It was a day of needles and bandages.  Finn had his 16 month checkup, shots included: And I used that anniversary gift certificate: Watching him get three shots was so much more painful than sitting under the tattoo needle for thirty minutes.  He’s worth it. If you’re looking for a good tattoo artist, Jason at Blackbird studios on 12th South is your man.  He did both of my wrist tattoos, and I love them ... Read More

First of all, I have some of the most amazing clients, and two of them, Gail and Bill, a married couple, always bring books with them because Gail works for a distributer.  Lucky me.  Look what they brought last week: Can you believe how perfect that is?  Especially since Finn really is just starting to throw the occasional fit or twenty.  Actually, so far, he’s been a gem. . .we are keeping our fingers crossed.  I love the illustrations in this book.  It was really such a great surprise. Today, we went to the zoo.  We went ... Read More

My dad has become an amazing photographer, and his favorite subject is F.  I try to avoid being one of those Moms who over-shares about their kids, but I had to put these photos up.  It’s too much cuteness for me to ... Read More

Yesterday was R and my (grammar?) five year anniversary.  It’s the longest I’ve been with anyone, and quite an achievement!  In all honesty, I think the fact that he makes me laugh is our saving grace.  Lord knows that living with someone who knows all of your faults and insecurities, thrown in with the sleep deprivation of raising a child does not make romance an easy thing.  Laughter covers tears, and sometimes simultaneously heals them. I’ve been talking about getting a fourth tattoo, something to represent my son.  I ... Read More

Yesterday and today are completely funkified.  I’m a pathetic wreck, waiting while the novel is out on submission.  I’ve chewed my nails into oblivion: I desperately need a pedicure. but have spa social phobia, too many language barriers. I totally need to clean my house, but feel too overwhelmed, and don’t even know where to start: I just keep rotating clean and dirty clothes from the piles, and stepping over all the kid crap in our living room. Yesterday, I went to Target, and waded through the college mafia in denim ... Read More

Sometimes I think my husband must be related to Larry David.  He questions everything, and constantly finds himself in crazy Seinfeld/Curb Your Enthusiasm situations.  Last week, one of his coworkers bought six cookies for the office.  The three of them each had one.  The next morning, when Rann went to get a cookie, there was only one left, and no one in the office confessed to eating any of them.  They realized that someone must have stolen their cookies!  Later that day, Rann’s boss bought another box of cookies.  Rann had to ... Read More

Today, my parents are having to put their longtime companion Meg to rest. She is the one on the right.  She has been a great friend and sister to me for fifteen years.  Death sucks.  All dogs go to heaven, no matter what anyone ... Read More

More than any other fiction author I’ve read thus far, Joshilyn Jackson talks about the stuff I care about most.  Her novels are full of complex characters searching to understand relationships, family, the past, and opportunities for a better future.  Her female cast is plucky and unpredictable—Steel Magnolias without the cliches, and sometimes with guns.  She has published four novels: Gods in Alabama, Between, Georgia, The Girl Who Stopped Swimming, and Backseat Saints; and she is working on her fifth, titled In Season. Her work ... Read More

I  had drinks with a girlfriend last night at ChaCha, and I wasn’t super hungry , so I ordered two light tapas.  Now, they are my two new favorite dishes in the world (at least the world as I know it SO FAR).  Make them quick, before tomatoes and watermelon are out of season. heirloom tomatoes with basil, bacon, and salt to taste: hello, addiction! watermelon with red pepper flakes and basil.  yep, that’s it, but it tastes ... Read More