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Saturday Morning and Avocados

Saturday, November 21, 2015

I rarely wait until the day of to write a post, and here I am Saturday morning, trying on possible ideas that might interest you or me. I though about writing about my disdain for all things grape flavored—none of them taste anything like grape. Or perhaps a post about the practice of writing daily, […]

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Time on My Hands

Friday, November 20, 2015

You might think that with all the time on my hands I am currently experiencing that my house would be spotless, and my life in order. If that’s what it would be like at your house, I admire you, but that does not describe the current situation chez moi. Last weekend my daughter and I […]

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November 20, 2015 - 5:08 pm

Lola Marguerita - Ten more – you’re almost there! #NaBloPoMoReplyCancel
- November 20, 2015 - 12:40 pm
  
  nrlowell@comcast.net - YEAH!!ReplyCancel
November 21, 2015 - 1:57 am

Cathy Avilez - Oh, those arguments with people we don’t know on Facebook are hard to resist.ReplyCancel
November 30, 2015 - 7:04 am

Last Day of November » Chefs Last Diet - […] Build and paint a bookshelf […]ReplyCancel

Thanksgiving Dinner

Thursday, November 19, 2015

Thanksgiving dinner is probably the biggest meal you will cook all year, and it’s no time to get sloppy with food safety. Whether it’s more food than your fridge can hold, or what to do with your leftovers, you need to have a plan. Planning will not only reduce your stress, it will make it easier […]

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November 19, 2015 - 9:55 pm

Lola Marguerita - Those are great tips! Thanks!ReplyCancel
- November 19, 2015 - 8:09 pm
  
  nrlowell@comcast.net - Lola, I hope they’re helpful.ReplyCancel

Filled With Anger

Wednesday, November 18, 2015

I was raised in a home filled with anger. My parents, both difficult people and each on their second marriage (and dealing with a very non-Brady blended family) had what I would characterize as a stormy relationship. My siblings and I were often pulled into their private dramas, or used as pawns by one to […]

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November 18, 2015 - 4:17 pm

Erin Owen - Thank you so much for this beautiful writing. When I feel angry, I know it means I am feeling violated in someway. Sometimes what is being violated is an expectation about how I should be treated. What you write is a helpful reminder to look at that anger and observe where it comes from. Thanks again.ReplyCancel
- November 19, 2015 - 8:13 pm
  
  nrlowell@comcast.net - Erin, thanks. I think I have a few different ‘angries’ some are personal, and others more global, those are the easy ones 🙂ReplyCancel
November 18, 2015 - 5:20 pm

Roshni AaMom - The fact that you laid it out so honestly says a lot about how much effort you’re putting into this for your and your daughter’s sake! Wishing you all the best; this is definitely a mountain you will overcome!ReplyCancel
November 19, 2015 - 1:55 am

Live By Surprise - I grew up in a similar way…and entered a similar marriage. I’m lucky to have married a much more patient man the second time around…and slowly working it through.ReplyCancel
- November 19, 2015 - 8:11 pm
  
  nrlowell@comcast.net - I’ve gotten it wrong twice, and have been alone far too long now…ReplyCancel
November 19, 2015 - 12:38 pm

Ellen - Oh, boy, can I relate to so much of this (only it was my mom that was the withholder). As a consequence I hated confrontation, and could not stick up for myself. One thing I’ve learned is that anger is often a secondary emotion, subbing in for one that seems even harder to express like disappointment, fear or sadness. Good luck on your journey, sounds like you are on the right path!ReplyCancel
- November 19, 2015 - 1:12 pm
  
  nrlowell@comcast.net - Ellen, that is a good observation. I will add that to my lessons. ThanksReplyCancel
November 19, 2015 - 2:59 pm

Samantha Shanley - I can totally relate to the idea of trying to get it right with your daughter in a way that you didn’t feel you had. Sounds like you’re doing the best you can, and that has to be enough!ReplyCancel
November 20, 2015 - 12:02 am

Stacie Dalrymple - Well written, Nancy! It’s good you recognized all of this and it seems you are healing.ReplyCancel
November 20, 2015 - 1:02 am

Tina Wehner Hickman - Great points! I need to be more mindful of when I am angry, too.ReplyCancel
- November 19, 2015 - 8:10 pm
  
  nrlowell@comcast.net - Tina, Sometimes it takes me days to realize 🙂ReplyCancel
November 20, 2015 - 2:11 am

Meg Galipault - You are doing a brave and great thing for both of you. Your description of your family at the beginning drew me in — nice job.ReplyCancel
- December 8, 2015 - 7:17 pm
  
  nrlowell@comcast.net - Thanks Meg.ReplyCancel
November 20, 2015 - 2:19 am

Heidi Seifert - I just want to add who I met back in NYU you are a pure joy you made that tiny dorm room feel like home to a crowd of people. You were always generous, warm and kind. And empathetic not submissive. And I do recall a few time you got very annoyed abou t something but that on is not for public consumption.ReplyCancel
- December 8, 2015 - 7:17 pm
  
  nrlowell@comcast.net - Thanks Heidi. ReplyCancel
November 20, 2015 - 8:44 am

Andrew M. Potterfield - Powerful and thoughtful piece, Nancy Lowell — thank you for publishing it. My parents expressed little if any anger, and I didn’t develop good skills for expressing or responding to it. I’ve gotten a little better over the years with not going to bed angry, but it is still a considerable challenge.ReplyCancel
- December 8, 2015 - 7:18 pm
  
  nrlowell@comcast.net - For me as well Andy.ReplyCancel
November 22, 2015 - 10:35 pm

Chasing Joy - Wonderful post. Thank you for being so honest. I have trouble expressing anger too. We are all works in process.ReplyCancel

No Smoking

Tuesday, November 17, 2015

I am one of those annoying people who feels like there should be no smoking anywhere but your house. Yet, when I was in my early twenties I tried to take up smoking. My logic was that if everyone I knew who tried to quit lost ten pounds, by starting I would lose ten pounds. This was back […]

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November 18, 2015 - 10:12 am

Isha Ballinger - Losing weight is actually easy if you get the right support or guide , i was searching online and came upon this website and found out that many had success in losing weight, i am also seeing wonderful results, here is that site, hope it will help those who really want to lose weight ,

https://healthyyfatloss.blogspot.comReplyCancel
November 18, 2015 - 12:19 pm

Jenny White - I think I have a tendency to put on weight. But now in 2015 I managed to lose weight 22 pounds quickly and without starving. I’m doing the diet of this site here http://3bestdiets.com/wsReplyCancel
May 20, 2016 - 3:59 pm

Mulverhill - I’m not a parent yet, but I’ve had friends that struggled with drug addiction. I can imagine it would be hard for parents, and with the way the world is going, I’ll probably be a parent with a child that struggles with an addiction of some kind. I think it’s good parents have tools they can use to make the family stronger. I think if a family is strong, then the individuals in the family can make it through anything.ReplyCancel