I admit it: I am an impatient and intolerant reader. Bad writing and stupidity will send me into a rant against an author after a mere page, and I have no compunction about ditching a book completely. I recently assigned myself to read memoirs written by survivors of ruptured brain aneurysms, since I’ve been thinking … read more Honestly Amy
Category: Refraction
How a wave changes direction. Life changes, creating change and recovery from change
Don’t be stupid
I came very close to spending $50 today on a product that is ridiculous on its face. Or ridiculous on anyone’s face. I don’t have a lot of spare cash right now. And yet I got suckered into watching an infomercial for face lift cream. The hook? An ad that said, “Tighten and lift a … read more Don’t be stupid
Haunted
I checked in on LinkedIn today and found it was haunted. Among the “People You May Know” LinkedIn suggests that I connect with: My father, who died six years ago My cousin, who died in January A neighbor, who four years ago killed his wife and then himself Two colleagues who have been dead for at least three … read more Haunted
Restless
There’s something about those square numbers on a digital clock … that ugly electric red … and when the numbers are 4:53 – arggggghhhh – just knowing how little sleep I’ve had makes me even more restless. And once the mind starts going, it’s all over. It’s like an ear worm from a song, except your … read more Restless
Innocent fun
With all the problems I’ve had in the basement, I was starting to wonder if I had a gremlin down there. I am not referring to the ‘70s AMC car that was as ugly as the decade it was born. I’m talking about those demonic creatures unleashed on the American public in the 1984 movie Gremlins. … read more Innocent fun
Like that
Some ladies in my community wear makeup to water aerobics class. They don’t like to get their coiffed hair wet either. If I were still in my 30s I might make fun of them for that … but we’re all getting older, aren’t we? They look nice when they leave the fitness center – unlike me, with … read more Like that
Holes in my head
For more than a month, I’ve been running my fingers over the new holes in my head. OK, they’re not actual holes – you can’t look into them and see my brain. They’re large dents and grooves. Seeing as how they’re in my skull, they feel pretty freakin’ significant. They are near the incision that was made for … read more Holes in my head
A cold red cure
Imagine a treatment for pain that is easy, fast, simple, inexpensive, and has zero risks and zero side effects. Sound like science fiction? It already exists, and was approved 15 years ago by the FDA: low-level laser therapy. I’ve had two treatments, and those few minutes of laser did more to relieve my frozen shoulder pain than … read more A cold red cure
Hold that music!
How long now have companies had customer service lines? Fifty years? Eighty? So why is it that they have not yet figured out hold music? Anyone who’s calling customer service already has a problem. So a company should start the conversation pleasantly, right? But no. We’re already irritated with the product, service or website when we pick up the … read more Hold that music!
List oppression
Some days, when the to-do list is long, I end up feeling that I’ve accomplished nothing. I didn’t finish that research project. I didn’t write that column for the local newspaper. I didn’t respond to three of my friends. I didn’t catch up on my blog posts. I didn’t mail those packages to my sisters. … read more List oppression