One of my goals for this year is to become proficient in using/riding the train and bus system where I live.  I think the bulk of my trepidation regarding this venture comes from a rather miserable mishap I had years ago in college.
One of my dear friends and I worked for an afterschool daycare program [...]

I cook many things.  I develop new recipes.  I pour over cookbooks.  I relish new flavors.  I revel in culinary victories.
My kitchen is my studio, my laboratory, my sanctuary.
While some women delight in buying a cute new handbag that just went on sale or those sassy shoes that just went on clearance, I celebrate (and [...]

If you’re wondering where I’ve been for the last few weeks, picture something like this:

Yeah, its been a pretty intense few weeks at work as we transition to an entirely new and electronic system of charting and documenting.  I will spare you the gory details; just know that I have missed This Front Porch and [...]

As you can see from my Reading page I have seriously slacked off in the reading department.  This is a grave situation because I dearly love to read.
There is something so delicious about curling up with an amazing book.  Finding those pages  so enticing it is hard to put the book down and carry on [...]

I am so excited to announce that one of my amazing friends (because I just happen to be blessed with several really spectacular people in my life) was just honored with the Audience Award for short films at the Indianapolis International Film Festival for the film Weathered, that he and some others made.  Big news, BIG news!  [...]

Saturday
whatever on your list needs doing
whatever errands need running
whatever bills need paying
whatever runny noses need wiping
whatever diapers need changing
whatever lawn needs mowing
whatever papers need writing
whatever books need reading
whatever trail needs exploring
whatever road needs driving
whatever work needs tending
whatever cupcake needs baking
whatever stillness needs being
whatever meal needs savoring
whatever conversation needs having
whatever moment needs remembering
whatever song needs dancing
whatever [...]

Being a single gal in my [brand new] 30’s has necessitated the learning of various life skill ordinarily and usually left to boyfriends and husbands.  In general, I’m all for it since I am quite curious about how things work, go together, come apart, and so on.  So most little things that need repair, assembly, [...]

Well the sad news for Mav is that I recently tore a disc in my lower back causing all kinds of painful ruckus and making my sciatic nerve go ballistic   Among other things this means I’m benched from the fun things in my life such as triathlon training, lifeguarding, and bending over to [...]

When was the last time you bartered for anything?  What did you barter for?  What did you receive?
I got a call from a friend yesterday with what she described as a “quirky offer,” and what I describe as sheer bartering bliss.  Susan is a masseuse–and absolutely amazing and gifted masseuse, to be exact–and she asked [...]

So it is a new year.
2009.
Last year I wrote a fun little poem:
Dear 2008,
Please bring me a date
’cause I just can’t wait
to meet my mate!
This year its more like:
Dear 2009,
I don’t mean to whine
but this heart of mine
is not doing fine
it wants to resign
and do more than just pine…
Yeah so here’s to a new year, [...]