Essays and Random Thoughts

Do It Yourself or Die Trying

My husband came upstairs last night sporting a satisfied smile. “Did you fix it?” I asked. “Yup.”

When I received my latest issue of Poets and Writers Magazine, I did what I always do: I put it in a special place on the nightstand, where I could

My friend Melanie finally lured me into joining Twitter Nation by bribing me with scones and tea. “It's really easy, and it's great once you

Many of my friends have children who are getting their college acceptance letters—or rejections—this month. This means that I'm doing a lot of

Nine years ago, I was diagnosed with breast cancer. This wasn't the “do something or die” kind of cancer that my friends Rachel and Kim went through

I never meant to adopt two cats instead of one, much less to fall in love with a cat that thinks he's a dog. But sometimes life surprises you. Or, in

My daughter called me last night to celebrate her news. “I got the job!” she said. “I'm going to be decorating cupcakes!” I cheered. My

McDuff, my Cairn terrier, looks more like a pot-bellied pig every day. His swollen abdomen is low-slung and his short legs bow out at the

You know that panicky feeling you get when you drop your briefcase or purse and everything spills out in public? That's how I used to feel every day: