Do you remember this poem? My friend Ellen gave me a burnt-edged copy of it in high school, and I’ve loved its simple profundity ever since. Today’s a good day to read it again. Comes The Dawn by Veronica A. Shoffstall After a while you learn the subtle difference Between holding a…Continue Reading
Blog
Facial Deal!
As you have probably guessed by now, I am all about the skincare. Because my skin needs care. And a forklift to pull these wrinkles out of my neck. And a new face. Yes! That’s it. My skin needs a new face. Forty-two-years-old! Why you gotta be so nasty? Uncle! So given the…Continue Reading
The Underground Suburban Shopping Network
You’ve heard of it, right? The extensive, secret, unpublicized communications organization responsible for clearing out the on-sale Zoobles at Wal-Mart and the buy-two-get-one-free pound of bacon at the corner grocery store? No? Well, who do you think stands in line at Target on Black Friday, buying 85 Razor scooters for the friends…Continue Reading
PROMPTuesday #137: Zen
Everyone? When is the last time you felt completely at peace? That all was right with the world? Please share your moment. And adjunctively (possibly and probably a made-up word), is there something you do to reach a zen state? Kindly share your mantra. If you would, post your submission…Continue Reading
Momma Love
I am writing this for Auds’ beautiful daughter, Meg. For some reason, I never expected to have children, despite Kathy King’s mumbo-jumbo “yarn” trick sophomore year that told me I’d be a mother to 16. I didn’t think I’d be married, either. I will admit that for awhile there, I DID wonder if maybe…Continue Reading
Lessons
For as long as I can remember, I’ve watched my dad work hard. Beyond the norm, hard. Beyond the extraordinary, hard. He’s the sort to put his all into whatever he does and he gave his heart, soul, mind, and body to every company for which he worked. He wasn’t home much when I was…Continue Reading
Newest The Smartly Essay
Another The Smartly essay! This time on the SmartlySoCal site. Some of you may have read this already. It’s a previously published piece. That’s all for now. But except for also you are all appreciated.
Bedtime for Dummies
Somehow bedtime around here has disintegrated into a rigorous re-enactment of CSI: Miami with a dash of Last Comic Standing and a prodigious sprinkle of Amazing Race. I don’t know how it happened really; the whole crazy nighttime routine that recently spiraled completely into the nether regions of hell’s eternal fire. Let me lay…Continue Reading
PROMPTuesday #136: Done
For today, something simple. Maybe. Probably not. Either way, please consider the prompt: What have you always wanted to do, but haven’t done yet? Please post your submission in the comments OR post in your blog and leave a link to your blog in the comments. First time to PROMPTuesday? Read…Continue Reading
Pansy
I’m too much of a pussywillow to publicy post the no-good, perfectly awful thing I did more than 15 years ago. Can I still be sued for desecration of property? For improperly applying lipstick? For having a boyfriend who impersonated a mentally-challenged half-marathoner? You never know. And for that reason, I am password-protecting my…Continue Reading
Protected: Snobs & Daft: The Terrible, Awful, No-Good Thing Edition
There is no excerpt because this is a protected post.
Snobs and Daft, UPDATED
Back in my 20s, I worked for an ad agency off Chicago’s Michigan Avenue. Every morning I’d take the bus from my Lincoln Park walk-up to a busy stop across the street and up a few from Henri Bendel, then ride the elevator to four floors of the most self-absorbed, morally corrupt, home-wrecker establishment for…Continue Reading
