There is no part of our front porch that isn’t awkward. It was clearly designed by someone who never personally used a front porch, possibly a space alien or a baby manatee. When the doorbell rings, opening the storm door to speak with the person on…
A Trip to the E Arrrrrgh
Once upon a time, a friend had a pirate-themed party to celebrate the release of one of the Pirates of the Caribbean movies (Part 17: Captain Grandpa Sparrow versus the Cephalopod of Doom). It was in the middle of the summer, and my mom was in…
Sophie, Music Critic
Sophie is a dog of many talents, thus her full name: Sophie the Wonder Dog. Little did we know she is also a music critic: In case it’s unclear, Sophie toddled into the video, stopped in the middle of the frame and proceeded to throw up….
Do I Dare To Eat A Beet?
I don’t know if there is an actual medical diagnosis for the irrational fear of beets, but if there is, I have it. I don’t know when the fear started. I don’t recall being force-fed beets as a child. The only real negative beet-related experience I’ve…
Spider House Rules
Dear Spiders, Insects and Slugs, Here are The Rules: You are welcome to the entire part of the world that is OUTSIDE of my house. If you find yourself inside my house, you’ll want to keep a very low profile until you can once again return…
Flex Frustrations
Back in February, I read a post by a friend about fitness tracking devices. She mentioned the Fitbit Flex, which was scheduled for release in Spring 2013. I’d been considering a tracking device for a while now, and decided that I’d wait to buy one until…
Remembering Dennis Lane
What do I remember the most about Dennis Lane? His laughter. That thought is quickly followed by so much else: his generosity of spirit, his love of dogs, his love of his community, his boundless curiosity, his genuine interest in others. But for me, it always…
Opportunity as Compassionate People
A friend of mine, HoCoRising, wrote a blog post earlier this week called “Obligation as Compassionate People.” It starts: Last week, during the Forum on Ending Homelessness, Norm Sucher from the National Alliance to End Homelessness said something that prompted me to pull out my phone…