My dog Finn, as my carpets will attest, is very much an inside dog. And like we do with my kids, we have to sometimes put him outside for some fresh air and the chance to explore something beyond video game controllers, left socks, and the occasional stray Lego piece. That’s when the fun begins […]
There once was a day when Ron and I made some serious vows, vows that surpassed the “in sickness and in health” ones—at least at the time anyway. They were vows meant to secure our individuality and protect us from becoming bland and predictable. We pledged to never call each other “mom” or “dad,” and […]
I’d like to live in a place with seasons,” my husband, Ron, said, and I knew the East Coast had infiltrated his brain. I argued that we kind of have seasons here, at least the ones that count, you know “mild,” and “summer.” That was the problem, he explained. Two years ago, Ron’s job had […]
The only balloon that would work was a clear one with silver curls and snowflakes decorating the outside. I kind of knew it, but I still thought it was a little too fancy. My 6-year-old Sebastian, however, insisted on it. We walked to the top of a park overlooking Pismo Beach and I, holding the […]
This year seemed like the year we got our peep on. Businesses like Target, Home Depot, eBay, and JP Morgan were hacked for financial and personal information. The private cell phones of celebrities were hacked and nude photos were leaked. And most recently hackers hit Sony pictures leaking movie scripts, internal memos, and personal information […]
What’s the deal about a first kiss anyway? It’s rarely what you expect it to be, yet somehow pop culture has built it into a sweet sentimental thing. Songs are written about it, and movies attempt to capture that special time. They make you remember all the excitement of the unknowns: Eyes closed or open? […]
These days I’ve been afraid to talk. I don’t mean that I’m afraid to speak my mind but I’ve been afraid to speak at all. I’m afraid that if I open my mouth a ‘dude’ might slip out. ‘Totally’ may force its way into a sentence or, heaven forbid, a ‘fer sher’ might pepper my […]
For two hours I sat in the silent, dimly lit dining room, clutching my coffee cup and staring at the blue screen of my computer. It was a blank page and it seemed to scream at me. “Write something already!” I wanted to ask what I was thinking—“Write what?”—but the blank page had become too […]
More people will have access to energy-efficient upgrades, thanks to an expansion of a program that began in Santa Barbara County. EmPower Santa Barbara County has become emPower Central Coast, expanding its services to Ventura and San Luis Obispo counties as well as increasing the number of energy efficient services it provides. “We’re really excited […]
It was a gorgeous, sunny morning recently when I tried going on a bike ride with Ron. It was the singularly scariest event in my life. Not that I haven’t ridden a bike—I had a mountain bike that I loved. I could run over anything, jump off of any curb, and never worried about falling. […]
Do you remember the exact age you were when you went from wanting to be older to wanting to be younger? Right now my three youngest kids want to be older. My 12- and 13-year-old sons, for good reason, want to be more like 20. They struggle with the desire for freedom, without realizing the […]
Every woman has a minor quest that she maybe doesn’t ever think she’ll accomplish but she refuses to give up. For some women, it’s losing that last 10 pounds. For others, it’s finding that perfect pair of shoes, or getting their kids to put the cap back on the toothpaste. For me, it’s getting certain […]
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