Winding Down and Rounding Up
a few favorites from 2023
With this last post of 2023 I want to thank you for being here and supporting my work by either credit card, reading, commenting or quietly giggling at a post while you’re on a boring work zoom call, standing on the Amazon return line, coffee line, grocery store check out line… (Lines are great for reading Good Humor!)
As we wind down 2023 I thought I’d round up a few favorites since I started this Stack last February.
Here goes:
It's Coffee's Fault
“I need coffee.” I miss being that person who says that. And then gets the coffee, imbibes and becomes a perky cheerleader for five minutes. Wired then tired. I remember those days when I cherished a good cup of Joe—when it used to be pure Joe. For a while I went through a cream and sugar phase. But the lactose intolerance was rude, and the sugar was a c…
Here's Why You Should Blame NYC
When my kids were teens, they’d roll their eyes when my response to them calling for me was, “Be there in a min.” The double eye roll came when my son had a friend named MJ and I called him M. Don’t blame me. Blame NYC. That’s where I learned the art of abbreviation. I was a student at NYU. It was 1984ish and I not only studied theatre arts but also New …
To Tat or Not to Tat
When my kids were teens and they overheard hubby compliment a guy, “Like your tats, man,” they went into hysterics. “What’s so funny?” I said. “Dad trying to be cool.” “Isn’t that the hip term, tats?” said hubby. The kids continued their laughing trajectory.
I’m also serializing my WIP novel, “How To Train Your Human.” A Springer Spaniel is tasked to train his human sister until he realizes it’s his human mom who needs his help. Here’s Chapter 1 in case you missed it.
Chapter 1; How To Know Your Purpose
I lay on the cool, tile floor waiting for Mom to finish her shower. There’s an ache in my mouth. I stand again, circle my spot, like my ancestors, but here I don’t need to tamp down the underbrush, feel for rocks, or thorns, or scare away insects. My enemies from my wolf lineage are no longer a threat. Still, I spin and spin. May…
I also started interviewing Funny AF Women and I’m dabbling in the video world— more to come in 2024.
And because I love chatting with you, I have questions.
What are you doing for New Year’s? Jeff and I do a NY New Years. We are on the West coast so 2024 will happen at 9pm. Long gone are the days of partying all night.
What are your goals for 2024?
Any travel plans?
-I don't do New Year's. Not sure why. So much hype that never truly delivered on the promise? But, if I do stay up to 'ring' it in, it will be at 9pm PST! :)
-Goals? Hmmm. I'm literally sitting at my computer with my notebooks open and spread around me trying to figure my goals out right now. Got distracted.
-No travel plans.
Holy crap, this sounds boring. OK, I'm going to take another stab at this...even if it's a stretch (to say the least.)
-New Year's is going to be a grand affair where we'll get dressed up in our finery (have to find it first.) and then go out to celebrate with a handful of like-minded friends (have to find those too.)
-Goals: 1) Earn a decent living again 2) Be present for every moment--good and bad (ie don't disassociate) 3) Support people I care about emotionally and spiritually (I don't even know what that means, but I really want to do this.) 4) Write for a living again, but differently. 5) Save for retirement (I think it's too late for this one, but I feel it should be a goal, however unattainable.)
-Travel - France. Croissants and gelato. Sweden. My family.
Yes, that sounds better. It's not my life, but at least it's not so boring! Actually, the goals I might be able to do something with.😅
New Years Eve / Day. The singular excuse for the year to use the punchbowl and forego the inevitability of being a victim of downsizing. Days of eating things in bite-sized options. Reminds us all of the superiority of tapas and the Spanish. Look forward to the continuation of your novel.