This year I started a secret society. OK, so it's not so secret. It's the Not So Secret Sushi Society. We go out for sushi, preferably of the all-you-can-eat variety, but if not, very good sushi.  ..read more

On Tuesday, I had an infusion in the morning, brought Onyx to an appointment, went to the gorcery store to pick up a few necessities that turned into not just a few necessities, and then had a neurology appointment in the afternoon that took twice as long as it should have. I spent the day in extreme pain and received a devastating diagnosis. And it was Eris' nineteenth birthday. I've spent this past year feeling like I'm playing catch-up and never quite catching up, and Tuesday was no different. I felt horrible that I felt horrible on Eris' special day. Onyx and I had bought ice cream for ce ..read more

  Lately I've found myself taking the time to snap a photo or twelve of the tiniest of friends that cross my path. I'm fascinated with the beauty and detail in these minute creatures.  I've also found myself appreciating the small, beautiful moments that cross my path each day - a text from one of my kids checking in on me; laughing with my mom over something ridiculous one of us said or did; listening to my kids spend time with each other, sharing their passions;  chilly mornings that require a sweater; car sing alongs; the first bite of a greatly anticipated meal ..read more

It's been too long.  I greatly miss writing. It's been a challenge lately to eke out the time and gather enough mental and emotional energy to sit and write anything. My life is so full of family obligations and adventures that when I finally have a moment to myself, I'm exhausted and in pain and just want to watch Christmas movies or listen to a book and transport my mind elsewhere. Or take an accidental nap. Having contemplated writing out what I did just one day this week, I became too exhausted just thinking about it to actually do it. Let's just say that from the time I get up in ..read more

I have to say that, before I actually experienced getting my head tattooed, I was sure the concept of having a head tattoo was much more pleasant than actually getting the tattoo itself. Surprisingly, I found it quite relaxing and look forward to adding to it and getting color! Even more than the tattoo, I feel incredibly blessed to have been able to spend time with my "other" son - the one who has an amazing mom and wonderful familly of his own, but with whom I share a special bond. He calls me his "other mom" and his actual mom knows she can count on me to make the two-ish hour journey t ..read more

One of my children turns 24 today. They were kind enough to be born in 2000, mak ing their birthday math rather easy. Not that they need easy math, considering they loved to play the "mystery number game" in the car as a very young child...as in, the mystery number times 2 plus 4 equals 16 - what is the mystery number? Over the past year, I've gotten to hear Friendly Adventures and Goodwill Tales. Mal and I have made random escapes from home and housework to have good food and fun together.  We've had secret sushi (shhhh...don't tell anyone) and thrifting adventures.  ..read more

Had I thought of it, I would've gotten Austen things made with teeth for their twenty-tooth birthday. Instead, I got them things they asked for, sorta (a "ticket" to an event they sent me a link to as a birthday gift idea, but that hapened last year, a Five Below version of a Lego set they want)  things they didn't not ask for (vouchers good for a trip to a reptile zoo, a thrift store adventure, and a future trip to a curiosities shop opening this Summer); and a ticket to Hell (yes, Sam, I know it's the underworld or whatever, but that doesn't sound as good, and I didn't want to just put ..read more

It's Onyx's 16th birthday. I wrote this long post about the past year and all the amazing things about Onyx and when I went to add photos the entire post disappeared.   During the picture retrieving process I realized how few photos I have of just Onyx. They are always spending time with one person or another.   Onyx's chosen birthday activity was a road trip with and I to VT where we spent their birthday visiting one of my bonus kids and getting a tattoo. It's difficult to believe my youngest is 16! After a couple really rough years, I hope 16 goes ..read more

  Today I became a mom to a sixth "child" (legally, that is) through adoption.  234 days ago I met Zayla at a Pride event. Somehow I knew she would be a significant part of my life from my first interaction with her.  There was a connection.  And then she joined us for Austen's 21st birthday at the Renaissance Faire.  And then she moved in. And long story short, she's a significant part of our lives, so much so that we asked her to be a permanent part of our family on Thanksgiving Day 2023. So here we are...Adoption Day began with getting ready...then cinnamon rolls ..read more

  I guess it's true when they say you need to be careful what you ask for.  On my list of fifty things is "spend more one on one time with Mom." By this, I did not mean it to involve my Dad being in the hospital for several days. Or rearranging my life and missing my kids and ... and ... and... But you know, the rearranging is working out and the kids are mostly adults and can live without their mother for a little while (it's the house that I'm most concerned about). But timing is everything and there are medical appointments to be rearranged or changed to telehealth, and mere day ..read more