On a Wing or a Pair

I Did the Thing I Thought I could Not Do!

2011-03-01T18:02:00.001-08:00

Several months ago I began to notice that many of the women with whom I was lobbing emails back and forth had a clever quote below their signatures. I thought this was pretty cool, so I figured out how to do it myself. For the first several months I used Margaret Mead’s incredibly overused Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world. Indeed, it is

Lady Luck

2011-01-24T13:26:00.000-08:00

Yesterday my husband was pacing around the house in his personalized SEEFRIED New York Jets jersey. " I can't decide where to watch the game"...he shared; "either here, or at a bar or at Ron's..." he pondered out loud. I asked what he was basing his decision on, figuring it was either access to game food (our house is in strict diet mode this month), a bigger and better flat screen, or the

Theresa Spahn For Mayor!

2011-01-18T13:51:00.000-08:00

You never know who you'll meet. The week before Christmas I reluctantly agreed to attend a networking event in Cherry Creek North. Networking is one of those things that entrepreneurs like me are supposed to do. I'm not sure if we're supposed to like it, but we're definitely supposed to do it. Between it being a fundraiser for Warren Village, an organization that embodies the very best in

Things that make me Flush.

2011-01-11T11:18:00.000-08:00

There are few things that upset me more than those automatic public restroom commodes that decide for you when you should be finished your business. It's bad enough to encounter a wet seat, where some germophobe has generously deposited her own personal germs, but after the indignity of wet thighs, having the startle and splash effect of a know-it-all-toilet is over the top. Though there are

Highs & Lows

2011-01-05T08:47:00.000-08:00

Today is a good day, and yesterday was too. Monday, however, found me in the depths. The house was trashed, the inbox full, the children needy, whiny, or rude, my husband seemingly omnipresent...plus the elliptical untouched, the weather freezing, and the laundry piled high. Fact is, those things were all the same when I woke up yesterday morning. So why was it that yesterday was a good day?

Family Time

2010-12-22T07:15:00.000-08:00

Last night I asked my husband to take the kids out to eat so that I could pull the gifts out, compare piles, and start wrapping. Ended up that my oldest (because she was in sweatpants, and won't be seen out in public in sweatpants) stayed home with me to help with the massive task of converting our Christmas Card list to email format. After receiving several texts from the diners assuring her

Telling Amy's Story

2010-12-16T05:11:00.000-08:00

Over the past several weeks, I've thought long and hard about what is most meaningful to me. The realization that sharing women's stories has always been my motivator has helped me refine MidChix, create MADHENS, and commit wholly to a redefined mission of helping women find their wings, and change the world, one woman at a time. Watching Telling Amy's Story last night, I was humbled and

Rich & Skinny?

2010-11-30T07:34:00.000-08:00

A couple of weeks ago, I took my 16 year-old daughter on a rare shopping spree. It was Nordstrom's Half-Yearly Sale, and I am a big fan of Nordstrom. The first time I ever stepped foot into one was in White Plains, New York over fifteen years ago. A new mall, The Westchester, had recently opened and was not only head and shoulders above the old Galleria Mall, in terms of cleanliness, decor,

SEVEN

2010-11-22T19:57:00.000-08:00

That's the number of women that came to the Wardrobe Exchange benefiting Safehouse today. Actually, it was 9, but two came to be supportive-bless them- not to actually exchange. It isn't that I'm not appreciative of the gals that came, or understanding of those who said they would, but didn't. It's just that I'm tired. Discouraged. Pensive. Flummoxed. How can anybody possibly make an impact,

Matchmaker, Matchmaker Make Me a Match

2010-11-20T10:32:00.004-08:00

Okay, I'm not going to say for who, but I just did a little snoopin' around on the infamous Match.com. It's a pretty cool site. Who would've guessed that 1 in 6 marriages are a result of meeting through an online dating service? But more and more often, when I ask couples how they met, online is often the answer. It appears to serve a pretty broad range of folks, though it does seem to be

New and Improved!

2010-11-16T08:51:00.000-08:00

In two weeks, MidChix will migrate to a new and improved site and raison d'être as a social networking community for women who are curious and concerned about social responsibility.Fourteen months ago, we launched as a boutique social-networking site for women over 40, with the knowledge that mid-life women have a firm grip on more than 85% of the consumer marketplace. During our evolution,

Write your book!

