpkin orange. So, when I visited Southern Tier Brewing Company near Chautauqua Lake in western New York this early September, it was my love of all things pumpkin—not beer—that drew me in.
Springside Inn Blends History and Modern Hospitality in New York’s Finger Lakes
Last Updated on October 24, 2024 Nestled on the western shore of Owasco Lake in Auburn, NY, part of the picturesque Finger Lakes region, Springside Inn stands as a testament to the area’s history and natural beauty. Under the stewardship of innkeepers Sean and Beth Lattimore, along with their children Sydney and Sean Jr., this charming retreat offers visitors a unique blend of historical significance and modern hospitality.
Training Bras to Hot Flashes: Judy Blume’s Timeless Wisdom on Faith and Growing Up
MOVIE REVIEW Growing up as a Muslim-Jewish girl in an interfaith family in the 1980s, I felt like an outsider in a world that didn’t see me. Then, I discovered Judy Blume’s Are You There God? It’s Me, Margaret. For the first time, I saw a character grappling with the same questions of faith and identity that consumed me. Margaret wasn’t just a fictional character; she was a lifeline. This year, I turned 52.
Albert the Alligator Is Living the Good Life in Beaumont
In the heart of southeast Texas, where alligators roam freely through swamps and waterways, Albert, an eleven-foot-long, 750-pound alligator, has found a new home at Gator Country Adventure Park, in Beaumont. His journey from an indoor pool in Hamburg, New York, to the largest alligator sanctuary in southeast Texas has sparked discussions about exotic pet ownership and wildlife conservation.
From Blog to Book: How the Digital World Can Launch a Writer
By Dr. Tamara MC Pictured: Tia Levings A Q&A WITH TIA LEVINGS Tia Levings’ memoir, A Well-Trained Wife: My Escape From Christian Patriarchy (St. Martin’s Press, August 2024), recounts her escape from the fundamentalist Quiverfull movement, a group that encourages large families and strict adherence to patriarchal roles, viewing children as “arrows” in a “quiver” for God’s purposes.
My Husband Told Me He Couldn't Be Married Anymore — So I Made A Decision I've Kept Secret For 12 Years - NewsBreak
Courtesy Of Tamara MC In 2010, after a 17-year marriage, my husband asked for a divorce, saying he couldn’t be married anymore. We had two sons, 14 and 16, not quite two years apart, whom I had nursed over four years straight. My once-perky breasts weren’t the same after. Whose are? They weren’t terrible , just more deflated, like a helium balloon the day after a birthday party. I used to joke with my husband that I was planning to have breast surgery when I finished nursing.
Pistachios: A Sestina
In the rain, eat pistachios The girl with the red dress, hands me a lily Secrets of the house—of the blouse—of the bruise I begin eating them and them and them: flax seeds We cannot live in mud of melancholy Like a sticky hot bun, this is all sticky Atlanta weather’s also sticky Green ice cream, big chunks of green pistachios I’m feeling low and Molly Melancholy The trumpet blew and it unfolded the lily Mix them in shakes & shake ‘em-shake ‘em flax seeds Why the fuck do I have to deal with...
I Used to Drink up to Eight Shots of Espresso in a Sitting. My New Routine Is Better. Original
Life This is One Thing, a column with tips on how to live. I didn’t drink caffeine for the first 30ish years of my life. I began when I started writing my dissertation for my Ph.D., and started frequenting local coffee shops, where I’d do my work. I’d have two lattes in succession—sometimes with four shots of espresso each. The boost helped my work. Words flew; I felt brilliant. But then I’d crash. I also started getting anxious from the very high amounts of caffeine.
6 Reasons Why I Fell in Love with Galveston
Galveston is packed with history, heartbreak, and a lot of good food and fun. From beaches to shopping on The Strand to visiting a pyramid, you’re also bound to fall in love with the 32-mile sandbar that has weathered many storms. What you may not know is that the deadliest natural disaster in U.S. history—the 1900 Storm, occurred in Galveston, in which more than 6,000 people lost their lives on this fateful September day.
My Husband Told Me He Couldn't Be Married Anymore - So I Made A Decision I've Kept Secret For 12 Years
The author after surgery in 2011. Courtesy Of Tamara MC In 2010, after a 17-year marriage, my husband asked for a divorce, saying he couldn’t be married anymore. We had two sons, 14 and 16, not quite two years apart, whom I had nursed over four years straight. My once-perky breasts weren’t the same after. Whose are? They weren’t terrible, just more deflated, like a helium balloon the day after a birthday party.
Rudy’s "Country Store" and Bar-B-Q in Scottsdale, AZ: Just in Time for Arizona Bike Week
The newest Rudy’s “Country Store” and Bar-B-Q location has opened its doors in Scottsdale, Arizona, just in time for the 27th Annual Arizona Bike Week, April 3-7, 2024. For Texans needing a taste of home, Rudy’s is only a six-minute drive (for anyone driving the speed limit) from bike week headquarters at Westworld of Scottsdale. They have ample parking and a spacious indoor setup for you and your friends. For 35 years, Rudy’s has been serving up delectable barbeque in Texas.
Mein Freund hat an Weihnachten mit mir Schluss gemacht – nachdem er mir gesagt hatte, ich sei seine Traumfrau
Mein Freund und ich hatten ein perfektes Weihnachtsfest mit einem venezolanischen Essen, einer Feuerstelle und Tanz. Aber an diesem Abend machte er mit mir Schluss; vielleicht trauerte er um sein früheres Leben mit seiner Ex und seinen Kindern. Seitdem hatte ich keine Dates mehr und habe meine Unabhängigkeit genossen. Die Feiertage feiere ich mit meiner Familie. Dies ist eine maschinelle Übersetzung eines Artikels unserer US-Kollegen von Business Insider.
