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All About Towels
I am staring at a big basket of unfolded towels that’s been sitting here for two days and thinking about whether or not I should fold them. In the early days of our relationship, Cadillac would refold all the towels after I folded them. The way I fold them, he said, they didn’t fit as…
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20 Free or Low-Cost Summer Activity Ideas for Kids
It is May. I am afraid that this does not adequately express the panic in my voice. It is MAY, people! May means the last full month of school. May means JUNE is coming very very soon, which means school will be OUT. Phineas and Ferb say: There’s 104 Days of Summer Vacation, And school…
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Imagination, Play, Creativity and Reading
This “These Are Your Kids on Books” poster has gone viral in the past couple of days, and it reminded me of some conversations I’ve had about kids, imagination, and reading. When my daughter was in third grade, she was on the playground at her school. It was a private school, with mostly well-to-do families.…
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Breast Lumps and Blooming Hulthemia
In the mammogram room, a sign reads something like, “You may be asked to come in for more tests. Please know that the vast majority of these tests reveal nothing significant. We understand this is nerve-wracking. Blah blah blah.”
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Secrets Your Lit Professor Wouldn’t Tell You
Breaking the hearts of English and Lit teachers everywhere, I have to admit a secret. Book clubs often ask me this question, or a variation on this question: “We noticed the theme of XYZ in your book. Did you include ABC to support that theme?” Usually, it’s an incredibly perceptive observation, and I…
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Too Much of a Good Thing
Last night, at 11 pm, I got a notice on my phone that Eldest had played her turn in Draw Something. “Go see if she’s up!” I said to Cadillac. She had just been up to use the bathroom, and lately she’s been staying up too late, reading or just staying up.
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I Am Not Your Professional Photographer
So, I was standing here minding my own business, breaking up a fight between Squidward and Patrick the Starfish (two plastic things which were not meant to represent cartoon characters) and watching my three charges besides, when an older couple with two young kids (ages 2 and maybe 10 months) accosted me.
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THE CARE AND HANDLING OF ROSES WITH THORNS Teaser: 7 Lines
This is going around the ‘nets and I’ve been tagged a few times. 1. Go to the 77th page of your WIP or latest book. 2. Count down 7 lines. 3. Copy the 7 sentences that follow, and post them. 4. Tag 7 other authors. I’m pretty sure all my author buds have been tagged…
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Easter Weekend
This weekend felt like it was really long. That’s probably because the kids had a week off for spring break and because the week before that was all half-days. Cadillac took Thursday off and had Good Friday off, so he got a 4 day weekend. That probably made it feel longer! I kept thinking Thursday…
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A Monster Competition
Yesterday, Wal-Mart had an ad which said it had $12.97 Monster High Dolls Monster High are fashion dolls who are monsters, the offspring of Dracula and the Wolfman and the like. Some of my mom friends say they’re no better than Bratz. This had not actually occurred to me, though I have always been high…
MARGARET DILLOWAY 