Sunday Stealing Invites You to Be Bold

 July 31, 2026

Bold the Ones You've Done

Have you ever ...

1. Slept under the stars


2. Played in a band


3. Visited Hawaii 


4. Visited Easter Island 

5. Watched a meteor shower


6. Seen the changing of the guard at Buckingham Palace


7. Been to Disneyland or Disney World 


8. Climbed a mountain 


9. Held a praying mantis

10. Been to the Louvre 

11. Had food poisoning


12. Eaten vegetables you grew yourself


13. Slept overnight on a train 


14. Built a snow fort


15. Held a lamb


16. Gone skinny dipping


17. Been on a cruise (day cruises and dinner cruises count)

18. Seen Niagara Falls 


19. Visited the birthplace of your ancestors


20. Sung karaoke


21. Sat for a portrait

22. Walked on a beach by moonlight


23. Been transported in an ambulance


24. Gone scuba diving or snorkeling 


25. Kissed in the rain


26. Played in the mud


27. Gone to a drive-in theater

28. Changed your vehicle's oil yourself

29. Taken a martial arts class 


30. Visited the Vatican


31. Volunteered at a soup kitchen or food pantry


32. Sold Girl Scout cookies

33. Bought a used car

34. Sat on a jury

35. Ridden an elephant

Sometimes The Quiet Is Deafening

 

Trying to soak up the rest of summer with a husband who doesn’t share much.

The days are long and warm, the evenings are quiet! Sometimes a little too quiet. It’s hard to build a conversation when the other person keeps most things to themselves. You ask about their day, get a short answer, and the silence settles back in.

Still trying to enjoy the season anyway, the late sunsets, the slow mornings, the little moments that don’t need words.

Just wishing the talking part felt a little easier sometimes.

Anyone else in a quiet relationship and figuring out how to make the most of the season anyway?

Did You Also Trade Your Summer For A Paycheck?

So far I have spent this summer working.

Long hours, early mornings, the whole thing.

Part of me is proud I showed up and stayed consistent. Another part keeps whispering that I missed the “real” summer the slow mornings, the spontaneous plans, the feeling of having time to just exist. This can not happen in my current life. Weekends are spent doing the chores I don't get to during the week and then I start another week all over again.

As someone who works with kids I understand that the work matters as much as paying my bills but I also know rest and joy matter too. I get jealous when I see others enjoying their day in their backyard pools or on the boat on the lake just spending time with their families and friends. It never happens in my world!

I often have to remind myself that summers don’t have to look the same as others but damn, I still wish I’d stolen a few more empty days for myself.

Anyone else feel like they traded their summer for a paycheck this year?

Wishing For A Simpler Time

Cartooned my daughter and nieces 

Is anyone else feeling as if they want a reset to simpler times? A longing for connection with the people you love. I think I speak more to strangers than I do to the people I love. We sit side by side but by husband is on his computer or phone and I know this for years so I now sit with mine as well,  reading a book on my Kindle or playing game. Thank God for my daughter because we speak often but she needs to have her own life and I want that for her.

Even friends or family text hellos and act like that is a connection. I am old and want a phone call instead so I reach out but everyone is running so the calls are always short. When did life get so busy that we forgot what was really important and that is connection and making memories that will last a lifetime because not everyone gets a long life. My mom died at 34. Her life was over but here I am at 60 and wonder if she had a more full life than I have had in the past 10 years. 

The kids are both in their 20s and while they are still home and we spend plenty of time together I find myself longing for a good power outage that lasts a few days. When we have a storm and the power goes out thankfully it returns before the day ends. My daughter and I do perfectly fine. We always find something to do. On the last storm my husband and son went to bed. It would have been nice to play a game of cards, laugh around the table and make a memory that we can look back at fondly one day. 

NOTE: The irony is NOT lost on me that I used AI to generate a picture for this post. but the girls are all older and I didn't' want to have to ask permission to use my photo of them.

Stealing The Friday Fill-in - May 29, 2026

1. Arguing is not the end of the world.

2. Bacon tastes so good!

3. Sometimes, putting others first is necessary.

4. Life is breathtaking, really.

5. Well, maybe there is time.

6.  This week, my plans include work and more work.

Wow Time Flies

This year my son turned 23 and my daughter 21. I will be 60!

I have been blogging since they were June 21, 2005 two months after my daughter, Goddess was born. 

How? They are young adults and I am just older! It hurts my heart to know that I am closer to the end than I am to the beginning and I would go back and do it all again in a heartbeat.  I am so thankful that I have blogged a lot of their early years because I love going back to read it all and wish that work didn't keep me from still blogging their life in a more continuous manner. 

