Just checking in to say that my husband and I are not divorced yet. Oh, it’s OK, probably. I’m crossing fingers that we will weather Project “Tidy House in Sequence Beginning (with) Large Obvious Wrecks & Stains” (THIS BLOWS), also referred to pseudo affectionately as the “The Huge Intrepid, Super Ballsy Long Overdue Weeding-Out Strategy” [...]

 
(Custom graphic hand rendered by Ray.)
 
I promise that this will be the last time I mention “40″ colloquially. After this, it’s gonna be all “Age is just a state of mind in New York City. I know it’s crazy, but it’s true,” and “40 is the new black.”
 
No more 40 stuff after this.
 
I promise.
 
But [...]

I took today’s PROMPTuesday from One Word to keep it simple this week (especially after the labyrinth-like PROMPT from last Tuesday.
 
So this week, write on this:
 

 
Just look at the word. And write.
That’s all. (Oh were but it that simple, right?) (Or — “but were it that simple?”) (Is that even a phrase?) (Moral: [...]

UPDATED TO ADD:
Cheri at Blog This Mom! is the winner!
 
The Kelly Meeker $50 gift certificate giveaway is winding down (kinda like me all day yesterday, but with Egg McMuffins and Ghiradellis) OVER! So don’t forget to enter! Kelly’s offered to give away a $50 gift certificate to her site, applieable (not a word) [...]

Well. I’m just about 40. And you know what? I’m much less this:
 

 
And way more this:
 

 
To tell you the truth, I wasn’t too bad off with the 40 thing, it’s just made me more reflective. There’s been a whole lot of living in those years. I’ve grown up, I’ve regressed, mourned the death of people [...]

 
I’ve been thinking. (Collective groans commence.) I’ve been thinking that I’ve been thinking too much. You know? I’m trying too hard. It’s messing me up. Not every post has to have a point. It doesn’t have to be witty or wise or even logical. I mean, random is my thing, babies. It’s what I’m known [...]

When I was a junior in high school, I attended a spiritual retreat called Kairos. It was a big secret, and every year, scores of juniors went to the retreat and came back from their week a little quieter, a little calmer, a little changed. Before I went on my Kairos week, I always wondered [...]

I was thinking the other day about my emotional development, and why it’s not as far along as I’d like it to be. My emotional maturity is pee-sized, when I’d really like it to be at least as big as a salad beet, or a medium-length tuber.
 
I thought that maybe I was making some progress [...]

Let’s see if I can write this without getting my tongue tied:
 
This PROMPTuesday, write a story about someone faking a skill to gain the attention of someone else, which only forces him/her into a situation where s/he must use this skill in order to save him/herself from a bigger threat.

Include:
a cast-iron lamp
and
two nuns giggling in [...]

Today turned out to be one of those days. Running from thing to thing, speed dialing my pretend maid, wondering if wine could be considered a Jamba Juice boost.
 
THEN! Frustrating delays, mental breakdowns, rapid breathing.
 
So, let’s talk about more halcyon days. Winners! We have winners!
 

 
For the customized kid’s art book, Michelle (commenter #1) takes the [...]

 
Would you like to avoid the blank stares you get when you tell people about your blog?
 
Do you want to legitimize the hours you spend Twittering and commenting?
 
Would you like to educate your friends in the “real world” that “blog” is not a rancid swamp or tasteless British ale?
 
Then, welcome to my next giveaway.
 
My good [...]

 
Congrats to Stef, who won the music giveaway extravaganza. Stef? If you read this, e-mail me!
 
Meanwhile, there’s one more day for the personalized kid’s art book giveaway, so have at it!
 
Also! Tomorrow is a brand new giveaway from Moon and Back Studios. You won’t want to miss it.
 
I’m liking this spreading the birthday love thing.
 
And [...]

NOW CLOSED! Stay tuned for the winner!
 

 
Sorry to be obtuse. What I’m trying to say is that I’m glad to be alive! So, let’s celebrate! (You can either wade through all my puffy prose below, or scroll down to the bottom for the giveaway details. I won’t even know you ignored me.)
 
In other news, I [...]

People, you’re hurting my feelings. I’ve got an awesome giveaway going on down here, and it’s going nowhere fast. Out of 9 entrants, one even opted to not be put in the giveaway entrant mix.
 
Is it my 40ishness?
The 12 garlic cloves I ate for dinner last night?
The fact that I poke my poo with sticks?
 
What? [...]

 
(Painting by Rebecca)
 
This PROMPTuesday, make up a story inspired by the picture above. Include the link to your story/post in the comments or feel free to leave your submission here, also in the comments section.
 
I’ll be back to submit my take on it tomorrow, but…
meanwhile…to bone up on PROMPTuesdays, read a bit about it here. [...]

So it’s been crazyish around here today. First, Rebecca’s family doesn’t seem to know what to do from this point, so they’ve been calling me, and as an unofficial representative and only person she knew well in San Diego, I’ve been trying to iron out what happens now. Rebecca’s wishes were to be cremated and [...]

 
Rebecca passed away this morning at 4AM. Same day, same hour as my mom 11 years ago.
 
I don’t know if you remember, but I often mourn the fact that I don’t “feel” my mom’s spirit. I’m happy to say that today, driving home from the hospital, I felt Rebecca all around me. I was like [...]

I had all kinds of things planned for today: a giveaway, a rumination, a weekend update, but my beloved Rebecca is back in the hospital after being in the convalescent home for two weeks.
 
I don’t think it’s good, it’s looking like renal failure, and the blustery November wind that I love so, is blowing extra [...]

I was 15 and working at a gift shop in a charming restored early 19th century village. I often worked alone and when business was slow, I hopped next door to waitress at the Peppermint Stick, where I’d cheerfully spill coffee on strangers and get ice cream orders all wrong.
 

 
One Sunday afternoon, I sat behind [...]

…And discover some great new writing! Chuck Westbrook’s “Blog Project” is designed to support under-appreciated blogs and “help them find the audience they deserve.” Be a part of it here. I love this idea of reaching out to wonderful bloggers who want to connect with the community. Check it out and lend a comment.

Just finished The Keep in time for book club tomorrow. I’m still mulling it over. Can’t decide if I give it a thumbs up or down.

HP Photo Creations kiosk coupon for a “buy one, get one free” photo calendar here! (Just found out this was only good in California.) (Unlike Prop 8.) (Thanks KD)

 
Those were the days.
 
Dear People Who Read My Blog:
 
In a little over two weeks from now, I will be ever-lovin’ 40. So for a moment, I’d like us all to forget the soul searching and epiphanies I’ve shared on this space and tell you: I’m freaking the frack out.
 
I’m sorry that I can’t be [...]

History’s being made, can you feel it? The bubbles in the atmosphere? The sense that when they pop, the air around them will change? Or else the they’ll float into space, bouncing like sound waves, carrying the news of today into tomorrow?
 
So where were you when history was laid down? Was the TV playing [...]

I came home from a haunted house tour Thursday night disappointed that I hadn’t glimpsed any ghosts.
It must’ve been about 10:45PM, and I tramped upstairs, surprised to see The Rock awake and alert. I’d been waiting to complain to someone and now I had a readymade audience. He looked up from the TV, waiting for [...]