Australian Wildfires

The article below appeared in The Age (a Melbourne newspaper) yesterday. It was sent to me by a Bond Girl down “under.” If you have the time to read it, its an incredible story.  As they say in Australia, I don’t know “how I would go” in the same situation! I now understand the word ‘firestorm’   Luke […]


The Passport Photo: Following My Own Advice

Okay, SO. About a year ago, I was fat (happy), and in need of a new driver’s license. Contrary to my own good advice in my book fEmpowerment, I basically went down to the DMV, and took the photo. I’d put on the makeup, I’d done the hair, but….BAAAAD. So VERY VERY BAD. Lordie lordie. Of […]


Memories of World War I by Robinson Shepard (my grandpa) – page 3: Where Math wins the day and Grampa joins the Masons

Once in a while, you could get a pass to go to Ayers. There in the basement of the Odd Fellows Hall, were a couple of pool tables. If the soldier, or his father, was an Odd Fellow he could use the tables. By virtue of Father’s being an Odd Fellow I played pool several […]


Feisty’s College Connection: Never ask for an extension again

Today I’m going to teach you two tricks to get great grades without asking for extensions and without pulling all-nighters. I got straight-As for seven years of post-secondary education and never once stayed up all night to do it. Here’s how you can, too. Because nothing is as guaranteed to create garbage results, cause tons […]


Biggest Loser 2009

SO, this year, after 2 years of just basically “letting it all hang out” (meaning – I have a James that loves champagne, foie gras, and all things lovely and fattening!) I am in a Biggest Loser contest. A few gals in my neighborhood and I decided that instead of spending the $ for Weight Watchers, […]


Memories of World War I by Robinson Shepard (my Grandpa) – page 2

[continuation of my grandfather’s typewritten notes; see previous post for title page and page 1]   Some of the artillery, having been drafting, came by and got sore and they wrote to the Boston Herald and they printed it, that while we enlisted, wedid it to escape the draft, and so we could choose the […]


Introducing Feisty: The Bond Grrl College Correspondent

Hi, everyone! Sandy has generously allowed me to fill a niche in the reading audience: the college-bound Bond Grrl. College presents quite a few hazards for would-be Bond Grrls: cramped quarters, mediocre meals, and pressure to get good grades, be a party animal, and find your life purpose… all at the same time! But college […]


The Buffalo Principle….

{a joke we heard in a Sedona bar over the Holidays – my lord, I have a lot of notes to blog about!) (First Guy) I drink because of the “Buffalo Principle.” You see, buffaloes travel in packs, and wolves take the slow and weak. This is how brain cells work.” (Other Guy) How’s that? […]


Memories of World War I – by Robinson Shepard (my grandpa): Where he talks about hearing on the wireless the Carpathia pick up survivors of the Titanic

This is the cover page and page one of the typewritten sheets that I received from my uncle:   Born: August 23, 1896 in Bangor, Maine (his mother’s home) Enlisted in the Signal Corps, May 10, 1917 Landed in Cardiff, Wales on July 31st having left by Troop Train on July 8th or 9th for […]