“Human sacrifice, dogs and cats, living together... mass hysteria!” Movie, please? That’s right, the great Bill Murray aka Dr. Peter Venkman, in that cinematic masterpiece: Ghostbusters. Why yes, Dr. Venkman, we have a bit of mass hysteria going on at my house at the moment. We have adopted a cat. I am not a cat person – my friends and family know this. I like dogs. I have been a firm member of “Team Canine” all of my life. Yet, here I am, coexisting with a cat. How did this happen you … [Read more...]
Ain’t No Place For Sissies
This past weekend I attended a good friend’s wedding: his second; her first. It was a beautiful and fun affair; a great way to start down the marital path. Not surprisingly, this event has had me reflecting a bit on marriages - first, second, and beyond. Now, I’ve been warned; “Danger Will Robinson, DANGER!” Why would I ever want to wade into the minefield-laced topic of marriage? Well kiddies, sometimes you just gotta get in there and throw out a few ideas. But let’s be clear: I am NOT a … [Read more...]
Three Little Words
There are phrases that I’m quite sure I will never utter: Chocolate? No thanks. It’s Free? Pass. Love the Gators. (OK, this one isn’t even funny to joke about). I did, however, recently find myself saying something that I truly NEVER thought I would ever pronounce: I miss Florida. Even at a young age, I always had a plan to leave Florida just as soon as possible. BFF Dani pointed out that I wrote in her high school yearbook, circa 1981, that I would be: seeing her in DC; … [Read more...]
It’s Going to Be OK
This is not what I had planned to write about today. Today I was going to write about Virgos, those born under the sixth astrological sign. Being that August is our birth month, I was going to pen a little shout out to all my Virgo earth sign peeps and wish them a wonderful day. I was going to give all the Virgos permission to take a day long break from all the planning, the list making, the fact checking and the other various quirks that make Virgos the fabulous organizers of the world. So, … [Read more...]
Mysteries of the Universe
There are things in the universe I just don’t understand. Actually, I’m keeping a list of the things I don’t understand – no surprise here being that I’m a Virgo; we love lists. I have this plan – of course I have a plan; see previous Virgo reference – that when I get to the pearly gates, St. Peter (aka “Heaven’s Bouncer”) is going to ask me “Do you have any questions before you proceed?” I’m going to be ready to reply, “Why yes, since you asked…” Here are some of the top secrets of the … [Read more...]
Twenty Questions
Have you ever played the game “Twenty Questions?” Well, I recently had the fun experience of playing a version of this game with Pandora (Dora) Poikilos, at Orangeberry Book Tours. We had a great time discussing all kinds of random topics. Originally posted at http://www.orangeberrybooktours.com/2012/07/author-interview-kimberly-dalferes.html#.T_WkcBt99Jg.facebook, Dora gave me permission to re-post here today. By the way, the Orangeberry Summer Splash Book Tour begins next week (August 1). … [Read more...]
Never Trust Someone With Thin Lips
I’m sometimes asked “where do you get your inspiration for your blog topics?” Most days the universe just speaks to me. Take today for example: this is my 13th blog post, and today is Friday the 13th. Coincidence? Hmm… It appears that the question of the day is: are you a superstitious person? Do you believe in luck? Superstitions, by definition, are beliefs based in something supernatural or a feeling or an instinct. Some superstitions may be somewhat fact-based: it may be bad luck to walk … [Read more...]
Lucky Quarters
I’ve been thinking a lot lately about comfort. There are certainly creature comforts: a plush cushy bed or a soft sweater on a cold day. But I’ve found myself wondering more about the actual giving and receiving of emotional comfort. I’ve been pondering all of this because our family recently suffered a terrible loss: the sudden death of a dear friend. At the times when we need it most, how do we support and care for each other? What comforts do we seek? I … [Read more...]
DIY Makeover Challenge: Can You Really Update a Bathroom For Less Than $500?
2010 was our “Year of the Money Pit.” In the middle of a major (read: expensive) master bathroom remodel, our home’s HVAC system ceased to work. Just shut right down. This unexpected, LARGE expense was followed closely by another surprise: our septic tank was failing and had to be immediately replaced. They say when it rains, it pours; well 2010 was our monsoon season. Consequently, I was put on a remodeling and redecorating diet for 2011 and 2012. No big projects allowed. I was relegated to … [Read more...]
Secrets of an Estate Sale Junkie
“Hello, my name is Kim, and I am an Estate Sale Junkie.” “Hello Kim!” I wasn’t always an ESJ. I started with what seemed to be relatively harmless excursions: thrift store perusing, perhaps the random yard or garage sale were as far as I explored. It all changed when, about a year ago, my Dad introduced me to the intriguing underworld known as the estate sale network. I’ve now come to understand that estate sales are different from the standard garage sale. A garage or yard sale is usually … [Read more...]