Category Archives: Home Life

That Guy In The Boots

Posted on by

Last night, I attended yet another wonky civic meeting at the request of some neighbors who were struggling with powerful attorneys representing a major developer. This happens all the time, and is a classic David-vs-Goliath situation. As I was listening to those giving testimony, I was struck by…
Continue reading →

Firefighters & Pride

Posted on by

Some people who do not really know me may have been confused by yesterday’s post on this blog which may seem to indicate that I don’t care about Gay Pride or choose to recognize the struggles that led to the rights earned by gay people and ongoing challenges facing us.

While marching, parading, and celebrating is all well and good — albeit the weather very hot and humid — Spouse and I choose to do our own special form of recognition.

Yesterday while people were on Washington’s Front Lawn (the Mall) participating in the Equality March for Unity and Pride in exceptionally hot weather, Spouse and I went another direction…
Continue reading →

Challenging a Hypocrite (and Winning)

Posted on by

As I mentioned in my previous blog post, my 89 year-old mother-in-law lives by herself in a run-down socially and economically-challenged suburb of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. She is the last remaining original homeowner on her block since homes were built on that block in 1948. She has seen a lot of turnover and changes, and does not like it, but has to live with it if indeed she intends to remain in her home for the remainder of her life.

And now there is a thrice-divorced man who lives in the house next to her who has done things to make her life miserable, because…
Continue reading →

Being Prepared for Life’s Curveballs

Posted on by

Life has a funny way of taking unexpected turns, be they with health, finances, or relationships. Preparing for “life happens” (or sometimes euphemistically phrased “shit happens”) changes is not something most people do on a day-to-day basis. However, having back-ups and some flexibility can help roll with the changes that life brings along. My life is a good example.
Continue reading →

Finding Time To Relax

Posted on by

My twin brother has always referred to me as “Taz,” short for the Tasmanian Devil made famous in old Looney Tunes cartoons. I tend to be rushing around from here to there in my daily life’s activities with working full-time, volunteering in the community, serving on boards and committees and work groups. This week alone, I had four meetings after work. But on a very pleasant, dry, bug-free and meeting-free Wednesday evening, I took the Spouse into our back yard and …
Continue reading →

Occupied

Posted on by

I know the blogging has been off schedule… sorry loyal readers for such haphazarditiness. (I love to make up words that are not real words, but native speakers of English can figure them out.)

Since December, the Spouse has had an average of two doctor’s visits each week. He is not well. Not seriously sick, but not well. Ongoing visits to specialists, dentist, and related errands to the pharmacy, etc., occupy a …
Continue reading →

Spring-like Weather, But You’re Not Riding?

Posted on by

All last week, I was on the West Coast of the U.S., in cold, dreary, damp and icy weather. I was working very long hours, and due to the time difference, was waking at 2:30am local time, and not getting back to my hotel room until about 8:30pm each night. I was “running the show,” meaning that I was leading, facilitating, and speaking at meetings all day, every day.

While my flights to and from this over-green, over-yuppified and increasingly expensive city were uneventful, they were indeed quite packed. So it was no wonder that…
Continue reading →