KATHRYN R. BIEL: AUTHOR

I write this as I sit in the hospital room with my grandmother, waiting for her to die.  She is truly at the end of her life, and all there is left for her to do is to pass on.  She is 93. This is awful. She never wanted to end up in a hospital bed, unable to move, unable to speak.  We have never wanted it for her. She has commented for many years that she doesn't know why she is still here.  She has been ready for her heavenly reward for many years. My grandmother is a wonderful woman.  Stoic is her middle name.  Actually, it's Slavin, but Stoic is a better fit.  She's also tiny, and everyone loves her.  Even in the ER on Sunday night, people were commenting on how cute she was.  Osteoporosis has not been kind and she is about 4'6."  When I would come over to visit, she would say, "Oh good, a tall person is here.  Can you get this down for me?"  She is the only person EVER to refer to me as tall.  Of course, this is after she fell off a ladder at

Brand new Baby Boy Biel Balloon Best team ever (2004 Red Sox, in case you were wondering) Baby Butt Basket Bathtime Boo-Boos Binkie and Blankie Big Boy Bed Baby sister Box Butterflies Bus Baseball Boy scouts  Birthday Boy! Before Being Brave Buds with Buzzes Biels Bald is Beautiful! A special thank you to all of our friends and family who supported Jake in fundraising for St. Baldrick's.  With your support, Jake personally was able to raise $700.  His school was able to raise over $10,000 to help fund research for kids with cancer.  Our personal thanks to: The Vagianelis Family David Kopach Patti and Matt Kopach Daryll Cook The Nicchi Family Trish Peterson Linda Lee Herriman Shirley Biel Barbara Frenzel Chris & Julie Kopach Stephen Kopach Irene & Edward Morris The O'Neill Family Patty Black Michele Fobare & James Kopach Mary Rose & Ph

So, my 7 year-old asked me what could be considered an odd question the other day.  "Mom, can I shave my head?" While to some, this might be out in left field, it made perfect sense to me, as his school (Forts Ferry) is hosting a St. Baldrick's fundraiser on 10/21/11.  Jake's school is big on teaching kindness and compassion.  They participate in Rachel's Challenge, which promotes kindness and compassion.  Rachel's Challenge was formed in memory of one of the Columbine victims.  Forts Ferry is continuing on with that message by hosting a fundraiser to benefit kids with cancer.  I'm not sure he really understands what this is all about.  So, we talked about it.  Part of Jake's Aspergers is that he has trouble with empathy.  It is hard for him to picture what it must be like to have cancer.  He didn't understand what having a shaved head had to do with cancer.  But he also has sensitivities to somethings that would not bother most kids.  Like

Sometimes, I get so involved in what I'm doing that I lose perspective of the world around me. Usually, this directly corresponds with fatigue on my part. The more exhausted I am, the easier it is for me to lose perspective.  And then other bad things happen.  Like I yell at my kids.  I make snap judgments.  I feel a strong urge to hit my husband over the head with a frying pan.  What causes me to feel this way?  Here's the current rundown: I work 3 days a week at my "regular" job.  This week, at this job, I visited 11 schools.  Considering I had Monday off, and only worked 2 days, that's kind of impressive.  Next week, in my 3 days, I will visit 15 locations.  16, if you include going in on a day off to attend a meeting.  This, in and of itself is exhausting.  Then add the fact that I'm constantly moving and demonstrating exercises.  My job seems to be sapping all the life out of me this year. Plus I have a second job, which I work one to two Saturday m

The start of fall is my favorite time of the year.  I love when you can feel the crisp-ness to the air.  I love when I can wear a sweater or two.  I love a bright and sunny fall day with blue skies and red leaves.  And to many people, fall in NY is equated with apple picking.  And apple pies. Now, I don't like apple pies.  I know, un-American.  But I do love getting all the fresh apples.  And, of course, the cider donuts.  But, at this time of year, I feel obligated to make pie.  But I don't really enjoy it (probably since I don't eat it).  My dad does like to make pies, and likes to have the "help" of his grandchildren. Jake, age 2 1/2, making pies with Grandpa.  Fall 2006 Working in schools, I usually get to go on a field trip to some of the local orchards/farms.  It's great, because I can get my apples and donuts, and the crowds aren't too bad, unlike when you try to visit on a weekend. Indian Ladder Farms, September 2007 Sophia

14 years is a long time.  A lot can happen in 14 years.  For example, it the past 14 years, I have: Gotten 3 college degrees Lost 2 grandparents Moved about 6 times Lived in 5 states Worked 11 jobs Bought 4 cars Met and married my husband Had 2 wonderful kids And this says nothing about how the world has changed. 9/11, cell phones, the internet.  14 years ago, blogs weren't even invented, let alone Facebook.  My friends and I mocked people who walked around talking on their phones.  Now I feel as if my phone is another appendage.  14 years ago, the Red Sox were still waiting to reverse the curse. But today is significant for another reason.  14 years ago today, my college roommate and I got a kitten.  This kitten was sired by a good friend's cat.  Our friend had been tragically killed in a car accident earlier that summer.  We took the kitten as a link to him.  His favorite bar (and ours at the time) was Harper's Ferry on Brighton Ave.  We had been there with h