The Journal Journey

I came across this book by accident while searching for a Christmas gift and being the mother of two free-spirited, exuberant girls, I immediately loved it. "Wreck This Journal" is not your ordinary journal at all. In fact, the pages prompt you to do things like run over it with your car, spill your coffee on it, drag it down the sidewalk, and take it into the shower with you. My daughter already saves the stickers from fruit and puts them on a special stool in her room so you can imagine my... Read Full Story

We all love Moleskine® notebooks. The quality of the paper and cover, the simplicity of the design, and the feel in your hands. Now they have come out with great new colors in their New Moleskine Volant Collection in Blue, Green, Pink, and the standard Black.   I really welcome the new colors and appreciate the moods they can generate. They come in 3 different sizes and are packaged in sets of two shades: Lighter pink with darker pink, lighter green with darker green, lighter blue with... Read Full Story

She pops the red flag up, glancing over her shoulder as she does. They all do. She looks at the sky and presses the palms of her hands to her eyes. It's Jack I feel bad for. A postal worker in life, he didn't know he'd be required to continue his courier services by death. When she's gone, I collect the letters, one from her to "Mrs. Virginia Anders" and two others. Mrs. Anders is her mom. Or is it was? I'm never sure on these things. I know this because this is her third... Read Full Story

While I do believe clothing to be an evil that may or may not be necessary, no worries, this post has nothing to do with physical nakedidity (50 points for knowing which character in my favorite TV show used this term often). It has to do with Isaiah (who did go naked for some amount of time based on God's command--oh, the crazy things prophets do) and yesterday's sermon. Yesterday, the priest preached from Isaiah 30, about this idea of our running around trying to do things our way... Read Full Story

Hello to Whoever Happens to Read This! First, thank you for reading. I am mainly here because I need a place to put all the strange things that trickle out of my head; and, sometimes there just isn't (a) anyone around to listen or (b) anyone that I feel safe enough sharing this stuff with. So, I chose you! Aren't you lucky?! Anyway, I've decided to make this my place where I can air out all my crap without judgment. Not to say that you won't judge me; but, your judgments most likely won't... Read Full Story

I beseech thee, oh bakers of bread, slicers of meats, suppliers of groceries, upon thy honor to apprentice thyself to a Jersey baker, deli worker, and grocery supplier. Why doest thou not slice deli meats so thinly? Learn ye to slice thy fineries onion-paper thin. Why doest thou not stock the very same American cheese as is found in so great a land as New Jersey? Learn ye to cultivate cheese with such flavor. Why doest thou not carry Ambrosia rolls and pork roll? Learn ye to discover... Read Full Story

Gosh what a dull day! Rose early and was all packed and ready to go, ended up outside my apartment actually sitting on my suitcase waiting for darling Germanicus to come charging along on his white horse but the minutes they ticked by with no sign of him. Eventually he trundled up 15 minutes late giving us only just enough time to make the train to London town, and I really do mean just, we got out of the taxi, onto the train and the whistle immediately blew. The journey was uneventful and we... Read Full Story

I started a new book last week! Writing the first few pages helped deteriorate the fear crippling me. I stalled and stalled knowing that what comes out on the page will never be what's in my head. It'll never be good enough. I have to write anyway. With that in mind, here's a peek into my life: That's the bulletin board over my desk (which my husband would argue was his desk confiscated by a foreigner). Notice the fairy crown on the left. Needed for inspiration, of course... Read Full Story

Here I am again. Starting another empty volume. Sitting, drinking coffee. Wondering what will become of my life. - July 19, 2003 This post is part 2 in a series entitled Symbols of Redemption. For part 1, click here . For part 2, click here . On July 19, 2003, I began my eleventh journal with the words above. “Here I am again.” They were words of recognition… “Starting another empty volume.” … of repetition… “Sitting, drinking coffee.” … tied to a dream of being... Read Full Story

Back in March of this year, uncertain as to what to do with myself as I was recovering from my trip through thyroid hades, I decided to 'throw myself out to the universe' and see if anything came to me. I hoped to be able to return to Panama with my dogs, Cleo and Harley, and resume my life on Loma Partida. I like living there, it fits me. However, as the fates would have it, Delta Airlines has a ban on flying pets between May 15 and September 15, so either I travel without my dogs, or I... Read Full Story