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those of the author and do not
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News Online
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Remembering those who sacrificed, By Bob Robinson
On Monday I closed up my computer, got dressed and headed into town. It
was a little after 12… this year I wasn’t going to walk the parade
route. At 73, I wasn’t sure that was the best plan on a hot (and I do
mean hot) day at the end of May. Later I admit to being shamed at the
number of veterans, my age or older, who DID walk the parade route. I
parked on the side street at Greenville Union Cemetery...
read
more.
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Teachable Moments from Prevention Action Alliance… Know! Every Bite Counts
May is Mental Health Month, an annual campaign to educate people on how
a healthy lifestyle can help to prevent the onset or worsening of
mental health conditions like depression and anxiety, as well as heart
disease, diabetes, obesity, and other chronic health problems. Diet and
nutrition is not just about our waistlines, it also has a huge impact
on our mental wellness. The same holds true for your students...
read
more.
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Broke Wife, Big City… Maybe I
don’t know everything, By Aprill Brandon
Knowledge is power. And nowhere is this more evident than when you are
the parent of small children. For all the exhausting yet mundane things
you have to deal with on a daily basis as a parent (and there are A
LOT), one of the biggest perks is that you can usually count on being
the smartest person in the room. Children come into this world knowing
nothing...
read
more.
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Start Talking! Know! Fitness
#4Mind4Body
5/16/2018 - May is Mental Health Month; a time to raise awareness about
the connection between physical and mental health, through the theme
Fitness #4Mind4Body, sponsored by Mental Health America (MHA). Mental
Health America shares two key messages through this year’s educational
campaign: Mental health is essential to...
read
more.
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Saluting our Vietnam Veterans with words,
By Melissa Martin
1965. President Johnson called for more ground troops to be sent to
Vietnam. I was a child in elementary school. When the Vietnam War
ended, I was 16 years-old. 1975. Rewind to the 60’s and 70’s. I have
vague recall of warfare events on the evening news: the drafting of
Elvis; the Kent State University shootings; the burning of the
Washington Monument by war protesters; the outrage over Jane Fonda... read
more.
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Broke Wife, Big City… Finding my
tribe, By Aprill Brandon
I thought it was like riding a bike. Or shotgunning a beer. That it was
a skill, once mastered, couldn’t be forgotten. But then, at the age of
36 and a mom of two young children, I realized I had forgotten how to
make friends. I mean, I have friends. Of course I have friends. Lots of
them. Right? Shoot, according to Facebook, I have over 1,400 friends.
So, yeah...
read
more.
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In “Experts” We
Trust, By Kate Burch
Fifty years after Pope Paul VI issued the encyclical, “Humanae Vitae”
which upheld the ancient teachings of Christianity regarding human
sexuality, there are still calls to “reconsider” the document and its
teachings, despite clear evidence all around us of the havoc wreaked by
the sexual revolution. In Humanae Vitae, the pope made four predictions
about what...
read
more.
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Start Talking! Know! To Focus On
Mental Health
5/11/2018 - If our pancreas has a chemical imbalance, we seek
treatment. If our kidneys are not physiologically working right, we
seek treatment. When our most complex organ, the brain, is not
physiologically working right or has a chemical imbalance, for some
reason we ignore or hide it. May is Mental Health Month; an opportunity
to... read
more.
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Sibling abuse;
battlefield in the home, By Melissa Martin
Story. The first murder in the Bible is reported in the Book of
Genesis. Cain killed his brother Abel. Motive: Cain became angry and
jealous over his brother’s animal sacrifice, (Abel’s gift pleased God)
so the older brother sought revenge. Weapon: Cain used a rock to hit
Abel on the head. Forensic evidence: Blood was found on the rock and in
the field. Witness: God... read
more.
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How the
Greenville City Park Came to be, By Terry Venrick, Edison
State Student
The First two articles I told how much the Greenville city park means
to me and then I also shared the many things that you can do at the
park. For my last one I will just share a little bit of history. A long
time ago our beloved park was once known as Fort Green Ville. ”Mad”
Anthony Wayne used this place as a fort for fighting the Native
Americans. This came to... read
more.
