I spent yesterday, sitting by the ocean’s edge, reading, thinking, and making notes. I thought about the questions Gary Chapman asks at the end of The 5 Love Languages chapters. “There would be fewer divorces if only people _______________” would work harder to compromise, to understand one another, and be willing to make the first move. “Has there ever been … Read More
Training Tips for Pets…and People
We are on the road, again. Late night laundry and packing and phone calls and lists had us all up late. Having seen the other side of midnight every night for nearly a week, I finally apologized to my family for ditching them and collapsed into my bed at two. The nagging, sleep-deprived nausea I felt when my feet hit … Read More
A Day of Letters
I spent yesterday writing. Long-hand. A belated Father’s Day wish to my dad. I had phoned him, but the card I’d purchased sat on my desk with the many other seasonal well wishes that would be late. I’m not one to scrawl my name on someone else’s sentiment and call it a day. I thoroughly enjoy writing letters and putting … Read More
Pampering, Peace, a Piebald, and Hope
The end of the school year is barreling down on us. For all intents and purposes, classroom work is done. The students are all but singing School’s out for summer! They are bounding off the walls off Hurricane Andrea’s barometric barometer. And the conclusion of this academic year can’t come fast enough. Times like these call for some serious pampering. … Read More
Better Than Any Beating; a Different Kind of Punishment for Our Kids
Parenting can be a tough gig. And Tough Love an even rougher ride. But it’s all a vital part of parenting, an essential element in teaching our children about the important stuff in life. You know, stuff like vajayjays and other things, like how to fish… As such, I loved reading this Circle of Mom’s piece on one mother’s creative … Read More
I Am The Cure
I am the cure. For what ails me. And I’m so glad that this past week of Mad and Sad is over. Some weeks are that way, where The Shit seems to flourish. That seemingly eternal anguish makes me all the more appreciative for those times like Mother’s Day week, when I noticed plenty of Happy. Honestly, until Friday, I … Read More
I’m Sad
Two days ago I was so mad it gave me a rare, pounding headache. The kind that makes your eyes bulge and your entire body hurt. And last night I was the kind of sad that brings giant crocodile tears. The kind that builds towers out of snotty tissues. I’m sad because I realized, yesterday, for the first time … Read More
Trash, Twenty-Three Candles, Heavenly Hugs, and a Pizza
Today, we celebrated my eldest’s twenty-third birthday. For some reason, this one is the most dreamlike. Big Guy, Warren, and I sat in the hot tub last night, figuring out how we were going to shape Gavin’s special day. I’ve been listening all week to advertisements for our city’s annual, Downtown cleanup event. I’ve accompanied my children and swept many … Read More
Following The Voice Within
Photo via http://www.kansasbob.com/2013/02/intuition-vs-logic.html And old pal refers to me as her Clairvoyant Friend. I can’t begin got count the many times someone has popped into my thoughts with absolutely no rhyme or reason. Often, if I don’t take some form of action like call the person, write a letter, or drop a quick electronic note, that feeling will repeat itself … Read More
Feast or Famine
Anyone who is self-employed or works for a seasonal company—heck, works, period—knows the pressures of The Busy Season. That sentence makes me laugh because it reminds me of a job interview I once had. Dressed in heels and my finest skirt ensemble, I walked into the petroleum office door to find the jeans-and-t-shirt-clad secretary counting an obscene amount of cash. … Read More