Nothing like opening a new restaurant 7 months pregnant to put you on firm footing as the most badass human around. As our bookseller Penny said, “my feet are swelling just thinking about it”. But, as always, Matt and Christina have nailed it. They quietly and happily opened “Freddy’s” tonight ushering in a new era of happy family meals around the table, time with loved ones, and a smashing menu full of classic favorites and elevated specials. Yum…

I never read a book through if I don’t immediately like it. Here are some titles I’ve loved this year, including some previewed for Middle Grade readers, ages 8-12.

I love this town. I really do. It’s touristy and fun and full of rainbow flags and happy couples enjoying the scene. It’s a hell drive, but take a couple days mid-week and you’ll be happy as the clams you’re bound to eat. For this adventure we were traveling with three college aged kids. I’m not sure I’d bother to go with young kiddos, they just might not get it.

“The Doctor Looks at Life with Love”. This is my grandfather. A friend painted his portrait and captioned it with this quote. He was a doctor, a general practitioner in a tiny town in Pennsylvania. A German immigrant. A painter. A lover of journals. A self proclaimed “doodler”. He found solace and thought in art, in putting his thoughts on paper, in family.

Might as well “wade” straight into the deep waters right? I am an abortion’s right proponent. A believer in choice and the right to determine your future. A staunch supporter of Planned Parenthood and birth control and have been for years.

I was recently reminded that I used to write. I used to write a lot. I ran a parenting blog when my kids were little named EssentialMom.com. Until they weren’t little and writing about them wasn’t so funny any more. So I stopped writing.