Rabbit, Rabbit! That’s how I like to kick off the first day of the month for a bit of good luck. It’s August 1st, and I’m having one of the best August firsts ever! The Olympics are in full swing, and the support athletes receive from folks like Flavor Flav and Snoop Dogg has been… More Day 97: The Art of Code Switching and Intentional Conversations
It’s Wednesday, July 31st, and though I might be off by a day or two in my count, we’re in the thick of it now. What a week it’s been! The energy from the rally in Georgia was palpable. People coming together with optimism and a renewed sense of purpose—this is what our democracy is… More Day 98: The Power of Your Vote and Civic Engagement
Feeling the Support First of all, welcome back. Yesterday was an incredible day for me. The outpouring of support from all of you was overwhelming, and it reminded me just how much we are all in this together. Whether you’ve been with me for years or are just joining in to get fired up for… More Day 99: Coalition Building and the Power of Voting
A New Beginning Oh my goodness, my people! In the spirit of renewed hope and excitement, I’ve decided to crawl out of my shell and revive The Lawyer’s Daughter podcast. But this time, it’s for political purposes. I know that might make some of you hesitate, but before you decide not to listen, let me… More Day 100: Reviving Hope and Political Action
The week before DeAngelo’s arrest, I had worked a trade show called RSAC. It’s the biggest cybersecurity show in the US. It happens in San Francisco and I did it while on a crutch (busted up leg) and launching a huge PR campaign. The cover image is from one of our event buttons – it just… More The Day of the Arrest: How I Learned DeAngelo Had Been Caught
My grandmother’s piano sat in our front room. It’s dark cherry and well-worn and every Smith kid had to take piano lessons. I wasn’t that great at playing conventionally, but I was good at playing a song by ear. I could read music and loved all things Billy Joel and Elton John. I aspired to… More The Day We Learned My Dad and Charlene Were Dead
My new friends in the media warned me about this. They said to be ready for the ups and downs. There would be quiet periods and then the noise would start again as decisions are made and new evidence presented. I’m glad they prepared me. I woke up this morning pretty hot because I’m really… More News of the Day: DNA, Evidence, and Victim’s Assistance
I knew it would be tough to sleep. I felt the dread building into the evening and so I decided half a Xanax would help. Not so much. When the clock flipped to 1:30am, I was still talking to myself. I need sleep. I have to be up early. I was afraid the alarm wouldn’t… More Today I Saw Joseph DeAngelo, The Golden State Killer, In Person for the First Time
There is nothing that rings more true for a single mom. I chose to be a single mom. When I wasn’t married at 34 – and there were no prospects on the horizon – I decided I would go ahead and have a kid using a sperm donor. I also knew I would be on… More Blog Action Day 2012 – The Power of We is the Key to Successful Parenting
Yeah, that’s a Menorah ANDa Christmas tree. We get around. Katie was groaning the other day about going to another holiday party. “I don’t hate the party mom, I hate all the dumb questions the adults ask me!” she lamented. I think I am one of those adults! It’s terrifying when you realize you have… More Five Things You Should NOT Ask the Kids This Holiday Season