I love winter now. Thanks, polar vortex!

I think I might love winter. This may be an unpopular opinion, but I’m totally great with this polar vortex. I might even go so far as to say that I love winter. For those playing along at home, Chicago (a.k.a. Chiberia) has been showing off with negative degree weather. Tap-dancing, really. In stompy boots. We’re talking -20 days with a wind chill of close to -50, snow swirling sideways, and winds that sound as if they’d really, really like {Read More}

#ThisIsNine (Or, a “new glasses” story)

I don’t write about Nora as much as I used to anymore. A huge part of embracing that whole #ThisIsNine hashtag comes part n’ parcel of what “nine” actually means. Nine is fierce loyalty, intense emotions, and a both-hands-gripped nostalgia for toys we both kinda/sorta know are on their [slow] way out. #ThisIsNine… …Is also tentative requests for more privacy, more autonomy, and more respect. I miss writing about Nora as much as I used to. Since the day she {Read More}

‘The Lightning Thief’ flashes into Chicago for a wild- and quick- run

The Lightning Thief: the Percy Jackson Musical So, there’s this middle grade adventure series loosely based on the antics (and pairings and ensuing offspring) of some Greek gods, and it was turned into a Broadway show. Oh, and it’s also a rock musical. Still with me? Good. Because The Lightning Thief: the Percy Jackson Musical– is absolutely fantastic and deserves a packed house for every night of its short Chicago stay at the Oriental Theatre. Adapted from Rick Riordan’s wildly {Read More}

My least- and most- ambitious word for 2019

You’ve seen ’em, right? Everybody with their shiny, hashtag-worthy word for 2019. Like, #achieve or #love or #pony. (Hey, a girl can #hope, right? Also, why doesn’t anyone ever keep it real with a word like #cheese or #nap?) In the past few years, my words have been about career growth, writerly encouragement, and other money-making, soul-enriching kinda stuff. Good stuff, really. But then I started feeling not-so great towards the end of last year. And, as anyone who’s felt {Read More}

5 things I now know about boys. (A 5th birthday story.)

Jasper, my beamish boy, you just turned 5. Before you came along, I had not birthed anyone even remotely male. (It’s true.) Since then, I’ve been a big ol’ vocal opponent of gendered anything, insisting that boys and girls are exactly the same, and fighting any “all boys do xyz” myths. And since then, I’ve come around to realize that sometimes the things people say about boys are the undeniable truth. Such as… Boys are all about bodily functions There’s {Read More}

Everything’s right with ‘The Play That Goes Wrong’

File this one under “Things I won’t have to work very hard to convince you to see:” The Play That Goes Wrong, now playing at the Oriental Theatre, is an incredibly fun, incredibly madcap play-within-a-play that’ll have you gasping with laughter. Okie doke. Need more? 8 reasons to see The Play That Goes Wrong, stat: (I almost listed them out of order, a la A Review That Goes Wrong…but decided to give your brain a little rest today. You’re welcome.) 8 {Read More}

4 terrific ‘something they want, something they need’ picks for the littles!

Disclosure: Thank you to this month’s sponsors for making our holiday oh-so merry and bright with our “something…” roundup! Although I’m compensated, all thoughts, opinions, and thoroughly stoked children are entirely my own. *** It’s always a little tricky to balance the intake of goods with the output of, you know, doing good during the holidays. That’s why I’m so, so happy to present Lollygag Blog’s guide of “something they want, something they need, something to wear, and something to {Read More}

A story for Bean.

So, I need to tell you about my little buddy Bean. Even if you’re not a “cat person.” Especially if you’re not a “cat person.” I met Bean in 2004, back when I wasn’t much of a cat person, either. (I didn’t have anything against them- I just happened to be 24 years of age and was doing fairly well being a Keely Person, to tell the truth.) But my boyfriend at the time had grown up with cats, and {Read More}