I love this commercial so much. And not just because of the piano music. To me, it's about life. Capturing it, sharing it. When you think about all the things we see in our lives, it's simply impossible to preserve all these memories without documenting them somehow. Isn't it?

My Mom began sponsoring a summer reading program years ago. It was just for us kids and had a maximum payout of $50 each, but still. We were being paid.

It's a lost art, really. I remember one of my favorite things to receive as a child was stationary, all kinds, the more options I had to choose from the better.

This little kid is so cute!! If you haven't seen the videos, watch them all...including the one with Gregg Marshall.

I typed the word "stopping" into google search this morning, and the first thing that came up was "stopping by woods on a snowy evening." Which, incidentally, was exactly what I was looking for. What a tribute to Robert Frost that is. Impressive.

Last weekend marked the 16th anniversary of the little driving mishap that's chronicled in Schooled. It's hard to believe that much time has gone by. It's hard to believe I was ever that young.

I heard some remarks over the weekend from a woman who specializes in family history. When it comes to the benefits we receive from doing and learning about family history, it's not like I really need convincing, but still, days are full and time is precious and there's nothing I'm actively doing right now to learn about the lives of those who came before me.

That would be my air conditioner. I can't even say anything else. Or even type it. It's too hot in here.

I hit my weekend stretch goal. All the edits are entered, and a new clean draft printed.

Here is my weekend goal: to enter all the edits I've been scribbling on the manuscript into the computer and print out a new, clean draft.

My cousin texted me last night: “Another #1 pick for the cavs? Must be nice to have three of them in 9 years.”

Early yesterday afternoon I sent a depressed message to one of my fellow basketball-loving cousins in Oregon.

This is just to say that I'll miss it. The Office. It's one of those shows that I didn't like as much as the years went on, but I still watched, because I was invested.

Here's why this memoir works. Well, it's fabulous. But more than that, it's an ideal kind of memoir to read.

When I wrote Schooled, I originally had it organized into themed chapters. I thought this would be more readable (or at least less predictable) than chronological, so I lumped the vignettes together into themes.

I want to use Goodreads. People tell me I should use Goodreads. Everyone swears by Goodreads. And still I do not use Goodreads. Because, and I'm embarrassed to say this, I don't read very many books. Probably one of the worst things a writer can fess up to, but there you have it. I don't have time, and reading always ends up last on my priority list. Actually I take that back.