stuff christy writes

One of the qualifying phrases tacked on to “I love them” . . . You know.  The “I love them BUT” qualifications, which aren’t qualifications at all, they’re the bulls-eye in the center of true feelings — but I digress. One of the qualifying phrases tacked on to “I love them” is “but I can’t accept them/their behavior/their ‘lifestyle’/their ‘choices’ . . .  It’s one of the endless variations of…

Daily writing promptHow are you feeling right now?View all responses Today’s prompt: how am I feeling right now? It’s difficult to put into words. I’m frustrated, angry. I’m also concerned, and maybe even a little frightened. There was yet another shooting on a campus yesterday, this time at the University of North Carolina. A faculty member was killed. It hit close to home — only thirty…

I had a vision for my visits to California. It involved getting out and exploring! Starting to create a life there! Sitting by the pool while J was at work! After all, we have this stunning apartment complex to enjoy. It’s not quite working out the way I’d anticipated, primarily because of my old friend, anxiety. I find myself falling into the same frustrating pattern that I experienced when…

I have two words: Wine. Slushie. Sadly, I didn’t get a picture of the slushie but it was an enormous thing, 20 ounces at least. It was delicious, but not very wine-y. Which is fine, but for the ridiculous cost of $25, I feel like I should have been at least a tiny bit buzzed. And now that I’ve started this blog, I’ll be sure to get many more pictures in the future. Wilson Creek Winery was…

Daily writing promptWhat strategies do you use to increase comfort in your daily life?View all responses This is a relatively new concept to me . . . the idea of deliberately seeking out comfort. It came up in therapy. Turns out, it’s something good to do, and I had no idea how to go about it. I’m learning, and let me tell you, it’s a wonderful thing. How about you? Are you taking the time and…

One of my favorite authors wrote a book about writing. I’ve read it several times and discover new gems with each reading. It’s my go-to gift for aspiring writers and English majors. Bird by Bird by Anne Lamott is a gift to the reading and writing world.

Daily writing promptIf you were forced to wear one outfit over and over again, what would it be?View all responses Jeans and a NaNoWriMo t-shirt . . . actually, no force required, this is pretty much my daily uniform. Do you have a “go-to” outfit?

All the Little Lasts

It’s a good thing I didn’t know about all of my last times as a parent.  A million little lasts slipped by without fanfare, without notice.  It’s only in hindsight that I realized I’d quietly done things for the last time.  Changed a diaper.  Kissed little baby toes.  Brushed out a ponytail.  Packed a lunch.  Rocked a restless one to sleep.  Watched the favorite movie.   There was a night that…

Teaching adult basic education is many things – rewarding, challenging, fulfilling . . . It’s never boring. My students wanted to visit our campus library.  Anything to inspire my low-level readers – literacy for the win!  It was a beautiful day; one of those rare days that are sunny, but not too hot.  Breezy, but without the bite.  We set off, a rookie teacher with three students, full of…

The Great Rittenhouse Hypocrisy

I’ve watched in shock and dismay as my social media feed reveals, one after another, people who are defending and even supporting Kyle Rittenhouse.   By and large, they’re evangelical Christians.  More significantly, they’re people who claim to be pro-life. How?  How do they reconcile their militant opposition to abortion — even to the point of supporting legislation that prohibits and…

Don’t Look

I see you, counting out your pills, to see if you have enough. Checking your calendar so your plan to quietly slip away causes the least fuss, the minimum of inconvenience. Oh, everyone says that it’s so awful when people decide to leave, but you remember — you remember when your friend left. “Honestly, he’s better off without her. He was a patient, patient man, but I don’t know how he lived…

It’s a Shame

Scrolling through social media the other day, a photo and a comment caught my attention. The photo was of a pride flag flying in honor of Pride Month. The comment: “It’s a shame we can’t just have one flag that represents liberty and justice for all.” It was meant, of course, to be a sarcastic jab at the pride flag; at the idea that any group of people would have the audacity to suggest that…

Ms. Bailey strikes again

What is WRONG with my brain? There was mention of placebo effect in my English class this past week. So many examples. A TicTac masquerading as a Tylenol. Cherry Kool Aid standing in for cough syrup. Then there’s me. “Someone could dump out the contents of a Pixie Stick and tell you it’s cocaine, and you might think you’re getting high, even though it’s just sugar.” Excuse me, what? Most of…

10 Things NOT to Say When a Pastor is Revealed as a Sexual Predator

(unless you want to further hurt victims and be a jerk, in which case, go right ahead) When a pastor/preacher/ministry leader is revealed to be a sexual predator, there is one response.  ONE.  It is a response of heartbreak and grief for the victims.  It is a response of belief, of support, of appropriate systems for protection, for healing, put in place. It is the appropriate civil and legal…

oh hello, so, here’s the thing

Hi, to all of my three readers. Hey, how was 2020? (ba dum dum :shing:) It’s been a dumpster fire of a year for the entire planet, and honestly, especially for those of us with an ounce of common sense and compassion living in the US. Zoom in the aerial view onto a county which, because of the local law enforcement’s, ah, unique approach to ‘law’ and ‘enforcement’ is regularly on the radar of…

In which I consider that my spawn are an essential part of the universe.

Mom guilt.  I think all moms have it.

I’m 11% Jewish so I think I have extra.

There’s the regular, garden-variety mom guilt:  I wish I’d been more present . . . I wish I’d paid closer attention.  I wish I’d emphasized health and nutrition and set a better example with, you know — vegetables.  And sport ball.

There’s the deeper, more specific homeschool mom guilt:  I wish I had invested more in…

The Truth Will Wreck This Place

The Star-Telegram published an article earlier this month, “Hundreds of sex abuse allegations found in fundamental Baptist churches across U.S.” by Sara Smith.

Back in the day, when I had my heart set on pursuing investigative journalism, this is the article that I wanted to write.

And this is why:

“To understand how this systemic, widespread abuse could happen again and again, some former…