Special Events
47th Birthday Celebration
So my celebration began the day before my actual birthday. I normally work from home, but once a month, we all gather into the office to work, receiving additional training. This in-office training was special since our team leader had baked two birthday cakes: a chocolate one for me and a traditional Italian family recipe … Continue reading
Hurricane Harvey
I’d had such a stressful week that the warnings about Hurricane Harvey washed over me. Despite the evacuation images I saw on TV and the scrolling flash flood warnings at the bottom of news broadcasts, I’d burned the candle at both ends, scrambling to work on too many projects at once. I’d temporarily forgotten how … Continue reading
Peatross Family Reunion 2017
Since both my money and paid time off aligned this summer, I attended a reunion on my father’s side of the family. I hadn’t seen them in nearly ten years. I’ve only consistently reunited with my immediate family who were in attendance, but it was strange to see them since it was not Christmas. I’d … Continue reading
CJ’s Visit
I’d looked forward to my nephew’s cooking since he’s a vegetarian. He first made boiled Brussel sprouts and broccoli, seasoned with salt, pepper and a pat of butter. That was delicious, but his baked chickpeas was the truly exciting dish, seasoned with a fresh ground dry spice mix. He brushed the canned chickpeas with olive … Continue reading
In a Bind
I’ve had bunions for years. My philosophy used to be, if they don’t bother me, then I won’t bother them. They’ve never hurt nor caused me trouble as far as buying shoes is concerned. Then, a few weeks ago in yoga, I noticed it: my left toe encroaching upon the second toe. Such a small … Continue reading
Juneteenth Celebration & Wonder Woman
For the fourth year, we three came out to read excerpts from a newly emancipated slave’s narrative. We took the usual group photo in our costumes and then… had the sheer delight of having our pictures taken by a professional! I didn’t have the bandwidth to memorize the few lines of Mattie Gilmore’s narrative, but … Continue reading
Free Movie Passes
Although Cinco de Mayo merely reflects the Mexican state of Puebla’s defeat of their French invaders, the American food/beverage business industry has elevated it nearly to the level of a St. Patrick’s Day libation party. This year, Cinco de Mayo landed on a Friday. Another piece of evidence that I’m middle aged is that what I … Continue reading
Community Art Sunday
I love spending gorgeous days outside. Although this Community Art Sunday centered around kids, I nourished my inner child as soon as I walked in by blowing bubbles. At least I started off by blowing them. After a few seconds, I just held up the stick and let the strong wind do most of the … Continue reading
Earth Day Celebration: Great Hills Hike 2
The first time I hiked this area with my Meetup group, we had a pretty relaxed time although the temperature was much hotter. This time around, some people actually bailed for fear of rain. The forecast was “cloudy,” which I pointed out, but not “rain.” Nonetheless, those of us who still met enjoyed the temporary … Continue reading
Haiku Death Match
As part of the 25th Austin International Poetry Festival, I hosted my first ever haiku death match. In the beginning, I was only supposed to host my own spoken word and poetry show, The Austin Writers Roulette. Then, I accepted the offer to host and perform for as an opener for Bucolics Anonymous. Later, I agreed to … Continue reading