Nature is cruel, but we don’t have to be. Temple Grandin For the first time this spring, we had birds build nests up in the eves of our deck. Two nests were built, on either side of the staircase, by what looked like two different robin families; however, only one nest proved viable. In June, […]
I had goals going into this year. To read. To write. To see and reconnect with people. In January and February, I was on track. I didn’t read my 8 ‘a-book-week’ books; but I read 4, as well as lots of articles and blog posts written by others. I did manage to jump into writing […]
Last week we had a super intense storm, which blew in and out very suddenly, with lots of wind, thunder and lightening. As I was securing our deck while the wind kicked up–bringing chairs and lighter plants inside, putting more solid things down low–a lightening bolt flashed and struck a power line in our alley. […]
I was late to picking up the Sudoku fad, but when I tore my ACL 11 years ago, had surgery and went through months of PT to regain (nearly all) of my range of motion, I started playing. It was perfect to help me deal with the time I was sitting waiting around for a […]
Being a Peace Corps Volunteer in the Eastern Caribbean may have been the toughest job I ever loved, but my favourite job here in the US, hands down, has to be my five years spent as a Peace Corps Regional Recruitment Representative (1994-99) out of first the Detroit office and then, when regions were consolidated […]
Social Media Guru, Marie, at Journeying Beyond Breast Cancer reminded us in an earlier post, that today is International Social Media Day. Especially during this time of COVID, where I have upped my use of Social Media tenfold, I thought reposting this piece from 2014 was a fun blast from the past. How Did You […]
Some of you may remember my first post of 2020 about Vandas & Vacuums & Welcoming in a New Year where I was marveling that my Vanda orchid had finally bloomed after nearly two years. A plant that can blossom twice a year, I had actually given up on mine ever flowering and so was […]
Last week, I mentioned that I tried therapy during my early years of teaching in Chicago; however, I didn’t stay with it long because I didn’t feel my concerns were being addressed. Basically, my therapists were leading me to look at my life as if there was something severely wrong with it and with the […]
Check my reflex When I was 2 or 3, we were visiting close family friends and there was a fire across the street, with lots of fire trucks and emergency personnel showing up on the scene. The fire was big and afterwards, every time I heard a siren, I’d start to become anxious and cry. […]
I was raised in the American Midwest by parents whose definition of being punctual is to show up to a gathering or obligation (or for a weekend visit!) at least 20-30 minutes early. When I worked part time as a high school and college student, being on time was showing up at least 10-15 minutes […]
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