WARNING: Contains sexually explicit language. — “Mom, mom. Mom, I need help. I did something really stupid.” He was shaking and pacing around my bed in a terrible panic. I glanced at my phone. It was 2:32 a.m. It was my 15-year-old. He is the last of six boys, the child with whom I’ve had more…

Don’t let them slip away. — I try not to compartmentalize my life too much because, as we all know, life happens between our plans. Too often, my well-intentioned pre-scheduled writing days tank because something more demanding comes along. Or I sit down for a pre-scheduled writing session, and nothing sensible comes to mind. The muse…

It gave us something to strive for. — I remember the day I first time I saw the “Chosen for Further Distribution” tagline under the title of one of my stories. I had been reading and writing on Medium for over a year, and not once had I been one of the chosen ones. I was giddy with…

Alabama’s most haunted Courthouse — In the 70s, my grandparents, Aunts, and Uncles lived outside Tuscaloosa, Alabama. Every summer, my parents, three sisters, and I would travel from northern Ohio down to visit them for a week. My family has always had an interest in the supernatural. They believe in ghosts, ESP, and the possibility…

The Legend of Gore Orphanage — Thirty-five miles west of Cleveland, Ohio, off Route 6, you'll find the Village of Vermillion bordering Lake Erie. It's a beautiful area with sandy beaches, parks, and the Vermillion River Reservation. Driving through the quiet countryside, you would never know that this scenic place is steeped in unspeakable horror and…

The Realtor failed to mention that amenity to them. — In 2001, my inlaws bought a beautiful Victorian home in Camden, New York. It was dilapidated and needed repair, but they fell in love with it and decided to move in and fix it up. However, they were unaware of this house's history, except that it was built in 1840…

Check out my four most recent free finds and what I can potentially make selling them. — I have always been a junker and making money by flipping vintage and antique items is by far my most favorite hobby. Roadside heaps left over from estate sales, certain store dumpsters, or thrifting at the Goodwill. I love looking for treasures in what others have discarded as trash. And…

Use every part of the tomato with these no-waste ideas. — Last year we processed over 1,200 lbs. of tomatoes out of our garden, producing a significant quantity of Bi-Product. This tomato bi-product still has a lot of rich tomato flavor, and I wanted to find a way to use it. After experimenting, I found a few delicious ways to use…

Returning to the workplace has been challenging to say the least. — Returning to the confines of the carpet-lined cubicle walls and fluorescent lighting has been mentally challenging. The work hasn’t changed, but my attitude towards a healthy workspace and work/life balance has. So has my tolerance and patience with other humans. I think pre-COVID, we didn’t know any better. We had…