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What You Can Do
At The Greenville City Park, By Terry Venrick, Edison
State Student
There are many things you can do at the Greenville City Park. You can
visit the peacocks, they are large beautiful birds with extremely large
feathers that fan out. A fun fact about them is that the females are
plain and brown while the males are very colorful. This is to shoo off
other peacocks, so if you ever visit the park you can see them but are
not allowed...
read
more.
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Why I Love The Greenville City Park,
By Terry Venrick, Edison State Communications Student
I have been going to the Greenville city park as long as I can
remember. My mom has pictures of me as a baby there feeding the geese.
The first time I remember being at the park myself was with my Grandma.
She would sit and read to me and my siblings stories and almost always
had a treat for us. With the passing of my grandma this year I really
look back and treasure those times... read
more.
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Broke Wife, Big City… My
post-vacation apology, By Aprill Brandon
To my dearest, dearest children, You two are the light of my life. I
love you both so much. Which is why I’m writing this even though
it’s...difficult. Very difficult. For me. Your mother. To admit this.
But it’s important you know this so… Sigh... Listen up and listen hard
because you will never hear this ever again. I was wrong. Long
exhale... BUT I AM RIGHT... read
more.
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When big, old,
gnarly trees die, By Melissa Martin
A few years ago, our hundred-year-old tree was cut down for safety
reasons. A piece of history, once living—now dead. Now its twin tree is
diseased (age and carpenter arts) and just about ready to end and begin
the circle of life; like the song in the Lion King movie. A sense
of sadness envelops me as the old makes way for the new. My
grandmother, who loved nature... read
more.
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Start Talking! Know! To Talk
Teen Stranger Danger
4/23/2018 - If you’re a parent or other caregiver of teens, you likely
have had repeated “stranger danger” talks with them when they were
younger. You taught them not to talk to strangers. You warned them not
to fall prey to the stereotypical child lure of being offered candy to
get into someone’s car, and so on. Those types of stranger danger safety... read
more.
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Elections are
about Choices, Mike Stegall
Elections are about choices. This election, in particular, is
about either moving forward on a path of stable growth in the economy,
in community improvement and in job creation or putting a halt to that
progress and choosing to make a blanket change based on reckless
election promises. These past seven years, I have had to make some hard
decisions. Usually... read
more.
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Broke Wife, Big City… The
perfect getaway, By Aprill Brandon
It has been a long, hard winter. Followed by several weeks of spring
that were a long, hard winter. Followed by one nice day. And then two
more weeks of snow. On top of this, my husband has just finished a huge
project at work. He worked nights, weekends. For months, he was either
at work or at home working. At one point he got so stressed out he
stopped...
read
more.
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Celebrate
Children’s Book Week with your children, Melissa Martin,
Ph.D., LPCC-S
Celebrate Children’s Book Week with your children, April 30-May 6.
Schools and libraries highlight Children’s Book Week each year, and so
can parents in their home. Make reading a family tradition. And make
reading fun! Children’s Book Week is April 30 through May 6.
Established in 1919, Children’s Book Week is the longest-running
national literacy initiative in... read
more.
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Faith-based
organizations need sexual abuse prevention policies, By
Melissa Martin
The tragic story of the rape of Tamar, a young royal princess, sexually
violated by her half-brother, and then betrayed by her powerful father,
King David, can be found in the Old Testament. The Bible neither covers
up nor ignores sexual assault. Around 25 years ago, when I practiced as
a licensed and ordained minister, I listened as a speaker and former
pastor...
read
more.
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Start Talking! Know! Youth’s
Number One Drug of Choice
4/16/2018 - What is the leading drug used by our youth today? If you’re
thinking marijuana or heroin, guess again. The answer is alcohol. It
has long been and still remains the most widely used drug among young
people, making alcoholism and alcohol-related problems the number one
public health problem in the United States. April is the annual Alcohol... read
more.