2010-11-10T15:14:00.000-08:00

I'm jazzed about writing my book, and have finally started taking some steps. I call it my book in blogress. Hope you'll start reading and keep me writing! Guest blogger Lisa Schultz published her first book, Speaking Your Truth, just a few months ago. Today, she and Andrea Costantine launch their guide to writing and self-publishing. From what I can see, they know what they're talking

More of It Gets Better

2010-11-05T08:33:00.000-07:00

My friend, Zach Page, posted this beautiful reflection on Facebook today. It's too important not to share... It Gets Better I want to first of all extend a thank you to all who were involved in my project. It means so much to me that we can gather enough people to start a movement. A force. Something bigger than bullying. Something that can bring change to the world. To Jeremy Make, thank you

Radical and Reasonable

2010-10-30T11:01:00.000-07:00

Last night I attended an incredibly moving event. James Pond, founder of Transitions Global was fulfilling a promise he had made to two girls, survivors of human trafficking, to give them the opportunity to tell their stories. Neth and Liya were in their early teens when they became victims of sex trafficking in Cambodia. Neth was sold to a brothel by her mother for $300. Liya was tricked

Times are Changing

2010-10-26T20:37:00.001-07:00

I was so relieved a couple of years ago when they added a few weeks to Daylight Savings Time...even though most of my kids had passed out of the trick or treating stage, I'm still happy to keep daylight as late as possible. It's easy to understand why alcohol plays a big role in places where it's dark for much of the day! Just sayin'...Time is a chameleon. When the kids were little, "the days

Let's Make Sure All Kids Know It Gets Better

2010-10-25T12:07:00.000-07:00

When I called the house on Friday night, to say I'd be home soon, my eleven year-old son sounded a little upset when he replied " I have some news for you". Knowing his flair for the dramatic, I didn't panic. "What's that?" I casually asked. "Squirt isn't a boy." he replied. Squirt is the rabbit that our animal-loving neighbor had bought Cameron for his birthday almost three months ago.

Remember when ...

2010-10-22T13:11:00.000-07:00

I said something wonderful is going to happen today? Well I said it again this morning, because the most wonderful thing is about to happen. The recycling truck is coming! When we missed putting our bins out two weeks ago, my husband and I looked at each other and groaned. With pick-up only occurring twice a month, and our family recycling everything from empty toilet paper rolls to any glass/

"I'll Vote for The First Person Who Stops Calling Me."

2010-10-19T20:02:00.000-07:00

This was Kirsten's line, but I liked it so much, I borrowed it...with her blessing. I don't answer the phone much anymore, but occasionally do indulge in cheap entertainment by checking caller ID. Some campaigning politicians have taken to using the same trick I've tried (to get more clicks on the MidChix newsletter). They disguise themselves. Yesterday, I was about to hop on the

Community is the Heart of Pomegranate Place

2010-10-18T06:13:00.000-07:00

Thank you to all who wrote to the city or stopped by Pomegranate Place to show support. The city is reviewing the situation and we are hopeful that Pom Place will prevail! Please hold off on letters for now, until we have heard from them. Many thanks to you all!

Plan B

2010-10-13T07:20:00.000-07:00

I spent all weekend mulling over my out of control MidChix to-do list. Email has been kicking my ass. As somebody said, it's like drinking from a fire hose. But after stepping back to gain perspective and some advice from my better half, this morning I was rubbing my hands together in eager anticipation of wrestling back control. Then two minutes after the door had closed behind my kids as they

Endthebacklog.org Call to Action feat. Cast of Law & Order: Special Vict...

2010-10-07T14:39:00.000-07:00

The Stepford Tellers

2010-10-06T11:46:00.000-07:00

If there is anything worse than a company getting so big they lose touch with their customers, it's a company losing so much touch with their customers that they hire people whose primary job is to touch (not literally, although that may be next) every customer that walks through the door, by greeting them with a booming and cheerful solicitousness that rings so false you could stuff your Wonder

Spiders! eek!

2010-10-04T21:19:00.000-07:00

My sixteen year old just killed a "gigantic" spider in her bathroom. AND she said it was the second one this week. I wonder if she starts counting the week on Sunday. Otherwise it means she killed two today. Or that she exaggerates. But either way, my skin has been crawling for the past hour. I know there may be some of you who are those creepy-crawly loving nature types. But as Camp

It Works!

2010-09-30T21:15:00.000-07:00

Saying "Something wonderful is going to happen" actually works! The Seed Connect Summer Social was yesterday's something wonderful. Founded by Erin Seabold, the Seed was created to unite women and resources around the world with the vision of providing education and connecting women-in-business with the resources they need to succeed. Erin's gift for connecting people is unparalleled. I came

The Camp Experience of a Lifetime

2010-09-28T21:28:00.000-07:00

Something wonderful is going to happen today. That is what I said to myself when I woke up this morning. This is what author and speaker, Elisabeth Fayt, refers to as a powerful pre-pave. She was one of several phenomenal keynote speakers, workshop leaders, and panelists who shared their hearts, souls, and time with 200 women campers at Camp Experience in Copper, Colorado this past weekend.

Pain: You Can Feel Mine if I Can Feel Yours

2010-09-24T10:04:00.000-07:00

Last Saturday I attended the 2010 Denver SOBCON event. SOB does not stand for bawl loudly; it stands for successful and outstanding bloggers (though I would have been equally intrigued by the idea of openly bawling all day). There were several savvy speakers, each with a message or two about the importance of goal-setting, strategy-shaping, and the ins and outs of social media. I learned a lot.

My name is Gretchen and I'm a Coffeeholic.

