Author Archive: rennie
New Apartment Bliss
It’s finally happened … we moved into a real, grownup, civilized NYC apartment. With a doorman! And elevators! And dry cleaning In. The. Building. What’s more, now that my neighbor from hell is no more, my home is quiet. Like, really quiet. Like, the first couple nights I kept whispering to my husband because the atmosphere [...]
Descending Into Madness … Thanks, Neighbor
I hate my upstairs neighbor. And I mean all four letters of that “very strong word.” (Yeah, I really glommed on to that lesson as a kid.) This is the plight of many a New Yorker. You’re trying to enjoy a little slice of serenity in your Manhattan-sized apartment, but all you can concentrate on [...]
What Baci the Pitbull Taught Me About Fostering Dogs
I’ve been a short-term foster mom for three rescues from NYC’s The Bully Project, and each of the dogs couldn’t have been more different from one another. First came Hunny, who I’m sure was part bulldog. She loved nothing more that long, loud naps on the floor. This dog could snore! Then I had Ethel, easily [...]
Dwarf: A Memoir
How one woman fought for a body—and a life—she was never supposed to have. Born with diastrophic dysplasia, a very rare form of dwarfism, Tiffanie DiDonato dreamed of living a normal life—of being able to reach the sink unassisted or even someday driving a car so she could have the independence so many of us [...]
What a Season
Nearly 48 hours after the final Penn State football game of the season, I’m STILL cold. Saturday’s game was a huge emotional victory for an awesome group of players and for the Penn State community at large, and nothing would keep J and I away from Beaver Stadium to see it in person. Not even [...]
Looking for Longhorns and the Texas State Fair
Amtrak is really on to something. As I’m sitting in the blissful quiet car en route to NYC from Virgina, I can’t help but think this concept should really go beyond the rails. Hear me out. On the quiet car, cell phone use and any loud talking are strictly prohibited. Those of us who frequent [...]
The Blahs
It is chilly, clammy and damp in NYC today, which perfectly matches my mood. After an amazing time at the PBR Philly (we sat so close we could practically taste the dirt and came eyeball-to-giant eyeball with an angry bull … more on this in a future post) I am feeling as blah as can [...]
PBR Philadelphia: The Countdown Is On
In 19 days, I will be in my happy place. No, not on Maui, but a happy place that’s just an Amtrak ride away. On October 6, I’ll be at the PBR Philadelphia Invitational! Those who know me best accept the fact that I have become pretty obsessed with the Professional Bull Riders. (Read my [...]
Home from the Beach
I am the queen of the post-vacation hangover. After most trips (especially beach ones), I find myself falling into a joyless abyss, sobbing as I shake the sand out of my duffle bag into my perpetually grimy NYC bathtub. But this time is poised to be different. After a blissful, sunny week in Dewey Beach, [...]
Saying goodbye to the foster doggie …
Ten days ago, I was hiding in my bedroom from the pitbull I decided to foster. I was trying to get her to sit and she was confused and made a low, grumbling sound in her throat. Intellectually, I knew it wasn’t a growl, but with all the bad press that this breed gets, I [...]
