Reading Crap

One of my New Year’s resolutions, or whatever you call it, is to stop reading a book the moment it is no longer enjoyable.  Put it down and never pick it up again.  Totally abandoned it and put it in the heap pile.  I NEVER have consciously quit a book.  I have misplaced or lost book mid-read and depending […]

Overheard at the Ice Rink

  “Come her right now!”  A petite and pretty 13 year girl sheepishly skates to the opening between the boards where her crazy ass mother is standing. “You are just disgusting!” “What?” as the skater coughs, drinks some much needed water and wipes her nose on the shoulder of her Lululemon jacket. “You heard me, that layback was […]

Technology is Good

I am not a luddite when it comes to technology.  I am probably a bit above average for my age (old) when it comes to how successfully I use digital media in my daily life.  I have, however, resisted listening to podcasts.  Partially because the amount of time I am already”connected” makes me feel uncomfortable. […]

Stuff

Its 2016.  That means its a new year to make all sorts promises to myself regarding things I need to commit to, that will improve my health and happiness.  I also always proclaim I will write more in the next year.  Well I am going to try.  I think my content may be more political as […]

Pope Francis

I was thinking about the Pope today as he travels around South America to some of the poorest countries in the world.  He is dropping hints about real church transformation on several social issues.  I thought about how when he was elected I was pretty cynical about any real change happening in the Church, as […]

Summertime

Its been a hot wet summer.  All I can say is thank the gods for air conditioning.

Mindfulness vs Mindlessness

Mindfulness:  Thinking (without speech) about the intent, purpose of an action, having a clear comprehension of a moment. It is not a new idea, its has genesis in both Buddhism and western philosophy.  The difference between the two is that in Buddhism it is a unconscious faculty that you acquire on your path to enlightenment   In […]

Why I did not get a pocket dog

I really wanted a little dog for my birthday.  A puppy that would stay a puppy.  Something small and something I could could take care of, would need me, I could control it and it would not have any big complicated problems.  I planted the seed with the kids first.  Georgie was all over it, […]

Easter 2013

Despite months of grim weather, this past weekend was lovely and it made us all optimistic that spring is coming, as it always does miraculously but never soon enough. The kids had Good Friday off so we had a nice relaxing weekend. GM was traveling to Argentina on Saturday so we had Easter lunch on […]

In case you were wondering

The day didnt turn out to be a total waste. It started out with a delayed school opening.  Which I realize isn’t such a bad way to do the morning.  Its relaxed, the kids are awake and functioning, very pleasant.  We all are  night people (except GM) and combining that with adolescence, we have a house full of owls. […]

Things that suck

The weather sucks. It’s March 18th and we are expecting a snow /ice/sleet and rain storm tonight. An on time school opening is unlikely, perhaps another snow day….school until July!

I might be obsessed

What was up with crappy, Jerry-rigged chimney they slapped on top of the Sistine Chapel that provided the all important color-coded smoke? I have seen better engineering in the slums of Buenos Aires where unarguably the resources were much more limited than the Vatican. This is my last pope related post, promise.

Pope Thoughts

I was raised as a Catholic and having received all the available sacraments less the Holy Orders and Last Rites, I am the textbook example of a non-practicing Catholic.  My reasons for not belonging to the Roman Catholic Church as an adult are many.  The most obvious being the imperfect hierarchy that doesn’t allow for married priests and continues […]

Quisp and Quake

When I was a kid my mom never bought good cereal.  We never had Captain Crunch, Fruity Pebbles, Count Chocula , Fruit Loops or Lucky Charms.  Instead my mom made huge batches of healthy granola chock full of nuts and dried fruit. I did managed to tried all the above at someone elses house, or […]

Happy Mom’s Day

It’s 10:53 and I am still in bed. Cal made me coffee, Owen delivered me the Sunday Times. I will be preparing a Sunday Brunch for everyone then I back off the clock for the rest of the day. I think I will plant my herb garden and read. It’s a beautiful day.

Bat Shit Crazy Elephants

Not sure where to start on this one.  I think as I eluded to in the fall with some HIGHlarious videos (here and here) of Republicans saying stupid shit, I was amused by how the GOP’s primaries were shaping up.  I am still amused and not at all disappointed.  Although I have to say some of what […]

Not enough learning

I loathe the fact that our public school system puts so much emphasis on the standardized test.  I realize that almost every state mandates a series of achievement test administered periodically in a student’s primary and secondary academic career.  State and local school systems can glean all sorts of information from them.  I understand there […]