2010-09-20T08:20:00.000-07:00

This morning I rolled over and admitted that without coffee, there was no reason to get up. This is a sad state of affairs, I know. But I'm sadder that I can't have coffee than I am about being a coffeeholic. I often put off scheduling those medical tests that require you to fast. Even though I eat very little in the morning, it's just the idea of not being able to, that makes me want to puke

Everybody Loves a Party

2010-09-18T12:15:00.000-07:00

The balloons reminded me of another party; fifteen years ago, we hosted a backyard cocktail party at our home in New York. My five year-old niece had been diagnosed with a fatal genetic disease. Living in a different state, with four kids of our own, it was impossible for us to do much to help out on a regular basis. One day, I had the brainstorm to have a party and raise money for research.

Kudos to Standard Parking and Denver International Airport-Parking Division

2010-09-12T17:48:00.000-07:00

I'd never seen a money order before; wasn't even sure what it meant...until yesterday afternoon, when one arrived in the mail, along with a thoughtfully written letter of apology and explanation from Herald Hensley, the Airport Parking Manager at Denver International Airport! Not only was the $14.00 promissory note that had been given to me 12 days ago excused, but the $40.00 parking fee I'd

My Passion for Compassion

2010-09-05T06:25:00.000-07:00

When I was flying to NYC last Sunday, I couldn’t help but marvel at the elderly couple sitting across the aisle from me. An unrelated young man had the window, then wife in the middle, and husband, in the aisle seat. When I travel with my husband, if we can’t land two aisle seats, I often end up in the middle due to his extreme claustrophobia…so it didn’t surprise me that

Forget The Tipping Point, Let's Talk about The Breaking Point

2010-08-31T22:34:00.000-07:00

My left eye began to twitch. Or was it my whole face? I was twitching and blinking and wondering if it's possible to develop Tourette's out of the blue. One of my sons had bouts with it, so maybe this was some latent form of the disorder passed up from child to mother. Or, maybe not, as just then the volume of my voice began to rise. Incredibly it went from zero to eighty in less than two

Whatever you do...

2010-08-31T22:15:00.000-07:00

Whatever you do, don’t have your wallet stolen. Especially in New York City. Especially 11 hours before an early morning flight. Especially if the policemen who were nice enough to give you an unauthorized ride back to the airport hotel, neglect to make a police report which, by the way is required, in order for the airline to believe you are not a middle-aged American jihadist intent on

No Wonder Southern California is Crowded...

2010-08-29T20:58:00.000-07:00

Can almond joy be considered a breakfast food? Because that was all I could find to coat my stomach before my fancy one-cup-brewed-at-a-time hotel room coffee infusion. We were at the Canary hotel in Santa Barbara. When Pill (that’s how my friend Theresa used to refer to hubby Phil when we were in college, and he was being one. Since so many famous bloggers have clever pseudonyms for their

Saying Goodbye

2010-08-21T14:31:00.000-07:00

This morning I took my middle child to the airport to fly to California for a school-sponsored camping trip before he begins his freshman year of college. Even though we will see him again on Wednesday when we head out to help move him into the dorms, today felt momentous. Saying goodbye is both easy, and hard; bitter, and sweet; a start, and a finish. I think this is especially true for

Driving me to Drink or School Zones

2010-08-20T11:15:00.000-07:00

On September 10th, (if all goes well on September 9th), I will be a free woman. No, I’m not getting divorced. My fourth is getting her license, and since, for the first time in 16 years, there is only one school to drive to, I am off the hook for good! Wow. Two hours added back to my day. I am beside myself with anticipation. Does the driving part of parenting get to you as much as it

2010-08-16T21:15:00.000-07:00

I test drove a Nissan Murano last weekend, and loved it. The Murano is kind of a cross between an SUV and a sports car. That’s just what I’ve spent my whole life trying to be! Buying a new car often takes me for a ride down memory lane. My mom was the ultimate station wagon mom. In fact, she didn’t give up her last station wagon until about two years ago at age 75.

I Had Nightmares About the Plunger

2010-08-13T08:38:00.000-07:00

Everyone needs a Kristen on their team. My daughter has that kind of attitude that you wish could be packaged and shared with any victim of any thing. Maybe it's the classic entitlement that is often attributed to being the oldest, or maybe it's the Mimi gene she got from my Irish-tempered grandmother; but whatever it is, I wish I had it! Kris thinks nothing of calling up Apple, At & T, or

damn, never liked being a copycat

2010-08-11T07:16:00.000-07:00

who knew there were so many gals already doing my project-on a daily, yearly, lifelong basis! sheesh. and here i was thinking i was so great. but never mind, i'll try to remember this isn't a competition. so far my biggest accomplishment was buying the marked down to a dollar bodywash for my hubby instead of the irish spring he asked for. oh yeah, joined ebates.com am still figuring out

Cycling & Saving- a New Approach to Spending

2010-08-09T07:46:00.000-07:00

With three kids in college this year, MidChix still in start-up mode, and the need for a new car looming as our fourth kid takes the wheel, our budget is busted, big time! We are not frivolous spenders, but we do spend a lot. Some on needs, some on wants. As we work on instilling more money sense in our kids, I decided that it's high time we walk the talk. So after discovering the joys of

Anniversaries

2010-08-08T07:34:00.000-07:00

23 years ago I had the incredible foresight and fortune to marry my husband. He was a rare find when I first met him in 1982, and still is today. Not that there haven't been times when I've wondered who the hell is that, or what the hell was I thinking, where the hell is he, or when the hell is he going to shut up. But most of the time I can't help wondering how the hell did I get so lucky.

