Laurie's Journal

  'Twas The Week Before Christmas, And All Through The Store... Pure, Unadulterated Chaos Alright, fellow survivors of the retail trenches, gather 'round. Take a deep breath. Have you finally thawed out from the frostbite you acquired standing by the perpetually-ajar automatic doors? Have the echoes of Mariah Carey's "All I Want For Christmas Is You" finally receded from your nightmares? Good. Because it's time to talk about it. The Christmas season in retail isn't just a "busy period." It's less like a period and more like an alternate dimension where logic dies, patience goes to hibernate, and the fabric of reality is stretched thinner than a bargain-bin stocking. The Grinch's Demographic First, let's address the species of customer that emerges from the woodwork. You know the ones. The "I need a specific toy that was discontinued in 2007, and it MUST be here because my child will literally spontaneously combust if they don...

  Cheers to 60 Years: Celebrating John Perrone's Milestone Birthday Sixty isn't just another birthday; it’s a "Diamond Jubilee" of a life well-lived. Recently, we gathered friends and family to celebrate my husband John's 60th, and honestly, the planning was just as much fun as the party itself. Whether you are planning a massive bash or an intimate dinner, reaching six decades is the perfect excuse to look back with gratitude and forward with excitement. Here is a look into how we toasted to his big 6-0 . The Menu: Elevated Comfort At 60, you know what you like. We kept the food sophisticated but approachable. Instead of a formal sit-down meal, we did it family "Italiano-style" with Anti-pasta, Bruschetta, Vodka Penne, Italian Caprese salad and, of course, main entrees of choice: Chicken Marsala, Sole Oreganato, or Chicken Francese. For dessert:  We were served various slices of cheese cakes, brownies and carrot cake. And here was the cake for the Guest...

Hello, everyone!  Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year to all!  Pre-Christmas stress, preparing for John's 60th as well as attempting to e-mail that important article for the new year was pretty daunting for me and here's why: That "Submit" button can feel like it weighs a thousand pounds. Whether it’s your first pitch or your fiftieth, the moment you send your work off into the void is always a mix of adrenaline and anxiety. There it is. The cursor is no longer blinking at me. The word count is locked. The "Sent" folder has a new resident. I just submitted a piece for my freelance gig at Kearny Life magazine.  If you’re a writer, you know that the five minutes following a submission are a strange, caffeinated blur of relief, terror, and sudden "did-I-miss-a-typo" paranoia. Before I hit send, I did the dance. I read the piece out loud. I ran it through three different spell-checkers. I formatted the headers exactly the way the style guide requested...

 Yes, I have my eccentricities. In my world (circa mid 1980s), New York as we know it in 2025 doesn't exist. Politicians? Who? In my teens, I could care less. I avoid anything that I find unsavory would not fit neatly into my pre-9/11 world.  I don't watch 2025 news, I watch 1980s "nostalgia news."  I feel that this mindset protects me from the horrible realities of 2025.  In my world, 2025 is safely tucked away in the long distance of 40-something years.  My barrier of safety, should I decide to revisit the 90s ends there. See you soon!  In the 80s. xoxo

 I'm trying not to miss my youth with my biological father.  I have to be grateful for the time we (John and I) spent with Papa, Mama Claire, Justin, Kellee, Kiana and Jason.  We WILL return again next July.  I'm almost positive. I just landed a free-lance writing gig with Kearny Life magazine, which is a lifestyle magazine involving everything Kearny, New Jersey.  I am doing my first story on Maxi's Fashions, a formal dress shop right here in town that covers weddings, proms, Sweet Sixteens, Quinces, the works.   Maxi, the owner, is super sweet. As an angle, I will be writing how Maxi makes dreams come true.  I never had a Quince with Papa, so Jack, my editor will be photographing me in a lavender formal Quince gown!  The angle is that it took me 55 years for my dreams to come true in meeting Papa.  Now, Papa will have pictures of me as a Quince I never was!!! Better late than never.  Dreams come true for all ages! Time has nothing...

 Welcome, Summer! In one month and one day, I will be flying off with John to New Mexico to visit with Papa and Mama Claire.  We will also be meeting my youngest half-brother Justin and his wife Kellee and our niece and nephews.  We are Aunt Laurie and Uncle John once again! I am finding it more and more difficult to watch TV, as I want more and more to write! I am slowly answering the questions in my memoir workbook.  Excited to put my memoirs to paper while setting a redemptive tone. Love ya! xoxo

 Hello, again!  Happy May 1st! Every month I get scared that I won't have anything to discuss.  Well, May is going to be awesome!   Last month I began deep cleaning and reorganizing my house.  FYI- keeping your home clean and organized literally sweeps the blues and anxiety away-no pun intended!  This month I will be continuing my stress-free quest by cleaning and organizing my closets.  By the time it comes to seeing my papa in person everything should be ship-shape. Anyway, I bought a book from Amazon called The Memoir Workbook A Step-by-Step Guide to Help You Brainstorm, Organize, and Write Your Unique Story by C.S. Lakin.  I sent a copy to papa, who is also working on his memoirs.  This  book really gets your juices flowing when it comes to writing about yourself. In addition, I bought (for me, not for papa) Poetry 30 Day Challenge   and I downloaded another 30-Day Challenge that is sent directly to my inbox. I figure ...

 So sorry it's been awhile since my last entry.  I've been in a depressive mood and I didn't find writing that appealing.  I have so much material for my memoir entitled I Dream of Purple Skies .  It 's how I lived in rebellion for so many years before I came to Christ.  At the age of 30, I came to my senses, and bottom line, I am not my own Higher Power.  Growing as a Christian, it was difficult for me to completely trust God.  It was through life experience that I saw God come through for again, and again, and again.  Looking back at all that God has done for me, I now have a greater faith than when I was a baby Christian. I don't simply believe in miracles, I live on miracles!  On November 14th, I made contact with my birth father.  We have been talking ever since via phone and text.  He calls me his "Little Angel."He is married to Mama Claire, who is sweet and understanding.  She calls me "Baby Girl."  In all this time...