Category Archives: appreciation

Put them on an index card, carry it around

I heard an interview earlier in the week on XM radio (I think it was on Dr. Oz’s show) with Marci Shimoff, author of the books Love for No Reason, and Happy for No Reason. She suggested an exercise which … Continue reading

Posted in appreciation, Love., spirituality, Uncategorized | 8 Comments

Life Long Learner

When I was fifteen, my mother had twin boys. I adored them. When they hit school age, one of my brothers had a learning disability. School was not easy for him. One day when he was really little, my mother … Continue reading

Posted in appreciation | 6 Comments

Co-op, Speed Stacking, and the Clay Class Formerly Known as Effing

Today was the first day of homeschool co-op. Riley and Seth are taking a play writing class in the first block. In the second, Riley is taking puzzles and games, which is a lot of charades type games, mind teasers, … Continue reading

Posted in appreciation, homeschooling, Uncategorized | 7 Comments

What Special Needs Can Look Like at a Wedding

My friend Kim’s girls were excluded from a family wedding and it’s caused a whole heap of pain for all involved. What were the bride and groom afraid of? Most special needs parents are not going to let their children … Continue reading

Posted in appreciation, special needs, Uncategorized | 11 Comments

Ringing in 43

Tucking her in the night before my birthday, she could barely contain her excitement. She wears her heart on her sleeve, and was as happy for me as she would be if it were her own birthday eve. I have a … Continue reading

Posted in appreciation, beauty, family, Uncategorized | 12 Comments

Still Twenty Days Older

From second grade through junior high, I had a dear friend. We were pretty much inseparable. I was twenty days older than her and I loved to rub that fact in her face. For twenty whole days, I was ten … Continue reading

Posted in appreciation, Uncategorized | 8 Comments

Charlotte’s Web

I facilitate a book group for 9-11 year olds and this month we are reading Charlotte’s Web. It was my first “big girl” book when I was a child. So charmed by it, I do believe it set me on … Continue reading

Posted in appreciation, Parenting, Uncategorized | 11 Comments

And to think I almost didn’t stop at the BMV

I had some running around to do, and driving down the road, out of the corner of my eye, I saw The Bureau of Motor Vehicles as I passed it. My birthday is coming up and my license expires on … Continue reading

Posted in appreciation, Uncategorized | 11 Comments

Treat Him Like a Rottweiler

We were having a problem with Jingle. She’d started to become aggressive with other dogs when we were out on walks. She used to love every dog in the neighborhood. Now she’s snarling at them, showing her teeth, the second … Continue reading

Posted in appreciation, chihuahuas, dogs and kids, Service dogs, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , | 12 Comments

Glee – You’re on Notice

Shuffling out of my bedroom still half asleep, I’m greeted by my bright-eyed tween with her usual morning after questions. “Did you watch Glee?” It’s our Tuesday night assignment. She can’t watch Glee ’til we’ve watched Glee and screened it. … Continue reading

Posted in appreciation, Asperger's, Parenting, special needs, special needs parenting, Uncategorized | Tagged | 13 Comments

Let’s go outside…

I’ve been to the Botanical Gardens dozens of times and somehow never saw her before. She’s huge. How could I have missed her? Did they trim back the foliage around her, exposing her? Or was I simply more present this … Continue reading

Posted in appreciation, Uncategorized | 6 Comments

Lice and Mosquitos and Rashes and Colds

Three days into summer camp, Seth was sick. Riley followed. I shook my fist! Four weeks is all I get, and they’re home? Poor me! We ended up missing a lice outbreak. A few weeks ago, two Wednesdays in a … Continue reading

Posted in appreciation, Uncategorized | 7 Comments

Daughter of the Drunk at the Bar Video Trailer

When I think about my main audience for Daughter of the Drunk at the Bar it is, obviously, adult children of alcoholics. We’re everywhere. It is with this group in mind I made a video trailer for my book. (All … Continue reading

Posted in adult children of alcoholics, appreciation, Daughter of the Drunk at the Bar, memoir, Uncategorized | 8 Comments

Remembering 9/11

Riley was 15 months old when 9/11 happened. As a result of those horrible events, I decided I didn’t want to bring another child into this scary world. Seth came anyway. Ten years already. The sky was so blue. We … Continue reading

Posted in appreciation, Uncategorized | 5 Comments

Judgy Wudgy Was Amusing

There are people in our life who think we’re too “out there.” With our organic, chemical free food. Our homeschooling. Our limited TV time. Our lack of the latest technological doo-dads. Our old cars. Our second generation smells like dog … Continue reading

Posted in appreciation, spirituality | 9 Comments

Children Get Older (…but just because everyone else is doing it doesn’t mean you have to do it. If everyone else were jumping off a bridge, would you do it too)?

At nine, he’s Lego and Harry Potter and Indiana Jones and MJ moves. He’s more generous and patient than I’ll ever be. He’s never been cruel, not a second in his life. He always holds the door open for people, … Continue reading

Posted in appreciation, Parenting | 10 Comments

Big Fun and Mac’s Backs After Tommy’s

We went to the Coventry area for dinner tonight. It was too hot to cook. Attached to the wonderful Tommy’s restaurant is the infamous Mac’s Backs. A local independent. A Cleveland establishment. I brought some of my bumper stickers and … Continue reading

Posted in appreciation, Asperger's, Daughter of the Drunk at the Bar, Parenting, special needs parenting, special needs siblings, Uncategorized, writing | 11 Comments

Ginger

If you’ve been reading my blog for a while, you might remember my role model, Ms. Ginger. I wrote about her here, and here.  I’m writing about her again over at Hopeful Parents today. Love.

Posted in appreciation, Asperger's, Hopeful Parents, special needs parenting, Uncategorized | Comments Off on Ginger

Bumper Stickers/Indie Publishing/Daughter of the Drunk at the Bar

One of the most challenging parts of publishing your book independently is self-promotion. You have to walk the fine line between getting it out there, and not tooting your own horn too much. Using social media to your advantage, but … Continue reading

Posted in adult children of alcoholics, appreciation, Daughter of the Drunk at the Bar, indie publishing, Uncategorized | 7 Comments

Pass it through the window…

We’ve just discovered our deck. This sounds ridiculous, we’ve lived here for over three years, and have hardly ever spent time on our deck. For one thing, it was ugly. But this summer, Todd threw a couple coats of sealer … Continue reading

Posted in appreciation, Asperger's, Uncategorized | 5 Comments