I Am This Woman

… expanding my universe.

Quilt, Perdu

(3 of 50) I just need a small space here to grieve publically over something that has been lost to me. I thought I would get over it by now, but I haven’t. Writing might help. Starting just after I separated from my husband, I started making a patchwork quilt for my son. I hoped [...]

Read the rest of Quilt, Perdu

2007 by the Numbers

Using the “new” math, which is very much now like the old math, only with a lot less calculation and more relevance and “show work” prompts. 12: months of high-stress job 2: family members who died 19: days off per year 21: days taken off to bury loved ones 23: net pounds lost, plus and [...]

Read the rest of 2007 by the Numbers

Giving Then and Now

After reading this Best of Holidailies recently, I’ve been thinking about how gift-giving happens in our family, with my Santa-believing, starry-eyed-over-Christmas kid. Back in the olden days, when the Kid was a baby, it was absolutely true that you could give him a box and he was happy.

Read the rest of Giving Then and Now

Pretty Paper

Today, I wrapped presents. I did eight or nine presents in 26 minutes. I think that was my best time ever, and I attribute it to the kitchen island being cleared away for wrapping, and the deadline of school pick-up to motivate me to wrap rather than stash all the unwrapped things yet again. My [...]

Read the rest of Pretty Paper

Banana Phone

Let’s just say that THIS is a holiday classic in our house now. This links to a 49 second version (apparently videotaped from a computer monitor? does anyone have copyright to this?), but really to get maximum effect, you have to listen to THIS CONTINUOUS LOOP until your ears bleed. And whenever the phone does [...]

Read the rest of Banana Phone

Lizard Dreams

Leny the Lizard is a Tucson Banded Gecko who hitchhiked all the way from Tucson to Dallas in our moving van. When the movers arrived on a hot June day, and opened the big double doors, this little lizard hopped out and crawled into the grass. The movers pointed him out, and my darling child [...]

Read the rest of Lizard Dreams

Chicken Fried Steak For Christmas

Thanks, Jette, Chip and esteemed panel. This entry is a Holidailies “Best of…” In other blogs, at other times, I have always promised to write about Threadgill’s, and tonight’s the night. Way way back in the 70s, when both my middle brother (four years older than me) and I lived at home, we became completely [...]

Read the rest of Chicken Fried Steak For Christmas

A Satisfied Mind

My last entry was tagged as a “Best of Holidailies.” I’m chuffed – it’s satisfying to know that one person or three reads your stuff and connects with it. Speaking of satisfaction: I heard this song Sunday on Prairie Home Companion, sung by my favorite performer of all time, Joe Ely. “A Satisfied Mind” (lyrics [...]

Read the rest of A Satisfied Mind

Twelve Things To Do at 3:14 a.m.

Here are twelve things to do when your kid has you up in the middle of the night. Make sympathetic noises while patting child on the back. Turn on a closet light but shut the door as a get-well lowlight – stronger than night light. Fix a glass of ice water, OJ, “cambric” tea*. Fix [...]

Read the rest of Twelve Things To Do at 3:14 a.m.