I Never Win Anything – or Do I?

As soon as I read about this gutsy girl in the upcoming middle grade debut novel 'Air,' I knew I had to read it. Since I came across it as part of a contest to win a copy on this blog, I figured it was worth a shot, although I knew I'd never win. I … Continue reading I Never Win Anything – or Do I?

Neighbors Should Talk to Each Other

“Hi! I need to know who did my husband’s physical therapy appointment this morning so I can find out if he was able to walk further today.” It seemed like such a simple request. I had finally learned that I was allowed to venture up the hall to the nurses’ station to ask questions. The … Continue reading Neighbors Should Talk to Each Other

Is That Too Much to Ask?

Wouldn't it be lovely, I often think to myself, if I could log on in the morning, perhaps from home while having my first cup of coffee, to see how my husband slept last night at the rehab facility? What a delight it would be to see what he had for breakfast, and whether he … Continue reading Is That Too Much to Ask?

The Weekly Panic Update

Well! That was a quick week. The first notice of non coverage was received on 6/25, sixteen days after the transfer from the hospital to the SNF (Skilled Nursing Facility) for rehabilitation. It might seem a bit optimistic to think that someone with multiple medical problems who was admitted unable to walk or speak a … Continue reading The Weekly Panic Update

Never Follow the Rules

Rule #1: Never follow the rules - at least not without further investigation. Everyone is friendly and pleasant, anxious to let you know that everything that needs to be done for your loved one will be handled by the facility. If outside medical appointments are needed, there is someone who will schedule them and transport … Continue reading Never Follow the Rules

The Weekly Panic

An insurance company is not a charitable social service organization. An insurance company is a business. A business like any other, providing services for compensation in order to produce profits for their shareholders. The higher the profits are, the happier the shareholders are. Higher profits also mean higher compensation packages for upper management. How do … Continue reading The Weekly Panic

Take a Deep Breath and Exhale

In an ordinary year, I probably would not even notice much of the hoopla around the Presidential Inauguration. But then – I have to admit that I spent most of yesterday watching the inauguration events. At the end of the day, I felt like I had taken a deep breath—and exhaled slowly—at last. After the … Continue reading Take a Deep Breath and Exhale

Why Can I Not Focus?

Cognitive Load Theory I feel like this article in BBC by Dr Christian Jarrett explains a lot about what my mind has been doing recently. More importantly, it offers solutions. If you feel like you’re in a state of constant mental fatigue, you should read this. Cognitive Load Theory discusses the idea that tasks are … Continue reading Why Can I Not Focus?

Imperfections of the Human State

If you have ALS, or if you know someone who has ALS, or if you are in need of a major injection of inspiration or a renewal of faith in the human race, you need to read this. If you have ALS, or if you know someone who has ALS, or if you are in … Continue reading Imperfections of the Human State

I Am That 74-Year-Old Grandmother

Yesterday’s ‘Questionable Statements about the Corona Virus’ award goes to Florida’s Governor DeSantis who said this: "If you're a 22-year-old working in food services, let's say at a supermarket, you would have preference over a 74-year-old grandmother. I don't think that that is the direction that we want to go." DeSantis wants Florida to ignore … Continue reading I Am That 74-Year-Old Grandmother

The Small Stuff

Some mornings it's the small stuff in the news that makes me crazy. President Trump has achieved his goal of destroying another environmental standard created in the prior administration. In a world where 790 million people do not have access to clean water, it's nice to know that some people will be able to wash … Continue reading The Small Stuff

The Val Wood Prize

I've received notice that I am on the short-list for this year's prestigious Val Wood Prize for my short story, 'Mr. Miller.' I am over the hill with excitement. The submission call was for 'feel good' stories. Jess Federle, of my 'Lima' group, had told me about the contest, for which she thought Mr Miller … Continue reading The Val Wood Prize

You Don’t Have to Win

This Kurt Vonnegut quote just grabbed me this morning. I've felt so frustrated this past week. The overthrow of the government in Peru, the attacks on our democracy by a sitting president in the US. And I've been struggling with outlining the plot for my next book. My hero suffers from a need to do … Continue reading You Don’t Have to Win

Kaleidoscope Rocks the Literary World!

Dina Towbin wrote this great piece about the writers reading event in Lima this month. I got to read one of my short stories. It was fun!

Autumn Birthday

This is my entry for the Official Kidlit #FallWritingFrenzy! Writers choose a picture from 15 different images and write a 200-word story using the picture as inspiration. Autumn Birthday Autumn is for homecoming, she’d said on the phone. Driving up the highway, I thought the foliage that year was the most beautiful ever. But my heart … Continue reading Autumn Birthday

Bloody Sunday

It should feel like a sad morning when we lose two Medal of Freedom award recipients - two of the many great people who gave their blood to make our country more like the home I want it to be. Rep. John Robert Lewis and Rev. Cordy Tindell Vivian both walked across that bridge in … Continue reading Bloody Sunday