In 2012, I started a new tradition for the National Day of Remembrance. I had visited the National September 11 Memorial when I was in Manhattan for BlogHer ’12, and was extremely moved by the experience (massive understatement). It occurred to me that, rather than passively watch the televised tributes and read what the rest of the internet had to say about 9/11, each year I would involve myself by actively remembering and learning about a couple of the victims of that terrible day. Diane Marie Urban was 50 years old and worked at the New York State Department of Taxation. She was widely known for saying exactly what she…
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Up Close And Personal
Yesterday I was walking south on Michigan Avenue from Tribune Tower so I could meet a friend at the Cultural Center. As I approached Lake Street, I glanced upward (as I often do; I’m always looking for photo opportunities!) and noticed a mural on the side of a building that I had never seen before. That’s pretty amazing since I have walked by that corner approximately twenty five bajillion times in my life. Anyway. I saw this mural, and I could tell that it was vibrant in color but couldn’t see the whole thing due to the fact that the adjacent building was blocking most of it from where I…
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I Still Miss Google Reader But…
Back in the day, I used to keep up with my favorite blogs (all 150+ of them) on Google Reader. Come to think of it, back in the day I had time to read all 150+ of my favorite blogs. Wow. Anyway… I loved opening up my reader every day and catching up with everybody. If I had a busy streak and was unable to read blogs, it was fine because they were all there waiting for me when I returned. In what can perhaps over-dramatically be described as a crushing blow to me, Google Reader went away for some strange reason last summer and left me flailing. There was…
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Calling In The Expert
You may or may not have noticed that I am outnumbered in my house, gender-wise. I’m fine with it, though. I may not have a daughter of my own but I have lots of friends who have girls and I totally glom onto them whether they like it or not. (I think they do: I’m a pretty awesome pseudo-aunt if I do say so myself.) I treasure the relationships that I have with my friends’ kids (girls and boys!) and love to create opportunities to interact with them as the spectacular individuals they are and not just because they happen to be the offspring of my friends. When I was…
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Pet Names
Alternate names I have for Roxie, in no particular order: 1. Sissy 2. Mama 3. Mamacita (I don’t know; it just came out one day and stuck) 4. Beebs 5. Baby 6. My Baby 7. Babes 8. Sweets 9. Siouxsie (yes, as in “and the Banshees”) 10. Bougie-Bougie (shut up) 11. Mooshie 12. Mooshie-Booshie Alternate names Jim has for Roxie, in no particular order: 1. Nothing I can list here because this is a family blog. He DOES call her those special names with love, which I guess explains why the second he walks in the door, she drops me and my “Bougie-Bougies” like a hot potato and makes a…
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Help Cadillac Support The Avon Walk For Breast Cancer: It’s Easy Peasy!
Many of us have loved ones who have been diagnosed with breast cancer. Two of the cast members from Chicago’s 2012 LISTEN TO YOUR MOTHER show are survivors, in fact. Brandie Langer and Katy Jacob are two of the reasons why we chose a local organization that is a support service and exercise program for breast cancer survivors to be the beneficiary of 10% of our ticket proceeds this year. There are, indeed, lots of worthy organizations and events that raise money towards research, care, prevention, and treatment of breast cancer. I’ve got another one for you right here. The Avon Walk For Breast Cancer, a two-day, 39-mile fundraising walk…
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Old School Blogging: The Questions
We bloggers who have been around for a while often reminisce about the good old days, when we had to blog uphill on foot, BOTH WAYS. Or something like that. Back in September I wrote about how I wanted to bring the Blogroll back because back in the day we all had Blogrolls and we all left comments and that’s how our communities were formed. (Oh, and ahem, my Blogroll is right HERE, in case you’re new here and want to discover some new blogs!) Another thing we did was write posts that answered a list of questions (and then usually tagged people to do the same, half of whom…
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Game Show Car Work (Not Necessarily In That Order)
I have been covering the BlogHer Twitter stream for Momo this week, who took spring break off so she could spend quality time with her kids without keeping one eyeball on her phone or her laptop at all times (seriously). Because I work with her AND because she is one of my closest friends, I am hyper-aware that she needs a vacation more than just about anybody in the world. Each time I cover for her when she takes personal time off, that point is hammered home even more thoroughly. Standing watch over a Twitter stream with 90,000+ followers to make sure questions are answered and potential problems are addressed…
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Heavy.
This is the second night in a row that I am wide awake in the middle of the night for an extended period of time. Coincidentally, yesterday was the second day in a row that Tracey and I conducted auditions for LISTEN TO YOUR MOTHER CHICAGO. Though the audition process isn’t about the two of us—naturally it’s about the stories that are presented to us in hopes of snagging one of a very (very!) limited number of spots—it affects me deeply enough that it warrants some release here on my personal blog. My inner circle knows exactly how agonizing auditions are for me. They’re exciting, of course, but agonizing all…
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The Power Of Positive Thinking
Yesterday I drove to the Dailey Method studio to take class and as I got out of the car I put my gloves on and secured my hat and scarf to make sure I was protected from the sub-zero temperatures. I squeezed my keys in my right hand a couple of times—a habit that has kept me from locking myself out of my car for as long as I can remember—and then quickly shoved them into the pocket of my jacket as I walked. I heard something fall to the sidewalk and realized that the keyring that has an easy release, the one that makes it easy for me to…