When I Clean the Toilet
When I clean the toilet, I close my eyes. I go into a deep state of denial about what I'm doing and imagine that I'm scrubbing an already sparkling clean toilet. I work hard on every inch to guarantee that when I do open my eyes, all I'll see is a gleaming surface.I...
Lifting Depression
Here is how I'm different: I'm smiling more, laughing more and talking more. I sleep well and my daytime energy is great. I worry less, even while my personal life has recently increased in stress. At times this new peace has been unsettling because I'm not used to...
Great, They Plowed Our Street. Now We Can Get Our Car Out!
Snowmageddon!
It was still coming down at 1 p.m.Yes, that's our car I'm standing next to.
White Like Heaven
BLIZZARD! This is why I moved to the Midwest in 1993. Oh, yeah. I experienced my first blizzard in Ithaca, New York in 1993. It was great. My second was here in Chicago in 1999, but by coincidence I was very ill and spent the whole time in bed. This is my first...
To Whom It May Concern
Dear East Coast, Please stop hogging all the snow. Sincerely, Midwest
Bloggers Mustn’t Fool Ourselves
I started my blog in June 2004 because I read an article on blogging and discovered that I fit the criteria of a good blogger: I spent hours in front of a computer every day and liked to write. It was probably presumptuous to think that my blog would be interesting to...
Regina Rodriguez
Back when I decided to get serious about music, I hired someone to build a website that told people my music. I carefully wrote the copy and gave him the photographs and lyrics to publish. It was 2001 so I didn't really know what I was doing. As early websites often...
Cracking
Maybe I am too hard on myself.
Growing Old and Staying Thin
Disclaimer: since I've become properly obese, I re-read these old posts and see my body dysmorphia and self-hatred and obsession with food and weight. It's horrible to me now. We all know by now that as we age it gets easier to put on pounds and harder to lose them....
I Really Don’t Like Sunshine
Winter is my favorite season, followed by autumn, when the days get short and the darkness takes over. This year Chicago got a white Christmas with inches of snow falling on Christmas night. It must have been beautiful. But I wouldn't know because I spent Christmas...
Happy December!
December is my favorite month. I've been telling people that and I'm stunned by their response. Each person has replied, "Why?" I don't understand this question. We are neck-deep in Christmas decorations, Christmas music, Christmas goodies, Christmas parties and...