The Tale of Santa Pirate

It was a chilly morning in December of 2010 and I was still happily in bed as my then-fiancé was getting ready for work. Back then, he usually left before me and tried his best not to wake me up, but this day was different. I was vaguely aware that he had left, but then I heard him come back inside. “Hey babe?” he called from the living...

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Hired Pen

So, I technically maintained my “blog every day” commitment for NaBloPoMo, but I didn’t write for my own site. I submitted 2 pieces to a friend’s blog recently. The first was a review of the Zelda symphony at the NJPAC and the second was a review of a local comic convention. I really enjoyed writing about the comic expo because I also submitted...

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The Little Things

Nov. 18: What's the dumbest thing you and a partner have ever fought about? We don’t have a lot of arguments and when I look back on times we have fought, I don’t clearly remember what triggered it all. I guess that’s a good thing, the battles that have stuck with me were fairly serious issues or the general growing pains of a long-term relationship. We do have these funny moments like the following: *unloading groceries* Me:...

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Cats and Cash

Nov. 17: What is the hardest lesson you’ve learned from having pets? I know today’s prompt asked for only one, but I feel like these two lessons are tied together. 1.  They are expensive I know owning a pet can be very rewarding, but I become frustrated when I see friends who are struggling financially that get dogs or cats. It may...

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Dammit Dexter!

Nov. 16: What TV series finale are you still upset about and why? You may have noted in an earlier TV themed post where I mentioned that I had given up watching Dexter while the show was still a few seasons out. I initially loved Dexter, it was incredibly well-done and entertaining. (Side note: this show got me obsessed with my French...

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NaBloPoMo Day 15: Just say "No" to canned cranberry sauce

Nov. 15: What are the best/worst dishes at Thanksgiving dinner? Why is this even a question?  Anyone who knows me, knows that there are two things I loathe more than anything in the world and they both come from cans. The first in tuna fish (have you smelled that stuff?) and the second is cranberry sauce. Even as a kid, I could not...

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NaBloPoMo Day 14: How to be me in 4 easy steps

November 14: What was it like to be me in 2016? How to be 2016 Me in Four Easy Steps 1.  You are in your car Now, imagine that you are always in your car. That was me this year. I bought a new car in April and it already has 17,000+ miles on it. Because of a bridge construction project that was halted back in July (thanks Gov....

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NaBloPoMo Day 13: Calling it out

There has been a noticeable spike in ugliness lately. Either that or my awareness of it has tipped past the point of no return. It doesn't really matter which it is, I just know that I can't stand by. I'm not going to post a Facebook status, sign a petition, or wear a safety pin. What I am going to do is call shit out when I see it. Someone made a remark about a certain train line that picks up at a heavily Indian town as the...

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NaBloPoMo Day 12: Wonder Years

My husband is binging on the Wonder Years. I did not like this show as a kid, like….not at all. My parents loved it, it transported them back to their youth the way Stranger Things does for me I suppose. I don’t think I disliked it because I couldn’t connect with the time period or themes, but something about it made me feel unwell when...

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NaBloPoMo Day 11: Five Things I've Learned Through Marriage (and birds don't fart)

Nov. 11: What are five funny (but real) things your current relationship has taught you? 1.  That two people don’t have to be the same brand of weird to work.  True love. I like Star Wars, he watches pro-wrestling. I read comic books, he follows the New York Knicks. I was a goth girl, he rocked Timbs and loose pants. We...

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NaBloPoMo Day 10: Prom

Nov. 10: Did you celebrate or commemorate your divorce or a significant breakup? Would you ever? I have never been divorced, but I have watched my friends go through the process and it does NOT look easy. I think every single person who finalizes their divorce deserves a party. Divorce is no picnic y’all. I have never celebrated a...

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NaBloPoMo Day 9: What I would say to Hillary

Nov. 9: What do you want to say to Hillary Clinton today? I would say: I see you You are qualified for the job You are experienced You dedicated your life to the game of politics But, you are a woman And to our country… Even an unqualified man is more desirable Than a woman’s pantsuit hanging in the White House...

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NaBloPoMo Day 8: Butterfly Effect

Nov. 8: If you could redo one moment in your life, what would it be and why? How would it change who you are now?  There are so many moments I would happily relive: that time we all swam in the lake as kids, Christmas at my great-grandma’s, my wedding day, the birth of my daughter (as a spectator, because eff that c-section shit),...

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NaBloPoMo Day 7: Fakesgiving

Nov. 7: What was your worst Thanksgiving food fail? I’m in that weird in-between stage in which I am a parent, but both of our families still expect us to come over for Thanksgiving. I’m actually looking forward to the days when I don’t have to go anywhere, but I’m not So, I don’t really cook any food for Thanksgiving, we are usually...

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NaBloPoMo Day 6: All Pumpkin Err'thing

I can't even pretend like I care that my love of the Fall and all things pumpkin can earn me the label of "basic". My penchant for pumpkin: beer, pie, pancakes, muffins, bread, and candles isn't hurting anyone. Honestly, if loving these things is wrong, I don't want to be right. I know Pumpkin Spice Latte season started prematurely...

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NaBloPoMo Day 5: Crazy Cat Lady

We came home from our first family vacation and did the logical thing like anyone would do and adopted two cats. Because life just wasn't crazy enough. The local shelter was so thrilled, they gave us a BOGO and we only paid one adoption fee. Both cats came from hoarding situations, Lizzie lived with 234 other cats (I know, right?!) and...

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NaBloPoMo Day 4: To TV or Not to TV

Nov. 4: Which fall shows should totally be canceled already? I don’t watch much TV these days, although the amount of options available to me is a bit overwhelming. The Mister and I can only commit to so many shows while working full-time and raising our toddler. When she is near the TV, we try to keep it on Sesame Street (I really love...

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That Time I Flew a Helicopter

Nov. 2: When was the last time you did something brave? What happened? I am not sure if this falls under “brave”, “adventurous”, or “just plain reckless”, but I saw a Groupon for a helicopter flight lesson and said, “Happy birthday to me”. I don’t know what came over me, I read the description and just thought, “yes”.  I had been...

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NaBloPoMo Day 1

Nov. 1: When you're having a bad day with your mental health, what do you do to help yourself? I am in a place with my life where I don’t have a lot of options when I am feeling this way. My toddler depends on me, my husband depends on me, my job and my employees also depend on me. I am often told, “I don’t know how you do it”. My response...

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I'm a Little Scared of NaBloPoMo

100% not what my workspace looks like Image via Pixabay I don't know about you, but it takes me a long time to get a blog post together that I'm actually happy with. I always have a running list of ideas for things I want to write about, but the actual creation of it is another story. Here's a little bit of my process: Brainstorming I...

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Burned by Books

I lead a very busy life that involves a fairly lengthy commute to my job. To minimize the chances of me getting out of my car and assaulting another motorist (no really, my commute is that bad) I picked up the habit of listening to podcasts and audiobooks. The podcasts have been overall pretty engaging, but sometimes I just don’t feel like...

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