What’s an In-Debt, Paycheck to Paycheck Mama To Do?

Posted on February 8, 2012 by admin

I’ve already exceeded my grocery budget and it’s only the fifth of the month. Seriously, I don’t think my grocery budget should count if it’s a Costco month.

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Posted in life, Uncategorized, women's issues | 2 Comments

Global Gatherings

Posted on January 31, 2012 by admin

Back when I home-schooled my children, I had to think up ways to facilitate the natural curiosity that children have – the kind that often gets swallowed up by video games and Nickelodeon. At least it did in my house. One way I did this was with Global Gatherings.

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Posted in creativity, homeschooling, parenting, unschooling | Leave a comment

My House is Me

Posted on January 22, 2012 by admin

Let me talk about my house.

 

The kitchen feels like my mom. I want to sit at this table – that my grandfather made – and drink the coffee that my mom got up so early in the morning to drink, before the rest of the house awoke.
Posted in a study in awareness, life, Uncategorized | Leave a comment

South Asian Challenge 2012 — Because

Posted on December 17, 2011 by admin

Ok.
Because I don’t have anything better to do (Ha ha ha,) I’m signing up for this challenge.
And.
I will read … 8 books this year either about South Asia, or written by a South Asian person.
In addition to all my other reading pursuits.
Because …

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The Secret Lesson of Books and Grief

Posted on October 27, 2011 by admin

Strange.
Emotional spilling over.

While reading a book, I move from one scene to the next — one sentence to the next — and start to cry. With no hint of a reason why.

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Posted in grief, parenting, reading, women's issues | 2 Comments

Book “Mid”view

Posted on October 9, 2011 by admin
I can’t help it.
I’m not finished with this book, but I have to talk about it anyway.
So it’s not a book REview, nor a book PREview.It’s a book MIDview.I love this book because … she writes like I think. Short, staccato sentences. Verbs. Blurting. Metaphors bleeding.
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Posted in book review, creativity, writing | 2 Comments

Invisible Special Needs

Posted on August 25, 2011 by admin

So I just spent THREE hours reading blogs written by mom’s with kids with Asperger’s or Autism, and websites that touted the iPad as a great resource for these kids. Apparently there is a butt-load of apps specifically designed for kids on the autistic spectrum. Who knew?

Now, I don’t actually *have* an iPad, but my ex does. I just sent him an email with a few links to apps that might be helpful to our son.

What’s gotten me on this special needs kick all of a sudden? A number of things. Some silly. Some profound.   Continue reading →

Posted in "different" needs child, life, parenting, women's issues | 1 Comment

Time Suck

Posted on August 17, 2011 by admin

I have a friend who has been unplugged for a month now. A noble gesture for sure, but one I’m unwilling to emulate. I don’t have cable, so I don’t watch TV, but I am a movie junkie and definitely use my $15/month at Netflix. I’m also on the internet a lot. Continue reading →

Posted in life, reading, writing | 1 Comment

Soooo Many Books To Read

Posted on August 7, 2011 by admin

A surprising, or not so surprising, by-product of attending writers conferences, is the books you end up buying that you weren’t planning on. I came home with four more (not counting the review copy of Tasting Rain that was waiting in the mail box upon my return) books than I left with.

I justified them all.

Duh. Continue reading →

Posted in book review, reading, writing | 1 Comment

Failed Book Review

Posted on July 31, 2011 by admin

I have failed.

I did not complete this book.

Finishing books I’ve started has always been an unwritten law for me. If I start one, I have to finish it.
It’s only been recent (in the last five years or so) that I’ve allowed myself to not finish a book. I had conceded that my time was precious and that if I was not riveted to what I was reading … it was OK to stop.


So, I didn’t complete “Desperately Seeking Paradise.” I purchased it at that great Mecca of booksellers: Powell’s City of Books with the understanding that it was a memoir. What originally sold me on it was the quote on the back by James Buchan of the Guardian. He said, “Desperately Seeking Paradise draws on an old Muslim literary tradition in which a man sets out from home and friends, ostensibly to make his pilgrimage to Mecca, but really to indulge his spiritual restlessness … add some British-Indian blokery and some slapstick, and you will have some idea of the scope and charm of Desperately Seeking Paradise. Interspersed through these adventures are meditations on episodes in Islamic history and other political and religious movements.”

A memoir, right? Continue reading →

Posted in book review | 2 Comments