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Category Archives: My Life
Christmas Crafts, Part 1
Back by popular demand: my Christmas story, in three parts, which first appeared here in December 2011. It’s been updated a bit, but mostly it’s the same story that made readers laugh until they cried. Go on, read it again…. … Continue reading
Posted in My Life
Tagged Change, Creativity, Department 56, Divorce, Family, Grandpa Jack, Holidays, Letting Go, North Pole Village, Unplanned Life
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One Special Child
In honor of Thanksgiving, I thought I’d post a poem on gratitude from my chapbook, Across An Aqueous Moon: Travels in Autism, forthcoming from Finishing Line Press in 2016. And yes, I’m terrifically grateful that FLP accepted my manuscript—even if … Continue reading
The Downside of Facebook
Some days I scroll through my news feed on Facebook and see countless photos of my smiling friends and their cheerful, well-adjusted, successful children. (Of course, appearances may be deceiving, but still, it all looks good in the photo.) I … Continue reading
Posted in Autism, My Life
Tagged Acceptance, Autism, Facebook, Gratitude, Milestones, Single Parent, Special Needs, Unplanned Life
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Artwork for Across An Aqueous Moon: Travels in Autism
My multi-talented boyfriend, Nathan McKenna, has created some amazing artwork for the cover of my forthcoming poetry collection, Across An Aqueous Moon: Travels in Autism. The original plan was to use some of my daughter’s artwork on the cover. Katie’s … Continue reading
Posted in Autism, My Life, News, Publications
Tagged Across An Aqueous Moon: Travels in Autism, Poetry, Writing Life
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Reflections on the Oh-So-Sexy Minivan
Lately I’ve been thinking about old school transportation. Perhaps because I recently had some service done on my oh-so-sexy Toyota minivan, which lead to new brakes, which lead to the discovery of a leak in the rack and pinion system … Continue reading
Good News, Bad News, Part 2
So the good news is that my right thumb is fully operational again. The bad news is that while I was focused on my thumb, I gained back the weight I’d previously lost. Since I wrote my last post, I’ve … Continue reading
Posted in My Life
Tagged Backsliding, Balance, Diet, Exercise, Food, Kringle, Self-Care, Single Parent, Special Needs, Unplanned Life, Weight Gain, Weight Loss
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“Waiting For Words” Featured at the Museum of Motherhood
My story, Waiting for Words, is being featured for the next two weeks with the art of Sarah Nicholls as part of an ekphrastic project called M.A.M.A. (mothers are making art). You can see it here. A list of all the featured … Continue reading
Good News, Bad News, Part 1
Here’s the good news: my right thumb, which was struck with a mysterious but nasty infection last December, has fully recovered. After six months of physical therapy (following two months of antibiotics and bleach soaks), I can write with a … Continue reading
Posted in My Life
Tagged 50th Birthday, Change, Denial, Detours, Setbacks, Thumb Infection, Unplanned Life, Wedding, Weight Gain, Weight Loss, Yoga
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Poetry Manuscript Accepted for Publication
I am thrilled to announce that my chapbook manuscript, entitled Across An Aqueous Moon: Travels in Autism, has been accepted for publication! After a long, hot summer filled with plenty of rejections, Finishing Line Press sent me an email last … Continue reading
Posted in Autism, My Life, News, Publications
Tagged Autism, Creativity, Gratitude, Manuscript, Memoir, Milestones, Poetry, Unplanned Life, Writing Life
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A Sensory Dilemma
My daughter’s sensory system is amiss. Or rather, it’s more amiss than usual. Let me explain. Due to her sensory integration issues, on any given day, Katie requires a tremendous amount of vestibular and proprioceptive input in order to regulate … Continue reading
Posted in Autism, My Life
Tagged Alameda County Fair, Amusement Parks, Autism, Beach Boardwalk, Change, Discovery Kingdom, Marine World, Occupational Therapy, Proprioceptive Input, Santa Cruz, Sensory Integration, Sensory Needs, Six Flags, Special Needs, Swing, Tilt-a-Whirl, Unplanned Life, Vestibular Input
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