"My grandmother used to say that some people just end up alone. And that some people just don't get to be happy," I said.

"V, come on, don't go down this road," Trevor said.

"I never really believed it until now. I think maybe she was right about that… Read full post »

"I don't understand. How could they have done that?" Jessica asked.

"It didn't matter to them. I didn't matter to them. That's how both of them are. They are two of the most spoiled, selfish, self-centered people I have ever known.

"But I still can't understand. How could they just leave… Read full post »

Approaching the line and picking one clothes pin after another from the sheets, I paused, took a deep breath and breathed in the scent of lavender and fresh mint, woven into the fabric as surely as the threads were.  I sighed contentedly as I looked at my fingernails, encrusted with Play-doh… Read full post »

It was seconds before recess and I had just closed the copy of The Secret Garden, and the discussion in our kindergarten classroom had just wrapped up.  Taylor, the youngest child in the four-year-old kindergarten class sat next to me, holding my hand as he sat on the group rug in… Read full post »

Even from down the long hallway and with the office door closed I could hear it.  The nonstop crying.  Wailing.  Screaming.  That reached an alarming pitch and with seemingly no end.  No words were the right words.  No actions taken lessened his pain.  And after ten… Read full post »

"You have to stop.  She's been through enough now," Paulo said.

"She's strong enough.  She can handle it.  Why don't you stop.  Stop pacing.  Stop getting yourself so worked up.  And stop looking at her like that," Dylan said.

"I haven't done anything.  You should t… Read full post »

"And bowl me over black and blue
It's far too hard to say I'm all over you
And take my pulse and hose me down
My hearts on fire

I've said these words a thousand times
The bathroom mirror stopped and smiled
So take my pulse and hose me down
My hearts on fire

Cause when you're standing on… Read full post »

"One more depending on a prayer
And we all look away
People pretending everywhere
It's just another day

There's bullets flying through the air
And they still carry on
We watch it happen over there
And then just turn it off

Hey, yeah, yeah, hey, yeah
We must stand together
Hey, yeah, yeah, hey, yeah
There's no g… Read full post »

When I was a little girl, the first thing I wanted to be when I grew up was to be a publisher. I used to visit the offices at Doubleday with my father every few weeks when we had an inservice day at school and often on Wednesdays when we had… Read full post »

"I'm feeling sexy and free
Like glitter's raining on me
You're like a shot of pure gold
I think I'm 'bout to explode

I can taste the tension like a cloud of smoke in the air
Now I'm breathing like I'm running cause you're taking me there
Don't you know...you spin me out of control

Ooh ooh ooh… Read full post »

"I let it fall, my heart,
And as it fell you rose to claim it
It was dark and I was over
Until you kissed my lips and you saved me

My hands, they're strong
But my knees were far too weak
To stand in your arms
Without falling to your feet

But there's a side to you
That I… Read full post »

"You know the bed feels warmer
Sleeping here alone
You know I dream in colour
And do the things I want

You think you got the best of me
Think you had the last laugh
Bet you think that everything good is gone
Think you left me broken down
Think that I'd come running back
Baby you don't know… Read full post »

Seeing zero sum games

Where none exist

Requires true imagination

Inventing rivalries

That do not stand

Just like me

Who was just revived

After nearly crashing

To the floor

Time to step back

Time to sit up

Time to stand up

And make what I want

All too clear

Nine fabulous parties

Eight sad farewells

Six long embraces

Five almost kisses

Four glittering ensembles

Three serious questions

Two important proposals

One stunning ring  Read full post »

I love to dance.  Really let go.  And totally lose control on the dance floor. And I move very well to music and have a great sense of rhyhym.  But I am terrified of one type of dance.  Ballroom dancing  strikes fear in my heart and usually the very suggestion of… Read full post »

Once upon a time, not so very long ago, alright if you really wanna know it was just yesterday, on the eve of Christmas Eve, magic was afoot.

Yesterday the handful of my friends that are still left on campus staged an extreme makeover of sorts for me.  It was much… Read full post »

Two years ago I had the most eventful Christmas of my life. For so many reasons. And two days before Christmas, I had packed up my life and moved out of my apartment in my Tiny But Beautiful Village on the North Shore of Wisconsin.

That was when I changed my… Read full post »

"I can be tough
I can be strong
But with you, It's not like that at all

Theres a girl who gives a sh-t
Behind this wall
You just walk through it

And I remember all those crazy thing you said
You left them running through my head
You're always there, you're everywhere
But right now I wish you were… Read full post »

I think that one of the most important lessons of preschool and kindergarten is learning how to play.  How to play nicely with others.  How to play fairly.  And how to enjoy yourself while you play.

I taught preschool for three years.  My very first year I taught at an extraordina… Read full post »

By now everyone has heard the good news that our editor Emily is with child. All thanks to Tink.  And even though Tink is all kinds of married, I think we should all celebrate together. And share in their joy.

Now I know that Kerry must be more than a bit… Read full post »

When I was a little girl, we had one room in our very large home that was called the play room. That room was filled with toys. Toys of all kinds. Puzzles. Dolls. Board games. Musical instruments. Art supplies. A play house and all the accessories. And books.

We had so… Read full post »

This morning I walked into my office and settled in to do some work at work. I am one of those people. Yes, I often feel compelled to work during the work day. Apparently that's what we're all here for. Who knew?

At this time of year, all across the country… Read full post »

"Tonight I will love love you tonight
Give me everything tonight
For all we know we might not get tomorrow
Let's do it tonight
I will love love you tonight
Give me everything tonight
For all we know we might not get tomorrow
Lets do it tonight

Don’t care what they say
All the games they play
Nothing is e… Read full post »

I did something so naughty last night I almost can't admit what I've done.  I have now been lectured for the better part of two hours by my very good friend Jessica about my naughtiness.  And I think I may finally be seeing the light and coming around.

I was all… Read full post »