Monthly Archives: January 2012

And the Sunshine Award Goes To:

Posted on January 30, 2012 by lisakwinkler

Award season is  upon us and bloggers want to be liked as much as anyone else. Including me. So thank you Gabi  Coatsworth http://gabicoatsworth.wordpress.com for including me in your “Sunshine Award” list. The guidelines for receiving this award: 1) Thank … Continue reading →

Posted in Writing | Tagged , , , | 13 Comments

State of the Union: 2012 & 1979

Posted on January 25, 2012 by lisakwinkler

Sitting on my couch, my knitting in my lap, the television on, I waited for door of the House of Representatives to open and for the Sargeant of Arms to announce: “Mr. Speaker, the President of the United States.” As … Continue reading →

Posted in celebrations, Knitting, Movies & TV, Writing | Tagged , , , , , , , | 8 Comments

Basking in Batter Bliss

Posted on January 23, 2012 by lisakwinkler

My baking barrage began before Thanksgiving and hasn’t really stopped. Banana cake batter with chocolate chips-  a favorite of my daughter so I made it a few times the month she was home from college on winter break.  Decadent chocolate … Continue reading →

Posted in Family, food, Recipes | Tagged , , , , , | 5 Comments

Kids & Activities: Balancing Ballet

Posted on January 19, 2012 by lisakwinkler

Plié, jeté, arabesque. These terms dance in my head years after my ballet lessons ended. When I see a ballet, I remember doing these steps and marvel at how the bodies on stage move with such fluidity, poise, and grace.  … Continue reading →

Posted in daughters, Education, exercise, Family, health, New York City, parenting, teenagers, Writing | Tagged , , , , , , , | 3 Comments

Double British Delight: Iron Lady & Downton Abbey

Posted on January 17, 2012 by lisakwinkler

A freezing cold day; a perfect time for a movie matinee.   Iron Lady, stars Meryl Streep as Britain’s Margaret Thatcher and captures Thatcher’s upbringing as a grocer’s daughter, how she earned a place at Oxford, and entered politics in 1959, … Continue reading →

Posted in Movies & TV, reviews, Writing | Tagged , , , , , , , | 3 Comments

Dimes Don’t Make me Donate!

Posted on January 13, 2012 by lisakwinkler

In my kitchen, next to my telephone, sit a stack of pads of paper, all sent as gifts from various charities soliciting money.  In my desk-filing drawer, tucked behind the stamps, stand sheets and sheets of address labels, given free. … Continue reading →

Posted in commentary, Writing | Tagged , , , | 7 Comments

Picking Toys: Gender Specific vs. Gender Neutral; Just Play!

Posted on January 9, 2012 by lisakwinkler

Every Tuesday, at 3 pm, I collect my two –year- old grandson  from nursery school and we play until his dinnertime, about two hours later. One of our favorite outdoor activities is walking around the neighborhood looking for trucks. We … Continue reading →

Posted in Family, parenting, teaching | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , | 4 Comments

Thank You Note Thanks

Posted on January 4, 2012 by lisakwinkler

Returning from New Year’s weekend, having not collected the mail for two days,  I hit the jackpot. Not with gifts, coupons, sale catalogs, or even holiday cards.  Four personal thank you notes greeted me.  My mother always insisted we write … Continue reading →

Posted in celebrations, Family, parenting, Writing | Tagged , , , , | 8 Comments

Woman Threatens Mother & Crying Baby on Amtrak

Posted on January 2, 2012 by lisakwinkler

My son, daughter-in-law, and seven month old grandson Uri got on the Amtrak train at 8 pm last night, for the 18 hour ride to New York City.  They’d spent a week with her family and had opted to take … Continue reading →

Posted in commentary, Education, Family, travel | Tagged , , , , | 4 Comments