• Confessions

    Be Careful What You Wish For

    I have a reputation for being organized (or at least making it look like I am!). I have a reputation for going above and beyond, and I have a reputation for being overly busy. I have a reputation for getting things done. Bear in mind I’m not typing those words with any bit of ego: if you know me, you get it. Every now and then someone will say to me (either verbally or via internet) something along the lines of “I wish I could be like you.” It happened again today, thanks to my dear, sweet friend from north of the border (The Illinois/Wisconsin border, that is). She typed…

  • My Dad Has Mad Skillz

    Lessons Learned As A Hotel Manager’s Daughter

    Jim and I stayed in a hotel over the weekend and each time we left the room I followed my usual “tidying up for the housekeeper” protocol. Starting in the bathroom, I toss my cosmetics into my makeup bag and scoot that into the corner. I make sure our toothbrushes and toothpaste are off to the side, and put Jim’s stuff in a pile. Then I make sure that any towels we want to continue using are hung on the hook and any towels we no longer need are in a neat pile on the floor. I go back into the bedroom area and make sure all of our clothes…

  • Random Thoughts

    Life Rule #1073: You Can’t Choose Your Own Nickname.

    As J got settled in at school, he began talking more and more about the new friends he was making. He gets along very well with both of his roommates–what a relief!–as well as the three guys across the hall and so many others both on his floor and in his classes. A few weeks into the semester we started hearing about various nicknames they were bestowing on each other, and J was hoping he’d get a good one. In discussing the topic with Jim and me, the three of us agreed that “T-bone” would be a great nickname. If you’re a “Seinfeld” fan, you get it. We said, “Yeah!…

  • Confessions

    I Knew This Quote Would Come In Handy!

    As I write this, it’s still Friday. As you read this, it’s Saturday. (Thank goodness for the ability to schedule posts!) In anticipation of a busy weekend that includes parent activities at J’s college through Sunday morning, some catch-up work on Sunday afternoon and then a surprise activity Jim has planned for us on Sunday night, I was in a slight panic that I would have to throw the white flag up in the air on the second day of NaBloPoMo; things are crazy around here. My Friday consisted of Dailey Method class (of course!), a couple of errands, a shower, quick lunch, conference call, and various other pre-weekend tasks…

  • Confessions,  Something That Could Change Your Life

    Or I Could Just Keep Buying Bread Like I’ve Done My Entire Life.

    We own what I consider to be an average amount of small kitchen appliances. Wait. Better make that a slightly-above-average amount of small kitchen appliances, partly due to the following: 1. We were given one of those Cocomotion hot chocolate makers/mixers a few years ago (we don’t use it anymore but it’s cool so I keep it, you know, just in case). 2. When I purchased a large slow cooker a couple of years ago, I refused to get rid of the small one we already had (Great for entertaining!). 3. We have an electric fondue pot, which (I think) is probably uncommon in the average household, but very common…

  • How To

    How To Survive (And Thrive!) During NaBloPoMo

    Once again, National Blog Posting Month (also known as NaBloPoMo or, in my brain, NaBloPoMoFo) is upon us. Although you can technically participate in NaBloPoMo in any given month, November is traditionally the month during which “everybody does it”. (You can sign up on the BlogHer website and possibly win something, plus you’ll find lots of like-minded individuals and maybe some new bloggy buddies!) How does one participate in NaBloPoMo? One blogs every single day. For thirty days in November. That’s it. Sounds easy, right? Yes and no, depending on what else one has going on in one’s life and how badly one might be suffering from writer’s block at…