• 2D3F4722 5241 4569 9DB2 3046FD598A06 e1511665942195 1
    Motivation,  Something That Could Change Your Life

    On Peeling Eggs and Other Things That Take Time

    One of my contributions to the family Thanksgiving dinner this week was deviled eggs. I was determined to figure out how to peel them so they stayed looking as pristine as the eggs you see in the magazines, because usually when I peel hard boiled eggs they end up looking like a hot mess. i did a little research of course, because that’s what I do. Let me save you some time; there are LOTS of theories out there about how best to peel eggs, and the theories contradict each other like you wouldn’t believe. What I came up with that was different from what I’ve always done was: 1.…

  • 947475AE 8F51 47D0 9AFD CC310E5C7144 1
    Something That Could Change Your Life

    Just Breathe.

      I have always struggled with quieting my mind. I was born that way, but my tendency to have multiple projects going on at any given time (along with my worry about every detail that exists) doesn’t make my life easier. Many of my friends have suggested meditation, but I’ve never actually tried it. A couple of years ago a friend suggested the website “Do Nothing For 2 Minutes” and I thought that was pretty amazing but I always forgot about it. Also, I have to be on my computer to use it. (Click it; it’s pretty cool!) My new watch has a “Breathe” function on it, and I’ve had…

  • Motivation,  Something That Could Change Your Life

    Make It Sweet.

    I think as we get older, we tend to reflect on life so much more than we did in our younger days. I know I do. My appreciation for the little things and my laser focus these days on gratitude and blessings stems from my absorption of the fact that Life as I know it could end at any moment. I’m known for being a go-getter, and that trait comes in handy especially these days. I don’t wait for things to happen; I try to make them happen. What about you? Are you the driver in your life, or a passenger? If you’re riding shotgun, let me recommend you scoot…

  • Motivation,  Something That Could Change Your Life,  Travels

    Travel. (Just Go, Already.)

    I’ve done a little bit of traveling this year. *giggle* Actually, I’ve done a lot of traveling this year. Almost every time I go on a trip, I get texts from friends (and comments on photos that I post on social media) about how they wish they could pick up and go like I can. I get it. I was unable to do this until just a couple of years ago. I’m in this interesting season of life right now: I’m an empty nester and, for the first time in decades, unemployed except for some freelance writing I do on occasion. I’m able to keep appointments with myself to workout…

  • Random Thoughts,  Something That Could Change Your Life

    Always Remember, Never Forget.

    In 2012, I started a new personal 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. Luke G. Nee worked in municipal bonds operations at Cantor Fitzgerald. He married his wife Irene on September 11, 1982 and they had a son,…

  • Confessions,  Something That Could Change Your Life

    What If We Just Don’t Ask “What If”?

    Recently I visited an alma mater of mine. Sidenote: I just had to look up “alma mater” to make sure it means “a school I once attended” rather than “a school from which I graduated”. The fall after I completed high school I entered Tennessee Technological University as a freshman majoring in German and stayed there for six months. I loved my time at TTU, short-lived as it was. My visit a couple of weeks ago brought back all kinds of memories. I drove by Jobe Hall, which is where I lived on the third floor. I walked through the student union. I walked across the quad to the south…

  • How To,  Motivation,  Something That Could Change Your Life

    Do Something.

    It’s been a rough couple of days in America. Upset, anger, confusion, and sadness are only some of the emotions that people are dealing with after Hillary Clinton’s loss (or, rather, Donald Trump’s win) on Tuesday, not to mention the feelings of panic about the future. This election was different from others: it was the nastiest, ugliest, meanest cycle in our lifetime and in the end the Democratic loss/Republican win wasn’t upsetting simply because it was a loss. It was (is) upsetting because the racist, misogynistic, and anti-LGBT comments made by Donald Trump during the campaign along with his promises to rid the country of immigrants, build a wall, and…

  • Amazing People,  Best Thing Ever,  Favorite Things,  Fun in Chicago,  Something That Could Change Your Life

    Superstitions Be Gone: Cubs Win the 2016 World Series!

    Chicago is a very happy city today. I am a very happy person today. I am nearly too exhausted to write about this but I’m going to give it a shot: bear with me. I was up until 2am and slept in a most terrible manner for the duration before my eyes sprung open again at 6:45am. I suspect it was because internally I sensed that “Good Morning America” was coming on and I didn’t want to miss the World Series recap, which I enjoyed immensely. Let me back up. Chicago Cubs. Cleveland Indians. What a World Series: a real nail biter. Game 7, though? I literally thought I was…

  • Blessings,  Queen of Denial,  Something That Could Change Your Life

    The Comforts of Home

    This morning, exactly two weeks to the hour after I was at O’Hare airport and getting on the plane that would take me to Jim after his cycling accident, I was at McGhee Tyson airport and getting on the plane that would take me home. In the past two weeks I covered every single emotion under the sun as I watched Jim’s condition go from only being able to speak one word at a time, having practically zero memory, and needing assistance walking to a state I would call “100% back to normal other than the residual bruises and healing wounds”. The fact that this happened at all was tragic…