September 15 we celebrate El Grito which marks the anniversary of “the yell” announcing Mexico’s freedom from Spain. We yell out “Viva Mexico!” September 16 carries over the celebration of independence. It is a beautiful celebration of color, life, culture, and national pride. This year was my first year where I have been in a … More Viva Mexico!
For some unknown reason, late into my pregnancy I got into the soundtrack for the musical The Wiz. Not the original, but the tv adaptation starring Queen Latifa and Mary J Blige. I would sing the songs to the baby in utero. When I gave birth to Peanut I was in the hospital alone. She … More Staying in Oz.
We are one week away from the world of Peanut getting a little bit smaller; the departure of my parents to another country will make for quite the adjustment for my tiny human. Don’t get me wrong, she is so damn strong and resilient already at the tender age of two, but it breaks my … More summer changes and summer adventures…
A lot of things have changed or are in the process of changing recently. GoDaddy fucked up my old website with my House of Peanut blog so I dumped GoDaddy; my co-host in Pckt Cndy podcast has bailed out on me; my parents are moving in a week to another country… These changes all mark … More Endings bring about new beginnings…
My friend, Dr. Jacqueline Irwin, posted the following on facebook:“I’m looking for 6 Sac State Alumni to participate in an advice project for the summer/fall terms. It entails writing or videoing yourself now and then when the term comes, giving some feedback to their questions. The format is 24 pieces of advice/thoughts on life, as … More Twenty-four
Originally posted September 11, 2020 There is a tight pain in my chest and it’s not because of the smoke in the air. If you’ve never seen the movie the Babadook, I suggest you do. It is essentially an allegory for mental disorder. He is that dark place your mind wanders to when you’ve lost … More The Babadook (from the archives)
Originally posted January 9,2020 When I was pregnant, I carried Peanut very high and could literally feel her putting tons pressure on my rib cage, making it difficult to breathe or move my upper body. It came to the point where I sneezed and heard a loud POP! – Busted my ribs. I’ve broken ribs before but not … More Pregnancy & post-partum related excerpts from the archives…
I’m not a stupid person. I’m not naive. I know the state of things. I know the ugliest parts and I’ve been to hell and back. The world is in disarray and there is so much ugliness. And fucking covid… But still…. I choose to see the beauty in the world. I know, I KNOW, this … More Choose to see the beauty
April 7, 2020 Perspective, Patience, Purpose People who suffers from PTSD are prone to problematic patterns when placed in positions of perilous predicaments such as a pandemic. My method of survival is perspective, patience, and purpose. When you suffer from any sort of mental health condition (and even when you don’t!) you have to be … More Popular Excerpts from the Archives
Dear Peanut, Where to begin? I guess… in the beginning… When I was a little girl, all the other little girls wanted to play barbie and ken dolls together. I never did. On the rare occasion that I played the game of the domestic life, all I wanted was babies and puppies. I never knew … More a letter to my daughter on our first mother’s day.