How much is that doggie in the window?

I've been stressing about getting a puppy.  There were the usual considerations, of course.  When?  What type of puppy?  From where?  Added to my dilemma was the criticism I received from a number of my friends on Facebook. Apparently, wanting a dog from a breeder rather than rescuing a dog from a shelter makes me … Continue reading How much is that doggie in the window?

Time and $$ or Why I don’t fly out of Albany

My third-grader came home from school a few weeks back with a math project assignment.  My His task was to consider and solve a "real world” math problem.  We decided to use his math skills to create a budget for our summer trip to Florida, figuring out travel expenses, which parks to visit and where … Continue reading Time and $$ or Why I don’t fly out of Albany

The sweetest book – Survival Lessons by Alice Hoffman

This title arrived in a recent order and I immediately wanted to touch it, to pick it up and carry it.  It charmed with its cover alone and I borrowed it for the recent holiday break.  I carried it in my 48.5 lb luggage to New Orleans and back without cracking its spine, but yesterday, … Continue reading The sweetest book – Survival Lessons by Alice Hoffman

The Big Easy for little $

Planning for the recent girls' getaway began months ago.  The topic had been bandied about like a pair of traveling pants, each of the four of us adding her own particular curve to the project.  The criteria was simple: not too far, not too expensive, the simpler the transportation the better. When I came across … Continue reading The Big Easy for little $

The evolution of the girlfriend getaway

It started with a couple of stolen hours.  We'd pick a date that worked for all of us, crossing our fingers for no last-minute work emergencies, sick children or childcare cop outs.  Our rendezvous destination was generally somewhere in the middle - north for them, south for me. On the given day, as I put … Continue reading The evolution of the girlfriend getaway