Crazy Is My Life

Giving Thanks

In seven minutes, it will be Thanksgiving. Â Â A few weeks ago, I'd planned to start a gratefulness list that I'd add to each day the things that I appreciate. Â Well, it didn't happen. Â Life did instead, and I guess that's okay too. Still, in the spirit of the holiday, I'd like to name a few things I'm thankful for.Â

Posted 5 days ago.

Cell Phone Bailout

So one party, through mismanagement and poor judgment, destroys a vital source for another party, and yet a third party is left to clean it up. Sound familiar? It does in our house. My oldest son (letâs call him Son One) has a cell phone. Right now, it is an extremely clean, albeit water-logged cell phone, having taken a turn in the washer and dryer while in the pocket of my sonâs base…

Posted 1 mon. ago.

Triangle Town Center-- See You Later

My teenage boys like going to the mall.Â When we go, they know that I'll feed them (they usually get to enjoy their choice of food--pizza-- from the food court), then they'll abandon me and do what they enjoy most: They get to visit Game Stop and check out the new games that they'll ask me for and I'll remind them that's why they have allowance.Â They'll wander to the book store and discover…

Posted 2 mon. ago.

Pleasantly Demented

My mother, bless her heart, is demented. Really. She has Alzheimerâs, and is at the stage where Iâm pretty sure she doesnât know me from a stranger passing through the halls of her nursing home. Friends and family will ask how sheâs doing, and I'll tell them that sheâs doing well (meaningâas well as anyone can at this end-stage of Alzheimerâs). Whatâs m…

Posted 2 mon. ago.

Working Women Opting Out

When a working mom leaves her job to stay home with her child, we usually think that's the way she wanted it. Not necessarily, says Pamela Stone, author of the book Opting Out?Â Why Women Really Quit Careers and Head Home.Â

Posted 2 mon. ago.

My Anniversary. Woo hoo!

Tomorrow is my husband's and my 19th anniversary. (We got married when we were both 10. Kidding.) As it approaches, I've been retrospective --- not so much thinking about the years of marriage, but thinking about how we celebrated those anniversaries past. It seems like they fall into three categories: great, terrible, and forgettable.

Posted 2 mon. ago.

9/11: In Retrospect

It's hard to believe that it's been seven years since our world was rocked by terrorism. Â I'm sure we all remember very precisely where we were when we saw or heard about the planes hitting the Twin Towers. Â I remember it being a beautiful, cloudless early fall day in Illinois. Â Even later that day, as I stood with other parents after school trying to process the events, I had a hard tim…

Posted 2 mon. ago.

Family Crisis

Never mind the first days of school, the crazy tornadic activity from Hurricane Fay-- my family and I are facing our own crisis of epic proportions-- no TV. I'd like to say I was one of those moms who only turns on the TV for special events, or, like one impressive family I know, doesn't own one. But that's not me. We watch a lot of sports, which I think is fine. We also watch the educational m…

Posted 3 mon. ago.

The Last Lecture

Professors at universities are periodically asked to give "Last Lectures"-- theoretical talks as if for the last time. What would the professors say if this were their last time behind a lectern? What wisdom would they impart? For Carnegie Mellon professor Randy Pausch, this was not a theoretical event. Diagnosed with terminal cancer, delivered his words of advice in a memorable speech. That me…

Posted 4 mon. ago.

Why I Want My Husband to Leave Me

When you first get married, you imagine it will be forever, and that you will do whatever it takes to keep that marriage forever. I used to think that too, but I've changed my mind. Just today, the remains of Army nurse Holley Wimunc were found in Oslow County. Her husband was charged with her murder. This past Saturday, Jakiem Wilson received a life sentence for stabbing his wife , Nneka, last …