Beating the Heat

4/8/21 “I don’t do well in the heat” – my mom, circa 1960’s. She said it often and anyone who knew her well knew the truth of the statement. On occasion growing up, one of us girls would comment, “uh oh, momma’s getting hot,” and we would react accordingly which meant getting out of her

Fear of Normal

It was this week last year that I began working from home. There was definitely a learning curve as I grappled with online platforms and learning strategies. How was I supposed to be a school librarian from home? How could I help struggling students and teachers when they were dealing with the same technical and

The Unfinished Novel

2/24/21 You may have heard someone – maybe an English teacher or a writing coach- say that everyone has one good novel inside them. I would alter that a bit and say everyone has one unfinished novel inside them. Because finishing a novel is hard. I’ve tried. I have bits and pieces of one in

Tree Love

2/8/21 It started with the documentary Intelligent Trees. I found that compelling enough to watch a second doc – The Secret Life of Trees. Then, as synchronicity often operates (or a google algorithm), a review of the novel The Overstory by Richard Powers popped up on my screen. It seems Powers was so fascinated by

Sorry, Julia

So, last night I tried cooking something new – Duck a l’Orange. Sounds fancy, right? I signed up for one of those meal delivery services that sends you everything you need to make a complete meal plus instructions. Hello Fresh offers a discount and since Joe and I haven’t been to a restaurant since last

Saturday Notes

01/16/21 I admit that I was worried about what Trump may do between the election and Biden’s inauguration but sending goons to storm the Capitol with intent to execute lawmakers was not on my bingo card. It’s taken this long for details to emerge and for the seriousness of the act to sink in –

A Christmas Memory

12/29/2020 A few nights before Christmas this year, Joe suggested we ride around town and look at the lights. This was not something we had ever done. Usually, with family home, cookies to bake, presents to wrap, and parties to host or attend, looking at lights was not on the to-do list. But 2020 was

Unfettered Thinking

12/17/2020 Me: (On the sofa imparting some tidbit of information found on Twitter that I considered mildly interesting) Joe: (in nearby chair looking upward toward ceiling) Me: “Did you hear me?” Joe: (looking at ceiling) Me: “Joe, are you even listening to me?” Joe: (still seemingly focused on ceiling) “No” Me: Me: “Should I repeat

A Hard December

12/09/2020 The tree is up and presents are wrapped. The next step is to box them and get them in the mail. Why does this all seem so hard? I know why, of course – it’s a hard December. Those presents I’m mailing should be under the tree and the tree should be fuller, taller,

Wanted by the FEPPC

12/1/2020 Fall has finally arrived to central Florida. It’s a chilly 48 degrees at midday and expected to be 38 degrees tonight. These temps will only last a few days; by Friday it will be back up to the high 70’s. So, even though it’s nice and sunny out, I’m content to snug up here