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Terri S. Vanech

Wife, mother, communications specialist, Jazzercise instructor and recently reunited adoptee. I'm living out loud -- and trying to make it all work -- in midlife. Having a sense of humor sure helps.
Terri S. Vanech has written 1227 posts for Pushing on a Rope

Life lessons from Sandy

Slowly, but surely, some sense of normalcy is returning to lower Fairfield County — for many of us, any way. For others, life will never be the same. Sandy cut a devastating path through our area this week, and my heart is sick to see how much suffering there is. Those of us fortunate enough … Continue reading

I’ve got the power!

Sixty-five hours later, CL&P let there be light again on Halsey Drive – and thank God for that. The pioneer spirit we adopted upon waking to the cold and dark Tuesday morning following Hurricane Sandy was evaporating faster than the rush of those 80+mph winds that buffeted our region earlier this week. I feel a … Continue reading

Slice of life in the midst of the hurricane

It was a dark and stormy day. I worked hard playing “beat the power outage.” Catherine did the same with all her homework. And Basil helped make sure the mail kept moving. As of now, we still have power, but it’s been flickering all day. (And went out a couple times briefly.) Next door, a … Continue reading

Ready to ride out the storm

OK, we’re ready. Batteries, bottled water and nonperishables purchased, flashlights checked, laundry’s done, lawn furniture and sundries packed away. We’ve checked in on our parents and neighbors, watched Catherine do the “no school for three days” happy dance, got a jump on some work — just in case the power poops out — and went … Continue reading

Keepin’ it classy on our first campus tour

I can’t believe I’m typing this, but it’s true: Tomorrow, we take Catherine to her first college open house. This person: (now this person): is starting to look at colleges. It’s an early look — to a get a lay of the land. Having just started junior year of high school a couple of months … Continue reading

Powerless against the surge of storm warnings

You ready for Frankenstorm? As a rule, I like a little weather. A rainy day is good for the soul, and I’m not above wishing for a snow day, even this early in the year. But all the hullaballoo over Hurricane Sandy has me smh (that’s shaking my head, for those without teenagers to translate). … Continue reading

Boo-hoo.

I thought ages 4-12 months brought a lot of changes, what with the sitting up, solid food, rolling over, crawling, standing, learning to talk. But that was only because I didn’t know all the milestones that teen years would bring. All the obvious physical changes, of course. And the removal of braces. Now the driving … Continue reading

A Cheerio that didn’t leave him ‘Broken Hearted’

You know that old saw about the way to a man’s heart? It’s apparently true, and hard-wired from birth. I saw it in action this morning with two toddlers during the coffee hour at church. She wandered the hall in her beautiful dress, tip-toeing in her Mary Janes with their satin bows, one hand firmly … Continue reading

Today’s unexpected door prize

Funny how things are connected. This coming Thursday, my godson, Dominic, will have his Eagle Scout court of honor. I’m very proud of him and more than a little upset that I can’t zip up to Rhode Island to congratulate him in person. Instead I was able to mark the occasion closer to home when … Continue reading

All it’s cracked up to be

As I’ve said many times before, I rely on humor to get me through. Whether it’s in the wake of near disaster (read about that here, here or here) or to navigate the mundane — like this, the ridiculous (like this event here) or some other nonsense (like those two different shoes, which are still dogging me), … Continue reading