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Broke Wife, Big City… I forgot
my phone, By Aprill Brandon
So here I am. Sitting at my usual place in the coffeeshop down the
street. Ready to write my regular newspaper column. Laptop open, blank
page staring back at me, cursor mocking me with its empty blinking.
Tall mocha on my left. And my phone in its usual spot on the righ…
Except it’s not there. Not today. I check then double-check my bag. My
pockets. My...
read
more.
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Raising readers,
By Melissa Martin
Why is it important to expose babies, toddlers, and younger children to
the world of books? Why is it important to read aloud to babies and
toddlers? Why is it important to make reading fun for children?
“Children are made readers on the laps of their parents,” surmised
Emilie Buchwald. I agree. Parents are a child’s first teachers, first
role models, and first communicators; talking... read
more.
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Start Talking! Know! To Stand
Firm Against Underage Drinking
4/6/2018 - In the previous tip, Know! April is Alcohol Awareness Month,
we discussed the negative health and safety risks of adolescents
consuming alcohol. In this tip, we will talk about the prevalence of
alcohol among adolescents and the steps we can take to protect our
children by helping to prevent underage drinking and promote
well-being. Did...
read
more.
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Broke Wife, Big City… Let the
hunt begin, By Aprill Brandon
Now that I’m in my mid-30’s, I like to think I have a good handle on my
strengths and weaknesses. For example... Strengths: Writing good-ish.
Keeping my children alive. Playing beer pong. Weaknesses: Pronouncing
the names of fancy wines. Eating only one doughnut. Buying a home. It’s
that last one that I’m now having to confront (she types while... read
more.
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Universal
Design for Learning Equals Learning Opportunities for All,
By Kimberly Monachino
Today’s classrooms are very busy places. They are filled with students
who have diverse needs and learning challenges. To meet their needs,
teachers may be equipped with a variety of instructional strategies and
have many other tools in their tool boxes. However, even with multiple
tools, trying to meet the unique needs of each individual child... read
more.
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Start Talking! Know! April is
Alcohol Awareness Month
4/5/2018 -- The month of April has been designated Alcohol Awareness
Month as an opportunity to focus attention on America’s #1 health
problem. This year’s theme, sponsored by the National Council on
Alcoholism and Drug Dependence (NCAAD), is “Changing Attitudes: It’s
not a ‘rite of passage.’” Alcohol is the most commonly used addictive
substance among adolescents in our country... read
more.
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Ohio Department of Education… Mental
Health First Aid...Indian Lake’s Response to a Community Crisis,
Robert Underwood, Indian Lake Local School District - 3/29/2018 - I’m
going to be open and honest here. The staff and students of Indian Lake
Local Schools have experienced the suicides of two high school students
in the past five years. I was serving as the high school principal
during these tragedies, and it was, without a doubt, the most
challenging time of my... read
more.
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Commissioner’s Corner… March a
good month for Darke County
March came in like a lion, mellowed just a little, then became a wet
lion at the end. This looks like one of those winters that will not go
away. As this is written, it has snowed on April 1st, then the forecast
is for rain! At least it is rain, but enough is enough. Time for warm
sunshine! March was a good month for the county. We saw our projects
moving in...
read
more.
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Family and
Community Engagement is Something Good Schools Do,
Tom Capretta, Family and Children Community Coordinator - 4/5/2018 -
Tracy Hill is the executive director of the Office of Family and
Community Engagement at Cleveland Metropolitan School District and one
of the 2014 Education Week Leaders to Learn From. The first time I
heard her say, “Family and community engagement is something that good
schools do,” it just clicked. She made... read
more.
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Start Talking… Know! To Secure,
Monitor and Properly Dispose
3/26/2018 -- Families are continuing to be devastated by children
abusing medicine. Kids end up in the ER, become addicted, suffer
physical pain and emotional turmoil, and some lose their lives
altogether - all in the name of prescription drug abuse. Medicine abuse
among youth continues to trend at an alarming rate. Why is this
occurring at such rapid levels? According to youth... read
more.
