Category: Friends & Family
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5 years without Mia
I call myself decent at remembering birthdays, but I’m terrible at remembering dates of tragedies. I suppose this is mostly a good thing. However, Facebook Memories was here to remind me at 3am when I woke to let the dog out that 5 years ago today, I was lying in bed beside my grandmother, Mia,…
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In aftermath of Stanford case, let’s look out for each other
I’m writing this quickly as I am on my way to a meeting. But I had to get my thoughts down … apologies if it seems hurried. — Driving to meet Quinn to run today, I had the radio tuned to NPR where the talk centered around the Stanford case, rape on campus, and our…
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Run fashion: shorts vs. pants
Today’s Tortoise and the Hare topic: What to wear? Shorts vs. pants. You would not believe how many times people ask me why I’m wearing pants to run in the middle of summer. I know it looks weird. I know you assume I’m hot. In contrast, if Quinn wears shorts in the middle of winter,…
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To stretch or not to stretch
Today’s Tortoise and Hare topic: To stretch or not to stretch. Back in the day, before I discovered my love of all things yoga, I used to think that stretching was for bendy people. As I was not a bendy person, that meant stretching was not for me. Of course, I knew all the experts pointed…
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An American in Europe after the Paris attacks
This post was written on November 25, 2015, while I was on a train from Venice to Munich. I just never got around to publishing it until now. Thanks for your patience. — “Did you hear about the Italian girl who died in the Paris attacks?” Anthony asked us, his eyes glossy. When we told…
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7-Day Art Challenge Day 5: Book Design and Editing
When you grew up as a bookworm and then you decide to be a print designer and editor — and then your best friend from childhood calls you to tell you she’s writing a book — well, it’s pretty much the best day of your life. — My friend Tamera tagged me in a 7-day art challenge recently. The rules…
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Finding balance
I told Kim the other day: I just need 30 hours in a day. When Rebecca asked me the week before, “How do you find time to both run and yoga and work?” I answered with something like Well, now you’ve found the crux of the matter. The topic of balance has come up a lot lately…
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Must be a cold day in July … I’m blogging again.
It was a seemingly ordinary day that I decided to get back to blogging. My car was having some issues (what else is new?), so Kim picked me up for work. Our morning conversation turned to motivation, inspiration, creativity … and writing. My background is writing, but it’s not a skill I hone much these…
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Good one, Bible Belt
Today, I’m wishing I was a little more of a pack rat. Because if I actually saved things instead of throwing them away, I could prove to you that my best friend Colleen and I have actually been planning to be “gay married” for more than a decade. Of course, we don’t call it that.…
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Family, friends, yoga = a day of bliss
A few weeks ago, Stacey and Meghan and I decided to check out a new yoga studio. Called PlanBreathe and located in Plaza Midwood, it’s a tiny brick building tucked among homes, and you might miss it if you don’t know where to look. If you find your way there, however, you’ll be glad you…
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Keeping with the spirit of adventure (Warrior Dash, here I come)
As you may recall, I decided 2012 is officially my year to say yes to new things. The last time I checked in, I cited hot yoga (which I began in December, so I guess that’s not officially 2012, but it’s still new to me), rock climbing, working out at 6 a.m. (boot camp class), Zumba (which…
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Say yes, 2012 (hot yoga, pink hair, rock climbing)
So, it’s almost February, and I’ve finally decided on my New Year’s resolution. And I want you to do it with me. More about that at the end, but be ready, my friends. I had a little bit of an idea about what I wanted it to be in my head, and I’ve been kind…
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Nothing good ever happens after midnight
My mom used to say that all the time. I completely disagree. In fact, plenty of good happens after midnight: – The best parties don’t even start until then. – The likelihood you’ll get dinner and a show at an all-night diner certainly increases (I’m thinking of a specific instance that involved Waffle House and someone…
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The Great Coffee Disaster of 2011
This post is a little bit different, and I want to get your opinion on it. A couple of days ago, I stumbled across a web site that will pay you via paypal to write reviews. Initially I wasn’t very interested, but then I realized that I could review pretty much any product. So…
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Spring is just around the corner
It’s been a roller coaster of a month. In the past three weeks, I have lost one of my best friends due to an argument. Daily life feels emptier without him to talk to. I have started questioning what it means to lean on people, rely on people, and how to handle when those people let you down. Shortly…
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Tumbling through
I was hanging out with my friends Shannon and Michelle, two very dear friends who I have not seen for a long time – way too long. But we were enjoying a moment of friendship while, of all things, doing laundry. And then I pulled my laundry out of the dryer and saw that my…
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More. More. More.
“I want to dye my hair blonde and cut it short.” “I want to dye my hair red and grow it long.” “I want to dye my hair pink. Who cares the length at that color?” — “I think I’d like to try yoga. Just a few classes. Only a few dollars.” “I want more yoga more…
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It’s all relative.
About a week and a half ago, I decided to attend a new yoga class at the studio I’ve been attending. This class was different for two reasons: it has been called the most difficult yoga class the studio offers, and Stacey was unable to make it so I would be attempting the new challenge alone.…
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I suck at that.
How many times do we say that about things that we just haven’t given ourselves a chance to conquer? If you’ve read this blog at any length, you probably know I love exercising. I love running. I love a good circuit training workout or spin class or personal training session. But what do I not…
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Trim that ugly tree with tradition
“I miss Mia,” Jenny confided to me the other night. “I was just thinking about her crazy Christmas trees.” My sister and I had a good laugh over that one, and we decided to file it into another of those “Mia stories” categories that just have to be shared with you. So, in the spirit…
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I’m edgy, impulsive, self-centered and an instigator. What are you?
When I was a child, I would read anything I could get my hands on. Cereal boxes, newspapers, whatever was lying around. And as the horoscopes were always near the comics, I would usually end up reading what the stars had in store for me long before I understood what any of it actually meant.…
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Pink ballerinas, freight trains and talking mice; and yet no, this is not a post about drugs
Severe weather had been predicted all day yesterday, but in the morning the news was calling it merely a “slight” chance for tornadoes. So I didn’t worry too much about it, and I even thought that my plan for an evening run probably woudn’t be affected. I tend to keep the news on in the…
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You can be fat and lazy as long as your friends are not
You know someone really gets you when all you have to do is send this text: “I’m fat and lazy.” That was my appeal for help to Scott on Monday. I’ve been so busy with various work projects that I haven’t had time to work out. Which I realize is absolutely an excuse. No matter…
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Make sure you have coffee for this one.
She bared her soul, y’all, and she’s doing it for the world to read. How did I feel when my best friend since we were 8 years old told me she’d had an emotional affair? Surprised? Of course. She’s never in our whole lives been one to break the rules. In fact, I’ll admit that when…