Last Day on the Bay or I Hate to Pack

2010-08-07T10:55:00.000-07:00

I'm still a baby about some things. I'm a baby when it comes to the finger prick before donating blood, getting on the scale at the doc, running out of coffee, wine, milk, or seltzer, cleaning toilets, and packing. I'm really a baby when it comes to leaving Stone Harbor. Here, I think nothing of walking the dog in my pajamas, wearing no make-up for weeks at a time, going barefoot 24/7,

Red Flag

2010-08-05T14:02:00.000-07:00

When an exchange begins with the words "Let me get this straight" someone should throw a red flag. There have been two times in recent memory when this opener has been directed at me. Once was when my son Kevin (at the well-informed age of 16) took issue with my disgust after John McCain chose Sarah Palin as a running-mate. The second was just this week, when my Facebook "friend" (a high school

dog virgin

2010-08-03T07:22:00.000-07:00

Last night I heard that little cough familiar to mothers nestled in beds across the universe. I stumbled out of my own nestle and wildly listened again. First thing I thought was "it must be Lilly". Lilly is eleven and here visiting. She's my son's best friend from first grade, who broke his heart when she moved to Rhode Island after third. Somehow her mom, who has the most can-do attitude

Going down the Rabbit-Hole...

2010-07-30T07:41:00.001-07:00

One benefit of being stuck in a hospital room without reliable internet access, was the opportunity to go read all of those blog posts that I've been accumulating in my Favorite Blogs Folder for just such an occasion! Before I share some of my faves, I have to ask all of you other bloggers and readers how you manage your reading and writing schedule. Has anyone found that illusive perfect

From Birthday to Hospital Stay

2010-07-28T10:45:00.000-07:00

Today will be the 85th birthday celebration I have cobbled together over five kids and 21 years...well I guess I didn't really do parties on their actual birth days-but labor should count don't you think? My youngest is 11 ...and I always loved that his birthday falls on the 27th, as mine does too. Of course my husband will tell you that I FORCED the doc to deliver the baby that day...that he

Get to Know you Monday Post

2010-07-26T10:55:00.000-07:00

1. What one food could you eat every single day? 2. Do you wear glasses or contacts? 3. What kind of cell phone do you have? 4. What did you have for dinner last night? 5. What is your favorite candy? -----------------------------------------I could and do eat crunchy peanut butter every single morning (usually dipped in Bare Naked Fit Granola and washed down with a glass of milk and some

Early to Dine, Early to Die?

2010-07-26T06:41:00.000-07:00

My mom is navigating her first year as a widow. She hates that word, and who wouldn't, so don't tell her I used it in the same sentence as "my mom". One of the hardest parts of this new life, is the loneliness at the end of the day. Preparing a nice dinner had long been a big part of Mom's identity. Now with no one to feed but herself, she is grateful whenever she has evening plans. Her

Riding the Brake?

2010-07-21T12:10:00.000-07:00

This morning I headed out for my bike ride early to try to beat the heat and wind. While it was still pretty darned hot with the typical breeze from the south, it wasn't nearly as bad as it had been on Monday afternoon. Nevertheless, I was surprised at how hard the going was. Maybe I'm getting sick, I thought. Or maybe I should have had a little more breakfast fuel... By the time I'd finished

Planes, Parents, Priorities

2010-07-17T13:43:00.000-07:00

Yesterday I flew home from the beach to be with my husband for his minor surgery. While I’m not generally a fan of Southwest Airlines, they had the best fare and schedule, so that trumped preference. Slightly more savvy than with my first trip on Southwest, I had paid the ten bucks for priority seating thus knew my chances of a decent seat were pretty good. With a packed gate area, there was

Children-love them

2010-07-12T15:12:00.000-07:00

Early yesterday morning I stopped at Wawa for the Sunday paper and a carton of milk. (if you haven't heard about this phenomenal east coast hotspot, read more of my recent kudos). While standing in the long, but fast-moving line I was entertained by two adorable, pajama-clad, tousled and tow-headed kids in front of me. A little boy @ 5 and sister @ 4 were in line with their dad, who

A Night in NYC!

