Staring at the blank page before me… The Grand Finale (Final Installment of a 3-Part Series) One of the things I really appreciate about bureaucracy in any country is really… nothing. When the new US administration came into power in 2016, immigration was high on the list of changes. The first change was the cost…
Dental Care you can trust by Dentists who Listen We ask, what makes the most sense to YOU? For the past two decades, Ballard Family Dentistry has been a cornerstone of dental care and community support in our town. Under the compassionate leadership of two brothers, Dr. Scott Ballard and Dr. David Ballard, the practice…
Judy Wolfe and Craig McGee were two American kids hanging out in Chicago at the time. Craig was from from Iowa, and Judy was from Michigan. Judy was in training for the airlines, and Craig was in school to become a draftsman. They fell in love as kids do (or it was just Chicago fun) and she got pregnant. …
Ah, summer. Pools are open, some kids have likely started driving their parents mad as summer holidays commence, the days should be super hot, and margaritas, taco chips and air conditioning will be all the rage. I love Texas, and summer is my absolute favorite time of year. One question I have been asked the…
Having a daughter is like having a little broke best friend who thinks you are rich… Ah, motherhood. Is there anything more special than the love we have for our kids? Yes, plenty. Wine. Vacation. Sleep. Money. Less laundry. Living through the teenage years. The hope that our sanity is intact when we reach middle…
Well, it finally happened. It took 20 months and 16 days, but — brace yourself — I finally got my first disparaging review. It was bound to happen at some point. I felt I would have vast humility when it happened, but it was more of a stomp around the kitchen. Don’t get me wrong,…
“I am, when necessary, not above reproach for immoral behavior.” Ah, February. The month of love. I visited (shall not be named) a craft store right after Christmas only to be confronted with all things hearts, red and pink. Entire rows and sections. I wondered why I couldn’t relish Christmas at least until New Year’s,…
Ah, December. The month where calories do not count, stretchy pants are bought in a three-pack, and shopping local and supporting small businesses is the best gift to every entrepreneur. Extra liquor is in the pantry for all things boozy– hot apple cider with bourbon, coffee martinis, and homemade baileys. The house is decorated, wood…
When I think about a handyman, “versatile” comes to mind. They are the guys with ample tools, know a little of everything, and can tinker, putz and fix the odds and sods of homesteading with the proverbial butt crack for all to see. When I left teaching, and The Virginia May was coming to fruition,…
The first time I flew on an airplane, I was in the 12th grade– a mere child of 17. My middle brother had betrothed himself to an American gal from Bay Village, Ohio, and the wedding was to take place in the good ol’ USA. This wasn’t a royal scandal, and there were plenty of…