2011 in review
The WordPress.com stats helper monkeys prepared a 2011 annual report for this blog. Here’s an excerpt: A San Francisco cable car holds 60 people. This blog was viewed about 3,300 times in 2011. If it were a cable car, it would take about 55 trips to carry that many people. Click here to see the … Read more
A New Year, A New Life
New Year’s Eve. A night for letting go of the past, hoping for the future and counting the many blessings in life. No year brought so many surprises for me as 2011. I embraced my role as a foster mom and all that entailed – foster parent classes, ceritifications in water safety, CPR and first-aid, professional … Read more
Merry Christmas, George Bailey! The Richest Man in Town
Nothing, I mean nothing, brings a tear faster to my eye than the hapless, deeply conflicted and vastly complicated George Bailey played by the affable James Stewart in “It’s a Wonderful Life.” Each year, hubs holds my Christmas movie obsession at bay as long as possible. It’s not that he doesn’t love Christmas or all … Read more
Congratulations! It’s a Type A… (SPOILER ALERT)
After trying to conceive for four years and deciding to go the foster parent route, the response to our news of expecting (unexpectedly) has been touching, personal and highly emotional. Even guy friends sent me emails and direct messages through Twitter telling me in their own way they shared in our joy. Let’s face it: … Read more
Dobby the Wonderdog, Truck Stop Coffee and Other Roadtrip Ruminations
At about three hours into our road trip to Houston from San Diego for a week of Thanksgiving eating, I finally decided to reach down for my neglected pile of public relations trade magazines. Somehow, I wasn’t months behind in my reading, but I don’t imagine I gave the articles nearly the same attention as … Read more
Thank You for Your Business: What Holiday Gifts Say To Clients
Thank you for your business. Such a simple sentiment, but so necessary to business survival. So it can be especially tough to express in a holiday gift. Last year, I showered my burgeoning client list with homemade gift baskets filled with cardamom pear jam, rosemary-garlic infused olive oil, sugar cookies, chocolate truffles and of course, … Read more
Expecting the Unexpected
Just a week after our Angels Foster Family Network classes concluded, Brian found out he finally made Chief Petty Officer after 14 years of service. It’s an exciting and highly honorable distinction among enlisted sailors, but the time requirements during induction ate up his clock from 4 a.m. sometimes until midnight or later. Reluctantly, I … Read more
Baby Steps…
After a few months of wrestling with the idea of open adoption, we reluctantly decided it could not be afforded right now. I sent an email to my friend, Mindy, who recommended the Adoption Center of San Diego and told her about our decision. “I understand,” she wrote back. “But there are other ways. There’s … Read more
“No One Will Understand What You’re Going Through”
Angels Foster Family Network classes really take you on an emotional ride. One session, we talked about our first experiences with grief and loss. Thankfully, I was the last one to talk and I breezed through the suicide of the brother’s friend quickly because everyone was drained. In another session, we talked about actual foster … Read more
