File this under “Good to Know”

One of the ugliest phrases in the English language is "Rumor has it..." Rumors can kill friendships, careers, and reputations. In fact, rumors can kill the human spirit; unfortunately, we females usually tend to be on the fuzzy end of this particular lollipop. If ever you have the opportunity to be the person who stops…

That Kid!

Gabbi, my thirteen year old who had the unenviable blessing of falling smack dab in the middle of the birthing order of Clan Allen and who landed as my "middle child" has always been my most ... shall we say, headstrong kidlen. She's the sort that makes grownups smack their forehead and sigh, "That kid!" Oh,…

God is Slightly Crazy, Right?

I ran across this modest little poem in the earliest hours of this morning and it struck me in such a significant way, that I read and re-read it several times, trying to digest its considerable meaning, while grinning from ear to ear. I must admit that I admire anyone cheeky enough to give God…

Happy Independence, Tejas!

Today  marks the 180th anniversary of Texas independence. On this date in 1836, 59 delegates crowded into the lil' Brazos-river town of Washington and unanimously passed a declaration (penned by George Campbell Childress) that proclaimed Texas a republic independent from Mexico. Check out the The Unanimous Declaration of Independence made by the Delegates of the People of Texas in General Convention at…

Holding on

Well, here's a happy thought worth sharing from Todd Lohenry at Bright, shiny objects. Photo post by @brightshinyobje. Source: Holding on

Parenthood: Prognosis Shitstorm

When I was a little girl, my family and I were caught in the midst of Hurricane Alicia which killed 21 people and caused over 2 billion dollars in damage. It was terrifying to be sure; but I was a naive kid, so it was also very exciting. The grownups were absolutely horrified, but my cousins…

What Are You Waiting For?

Not long ago, I ran across a really nice set of calligraphy markers and thought Holy cow, I still have these? Cool! I'll use them now. I was so excited that I'd found these amazing markers and was totally stoked to use them. Recent events have reminded me that life is short, so I was grinning from…

iDeath

Death is ugly no matter how it's delivered. And the entire notion of  "death with dignity" completely baffles me. I can find nothing dignified about it. It's awful. It's tragic. And it hurts like hell. Death is totally FUBAR regardless of its setting, reasons, or duration. Even martyrdom and the noblest of sacrifices are hideous and…

Words ‘o Wisdom Wednesday

There was a boy A very strange enchanted boy They say he wandered very far, very far Over land and sea A little shy and sad of eye But very wise was he And then one day A magic day he passed my way And while we spoke of many things Fools and kings This…

Life Goes Strong

Less than twenty-four hours ago, my father-in-law died. Two of my sister's grandchildren burned to death in a house fire this morning. Of course, our families are devastated and the weight of so much sadness had me sitting at my desk with my head in my hands wondering just how much emotional pain and turmoil people…