One of the first things I had to learn fairly quickly when I moved to Ireland was a whole new set of places and names. It’s quite amazing how much of such knowledge you take for granted growing up in one place even if you are never forced to learn your fifty states and state…
The holidays are for catching up to family and friends and taking a break from the daily grind. We just came back from a short trip to see family out in Galway, and were lucky enough to get home in time to catch friends of ours flying back to Vienna tomorrow. I hope to see…
There is something tranquil about being able to watch your child fall asleep as they finally lose the battle to keep their eyes open. Their eyelashes flutter closed. Their forehead smooths out, and a sense of peace flows over the whole scene. Given the inherent nature of this sight, I therefore find it deeply and…
Do you ever sit there, ready to tear your hair out, rant and kick and scream about the circumstances in which you find yourself, seeing every error you have made that led you to where you are right that second? Yeah that’s what it’s like arguing with a four year old. Once you start down…
Maybe it’s cabin fever, or maybe it’s being slightly under the weather, but today I had to get out of the house for some undivided solitude. I love my son, but the constant demands to entertain him and play with him wear me down and make me cranky, cantankerous, and short-tempered. So I took the…
Christmas day began pretty much like any other day in this household. We gradually acquired wakefulness thanks to a restless starfished child between me and The Mister, first rolling in one direction, then another, before rolling back toward me and in a whiny whisper declaring that he’s thirsty. Or hungry. It’s usually one or the…
‘Twas the night before Christmas and everything was finally ready. The gifts were all wrapped under the tree, having multiplied at the last minute and most of them suspiciously bearing the name of Hawkeye. The cookies and the milk have been set out for Santa and carrots for Rudolph. We considered leaving an actual half-eaten…
The tree is beautiful. The lights are warm. The couch makes for a cozy corner under the shaded icicle lights in the window. There’s a colourful knitted stocking hanging from the mantle waiting for chocolate treats to be hidden inside. The presents are starting to pile up under the tree and more are waiting to…
So, I’m not very good with remembering names and faces. I’ve known this for some time. My husband and I have a long-running joke between us about my ability to see someone in a movie and be convinced that they remind me of someone who actually looks nothing like them. And if I’m introduced to…
A twelve-hour day at the office doesn’t really inspire top notch blog writing afterward but on the other hand I’m buoyed by the knowledge that I’m now finished with work for a whole two weeks. I just need to stay awake long enough to write something. Staying awake is, in fact, something that would have…
Ok, in all honestly, it’s nowhere near as bad as the giant sticker of a large tarantula to which I was subjected earlier this month, but still unpleasant. There I am, minding my own business, helping Hawkeye take off his shirt at bedtime, when BAM, my hand jerks away as my brain reels in panicked…
The Feathered Rose 