Yesterday was my youngest son’s 21st birthday, a milestone that came with no small sense of satisfaction. Parenting this kid, the family baby, had not been without its challenges. There had been numerous early miscarriages, (something I’ll forever attribute to the aggressively high radioactive iodine dose I received and my managed state of hyperthyroidism), before … Continue reading QPL XXI
Category: birthdays
Civitello’s for the win – and the rum cake!
Bakeries in the Capital Region have generally been a disappointment to me since I arrived in Albany in 1988. I recall being confounded that I could not find a source for Sunday morning powdered sugar dusted crumb cake or my beloved black and white cookies.* At the time, there were two bakeries within walking distance … Continue reading Civitello’s for the win – and the rum cake!
The sting of 59
After what was an absolutely fantastic birthday weekend, Monday morning came with an event decidedly less fun - my annual visit to the dermatologist. The appointment, at 7:30 a.m. after the mind blowing David Byrne show at Proctor’s the previous night, had been rescheduled to an earlier date from what had originally been booked. I … Continue reading The sting of 59
Two Weeks Notice
As I reclined on my mat in the dark yoga studio the other night, I realized that in two weeks, school would be back in session. How did that happen? This mid August epiphany is one that I’ve experienced dozens upon dozens of times, usually with the same takeaway - damn, summers certainly go by … Continue reading Two Weeks Notice
Chicago top 10
My (nearly) four days in Chicago went by in the blink of an eye! There was lots of walking, some lounging by the pool, a few historical sites and a couple of tremendous meals and a fair amount of silliness. It was a terrific getaway and I’m already looking for pet sits so I can … Continue reading Chicago top 10
Blowing into the Windy City
Even though I didn’t take a “big” trip this year, I do feel as if I’ve still gotten around a bit this summer with last month’s visits to the Cape and Northampton and concerts both north and south of home. It’s felt good, in spite of the paralyzing heat, to be home and spending time … Continue reading Blowing into the Windy City
Summer sweetness
Can we all agree that we’re having a real summer? It has been hot to an extreme that keeps my oven off and my desire to spend time in the kitchen low. When it’s 95° and humid, I’m simply not cooking. Salads, fruit and yogurt do the trick for me without my breaking a sweat. … Continue reading Summer sweetness






