Decades ago, I went to a Thai restaurant in L.A. and scrunched up my nose at the thought of Coconut Chicken Soup. I’d never even seen a Thai restaurant, so it seemed strange to this western Pennsylvanian and I was not convinced it would be good. Then I tried it and it instantly became one of my very favorite things. Any time I have a cold, it’s my…
So, I made all that fuss over my story about my mom called “The Power of Love and Pizza,” being picked by Writer’s Read. I was thrilled to go to NYC and read it in front of a crowd, but you never got to see the video because I just got it a few days ago. I did post it on my Facebook page, but lots of you…
NATE! And ALESSANDRO, my two great-nephews. I keep telling myself this does not mean I’ve lost my touch. Just because Nate is 13 and Alessandro is only six merely means that Tunnos are extremely competitive cooks/bakers. It also means, my nephew, Chris and I will have to keep trying. Plus, there was a snafu this year. Two of the same pies were accidentally entered by Bob. In all…
I went to a fundraiser last Friday for Cystic Fibrosis and left realizing how thankful I was to have children who were healthy. My daughter’s had her health challenges, but has handled them beautifully and is a healthy adult now. When I think of people who have to deal with cancers, heart conditions, Cystic Fibrosis, and other life-threatening illnesses, yet don’t let these obstacles beat them down, I…
This former Californian has a bad case of the winter sleepys. Getting motivated to exercise, or do anything, when short, freezing cold, winter days are begging you to curl up on the couch with a blanket, a book, and a hot cup of tea takes massive effort. Add a pandemic where no one wants to have fun and you realize that slow drift to sleep every night with…
I’d like to say Sir David and I hung out and traded wildlife stories, but instead I watched this 94-year-old, who could just be enjoying retirement, give his witness statement on what’s happening to our planet. And yes, a witness statement is what you give when a crime is committed. If that sounds dramatic, good, because it is. If you have Netflix, you MUST watch David Attenborough, A…
It’s very appropriate that it’s 1:22 a.m. on Friday, June 26, and I just finished watching the 100th and final episode of Jane the Virgin (which I absolutely LOVED) because my life has sort of been like a telenovela for the past two weeks. First, I heard that I’ll be furloughed for another three months, which should take me to October 3rd, my former anniversary, so possibly not…
It’s New Year’s Eve. I am snug on my couch in my flannel pajamas with my fuzzy, cream bathrobe on, keeping an eye on Topper, cozy in the corner. I am having a cocktail of Maker’s Mark whiskey and Canada Dry Ginger Ale with TWO cherries and am incredibly content. I’ve never been one to traipse around in high heels at New Year’s Eve parties. I always hated…
How do you say goodbye to your last living connection to your mom?…
When you become a mom, you moan almost daily about the mess your kids make. Then they go to college and come back during holidays, leaving a mess, but are finally so grateful for your cooking, you totally forgive them. Then they move back after graduation, become your friend, resume the mess, wonder what to do, then tell you they’re moving to Seattle. Then they actually have the…