(With thanks to Bridget for the suggestion.)

What do you get your craftiest friend for her birthday? Crafts, of course. At least, you do if the friend is Gilda, who along with being talented is one of the dearest souls I know — meaning that, among other things, she overlooks holes in the fondant and bumps on the embroidery. (Even though she’s the one […]

It had been too long since I’d checked in on Amanda Blake — one of my all-time favorite artists, she is responsible for the image of the Girl in a Party Hat — and look what she’s got for sale on her etsy store. The image is lovely, as always. But the title of the […]

Man, it’s been hot. I mean scorching. 112 in the shade. On the car thermometer, 118. Reminds me of the day last summer I saw the snowman. That was quite a day — the hottest day of the year, the day Sophie was officially diagnosed as mentally retarded. I thought I’d share the post and […]

I know I was the last one to see it. And now I can’t stop watching it. In honor of my newfound desire to embed video on blogs, check this out.

As I’ve already mentioned once or twice, we went to a wedding last weekend. It was truly lovely, but I did walk away missing one thing: a first dance. The wedding was non-traditional on purpose — no tiered cake, no guest book, no rehearsal dinner (though frankly a rehearsal would have been helpful). The groom […]

It’s official. I’m a wreck. Work any place for 17-plus years, and co-workers will come and go. I’ve said my share of good byes and even shed some tears. The alt weekly I work for has a small staff, and people work really hard. You get attached. But I can’t recall a departure that’s affected […]

I don’t remember what I got for my 9th birthday. I remember the yellow Snoopy watch I got when I turned 7 (I wish I hadn’t lost it) and the “sewing machine” that used glue, and when I was 8 I begged for (and got) an Easy Bake Oven. But I don’t remember 9, or […]

You go years thinking she’ll never talk, then suddenly you can’t shut her up. Good. My friends Robrt and Todd (you know, the shopping enablers) have been saying “BUY IT” ever since Sophie coined the term — complete with a Lauren Bacall-esque voice — quite some time ago. After she told me tonight, “Mommy, my […]