because I'm not a great juggler these days. The biggest ball to drop is the house, as attested by my disaster of an office, Mount Washmore's growing pile in the bedroom and the basement that I dare not enter due to the toy minefield. I won't even delve into the storage room mess. Let's just say that I need a week of nothing but spring cleaning to ( Read more... )

Happy Valentine's Day to all, today! Whether or not you are single, married, divorced, in a relationship, still looking for "the one" or happily solo, I wish you all a day filled with people who love you, a day when you can love yourself for who you are, and a joy in knowing that you are someone to be celebrated ( Read more... )

My girls just left to go to their school's annual Father-Daughter Dance, and my big girl was wearing a tiny hint of the palest pink lipstick, that I was given the honor of putting on her for the first time (not counting onstage makeup for plays of course ( Read more... )

Tonight I got home from the cabaret and hopped on Facebook to catch up on the daily friends news, when I got a message from Aron, one of my former students who has always kept in touch with me these many years. Unfortunately it was rather sad news about a friend of his who passed away this week. In the course of conversation he told me that his ( Read more... )

After much internet travail, I managed to get two Van Halen tickets this morning for their March show in DC at the Verizon Center. VH is one of those '70s bands that I loved back in the day. Loved "...and the Cradle Will Rock" and "Dance The Night Away" and Eddie Van Halen's screaming guitars. I remember when I bought the Women and Children First ( Read more... )

I just felt the need to give a holiday shout out for Robin's teacher, Mrs. Z. Mrs. Z. is easily one of the most devoted and awesome teaching professionals I've had the pleasure to know. She's wonderful in the classroom - her room is sort of a chaotic mixing bowl where kids of all different learning styles can thrive in the way that best suits them ( Read more... )

( cut for photo / length! )

except for the business of choosing what play the school will do each fall and spring, which can end up being a great surprise or a let down. At Immaculata, we've had both. Two years ago when it was announced the elementary kids would do "Willy Wonka" - great excitement! Last year, when it was announced they were doing "Dear Edwina" - dismal "huh ( Read more... )

So Dove has never been a very athletic kid. In fact, like me, she tends to be very much on the awkward / clumsy side when it comes to sports. She does so well academically, but she is one of those kids who would be picked last when it comes to teams ( Read more... )

I hate writing this kind of post. Whenever I get news of this sort, I initially feel helpless, like the wind has been knocked out of me, and wonder what I can do to be helpful...and end up asking for good thoughts from those dear to me. Not for me, but for someone I care about.

I have a friend named Susan. She lives in the Netherlands. Ten years ( Read more... )