I have readers overseas. My cousin is one of them. She got a copy of My List, My Rules last year (tap the title to check it out), and this year while I was visiting, we chatted about it. She loved it—I’m glad. But she also asked a very interesting question that no one else... Continue Reading →
Look Up
I was leaving school. It had been a long day. There was a lot of cleanup and correcting to do in the art studio at this old school. The burden of my backpack reminded me I still had work to finish. I pushed open the door, having spent the entire day inside. A warm breeze... Continue Reading →
War Correspondence
I'm part of Postcrossing (https://www.postcrossing.com/), an online community for people who love sending and receiving postcards. It’s a small but meaningful way to make the world feel kinder, friendlier, and more connected. I joined while working on a personal goal list—it felt like the perfect fit for me: traveling, writing letters, and forming connections. I... Continue Reading →
The Good Ol’ Hockey Game
It's time to talk about hockey. After the Four Nations Tournament, Canada, Finland, Sweden, and the United States showcased the best that hockey has to offer. Most tournaments matter. But this particular tournament mattered A. LOT. Like, a lot---a lot. I've never gotten political on my blog, and I will avoid it this time; however,... Continue Reading →
Now That’s Exciting
In the washroom at school, over soapy hands, a colleague asked if I had any exciting plans for winter break—traveling anywhere, doing anything thrilling. "No. Nothing exciting. No. Not going anywhere." I watched the temperatures drop. Drop. Drop. And with them, my enthusiasm for anything beyond crawling into a warm, cozy cave with a hot... Continue Reading →
This Is Why I Wrote It
Near semester end a student told me she had an appointment and had to leave early. That was no problem. Later that afternoon she sent an email apologizing for mixing up the days. The next day in class she apologized again but was quite vague about where she had gone. Her lack of information made... Continue Reading →
The International Student House: A Memory
Because a portion of my creative being is a multimedia artist I am constantly collecting bits of paper, images, and other two-dimensional curios. These scraps float to the top of drawers and boxes, fall out of books and bags. Sometimes I'm completely surprised when a small piece of the past ends up right in front... Continue Reading →
Dining in the Dark
The Bar Willow offers a unique dining experience a few times a year. It's called Dining in the Dark. You may have heard of it. If you haven't it's exactly what the title says. You eat in the D A R K. Like I-can't-see my-hand-in-front-of-my-face dark. Cool? Yeah, man. Totally. Arriving I made a reservation.... Continue Reading →
Happy Birthday Girl
**I wrote a letter to five-year-old me because I felt like I should. Here it is. Dearest little one, So, you made it to 56! I know. I know. That seems so old little one. But I promise you it's not! Keep up all the good habits. I have so much to tell you so... Continue Reading →