Blog

Negative Nelly Tries To Turn A New Leaf

  It’s one of those days when you don’t feel all that hot and from the time you wake up, the entire world seems to get on your nerves. You’re getting the kids ready for school and there’s the note in a kid’s backpack that starts with the passive aggressive phrase “Just a friendly reminder…”…

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How To Make A Snow Day, According to Kindergarten and Second Grade

“Mrs. Basi!” yells Kindergarten Carpool child, upon leaping into the van after school. “Do you want to have a SNOW DAY tomorrow???!!!!” “No, I do not,” I reply. Undeterred, he shouts, “You have to put an ICE CUBE in the TOILET and let it melt! And then you flush it!” “Uh….okay.” Nicholas leaps into the…

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New Year, Not Exactly New Adventures

Well, I had all but decided to quit blogging as of January 1st. But I tossed off a quick post about Julianna and—gasp—a whole bunch of people read it. So I’m entering 2017 with a willingness to keep on keeping on, although I think I’m going to be more off-the-cuff than I have been in…

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In Which I Win “THE VOICE”: Van edition (and other Friday Funnies)

Michael, holding a paper back mouse with whiskers on one side: “I’m naming my mouse ABCMouse.com!” Me: “I’m definitely raising 21st century children.” Julianna, holding a baby doll: “Mom, my baby name, is, Dzustin…Bieber!” Me: speechless. Nicholas, at prayer time following an ice storm: “I pray for good roads and a lot of snow.” Me:…

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A Love Letter To My Choir

When Christian and I left our previous parish so I could I start working full-time as liturgy & music director in 2000, it was a tough transition. We had met, fallen in love, gotten engaged and married  within the arms of the music ensemble at Newman, and the idea of leaving for a place where…

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What An Ice “Storm” Reminded Me About Family

This past Friday, it rained some trace amount that couldn’t be measured, and my entire city went berserk. All weekend, the weather, the accidents, and how long it took to get home were the only topics of conversation. Hours. We spent hours talking about it. It caught everybody off guard. See, it was supposed to…

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Of Turkey Legs, Dancing Waters, And the Conflict In My Conscience

  I woke up in the middle of the night from a deeply disturbing dream about turkey legs. Not the kind of turkey leg you find on your Thanksgiving turkey, but those big honkers you get at carnivals and Renaissance fairs, deep fried. I’ve never had one, but for some reason the image of people…

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