This is me (okay, this is me, now, waiting for you to stop laughing) at 10 years-old (Post Amazonian-Growth Spurt, Stage 1) wearing my favorite pair of coolots (it's a real word, look it up) and the first time, in my life, that I can remember, where I actually felt, you know, sort of hip. WHAT?!?!? Crushed velvet was soooooo 1975. Only the coolest kids wore purple coolots, aaaaaand, if you've ever watched Forrest Gump, you know that smiley face paraphernalia was ALL the rage, then, too! [sound of crickets chirping] Fiiiiiiiine. I was a square peg, way before being... Read more →

Three weeks into our summer vacation, things are going pretty smoothly and by that I mean, at the end of the day, we're all feeling a bit tired (in a good way) not to mention, sun-kissed and slightly pool-drunk from one too many belly flops. Of course, I meant to do that and yes...IT HURTS...like a son of monkey's uncle, riding on my back, along with the rest of his family and a couple of his monkey-like friends, while singing, "It's hard out here for a chimp, like me," too. [sound of crickets, chirping] Sorry, clearly I'm finding it increasingly... Read more →

[photo credit] Hungarian refugee crossing into Austria I saw this awesome writing exercise over at Ramblin' Red's blog and, taking into consideration that I do tend to get lost and sometimes feel as if I don't know if I'm coming or going (okay, a lot) also, I am currently, suffering from a slight case of summertime mommy brain (what, you too?!?) and seeing it's ONLY July 5th (I think) I've decided to give it a whirl. There's a template of prompts to follow and, ideally, help to create something of myself, while reading like no other poem, in existence (we'll... Read more →

Over the years, I've learned to expect less than favorable opinions, from other people, upon learning that I have 4 kids. Then, when other people find out I have 3 daughters, who ALL share the same bedroom, the shock sets in and, well, yes, it is just as complicated and delicate of a situation as anyone can imagine. All I can say is, thank goodness we have a REALLY BIG backyard and, when hormone levels begin to rise and, add in the closeness of summertime, threaten to reach epic proportions (like, yesterday) I can toss them ALL in the swimming... Read more →