-
Some New Year’s Reflections
When I was little, I had myself convinced that even numbered years were better than odd numbered years. I can’t remember the details of why I thought that, only that I believed it was so. I know my 10th grade year was better than my 11th. I’m looking on my Facebook feed and most of…
-
There’s a Land That I See, that is All Gluten-Free
I never wanted to be gluten free. I like bread. I like variations of bread, like pasta. I like the, what do you call it, the toothiness of gluten. That chewiness. I’ve had digestive problems for years. When I was little my stomach would always hurt in the morning. I have a blood sugar problem,…
-
Christmas Classics for Kids
When I was little, I looked forward to watching the Christmas specials every year. We didn’t get cable until I was an adult, and so we watched on this poorly tuned staticky TV (I thought all TVs had “snow” for a long time). These shows have been around since long before I was born. One…
-
The Elan of Escalation: One-Upping Meanness with Worse Meanness
For this holiday season, why don’t we all take just a sec to breathe when something like this happens. Ease a retail clerk’s tension with a joke. Offer to help a harried mom with her bags, or hold the door open for somebody with a stroller. Make a funny face at a crying little kid…
-
Hiking After Rain
The best time to hike around here, I think, is shortly after it rains. Especially if it was a short rain, the kind that lasts only part of a morning. The trails are damp, but not too muddy. No dust. It smells like a Christmas tree lot, though there aren’t any pines– must be some…
-
Happy November, or No-Remember
It’s November 1st. Time for my recurring nightmare that I’ve missed Christmas, woken up the day of, and had no gifts for anyone. It also reminds me of Piers Anthony. He was my favorite author for many years, beginning in 6th grade. For my birthday, my brother Jason gave me the book, A Spell for…
-
Why Disney Princesses Aren’t As Bad As You Thought
Around Halloween, there are plenty of princess-bashing articles floating around because of all the princess costumes and hoopla. The general idea is that having Cinderella or Snow White as a role model isn’t great, when you should be steering your girls toward warrior princesses like Mulan or Merida from Brave. The other princesses, people…
-
Things I Automatically Do Even When My Kids Aren’t Present
I was thinking about this today when I caught myself doing several of these things. Then I stopped and thought, Wait, I don’t have any kids with me, I don’t need to do this! When I turn on the TV, I automatically change it to Disney. When I get out of my car, I open…
-
Big Book News, a Class, and a New Event!
I have big book news to announce. From the Publisher’s Lunch announcement: “SISTERS OF HEART AND SNOW, the story of two adult siblings who must come together to piece together their fractured family history with the help of an ancient book of samurai lore, as their fragile mother fades further into dementia, to Christine Pepe…
-
Homemade Goo Gone to Remove Glue
The kitchen in this house had a very large island in the center. It was so large, in fact, that you could not go around one side without turning sideways, and then only if you were of fairly slim build. I was one Thanksgiving dinner away from not making it through. Luckily, it was only…
MARGARET DILLOWAY 