The Birthday Cake Conundrum

By Patti Parish-Kaminski, Publisher Well, I did it.  I threw all caution to the wind and embarked on an activity that is definitely not in my wheelhouse.  But in my defense, it was Mr. Kaminski’s birthday, and I was trying to be sweet about it.  Sweet – another thing not exactly in my wheelhouse. I...

Breaking Badly

By Patti Parish-Kaminski, Publisher I tend to break things.  I don’t know why; it just happens.  It’s a hodge podge of this and that – these things I tend to break.  Plus, I also fall – a lot.  It’s not that I’m particularly clumsy, at least I don’t think so.  It’s just that I move with...

The Value Proposition

By Patti Parish-Kaminski, Publisher Values is a word I used frequently raising my babies, primarily in the spiritual and moral realm.  They were the basic principles one would expect – integrity, loyalty, kindness, work ethic, honesty, service, common sense – those meritorious standards of behavior, or...

Island Time

By Patti Parish-Kaminski, Publisher Island Time is a thing, and I for one, am not here for it.  I tend to view things black and white by nature, and the entire concept of Island Time is extremely gray.  And worse, it varies depending on who you ask.  It’s downright maddening for a girl who has an...

Trans-Svelte

By Patti Parish-Kaminski, Publisher I am completely and thoroughly worn out from fighting this battle of the bulge.  I’ve been at it nearly two years now, and I am over the struggle.  Sure, I’m down over 30 pounds, and my doctor loves that, but I am helplessly, permanently, diabolically stuck with...

Moody Blue

By Patti Parish-Kaminski, Publisher I was always taught not to use four-letter words.  Most of the four-letter words that I knew in my child mind were not always the most appropriate to use.  Sure, there was damn and hell and such, but those words are in the Bible, so if they are good enough for Jesus,...

The Cee Cee Factor

By Patti Parish-Kaminski, Publisher Growing up Mother was always particular about my friends and associates.  It was the “influence” conversation that I not only can quote verbatim, it’s the same conversation I had with my babies.  “So-and-so is a not a good influence.  You can’t hang out with...

Ghastly Grand Adventures

By Patti Parish-Kaminski, Publisher I am all up for a grand adventure, even during a Texas summer when just getting to your car without passing out can be described as a grand adventure.  And I’m getting much better at “going with the flow” allowing others to coordinate trip details.  That’s taken...

Why are Summers Wasted on the Young?

By Patti Parish-Kaminski, Publisher At any given moment, I feel certain I am going to self-combust into a ball of flames.  This August-like heat at the end of June is just about to do me in.  And it’s not just me.  Virtually everyone I talk to is experiencing the same misery – every adult that...

The Perils of Down Under…and I Don’t Mean Australia

By Patti Parish-Kaminski, Publisher Though none of us truly knows what hell is actually like, we are fortunate to have some descriptive points of reference.  I was raised that the Bible is the definitive source when it comes to defining hell.  Growing up with Southern Baptist grandmothers who could quote...

Never Underestimate the Value of a Solid Itinerary

By Patti Parish-Kaminski, Publisher Now that we’re empty nesters, Mr. Kaminski is dead set on he and I taking more trips.  Now I know what you’re thinking:  Isn’t that sweet?  At first glance, it’s a lovely concept, and these little jaunts he’s planning are actually grand adventures, and his...

Baby Blues

By Patti Parish-Kaminski, Publisher I’ve always said that as a mother, May and December are the most hectic months out of the year.  But this particular May, something has happened, and it’s not good.  There were no proms to plan, no graduation parties to throw, no college festivities to attend, no...

Broke Shit

By Patti Parish-Kaminski, Publisher Every grown woman has mastered the art of the “Honey Do.”  It’s a skill set that is ingrained in our DNA, and it goes something like this:  We women make a list of things that must be dealt with in our lives that we don’t particularly have the passion or...

“Aww” Activities

By Patti Parish-Kaminski, Publisher Every so often Mr. Kaminski will take one for the team and offer to engage in what I’ll refer to as an “aww” activity.  What that means, of course, is an activity that I absolutely love and one that he’s not particular fond of, but he will put on his happy face...

The Struggle is Real

By Patti Parish-Kaminski, Publisher After being married to a human of the male species for nearly 30 years, there’s one thing I know for certain:  men and women are not even remotely the same.  And I can’t even fathom adding in the them, they newfound pronoun business into the mix – mostly because I...