It might have been Name That Tune that started my obsession with music, lyrics and the lead-in notes to songs. Even though I was an elementary school student, I happily banked away the thousands of dollars I would otherwise have been winning were the popular game show to have let nine-year-old girls play. In fact, […]

Read more "That 70s (Game Show): Care to Play?"

There’s nothing more humbling than aging. We begin to accept things that, as our younger selves, we didn’t ever imagine we’d have to. Wrinkles, stretchmarks, gray hair. For those of us who want to stay active, every time we get on a basketball court, go for a run, or get onto our yoga mats, we […]

Read more "Getting Older"

Not from where I sit in my writing space, cursed with a degree in philosophy and pulling the strings of motivation on my characters. Existentialism is alive and well in every story of mine because of the simple fact that it is the only philosophical concept that, in my opinion, explains the human experience. Here’s […]

Read more "Is Existentialism Extinct?"

Ten years ago, my spouse and I converted some basement space into a sauna. We drilled down into the uneven concrete floor and set out two-by-fours in two square shapes. One ended up the “floor plan” for the sauna, the other the sitting area. It took a few weeks to get both spaces into order. […]

Read more "Just like “Fight Club” except No Hitting"

Ever since my 11-year-old’s birth, I knew he was going to be trouble. He was the biggest of my four, weighing in at approximately 10.5 pounds. (I say “approximately” because he wasn’t weighed until the next day. The nurse estimated he’d lost at least a pound in his first 24 hours.) Of the four, he’s […]

Read more "What to do with a Challenging Child"

What’s the absolute safest act you do every day that, if you fail to do it well, you will be put in grave danger? Think about this for a minute. There many activities that most of us do every day, such as work, play, exercise, interact with others, bathe, watch TV, read, meditate, reply to […]

Read more "A Riddle for Anyone with a Pillow"

I was nominated (yes, again) to participate in the Siblinghood Award, which I have come to believe is little more than a blogger chain-letter. Here’s to you James Fahy. His inquiries in bold; my responses in regular font: What book first made you cry, and why? The Bridges of Madison County. The thought that the woman would […]

Read more "Extra Credit"

We social animals have something most other species do not: the ability to express ourselves through language. Whether it is spoken, written, or signed, we have gone to great lengths to harness the power of words with the singular goal of interacting with each other. Save Juliette on the balcony–alongside other dramatic soliloquies, we pretty […]

Read more "If Only I could Keep my Mouth Shut"

Who doesn’t like being asked random questions about themselves? I was nominated by Sarah Mitchell-Jackson to take part in this “siblinghood of the world blogger award.” (I haven’t a clue what it’s about, but I trust Sarah. You would, too, if you knew she was nominated for a Pushcart Award.) The idea is that I answer […]

Read more "Siblinghood of the World Blogger Award"

I’m a sucker for an offer. Make a suggestion which instills in me the fear of missing out on the “opportunity of a lifetime,” I’ll sign on the dotted line. When the Kirby guy came to demo the “Diamond G,” he had my non-refundable deposit in his clammy hand before he’d even finished all six […]

Read more "Knowing when to Say “When”"