Long Hollow

Where seeds of thought have room to grow

recent posts

about

Realtor, writer, blogger in Austin, TX

Category: On my soapbox

  • Peacemakers, Busybodies and the Fine Art of Forgiveness

    Saturday night Tom and I watched Riding in Cars with Boys, an old Drew Barrymore movie from 2001. I missed it in 2001, along with a lot of other movies that came out during that time, plus or minus 3 years. We were busy with kids and preparing the foundation for our house. If you're…

  • “The Best Laid Schemes…” (What happened to Monday and Tuesday?)

    According to my calendar, I'm in Galveston right now, visiting my friend Ann, finally getting to see the cute little Victorian house she's fixing up and browsing through some wonderful eclectic shops. Things don't always go according to plan, though, do they? Instead of strolling the tourist-free beaches and staying up late talking and laughing…

  • “It was the thing to do…” (Thank you, Veterans!)

    "Lord, if your people need me, I will not refuse the work. Your will be done." ~St. Martin of Tours     My big brother Buster was headed to Viet Nam, saying his goodbyes, when I stood beside him in this photograph and smiled. I had no idea what was ahead of him. This was…

  • Keeping First Things First

    I've been in a quandary. A few weeks ago I was approached by Shutterfly about a Christmas card promotion. I would get 50 free cards plus be able to offer three of my readers 25 free cards each. I've always wanted to send out those beautiful photo Christmas cards, but instead, I went the frugal…

  • When you’re down and troubled…

    "…and you need a helping hand. And nothing, nothing is going right…"   "Close your eyes and think of me and soon I will be there…" I covered for our church secretary yesterday afternoon so she could keep a doctor's appointment. It doesn't pay much, but sitting in her chair even for a short time…

  • Each Day

    Lord, take me where you want me to go;Let me meet who you want me to meet;Tell me what you want me to say; andKeep me out of your way. – Fr. Mychal Judge, FDNY (died 9/11/01)   This morning, while thousands of names were solemnly read, one by one, at Ground Zero, two babies…

  • Rambling on a Monday in May

    Before I was fully awake this morning, I started the coffee brewing and switched on the television. Up popped the devastation in Joplin, Missouri – that hospital with blown windows surrounded by mangled vehicles, toothpick trees and piles of rubbish … the videos, the woman's voice praying "Help us, Jesus…" After saying a prayer for all of…

  • Gray Days and Peace

    A gray day spent dealing with frustrations over computer glitches, rude people, and staff who are so quick to deny responsibility for a problem that they fail to listen or offer productive advice (their job – what my money is paying them to do.) A day I dreaded, because I anticipated all of these problems…

  • Pink Skies, Random Thoughts

    Pink clouds, pink skies have greeted my ascension to the dirt road the past two mornings … a nice change from the woolen grays and mist that have been waiting up there for me lately. I've noticed that a pink sky or one filled with clouds that look dipped in pink-orange paint lighten my heart…

  • Today is Veteran’s Day… how do you say “Thank you”?

    Please forgive me…this is pretty much a re-post from last year, except for a small, much-needed addition…     My big brother Buster was headed to Viet Nam, saying his goodbyes, when I stood beside him in this photograph and smiled. I had no idea what was ahead of him. This was probably taken before…