One of my favorite things about hiking is it provides me with endless metaphors for life. The most common one I think of is when you’re hiking a mountain, and you feel like you’re in the final turn, but it turns out there are several more switchbacks to traverse. It’s that feeling that you’re never […]
Category Archives: Virgin to Life
Does He Like You? A Junior High Guide
[Note: While I’m pulling my hair out house-hunting, long-distance romancing and dealing with the other wonderful blessings befallen on me at this joyous time, enjoy this older favorite, originally published on August 28, 2011] Let’s face it; dating is never easy. The first lesson we Virgins to Life all learn, thanks to Head & Shoulders commercials, […]
The Ways I’d Show My Parents
As kids, there is nothing we want more than to taste sweet, sweet revenge when we don’t get our way. As for me, I was a 7 year-old Count of Monte Cristo – when someone wronged me, I had an overly elaborate plan to get back at them. I knew it would take time to […]
The Queens of the In Crowd
*Names with an asterisk have been changed Our bus rolled up to the campgrounds, and we all filed out of the bus in the most angsty teenager way possible. Too cool for school, too cool for nature. I looked around. For one week, I’d be stuck in the middle of the woods with a bunch […]
When a Grandma Isn’t of the Cookie-Baking Variety
Despite not growing up in a religious household, I was a pretty spiritual kid. I was baptized as a Catholic, and that was the only time I was in a church until I was 15. I’ve always had an odd relationship with Christianity. I was out of the traditional fold of religion, but tended to […]
Todd and Margo, Round 22
[Note: because I believe in fair and balanced reporting, you will note that I allowed the husband to respond to my accusations in brackets]. In the 16 years we’ve been together, Chris and I have seldom had an all-out argument. In fact, I can only think of two times in our relationship where we really […]
Tales of an Almost Runaway
I was very young when I first wanted to run away. When I was two or three, my mom bought me a black raspberry ice cream cone at Friendly’s while she chatted with one of her friends for lunch. The ice cream was delicious and the prettiest color of purple I had seen. I joyfully […]
Venice, Tainted
A few years ago, Chris and I took our first overseas trip to Italy. I prepared for months for it – not only did I learn some basic Italian, I learned about their culture so I knew what to expect and how to be respectful. Mealtimes in Italy are a different experience than in the […]
A Ghost in the Corporate Machine
I stared at the tiny little pill of salvation in my hand. My 70-hour-a-week job had me exceptionally stressed out to the point where it kept me up at night. I needed something other than a stiff drink to help me get some sleep so I could at least get 6 hours of sleep in […]
Up In Liquid Smoke
[Note: This is a revamp of a post on my old blog, and contains the lamest graphic on my site. Warning: I curse! Surprise, I know.] Do you think there is anyone out there who really enjoys Valentine’s Day? Just about everyone I know laments the day. As an adult, if you are alone, […]