Wine O’clock Stories: Comparitis paradox

Wine O’clock Stories: Comparitis paradox

Marie put on her earrings. She reviewed her reflection in the mirror. As she fixed her hair, she mentally ran through her pitch. “Someone looks gorgeous today,” Phillip approached from behind and kissed her neck. She wriggled out of his embrace, annoyed that he broke...

Wine O’clock Fiction: Clean kitchen

Wine O’clock Fiction: Clean kitchen

Marie looked around her kitchen and sighed. The sink was full of dishes. And so was the stove. At least they ate! “Mom, could you help me with homework?” the youngest called from his room. “Mom, you promised to help me with my project,” the older one pleaded. “Hon, we...

Lockdown: 10 tips how to survive the cabin fever

Lockdown: 10 tips how to survive the cabin fever

Third lockdown! At least where I live. And while I know that other countries and regions have had worse restrictions, it is hard to avoid a cabin fever. We are all in the midst of a very difficult, unprecedented (for our generation at least) situation. And while the...

Words are weapons, don’t abuse them!

Words are weapons, don’t abuse them!

Words can hurt. “I need an ambulance!” Definitely not the words you want to hear from your husband. And certainly not over the phone. While at a party. Your birthday party. There is no subtle way to put it. He screwed up my festivities. But selfishness aside, the...

The best lessons my mom gave me (now!)

The best lessons my mom gave me (now!)

I had a unique opportunity to live with my mom. Obviously, majority of us had lived with their mothers, but my opportunity presented itself at 38. With my family (husband and two sons or as I sometimes say ‘my three kids’), we moved to live with my parents. You may...

How I found home in the midst of the pandemic

How I found home in the midst of the pandemic

The pandemic has changed a lot for all of us, but there are a few things I'm grateful for. Finding a home is one of them. When we moved to Nickelsdorf, a small village at the Austrian-Hungarian borders, it seems like a great idea. I remember a beautiful day in the...

The more I optimize, the more I lose

The more I optimize, the more I lose

Alexa, fart! The most common command our own little AI device gets from my two little rascals. What a delight! It’s my struggle, to be honest. I seem to focus on all the pitfalls of the newest technologies rather than their benefits. And, yes, it does make me feel old...

Meditation: I fail, but I love it

Meditation: I fail, but I love it

Meditation starts. Breathe in, one. Breathe out, two, three, four. Breathe in. Breathe out. Relax. I should have taken out pork chops from the freezer. Oh, no, no, no. Attention on my breath. In, one. Out, two, three, four. In…I wonder if Henry finished his homework...

My cancer diaries: Pain and gain of hair loss

My cancer diaries: Pain and gain of hair loss

She ran a comb through her hair. Her beautiful glossy long hair. At almost 40 she had no greys. Her hair had always been fine, but over the years she found her style and enjoyed the crown of her womanhood. As the comb raked her hair, a bunch of them fell like autumn...