Hotter Than a Pepper Sprout

I just got home from a librarian conference, but long before it even occurred to me that I could or should be a librarian, I wanted to be a DJ. So I'm pretty excited that my current career actually led to a (very small) connection to the Current, my favorite local public radio station. I was so happy to be mentioned in a post on the Current's website not just because I crave attention, but because I adore the Current and love being associated with it in even a tangential way. I really can't overstate how important the Current is to my daily life. I totally rely on the Current to provide my daily musical soundtrack. I love not having to put in the effort to pick out my own music. I don't know what I want to listen to, especially when there are now so many musical choices available. I totally trust the Current to, well yes, keep me current on new music, and aware of local music, and educate me about all the classic rock music I missed.  And figuring out all the new d...

I think about how I'm a LOT like my mom in so many ways, especially around her birthday. But I did NOT follow in her footsteps recently. How did I stray? By refusing to take credit for my food-making prowess. Let me set the scene...one of our favorite Luedtke family memories is of the Thanksgiving when my mom prepared some type of premade frozen fruit pie. My grandpa found the pie to be super-delicious, and said "Colleen, did you make this pie?" (Not sure who else would have made or supplied this pie, but I assume my grandpa was just so excited he didn't think this through). And my mom replied, "Mm-hmm, glad you like it." One of our grandpa's nickname was "Popeye" for pretty good reasons... My sister, brother, and I were all like "What?!!" but we didn't actually say anything, and my grandpa didn't seem to notice our disbelief. Not saying we were terribly discreet, but he couldn't see or hear very well... When my g...

As my birthday is rapidly approaching and I contemplate getting older, I feel like I've changed in many way, but one thing has remained constant: I continue to be a clotheshorse. And yes, that's a word I actually use because my mother used to say it (just like "bee's knees"). According to the Online Eytmology Dictionary it was originally a wooden rack for hanging wet laundry on, and by 1850 also meant a "a person whose sole function seems to be to show off clothes." I'm not really into wearing wet laundry, but that second definition is definitely me.   One of my favorite aquamarine dresses I'm not saying that I'm into high fashion or trendy fashion...mostly I just like cheap and fun fashion (my apologies, environment). I really can't identify too many brands that aren't sold at Target. But I just love to buy clothes and put together outfits. There is nothing like the anticipation of getting to wear something new...or the frustr...