2010-07-10T03:42:00.000-07:00

I made a quick trip to NYC on Thursday to attend Jane Pollak's Remarkable Women in New York event at EileenFisher . It was a fabulous twenty two hours in many ways. There is something so empowering about navigating one's way not only around the Big Apple but into itas well. Did you know there are 16 bridges that connect that one island to the surrounding neighborhoods (and over 2000 bridges and

It's a Dog's Life

2010-07-08T04:43:00.000-07:00

My dog knows how to relax. If only I could learn from him; maybe I could stop reading all the self-help books and say "screw it, I'm just going lie in the doorway today". He has perfected a skill that so many life coaches are trying so hard to teach to so many clients: how to just say "no". Despite the prong collar, training sessions with South Jersey's famous "Devil Dog Trainer", and yes, I

Thirty Days has September, April, June, and November...

2010-07-01T11:57:00.000-07:00

When I was little, my mother's best friend had a sign in her kitchen that read: "The Hurrieder I Go, The Behinder I Get." I could always relate to that sign. Often it feels like no matter how fast or far or furiously I pedal, when I look ahead, I still have just as far to go...but as my husband likes to remind me every so often, the problem is not the road, it's my perspective. So during a

Thank you Soldiers, Sailors, Pilots, Thank you all

2010-06-29T04:49:00.000-07:00

This amazing video was shared on Hiccups in Time today http://hiccup-in-time.blogspot.com/It is too moving to not continue to share with others. The message accompanying the video was:3,000 vets on motorcycles from across the nation paraded in D.C. the Sunday before Memorial Day, while a solitary, saluting Marine greeted them out on Constitution Avenue. The Marine stood at salute for three

The Firehouse

2010-06-26T09:01:00.000-07:00

Today was the firehouse hoagie sale. One Saturday every June our firemen drive up and down the streets of Stone Harbor in their engines shouting "Hoagies! Hoagies!" to the myriad vacationers running, walking, jogging, blading, or biking (like me) up Second Avenue.By the time I got back from my ride, showered, and headed over to the firehouse, the hoagies were all gone. 2000 hoagies sold in two

God Bless WaWa!

2010-06-25T05:01:00.000-07:00

Driving three (eventually four and a half) hours home from Baltimore on Wednesday, I faced a universal problem which is much tougher to solve on the East Coast than it is in Colorado. One of the first things I had noticed (when you're potty-training a toddler this is one of the first things you'd notice too!) when we moved to Denver, is how ubiquitous public restrooms are. Not just available,

First Day of Summer-Good time for Life Instructions!

2010-06-21T08:57:00.000-07:00

Not sure who was the original source of these, though many of them have been attributed to the Dalai Lama. Regardless, I have had them printed out in color on my fridge ever since a friend forwarded them to me last summer. The first day of summer seems like the perfect time to share them. Like a mid-year musing on New Year's resolutions past and future...1. Give people more than they expect

Getting to Know You Monday!

2010-06-21T05:00:00.000-07:00

Yikes hope I'm doing this right!1. How many brother and sisters do you have?I have one brother, 16 months older than me- and he still likes to make sure I remember that he knows more than I do!2. What is your favorite thing to do?Read & Write!3. What countries have you visited?Japan, Italy, France, England, Mexico4. Are you a morning or a night person?Night Owl... though used to be more of a

Not a Phone Person

2010-06-18T18:39:00.000-07:00

Why, oh why, do I dread the ring of the phone? Or, maybe the better question is, why do people keep calling me? I, now understand my parents' ire when my brother and I were teens and the phone would ring incessantly. It was such an intrusion to them, such a possibility for us. I guess I should be thankful that the era of cell phones, and texting mean that my irritation over a ringing phone is

Something In the Water

2010-06-16T04:45:00.000-07:00

I crossed the bridge into Stone Harbor and it happened just like it has every time since I first started coming here at the age of one or two. My heart soared but my heart rate slowed. My body relaxed as if it recognized home. When I'm here, my brain teems with ideas, but rejects tension. It's magical. My husband started commenting on my yearly transformation after his first few summers

Road Trip

2010-06-11T14:09:00.000-07:00

Lessons Learned on a 4-day, 3-night, 8-state Extravaganza:When making hotel reservations for the inaugural night, be sure the clerk who you will need to call after taking a wrong turn, doesn’t claim Tongues as his primary language.Marriott VS. Hilton? Marriott- half the price/ queen beds instead of double/ free wi-fi/ free breakfast/ unlocked room fridge. The Hilton failed to mention that

Eating Healthy-Learning the Lingo

2010-05-31T08:40:00.000-07:00

On Friday I had my second meeting with the wonderful new nutritionist we have found to help our family with finding food solutions that will work for all of us: one vegetarian, one semi-vegetarian, 2 sugarholics, 2 protein-crazed body-builders, and one gluten-intolerant (yet pizza-loving) teen. Lisa (http://www.lisagroves.com) is that rare wellness expert who refrains from judgement and

Graduation! 3 down 2 to go...