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Broke Wife, Big City… Diary of
an Insomniac, By Aprill Brandon
You know a fun time to start thinking every thought in the entire
world? From 2-5 a.m. Although 9:30 p.m. to 1 a.m. is also fantastic.
Or, on really special occasions, both of those time frames in the same
night. How many baby wipes do we have left? What’s the date? When are
taxes due? I forgot to clip the dog’s toenails again. Poor baby. He’s
practically walking on... read
more.
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School
visitor tragedy, snow days & more, By Susan Olling
We had quite a winter here in the D.C. environs. All the schools
used their allotted snow days fairly early. MoCo schools used
their three snow days by mid-February, including two in January for
mere dustings of snow. The school administration seems to make
its closure decisions based on what happens up-county. Schools
were closed again on March 2. No... read
more.
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Start Talking! Know! Warning - JUUL at Your School
3/21/2018 - There is a new trend parents and school administrators need
to be aware of, and it is called JUUL. It’s what some people are
referring to as the iPhone of vaping. It is a device so discreet that
it often goes unseen and teens are getting away with using it in public
places. JUUL is a brand of e-cigarette that looks like a flash drive... read
more.
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Two Sparrows Farm & Dairy… The end of the road, By
Whitney Belprez
March 15, 2018 - Last week while on our monthly grocery trip, we were
shocked to see that milk was selling for $1.50 a gallon at ALDI in Big
Rapids. $1.50. “Limit five,” the sign said. Clearly, most shoppers’
reaction to these prices was to say “wow, $1.50!” and to then stock up.
For us, our hearts sank. Those farmers, their families, their cows. How
in... read
more.
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Broke Wife, Big City… Important brain thoughts from an exhausted
parent, By Aprill Brandon
I have a confession. I’m supposed to be writing right now. Which, yes,
“technically” I am. I am “technically” stringing together letters into
words and those words into sentences. Here’s the thing, though. I
don’t really want to be writing right now. My brain is mush. Just a
mushy, mushy, leaky puddle of its former self. This has been a
particularly trying week and... read
more.
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Gullibles’
Travels, By Kate Burch
I have heard a few radio ads lately by auto dealers making the pitch
that, since this is tax season, it’s the perfect time to buy a new
car! Apparently, many who receive a tax refund think of it as a
windfall and can’t wait for a good opportunity to spend it. How
does it happen that people do not rise up in protest over a significant
portion of their pay being confiscated... read
more.
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Start Talking! Know! How to Talk to Your Kids About School
Violence
3/13/2018 - Have you checked in with your children regarding the recent
school shooting in Florida to see what they’re thinking and how they’re
feeling about it? Do you know what to say? It is only natural for
parents to struggle with what to say about this senseless tragedy,
along with the additional acts and threats of school violence that have
since followed... read
more.
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Start Talking! Know! To Stop, Drop and Breathe
3/6/2018 -- Even as adults, anger can be a difficult emotion to
control, especially when it involves a child who continues to defy his
or her parents. No one can push our buttons like our own children.
However, the importance of exhibiting self-control in order to
discipline a child appropriately, is monumental. An angry parent is
scary enough. An angry parent who is in the habit of yelling and
screaming... read
more.
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Broke Wife, Big City… Beggars can be choosers, By
Aprill Brandon
Do you have pearls on right now? If so, prepare to clutch them... I no
longer care what my kids eat. Oh yeah. I said it. And I mean it. This
nose ring and these tattoos aren’t just for show. I’m a rebel mom.
(slowly pulls off motorcycle helmet and shakes out hair) I. Don’t.
Care. You hear me, world? I DON’T CARE. OK, I do care. Of course I
care. I’m a mom. (sets... read
more.
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Broke Wife, Big City… Go play with your sister. That’s why we had
her. By Aprill Brandon
Guys, we’re going to have to change the meaning of the word “natural.”
It’s either that or stop referring to anything related to motherhood
and parenting as “natural.” Take breastfeeding. Feeding your child with
your very own body. It’s often claimed this is, and I quote, “the most
natural thing in the world.” It is not. It is semi-aggressively shoving
a sore and... read
more.
