Since we have lived in our little house, we have been making updates as problems have arisen. I bought this house in 2018 and within weeks had a furnace that didn't work when the first cold snap appeared. Thankfully that was just a repair. Since then we've had to replace the hot water heater, repair… Continue reading Home Security Upgrades in Our 1914 Bungalow
There’s a moment, usually sometime between the end of the day and the beginning of the evening, when everything finally goes quiet. Not the kind of quiet you get from shutting a door or turning off a TV — the deeper kind, the one that shows up when your mind stops sprinting and your heart… Continue reading Finding Peace in Everyday Moments
Daily writing promptWhat’s a song lyric that has stuck with you forever?View all responses Today's earworm is... 'Cause you had a bad day, you're taking one down, you sing a sad song just to turn it around. You say you don't know, you tell me, don't lie. You work at a smile, and you go… Continue reading So You Had a Bad Day
It’s been eventful since my last blog post over the ensuing months. I’ve been meaning to write but things have been happening that have prevented me from it. There is much to catch up on, friends. So, this is a bit of a long read. Happy 250th birthday United States of America… Friends in Cleveland,… Continue reading Fireworks, Sirens, That Was Us, and Where is my Senator…
A written word is the choicest of relics. It is the work of art nearest to life. And not only to be read but actually carved out of breath itself. The symbol of an ancient man's thought becomes a modern man's speech. -Henry David Thoreau I stumbled on this quote in a Thoreau documentary. Insightful… Continue reading Writer’s Inspiration
A curious thing happened this past week. An old friend popped up in Messenger on a grade school thread with random comments and photos. After days of this, I realized I started the thread a few years ago. It has been dormant for a while. I have been acutely aware of the people who have… Continue reading Friendship and Health During Cancer Recovery
Reflecting on Progress, Empowering Tomorrow March 2026 arrives with the vibrant energy of renewal—and with it, Women’s History Month invites us once again to pause, reflect, and ignite change. Across the world, people are gathering in schools, workplaces, and communities, sharing stories that illuminate both the struggles and triumphs of women throughout history. But Women’s… Continue reading Celebrating Women’s History Month 2026: Honoring the Past, Shaping the Future
“A raw, honest look at surviving a brutally hard January—old house problems, chronic pain, financial strain, and the grit it takes to keep going. A GenX story of resilience, community, and finding hope in the mess.”
Recognizing When It's Time to Step Back and Rediscover Balance On the heels of a busy holiday season, I transition into my busiest season at work - Q1. From November through April the rhythm of daily life beats relentlessly on and demands seem ceaseless. With my new normal, living with the side effects of cancer… Continue reading Unplugging and Recharging: Finding Solace in Simplicity
Exploring the Queen City's Evolution in Innovation, Sports, Music, and Cuisine ...a love letter to the city that raised me My hometown, Cincinnati, Ohio, USA, long the subject of good-natured ribbing for its supposed 20-year lag behind national trends, has in recent years become a city in the midst of a spirited renaissance. For as… Continue reading Cincinnati: Culturally Behind or Blossoming at the Forefront
The winter solstice is here, December 21, 2025. It's what I like to call the long winter's night. The nadir of the natural world. I once read, to paraphrase, that it's the ending, the death, of the cycle of life. Celebrating solstices is among the oldest traditions and rituals known to humans, along with storytelling… Continue reading Embracing the Winter Solstice: A Time for Reflection
What is the world trying to tell me? Robert Frost is popping into my scroll today. Maybe the algorithm is saying, hey you, yeah you, you are not going to ignore feelings. And I'm just - I can't. But that f&*(er is being persistent, and he is all about deep diving into the ethos of… Continue reading What Are the Algorithims Trying to Tell Me?
Since March of 2022 I have lost two siblings, Larry to Covid-19 and Becky to pancreatic cancer, and now within this past month two brothers have become gravely ill. And others have serious health issues that they live with on the daily. This is life in middle age. I love being from a big family… Continue reading Facing Cancer and Loss: Reflections on Family Bonds
We've all had those moments - sometimes fleeting, other times painfully persistent - when someone's words or actions make us doubt our own value. It can come from a seemingly innocuous comment, a comparison to someone else, or an outright criticism. Suddenly, it leaves you questioning if you measure up, if you're worthy, if you… Continue reading When Others Make You Feel Not Good Enough
November marks Gratitude Month, a time for reflection and appreciation in the cozy atmosphere of autumn. Emphasizing gratitude's significance, the writer shares personal goals like keeping a gratitude journal, expressing thanks, and fostering community gratitude. They suggest various practices to deepen gratitude, encouraging a culture of kindness and connection.
"The only thing we have to fear is fear itself. So the only thing to really be afraid of is if you don't go get your mammograms." —Cynthia Nixon
"Ultimately, they're just breasts, right? I mean, I love them, they're mine, they're beautiful, but in the grand scheme of things, I would rather be alive, and I would rather grow old with my husband." —Shannen Doherty, April 12, 1971 - July 13, 2024 2015: Diagnosed with breast cancer. 2017: Announced her cancer was in… Continue reading NBCAM: Inspiration 104, Shannen Doherty
"When you get diagnosed with cancer, there’s such a sense of loneliness, but what we need to know as people going through this is that you’re not alone." —Christina Applegate
How Big Brothers and Sisters Shape Who We Become I was having a conversation with my younger sister Angie last week about something my oldest brother said off-handed to me a few years ago - that we did not grow up together. It seemed important to him that my husband understood this. It is a… Continue reading Older Siblings: The Unsung Role Models in Our Lives
"Every woman needs to know the facts. And the fact is, when it comes to breast cancer, every woman is at risk." —Debbie Wasserman Schultz
Our Humble Road 