Pasta On The Floor

09/03/2026

I realize that I may overshare a bit, but the blogs document all aspects of my life. They are stories and memories that I return to again and again. This topic is important to me. I am no 'love and marriage sage,' but I know what I know. When writing wedding vows, couples ask about my marriage, and this blog is what I tell them.

I miss intimacy. Not the kind that people immediately think of when they hear the word intimacy. The intimacy I miss is quieter than that.

08/20/2026

This blog post is slightly longer than usual, but I needed the time to share my thoughts and thank everyone who has visited me on my front porch. Please come and share a glass of whatever you love, and let's talk.

My front porch has become a small sanctuary for me. Not because it fixes everything, but because it makes room for what hurts.

08/05/2026

Miss Tillie, my English bulldog, has a big heart and an even bigger belly for snoring. She teaches me to laugh through grief. As we begin our sixth year without Chip, her subtle courage and silly comfort keep us all going. She has a unique way of righting my ship: a paw on my knee, a snore that somehow sounds hopeful, and no apologies. If Tillie can strut through life relishing a nap with her belly exposed in the sun, maybe we can all take a page from her book.

Tillie is that she is brave and scared. She is smart and deeply aware of each family member and of our individual habits and feelings.

07/13/2026

The lake brings a sense of peace and holds so many of my memories. Chip loved the lake and his summers as a kid on Skaneateles Lake. He shared his love with me, and it is where we would go for long weekends, and then with the kids. Each year, since he died, I have rented a house in the Finger Lakes. Last night on the deck, I began thinking about what it meant to me then, and what it means to me now, trying so hard to hold on to those memories.

Sunset Delivers a Different Perspective. There is something about the finality of the sunset. To me, it is not filled with possibilities.

07/08/2026

Book three! We're off to the printers! ...and just a reminder, if you haven't donated yet, please consider a small donation. Giving in his name has become a meaningful way to keep his spirit alive. It was 5 years ago today; let's do something truly memorable.
https://foundationhoc.fcsuite.com/erp/donate/list/event...
Thank you!

06/01/2026

It has come to my attention that my recent blogs have been “sad” and “very morose.” Not my intention, but it is what it is. I am sad. I am missing a very large piece of my soul, and frankly, you should be concerned only if I ever stop saying that, stop blogging, or if you don’t hear from me.
Pasta on the Floor is how I deal with grief and life in general. I write about it. I get it out, and I value every single emoji or comment that you all leave for me and my family. That being said, I realized something: even in his absence, I still do things to get under his skin, and honestly, it brings me a little joy. Here goes:

This is how I deal with grief and life. I realized even in his absence, I do things to get under his skin, and honestly, it brings me a joy.

05/24/2026

Over the past week, I've been feeling a bit off, more teary than usual, and having a hard time focusing or sleeping. I haven’t been able to pinpoint why, especially since Memorial Day weekend doesn't spark any particular memories. But social media has an uncanny way of reminding us of life’s events, and a post popped up, and then, I remembered.

My soul has been counting days that I swore I wasn’t watching. We feel it even weeks before, and it hangs around long after.

05/03/2026

It is no secret that I miss Chip, and anyone who knew us could plainly see that I never had much patience for violent ‘man movies’. Chip, on the other hand, was a good sport who sat through the Hallmark movies and every other romantic film, even if he inevitably drifted off halfway through. My earlier Travels With Chip adventures have taught me a thing or two, so in the spirit of payback and compromise, I thought I could push through and force myself to watch The Matrix, starring Keanu Reeves.

My Travels With Chip have taught me a thing or two, so in the spirit of payback I'll force myself to watch The Matrix, starring Keanu Reeves.

04/19/2026

To Miss Tillie, it’s just another day. To me, it’s a celebration of a little soul who has no idea of her worth. For her, a birthday is like any other day, because dogs don’t mark time the way we do. Let's wish her a Happy Birthday!

To Miss Tillie, it’s just another day. To me, it’s a birthday celebration of a little soul who has no idea of her worth.

03/30/2026

If you are reading this because you have lost someone too, I am so sorry you are here for that reason, and I hope you may feel a little less alone. Be patient with me, my friends, as I try to give these questions a place to live outside of my head and say what so many of us are afraid to admit. Grief knows no timeline, and love never ends, just because a life has.

Grief knows no timeline & love never ends, just because a life has. Be patient as I give these questions a home to live outside of my head.