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No Clock, No Problem
I have one of those cool sunrise/sunset alarm clocks, which I like very much except for the bright red numbers on the display which–despite being turned down to the lowest setting–have been screaming into my eyeballs all night every night for years. About two weeks ago I figured out how to turn the time display…
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On being miscast in the family
I ended up at the cabin for one night by myself last weekend. We happened to have two cars for 48 hours (long, boring story) and my husband wanted to take the kids to the local amusement park for the day on Saturday. “That’s fine,” I said. “I’ll go up to the cabin for the…
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The 1968 election
I took a break from stewing about cover letters yesterday so I could stress-eat pretzels and watch a soothing documentary about Robert Kennedy that I started ages ago and never finished. I watched President Lyndon B. Johnson’s announcement that he would not be running for president again. He surprised everyone by stepping aside at the…
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A Very Honest Cover Letter
Dear Employer: The only thing you really need to know about me is that I am very competent. Really, that’s it. I’m pretty sure I could do almost any job that doesn’t require a master’s degree as long as you’re willing to give me a couple weeks of training. Am I a good team member?…
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Childhood Camping Memories
Location: Unknown, maybe Mount AdamsDate: Unknown, but I was very little and I don’t think my brother was born yet so maybe 1987?I woke up in the tent in the middle of the night. It was raining and water was pouring in from one corner. My mom and dad were frantic, yelling at each other…
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How to gain confidence instantly!
I’ve been walking around for the last month feeling like I’ve lost weight. I only get weighed at the doctor so I can’t say for sure, but I’m pretty confident I have not lost any weight this year. I have been going to the gym, but not as frequently as I should. I have been…
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Chatty Chatty
The past couple weeks I’ve found myself getting annoyed with cashiers and baggers at the grocery store who are overly chatty with me. I am perfectly pleasant to them and engage in polite conversation if they initiate, but I’m not happy about it. This is notable because for the past year I’ve noticed that I…
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Overheard at the playground
I took the kids to a local destination playground yesterday. We call it Chutes & Ladders but that’s not its real name. I used to hate Chutes & Ladders. I lost my oldest there when he was maybe four years old, and he was missing long enough that I was considering calling the police. On…
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Sun Damage
I spent last week at the cabin slathering myself and my kids in sunscreen as if it was my job (it actually is). This time of year, I seem to read an article every week in which I am reminded that “there is no safe amount of sun exposure.” It is not, they tell me,…
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Week at the lake
We’re spending the week at our cabin in Wisconsin, our annual tradition. I’m pretty sure every other cabin owner in northwest Wisconsin does the same, at least judging from the number of watercraft on the lake and people in line at the local grocery store. This is our fourth summer owning this place. I remember…