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My Current Relationship...With Food

Since I retired from my corporate Day Job, my relationship with food has changed, especially when it comes to lunch. Lunch was frequently provided at work. Or I brown-bagged it. Or I ran out to grab something to eat at my desk. There were several places nearby that accommodated that strategy. I knew many of them because I have worked and lived in the general area for many years. I’m not going to…

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Creepy Poetry For 6th Graders

When I was a child, my mom used to read poetry to us, especially from an orange book that had been a sixth grade school book published in 1927. My sister took it when her son was young and read to him from it; I “inherited” it when my children were young. (My daughter has called dibs on it.) We have no idea where Mom got it. It was published and used in schools before she was born. When my…

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Here, Kitty-Kitty

I have been taking classes at a nearby center that offers a wide range of activities. I started out with tarot, because I have always been fascinated by the practice and have dabbled around the edges of it for years. I wanted to learn more. I signed up and found a warm, welcoming group of women who, after two semesters of tarot, convinced me to try the Spirit Circle they all attended, which was…

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Spying on the Neighbor

Okay, this is really about spying on my neighbors’ lawn, not the people. A couple of years ago, they had a new privacy fence put in. I got to see the layout of their backyard from my office window for the period of time between taking down the old fence and putting up the new. About a week after the new fence went up, they had to cut away a bottom section of one of the planks…so their cats can…

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General Ramble and a Recipe

As you may know, I’m taking a hiatus from social media. This blog (and my newsletter–see link above) are the best way to stay abreast with what’s happening with me. And there is plenty happening. I’ve re-released my Service for Sanctuary shift books: Betrayed by Moon Beware of the Moon Besieged by the Moon Right now, they’re all in Kindle Unlimited (the ebook version) but paperbacks are…

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Wine Not?

A few months ago, I stopped at the liquor store on my way home from visiting my mom. I purchased a couple bottles of wine for a writing retreat scheduled that weekend. Then I went to the gas station to fill up my car. I hate leaving my house, so I try to do all of my errands at one time. I left the gas station and was heading home when it happened. I was in the right lane of a four-lane street.…

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My Favorite Tupperware of All Time

Over the years, especially the early years of setting up my own household, I’ve purchased a lot of Tupperware. I still use several pieces. Several more are in my basement, and I periodically wish they were still in my kitchen cupboards because they would be handy to have. Hands down, my absolute favorite Tupperware piece is my grater. I love that I can grate food into the bowl, then snap on the…

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Joygerms: Make them Contagious

Many years ago, when I first started working in TV, I became aware of a local advertising agency/public relations firm, Joan of Art. Joan White, the owner, was always upbeat, smiling, and trying to bring people together. I fondly recall a “Rabbit Rabbit” gathering for advertising types at a nearby bar. A few years later, she founded something she called Joygerms Unlimited, and started referring…

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The Season for Giving

Gift giving season is upon us. Here are some ideas for the writers in your life: Author Boss Insulated Tumbler Wooden Booklamp Folding Booklight PenGems 3-D Wooden Bookstore Puzzle Scented Candles: (Please note that the links take you to specific scents, but you really should explore what else is available.) Novelly Yours Big Moods Big White Yeti Candles Goose Creek Birthdate…

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How To Cook A Turkey (Without Really Trying)

Until COVID closed America in 2020, I had cooked exactly one turkey in my life. My mom had broken her elbow and my  brother (still living at home at the time) was having friends over for a turkey dinner. He’d gotten the turkey as a Christmas bonus from his employer. So I took a day off from work and with Mom hovering, I prepared the turkey. Because of COVID my husband, children, and I opted not…

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It's The Little Things

As you may recall, I completely redid my office back in 2022. Bright, sunshine-colored walls. White furniture. I still love it. It’s my favorite room in my house. I’m always looking for little things to add to it, and a few months ago I found the perfect accessory. The small ones are coasters for my tea and water. The larger ones are pads for when I’m eating while I work…not quite placements,…

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CapitolFest 21: A Minor Miracle

If you look beneath the marquee, you can see the plywood where the windows were before July 16th’s tornado. A few weeks ago, TV Stevie and I attended CapitolFest, in Rome, NY. It’s a film festival that focuses on rare, old silent films and early talkies. There are also educational segments each year. This year, the focus was on nitrate film. On the Thursday night before the festival began, we…

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Happiness Happens Day

Tomorrow (August 8) is National Happiness Happens Day. It’s also my wedding anniversary. I claimed the date first, but it’s a nice coincidence. The entire month of August is Happiness Happens Month, so I’m going to share my “Happy” playlist with you. “Happy” (Pharrell Williams) “Chelsea Morning” (Joni Mitchell) “Good Morning, Starshine” (Oliver) “Oh What a Beautiful Morning” (James Taylor) “Here…

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An Oregano By Any Other Name...

For years, I thought oregano was oregano. An co-worker once told me oregano was for pizza, not sauce. That was the extent of my knowledge. A few years ago, I went to the Regional (i.e. Farmer’s) Market, looking for herbs to grow myself. I overheard a woman asking for Greek Oregano, as opposed to the Italian Oregano that seemed to be offered at every booth. She finally found some (the vendor…

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Ingredient Lists vs. Appliances & Gadgets

I like to cook. Well, maybe enjoy reading recipes would be a better description of one of my favorite pastimes. When I was single, I played with complicated dishes. Before TV Stevie and I first got married, he told me he did not expect me to have dinner on the table every night. He’s kept his promise. Of course, when the Chromos were young, dinner was on the table every night. I prepared new…

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TikTok: A Possible Solution

One of the latest social media brouhahas is about foreign ownership of TikTok. The two “solutions” most often heard are either sell it to an American, or ban its use in the US. Frankly I’m appalled that our government thinks is can force a foreign company to sell itself to an American company. They’re acting like bullies. Now, I don’t have a TikTok account. It’s not my jam. But I know plenty of…

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Adventures at Arby's

My mom likes Arby’s. After my dad passed a couple of years ago, I started hitting the Arby’s drive-thru and taking lunch to her once a week. The visit to Arby’s is smooth, but sometimes odd things happen as I am leaving. I had been waiting for my electrician to get back to me. I blogged about it in September 2023. One day, I was pulling out of Arby’s and there he was, stopped at a light. I tried…