I haven’t stayed out all night in forever. In fact, I can’t recall the last time I stayed out all night. This says a lot about my social life. I get so tired by the end of the day and…
Reading To Kill a Mockingbird
My least favorite book is probably Lord of the Flies. An English schoolmaster wrote it in 1951. Since its publication, it has sold tens of millions of copies and been translated into more than 30 languages. Many call it a…
Cancer runs in my family
Cancer runs in my family. My mother’s great grandmother died of stomach cancer, my mother’s mother died of multiple myeloma, my father’s mother died from colon cancer, my father’s grandmother died of colon and liver cancer, my father’s sister had…
My parents are getting older and it’s hard
My parents are getting older. It’s hard to watch them walk more slowly, close their eyes when they try to think, or forget things I told them just minutes ago. Aging. We all do it. However, I’ve never been able…
I love bears and Yellowstone National Park
I love bears. I’m not sure why, but I just do. Years ago, the summer after I was married, my then husband and I drove the Alaskan Highway to work for his fishing guide business in Alaska. Although I knew…
Mentoring in tech
I love mentoring in tech. Last month, I became an industry mentor with SheTech and had the opportunity to mentor a group of 9 girls who attended SheTech Explorer Day. This hands-on conference teaches high school girls new skills in…
Dying to make funeral plans
Today, I died. Well, okay. I didn’t actually die in real life. I died in my mind. You see, when I made my List of 50 Things Before I Turn 50, I added “Plan my funeral” as number 16. It’s…
Splurge on something extravagant
I was raised with the mantra: “Use it up, wear it out, make it do, or do without.” I recently learned that this phrase was coined by the War Advertising Council during World War II. It was created to help…
Making freshly squeezed orange juice
A lot of people drink orange juice every day but don’t ever think about how juicing oranges ever got started. Admittedly, I’ve never thought much about it myself. With a little research, I learned that oranges were first juiced in…
Time is almost up
I turned 51 today. How’s that possible? I don’t look a day over 30—or at least that’s what I tell myself. I’m now officially over the hill. Since I’m nearing the end of my 50 Things Before I Turn 50…
