The Best Friend I Ever Had

Tell us the origin story of your best friend. This is a sad story so it took me awhile to write it today. I met John in the spring of 1985. His mother purchased the house next to my parents and I saw him in the driveway one day unloading his car – he was […]

Blogging Brings Stuff

How has blogging changed your life? Tell us one thing that is different now than from before you started blogging. I have stuck with blogging longer than I have done almost anything else in my life – longer than any one job, longer than all relationships with the exception of Ledcat, longer than any project […]

Congrats to Our Mary Lambert EP Winners

Free Fall Movie

Congrats to Becky, Heidi, Amanda and Lisa – the winners of Mary Lambert’s debut EP  “Welcome to the Age of My Body.” I heard they received their EP’s over the weekend and are now enjoying her dulcet tone. Our next giveaway will kick off at week’s end – two copies of the movie “Free Fall” which […]

My Family Herstory: Part One

Jane Marie Rice Remley

March 1 — Do you have a favorite female ancestor? One you are drawn to or want to learn more about? Write down some key facts you have already learned or what you would like to learn and outline your goals and potential sources you plan to check. One thing I believe to be very […]

Eight Series I’ll Be Watching on Netflix (And Then Some)

I think our $7/month investment in a Netflix subscription is one of our best. Yes, of course we watch Orange is the New Black and House of Cards. But I find so much more to watch. 1. Derek – this lovely little show from Ricky Gervais (yes) features one of the nicest people on earth. […]

I turned 12 and then 13 and then 16 and now I’m 43

12 ball

You’re 12 years old. It’s your birthday. Write for ten minutes on that memory. GO. I hate these questions because most of the time – I don’t remember. Like many survivors of neglect and trauma, I don’t remember. Or I do remember, but much in the way I recall the storyline from a book or […]

The Worst Breakup Story

Madonna Crazy For You Soundtrack to 9th grade heartache

Tell us your best worst breakup story.  I suppose the *worst* story was the time I was dumped on my birthday in a Red Lobster. How undignified. Cheddar Bay Biscuits never tasted the same afterwards. I don’t really have many interesting stories to tell. I do have several amusing disastrous Internet dating stories Calamine Lotion […]

Six Things You Can Do To Help a Friend With Depression Have a Better Day

Girl Scout Cookies

“But I don’t know what to say/do” is something I hear often when talking about mental health. “I thought it would be best to just let you work it out. You know I am here.” Well, that’s a bunch of hooey. Do you let your friends coping with the aftereffects of chemo tough it out until […]

If I Grew Up In Allentown. With a Fast Car.

Today’s blogging prompt asked me to explain the socioeconomic class structure in the neighborhood where I grew up. That would be West Mifflin, PA. I have six attempts in my drafts folder. All devolved from thoughtful class analysis of a working class suburb into various rants. Clearly, I have some unresolved issues with my hometown. […]

When I Broke Up With Coke

Happy Endings Tell us about something you’ve tried to quit. Did you go cold turkey, or for gradual change? Did it stick? I grew up with pop (soda) as a treat. My parents were firm about drinking milk for dinner whether at home or in a restaurant (in those days, no restaurants served juice.) Occasionally, […]