Deb Liu

We moved to a flag lot and got a grand total of 0 trick or treaters. I am not even sure why David arranged a bowl of candy this year. I suspect most of it is heading to his stomach.

Since our three remaining parents passed in a short period a couple years ago, we have been going out to eat for Thanksgiving and Christmas instead of a big spread at home. Thank goodness for open restaurants! Chinese restaurants are hoppin' those nights.

Most memorable Patrick Stewart performance to me will always be The Inner Light on Star Trek: TNG. It was truly a quiet masterpiece that lingers long after you watch it. RIP, Captain.

I was showing my kids how I can free-handcut beautiful letters from blank paper without an outline. One asked, "Why would anyone learn to do this?" I replied, "It was way more boring in the 80s than you can imagine." #mommyschool

I am super clumsy. I have tripped and fallen just walking down a flat, paved street. Someone suggested balance training. Now I fall down just standing in my house on one leg. This is not an improvement.

Our house gets few trick-or-treaters due to our door being hard to locate. I decided to put out a bowl of candy on the driveway on an upside down box. We refilled a couple times, but when I finally came out to clean up, I realized someone stole the box but left the bowl. Hm...

Danielle (age 11): Can we make meringue cookies? Also Danielle about 20 minutes later after I teach her how to use the hand mixer to mix the egg whites: This is child labor! Parenting is a no-win situation some days. #mommyschool

Jetlag is sneaky. Just when you think you are over it, it sneaks up behind you, taps you on the shoulder and whispers, "You thought I was gone, didn't you?"

I ran out of popcorn kernels again. Amazon says the last time I bought 6 lbs was early Sept, so that means I eat about a pound a week. Now I am contemplating buying a 25lb bag... Yay or nay? Decisions, decisions.

No one warns you at your baby shower that you will spend the next 16 years driving this little human around town, only punctuated by sitting in parking lots waiting on them for what seems like hours. No reason I am writing this. None at all.

Toughest part of jetlag is fighting to stay awake even though every single cell in your body is shouting, "Sleep now or else!"

J & B had a speech tournament. David and I were state-level champions, so we were excited to see the kids get into it. I am on a trip in NY en route to London, and I got this text. B: We didn't win. Me: Sorry, sweetie. B: You raised a family of B-sians, not A-sians. Ouch!

After spending a few wonderful days in NYC, I have one question: What is with the non-stop honking and sirens? Even being pretty high up in buildings, the ambient noise is hard to get used to.

Overheard my two daughters talking: B: Daddy is overdramatic when he is pranking us, so it is obvious. D: True B: Mommy is always overdramatic, so it's hard to tell. D: Yup. #mommyschool

My son and I share the same computer - the Surface Pro 7. He broke his case, so I gave him mine. He broke the cover, so I gave him my extra one. He broke his keyboard, so he swapped mine for his. I told him: "I feel like the giving tree. There is nothing left but a stump."

My 13-year-old asked me to buy her a woman's business suit for her speech tournament. I went online to shop for one, and I realized few places sell them anymore. I had a ton from my consulting days but gave them away when I got into tech.