They are living their own lives and I am working more hours than ever. My son works on the weekends only at the same job for 5 years and my daughter is working at her job since October. They are both in school still and I am so happy they are still home with me and I see them daily. 

Goddess is a force to be reckoned with. She is a true Renaissance Woman. There is nothing she can't do. She is good at everything she tries and she will be good at the things she has yet to. She knows who she is and doesn't feel the need to be anyone else for anyone. Love that about her. I wish I was more like her when I was young. Heck I wish I were like her now.

Handsome is home since 2022. He doesn't drive so works only on the weekends but hopefully one day. He plays games, walks and everyone on the block knows him and speaks kindly of him. I have met his bosses and they all love him as well. Hopefully in the near future we can get him driving lessons so he isn't a prisoner to the house since I work two jobs that keep me out of the house 11-12 hours a day during the week. 

I thought as we got older, we worked less but I guess that is not the case with the cost of living. Looking for a new job often that will give me 40 hours a week but working a 24 hour job and a variable job that gives me at the very least 10 but as much as 20 a week to make the 40 hours you need to work in the economy. 

Life is good. Could always be better. If you have been following along all these years, thank you! I adore you and hope you are well. Leave me a message if you care to.  

LIfe Update

I have been doing so much journaling that I have failed to jump online and write here. This was always where I wrote about life. Now I pick up a pen and write all my thoughts in a book. It's not that I don't want to write here. I love going back to my posts and rereading especially when it has to do with my kids. But with two jobs I have limited home time. During the week I am out from 6:10 AM until 4:45 3 days out of the week and the other 2 days 6:10 AM until 6:45 PM. The weekends are all about sleeping past 7:30, grocery shopping, cleaning, laundry and whatever else. It goes fast. 

Right now my thoughts are consumed with my current situation at home, my kids and trying to get through my week.

I do however miss my blog and think about it daily. Times were good! Hopefully I can get back to some sort of writing here. My goal is to create books for my kids of their lives from toddler hood until now. 

Handsome and Goddess are almost done with college for now. He is taking his time getting through. There is no rush. They are both doing it online. Mostly because neither was driving out of high school. She is driving for over a year and got her license last Spring. She works and goes to college. Busy girl. He works on the weekend 10 months of the year. It's hard when you don't drive and don't live near public transportation. 

One day! I have hope he will eventually drive.

I worry about him. Being home since September 2022, doing online college and only working on the weekends. What kinds of life is that? Hopefully he finds his way and lives a fulfilled and balance life where he has friends and is happy. Right now, I worry!

Goddess has come a long way and stands up for herself. She is strong willed, extremely smart and very balanced in her life with many hobbies as well as a hard working in school as well as at work. 

Prayer and faith gets me through my day and night. Thank you Lord for always being there. 

What? My Hay Is Sprouting!

We always get a few bales of hay that my husband uses on the front steps to decorate for Fall but we have never had it sprout actual grass before. 

This year he got it from Lowes. I usually get from local farms but he took care of the lugging this year. The farm bales are usually much bigger than he wants.

Has this ever happened to you? I've never seen this before. It looks pretty. I don't mind. 

Each one has a seed attached to the bottom so I am assuming some grass seed got into the bales somehow. 

Rediscovering the Art of Letter Writing: A Heartfelt Return to Loved Ones

 

Yesterday my daughter and I went through a bin of old cards and letters I had in the garage. She organized it into piles and put it all back in the bin in order of who everything was from. Old letters from family, friends and ex boyfriends. Her take away was that as she gets older her generation will not have anything like this to look back on, re-read or share with family. 

It's sad and true. No one sends letters anymore. Thankfully I do have a friend who still sends letters and cards but these days and I get so excited when I receive one and add it to my current journal. These days everyone sends texts and it's not like anyone is printing out their back and forth conversations for prosperity. 

Looking through the old love letters and retelling stories of people who were a big deal in my life way before she was born was cathartic and fun. I had forgotten some of the letters and others felt like only yesterday I had received them. 

There was too much to go through them all because we were organizing and talking but I cannot wait to sit and really read them. Letters from my father who is now gone, cards and postcards I got from my grandparents as they travelled and love letters from ex-boyfriends that made me feel special. Hearing her "geez mom, another name. Another pile!" still makes me laugh right now. 

I think sending letters is important and we should make a conscious effort of telling those we love how much we love them in something they can hold and re-read. In the past I have left my kids love letters as I left the house for work and they slumbered on but I think it's time to do this more. We are all getting older and I want her to have the "receipts" of my love in something she can see, hold, and share with her friends and family when I am no longer here. 