2010-05-24T07:03:00.000-07:00

My middle kiddo graduated on Friday. Must have been just last week that I took this photo of him when he was a super hero of some sort. He really is a super hero in my eyes despite the fact that he calls me Ma as if we were The Beverly Hillbillies. This is the same kid who refused my friendship on Facebook, and then took all the credit when I created MidChix.He is one of those quietly caring

I'm a Liar

2010-05-18T11:43:00.000-07:00

They say that the first step to recovery is acknowledging that you have a problem. Maybe it's a result of my distant relationship to George Washington. True! He's my Great-great-great-great-great etc Uncle or some such thing. Actually, we're just related by marriage. His wife Martha Custis was related to my dad. Boy was I proud of that as a kid. ( Even though all my classmates would accuse

Nailed

2010-05-10T05:28:00.000-07:00

Saturday night we were caught checking into our local Marriott. It had been a tough few months, with both of us in start-ups, children applying to college and middle school, a new dog, and several weeks of summer separation looming. Not to mention the fact that both of our moms arrive next week. So in the interest of "keeping the love alive" and under the pretext of "checking out the beds" (did

The Public Restroom

2010-05-04T07:51:00.000-07:00

While it must have been a woman who conceived it, some misogynist bloke must have been charged with designing it. From my early years when Mom warned me to hover over the seat less I catch some nasty disease to today's automatic toilets that treat me to a bidet experience when they prematurely flush, I have long cringed at the necessity of urination off location!When I was 30 weeks pregnant

Special Friends Day

2010-05-01T07:23:00.000-07:00

Friday would have been my Dad's 80th birthday. It was weird to think about as April neared an end, as that's usually the time when I start rooting around for a good book, movie, or cd to send him. Unlike a lot of people, Dad would actually read or watch or listen to whatever I gave him. I talked to my mom last week as she was tearfully trying to decide what to do on his birthday and it struck

Suddenly Single

2010-04-28T20:07:00.000-07:00

Today I was chatting with a new friend about ideas for MidChix. We ran the gamut from PR people, to nonprofits, to smart folks who I should meet. But the topics that we kept coming back to all happened to involve stories about women who have had their lives unravel in the tick of a New York minute. The fact is that all of our lives, no matter how filled with family, friends, appointments,

Away, Away... is There a Way to Embrace It?

2010-04-26T13:28:00.000-07:00

My least favorite activities all seem to involve the verb "putting away". Does anybody relish putting away laundry, dishes, groceries, shoes, coats, silverware, linens, toys? Don't get me wrong. I like when they are away. I just hate taking the time to do it. I keep reading about embracing the present and enjoying every moment while in it. Yet, just like driving, telemarketers, junk email,

Off with Her Head!

2010-04-17T12:36:00.000-07:00

Join me for a boycott of Starbucks. This week I happened to schedule four different meetings at a Starbucks half way between my office (kitchen counter) and my meeting partners offices (kitchen tables). Never again. Not only is the coffee overrated and overpriced, but the overly-complicated WI-FI is not free. In a country where there are over 11,000 Starbucks outlets with revenues in the

Goody-Goody Do-Gooder

2010-04-14T08:00:00.000-07:00

When I was little, other kids called me a goody-goody. And I was. Afraid of getting in trouble... I did my best to be good. Trouble was, teachers and parents may like good little girls, but other little girls don't! I've come a long way since then and am no longer an incessant rule follower...but I still am a shameless do-gooder and constantly search for the balance between caring too much

My Heroine has a Scent Allergy and I Wore Perfume

2010-04-10T07:45:00.000-07:00

Kathy Kinney and Cindy Ratzlaff shared their wisdom and wit with a whole bunch of admirers last night at the Tattered Cover in LoDo. You will never meet two more authentic and admirable women. Admirable in their authenticity. I loved how they shared not just their successes, but their obstacles as well, which happen to be the very same ones that we all have to face down on a regular basis:

Bittersweet Easter

2010-04-06T15:07:00.000-07:00

When my ten year old asked "so what are the plans for Easter?", I guess I gave him a blank stare. "Um, well we don't really have anything big planned..." I said as I searched my brain for some clue as to when Easter was arriving. "Well, but what time should I come downstairs?" he tried again. Aha. He's thinking about the baskets of candy and gifts. Phew. That I could manage.Poor kid. Being

Does this make sense?

2010-04-02T12:29:00.000-07:00

Don't you wonder about a state that lets college kids carry concealed weapons but won't let them drink? And why it's perfectly legal for a man to buy violent pornography, but if he's caught taking a whiz on the side of a highway he has to register as a sex offender? We used to have a great children's book about the 50 states. My favorite chapter was the one with a list of ridiculous laws that

Need Tips on Tips

2010-03-28T13:09:00.000-07:00

I know about cabbies, waiters and whatnot...but am clueless on proper tipping etiquette for bellboys, bellhops, doormen, concierges, etc. By the way, is a bellhop and a bellboy one and the same? Is a doorman a porter? I need a lesson before we check out. Thank God for Google! Anyone else at a loss about this stuff? Give me a minute while I track down the info...Okay, before the lowdown,

Girl or Boy?

