It’s funny. One can travel to far flung locales, dye one’s hair questionable shades of red, and pretend to speak Italian…but when it comes right down to it, what makes you [me] happiest is when five lilac trees are planted in the backyard. The same kind that used to be in your [my] childhood home’s backyard. After living in a major metropolitan area for going on eight years (!), it’s sweet to think that I can let Nora experience the same {Read More}
Hint: I’m not The Genius.
May 17, 2010 By 7 Comments
This weekend we had a mix of Peej’s fam in town to celebrate his nephew’s 12th birthday: P.J.’s parents from Cincinnati, and his oldest sister and her son Tony from Myrtle Beach. They all came here because he wanted a trip to Chicago for his birthday. Let that sink in for a minute. We are so awesome that a 12 year old- (read: Land Of Which Nothing Having To Do With Adults Is Awesome)- actually wanted to spend time with {Read More}
It’s like Guilt Gyoza- but worse!
May 13, 2010 By 4 Comments
I’m extremely lazy. Or exhausted. Late at night, I can’t tell which it is. And it’s been causing some guilt. I like to call this guilt- Floss Guilt. I know I should floss. I spent 6k on my teeth in the past handful of years alone (not to mention Braces 1.0 that was sponsored by my folks between ’90-’92. It didn’t “take.” Some may blame a latent latex allergy; I happen to know that I have evil teeth.) But by {Read More}
Why yes, that was a picture at the Bean.
May 10, 2010 By 5 Comments
I just love holidays. This is no secret. So, uh, a weekend devoted to mothers? (Yes, it’s a weekend.) I accept. In fact, this 30 day span includes Mother’s Day, our anniversary, Memorial Day and my birthday. Cinco de Mayo just missed the cut. With the exception of Cinco de Mayo and Memorial Day, someone around here is feelin’ the holiday pressure. And it sure isn’t me. (And Nora never lets stuff like that get to her.) But, so far, he’s stepped {Read More}
Enjoy while ya can!
May 6, 2010 By 7 Comments
This might just be my favorite new billboard- and that’s saying a ton– courtesy of my big sis Kate: Oh, Pittsfield. Thank you for your stellar advertising skillz. Let’s dissect, shall we? Happy birthday, Margaret! One hundred years…wow! That’s certainly something to…wait a sec. Who did you say was sponsoring this? Devanny Condron? The funeral home? Well, enjoy it now, Margaret. As Kate said- “Devanny Condron is waiting for you.” Now, personally, I’d like to be feted by sugar free Red {Read More}
Bringin’ the issues.
May 3, 2010 By 4 Comments
I’ve spent the morning g-chatting with my younger sister Chelly- her weekend was consumed with the taking of the SATs. No, she’s not 18. She’s just a tutor of said test. I can’t imagine accepting any job that would make me relive the longest nine hours of my life (I took it three separate times and got the exact same score. No, I will not tell you what it was. Let’s just say that I was lucky to be such {Read More}
Wanna try for seven?
April 29, 2010 By 5 Comments
And now- An Open Letter To My Daughter, Currently Crawling On My Lap and Chewing On My Hoodie: Dear Nora Jane, Happy six months! We [you] did it! In honor of this momentous occasion, I’d like to point out a few key things that you’ve done to make us better people/grownups/housecleaners. 1) Since I found out about “you,” and since the date of your arrival, all of my fears and nervous energies and unfocused creativities have channeled themselves into a new {Read More}
"Well, um, actually a pretty nice little Saturday…"
April 26, 2010 By 12 Comments
I have Mount St. Laundry in my stairwell. And it cannot be scaled. The tumbleweed cat hair is the size of the actual cats. So of course on Saturday morning I told P.J.- “I need to paint the upstairs bathroom.” He responded to this the way he generally reacts to any major change in the household; with complete and utter dismay. A little stonewalling. Perhaps a half hour of ignoring (which never, never works). He asked me why. I wanted to tell {Read More}
