Category Archives: Personal

Y is for yardwork

Posted on April 29, 2011 by Erin

It’s April, which means everything is in bloom. Magnolias scatter their petals in the streets. Dogwoods are opening, their buds still looking dry and brittle. Tulips, hyacinths, and daffodils flourish in beds and around mailboxes. My new hellebores have their … Continue reading →

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V is for violets and volunteers

Posted on April 26, 2011 by Erin

Volunteers, in this case, referring to plants that grow somewhere without being planted there. As, for example, the dogwood sapling in our front flower bed that I need to decide whether to transplant or leave where it is. It can … Continue reading →

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U is for unfinished work

Posted on April 25, 2011 by Erin

The down side of starting new ideas is that I’m not always done with old ones. It’s not just writing, either. Yes, I have what would be piles of uncompleted stories (short stories, novels, whatever) if they were printed out. … Continue reading →

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T is for tea and tetsubin

Posted on April 23, 2011 by Erin

Tea is, as I think I’ve mentioned, my favorite drink, the default that keeps me going through the day. I drink black tea in the morning, black decaf tea in the afternoon, green tea when I feel like it, and … Continue reading →

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R is for results

Posted on April 21, 2011 by Erin

Results are the outcome of everything that we do. I follow a training program for running, I get results: I can run farther, and my thighs start slimming down. I spend hours writing instead of frittering away time on the … Continue reading →

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P is for perseverance

Posted on April 19, 2011 by Erin

Otherwise known as, why quit when you’re behind? No, really. If you haven’t reached your goal yet, and you quit, you’ll never reach it. Perseverance is the art of creating a goal and focusing on it — either on the … Continue reading →

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N is also for No Excuses

Posted on April 16, 2011 by Erin

You didn’t think I’d forget my mantra, did you? What am I not making excuses for now? Running — I’m two-thirds of the way through the Couch-to-5k running plan, and I’m contemplating entering a 5k race on May 7. Paperwork … Continue reading →

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N is for nectarines, Netflix, and Nutella

Posted on April 16, 2011 by Erin

Just because I like them all. Nectarines. The fruit that most means summer to me, juice dripping down my chin, and none of that fuzziness that can be so irritating with a peach. Netflix. Wonderful service if you’ve got kids. … Continue reading →

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J is for juggling

Posted on April 12, 2011 by Erin

When people think of balance, they often think of a static situation — a pair of scales, equal weights on both sides. Dynamic balance — the kind you need to ride a bike or walk on a tightrope — isn’t … Continue reading →

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I is for IRS

Posted on April 11, 2011 by Erin

Ah, spring! When a young woman’s thoughts turn lightly to thoughts of piles of receipts and forms to fill out to convince the government that yes, we really did pay our share of the government’s expenses last year. Okay, maybe … Continue reading →

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