Blog Posts

Feeling Alone

Feeling Alone

I don't know about you... But this year I've felt more alone than ever before in my life. Which is a big deal, because I actually lived alone for a couple years, in a country where I was gradually learning to speak the language but every time I left the house I had to...

So What Now?

So What Now?

A newly empty nest... A job furloughed that may or may not open back up... A dance studio where your favorite teacher left... A church you no longer feel connected to... A curriculum that doesn't click with the kids... Something that used to be your passion but now...

Seasons

Seasons

When I was in school, I was torn between wanting to be a ballerina and wanting to pursue music. I finally chose music because the clarinet was fully paid for (unlike ballet classes), and I knew my height was against me with my dancing. That, and by 9th grade it was...

Agreeing to Disagree

Agreeing to Disagree

A couple hours ago I posted a question on Facebook.  Without mentioning specifics: Do you consider that you and I agree on major topics, or disagree? (Masks, politics, religion, etc) I was honestly curious to see how people would answer. And I loved the feedback I got...

Wedding Memories

Wedding Memories

17 years ago, I said "I do."    But let me back up just a bit. It was early 2003. I had been living stateside for 2 years, still trying to figure out what to do with my life. (I came back from 2 years living in Istanbul, Turkey for the first 2 years after...

Finding peace

Finding peace

I didn't plan to write about anything related to the coronavirus.  But then I saw an article that I saw last week about the number of suicides during this period being higher than the number of virus-caused deaths. And a conversation I had earlier a couple days before...

Coffee part 2

Coffee part 2

Have I told you how much I love coffee? The sound of the coffee pot gurgling... the smell... that first sip...  I love it all. (well, maybe not the coffee breath that follows) Last August I realized I was feeling jittery and exhausted immediately after having my...

Decaf Coffee

Decaf Coffee

Coffee is important to me. When we opened our Airbnb, I included the word "coffee" (as in "this is an ideal place to drink coffee") in virtually every picture I posted.  It used to have to have caffeine. Not that I always needed, or even wanted, the energy, but...

Disney as a local

Disney as a local

First off, we live in the shadow of Cinderella Castle. Before we moved to Central Florida, we used to come down here from Buffalo every winter for a beautiful, exhausting week at the Parks.  In early 2013, we moved down here, and yes, proximity to Disney was one of...