Author: Jessica L Gardner
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10 signs I may have hit Middle Age
This afternoon I had the opportunity to have my annual eye exam. My eyes are healthy and all is mostly fine. I was motivated to schedule the appointment because my arms were no longer long enough to allow me to see close-up when wearing my glasses or contacts and because the DMV told me a…
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Piano lessons: Although I quit them 32 years ago, I wish I still played
When I was 5 or 6 years old, my parents made me take piano lessons. The key phrase there is “made me.” Music lessons were not optional in my house. Properly raised children played the piano. Period. My mom had grown up taking piano lessons from my step-grandfather’s first wife (before she passed away) and my…
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What Joan Rivers taught us about death and dying
Unless you just arrived here via time travel from the 1980s and in a DeLorean, and if you did, let’s talk ASAP, you know that pioneering comic Joan Rivers died last week. If you did arrive here via time travel, I’m sorry for the spoiler. But seriously, call me ASAP. I want to go back.…
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Watervale Bingo Days 5: We’re half-way there!
Tuesday was an exciting day here at Watervale. It was windy, rainy, and chilly. I believe that the high was about 59, which meant that I actually put on socks. I’ll have you know that, although it was tempting, I did not wear them with my flip flops. I even slept in a wool hat,…
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Watervale Bingo: Mark Your Cards for Days 3 and 4
You know what the great thing about vacation is? The lack of schedule. There was a moment yesterday when I was standing on the steps of the Inn and asked myself, “what day is it?” That’s truly the sign that I’ve checked out of life as I’m accustomed to it and am fully engulfed in…
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Watervale Bingo: Days 1 and 2
If you’re playing Watervale Bingo, the game I invented earlier yesterday, I hope you’re excited for the summary of my activities for yesterday and today. It’s been a fun-filled first two days with many adventures still to be had in the next eight days. On Friday, I left my house at 4:08 a.m. CT and…
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Watervale Bingo!
Earlier today, The Woodlawn Wonder explained to ArkiLad that I was headed to my ancestral summer home, Watervale, where my family has vacationed for four generations (I’m the third generation). That sparked a whole conversation about Watervale and what I do while I’m here and sparked an idea: Watervale Bingo! What is Watervale Bingo? It’s a…
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Dear DMV: Kiss my ass
Dear DMV, Yes, what happened between us today is at least partly my fault. Heck, I’ll own 50% of it, but I really wish you could meet me half way on this one and recognize your responsibility. If you could have done that, our special time together could have been far more pleasant and we’d…
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Washington DC: I’ll always call it home
In the Spring of 1993, when most of my friends were headed to sandy beaches during Spring Break of our senior year of college, I hopped on a plane and jetted off to Washington DC where I hoped to land a job. I knew no one, had no connections or “ins,” and this was before…
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Blogapalooz-Hour: Top 11 Tips for Success
Blogapalooz-Hour: One hour each month when the bloggers of ChicagoNow blog about the same topic sent out at exactly 9:00 p.m. CT by Community Managers, Jimmy Greenfield or Shavon Banket. (Ed. note: That’s the wrong Jimmy Greenfield. ChicagoNow‘s Jimmy is not related to that James Greenfield. Find the right one here.) Bloggers hit publish at 10:00 p.m.…
Jessica L Gardner 