There's a huge part of me that wants to post a screenshot of my Blogger dashboard just to prove to you that I haven't entirely forgotten my blog. No, really. I've had my fair share of ideas to write about, including what I think are rather insightful pieces about empowering women, mental illness and body issues. I've started them and failed to finish them, usually because I fall asleep mid-post. I fall asleep a lot these days. On the couch. In the rocking chair. Face down on my computer's keyboard. It's a combination of a solid three to four hours of sleep each night, working ten to twelve hour days and a thyroid condition that's wreaking havoc on my body. But anyway. I've recently decided that I need to spend SOME time doing things I enjoy, and I do enjoy writing about my life and how I see the world. That's why I'm taking a break from writing an enchanting piece about kitchen islands to post a quick update in the hope that we can pick up

This post has been sitting on my computer for the last few weeks. In the wake of this week, the message seems even more appropriate. *** For several months now, the service engine light has been on and off...mostly on. I've taken it to the mechanic several times, and he's pulled the code and checked out all the usual suspects before calling me to pick it up. There have even been a few times that it goes off on its own. And then comes back on. It's a bit of a waiting game, as I'm waiting until someone finally figures out what's going on. I was thinking about the service engine light this morning on the way to work and comparing it to how many times in life we talk about missing the warning signs. It's a convenient response, kind of like, "stay strong" or "she's in a better place now." Those empty words that fill an uncomfortable space and are usually best left unsaid. The truth, which sometimes seems to be messier, is that warning