My boyfriend broke up with me on Christmas after telling me I was his dream girl Original
Health During the holidays in 2021, the author — not pictured — received an unwelcome Christmas gift from her boyfriend. fotostorm/Getty Images My boyfriend and I had a perfect Christmas with a Venezuelan meal, a fire pit, and dancing. But that night, he broke up with me; maybe he was grieving his former life with his ex and kids. I haven't dated since and have embraced my independence while celebrating holidays with family.
My boyfriend broke up with me on Christmas after telling me I was his dream girl
My boyfriend and I had a perfect Christmas with a Venezuelan meal, a fire pit, and dancing. But that night, he broke up with me; maybe he was grieving his former life with his ex and kids. I haven't dated since and have embraced my independence while celebrating holidays with family. My boyfriend and I spent Christmas Eve of 2021 enjoying for two. On Christmas morning, he made us lattes using his fancy espresso machine.
Holy Food - EcoTheo Collective
Tamara MC: I’d love to learn more about you and how you became interested in your book. Christina Ward: Sure. So, I run Feral House publishing. We're an independent publisher and have been for a long time, and I'm one of those "punk rock saves lives" kind of people. I went to school a little bit studying history, and that's my obsession — food history. But I'm also a weirdo and have just been fascinated by that intersection of why people think that their God should tell them what to eat.
I Moved into a Trailer Park as an Empty Nester — And I Love It
Real Estate Save facebook pinterest email comments We independently select these products—if you buy from one of our links, we may earn a commission. All prices were accurate at the time of publishing. Save Pin It See More Images Credit: Marje/Getty Images I had two kids in high school and a beautiful house on a hill when I got divorced more than a decade ago. Because I couldn’t afford the mortgage, I was forced to foreclose on our home.
Tamara MC in Conversation with Athena Dixon, author of The Loneliness Files by Tamara MC, Ph.D.
What does a lifetime of loneliness look like, feel like in the body? Athena Dixon examines this question in her second book, The Loneliness Files, published by Tin House, and edited by one of my all-time favorite writers, Hanif Abduraqqib. Dixon’s debut essay collection, Incredible Shrinking Woman (2020), published by Split Lip Press, unpacks her different identities as a Black woman growing up in a small Midwestern town. She explores her desire to hide in a world where extroversion is king.
Women Talking: When Leaving Isn’t the Hardest Part
Women Talking, an award-winning, international best-selling novel by Miriam Toews, was adapted into a screenplay and directed by filmmaker Sarah Polley. The star-studded cast includes Frances McDormand (Scarface), Claire Foy (Salome Friesen), Jessie Buckley (Mariche Loewen), and Rooney Mara (Ona Friesen). The film, which won Best Adapted Screenplay at the 2023 Academy Awards, takes place as a group of women from a fictitious ultra-conservative Mennonite community hold a meeting in a barn.
Women Talking: When Leaving Isn’t the Hardest Part
Women Talking, an award-winning, international best-selling novel by Miriam Toews, was adapted into a screenplay and directed by filmmaker Sarah Polley. The star-studded cast includes Frances McDormand (Scarface), Claire Foy (Salome Friesen), Jessie Buckley (Mariche Loewen), and Rooney Mara (Ona Friesen). The film, which won Best Adapted Screenplay at the 2023 Academy Awards, takes place as a group of women from a fictitious ultra-conservative Mennonite community hold a meeting in a barn.
I Was Raised in a Cult. Like the Duggar Family, We Had Dark Secrets
Many are stunned after watching Shiny Happy People: Duggar Family Secrets, a docuseries about the famously growing Duggar family, on Amazon Prime. How could this have happened? The Duggars looked like such good people! But for those of us who grew up in similarly repressive environments, none of this was shocking. We lived it every day. What we viewed in the docuseries was just another day in our patriarchal prisons.
I'm in my 50s and I cycle every day - these are the benefits I've experienced after nearly 4 years on the road
fitness articles 10 hours ago TikTok’s ‘Cozy Cardio’ Trend Might Help You Enjoy Exercise Again Lifehacker - Brianne Hogan • 10h The method emphasizes comfortable clothing, low-impact cardio, and an inviting atmosphere for working out. If you find the notion of “no pain, no … Health 12 hours ago Do Sleep Supplements Actually Work? We Asked An Expert SHEfinds.com - Faith Geiger • 12h If you frequently struggle to sleep at night, the issue can start to impact your daily life.
I'm in my 50s and I cycle every day - these are the benefits I've experienced after nearly 4 years on the road
Collage of Tamara MC, who goes cycling every day, riding her bike and smiling next to shot of Cannondale bike on the rack in the bike shop Cycling is one of the best forms of exercise around. It's cardio activity, which is great for improving your heart health whilst also being low-impact, making it easy on the joints and bones. The fresh air is another plus, as is the freedom it can offer you. I should know, I've been cycling every day for the last four years, come rain or shine.
Why I Play Pickleball: On Calming the Writing Monster
By Tamara MC I’ve ridden my bike 12.2 miles daily for the past three years. The night before, I make sure my Airpods are charged, and I head out in the afternoon during the warmest temps of the day. I live in Arizona, where we had 85-degree weather this past winter. Regardless, my muscles curse the wind when it snarls and snaps. I do one of several things on my bike ride. If I’m in a Zoom meeting where I can use audio and don’t need my camera, I Zoom.
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