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Start Talking! Know! To Recognize and Respond to Bullying
2/26/2018 - Bullying touches the lives of at least one out of every
four children in the U.S. In this year alone, approximately 13 million
youth, from preschool to high school, will experience it. Yet, many
parents do not even know their child is a victim. One study revealed
that as many as 64 percent of youth who were bullied did not tell a
parent, teacher or... read
more.
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Pressing
On, By Ben T.C. Davis
Walking into Minuteman Press International Inc., I had no idea what to
expect or how this was even going to go. I have never dropped a line
for an audience before, and I have sure never written anything that was
journalistic. So, feeling like a fish out of water, I jumped into this
project the only way I knew how; with an undeserved sense of
entitlement and the delusions of grandeur...
read
more.
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Start Talking! Know! To Talk Teen Relationships and Dating
2/21/2018 -- February is the month of romance, so what better time than
now to bring up the subject with your teen? Whether your teen has shown
interest in dating, it has more than likely crossed his or her mind. It
is vitally important for our daughters and our sons to hear from us on
this subject. They need to know what a healthy relationship entails;
they need to be clear on the family... read
more.
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Broke Wife, Big City… Date night, By Aprill Brandon
For a 10-year-old who used to fantasize about going on elaborate dates
with Jonathan Taylor Thomas to an almost excessive degree, I grew up to
be a not very romantic adult. Take Valentine’s Day, for instance. I’ve
never been a big fan. I don’t like a holiday dictating when I should
shave my legs. Or Sweetest Day, for that matter. What is this thing?
Valentine’s Day 2... read
more.
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Crazy
About Jesus, By Will McCabe
One day a student asked me in one of my high school classes, “Will, do
you live in your own little world?” She meant this as an insult, but
was surprised when I responded with, “yeah, and it’s a lot better than
the world here.” I immediately turned to one of my friends and started
talking as if nothing happened. Needless to say, that particular
student and I were not friends... read
more.
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Small
Business Growth Puts Ohio on the Map for Doing Business
Every time we enter our corner coffee shop, purchase produce from our
local farmers market, or dine at our favorite hometown restaurant, it
becomes clear that small businesses are the backbone of our
communities. The growth of this sector stimulates our economy and
provides for individuals and families across the state. In 2017, Chief
Executive magazine announced... read
more.
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The
Fix Will Not Be Easy, By Kate Burch
No surprise that the people who want to take our stuff and control our
lives are at it with a vengeance in the wake of the St. Valentine’s Day
massacre in Florida. The demands range from better background
checks and restricting gun purchases to those age 21 and older (not
necessarily a bad idea, in my view, except for those with military
service or other legitimate and trained familiarity with weapons)... read
more.
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Broke Wife, Big City… I’m telling my mom on you, By
Aprill Brandon
I like to think I’m a mature person. Mature-ish at the very least.
Especially since I became a mother. Because when the world hands you a
screaming, leaking lump of fragile human clay and expects you to keep
it alive for 18 years, you grow up a bit in spite of yourself. I can
now even say the word Uranus without giggling. Usually. But let me tell
you, the first... read
more.
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Start Talking! Know! What’s Trending – the Laundry Pod
Challenge
2/6/2018 - If you are raising teenagers, you have no doubt heard of
some of the ridiculous internet challenges that exist among this age
group. While some of these new age “dares” are silly and harmless, many
more are dangerous and even deadly. One such dare currently trending is
called the ‘Tide Pod Challenge.’ It has nothing to do with... read
more.
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Broke Wife, Big City… Everyone deserves one thousand birthday hats,
By Aprill Brandon
Here’s an interesting question you’ve probably never been asked before:
Did you know it was possible to be bad at celebrating? Me neither. And
then I had kids. My children are awful at celebrating. Just terrible.
Holidays, birthdays, anniversaries. They’re hopeless. They’re even bad
at those faux holidays like National Talk Like A Pirate Day (you should
hear... read
more.
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Know!
