“Write what you know.” That’s the advice everyone gives new authors when they’re struggling to figure out what to write. My mentors gave me that same guidance. “OK then,” I thought. “I’ll write about things that have happened to me.” But here’s the problem: my life is boring—with a big ol’ capital B.  I don’t […]

My husband and I are empty nesters, which means our pets have officially become our “kids.” One of those kids, our golden retriever ZZ, had his third birthday last week. Naturally, we couldn’t let the occasion pass without a proper celebration. I made goodie bags for his doggy friends at play care and baked cupcakes […]

My husband and I have reached that stage in life where we are officially “hard to buy for.”We don’t need more “stuff” — clothes, jewelry, gadgets (especially gadgets, because half the time we can’t figure out how to use them anyway). We’re happy with what we’ve got. But, I’ll admit, there’s been one thing I’ve […]

I love making lists. There’s just something so satisfying about checking an item off—Accomplished! Yay! Lists help me stay productive and give me hope that I can finish what I start. Except…my yearly New Year’s Resolution list.I just can’t seem to master that one. Then, my lovely son-in-law told me about a New Year’s Resolution […]

This weekend, my computer screen broke. Instead of shelling out money for a new screen, it made more sense to invest in a whole new computer—my old one was, well, showing its age! Plus, with Cyber Monday around the corner, it seemed like perfect timing. But let me tell you, being computer-less was an eye-opening […]

Last week, I spent time in the Outer Banks for a little family reunion. It was lovely! There’s something about the ocean that makes seeing family feel even more special. But one of my favorite parts of the trip wasn’t a big gathering or a group activity. It was the quiet, early-morning walks on the […]

So lately, I’ve had an influx of doctor appointments. Pretty typical once you reach a certain age, right? I’ve got a rotating list of specialists to see! There’s the audiologist, cardiologist, urologist, rheumatologist, ophthalmologist, gastroenterologist, dermatologist, neurologist, and let’s not forget the dentist! Whew—it takes a whole village of “ologists” to keep an aging body […]

Like most people, I have a scale in my bathroom. And like most people, I’ve mastered the art of avoiding it. “I don’t have time,” I tell myself, or “The scale’s probably broken anyway.” Anything to delay that moment of truth. But recently, I had a legitimate excuse—the batteries in the scale were dead.  Hallelujah! […]

I’m a notoriously healthy eater—whole foods, lots of veggies, the works. Desserts? Usually not my thing. But… I do love a good white cake. And when it comes to white sheet cake, Costco’s takes the (ahem) cake. It’s the one time sugar and preservatives make my mouth water. But wait—you’re wondering, what about all those […]

When I taught kindergarten, I avoided swear words like the plague. I figured if I let a few slip in private, one might pop out at work—and that would’ve been terrible! So, I kept my vocabulary squeaky clean. 😇 But then I retired. And, oh boy, I started developing a bit of a “potty mouth!” […]