A Regency-Era Crowd Pleaser
“It is a truth universally acknowledged” that Jane Austen and her timeless novels draw devoted fans from around the world. Followers swoon over her brooding, leading men and delight in…
Ready for the World
It was the summer of 2018 and I had just returned from a conference. My mind was jumpy, unsettled, and bouncing around like a pinball in an arcade game. Conversations…
Bob Ross FTW
“What about Bob Ross?,” I said. “Yes... He’s iconic, he’s revered by our traditional audiences, and younger generations love him,” our social media manager contemplated, “we could do trivia and…
Why I Wrote a Book
I was on a plane flying back from a public media conference in Chicago when the idea started to settle deep into my mind. Like a rogue bramble that nestled…
Taking the Leap
I can still see the shimmering blue water at least 10 feet beneath my toes which were gripping the edge of the high dive platform. I was about to try…
Tweetup Revival
It's hard to imagine that the phrase "old-school" would apply to something that was popular just a few years ago. I imagine old-school as plaid bell-bottoms, ditto machines, the Brady…
A Morning Feeding the Hungry
Her hair was wrapped in a modest bun and the apron over her long dress was clean and pressed. She carefully filled plastic cups with water and arranged them neatly on…
Snazzy pups on the catwalk!
Judging a Canine Costume Contest
Granny of Little Red Riding Hood. Waldo. Superman. An Ewok. Yes, it was Halloween. But there weren't kids in these costumes... or even adults. It was a Doggie Halloween Party and Costume Contest!…
People Powered Billboard
I sat on a small plastic folding chair 15 feet off the ground on a three-tiered metal scaffolding. Along with 63 other people (42 of them directly above me), I held a giant…
Save the Chickens
The Great Chicken Debate
The moment my daughter spotted the crate full of fuzzy little chicks peeping happily at the local hardware store, she was smitten. Every year near Easter, the peeps appeared. And…