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10 Stars of my 2014 Internet (now with even more bonus stars)

    What a year. Samantha Irby made me lose my mind , so I promptly bought her devastating/hilarious Meaty book. Michael Twitty moved me profoundly with his thoughts on Ferguson, and he keeps me awake with his work in culinary injustice , appropriation, oppression, and racism. I wish Mallory Ortberg had been my art history professor in college. Leo Babuta breathed new meaning into my daily to-dos. I love the way Wendi Aarons delivered humor and good writing advice with humor and good writing. My very own sister, Rachel Krinsky (CEO of YWCA Madison) in her TedX… Read More »10 Stars of my 2014 Internet (now with even more bonus stars)

    Holiday Aromatherapy Oils for the Semi-Socially Conscious

      Inspire your senses and transform your liberal guilt with essential oil blends that are just right for your semi-conscious mind! WiseMindEase Pillow Spritzer You bought stocking-stuffers from a big box store, and you’re still processing hypo-local shame. Those stores provide a lot of jobs, but they are low-wage jobs. This big box recognizes domestic partner benefits, however also allows open carry. All of the trinkets said MADE IN THE USA and contain no lead or nickel and were made in a nut-free facility. However, said trinkets were not registered fair-trade, and that’s keeping you up… Read More »Holiday Aromatherapy Oils for the Semi-Socially Conscious

      Throwback Thursday: Eight Years Ago, A Twee Ten-Pound One-Ouncer

        Happy Birthday Eight! You’ve never liked it when I talk about you on the internet. I’ll keep this brief, try to do no harm, and hope and pray that no one who knows you in real life repeats any of this back to you. Like all those “tread lightly” signs your dad and I saw on hiking trails when we met in the Rocky Mountains, so I try to protect your dignity while also sharing your hilarity. It’s a gift, son. A gift that begs sharing. You have an audience and some fans out there… Read More »Throwback Thursday: Eight Years Ago, A Twee Ten-Pound One-Ouncer

        It’s On Us: For White People Who Want to Fight Racism in Madison and Everywhere

          Last night, as the country watched Darren Wilson not get indicted and not face a trial for Mike Brown’s death, I saw plea after plea online from Black friends and peers–people of color in my life imploring their white counterparts to SPEAK UP. I saw a lot of fear from white people about saying the wrong thing, about feeling helpless in the face of the enormity of the problem, and fear over the vicious responses received for those who do raise their voices. Discussion ensued over people considering if and how to speak up, and… Read More »It’s On Us: For White People Who Want to Fight Racism in Madison and Everywhere

          LTYM in 39 cities in 2015, but first at The Women’s Expo November 23rd!

            Dear Friends and Readers, THERE IS SO MUCH GOING ON. First, please watch Listen To Your Mother’s 2015 season announcement brought to you by over one hundred local visionary women director/producers–four of whom have worked tirelessly with me for months to prepare for this launch–and thousands of folks who’ve entrusted LTYM with their stories over the years.   Find the full list of cities and local Director/Producers here. Next, if you live in the Madison-area, please join some LTYM alumni and I at The Women’s Expo next weekend, on Sunday November 23rd at 12:30 PM… Read More »LTYM in 39 cities in 2015, but first at The Women’s Expo November 23rd!

            Quiz: My calendar, or my 18 year old niece’s calendar?

              My niece went off to college. We stay in touch through Facebook, texting, and we even spoke on that old-fashioned telephone contraption one time. Listening to her describe her day-to-day, I realized how nearly undecipherable our lives have become from one another.  Our calendars look so similar in fact, I challenge you to determine whose is whose. Person #1 Spends many hours per week opening mind to forensics, blood Spatter, and criminal Psychology. Person #2 Spent a few years watching Dexter from behind closed-eyes, closed bedroom door, and closed-mind.   Person #1 Wears hand-me-down dress… Read More »Quiz: My calendar, or my 18 year old niece’s calendar?

              I’ve never been scarier. Trust me. And don’t call me “kiddo.”

                Some years back, my internet life led me to filmmaker Anne Flournoy, of the highly-acclaimed web-series The Louise Log. Friendship ensued, and Anne asked me if I’d like to act in an episode of The Louise Log. I gave up acting professionally years ago, but every so often the universe hands me a job, and I say yes. In this case I said yes before Anne had even conceptualized the storyline for the season. My trust in her ran that deep. A year ago I shot this from my home over Skype, while the rest… Read More »I’ve never been scarier. Trust me. And don’t call me “kiddo.”

                I Wrote Another GodForsaken Blogiverary Post so You Don’t Have to

                  Today I’m blog-hopping, writing with friends on the theme of “I did [fill in the blank] so you don’t have to” inspired by JD, who seems to have retired her similarly themed blog in 2013. Mom, Dad, this is one of those esoteric blogger-posts. Over the years, I’ve run the blogiversary gamut, writing satire and sap,  self-reflection and sass.  I even tried my hand at creating animated videos, making myself creative director of cartoon characters able to move their appendages in random bursts, and only at odds with their dialogue. Imagine a flip-book featuring a… Read More »I Wrote Another GodForsaken Blogiverary Post so You Don’t Have to

                  Duck, Duck, Inflection-afflicted Goose

                    “Hilarious. Kind. Mega-babe.” My classmate used none of these words to describe me. In graduate school, I took a class on therapy group dynamics. As part of the experiential curriculum, we formed our own groups. The instructor asked us to go around our circle, and use a sole descriptor for each group member. One of my peers looked straight in my eyes, and said without hesitation, about me,“Intense.” Her assessment took me so far aback, I disappeared into my neck, Beaker, style. Intense. Moi?   Meep meep? See, I had earned the reputation in my… Read More »Duck, Duck, Inflection-afflicted Goose

                    Changing Seasons

                      I love this change of seasons. By the time I’ve finally input my boys’ extra-curriculars into my iBrain, our Midwestern Indian summer cools down for crisp mornings. My kids settle in to their classrooms, the new routine becomes more familiar, and we can enjoy our walk to school among trees turning Technicolor. Though I adapt fairly well to changing schedules, and welcome the swap from sweaty maxi-dresses to cozy sweater coats, it’s the metaphorical changing of seasons with which I sometimes struggle. In fact, as my kids grow they seem to spin through the seasons… Read More »Changing Seasons