Dear Friend, some stress symptoms.
Dear Friend, I only wish I had written to you years ago. To temper that loss, I will tell you a bitterfunny (not bittersweet, exactly) story. It is meant to make you smile, not to be sad. In April 2003,
Dear Friend, some stress symptoms.
Dear Friend, I only wish I had written to you years ago. To temper that loss, I will tell you a bitterfunny (not bittersweet, exactly) story. It is meant to make you smile, not to be sad. In April 2003,
The Purse Story
First, you should know that I am not an idiot. Second, you should know I was not arrested. Let’s begin. I had the opportunity to visit New York City for the first time a few years ago with my ex-husband
The Purse Story
First, you should know that I am not an idiot. Second, you should know I was not arrested. Let’s begin. I had the opportunity to visit New York City for the first time a few years ago with my ex-husband
People with Stories: Jerry
In Terminal B of the Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta airport, you will find Cafe Intermezzo. With a bar, inner dining room, and sidewalk style seating in the terminal, this little cafe is posh amid steel and sensible metro flooring. The restaurant provides
People with Stories: Jerry
In Terminal B of the Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta airport, you will find Cafe Intermezzo. With a bar, inner dining room, and sidewalk style seating in the terminal, this little cafe is posh amid steel and sensible metro flooring. The restaurant provides
2011 in review
The WordPress.com stats helper monkeys prepared a 2011 annual report for this blog. Here’s an excerpt: A San Francisco cable car holds 60 people. This blog was viewed about 1,200 times in 2011. If it were a cable car, it
2011 in review
The WordPress.com stats helper monkeys prepared a 2011 annual report for this blog. Here’s an excerpt: A San Francisco cable car holds 60 people. This blog was viewed about 1,200 times in 2011. If it were a cable car, it
I met Katherine Paterson!
During a life-altering NCTE conference in Chicago last month, I met Katherine Paterson, author of Bridge to Terabithia. This beautiful spirit of a woman reminded me more of a kind-lady-from-church than of an award-winning novelist who has shaped ongoing generations
I met Katherine Paterson!
During a life-altering NCTE conference in Chicago last month, I met Katherine Paterson, author of Bridge to Terabithia. This beautiful spirit of a woman reminded me more of a kind-lady-from-church than of an award-winning novelist who has shaped ongoing generations
Children can be decent storytellers.
It’s true. A 14-year-old student actually has some perspective on the world and language to share his thoughts. Though, not much perspective, and his or her literacy language is merely emerging, but the fundamentals of storytelling are there. In my
Children can be decent storytellers.
It’s true. A 14-year-old student actually has some perspective on the world and language to share his thoughts. Though, not much perspective, and his or her literacy language is merely emerging, but the fundamentals of storytelling are there. In my
Micro-writing
I respect Twitter. The simple elegance of using up to 140 characters to tell a caring world that you are on your way to the store to pick up some apples is brilliant. People actually use this. Of course, there
Micro-writing
I respect Twitter. The simple elegance of using up to 140 characters to tell a caring world that you are on your way to the store to pick up some apples is brilliant. People actually use this. Of course, there
The Love of Mrs. Lolita Rabinsky
Since only a handful of people follow this blog religiously, and only a fewer handful of people seem to find it, I am emboldened with the pen of obscurity to do a good thing for history. I will tell you
The Love of Mrs. Lolita Rabinsky
Since only a handful of people follow this blog religiously, and only a fewer handful of people seem to find it, I am emboldened with the pen of obscurity to do a good thing for history. I will tell you
Chicago
Dear Chicago, May this letter find you well. I am writing to express my humble and heartfelt appreciation for your generosity, as well as your breezy and aloof coolness that masks your deep and subtle love for humanity. I met
Seventh Winter
This winter will be my seventh Minnesota winter. My house will, again, transform from this: to the very different version of itself: Notice the leaves in the first picture. You see those? Every leaf shown is on my property and
Seventh Winter
This winter will be my seventh Minnesota winter. My house will, again, transform from this: to the very different version of itself: Notice the leaves in the first picture. You see those? Every leaf shown is on my property and
Miss Rosa, the anti-woo girl
When I was in my early youth, I could not stand the woo girls. Still can’t, actually. But I must say that anytime you compliment a woo girl on her shoes, her new earrings, or her choice in men, you
Miss Rosa, the anti-woo girl
When I was in my early youth, I could not stand the woo girls. Still can’t, actually. But I must say that anytime you compliment a woo girl on her shoes, her new earrings, or her choice in men, you
Book review: Feed, by M. T. Anderson
I started reading Feed by M. T. Anderson while on the plane from Minneapolis to Orlando this weekend. Page one opened my take off and ascent. The front cover depicting a large, orange, bald head and translucent script of the
Book review: Feed, by M. T. Anderson
I started reading Feed by M. T. Anderson while on the plane from Minneapolis to Orlando this weekend. Page one opened my take off and ascent. The front cover depicting a large, orange, bald head and translucent script of the
Ongoing Gratitude: Pandora Radio
This post will be the first of a series describing my ongoing gratitude for multiple aspects of my life. Today, I am grateful for Pandora Radio. I am not supposed to listen to the streaming sounds of my own radio
Ongoing Gratitude: Pandora Radio
This post will be the first of a series describing my ongoing gratitude for multiple aspects of my life. Today, I am grateful for Pandora Radio. I am not supposed to listen to the streaming sounds of my own radio
Wearing the right shoes, or Hey, wanna go to a tea party?
Who cares how much advice I toss around; my words are usually dead on. Today’s comments are directed toward footwear and preparation. If you are ever asked to attend a gathering, party, barbecue, or date, say yes then ask in response
Wearing the right shoes, or Hey, wanna go to a tea party?
