Menopausal Mal

This is a Facebook post from my children's book writer cousin Jane (Yolen): This is for all of us who have had a rejection letter or three in the last year: John Creasy, the famous English writer, had 743 rejections before a publisher accepted one of his mystery novels. And then--le deluge. He ended... Sign in to see full entry.

Is anyone else out there confused about who's the male and who's the female in the Swifter commercials? Are the spurned dusters and brooms supposed to be the guys? Who had the bright idea to attach gender to cleaning products? These are the things I wonder about when I'm home-bound with streph... Sign in to see full entry.

I'm reading through my latest AARP Magazine, which is always inspiration for writing. This month, I learned that "Little Stevie Wonder" is not so little anymore. He turns 60 on May 24th. And Muskrat Sally/Muskrat Sam, Toni Tennille turns 70 on May 8th!! The Captain and Tennille will always be... Sign in to see full entry.

This was the scene at one of our city parks - Cove Island Park - yesterday. It was in the 60's, sunny and it seemed that the whole of Stamford, CT was out enjoying Good Friday. In the far distance, you can see the teeny-tiny specks of white -sailboats in Long Island Sound. In another month, those... Sign in to see full entry.

How To Write Good by Frank L. Visco My several years in the word game have learnt me several rules: Avoid alliteration. Always. Prepositions are not words to end sentences with. Avoid cliches like the plague. (They're old hat.) Employ the vernacular. Eschew ampersands & abbreviations, etc.... Sign in to see full entry.

Last night, roughly 40 kids came over to celebrate Jacob's 18th. When my youngest came home from 2 months in Israel - he was amazed to find a gift from our own Vogue on his desk - a team Ferrari jacket. Donning it immediately, it is now his FAVORITE article of clothing. A group of girls made good on... Sign in to see full entry.

Where has the time gone? Don't we all feel that way? Tomorrow, my "yittle boy" turns 18 (the big one is nearly 20), and I'm still 25. How did that happen? Does anyone else out there feel as young or younger than their kids? Sign in to see full entry.

Jacob came home this morning. He was in Israel for two months, "living out of a suitcase" and though he's glad to be back in his own room, with drawers to put his stuff into (theoretically. Though have you ever seen a teen who puts his clothes away? If so, take a picture and post it, because you've... Sign in to see full entry.

On his 77th birthday, Pete got a gift certificate from his wife Molly. The certificate paid for a visit to a medicine man living on a nearby reservation who was rumored to have a wonderful cure for erectile dysfunction. After being persuaded, he drove to the reservation, handed his ticket to the... Sign in to see full entry.

Coming home to a house without power can be tough. Four days later, our house remains dark and cold, but as I assess the devastation around town - trees, hundreds of feet high toppled onto roofs and cars, basketball hoop poles twisted like noodles, downed power lines - I count my blessings. And... Sign in to see full entry.