Some people come into our lives and we immediately know why. Others are there for reasons we don’t yet know. The starring roles are the easiest to figure out. A best friend gets us through hard times, gives us a shoulder to lean on, an ear to bend…

On a day when children near and far rush to gather Easter eggs, proudly filling up their baskets with goodies and treats, I am reminded of how often I put my eggs into a single basket, as well. I feel like I’ve done it since birth. Better yet, I w…

The day was off to a good start, minus the splitting headache that greeted me as I opened my eyes. I managed to make a decent cup of coffee this morning — something I often mess up by over-creamering or over-sweetening, I had a little bit of time…

I don’t know what inspired it, but I took a walk down memory lane last night. I was remembering my 20s. They were odd, fun, dumb, strange, tiring, confusing and full of adventure. I was firmly rooted in the “old enough to know better, but young en…

Dense morning fog giving way to clouds, and an unseasonal, paralyzing cold front. Possible clearing in the afternoon, unless your name is Lauren, in which case the clouds will stick around through the evening. Bonus: a chance of drizzle. Clouds.Cl…

I swear it was broken. It reminded me of one of those heart-shaped necklaces that had been split in two, with one side reading “friends,” and the other reading “forever.” Only it was in the sky. And I couldn’t figure out why it was broken. There w…

One of the higher points of my day was getting a crown on one of my rear molars. That should tell you something. I took my 18th needle (above the shoulder, and since Valentine’s Day) this morning at the dentist, thanks to having cracked a tooth Go…

It’s easy to spot sadness, strife and chaos on a daily basis. Just look around. Look next door; listen to how some husbands, wives and children interact. Look at the people around you — the people in line in front of you, the employees who staff …

I can’t remember the year exactly, but it was summertime, and it was definitely the mid-ish 80s. My family’s annual trek to Lake Cachuma was underway, complete with drooling canines in the back of our trailer-towing station wagon. It was a vehicle…

It’s not that I dislike you because you seem to do things in a half-assed manner on the surface (I think we all know you’re smarter than that). It’s because I think you’re too calculating. I like you, but only a little. I was tied to another for s…