Dear Daddy My sweet Mom sent me a text. Katybeth, add this number to your phone. It's your Dad's Life Alert number. Ok. What do I do if they call me? Answer it, then punt! And then it occurs to me. I am hearing impaired. I have a cochlear implant, but I don't hear reliably … Continue reading Poor Dear Daddy
Author: Katybeth
Chicago Permit Seeker
My first experience as a Chicago Permit Seeker. We need a new backyard fence. So I put on my happy homeowner's hat and scouted out fence builders. A few estimates later, I fenced a deal. Construction would start the middle of July. At the end of June, customer service informed me I needed a fence … Continue reading Chicago Permit Seeker
Ten years ago
Many of you noticed that while the light was on - Odd's front door was stuck. Thanks for letting me know and welcome back! The door is open. We still need to fix a few things in the basement but come on in and meander around to your heart's content. I'm happy you are here … Continue reading Ten years ago
Dirty Laundry-Grand Appliance
Supporting family-owned businesses is important to me. After all, I run a family business. So when our Maytag washing machine took its final spin after 14 years of service, I decided to shop at a local family-owned appliance store. Grand Appliances. They have several locations in Chicago, and one is in my neck of the … Continue reading Dirty Laundry-Grand Appliance
Birthday Boy Dining in Chicago
It could be true that I had a kid for only two reasons: birthday parties and Halloween. For 13 years, we celebrated Cole’s birthday with a large kids’ birthday party and a family and friends party. You name it, we did it, from panning for gold in the living room to carnival games. No ponies, … Continue reading Birthday Boy Dining in Chicago
How to Find Lost Stuff
(First Post in this series: Keeping You in Suspense) It's not lost until Mom can't find it. I read this in a book once, but I was saying it long before I read the book, so quote me. Finding things is one of my superpowers—a superpower cultivated through lots of practice and experience over the … Continue reading How to Find Lost Stuff
Keeping You in Suspense
Buckle up. We’re going to *Ohio! Pack snacks and a cooler with some drinks. You might want to swing by Starbucks. The food of the day (Wednesday) is Chopsticks?? I guess that means eat Chinese food. Thursdays are dog park day. Yes, it’s February, but we head out to the park in the rain, snow, … Continue reading Keeping You in Suspense
Why Have Kids If You Don’t Torture Them
A while back, I wrote about a well in Chicago. Families come from all over the city to pump well water into various containers and lug it home. While the Adult (aka my son) and I used to frequent the well a lot to people-watch, we hadn't been in some time. This past Sunday, I … Continue reading Why Have Kids If You Don’t Torture Them
Why’d it have to be Rats?
Oh Rats! Rats terrify me. This fear was triggered by an experience I had shortly after moving to Chicago. I’m not going to relive that experience in the telling; suffice to say, I’m more than a little afraid of these four-lettered rodents. Do your fears stalk you too? Do you know what I mean? Snakes … Continue reading Why’d it have to be Rats?
Once Upon A Grooming Tub
Do you want to hear our grooming tub story? This isn’t a “once upon a time” story. It starts with an internet search and a debit card, not deep in a primeval forest. No princesses or singing snowmen. In a nutshell: The Millennial (aka Cole, Day Camp Director) and I bought a grooming tub—from a … Continue reading Once Upon A Grooming Tub