A New Chapter Begins With A Lighter Heart #faithrenewed #reconciliation

I have prayed alone for 40 years of my life. Being raised Catholic whenever I needed to I turned to God! After having children I decided to let them decide what path they wanted to take. We baptized them both and when they were young. I prayed over them and when they could repeat after me we prayed nightly.  I have spent years going into church often but always off hours just wanting to sit in my own head with my prayers and my very personal relationship with Jesus. 

In January of this year I decided to learn to pray the rosary and to read the bible.  It has been interesting and makes me feel really good and close to God which I think is the best reason to pray. 

Two months ago I decided to start going to church by meeting up with a friend and her son every Sunday and praying as a community. Goddess has come with me 95% of the time. When I talked about how I sometimes feel guilty that I didn't force religion on her and her brother because life is hard and you may need to have faith and pray but won't know how she said something I will appreciate all the days of my life. "I like the way you did it. Maybe if you had forced it I wouldn't be as interested as I am. I believe there is a higher power and believe in God. I also like aspects of other religions and I am finding my own way."

This past Saturday I finally received confirmation because after reading 33 Days to Eucharistic Glory I really longed to receive the most holy sacrament of the eucharist and longed to be on the line of parishioners.

The priest at my church is fairly new to the priesthood being ordained in 2017. He is a blessing to our community and I adore him. As a child confession seemed so daunting. If you don't know, you walk into a booth and say "bless me father for I have sinned.  It's been ___ weeks since my last confession" and then go into your sins that you want forgiven.  As a child I didn't feel like I had sinned so mostly I just would say I fought with my sisters but what do you say to a priest when it has been 40+ years since your last confession? Also back in the day confession was done with a wall between you and the priest. This time I walked in and he is sitting there. The only thing between us is a table with a lamp and some books on it. 

We spoke about my return and since we have talked in the past I felt comfortable and could abbreviate the story. He was unbelievably helpful, forgiving, easy to speak with and then said something thought made me cry. He told me that since it has been 40+ years that he would do my penance. We prayed and then Acting in the person of Christ he told me  "God forgives you. There is nothing else you have to do. you can receive communion tomorrow". I thanked him and we prayed and spoke a moment longer before I said, "don't be surprised if I cry at communion tomorrow." He replied "don't be surprised if I do too."

I am so thankful and feel blessed. Receiving communion was amazing yesterday and I cannot wait to go again.  I know my priest will never see this but I am so grateful to him and his time and sacrifice. He is a wonderful person and every time I talk to him, I feel closer to the Lord!

We Need To Sage The World

 

A few days ago I asked Grok to create a photo of the earth being smudged with Sage. Whenever my house feels heavy with whatever bad juju is around or the people living inside it seem to be dealing with something I light some sage and walk around trying to cleanse all corners, windows and when possible the people or their normal resting space. 

Last week was heavy! A heavy that I was having difficulty shaking and a feeling of darkness that I was feeling in my core. 

Between Iryna Zarutska being murdered on a train in North Carolina while not a single person sitting around her thought to treat her like a human being and allowed her to die alone on a dirty floor. Then another school shooting this one happening in Colorado and finally the assassination of Charlie Kirk I was having a very difficult time. 

My heart aches! My mind is in overdrive and I have cried off and on for days. 

I pray daily, I mediate on the rosary and I find myself often asking God for help in understanding how we can do better.

59 And Thriving. Staying Strong And Feeling Good

Trying to find my routine for exercise, stretching, and feeling good as I enter the last quarter of my life. As someone who has had back aches since the age of 13 due to a swimming accident and being 4'11" and carrying my babies for way too long, sitting for hours at desk jobs, standing and getting on the floor as well as lifting big kids to change their diapers at my preschool/daycare job dealing with aches has often times sidelined me. 

I have dealt with a back/hip pain that took 7 years of my life. The pain was unbearable and no amount of therapy, chiropractor care was helping. I had a shooting sciatica pain that made me want to cry. I thought this was going to be my life until I finally found a doctor who told me I didn't have sciatica, I had a severe muscle tear that I kept reinjuring every time I did the "sciatica stretches" all my therapists were teaching me. Over the year in his care I took his advice. He gave me ultrasound therapy, I stopped all stretching activities that kept me flexible, took a supplement he handed me one day, iced all pain, got shoe inserts that cost me too much money, ordered a reclining couch and low and behold I am where I am now. Managing my hip, back and leg pains. 

