Category Archives: Personal

Personal

Treat Grief Like a Guest

An excerpt from Lost Lake, by Sarah Addison Allen:

“Eby knew all too well that there was a fine line when it came to grief.  If you ignore it, it goes away, but then it comes back when you least expect it.  If you let it stay, if you make a place for it in your life, it gets too comfortable and it never leaves.  It was best to treat grief like a guest.  You acknowledge it, you cater to it, then you send it on its way.”

Sorry to share yet another passage about grief, but I LOVE this!  In my experience, it is true.  I read this book last week and the passage just stayed with me.  My review will be up next week, at Chick Lit Plus.

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Everything Else, Personal

Random January Post

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 January is named after the Roman god Janus, who was always shown as having two heads.  He looked back to
the last year and forward to the new one. 

“January, month of empty pockets! … let us endure this evil  month…” – Colette

“There is a privacy about it which no other  season gives you ….. In spring, summer  and fall people sort of have an open season on  each other; only in the winter, in the country, can you have longer, quiet stretches when  you can savor  belonging to yourself.”  
  –  Ruth Stout

Obviously, I have mixed feelings about January!

I’ve been hard at work updating my blog with a new look, and a (hopefully) more user-friendly lay out.  After begging my husband, father-in-law and a techno-savvy friend for help, and getting little or no response, I decided to try it on my own.  It’s been interesting, although not without a few headaches and frustration.  Surprise, surprise – I think I may have done it.  Looking at the different themes and playing with the design aspect was fun for the creative side of my brain.  Not so fun was trying to figure out which widgets and plugins did what and how to activate them.  When I got overconfident, those aspects brought me back to earth.  Still, I did it.  I do have one little glitch that is definitely above my pay grade and I’m this close to completing negotiations with hubby dearest.  Once I secure his technical assistance and Q&A, I should be good to go.  Fingers crossed that the new look will be up this week.  And when it does, I’ll have a giveaway to celebrate.

Why am I telling you all of this?  Because aside from some awards show recaps, I haven’t done much blogging.  I have two book reviews due, and I’m working on a couple pieces that I plan to submit to other outlets, which is very nerve-wracking and exciting. I’ve had lots of things I’ve wanted to blog about, but time has been disappearing for me – poof, it’s gone.  So I’m going with another random post, like the one I did in December.

#andweweresolookingforewardto2014  Continue reading Random January Post →

Personal, Reading

Shining Stars

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An excerpt from The Last Camilla, by Sarah Jio:   star[1]

“I hope,” he said with a sigh.  “I just wish we could have saved her.  I’ve turned the story over in my mind a hundred times, and I still can’t make any sense of it.  I miss her so much.”  He looked up at the big star that sparkled overhead.  “You know, I’ve thought an awful lot about this, and I think that people are like those stars up there.  Some burn faintly for millions of years, barely visible to us on earth.  They’re there, but you’d hardly  know it.  They blend in, like a speck on a canvas.  But others blaze with such intensity, they light up the sky.  You can’t help but notice them, marvel at them.  Those are the ones that never last long.  They can’t.  They use up all their energy quickly.  Mum was one of those.”

I love this, and truly believe the same.  Just wanted share.  It made me think of my brother, obviously.   But also some of my friends – Terri & Cal.  I miss them all.

Tell me about the bright shining stars in your life.
Gratitude, Personal

Reflections on December

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Just like for most of you, for me December came and went in a blur.  I honestly don’t know what happened. Pffft – gone.  As is par for the course with most families I know, our month was filled with endless activities.  The boys’ birthday at the beginning of the month had us off and running from the start.  Adding to the madness were the annual holiday events that are scheduled around the kids’ extracurricular actives:  band concerts, dance recitals, class parties.  There are the Christmas traditions of buying our tree, decorating the house, trimming the tree, baking, tours of Christmas lights and holiday movies to watch.  There were the mom chores including the Christmas cards, shopping, wrapping, menu planning and party hosting.  Wow, I am exhausted just typing this.  But actually doing it?  That’s a good tired.

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Continue reading Reflections on December →