We Put the ER in Peter Pan

It's Lent and we're all giving up stuff. Work, birthday parties, school, playgroups, more than one package of toilet paper in the cupboard at a time, confidence in our government, overseas visits from family anticipated with joy and excitement... There is a sudden deficiency where there was once abundance. And we don't like it. I...

The Hoarse Whimperer

What do horses, Charlotte Bronte's Villette, and me trying to open a shattered glass door all have in common? Prepare yourself. It might get weird. We live down a disturbingly long farm road among fields and horse paddocks. My inner eight year old self is thrilled. Ambling along outside my van windows: Horses, copse of...

As Shirley As You Live

I The rain had gone on for days. The underpass filled steadily with water until the villagers saw it as a sudden and inconvenient lake, and the chandelier outside my bedroom began its new incarnation as a Chinese water torture device. The sky was blue dark with winter early morning and the one weak streetlamp...

Tylonal, Tires, a Truckload of Crap, and Other Things to be Thankful For

I might have mentioned before that I miss my family and love when they are around. The planning was minimal, consisting mainly of pubs, touring the local grocery stores to show them my favorite snacks, and the odd day trip fitting in before school pick ups. The last time I was childless with my parents...

Walking Invisible-ish

It feels like I've been here forever. But when I get all spun up about various inconveniences and listen to my tirades (never as effective as they are in my head) I am forced to realize: I've lived in England for only four and a half months. That's an avocado sized fetus. That's one third...

Little Books and Other Small Things

Once upon a time, in Florida, my brother bought a little music box with two ceramic figures on it while composing an album of beautiful guitar pieces. Once upon in time, in Kansas, I was feeling adrift in my writing but felt an instant and overwhelming knowledge of the little music box people. Their backstory...

In Which Christina Attempts Her First Literary Analysis in 15 Years

School has begun. Or I should say schools have begun: elementary, middle, AND--reception/preschool! That's right! Yes, Virginia, there is a Santa Claus! The third child is indeed accepted to school regardless of his undying commitment to soil himself! There was much rejoicing! Until I did the math. "But Christina, you don't do math," you say. That is...

In Which the Fishburnes Are Installed in Their New Home: A True or False Exercise

Since pretty much everything we've tried to accomplish has turned into a horrifying game show I have decided to go with it. Imagining each day that I'm standing in front of a giant board, my to-do list items on those big flipping box things, it makes failure more acceptable if I GUESS that it will...

In Which Christina Places an Order for the Silver Lining

Since last we spoke...wrote...read...whatever, The Fishburnes have found a house! bought a car! secured a pay as you go phone! eaten our weights in room service meals! and been generally putting the "ate" in expatriate. The house we plan to live in is beautiful and more than I could (and did) ask for. I asked...