To Educate and Rx-Proof Students
1/31/2018 - Aside from prescription drug abuse being illegal, it is
highly dangerous. Yet one in four high school students will use a
prescription medication for non-medical reasons at least once before
graduating. Youth say prescription drugs are easier to access than a
six-pack of beer. So where are students getting these prescription
meds? 64 percent of youth... read
more.
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Broke Wife, Big City… To Whom It May Concern (yes, you),
By Aprill Brandon
I didn’t want it to have to come to this. No one ever does. Love means
never having to hire a lawyer. Or at least it should. But, alas, here
we are. It is indeed regrettable but unfortunately necessary at this
point. And so, it is with a heavy heart that I must inform you, dear
children, that you are in violation of our prenatal agreement.
Actually, you’ve both been in... read
more.
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Broke Wife, Big City… Everything is cold and dead and stupid and
I hate it, By Aprill Brandon
I’ve been sitting in this coffee shop for exactly 46 minutes now. And
yes, I see you over there, Annoying Hovering Couple with that dual
stink eye you’ve been giving me for the last 17 of these 46 minutes in
the hopes I might feel pressured to hurry up and finish my business
here so you can have my table. But the joke is on you. Because I can’t
think of any... read
more.
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Broke Wife, Big City… I’ll sit in the sinkhole tonight, honey,
By Aprill Brandon
You want to know what true love is? Volunteering to sit in the couch
sinkhole after a long day of work and raising kids so your equally
tired partner can sit on “the good side” while you watch Netflix. Wait,
what? Oh, is that just in our house? You guys don’t all have a couch
sinkhole? Well, in that case, let me explain to all you fancy folk with
your houses full of... read
more.
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Start Talking! Know! What You Can Do to Improve Your
Mental Health
1/8/2018 - With the start of each new year, people commonly vow to
improve their physical health, including diet, nutrition and exercise.
While this is a vital measure to take, it is equally important to
resolve to improve one’s mental and emotional heath as well. A healthy
mind is fundamental to a person’s overall well-being, regardless of
age. Our... read
more.
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Broke Wife, Big City… Kid(not)napped, By Aprill
Brandon
Funny title, huh? Ha-ha! HA-HA-HA! Oh yeah, LAUGH IT UP, CHUCKLES. My
entire life is ruined but I’m glad YOU find it so hilarious. Oh man.
Wow. Sorry, you guys. That was uncalled for. It’s just, I’m exhausted,
you know? From all the not sleeping my oldest is doing. I knew this day
would come. I mean, he’s almost 4-years-old. He napped longer than a
lot of... read
more.
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Start Talking... Know! Family Support for Prevention
1/4/2018 -- Research Institute has identified 40 developmental assets
for adolescents; a specific set of skills, experiences, relationships
and behaviors that help young people flourish and mature into
successful and contributing adults. Studies of more than five million
children of all cultural and socioeconomic backgrounds consistently
show that the more developmental assets... read
more.
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Broke Wife, Big City… Back off, fellas, I’m taken,
By Aprill Brandon
I am a crappy wife. I mean, I’d hate being married to me. I’m a remote
hog and an unabashed blanket stealer and I have to let you know in
great detail EVERY SINGLE FEELING I AM FEELING AT THE EXACT MOMENT I AM
FEELING IT. And then there’s my temper. My lethargic attitude regarding
shaving. My severe allergy to replacing toilet paper...
read
more.
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Without
an Anchor, By Kate Burch
I read this morning a headline about the cratering sales of “organic”
milk. At first, I thought it a positive sign that perhaps people
had begun to wake up to the fact that paying a premium for so-called
organic foods is a waste of money and comparable to buying a purse with
a designer logo so that one may be perceived as somehow special or
superior to others... read
more.
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Cogitating
about 2018, By Bob Robinson
When I was young and stupid I didn’t know what I wanted to be when I
grew up. I thought I wanted to be a bomber pilot like my dad, but I
didn’t play with planes. Or bombs. When I was in junior high I spent my
time publishing a monthly community newspaper that I charged a penny an
issue for. It even included miniature photos that I pasted in place to
go with... read
more.
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