The pandemic was tough. It changed a lot. Prior to COVID, I used to see two of my best friends on the regular. COVID stopped business trips and hence our gathering. Our kids also got busy. Lots happened. We have never lost touch, but our in-person...
I love music. All kinds, but not every kind. I know it is very controversial, but I do not like classical or jazz music. They are both too erratic and make me anxious. My go-to music is rock or Americana, but I also love bluegrass and Chris...
I have been married for nearly 32 years. Anyone who has been married that long realizes you just have to make some concessions for your partner. One of my bigger concessions has been Marvel movies. I’ve watched a lot of superhero movies for my...
The year 2025 has been a dark one thus far. I see very little hope for improvement. With this in mind I made a decision back in January when I knew shit was about to hit the fan, that I was going to laugh this year if it killed me. It might be all...
I look back fondly at the early days of Amazon—you know, back when it just sold books. Ahhh, the good old days. When I first discovered Amazon, I was living in Japan. My husband was in the military and we were stationed there. We had a small...
I shop too much. I like to buy things that make me smile or happy. Sometimes, this is long-lived happiness like the wonderful art hanging throughout my home. Sometimes, it is fleeting like the aromatherapy burner I bought at Christmas and have yet...
I think we all have various fears and phobias. I have three basic fears which haunt my daily existence. One is very easy to avoid, one is fairly easy to dodge and the other is everywhere and sometimes sneaks up on me. No, it’s not a bear. Let’s...
My husband is an excellent gift-giver. Me? Not so much. I do try. I just feel I always fall short, while he knocks it out of the park. Our birthdays are next month—two days apart—and I’m already starting to feel the pressure. He has mentioned...
In my youth, I was a champion napper. The Queen of sleep in general, to be honest. Parenthood and perimenopause changed all that. About 10 years ago I lost my ability to nap. This was most alarming as a devoted napper. Despite my ability to not...
On a recent vacation with my sister, I came to realize I may be nasty. I don’t feel like I’m nasty, but given the volume of clothes she brought and how much she did laundry, it made me reconsider this. I don’t do a lot of laundry. As a matter of...