Parenting 101: Behave better than your children.

The other night we had the opportunity to go to my stepdaughter’s school music concert. It was for grades 1-4 and there were a lot of songs on the list. It was going to be a long night.  The little gym was hot, my back was already sore from sitting on the bleachers at my … Continue reading »

From This Day Forward, I Am A Rich Man

Lately, Sara an I have had our hands in about a thousand different things and these things have been taking alot of our money. Yes, we have made a few lifestyle changes that have saved us some money, but no matter what we save, there is more to be spent. A big problem in this … Continue reading »

Another Light Burns Out

I was digging some holes in the yard yesterday for moving small trees and planting rose bushes, grape vines and whatnot and Sara comes outside with a surprised look on her face – “One of the Beastie Boys died”. It kinda took me back for a second. No, that has to be some kind of … Continue reading »

Mass Book Consumption

As a child, I grew up with books around all the time. My mom actually forced my sister and I to sit down a couple hours a week and read. I was still in elementary school when I read my first Stephen King novel. Every year on my birthday, my mother would make sure to … Continue reading »

Cheap fun for a big family? Get the membership…

Despite a complete lack of motivation yesterday I wound up doing a lot with the kids.  The oldest was in the mood to get out and do something which is great to take advantage of.  On the table were the Natural History Museum and the new Greater Cleveland Aquarium.  I went online to check prices … Continue reading »

We Are No Longer Free

I don’t understand how everyone can walk around so blind to what is going on around us AND to be so accepting of it. Our country was built on ideals of keeping the government from being too powerful and keeping the power of the country in the hands of the people. These were immigrants that … Continue reading »

Plan + Motivation = Progress

Today I appear to be lacking the motivation part of the equation.  I had a great night, woke up nicely this morning and I have a full to-do list.  Somehow, despite all of this, I can’t seem to get moving. I was on vacation yesterday and today.  I should have taken the whole week off … Continue reading »

Some people actually get somewhere in life…the others just wander.

Unfortunately, we have to deal with a lot of stupid people and stupid situations in our life.  We both have past relationships where, sometimes, the best we can hope for is simply difficult.  What makes it worse?  The idiocy that we have to deal with to try to accomplish something that should be very simple … Continue reading »

Three Years Past (who would have known)

Three years ago I woke up and found my boyfriend of 10 years dead on the couch.  He had a heart attack.  It was March 31st and he was 36.  It was the worst experience of my life.  I don’t talk about it often anymore – I’ve healed and am living an amazing life which … Continue reading »