2010-03-22T05:41:00.000-07:00

When we pulled up to the Burger King drive-thru speaker, I was thinking about my conversation with Karen. We had met that morning for a brief coffee catch-up and had shared the recent developments in the lives of our gender-variant kids. I was pondering what the best next step would be to form a playgroup for non-traditional kids…when the order-taker asked if the Kids Meal was for a boy or a

Say it Again, Sam!

2010-03-17T10:01:00.000-07:00

It must seem pretty hypocritical that a woman who is building a website to celebrate and facilitate sharing between people would be so reticent about sharing something as unobtrusive as her name. But I have to confess that one of my biggest pet peeves is the new coffee house strategy for making sure they give you the right drink. “Triple venti non-fat latte, coming right up… What’s your name?”

Intention: Philanthropy

2010-03-13T15:52:00.000-08:00

“What’s a philanthropist?” I asked my Dad when I was maybe seven or eight, after reading the word in a Bobbsey Twins mystery. He explained in the simple terms that parents use with little kids that a philanthropist is someone who does good by giving money to people in need. I said “then that’s what I’m going to be”. He had chuckled. Probably since in that day and age philanthropists were

Social Media Butterfly

2010-03-08T09:54:00.000-08:00

Social media…the bane of my existence, and the reason for it. Spent the weekend trying to make all my user names, passwords, email addresses, and screen names line up. So far, I am known as 475Gretch, Ginger27, gretchen27, Javamama27, gretchen174, ChiefChick, ChiefChick27, Georgie27, and Macaroni. A chick with nine lives.(Since my passwords are probably already known by half of Denver, I’ll

Defend Yourself!

2010-03-04T06:41:00.000-08:00

Self-defense. It sounds kind of ominous. But why wouldn’t we want to know how to defend ourselves? Theresa, our instructor, wasn't surprised. She said that a lot of people are scared off by the words “self-defense”. If you are one of those folks, let me tell you that articulating your biggest fears and then finding out how to handle them if they happen is the most empowering experience that

Waking Up

2010-03-02T05:24:00.000-08:00

When the alarm blared its obnoxious blare this morning, I rolled over, and got up. My loving but slightly less morning-hungry husband, muttered "How do you do that"?Good question. I mean, I'm clearly tired. I go to bed way later than the rest of the family, and get up earlier. I know that I'm sleep deprived, but no matter how I've tried to address it, sleep always loses. You know what's

Lessons from the Latina Chamber Lunch

2010-02-27T19:48:00.000-08:00

I went to an inspiring lunch on Thursday. The Latina Chamber of Commerce in Denver is an organization whose mission is to promote and advance the personal, professional, and business interests of Latinas, their families, and their communities. Although this organization is merely five years old, already it has accomplished much in the way of educating and empowering members of its community.

Balance- Is it bologna?

2010-02-21T08:01:00.000-08:00

As we stand on bosu balls and throw weighted balls back and forth at the end of pilates class, Lisa reminds us that our balance is the first thing to go as we age. She also says that by working on it, we can not only preserve, but even improve it. I wonder to myself if it’s the same thing with mental and emotional balance. Can it be improved if I actually practice it? If I begin to make it a

Money is Funny

2010-02-19T08:57:00.000-08:00

Money is funny. Actually it just makes people act funny. Not funny-ha-ha, but funny like a “funny uncle”- so, in other words, not funny at all.I have started this post so many times, and every time I head off on a different tangent. I finally realized that there are a lot of different things to say about money. And they can’t all be said at once. I want to think about, write about and talk

On a Wing and a Prayer

2010-02-14T09:57:00.000-08:00

Searching for a slogan is not as easy as one would think. But it sure is fun! We ran through quite a few options before throwing caution to the wind and giving Facebook the bird (see photo of our billboard)! Maybe that’s what being a Midchick is about. Getting to that place where you decide it’s okay to throw caution to the wind. Let’s face it, most of us have been pretty cautious in many

Hard Day

2010-02-11T18:17:00.000-08:00

I had one of those days. It started around 6:15 PM yesterday, so I am hoping that it is now over, just like the 24 hour flu. But it prompted me to bitch and moan, and inventory a bunch of my personal pet peeves. Somehow writing them down really does make you feel better! So Read 'Em and Peep...I want to hear yours too! PS. Remember, it was a bad day. I don't want anyone playing devil's

Thank god February is only 28 Days

2010-02-09T21:50:00.000-08:00

When I picked up my ten year-old from school today and he said his stomach hurt, I actually turned around and looked at him. I mean the kid is not stupid. Usually the time for moaning and clutching of one's stomach falls in the hour between 7 and 8 AM, when chances are I will blanch at the memory of last year when I sent him to school anyway and he barfed in between main lesson and recess. When

When Our Kids Grow Up

2010-02-08T12:49:00.000-08:00

Ten years ago I read Katrina Kenison's Mitten Strings for God-Reflections for Mothers in a Hurry, and was thrilled by the thoughts of a Mom who reminded me so much of myself. In time, I began to realize that she probably reminded almost every other mother of themselves as well. And somehow it was easier to accept advice from one of our own. By sharing her personal search for some elusive

The Sweet Song of a Mama Bird

2010-02-08T10:50:00.001-08:00

This beautiful video made my heart stop...can't we all relate to the many memories and musings of another mama chick. Watch and weep. Look for my coming post about her book!