While I don't go to him anymore (insurance), I am doing all the things he taught me as well as Provitalize which I swear by (not sponsored). My body feels the difference if I miss a day!! 

I also have downloaded an app that helps me try to stay on my 10,000 steps a day plan and found low impact (hello bad hips and back) You Tuber exercise that I happen to love. 

Just trying to keep moving as I get older without setting myself backward.

What are your suggestions for life over 59?

Who Controls The Remote Control In Your House?

 

In my house, my husband has always been in control of the remote. I don't know if he took control or if we inadvertently gave it to him because the kids and I were home all day and when he finally got home from work and was ready to unwind, we just handed it off but for the past 22 years he has control over what we watch 80% of the time. 

There are many TVs in the house and I could go watch what I want alone or I can sit with him and hope that he falls upon something I might be into also. Smartphones have made hanging with him easier because if he puts on something I don't want to watch or just not into, I can read a book or play a game but at least we are in the same room.

Last night he handed the remote to me and said, "since you are on vacation, why don't you choose something." I laughed, took the remote and said something along the lines of "It's a lot of pressure to find something you will be into as well". Teaching by example, wink wink. Maybe it will hit home or maybe not. He replied "well it's fine because I will be on my computer." Which is honestly what he is doing every night anyway. He usually puts something on then half watches it or uses it as background noise anyway.

I immediately put on LaPalma a Swedish series streaming on Netflix which is something I have been hearing about. He asked what I put on when it started and said, "I've heard a lot about this movie." It was okay. Not sure why it is so popular but it was enough to have us both watching so that's a win!

How about you? Who is in control of the remote?  

Feeling Old In Wildwood New Jersey! Man I Miss My Youth

The photo above was edited to bring out the colors and the one below was raw. It was a drive by photo on the morning we left Wildwood so not the best quality but at least it wasn't raining like the two days were stayed. 

Last week we headed to Wildwood with a stop over in Cape May to take the ferry to see my sister-in-law in Delaware. It may have been the worst week due to Hurricane Erin but things can always be worse right?! We had a good time despite the rain and cold but what I noticed most was that Wildwood use to be so much fun when I was younger.

Was it the weather? 

Was it my age? I mean I went in my 20s and I am now in my 50s. It just didn't have the same feel. 

My husband and I haven't been in 30 years and he is already thinking about a trip there next year but I am thinking been there, done that.

We found really nice places to eat and every night had to take hot showers because we were cold from the rain but it felt really different.

My friends and I used to love Wildwood. We had such a good time even if it was just to walk around for the day or a weekend. There was always something to do. There were people to meet. Stores to hang out in. Bands to watch. Rides to go on. Has it changed or am I misremembering?

My Cats And The Mona Lisa

 

The Mona Lisa Scratching Post

This month we got a new scratching post for the three fur balls in my house.  It cracks me up to see them sitting in on Mona's lap. 

They love it and take turns sitting in her arms even kicking the other out sometimes. DO I really need three?

My Goddess Has Her Driving License

Goddess is now 20 and has a driving license. WOW time flies. When I started this blog Goddess and Handsome were babies. They are now 20 and 22, in college and very much my favorite people. I adore them and I am so proud of them.

Goddess took about a year to finally take her driving test. She wasn't ready and we weren't pushing knowing we would get there when we got there. I kept telling her "as long as it takes, is as long as it takes" and I bet she hates that saying. 

When Goddess does anything she really throws herself into it 100%.  Allowing a child to drive you may be easy for some but for me it is hard. It isn't just that I see her as my baby. I am the worst passenger because I like to be in control of my life and prefer to drive. I was always the designated driver when I went out with my friends or a guy because I could trust myself. Sooo when she would constantly see me applying my imaginary break she thought she was doing something wrong and when we finally got home would ask "on a scale of 1-10 how scare were you doing that drive?" I often reminded her that I did that whenever I wasn't the driver and it was not her.

Yesterday Teach cleaned out the car for her, detailing every part of it. He came over to me when he was done and asked if I was ready to go to Goddess so we could GIVE HER THE CAR. 

I love and appreciated how he needed me to be there when he finally handed her the key. He had a whole speech for her about making the car her own and that by January/February he expects she would be paying for her own insurance after getting a job. He told her the story of how his dad had done it for him and I just know he was feeling all the feels of his own independence as a young man. 

Goddess is NOT ready to drive alone. She knows the car is hers and she can take it whenever she wants but is nervous. I told her she just needs to take that first maiden voyage and she will be fine. 

