Several years ago, while firmly ensconced in the job from hell, I wrote an Office version of Dante’s Purgatory. What can I tell you. I read a lot and I needed an outlet for all my pent up frustrations before I became a news story. Fast-forward two years, and I’m in… Read full post »

As Gabrielle started to wake, flashes of her dreams came back to her. Images of what her brain had tried to process overnight. She couldn’t make out everything. A face. A landscape. If the dreams had been particularly interesting, she could remember them more clearly. The vague ones, how… Read full post »

the human spirit and body can only take so much before it feels broken beaten defeated resigned tired of doing everything alone working living maintaining a life that still feels incomplete with a heart longing to be put back together but she won’t do it time for others but seemingly no… Read full post »

Alanis Morissette’s music has always appealed to me. First, it was the angst, anger-driven lyrics of rejected love that I could relate to. As I got older, and as Morissette got older, the music was relatable for all the emotion she packed into her lyrics. “That I Would Be Good&rdqu… Read full post »

so many words we don’t say

acts of protection

acts of self-preservation

are they unsaid because we fear the words

or because we fear the vulnerability behind them

so much i want to say

i refrain

not wanting to scare you

not wanting to drive you away

so many words… Read full post »

Walking across the threshold, I had no idea I’d be so overcome with emotions. I actually had to stop and compose myself before going any further. It had been about six years since I had stepped foot in a place that I used to frequent once a week. For me,… Read full post »

Watching an Idina Menzel concert on PBS last week, I was reduced to a blubbering mess during her performance of “No Day But Today” from Rent. People who know me well would probably be surprised to learn that I’ve never seen the musical or the movie. I’m familiar with some of… Read full post »

The first full day I had to myself after my ex moved out, I celebrated. Feeling like a huge weight had been lifted off of me, I made myself a nice dinner and opened an ’85 Cabernet that had been sitting around collecting dust. As I sat in the perfect silence… Read full post »

The strangest events can trigger a memory or send you spiraling back into your past, where you are forced to confront ghosts you’d rather ignore. I left my sunglasses at a friend’s home the other evening. It wasn’t until the next morning that I noticed they were gone. We already had… Read full post »

Cleaning and reorganizing the garage over the weekend, I came across several boxes of items I had almost forgotten about. With each unpacked layer, I came across wonderful surprises. Some items brought laughter. Others brought tears and bittersweet feelings. Each knick knack, a reminder of the differ… Read full post »

You’d been on my mind a lot. I’m not sure why. Maybe it was the weather. Maybe it was the flu I was fighting. Certain things trigger these thoughts of you without warning. Some days I can easily push them aside. Other days, it takes all my energy to not think… Read full post »

I’ve been spending a lot of time purging lately. Purging the house and garage of my ex’s things and of the items I no longer want or need. Most of it was acquired during our time together and I don’t want to see it. I’ve been surprised by how strong the… Read full post »

Disclaimer: The author is not looking for sympathy with this post. It is meant to be a humorous look at the sometimes unwelcome changes in our bodies once we hit a certain age. She does, however, suspect that there will be some snarky comments and/or hate email as a result of… Read full post »

I don’t do grief.

I do denial. I do tortured anguish. I do distraction and avoidance quite well. But grief? Not so much. And after telling others that they need to give themselves time to properly grieve instead of pushing the emotions aside, I see that I’m a complete hypocrite. No… Read full post »

It’s time. In fact, it’s long overdue. I’ve needed to purge myself of this, of you, for too long. Today, I took the last of your things to the storage unit. There are no more reminders of you in this house. No more reminders of our relationship, except the emotional scars… Read full post »

Last year was the first Christmas I had spent single since 1996. It was an adjustment, but not necessarily a bad one. Last year was also the first year I had enjoyed the holiday since 2005. I wasn’t dealing with the stress, anxiety, and, to be frank, bullshit that I had… Read full post »

if i was there

you could cry on my shoulder

you could talk about what hurts

you could sit quietly while I hold your hand

you might not feel so alone

you could lean on me for support

if i was there

if i was there

i’d wipe your tears… Read full post »

I was talking to a friend last night about relationships and how difficult it can be to know when to give up and when to keep trying. It can be a very fine line and is unique to each person and each relationship. I will be the first to admit that… Read full post »

Please be on the lookout for a Caucasian female, mid 30’s, with dark hair and glasses. Last “seen†shortly before Thanksgiving. Sometimes frequents the virtual halls of OS, leaving her wit, snark, and humor on random posts. Has been known to answer to the name of “Lucy†but only if I’m… Read full post »

one is blinded by fear and sadness

the other by love and hope

neither sees the pain they cause

the sadness

the loneliness

the apprehension

all of it lost in their own selfish hazes

one dwells in the past

the other thinks of the future

neither lives in the present… Read full post »

Hard to believe it’s been one year. Did you think a conversation about a web site would evolve into this? I have to admit, I was giddy when you sent me that message. Not because of the idea of working on something with you, but because it would give me a… Read full post »

There’s something I’ve been struggling with for awhile now. Tough love. When do you give it? How do you give it? Should you give it? There’s a line in Moonstruck that always plays in my head when I feel like I’m in a situation where tough love is needed: Snap out… Read full post »

The plan had been to drive down to her parents for Thanksgiving, just like every other year. Gabrielle usually packed herself and the dog into the car the day before and drove when traffic wasn’t as bad. That was her plan this year, despite the pull she felt to spend the… Read full post »

Blame it on getting older. Blame it on major changes that have taken place in my life this year. Blame it on my chiropractor, who seems to have restored normal bloodflow to my brain. Whatever the reason, I seem to be in a reflective mood these days. Sit back and enjoy… Read full post »

in the blink of an eye
almost an entire year passed
we were both adrift
alone in our own worlds
a chance meeting
paths crossed on the Open sea
now tethered
moving together
courses changed forever
better for me
perhaps worse for you
you say i’m your anchor
but am i… Read full post »