One afternoon last October I was at work and needed a break from the project I was working on. So I checked my blog feed and a post from one of my favorite blogs made my heart skip a beat. The post, A Secret to a Happy Marriage, describes a long-married couple's weekly tradition of dining together al fresco at a pretty overlook in Brooklyn– which they have been doing for 24 years! The couple said that having a way to connect everyday, without distractions, is key to a happy marriage. How simple and true is that? Instantly I loved... Read more →

Two years ago, Chris was able to take a semester long sabbatical from work. As a tenured university professor he has the opportunity to do this every seven years. During his sabbatical he explored new creative interests, including sewing!, had lots of time to exercise and eat really well, and to generally to recharge. He returned to work invigorated and with new directions to explore in his research. As we talked about what the summer after I quit my job might look like Chris had an idea: "You should treat the summer like a mini sabbatical." I loved the idea... Read more →

I'm writing this from the breezy morning shade of my front porch, wearing shorts and a sleeveless shirt. Already the afternoons are getting hot; summer declaring that it is on its way. May is the prologue to summer and this year it's a prologue to my new chapter. This month is about transitioning and decompressing and breathing. I'll have several days with childcare for both boys and few commitments. We'll also be traveling for nearly three weeks to Texas, taking full advantage of our more flexible schedule. What I noticed immediately in my first week of not working is how... Read more →