December 2008

Writer’s Workshop: Happy New Year!

December 31, 2008

Describe a New Year’s where you would have been better off just staying home. Happy New Year from the great central valley of California where the weather is typical for this day of the year: Cold, overcast, dreary. The forecast for tonight? Dense fog. Visibility will drop to less than a tenth of a mile […]

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Wordless Wednesday

December 31, 2008

#1Son in 1990 with the first nutcracker in his collection. Topics: Wordless Wednesday

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Monday Musings: Boxing Day

December 29, 2008

“The riders in a race do not stop when they reach the goal. There is a little finishing canter before coming to a standstill. There is time to hear the kind voices of friends and say to oneself, ‘The work is done.’” ~~ Oliver Wendell Holmes, Jr. ~~ Octamom asked: Is your tree still up? Or […]

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Writeapalooza: The Best of 2008

December 29, 2008

Many bloggers routinely publish end-of-the-year wrap-ups, directing readers to re-read what they consider to be their best work of the year, or give readers a second chance to experience a post or two that they missed when they were originally published. Since I am completing my second year publishing weekly entries on the topic of […]

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I Heard the “D” Word on Christmas Day (Part One)

December 25, 2008

“The loss of a place isn’t really so different from the loss of a person. Both disappear without permission, leaving the self diminished, in need of testimony and evidence.” (Bridge of Sighs by Richard Russo) In The Power of Place, published on September 3, 2008, Becca challenged her readers to “write about a place you’ve […]

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Wordful Wednesday: The Nutcracker Collection

December 24, 2008

#1Son was three years old when I took him to see an animated version of The Nutcracker. He loved it and also enjoyed having the story read to him at night. While shopping, we happened upon some cute, traditional-looking nutcrackers, so we bought him one. Little did we know what we started. This is just […]

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Wordless Wednesday

December 24, 2008

Topics: Wordless Wednesday

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The Power of a Word

December 22, 2008

Watergate. Lest you doubt the power of a single word, consider that one for a few moments. What other words come to mind? What images does it evoke? What emotions do you feel when you hear that word? Your responses are inescapably informed by your age, i.e., whether you are old enough to have lived through […]

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Carnival of Family Life: Merry Christmas Edition

December 22, 2008

Education Jena presents An Interview posted at The Life Without School Community Blog in which “a seasoned unschooler of three teenagers answers questions about the program. Donald Latumahina presents 47 Most Recommended Books to Read in 2008 posted at Life Optimizer. Super Saver presents Educating for the Future posted at My Wealth Builder, explaining, “Although […]

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Sunday Stealing: The Screaming Masses’ Meme

December 21, 2008

This week’s meme comes from Carmen at Mom to the Screaming Masses, who responded to If You Tag Me, I Will Write by Mim. The Screaming Masses’ Meme 1. What are your nicknames? Moi, MaMa Moi, and Sweetheart. When we were dating, I did my Miss Piggy “Moi?” impression for BigBob. He started calling me […]

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Saturday Nine: Holiday Cheer

December 20, 2008

1. Does the holiday season stress you out? If yes, how do you cope? No, because we keep it very low-key with no demands on our time or attention. 2. Are you ever so busy in December that you have to force yourself to chill? Being busy is a way of life for me and I don’t […]

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Simply the Best: Group Writing Project

December 18, 2008

Joanne Young at Confident Writing presents a group writing project devoted to celebrating writers’ best work of 2008, “Simply the Best.” My contribution is An Independence Day Reflection: “Eeny, meeny, miny, moe …” which is “simply the best” writing I did this year, in my estimation, because it is a personal reflection upon what growing […]

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Scary Christmas: Holiday Reality Checks

December 15, 2008

Yesterday, another blogger asked if Christmas is the “season of goodwill to all, a time for merriment, joy, peace and … horror?” He wrote about the British tradition of incorporating “spine-tingling terror” into holiday stories. But when I first glanced at the title of his article, Scary Christmas, I thought he was going to address […]

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Sunday Stealing: The Christmas Meme

December 14, 2008

The folks at Sunday Stealing rip off a meme from another blogger each Sunday. They give full credit and a link back to that author’s site, of course — and invite everyone to play along. This week, an abbreviated version of “The Christmas Meme” comes from It’s Not All Mary Poppins. The Christmas Meme 1. Wrapping […]

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Saturday Nine: ‘Tis the Season

December 13, 2008

1. Do you enjoy receiving or giving presents more? I enjoy giving gifts and seeing the recipient’s face light up when they open the package and find something they really like. I enjoy receiving gifts, too. This past Mother’s Day, BigBob totally surprised me with a new leather briefcase. He had noticed how ratty my […]

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The Holidays in Prose

December 8, 2008

My mother read to me. There was one thing for which she always made time: Reading to her children. And she always made sure that we had plenty of books from which to choose. She purchased children’s books — many of which I still have because the tattered corners are comfortingly familiar and the illustrations […]

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Aloha Friday Edition No. 13

December 5, 2008

Kailani at An Island Life hosts Aloha Friday, based upon a very popular term used in Hawaii when island residents take it easy and look forward to the upcoming weekend — kind of like T.G.I.F. Each Friday, Kailani posts a simple question or topic of conversation. Visitors leave a comment on Kailani’s site and then […]

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Are You Your Brother’s Online Keeper?

December 1, 2008

“It boggles the mind.” The was the reaction from the sister of Abraham Biggs, 19. “We don’t understand,” she added. Biggs posted his intent to take his own life on a bodybuilding internet forum message board. He included a link to the site where he was broadcasting via webcam to a live audience. His suicide was […]

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