Evolution

2010-02-01T09:36:00.000-08:00

At midnight (East Coast time) I will be celebrating my oldest child's 21st birthday at a small local bar in the Philadelphia burbs. (Fortunately, back in my day, we didn't have to wait so long to get a drink!) Twenty-one is the same age I was when I met her dad. The night had begun in a resort bingo hall, progressed to an unplanned double date, and ended on a blanket on the beach with a 6-pack

MidChix Who Click with Moms Who Blog

2010-01-26T15:38:00.000-08:00

As I listened to several inspiring speakers Sunday at the incredibly cool Chicks who Click 2010, I kept thinking "Damn, what if Mommy Blogging had been around 15 years ago when I had a 6-, 5-, 3- and 1-year-old hanging on my leg??" I had always fantasized about being the next Erma Bombeck. I'm not sure if it was because my mom adored her, and I wanted to be adored too...or if it was because her

School Rant

2010-01-19T15:51:00.000-08:00

I wasn't the only one who was cranky yesterday. I talked to at least a few other moms who confessed that they had lost their patience. My theory is that after having more than three weeks of school holidays in the past eight, we are weary. Weary of juggling our usual work responsibilities and our usual home responsibilities along with holiday demands and the added complication of multiple

Alone

2010-01-13T13:22:00.000-08:00

There is something about being alone. It is an indescribable feeling I get on that first day after summer vacation or winter break when everyone has gone back to school, or work, or wherever…and I am actually in my house by myself. It is so soothing, so peaceful, and so incredibly rare. I guess that it is that rarity that makes it so good… I am sitting here by myself, listening to the humming

New Year's Resolutions

2010-01-01T06:55:00.000-08:00

breathe deeply, be polite, stop swearing, practice patience, sleep more, drink less, plan dinner, call my mother, knit a scarf, take that art class, visit a museum, go to the movies, write letters, honor date night, walk a lot, kiss my husband, meditate, bake homemade cookies, pray, read more, drive less, hug a child, tip liberally, never honk, screen calls, be grateful, stretch, consider

Willing Life

2009-12-16T15:18:00.000-08:00

The will to live—it’s an unfathomable thing. What drives it? I mean there are days when the news is so grim, the air so cold, and the people we love so unlovable that it’s easy to wonder why we bother. But sometimes, something—faith, hope, or belief in the power of human relationships—must urge us to stay the course. When I arrived at the hospital last Friday, six days after I had left, I was

When Mid-Life Brings End-of-Life Issues Closer to Home

2009-11-30T09:51:00.000-08:00

Thanksgiving brought mixed blessings this year. After a whirlwind but wonderful week visiting with family and friends in Philadelphia, New York and New Jersey, it ended at my father’s bedside in ICU. Twenty-four hours after a long, complicated multiple hernia surgery on Monday, he seemed amazingly well. But at midnight on Wednesday he was moved to ICU. Agitated, disoriented, and in considerable

River Trip

2009-11-16T19:07:00.000-08:00

Two or three years ago I spent an extended Labor Day weekend on a canoe trip down the Green River with eleven other women. We camped, canoed, divvied up chocolate bars around the fire at night and drank cowboy coffee (with grounds and no cream) in the mornings. The first six hours of the trip I wondered what I had gotten myself into. The first night, I finally crawled out of my tent to escape

Middle-Aged Women

2009-11-03T13:56:00.000-08:00

It was probably more than 15 years ago when I first heard someone refer to middle-aged women as invisible. It was incredibly depressing...even for someone who felt like she had eons until she was middle-aged.The eons went by at light speed, but fate was with me. And the future is good. That someone may have been right about middle-aged gals then, but he (you knew it was a he didn't you?), is

MidChix Start Up Financing Part 2 or "My Money or My Life"

2009-10-26T06:40:00.000-07:00

By January of 2009, MidChix haunted my every waking moment, and I began searching high and low for funds. I needed $50,000 dollars and it was nowhere to be found. I sold some jewelry. I looked under the seats of the car. I pocketed bills that showed up in the lint screen. I cashed in the kitchen change jar. I consigned clothes. I substituted in the office at the school. I did everything I could

MidChix Start Up Financing Part One or Cleaning Up

2009-10-12T13:28:00.000-07:00

I wasn’t complaining, I swear. It’s just that for the 54th consecutive Monday, when I turned on the living room lamp, nothing happened. For the 54th consecutive Monday, I went out to the garage, retrieved a new bulb, screwed it in, turned the little knob and…still, nothing happened. Oh yeah, I thought, the cleaning lady unplugged it again. Believe me, I knew I was lucky to have a cleaning lady, I