System note: the third-party plugin I have used for comments FIVE AND A HALF YEARS has been retired by its parent company. I failed to take action during the courtesy window in which users were able to switch to the new program, so now comments do not appear here anymore. FIVE AND A HALF YEARS [...]

I know resolutions should be constructive and I should focus on augmenting the positive things about my life and my self instead of focusing on negative things. Concentrating on the positive is central to meditative practices, like the yoga that I love, and any self-help method. However, when I sat down to think about what [...]

This Christmas was relatively quiet. I had Christmas Eve off for the first time in a while, and Kyle had a half day of school, so I was able to keep the house tidy and host my friend S. and her child for afternoon tea and presents. Grandma Bettie was visiting us, and although she [...]

I love Christmas. I’ve always loved Christmas, even the years – the many years in a row – when I was little that I ate too much at my grandmother’s Christmas Eve party and threw up. I loved popcorn balls and Lifesaver books and visiting Santa and waking up Christmas morning to the magical glow [...]