I don't "do" softball

I can honestly say I've never been sporty... at all. It wasn't for a lack of trying; my mom diligently enrolled me in gymnastics, tumbling, softball, cheerleading class, and more gymnastics, all without a glimmer of talent. Art, music, verbal? Yes! Sports, games, competitive, coordination? a resounding no.

Softball was the worst by a long shot.

Garlic Festival, complete with vampire picketer

This weekend was the first year of an annual Garlic Festival here in Cleveland, and it was a smash hit. Organic garlic farmers sold dozens of varieties of garlic, all grown right here in northeast Ohio.Garlic necklaces, garlic keepers, garlic foods, garlic decor- amazing.

Falling in love with Atticus

I can't really remember reading To Kill a Mockingbird. It's almost as if I absorbed it- as if the pages turned themselves or that it was a book on tape playing inside my head. It was alive to me.

 I was about Jem's age the first time I read it in 7th or 8th grade reading class for school, followed by the first time seeing the film. I read it again as pre-freshman year required reading for high school.  I read it a third time in junior year of high school honors american lit, and again quite recently as an adult in celebration of its 50th anniversary.

Corn Dog- a canine obituary

My nephew Mark, or Markie as I still am prone to call him, and his long-term girlfriend found Corn Dog running free with no tags on the highway last summer. A cute little guy, Corn Dog had a rakish and joyful personality. He was a mix of things with perhaps some papillon or mini collie hidden in his genealogy. He had pointy ears and a fluffy neck that made him look like a little lion. His flaxen color and Mark's sense of humor earned him the name Corn Dog (aka Corny), and he quickly settled in to everyone's hearts. His perky disposition was popular with my two pups, and last year on family vacation they got along famously. It was so nice to see Mark with Corn Dog- two happy, goofy guys.