If you could permanently ban a word from general usage, which one would it be? Why? Hi, word troll here. A ban on words? Yikes. “It was a pleasure to burn.” That’s my favorite opening line of any of the books I’ve read, and the book itself is really good. Google it. Read it. Then … Continue reading Really? →

When are you most happy? I woke up this morning with a familiar feeling of contentment. When I was a teenager, aside from the typical tug of war with my parents over my growing need for freedom, I was happy. Waking up on a Saturday morning was invigorating. The day brimmed with potential. On crisp … Continue reading Today and lots of Saturdays →

Tell us one thing you hope people say about you. My life experiences have lead to the moment soon approaching when I will have to demonstrate great resolve without emotions clouding my view and polluting my words. I have endured by the grace of God. But now, having been given a precious jewel, I have … Continue reading The irony… →

If you didn't need sleep, what would you do with all the extra time? In fact, I didn’t sleep. I’ve been awake since 3 am, and now I have to go to work. Boy, this is an easy one. I’d totally go back to bed.

Name your top three pet peeves. 1) when people misuse reflexive pronouns 2) when people mispronounce realtor 3) that I’m okay with the evolution of language as long as reflexive pronouns aren’t tampered with and extra vowels aren’t shoved into places they don’t belong Bonus) that bad grammar irks me when I’m not qualified to … Continue reading I’m peeved →

What's your favorite month of the year? Why? I like the middles of things. Middle of the cake, middle of the day, middle of the night when time disappears halfway between sundown Saturday and sunup Sunday—the black hole between last week and next when the world sleeps. It’s the things between the things I like … Continue reading July →

How much would you pay to go to the moon? What a drab, barren place the moon must be. Cold and grey. Black skies. I’ve always wanted to visit the salt flats and the tundra and look out onto the vast emptiness. I would pay money to see Mongolia or Siberia and ride a horse … Continue reading How much would I pay to stay on Earth? →

What alternative career paths have you considered or are interested in? I could have been a legendary rockstar. I suppose I still could be, but I very much like being a figurative one in my current career.

When was the first time you really felt like a grown up (if ever)? It’s not to say that I haven’t tried to grow up, because I have on several occasions. The best I can do is pretend, and I’m super good at pretending. There is only so far I can go with it, though. … Continue reading L O L →

What was the hardest personal goal you've set for yourself? Lately I’ve been acutely aware of my timeline: where I’ve been and where I’m headed. The frame is so small when I step back far enough to look at the span of my life. Small and sparse. I thought I’d be more accomplished by now, … Continue reading Ball of Confusion →

Your life without a computer: what does it look like? My childhood. It was pretty great.

What details of your life could you pay more attention to? I work too much. But I have to do a good job to earn my pay (and, let’s be honest, their respect). I had a dream two nights ago that I walked into the home I grew up in. The floors were torn out … Continue reading La familia →

What aspects of your cultural heritage are you most proud of or interested in? My dad is into genealogy, so I know a LOT about my lineage. Interesting stories, mostly, and all the famous people that all of everyone is also related to. His work has opened my eyes to how connected we actually are. … Continue reading Which part? →

What could you do more of? Sleep. Always sleep.

What's the best piece of advice you've ever received? I have two. One that I never share (okay, once I did), and one that I don’t like that isn’t really advice but a fact. Oh, and a third that I do like. 1) The one I never share that is golden: Bad teachers don’t know … Continue reading devour thrice; three times devour →

What things give you energy? Iced green tea from Starbucks. Joy Jumping out of airplanes Protein Lifting weights Certain people A good day Mitochondria 80s pop … (and JT, shhh)

Share a lesson you wish you had learned earlier in life. I have to learn everything the hard way. There wasn’t room for all the stuff I wish I knew before adulthood (or 50).

Do you see yourself as a leader? This is such a serious prompt, but I’m inclined to answer because I feel like writing. I do not, nor have I ever seen myself as a leader. I certainly never wanted to be one. I’ve always fancied myself a fly on the wall. But then I step … Continue reading am not…are too… →

What's your favorite word? Kerfuffle instantly came to mind, which is odd since I neither use the word nor ever think of using it. When I was young, I liked the way the word “Ledbetter” sounds. It’s not really a word but a name, except it is the name of a street, which is where … Continue reading All the words. I hoard them like a troll. →

What are you doing this evening? Tonight I am eating leftover cake, which i bought on the way home from work yesterday after a particularly difficult day. Yesterday’s cake was medicine. Today’s leftovers are simple joy. Today was good.

Why do you blog? Oh, well, I used to have the urge to write. Something in my core burned red-hot for it, but I seldom feel that way anymore. I like the community, though this go-round I haven’t connected with anyone. Just as well. I don’t write often enough to maintain that sort of thing. … Continue reading Why, indeed? →

Interview someone — a friend, another blogger, your mother, the mailman — and write a post based on their responses. She sauntered into the room as though she owned the place. In truth, she owned every room she entered. Her presence commanded attention. At this moment, I had the honor of sharing her space. She … Continue reading A Visit With Her Majesty →

What's your favorite time of day? Most of my life I have had a love affair with the late-day sun, watching it dance on the sheers with the shadows of the leaves against the window, following rays of light from one room to another to see how far the reflections go, and tracing speckles across … Continue reading a good 24 hours →

What’s the oldest thing you own that you still use daily? My brain. I could say any other part of my body, but sometimes I do nothing all day and make little to no use of my legs. I’ll go an entire weekend without muttering a word if I have the house to myself. I … Continue reading 1 am prompt →

If humans had taglines, what would yours be? I imagine my tagline would vary depending on the day, the time, and of course who is referencing me. I have been called Jessica Day, Leslie Knope, and on occasion batshit crazy. Once I got a mom award from people who aren’t my biological children. I’ve been … Continue reading It all adds up. →

Describe your dream chocolate bar. When I was a kid, there was a chocolate bar that had holes in it. They advertised it as being a chocolate bar that was like Swiss cheese. I guess it was Swiss chocolate? Seems dumb now, which is maybe why that bar doesn’t exist anymore (I haven’t seen it), … Continue reading Prompt at 2:07 am because I can’t fucking sleep →

Daily writing promptDo you remember your favorite book from childhood?View all responses My favorite book from childhood is Helen Keller. That isn't the actual name of the book, but it was something similar to it. Or maybe the name was completely different. Whatever the case, the book was an autobiography written, I think, by Anne … Continue reading June 6: day 6 + 1 hour, 32 minutes: can’t sleep →

Daily writing promptList three books that have had an impact on you. Why?View all responses Books that have the greatest impact on me do so mostly because of how they are written. How some authors play with words makes me feel more than their stories do. I can say these books or those books are … Continue reading June 6: day 6 + 2 minutes: The Authors, Particularly →