What I Learned in 2014

Posted by smgrady on December 1, 2014 · 1 Comment 

This time of year (even more than most) the internet is full of lists. Lists of what to buy; lists of how to be a better host (or a better person in general); lists of best Thises and Thats. Lists of how you’re living all wrong. Lists of things to do differently next year. And … Continue reading →

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American Surprises

Posted by smgrady on October 27, 2014 · Leave a Comment 

An incomplete list of surprising things upon our return and since: People use the phrase “I like to service my clients” and “How can I service you better?” with straight faces. Texting my sister is easy because I don’t have to do any math to know if she is awake. Hardly anyone notices Bean has … Continue reading →

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#MakingTime (Days 4-22…)

Posted by smgrady on September 22, 2014 · Leave a Comment 

I’m taking on Do What You Love‘s 31-day experiment #MakingTime. Each day in September we’ll carve out an increasing number of minutes (one minute on Day 1, two minutes on Day 2…) to make time for the here and now and the big picture stuff that gets shoved under the sofa most nights. I’m going … Continue reading →

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Ten Things I Did Not Know I Would Love About Chicago

Posted by smgrady on September 18, 2014 · 2 Comments 

  The sailboats ambling by the end of our road The distant rumble of trains reminding me of the hurtling city a few miles down of the line Drag Performance Debates The big yellow school bus that stops on our leafy street The sunpatch-cum-mini-patio at the top of our fire escape The inspiring homeless guy … Continue reading →

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#MakingTime: Day 3

Posted by smgrady on September 3, 2014 · 4 Comments 

Today’s assignment was to read something outside my comfort zone. I love reading articles and ideas from all sorts of people, and social and cultural commentary are one my secret loves. I am glad to be alive today (not exclusively) because the advent of internet periodicals feeds an heretofore unmet need in my word-hungers. Beyond … Continue reading →

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One Year

Posted by smgrady on August 28, 2014 · 1 Comment 

One year ago, we took a one-way trip to America. Since leaving Heathrow that morning we’ve been rather busy. We’ve clocked 15,000 miles by car, plane, bus, train, boat, bicycle and ferry. We’ve visited 5 states and 19 North American cities (not including driving through dozens if not hundreds of one-stop-light towns and villages). On … Continue reading →

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Internettin’

Posted by smgrady on June 25, 2014 · Leave a Comment 

I find BuzzFeed, Playbuzz and their ilk, like their predecessors, email surveys and Cosmopolitan quizzes, fascinating. Anonymous mediated identities are quite possibly my favorite things. Especially when lazy evenings tell me I am:   Who knew that deep down I was so bloody wholesome? I feel oddly compelled to counteract this with random acts of … Continue reading →

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5 Things I Require

Posted by smgrady on June 3, 2014 · 3 Comments 

After much contemplation, I have arrived at five things my future life must hold:   I: Hills     Michigan is many things, but its central plain is ungodly flat. The hard dolomite under the area has made a basin impervious to even glacial sculpting it seems. While the rest of the state and region … Continue reading →

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Getting into Focus

Posted by smgrady on May 13, 2014 · Leave a Comment 

Almost one year ago we boxed up our lives in Edinburgh and hopped on this crazy merry-go-round. We’ve been in four countries, five states, a few dozen cities, and traveled tens of thousands of miles since. As this transitional year wraps-up (she says with a knowing hubris) I’ve been dwelling on little blessings, like my … Continue reading →

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Two Magical Things

Posted by smgrady on February 28, 2014 · 1 Comment 

It is a Friday afternoon in midwinter. To brighten the dull gray sky and open my heart for the weekend, a list: Storycorps Until last week I had never heard of Storycorps, and my life was less interesting as a result. An NPR producer built a soundproof studio booth. It travels around the country where … Continue reading →

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