While I am reminiscing about Bisbee, child hood, young adulthood, and the influences that shaped my life, my story would be incomplete with out including the stories of Jack and Pat. My earliest memory of them was a road trip my mom and I took in a Green Datsun B210 to visit them in California. They took us to Disney, and we went fishing. We dug in their garden. We went to Yosemite where Jack played Willie Nelson 8 track tapes, and he hooked his lab Ike up to a tarp and threw sticks for Ike to chase while I…
Going Back to Bisbee
They say there is no place like home. They also say you can never go back. As I arrived in my home town on a last minute trip, there was a sense of nostalgia, but it just isn’t the same. Home for me, in Bisbee, exists in my memory so in that way, I can never go back. Those moments, those days, those experiences are gone. The town has changed and evolved. What remains are the people I love, so the adage about home is where the heart is rings true. The old Plaza liquor where we used to walk…
The Gift You Give When Time is Running Out
Last week I was thinking about the O’Henry tale of ‘What is Enough’ which is actually titled “The Gift of the Magi” which I often do this time of year with all of the materialism of the holiday. I was also thinking about my mom, and what to get her for Christmas. This has been a predicament because she has everything she could need, and buys the things she wants so the material things to her are irrelevant. In prior years I have bought her silly things that I thought would make her laugh like comical egg collection containers and…
Tis’ the Season…At Home Parties….round Two- Support your Direct Sales Business this holiday Season!
You guys know I LOVE a good Facebook party. Don’t tell my husband, but…There is almost nothing I won’t buy! For those that don’t know me, let me just say I am NOT made of money, and I am NOT a hoarder. I usually always find something worthwhile at these parties, something I need or use on a regular basis, and if not I know someone who could use those products and so it goes into the gift closet. The real reason I am such a fan, other than great products, is that these type of direct sales small businesses…
This or That…. Featuring Zyia Workout Leggings
In the last year, a company called Ziya has come up on my radar. If you know me and my affinity for at home parties and personal fitness….this has quickly become a fave. Interesting story about the company here. For those that are in search of quality well made workout wear that looks good and fits well, look no further. Let me start by saying that I own a TON of workout wear from the Under Armor, Nike, and Addidas basics to higher end Lulemon and Athleta, right down to bargain Old Navy. I have tried designer active wear from…
What is Enough…A Lesson from the Student to the Teacher
While this is the time of year where I usually share all the things I am grateful for, and this year there are many, I am reminded of the ‘The Gift of the Magi‘, the story of what is enough. As a teacher, I used to read this short little tale to my students at the holiday time because there were many who would return from the holiday break bragging about the Barbie Houses and fancy RC cars, expensive clothes and shoes, while others would listen in envy. In this story, there are many themes that children pick up on:…
One Tri down….Two to go: Lessons Learned in Virtual Education
It has been said that you don’t know what you know until you know it. As we conclude our first full trimester of Hybrid/Virtual learning, this is true. I find myself in a unique position of viewing the experience from multiple lenses- that of an educator and that of a parent. On one hand, I have tried to approach the learning curve with grace and humor, both as a parent and as an educator. On the other hand….WTF. Sometimes you just have to laugh. In all seriousness though, this is completely facetious. Notice the ‘Try harder’ box that is checked….
The Pandemic is killing working moms
I think at this point, we are all over it: Covid can just go away. We are tired of social distancing, we are tired of masking, we are tired of worrying, we are tired of hearing the news of spikes in cases, people dying, and we are ready to ‘get back to normal’. There is no doubt that the Covid-19 pandemic has affected everyone. But I think that moms, and particularly working moms, have received the brunt of it. Just hear me out. I know illness, unemployment, social stresses and life in a pandemic has impacted everyone. But working moms…
‘Twas the Night before Teachers report…
‘Twas the night before teachers were reporting back to school; Universal compliance with mitigation strategies was the #1 rule. Our masks and social distance stickers were firmly in place; this principal’s fingers were crossed hoping all the planning wasn’t a waste. We haven’t seen our kiddos in five long months; We hope this school year we see the kids more than once! Our football season has been cancelled we are sad to say, but looking forward to spring and hope the kids can play! New sanitizing stations have all been installed; technology distribution is ready once parents get the call….
Queen of the Campground Karens… spoiler alert…. it isn’t me!
Here is something I never thought I would do: use Karen as a derogatory term towards another person. But here I am… doing it. So here is the thing about ‘Karens’: it’s the new put down that represents white female entitlement. It is characterized by the woman treating customer service people poorly, complaining about her meal to waitstaff, griping at her child’s teachers over small non-issue issues…because she thinks she can. It is the epitome of a person who is completely selfish and lacking empathy in an effort to appease their wants- not even needs. I am against that level…