Author Archives: Jaclynn Loibl

When the drill’s battery runs out of juice, you know it’s been a productive day of playhouse building. We’re on the home stretch now, with the next step being the gable at the roof’s pitch. Before calling it a night at dusk, I opened Merlin, my bird-call identifier, hoping to identify the owl hooting nearby.Continue reading “Workin’ on a Dream”

I dislike how politics has become a game of taking sides—a relentless us versus them mindset that clings to our brains like a terrified skier gripping the tow rope, never pausing to consider whether letting go might be the wiser choice. Us versus them is dangerous. It erodes our shared humanity, replacing connection with divisionContinue reading “Admit One: The Funhouse of Politics”

I gave up trying to lend a napkin as a landing pad to a baby daddy longlegs crawling across the bed. I have more important things to do, like writing. Instead, I ushered him toward Dave’s side, though now I’m wondering what’s stopping him from inching his way back to mine. Anyway, onto more pressingContinue reading “Parking Malarkey”

There’s something oddly joyful about watching beer-bellied grown men kicking their feet and bouncing happily on an inner tube. The unlimited snow tubing session at Ober Mountain gave me hours of people-watching entertainment, especially observing the crew tasked with keeping us big, clueless animals in check. They scanned our tickets, enforced the “no sitting orContinue reading “Slip Slidin’ Away”

Our day started at WonderWorks, the upside-down building filled with interactive exhibits like a climbing wall, a bubble room, and much more. Evelyn was thrilled, and her excitement was contagious. Last night, I had a strange dream. Two of my twentysomething, fun, and very cool female clients were at my home. It felt oddly flattering,Continue reading “Amnesia Adventures”

The frantic power walk from room to room, the housecleaner-level organization and sparkle, the overthinking about what to pack—I forgot how frazzled I get before a vacation. And this is just a mini three-day trip! Would you be my sounding board? Here’s the current list of what I’ve packed: three pairs of thick socks, threeContinue reading “Hit the Road, Jac”

From now until March, it’s coyote mating season—I just learned this tidbit from Scotty, the man splitting our extra-large oak rounds. While working, he showed Dave and me a large hole in the ground on our property, explaining it was likely a fox den. One day when I was a kid a coyote had itsContinue reading “Build it or Bust”

I’m taking the night off! Love, Jaclynn