Let me tell you about a really great guy. My cousin Joseph Flynn was a really great guy; he lived for his family and friends (and the myriad of ways to connect on the internet with family and friends), and always- always– had something kind and funny and true and proud to say about those family members and close friends. And really, for a guy like Joe, everyone he met became a close friend and those close friends had a {Read More}
Hearts & Flowers & Glue-Covered Mice.
February 12, 2015 By Leave a Comment
Usually around this time of year I’m all hearts n’ flowers n’ red cellophane. Don’t get me wrong, I’m still oh-so Valentinetastic, just maybe a little less vocal about it this February. Heavy hearts and lacy hearts look weird together. That said, I did make 34 Hershey kiss mice for the girls’ class Valentines. Considering that a) 34 IS A LARGE NUMBER OF PEOPLE TO GLUE THINGS FOR and b) I’m beyond terrified of rodents, I have to assume that {Read More}
He Left For A Week.
January 19, 2015 By 4 Comments
Last Monday, P.J. left town for a business trip. In Toronto. For a week. I had been nervous- not about our kids or their transpo or my work or the household in general…but about all of those things. Together. If I had felt frazzled when he was here, what the heck was gonna happen when he was across country borders and on an international calling plan? (Which, if I might be such a jerk to mention, was the plan I {Read More}
Jasper Is 11 Months. Oh, My Neglected Third.
November 20, 2014 By 10 Comments
Dear Jasper, Happy 11 months, pal. I’ve mentioned this before, but you’re pretty much the only one around here I don’t worry about. (And yes, I’m including that Dad of yours. That guy…) It’s funny, right? The smallest, least mobile (for now), and most requiring of my physical presence is the one whom I fret about the least. (…For now.) You’re the one who’s tried all the foods way ahead of suggested timelines, and the one who completely skipped over the {Read More}
Grateful. But Not In Meme Form, No Sir.
September 8, 2014 By 3 Comments
I was recently tagged in one of those Grateful meme thingies on Facebook by one of my favorite (and way-backiest) friends and, while I don’t generally participate in those for just anyone, I’m gonna make an exception for the gal who met me on the first day of sixth grade. While I was clad in a floral jumpsuit. And she still decided to sit with me. Because that’s a friend, people. (Hi, Lori!) But because I’m just enough of a {Read More}
Springtime, Radiohead, & A Little Jean Jacket.
April 17, 2014 By 8 Comments
Springtime makes me nostalgic. I think I read somewhere that smell is the most evocative of the senses for bringing the past rushing back like a jetpack to the face (yes, that was the exact phrasing in the science journal) and I believe it. The other day, the temps reached 80 degrees ’round here. Momentarily ignoring the snowfall which occurred not 48 hours later, that day heralded the beginning of Warm. And Good. And A New Season. So that morning- {Read More}
November Date: Riveting Theatre And Tasty Frites.
November 25, 2013 By 6 Comments
Betcha didn’t think we’d have a November Date Night, didja? (Well ha. ‘Cause…almost me neither.) But date we did! After securing our trusty high school sitter- her school play finally ended, SHEESH theatre people- P.J. whisked me out (after we fed and jammied our girls) for a surprise evening of…theatre. Because, seriously, a calendar year of dates in the city of Chicago with nary one staged play? TRAVESTY. I was thrilled to realize we were heading to the Neofuturarium (which was, incidentally, one {Read More}
Johnson’s Baby Intense Moisture Cream (& Cold, Cold Chicago).
November 1, 2013 By 14 Comments
Thank you to Johnson’s Baby Intense Moisture Cream for sponsoring this post. I LOVE me some Johnson’s! *** Chicago can get rather cold-ish in the winter. (Native Chicagoans are currently laughing at me and mentally asking that I define “winter.” Okay, for about eight months.) And during that “season,” skin can get kinda dry. Especially when you’ve spent an entire winter’s afternoon sledding down some “hills” (and especially when you have to walk a fair distance to find some real sledding {Read More}
