I have never been a mushy-gushy type of mom: it’s just not me. I have never worried about my kids as much as other moms do. When my boys used to hurt themselves as little ones tend to do when they’re young and clumsy (or don’t make the best decisions!), I was pretty good at remaining calm and not worrying myself into the stratosphere. Where other moms can’t sleep until their teenager gets home in the evening–no matter how late it is–I have always been the “I’m going to bed: just wake me up when you get home so I know you made it back” type. I’m especially thankful to…
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Go West, Young Man!
Today Jim and I did something I really couldn’t have imagined doing even a couple of years ago: we put D on a train that would take him away from us for the entire summer. He was hired to be a backwoods ranger at a Boy Scout High Adventure ranch in the mountains of New Mexico, something he’s wanted to do since he visited that same ranch for the first time a few years ago. After applying but not getting an offer last year, he was over the moon when he got the great news this year. When he called to tell me, I could hear the unadulterated joy in…
- Confessions, How To, I've Got Mad Skillz, My Friends Have Mad Skillz, Proud Moments, Something That Could Change Your Life
How I Do All That I Do, Part One
I’m a busy girl. This has already been well-established. (If you’re new here: Hi, and welcome! Trust me. I’m busy.) I am often asked “How do you do all that you do???” The person asking the question usually has a wide-eyed look and typically shakes her head in disbelief, most likely because she thinks I’m certifiably crazy for taking on as many things as I typically do. The question makes me very uneasy because honestly–though I am proud of my own accomplishments–I am not the type of person to toot my own horn in the company of others. Still, I am always flattered and I smile, thank them for asking,…
- Amazing People, Best Thing Ever, Fun in Chicago, I've Got Mad Skillz, My Friends Have Mad Skillz, Pretty Pictures, Proud Moments, Shameless Promotion, Something That Could Change Your Life, Spreading the Bloggie Love
About Last Night
I’m having a little trouble. I can’t really wrap my head around the whirlwind that was LISTEN TO YOUR MOTHER CHICAGO last night. I can’t keep using the word “amazing” and expect that 1. People will continue to take me seriously 2. People will believe that yes, I’m a writer …but the fact is, everything about this experience (well, not everything: there were a few snags in the planning process but everything shook out in the end) WAS amazing. I tend to be long-winded (or whatever that is in terms of writing), and although I can think of thousands of things to report to you about last night, I think…
- Amazing People, Best Thing Ever, Blessings, Fun in Chicago, I've Got Mad Skillz, My Friends Have Mad Skillz, Proud Moments, Shameless Promotion, Something That Could Change Your Life
Listen To Your Mother Chicago: Countdown To Showtime!
For the last nine days, Tracey and I have posted countdown pictures on Facebook. I think these pictures both excited and terrified our cast. Today is the big day. More than six months in the making, the very first LISTEN TO YOUR MOTHER CHICAGO is finally making its debut, at 7:00 p.m. tonight to be specific. Where am I, mentally? So calm I can’t even express it. If you know me well, you know that “calm” is not a word I EVER use when I’m this heavily involved in a project. (Okay, or, uh, EVER. At all.) I know that I will be nervous as showtime approaches because I am…
- Amazing People, Best Thing Ever, Blessings, Fun in Chicago, My Friends Have Mad Skillz, Proud Moments, Something That Could Change Your Life
On Getting It, And Ending Up At The Motel Bar.
Yesterday was a great day. We conducted our second and final formal rehearsal for the Chicago LISTEN TO YOUR MOTHER show. I can’t express to you how happy it made me to run the show from start to finish. Tracey brought the actual podium we’ll be using at the actual show (in thirteen days!), and in a quiet conference room at Calumet Photo (thanks for providing such a great space, Calumet Photo! Woot!)–a huge change in environment from the restaurant where we had our first read-through because it was so much quieter and we could really focus–we laughed and cried, as the unit to which we had all contributed a…
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I Have An Announcement.
It has been quite the week around here. On Sunday, Tracey and I held auditions for the Listen To Your Mother Chicago show (with some invaluable help from my City Half, Margaret). It was a long day, but it was a fun day. On Monday evening we auditioned a few more on Google+ Hangout, my new favorite technological wonder. We loved everybody’s pieces. We had some tough decisions to make. When Tracey and I tossed our hats into the ring and applied to bring LTYM to Chicago, we really wanted it. We had a few pretty good reasons why we wanted to do it, all of which were outlined in…
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The One In Which I Give You Action Items
Big stuff today. Unfortunately, for you to get the most out of it, I’m going to have to ask you to leave. Let me explain. First of all, I am so very excited that I have been selected by Hallmark to be a contracted blogger in their “Life Is A Special Occasion” campaign for the entire year. Once each month, I will be writing about the special moments–big and little–in my family, as well as all kinds of other things that may, if you’re not careful, cause you to have the warm and fuzzies. I’m especially proud of my inaugural post for this campaign; it’s all about my chronic dance…
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Animated
I’m headed up north and over the border today (to Wisconsin), to bring D home for his five-day break between his three-week January term and spring semester, which begins Wednesday, or as we call it in this house, “One day post-Lenny”. It’ll be nice to have D home for an extended weekend, as always. I’m excited to hear what he thinks about his old room–now J’s room–which we painted last weekend (pictures will be posted as soon as I get the rest of his new bedding and figure out a new window treatment). I’m also looking forward to hearing all about the animation class he has been sitting through for…
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The Little Author That Could
“How’s the book going?” It’s a question I get all the time from friends and family. While I appreciate their interest very, very much, I nearly always give the short answer: “Great! Thanks for asking!” The long answer is–frankly–really, really long, and I can’t just say half of it and expect the person I’m answering to fill in the blanks, so the short answer has to suffice under normal circumstances. Here is the long answer, though, in case you’re wondering: My book, considering it was published just last spring and I’m doing the bulk of the marketing for it myself, is doing pretty well for where I’m at on my…