I’ve never been more concerned about our country. There’s such anger and division, it’s as if we’ve forgotten the U.S. is supposed to be the ideal. We’re supposed to be the example the world looks to, where everyone lives together and gets along — The Starship Enterprise of countries. The place where justice prevails. My nephew, Patrick and I were talking this week about how we want inspirational…
I am learning tonight that working numerous jobs catches up with you. If I nod off again, my head will hit the keyboard so hard I’ll end up brain damaged — OK, more brain damaged. So, the blog that would normally have popped in your inbox this morning will pop over the weekend – and be better for it. A gal’s gotta sleep! To placate you, I’m leaving…
It’s great to have a friend who’s an investigative reporter. He can do things like find out where old flames live and what their marital status is. But that’s not the only reason I’m friends with Don Ray. Don’s a genuinely good person with a passion for both, a great story, and history. Plus, years ago, he traveled 2, 000 miles to be at my wedding for one day…
Because I live in California where everything costs 15 times what it does everywhere else, I work several jobs. This isn’t exactly where I planned to be at this stage in my career, but life is funny that way. I’m grateful for the jobs I have. Because of them, I can pay the bills and eat, which, as you know, is very important to me. One of my…
My Uncle Richard called me today. He’s one of my favorite people on earth. Not just because he’s my father’s brother and a wonderful family man, but also because he’s not afraid to be silly. He does a version of the Tarantella, an Italian dance they do at weddings (Tarantella means tarantula in Italian) where he bends his knees and dances around hunched over, looking more like a…
I went to the gym tonight, like I try to do at least three or four times a week. Somewhere around the 300 calorie mark, I said, “The hell with this, I’m done.” Usually I read a book while I’m on the elliptical, so I stick around to burn 500, sometimes 600 calories, then wipe the sweat and go for a couple rounds in the circuit room. Tonight,…
Cleanser is sprinkled in my bathroom sink, toilet, and bathtub, waiting for me to scrub things clean. Boxes are filled with Christmas decorations, stacked neatly by the attic door, expecting to be put away. My bedroom, which looks like gorillas have been living in it, wails every time I walk through. So what am I doing? Writing about ham. And yes, you read that title correctly, it’s hamicide.…
This is a re-post of an article I wrote for the Pittsburgh Post Gazette in 2011, but with all the ugliness in the world today, I thought it might be a good time to re-post it, and just in time for Thanksgiving! My friend Joan rescued a rat from a pool drain once. She called to it, “Here sweetie, sweetie,” made kissing noises, and the rat just walked…
A story about a dire prognostication at my wedding shower, my step-son, and how life goes on -- with or without a crochet toilet paper holder.…
It’s been more than five years since I got divorced. People keep telling me I should start dating, but come on, what’s the rush? I know my friends and family are telling me I’m not getting any younger. And I know they’re right, because any time I accidentally open the camera on my phone, and it’s on my face, I recoil in horror, as though I’ve just seen…