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real talk #1

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It is a Friday night and LM is at the school dance and the Mr. is at a bar next to the school dance with all the dads just in case someone wants to leave early. I just finished a book and am sitting in a quiet house, which is a gift but I have this busy mind, haha sigh. Here are some hot takes and real talk from this moment! The bee paper I found at my aunt’s seemed to point at my buzzing mind, haha! I am two weeks and change away from this ankle and foot surgery. Is it bad that one of the things I’m most worried about is not working for 2 1/2 weeks? Since the pandemic, I’ve talked a big talk about having better boundaries with work and not having it be my identity… but, the idea of not working is really freaking me out! I haven’t taken 2 weeks off in a row since I had Lil Momma and was on leave. Obviously, I have more work to do (pun intended, sigh)… Things are moving on clearing out my aunt’s house, but I am at the point where I have to make big important decisions about whether or n...
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deck rambles #1

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  Hello from our deck on the first warm weekend day to really appreciate it! Nothing like a romance novel and a super soaker to prevent the squirrels from taking out my birdcam again to set the Saturday vibe! Honestly, I’m sitting here like a plant soaking up some sun and avoiding my to do list. Lil Momma is running around the yard in socks, practicing her dance solo, and chattering away. The Mr is cleaning our gardens and making plans to take down a small tree that is allowed the squirrels to take out the antenna on our other birdcam a few weeks ago. Last night we went and saw Alton Brown’s final tour in Boston.The Mr and I have seen every tour he’s done and his shows (television and live) have really been one of those constants in our almost 20 year relationship. Lil Momma joined us last night, which made me super happy to do something fun as a family before everything gets crazy. (Crazier) In this very moment, she’s having her yearly realization that she loves being outside and ...
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10 things my tween said this week

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  Lil Momma is a chatterbox and has been on fire lately with her questions and comments. Here’s a sampling:   “What time is it?” (She’s wearing a watch) “Hold me closer, Tony Danza!” (sung) “What’s a saga?” “Have you been to the Pink Pony Club?” “Why did Dad give me 4 slices of bell pepper? Four?!” “Ideal Oreo proportions are a personal choice.”  “Do you ever think about Steve Harrington’s hair?” ( She’s deep into a Stranger Things rewatch even though we just finished season 4 ) “Did you sleep well? Was it sound?” “Road trip snacks are a joy!” “Will you switch shoes with me?” (When she wore Crocs to a strength workout class)  I can’t believe what comes out of this kid’s mouth - and that we can wear each other’s shoes?!? Time is wild, friends. 
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F.I.G. Friday #4 and dissonance

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  The world is suffocatingly a lot right now.     Everything is a lot.    I don’t really have words. There’s just so much awful everywhere and it keeps getting louder and all the time.   I was listening to a bonus episode of  Maintenance Phase  on my drive yesterday and the hosts talked about how it feels bad to listen to the news and stay abreast of current events, but it also feels bad to hide and not be in the know of what is going on. That is me. I am that.    These FIGs are glimmers I found in these days, but in no way are meant to celebrate this week or this time because although I know two things can be true at once, it’s hard to say “I felt joy” – no matter how small – when the world is on fire.   Saturday : We watched the last episode of  Stranger Things  season 4 and Lil Momma, the Mr, and I had a “what we think will happen in the final season” conversation and wrote down our predictions to reopen when it ai...
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fifty days (on ankle surgery prep)

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In 6 weeks or so (50 days when I wrote this), I’ll be having surgery on my right ankle and foot that’s both a long time coming and, at the same time, kind of a disaster. Random pic of wild cat wrapping paper I found cleaning out my aunt’s house that really feels like my current vibe (and reminds me of Stephany !) For the friends of Dr. Google (or with medical knowledge haha), I’m having a lateral ligament reconstruction, LDCO, and dorsiflexion 1st metatarsal osteotomy. For those who like to protect their peace (#goals), basically they’re going to tighten/clean up the ligaments on the outside of my ankle. At the same time, to address my overly high arch and standing on my foot incorrectly, they’re going to adjust my heel bone to the outside to improve alignment.  It’s a lot. It’s not driving for 8+ weeks. It’s being non-weight bearing for at least 6 weeks. It’s learning how to walk again. It’s 6 months of recovery.  It’s also the rest of my life. It’s better balance and mobilit...
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F.I.G. Friday #3

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  I am doubling down on  Finding Joy in Gratitude Collective challenge  Elisabeth is running and both keeping short joys on the tracker and sharing longer ones here on Fridays this month! (or forever?) Same, Junior. Same.  Saturday : Lil Momma and I went to see  Pippin  where she takes musical theatre lessons and even though I hadn’t seen the show in YEARS, I knew the verse they did for the audience sing-a-long like I’d just listened to it. It’s so lovely to be reminded of the theatre person I was every now and again in this other life that I live.   Sunday : I sat on a couch and finished  The God of the Woods  with a cup of tea and it was just so quiet and wonderful to just be.   Monday : I helped someone at work with a presentation and felt so in my zone with the feedback I was able to share! (Not sure if it was heard, but that’s a whole other thing, haha!)   Tuesday : Lil Momma and I had a wonderful day off for February Vacation ...
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recent reads #2 of 2025

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Some more quick takes on some recent reads! Bleeding Heart Yard By Elly Griffiths  4⭐️ This is what I’ve been wanting from this series! Harbinder focused, a dense and twisty mystery, and really great pacing. From class and political divides to so much Brit slang and lit jokes to longing for life and love across characters and experiences… What a great read! Kissed a Sad Goodbye By Deborah Crombie  3.75⭐️ I loved the mystery itself - jumping through time, the WWII setting, how it all fed the current mystery. Families and tea and heartbreak and lies. But, I was not as enthralled by the main character development. I’ve always appreciated where Kincaid has been messy and human. But, his handling of Kit did not ring true to who he has been portrayed as. And, Gemma. Gemma? Her musical (and more) exploration just felt like a plot device. Not my favorite, but still am all in on the series.  The Secret Service of Tea and Treason By India Holton  3.5⭐️ Not my favorite of the s...
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