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Anxiety Tapas, Anyone? #30BrighterDays

    My poet friend Dana Maya volunteers at community events with the “Sponaneous Writing Booth.” You give the poets a one-word prompt, make a small donation to a good cause, and they write you a poem on the spot. Given the rare gift of an entire night to myself, I finally got to see the booth in action last night at a neighborhood festival. With my husband working out of town and both kids camping, an evening “to myself” means I check the phone, then check again. The word “anxiety” already thrummed in my brain, even as… Read More »Anxiety Tapas, Anyone? #30BrighterDays

    Still Punky #30BrighterDays

      I dressed up as a peri-menopausal version of Punky Brewster for a costume dinner. The addition of reading glasses and one orthopedic shoe made her “perimeno.” But. see. Everything I wore for that costume came from straight out of my closet, with the exception of the short-sleeved orange jacket I thrifted. Even that I might wear again though, and not ironically. The unintentionally funniest thing about this 1980s punky child costume is that it mostly looks like regular clothes for 40-somethings in 2018. Maybe not work clothes, but certainly play clothes (where that differentiation still… Read More »Still Punky #30BrighterDays

      Same lesson, different costumes: My podcast interview with Midlife Mixtape

        With guests like musician Kathy Valentine of The Go-Go’s, Martha Quinn of MTV fame, Air Force veteran and Texas democratic candidate for congress MJ Hegar, and all manner of midlife luminaries, today I’m thrilled to join Nancy Davis Kho on her fabulous Midlife Mixtape podcast A podcast to celebrate midlife with humor, heart, and a really good beat. In each episode, Nancy interviews GenXers and icons of Generation X about how they’re thriving in the years between being hip and breaking one. As funny and delightful as she is an ace interviewer, Nancy and I discuss: Listen… Read More »Same lesson, different costumes: My podcast interview with Midlife Mixtape

        30 Years of Friendship (for #30BrighterDays)

          photo credit: Emily McInnes Once a year we convene on a Wisconsin lake to celebrate 30 years of friendship and counting. We strengthen the ties that connect us. And oh my how we cut loose.

          Why is my cat’s tail sparkling with glitter #30BrighterDays

            The question: Why is Toby’s tail full of glitter at 7AM. Or, rather, how on this actual earth. The answer: The bathtub where a certain cat likes to hang out. This answer also solves the mystery “why those fancy bath bombs were on sale buy one get one half off.” Related: look out for a glittery 11 year old running around camp today. Talk about a brighter day. *** I’m out of town for my annual girls weekend with my grade school gals. See you next week (or maybe on Facebook if inspiration strikes)  

            Market lake day #30BrighterDays

              I finally got to the farmers’ market yesterday. I also got to Lake Mendota with my friend Kate for a stand-up paddle. This morning I heard my first back-to-school ad reminding me about all sorts of to-dos and changes ahead. Grab your market and lake days by the shoulders and kiss them on both cheeks.

              Off The Menu #30BrighterDays

                My friend Deb posted a picture of these crunch cones on Facebook, and I had to try one. DQ doesn’t list crunch cones on the menu– I guess because they’re a bygone favorite. Many DQ’s don’t even offer them. Ours does!! And now I know my order forever more BECAUSE OMG SO YUMMY. This is not a sponsored post, btw. Culver’s makes their own tasty veggie burgers– not listed on the menu. At the end of hot yoga class the instructors often give each person a cold scented washcloth during shivasana (rest) aka the best… Read More »Off The Menu #30BrighterDays

                Brightness in hard times #30BrighterDays

                  This morning I found this little soul on our back deck under the bird feeder; a shock of brightness even in death. I thought about all the loss and suffering around me right now– all the tragic status updates, obituaries, and GoFundMes. Today they reside at arm’s length, happening to friends, friends-of-friends, or community members I don’t even know. Empathy comes naturally for most of us–and sometimes, for me, in a consuming way. My compassion can get hijacked into personalizing grief that really isn’t mine. Loss terrifies me, and sometimes it’s hard to put the… Read More »Brightness in hard times #30BrighterDays

                  This Guy #30BrighterDays

                    Feeling slightly crappy today due to what I shall call Imig Family Virus Month, but then I scrolled through my photo and found this guy. You might know him as your average outdoor city wall sconce. Average, no longer.  Thank you googly-eye wizard, whomever you are.

                    Go take a time-out #30BrighterDays

                      Yesterday, I put myself in a time-out. Instead of going to my room, I went to a nearby park. Apparently a few chipmunks, several baby bunnies, a toad, a turkey, and a butterfly were on a time-out, too. I highly recommend it.