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Dirt & Noise

A blog by a left leaning mom of 2 boys

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writing

Write On

Ilinap · March 24, 2022 ·

It used to be that my pen was my comfort. I wrote when I felt stressed, overwhelmed, sad, pretty much any time I had big feelings, I wrote. This has been a lifelong habit, even from when I was a little girl crafting background stories for every doll in my collection. I have … [Read more...] about Write On

Tags: global news, news, politics, writing

I Don’t Want to Go Back to Normal

Ilinap · March 26, 2020 ·

I don’t want to go back to normal. Let's be candid, the normal we yearn to find our way back to was not all that great, for most. These were not our halcyon days. I hope we use this time to look inward as we reach a hand out. Let’s reflect on what we were and what we want to … [Read more...] about I Don’t Want to Go Back to Normal

Tags: family, joy, neighborhood, pandemic, time, writing

Corona Stream of Consciousness

Ilinap · March 22, 2020 ·

I've been stress baking. Today I made an apple pie and croissant bread pudding. Even Mac Daddy is getting in on the kitchen action. He's making Jennie Perillo's homemade pasta for dinner. The house is unkempt. I cannot function when my surroundings are untidy. I am a nag. … [Read more...] about Corona Stream of Consciousness

Tags: cooking, covid-19, family, kids, Mac Daddy, pandemic, writing

Write to Those Doing the Right Thing

Ilinap · October 23, 2017 ·

I've spent my entire life writing to legislators, companies, and movie stars. I had written to President Jimmy Carter, Hamburger Helper, and Lucille Ball before I turned 12. Decades later, I continue to write letters. I even taught a segment in my public relations class about … [Read more...] about Write to Those Doing the Right Thing

Tags: North Carolina, politics, thankful, values, writing

Home of the Free (Labor)

Ilinap · July 25, 2016 ·

Some of the same people who say we shouldn't ask for handouts or ask for anything for free are asking me to provide free work. As in, use my talent as unpaid labor. I’ve been out of college for 25 years, but it seems that some businesses want to use me as an intern. Recently, in … [Read more...] about Home of the Free (Labor)

Tags: writing

Harper Lee Lives On

Ilinap · February 19, 2016 ·

Atticus, Scout, and Harper were all on our baby name list. A proud parenting milestone came last summer when both Bird and Deal read To Kill A Mockingbird. Like so many others might say, it's the one book I can read over and over again without skimming. Bird read my tattered … [Read more...] about Harper Lee Lives On

Tags: books, children, writing

Snow Angels

Ilinap · February 15, 2016 ·

Whenever it snows I'm taken back to the third grade in Roanoke, Virginia. I don't remember my teacher's name, but I can vividly recall the classroom. It was tucked in a corner so there were extra windows. We enjoyed glorious streams of sun and daydreamed as we stared out the … [Read more...] about Snow Angels

Tags: school, weather, writing

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Writer. Marketer. Energizer.



Progressive, mom, writer, reader, traveler. Believe in good manners, home cooking, spending $ on experiences, not things, Oxford comma. ENFJ.

There are certain shades of limelight that can wreck a girl's complexion. - Holly Golightly
Learn more about Ilina...

Featured Posts

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