I pray for her safety as she deals with the millions of obvious bad drivers on the road. I see it every day. People seem to not know the rules of the road. 

Heavenly Father I place my child in your hands and ask for care and protection as she travels. Surround her with angels and guard her from danger bringing her to safety to her destinations. Grant her wisdom to stay alert and make safe decisions and guide her path with grace. AMEN

God is Good, All The Time,

All The Time, God Is Good!

The Last Year of My 50s - My Birthday Month Has Been Busy and I Am So Grateful For Everything I Have

I thought turning 59 would be scary and make me really sad. Shockingly it wasn't and it didn't. Next year is the big 60 and I find myself between being excited that I am still here because my mom didn't make 34 year and I have always thought I would die young, and feeling sad about leaving my kids one day.  But are we ever really ready to go?  Don't most of us wish we had another 59, 60, 70, 80, 90 years? 

For my birthday I bought myself a shirt that read Last Year In My 50s to wear on my Birthday. I wanted to feel special for the day because well in case no one else was going to tell me damn it, I am special. We all are.

My Birthday was nice! The gifts were all so thoughtful. My daughter got me a crucifix for my car, a pill box for all my vitamins and a phone charger for my car, my son got me a pillow for "hot" sleepers.  Anyone else always too hot to sleep? My husband got me two different journals, and "beachy" stickers and scrapbook paper because we were heading down to Wildwood, New Jersey.

she made the box and the card too! SOOO Thoughtful

Then the day before my birthday I got a surprise gift from a dear friend. She knocked it out of the park with this gift.  Socks that say Fuck Off, I'm Reading, coasters that look like old library due date envelopes, and a tote bag which I have been using every day. 

We also headed to Wildwood for a few days after telling my husband I longed to smell the salt air and the ocean. 

After working through most of the summer it is nice to have three days off before meetings and back to work. I am blessed and so grateful for my life. I thank God every day for everything I have and if I am having a bad day I know that it will be better and can easily get through any moments that leave me feeling sad, lonely or empty because I know that God is always with me and I am truly never alone on this path we call life. 

God is Good, All The Time, All The Time, God Is Good

The Vet Fat Shamed My 3 Cats #CatWeightLoss #PurinaProPlan #HealthyPet #CatCare

 

Helping my three fat shammed cats shed a few pounds with Purina Pro Plan Weight Management! They all love it!  It’s a high-protein formula with real chicken which supports their lean muscle mass while keeping them full. Progress is slow but steady.

Adorable Baby Northern Red-Bellied Snake!

 Omgosh this is the cutest snake I have ever seen. Found under a tarp covering garden dirt it laid all curled up. We had to take photos! Put it right back but love how small it was.

The Texas Roadhouse Was Amazing

 

My husband is a guy who likes what he knows. He’s not one who wants to try new things. If it was up to me, we would go somewhere new every time we go out. He likes to try and true so we usually end up at our favorite Mexican restaurant or Outback, basically somewhere basic he’s a basic kind of guy.

He’s not into special foods that are paired together for the pallet and create a magical tasting experience, he likes his diner size portions. The more food the better. He wants to be stuffed and rolling out of there if we have gone out to eat.

We were out and about and I put in Google maps restaurants with a destination of about 10 miles away. A few things came up and I knew that my daughter wouldn’t find anything to eat there. Knowing my husband is very particular I spotted Texas Roadhouse! We had never been there, and when we walked in, we were very excited.

It was a cool place first of all with a moose head on the wall deer heads lots of people. It was packed for 3 o’clock in the afternoon. That’s always a good sign. The first thing they asked was do you wanna pick out your steak? I’ve never been asked that before  so I walked over to the butcher display and peeked! The steaks all looked good to me. I would take any of them so I told them no.

We ordered three appetizers! My son and I got steak and rib combo. My husband got some sort of chicken dish and my daughter got boneless buffalo wings the only wings that she will eat. 

All of our meals came with two sides, except for the boneless wings, which was an appetizer and it was all delicious. Not a place that’s close to us. It’s about a 50 minute drive but my husband kept saying I hope it doesn’t get any better because we’ll never come back here. Odd thing to say and the kids asked why he would say such a thing but  I know exactly why he said it.  You can only go down once you’ve reached the top. The Texas roadhouse was definitely for my family, a 9/10.  I loved it. It was a little expensive but we did get a lot of food and I’m gonna talk him into going back. My birthday is in August and this is my pick for dinner.

Have you ever gone to a Texas Roadhouse Restaurant? Even the complimentary rolls and cinnamon butter was amazing.