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from Susan Narjala
Why a Trip to the DMV is Just What the Doctor Ordered
The DMV has been regularly cast as a black hole which sucks the prime years out of you. There are reports that they make you wait for so long the next day's stubble starts growing in (if you're a guy that is... generally speaking, of course).
But it behooves me to speak up for the department responsible ...
What I learned from a cooking class (that has nothing to do with food)
Recently, I signed up for a Thai cooking class hosted at a friend’s house. I needed a break from the routine, not to mention Thai takeout was taking out a sizeable chunk of our budget. So I figured, “Why not?”
Fifteen moms gathered at a friend’s place. More precisely, fifteen white moms being taught Thai cooking by ...
When you’re thankful for a root canal
This morning I got on the scales like I do every morning. And the blessed thing registered that I was two pounds heavier. For once, I didn't swear off chocolate, processed food and every calorie that ever lived for the rest of my life. I was just happy to be doing something routine.
The last few days have been boderline ...
Warning: Birthday Party Ahead
The things we do for our offspring.
Like last morning, I sloshed my way through an Oregon downpour for the sole purpose of buying a Hot Wheels track for the kid's friend's birthday party. It was after my workout - I was in my sweats, my eyeliner had streaked down my face and I smelled like a bouquet of ...
Mommy Marketing 101
"What's for dinner tonight?"
"Rice and chicken curry."
"Ooohhh nooo."
The sighs, pouts and slumped shoulders that accompany said conversation are Oscar worthy.
Drama comes a leetle too easy to some folk these days - especially when they're under four feet tall and their chief concerns in life revolve around ... nothing.
It seems that the more I labor over meals, the ...
What Happens in Vegas…
Stays in Vegas. And thank heavens for that.
Because for the last eight days the husband has been in the the sin city - for giant tech conference.
Yawn.
Yeah, I'd rather not hear the sordid details about the next best thing in security platform innovation. Umm... if that's even a thing.
Two things the man did apprise me of:
1) He earned his ...
Parenting Prayers for the New Year
Resolutions - we all know they last for about 21.5 days, if we're lucky.
After that, the manifesto to get off our derrières, devices and dependencies becomes a distant dream. (Yup, this blog is called Alliteration Alley for a reason ;))
We start the year shopping for Kale for our green Vitamix smoothies that are so going to revolutionize our lives. By the ...
11 Reasons Why Winter is Not All Woe
Brian Williams' puppy-dog eyebrows furrow further as as the mercury plunges. He announces the arrival of winter in apocalyptic, gloom-and-doom tones on the evening news. You'd think we're all stuck in a permanent Fargo.
Winter, I believe, has an unfairly bad rap.
Admittedly, I'm spoiled by living in a snow-shovel-free zone of the Pacific Northwest, so the list is ...
Making Space for Christ
It's been stuck in my head. Like a line from a song.
Oh, wait. It is a line from a song. One that probably topped the charts a little while ago.
It's a line from the beloved Christmas hymn, 'Joy to the World.'
It's a song of triumph and celebration. It lifts your spirit. And it's just so... joyful (yeah, super ...
MEET SUSAN
