Earlier this fall, I decided to focus on prepping my novel based on the Blizzard of 1888, with the goal of beginning the actual writing during winter vacation. I planned to take a break from the novel in December to write my annual Christmas short story about the Wallaby baking party (the sequel to Sugar […]
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September “What I’m Into:” Elliptical and Improv
I used to have a regular column called Current Influences, in which I wrote about the things I was reading, watching and listening to in my spare time. I decided to re-launch it with some fresh ideas. I won’t be including the books I’m reading, because I already do a monthly book review. I will […]
Hardship is Good For Kids… But Not My Kid
Before I had Edwin, I would have made a compelling argument for childhoods that challenge. I’m not in favor of near-insurmountable challenges, such as extreme poverty, abuse or abandonment, of course. But hardships such as bullying, injuries, rejection from sports teams, struggles in school? Those are the difficulties that test kids, and since kids are […]
Spring Bucket List
It’s already April 21, but it’s only felt like spring for a few days. Everyone in the Northeast is going around saying what a hard, cold winter it was, and how happy they are that spring has arrived. I feel the same, with one caveat: I know how quickly “happy for spring” can turn into […]
How Do You Keep Healthy Habits When You’re Sick?
I’ve had a sinus infection for about 5 months now. It started in November as mild congestion in the mornings and evenings. I saw my doctor about it in December, and she diagnosed it as a sinus infection, but it was mild enough at that point that we chose to treat it naturally, with nasal […]
Are You an Abstainer or a Moderator?
When it comes to health habits, are you an abstainer or a moderator? An abstainer is someone who finds it simpler, in the long-term, to not consume something. Abstainers often find that if they try to eat a treat in moderation, they end up spending a lot of time thinking things like, “Do I really […]