family

The Grateful-Fors: 50 things I’m grateful for today

by Marissa on 26 November 2009

Inspired by (a) the fact that it’s American Thanksgiving today, (b) Havi Brooks’ brilliant take on The Lentil Game, and (c) my heart’s desire to acknowledge the happy amongst the hard right now, I present a list of 50 people, things, ideas, happenings, etc. for which I’m grateful in big and small ways. This list [...]

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Goodbye, Grandma

by Marissa on 19 November 2009

Dear Grandma, You got comfy in your recliner yesterday afternoon. Snuggled up with your blanket, in that soft pink and white striped top you loved, with a kleenex or two tucked up in your sleeve. “I’m just really, really tired,” you said as you reclined in your favorite chair. And just a few minutes after [...]

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Well-wishes for Chaz from all around the ‘net

by Marissa on 7 July 2009

My brother Chaz had a rollerblading accident on Friday, and wound up with two badly broken wrists. He’s had surgery on his right wrist (and is the proud owner of a metal plate and some pins and some wires in that arm now, sure to set off metal detectors wherever he roams), and the left [...]

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Liberty’s Teeth: Lessons in rocking your audience

by Marissa on 18 June 2009

My uncle Paul (my Dad’s bro) plays rhythm guitar in a rock cover band called Liberty’s Teeth. And they’re pretty fantastic. The band is often booked to play at bars and nightclubs, though they also have several bookings for weddings and parties too. I got to see them play for the first time at an [...]

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A Mothers Day Top Ten Rundown

by Marissa on 11 May 2008

In Honor of Mothers Day (a.k.a. Mums’ Day), we at Daily Struggles are proud to present The Top Ten Rundown–the top ten memories, things we love, traits we admire, or moments we’ll never forget, about each of the Moms in our life. Let’s get started!   Gram 10. For years, I thought the way she [...]

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Pansy & Petunia

by Marissa on 8 April 2007

My folks named their babies Pansy (the black and white, slightly smaller puppy) and Petunia (the brown and white, very ornery puppy). And because Pansy and Petunia are, quite possibly, the cutest little dogs ever, here are some more photos of them: Pansy & Sparky look like mommy and baby. Pansy tries to help Daddio [...]

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Mums & Daddio’s New Babies

by Marissa on 26 March 2007

With the passing of Sophie and Lucy, Mums and Daddio felt like their house was pretty empty. Sparky agreed; she was very lonely without any sisters around. So Mums stumbled across some pictures of some very tiny little girls looking for a home… and she and Daddio couldn’t say no. Mums & Daddio welcomed home [...]

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Good Night, Sweet Girl, and Farewell to the Captain

by Marissa on 7 October 2006

Sophie, 1995-2006 There is one less bark greeting visitors to the Bracke household as of early this morning. Sophie, a.k.a. “The Blowfish,” after a long battle with kidney problems and digestive system issues, fell asleep in the morning hours of this autumn day in the company of her “Mom” Sally. Sophie would have been 11 [...]

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