Aug 7Oxford Dictionary’s new words are making me fragileIt’s that time of year again. No, I don’t mean back-to-school time. I don’t even mean college football season. Of course I’m talking about the time of year when Dictionary.com publishes its list of words added to the online dictionary. And once again I am left sitting at my desk…Dictionary2 min readDictionary2 min read
Jul 29Leap of faithIt’s been a long time since I let peer pressure get the best of me, but a few years ago, I took a leap off of a 30-foot platform because of peer pressure from a bunch of teenagers. I went zip lining. Let’s get this straight: I had no intention…3 min read3 min read
Jul 29Alive women don’t wear plaid eitherI went shopping the other day and realized, to my horror, that plaid clothes are making a comeback. The mere thought of this makes me shudder. I’m not a big fan of plaid clothing…3 min read3 min read
Jul 29Signs you might be turning forty-something-or-otherAs I write this, I am quickly approaching my forty-something-or-other birthday. The more I think about what I want for my birthday, the more I have to be honest and say I’d really just love a nap. That, my friends, is a sure sign you have reached the top of…3 min read3 min read
Jul 29Don’t expect to understand mom until you are oneI’ve written before about wishing there was an early warning system for when your child is about to do something for the last time … last time he’ll willingly hold your hand when you pick him up from school, last time she’ll ever need a bottle, last time he’ll be…3 min read3 min read
Jul 29Spacing out on grammar rulesYears ago, I had an editor from Chicago send me an email asking me to stop using two spaces after my periods when submitting my columns to his professional journal. In a “voice” dripping with superiority, I sent him a reply that said I was following the grammar rule for…3 min read3 min read
Jul 14, 2022Finding Dante’s 10th Circle in the UKHaving never driven in England before, I’m not sure what we were thinking when we recklessly decided to rent a car for two days to drive around the Cotswolds. We knew we wanted to visit Jane Austen’s house, Winchester Cathedral and random castles along the way, and there wasn’t a…3 min read3 min read
Apr 13, 2022Poor Woman’s Wine TourMy husband and I lived in Southern Oregon for nearly two decades in the heart of the Umpqua Valley. During those years vineyards were popping up all over the Pacific Northwest, and our valley was no exception. However, we were also young parents with two small kids, living off humble…Pepsi3 min readPepsi3 min read
Apr 3, 2022SOME WORDS AND PHRASES NEED TO BE LOST FOREVER, AT THE END OF THE DAYI don’t know about you, but in 2022, I hope I never have to hear the words “asking for a friend,” “supply chain,” or “you’re on mute” again. Apparently, I’m not alone. In fact, Lake Superior State University recently published its 2022 List of Banished Words and all three…Words3 min readWords3 min read
Apr 3, 2022IN DEFENSE OF A LOVE THAT IS FOUND IN SURPRISING PLACESIt’s the season of valentines, and to be honest, I kind of don’t care. Don’t get me wrong, I’m a big fan of love. It’s just that my understanding of love has evolved over the years to the point that Feb. 14 is just another day. In my elementary…Valentines Day3 min readValentines Day3 min read
