Writing
The Perfect Gift
For years, I tortured myself, thinking of unique gifts for my immediate family. Gift-shopping was so much easier during the years I lived outside the States. The real challenge arose when I returned in 2009. The period between then and 2020 were hit or miss. After eight years of being an expat, I resettled in … Continue reading
Marvelized
Marvelized (adj): the state of believing that one’s life has become something out of a Marvel movie. I suggested both the word and its definition at the invitation of one of my coworkers who asked our colleague resource group (CRG): If you could add a word to the dictionary, what would it be and what … Continue reading
Only for Snow Bunnies
I knew this day would come. Enough snow dropped to cancel my plans for Tuesday and Wednesday evenings, but since I telecommute, I missed nary a day from work. In the long run, that’s a good thing since I’d much rather use my PTO for actual vacation and appointments. I’m so used to exercising that … Continue reading
Reluctant Christmas Event Producer
Continuing my newfound tradition of non materialistic Christmas gifts for my family, I brainstormed what to do before Thanksgiving. The coordination of anything I plan always has several parameters, which greatly narrow down my choice of activities. So, I’m not overwhelmed by many possibilities, but threading the needle proves to be very challenging. The first … Continue reading
Thanksgiving, Again?!
Even though Halloween is my favorite holiday and I dressed up at least four different times this year, somehow, Thanksgiving snuck up on me. I bought all the ingredients to make, what I thought would be an annual tradition, Naturally-Dyed Red Velvet Cupcakes. The cupcakes turned out delicious, but there was absolutely no joy in … Continue reading
Helping a Sister Out
For once, I attended a different exercise class on Sunday mid morning. The cherry on top was that I’d invited a friend who drove us far enough out of town that it could be considered a daytrip. We set up our yoga mats under a pavilion in the front row, thanks to my aversion to … Continue reading
Who Runs the World
At the reversal of Roe vs. Wade, I feared that my country was rapidly returning to primitive times. Then, last month, the most energizing thing happened, the Democratic presidential candidate made the ultimate, patriotic, political sacrifice and withdrew his name from the race and endorsed his Vice President, who was already the first woman of … Continue reading
Wealth of Experience
As I type up slew of journals I’d written, starting around 1992 when I was a Peace Corps Volunteer and ending roughly around 2011 when I started blogging, I mark the growth that I’ve made as a person, regardless of my inherent flaws, but driven through my passions. I knew when I was a teenager, … Continue reading
Reading the Floor
As soon as I walked into the restaurant where my nephew, a hamburger enthusiast, chose, I knew I’d drink tequila, and no matter the entree, I’d be generous with a red hot sauce. The dirty floor tipped me off. I learned from living and travelling in many developing countries that one surefire way to kill … Continue reading
Car Decorations
Saturday mornings are dedicated to cleaning, doing laundry, and running errands. Preferably all before lunch. Afterwards, that is when the real weekend begins. This particular Saturday, I made a liquor run before returning home. After buying alcohol, I saw this: I’ve stopped watching horror movies for the most part although “thrillers” seem just as bad, … Continue reading