Nevada: a very rocky start

March 2008 – Reno NV 
I always told myself that I loved Illinois, the corn fields, the smell of livestock every morning before I went to school.  I never wanted to leave.  My grandpa was born, died and even burried in the same town in Southern Illinois.  In fact, my entire family, from cousins my age, to [...]

The Big Move

July 2002 – Columbia ILL
 
 My family has made the decision to move; not just somewhere else in Illinois or even St. Louis, but all the way across the country.  I will be ripped out of the most comfortable spot I have ever been in my entire life and thrown into an alien environment, with no [...]

The House-Sitter’s Bane

For anyone who knows me well, knows I have a bitter, somewhat, cretinous, history with house-sitting.   It all started about two and half years ago when my supervisor, of all people, called a favor of me.  Now I’m the local “go-to-gal” when it comes to house or pet-sitting.  In fact, I ran into my company’s [...]

Fun with Cancer

When my mom was diagnosed with cancer, I never understood the seriousness of her illness.  In fact, throughout my mother’s treatments and surgeries, I only recall the thrill of eating candy and watching the exotic fish swim happily in their large tank at the chemo administering office, eating t.v. dinners and seeing musicals at the [...]

Playing God and Raising Ducks

I have always wanted to have pet ducks for as long as I can remember.  My dad had a pet duck when he was little, which is what sparked my interest in the waterfowl.  In fact, remembering the joy Peepers (Dad’s duck) brought to his childhood, is why my father decided that I could have [...]