Archive for the Just Another Mary Monday Category

If you’re a regular ‘Mary Monday’ reader, you know my sons are my world. And while my oldest, Denver, might be 17, he’s still a baby to me. There are some things I’m just not ready to handle. So when I walked past his room to find him on his bed, cooing sweet nothings into his phone, I panicked: “I love you.” “I think you’re sexy.” “Will you marry me?” No way, no how. I’m not ready to be anyone’s grandma! So, I had to enact that sovereign power of moms everywhere and bust

Y’all know that I have good Mondays and bad, but August 31st is, historically, a rough day for Mary’s. On this date in 1888, the body of Mary Ann Nichols was discovered in London, kicking off a late-summer crime wave for the history books. Mary was the first victim of the mysterious serial killer who came to be known as Jack the Ripper. The legend of Jack the Ripper has fascinated casual crime enthusiasts, horror fans, and forensic scientists for nearly 150 years. For several hot months, the Whitechapel neighborhood of London was gripped

Things happen – getting a flat tire, waking up with a mystery rash, dropping your cell phone and shattering the screen. That’s pretty much what ‘A Day in the Life of Mary’ looked like earlier this month. Which one was the biggest emergency? Take a guess…. I don’t consider myself to be a cell phone junkie – I use my phone to check email on the go and keep in touch with my kids. And, yes, I confess, I also obsessively refresh ESPN.com when I need vital sports scores. In other words, I needed

In some parts of the country, Back-to-School doesn’t happen until September, but not so in the South. My kids went back to school last week as 11th- and 3rd-graders – how is this even possible? I’ve written before about how much I love that special day – for more reasons than one. I make a big breakfast and we celebrate a bright new scholastic year and the return of Mommy’s sanity. It’s a great day, right up there with Christmas morning. But, much like Christmas, before the big day arrives, there are weeks of

I don’t always like to toot my own horn, but I have to say I’m looking fabulous lately. I mean, have you seen my new superhero avatar? It’s alright – I know it might have been a little awkward for you to bring up because I’m smokin’ hot (which is why I’m happy to do it!). Iron Man looks okay in his movies, but check me out in that armor! I make metal look good. The best part? I didn’t have to cut back on my carbs or even go running for those nice

“Have you ever noticed that anybody driving slower than you is an idiot, and anyone going faster than you is a maniac?” That line from comedian George Carlin rings true for most of us. As for me, according to his classification system, I would fall in the ‘maniac’ category. I’m not a reckless driver by any means, but I tend to have a heavy foot, and I prefer driving in the fast lane. This past weekend, I traveled from Alabama to coastal North Carolina in order to spend the week working in Matchmaker’s corporate

I played Heads Up! with my kids the other night. If you don’t know the game, you have to try it! Conceived by Ellen DeGeneres, this iPhone game is the best $1 app you’ll ever buy. The whole family loves this celebrity/pop culture trivia game which is played much like $100,000 Pyramid, Password, Catch Phrase or Charades. While playing Heads Up!, I was shocked to discover that my kids did not know the Williams sisters. For nearly 20 years, the historic rivalry between Venus and Serena Williams has made sports history. It’s such an

I hope you had a wonderful July 4th weekend.  After a long weekend, it can be tough, coming back to work and getting the week started on the right foot, especially if you try to do it this way!  I know what you’re thinking:  “How does she do it?  It’s like every Monday, Mary reads my mind.  I am dragging my feet today.”  Well, truth is, I know more about you than you think.  Here are at least ten things I know to be true. 10 Things I Know About You: 1.  You are

Recently, a client’s daughter was sick, so we decided to send her a Get Well card. In the mail.  You would have thought we’d sent her something by Pony Express: Mom: Riley, someone sent you a card in the mail today. Riley: So I have an email? Mom: No Riley, you have a card that came in the mail. Riley: For real? It has a real live stamp on it? Mom:  Yes, it has a real live stamp. Riley: OMG! I’ve never gotten anything with a stamp on it before. Did the mailman bring

It’s not just the season to celebrate mothers, fathers and graduates, it’s also the season for dance recitals.  A rite of passage for many kids, especially in my home state of North Carolina, I remember my own debut as a baton twirler in the 70’s. Our group was formed by my babysitter, Kelly, a pageant queen who twirled fire-y batons as her talent.  She recruited my sister and me to join her group of protégés, the Marching Kellyettes (that’s me in the green leotard on the right). At just eight years old, I was