Over the Thanksgiving weekend I took the time to arrange my fledgling fiction library across the custom book shelves I recently had built. I have long wished to live in a space large enough to contain a room I could reasonably refer to as "the library". Alas, I still do... Continue reading

Let me start by saying that I am composing this blog from my computer which, for the moment, is functioning reasonably well. I mean, my dual screen still isn't displaying (despite 3 reboots) and I can't get into my enterprise email, but hey, I can write a blog, so I'm... Continue reading

Early Sunday morning I got in my car and found my way from Des Moines, Iowa to the Avenue of the Saints highway which connects St. Paul, Minnesota to St. Louis, Missouri. Due in St. Louis later that afternoon for work commitments, I took the time to enjoy a scenic... Continue reading

With the exception of The Big Bang Theory, NCIS, and The Singoff, I'm pretty sure that I enjoy the commercials on tv more than the actual programming. While I do take full advantage of the fast forward button on my DVR, I keep an eye on the high speed commercials... Continue reading

Note: This post is dedicated to my good friend Liz who never lost faith in my ability to make another blog post....someday. Thanks Lizzy! OK, so...Admit it. You have them. Random, small things that quite simply make you happy. Maybe you don't want to admit to some of them because... Continue reading

I am lucky to have smart and thoughtful friends who expose me to all sorts of interesting and helpful ideas. The article copied below came to me through one such friend and addresses what I used to introduce to my English students as one of the four core English skills:... Continue reading

Lately, my work has introduced me to the phenomenon known as "The Cloud." While this term may not be new to you, it was a neolgism to me. (I just learned that word... off topic, but also see neolgism jokes like "Frijoles -- a church without a collection plate") I... Continue reading

Does The End of Men outlined in The Atlantic signal a Feminist victory or the downfall of post-modern society? Continue reading

If you haven't seen The Social Network, I highly recommend it. Not only does it reach far above the typical Hollywood car chase, explosion, sex and profanity prototypes most often seen in theatres these days, but it centerpieces the brilliant mind of Facebook founder, Mark Zuckerberg in an honest, unromanticized,... Continue reading

I love commercials that make me laugh. Furthermore, the new term in this one absolutely cracks me up. It has been added to the list.... There is something about being brought up, in part, by coaches that makes me relate to this particular therapist. I'm pretty sure there are times... Continue reading

Sometimes life just can't help but poke a little fun at ya. After yesterday's very serious evaluation of the secrets of the universe and the vagaries of living in it WITH OTHER PEOPLE... Story People sends me the "story of the day" as follows: Here's the Story of the Day:... Continue reading

Hello, my name is Tara, and I am a recovering codependent. Over the past several weeks, I've been thinking of this book. So I pulled it off my bookshelf this weekend, along with its companion, Beyond Codependency, and started re-reading. It isn't the first time I've re-read it. In fact,... Continue reading

I heard a song in my car this weekend. While my mind raced with thoughts and concerns and made lists to itself, this song was able to weave its way through the cobwebs and knock: "hellooooo... slow down a minute; think about this..." And then, all through the weekend the... Continue reading

I am one of those women who must, at all times, have a book in my life. Additionally, I have standards about my behavior(s) toward the book in my life. They include but are not limited to: I am a very faithful partner to said book: I don't cheat on... Continue reading

I used to go jogging with a Franciscan monk. It was 1993 in Oxford and there was absolutely no better way to explore that city than from the quiet, early morning mists along the Thames River running path. Each morning we'd pass by Christ Church Meadow where cows grazed on... Continue reading

Ok, let's just get this out of the way at the start. There are thousands of them -- spoofs on my beloved poem. All sorts of them from mean and nasty to hilariously funny to thoughtful and poetic. So to save you the time, I have gathered a few of... Continue reading

This Is Just To Say by William Carlos Williams I have eaten the plums that were in the icebox and which you were probably saving for breakfast Forgive me they were delicious so sweet and so cold For as many poems as I have read and loved, this seemingly simple... Continue reading