Dana Daily

In an attempt to boost myself out of the winter doldrums I’ve taken a minute to think about this past month (I’m choosing to ignore the fact that there are still a couple more days to endure) and the good/fun things that happened. Sarah is registered for ReadyK at St. Ursula’s School. She starts in August. Sarah and I went to see Mary Poppins at the Benedum. Her first stage show. Emily is (daytime) potty trained. What a milestone, she’s barely 2! Met up with some old friends for a fun night out at a favorite hang-out. The Steelers made it to the Super Bowl . Good-bye January, Hello February.

. . .and the laurel and hardy handshake goes to Kate for answering yesterday’s question correctly. It is The Poky Little Puppy which is one of the original 12 Little Golden Books and since 1942 has sold 15 million copies. It is truly one of the most popular children’s books of all times (and currently available at www.amazon.com ). But, popular or not, I have a passionate dislike for this poky (pokey?) little puppy. Oh sure, it’s a nice story, a real classic with wonderful repetition and alliteration, blah blah blah. BUT if you heard it over and over and over and over and over (get it?) and over again in a single day, let alone day after day, you would passionately dislike it as well. The Poky Little Puppy has been a thorn in my literary side since my younger brother (Andrew), the “baby” and the only boy in a family of 3 children, decided it was his favorite. We all know what happens when a 2 or 3 year old decides something, anything , is his or her favorite. AND when he or she ...

Sarah and Emily, my adorable daughters, are the "two little girls" going "for a walk in the wide, wide world". Bonus points if you know from which classic children's book this line was shamelessly stolen. . . and slightly modified. Although a writer by day, it may take me awhile to find my groove in these "off" hours as a creative writer while I share my life as a single, working mom of two with you. Here goes. . . I haven't always been single. And I haven't always been a mother. My husband Kevin and I were married at Holy Spirit Parish on May 7, 2005 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Nearly two years later we welcomed our first child, Sarah, into our lives on March 20, 2007. At 5lbs, 10oz she was much smaller than anyone had anticipated, but what she lacked in size she made up for in noise. This is the child that did not sleep through the night (nor did she let her parents sleep through the night) until she was 9 months old. What a joy she was ...