Who cares how much advice I toss around; my words are usually dead on. Today’s comments are directed toward footwear and preparation. If you are ever asked to attend a gathering, party, barbecue, or date, say yes then ask in response
Losing a TV remote will change your life.
Reader, I am not sure how old you are, and I am not telling you my age. Being vain, I refuse to say it aloud. Being a lady, I refuse to answer the question of my years when so impolitely
Losing a TV remote will change your life.
Reader, I am not sure how old you are, and I am not telling you my age. Being vain, I refuse to say it aloud. Being a lady, I refuse to answer the question of my years when so impolitely
Joining a church and the minutiae of changing a life
Sometimes I forget that I no longer live in Savannah, Georgia. I may always consider myself an East-Coast-er, but I reside, work, and commune in the Upper Midwest. And I have been since 2005. Time to trim the edges of
Joining a church and the minutiae of changing a life
Sometimes I forget that I no longer live in Savannah, Georgia. I may always consider myself an East-Coast-er, but I reside, work, and commune in the Upper Midwest. And I have been since 2005. Time to trim the edges of
For the Close of Wedding Season 2011
For the Close of Wedding Season 2011
My Daddy speaks all 5 love languages.
Gary Chapman gave us The 5 Love Languages: The Secret to a Love that Lasts. My father, Frank Tolle, gave me the support and encouragement to become the person I am. Today, I thank my father for being my daddy
My Daddy speaks all 5 love languages.
Gary Chapman gave us The 5 Love Languages: The Secret to a Love that Lasts. My father, Frank Tolle, gave me the support and encouragement to become the person I am. Today, I thank my father for being my daddy
For those gainfully employed: It all starts with a good haircut.
My advice to the contemporary professional is to have good hair. Happy hair, quality hair, stylish hair…all necessary as a cornerstone for your goals of a rewarding employment, a routine social acceptance, and a nourishment of your true inner beauty.
For those gainfully employed: It all starts with a good haircut.
My advice to the contemporary professional is to have good hair. Happy hair, quality hair, stylish hair…all necessary as a cornerstone for your goals of a rewarding employment, a routine social acceptance, and a nourishment of your true inner beauty.
The “Little Girl Crush” and Balancing Perceptions
America, there is a phenomenon called the Little Girl Crush (LGC) that effects most girls and women regardless of color, creed, or religious affiliation. I skipped listing the sexual orientation part, as I am hetero so I cannot speak for
The “Little Girl Crush” and Balancing Perceptions
America, there is a phenomenon called the Little Girl Crush (LGC) that effects most girls and women regardless of color, creed, or religious affiliation. I skipped listing the sexual orientation part, as I am hetero so I cannot speak for
What is Eclecticism?
“Eclecticism is the degree zero of contemporary general culture: one listens to reggae, watches a western, eats McDonald’s food for lunch and local cuisine for dinner, wears Paris perfume in Tokyo and “retro” clothes in Hong Kong; knowledge is a
What is Eclecticism?
“Eclecticism is the degree zero of contemporary general culture: one listens to reggae, watches a western, eats McDonald’s food for lunch and local cuisine for dinner, wears Paris perfume in Tokyo and “retro” clothes in Hong Kong; knowledge is a
Student Gifts
I have been so blessed with student gifts over the years. Some of them have been too expensive, super thoughtful, or very odd. Once I received a surprise party from my School-to-Career Academy kids, and one White Elephant day brought
Student Gifts
I have been so blessed with student gifts over the years. Some of them have been too expensive, super thoughtful, or very odd. Once I received a surprise party from my School-to-Career Academy kids, and one White Elephant day brought
Memorial Day 2011
To thank a veteran is to kneel humbly at the feet of giants then rise to hug a loved one and welcome him home. As for me, I will remember that I hold the luxury of not knowing what it means
Memorial Day 2011
To thank a veteran is to kneel humbly at the feet of giants then rise to hug a loved one and welcome him home. As for me, I will remember that I hold the luxury of not knowing what it means
Towel Day, 25 May 2011, Remembered
Dear Colleen Tolle, This email message is sent to you from PetitionOnline to confirm your signature as “Colleen Tolle” on the online petition: “Ask Google to recognise Towel Day” hosted on the web by our free online petition service, at:
Towel Day, 25 May 2011, Remembered
Dear Colleen Tolle, This email message is sent to you from PetitionOnline to confirm your signature as “Colleen Tolle” on the online petition: “Ask Google to recognise Towel Day” hosted on the web by our free online petition service, at:
Easter means change.
Without the obvious Resurrection, springtime metamorphosis references, I must state that Easter 2011 thoroughly changed me. Should I thank the youthfrontiers.org Respect Retreat 2 days before? I should. May I remember the friends and family and acupuncture that have allowed
Easter means change.
Without the obvious Resurrection, springtime metamorphosis references, I must state that Easter 2011 thoroughly changed me. Should I thank the youthfrontiers.org Respect Retreat 2 days before? I should. May I remember the friends and family and acupuncture that have allowed
What I thought on 24 September 2010
Friday, September 24, 2010 New year’s resolution for back to school? A cute cereal commercial shows tiny wheat squares with their tiny, cheerful faces celebrating a New Year of school. On pink backpacks and mini-jersey shoulders, these fibrous animations are
What I thought on 24 September 2010
Friday, September 24, 2010 New year’s resolution for back to school? A cute cereal commercial shows tiny wheat squares with their tiny, cheerful faces celebrating a New Year of school. On pink backpacks and mini-jersey shoulders, these fibrous animations are
