• “She was the final word on so many lives.”

    April 12, 2015 / No Comments

    alana baranickHeartbroken to report that award-winning obituary writer Alana Baranick died on April 10 from cancer. She was 65.

    For those of you who didn’t have the pleasure of knowing Alana, she was a talented journalist who spent 16 years working at The Plain Dealer in Cleveland. During that time, she penned nearly 2,000 obituaries. She was also the founder of the Society of Professional Obituary Writers, the co-author of “Life on the Death Beat” and a dear friend.

    Here is the lovely obituary that appeared on the front page of The Plain Dealer’s website. Read it and you’ll know exactly why I adored Alana.

    I will miss her so much.

  • money

    Free Money, Finders Keepers?

    April 11, 2015 / No Comments

    A Brinks armored truck was traveling on Interstate 20 in Weatherford, Texas, on Friday afternoon when other commuters noticed something odd: flying money.

    Apparently, one of the truck’s side doors opened and loose cash flew out, scattering along the highway’s runway and median. As you can probably imagine, people in nearby cars immediately pulled over and started gathering the greenbacks.

    “There was a lot of money flowing around there. Some people had hand fulls and it was all crumpled up,” Joel Aldridge, who shot video of the scene, told CBSDFW. “It looked like an Easter egg hunt. They were bent over picking up stuff.”

    It is unknown just how much money blew out of the truck between mile markers 410 and 413, but a statement released by authorities described it as a “substantial amount.” Police are now urging drivers to return the funds. Which begs the question…

    [socialpoll id=”2264471″]

  • New York City, food, books, friends and love

    April 7, 2015 / No Comments

    M and I recently had the pleasure of taking a very quick trip to New York City. We celebrated the 9th anniversary of our first date by enjoying a long walk through Manhattan, eating real pizza, splurging on ice cream sundaes from Serendipity 3 and generally just loving every second we got to spend together.

    Other things that happened:

    * We tried two new restaurants — Five Napkin Burger and Polpette — both of which were excellent.

    * According to his Fitbit, M walked more than 70,000 steps. Because he’s insane.

    * I walked about a third of that and still managed to develop huge, squishy, debilitating blisters on both of my feet. The last two days of the trip were spent hobbling, which made me feel old. Very old.

    * We had the opportunity to see movies in the morning and late at night, neither of which we can do in New Hampshire.

    * The company of friends was thoroughly enjoyed.

    * A rousing game of Cards Against Humanity ensued, one that will be forever remembered for its hilarious use of tentacle porn and corn starch.

    * M turned me around on a hot button political issue.

    * A fictional president fired his wife.

    * I finally learned who Castle’s father was.

    * We went on a shopping spree at The Strand. Here’s what I’ll be reading in the months and years to come:

    strandbooks

  • Bookstore

    Spring may have sprung, but this weekend is Christmas

    March 24, 2015 / No Comments

    A gift certificate from The Strand has been burning a metaphorical hole in my pocket, and this weekend, I intend to spend the whole thing.

    I usually shop with a list. Not this time. This time, I’m going exploring.

    I shall enter the store with a sense of wanderlust, rather than a sense of purpose. I’m going to stroll down the aisles and let my fingers caress the spines. I plan to stand on tip-toe and bend deep at the knees. I intend to let myself be swayed by interesting titles and colorful cover art.

    Then, once my feet begin to tire, I shall fill my red basket to the brim with romances, mysteries, thrillers, fantasies, historicals, biographies, occult books, poetry books, cookbooks and reference tomes. And when the gift certificate has been thoroughly depleted, I’ll haul my treasures home and dive in.

    I can’t wait!

    (Photo by Bitterfly)