Domestic Putterings

Happy Holidaze!

How was Thanksgiving for everyone? It was a blissfully happy time for your Domestic Putterer, as her sister Deb and brother-in-law Marty came out from Connecticut for the holiday. They went nuts cooking the dinner down at John's parents' home, and the meal was a huge hit.

With them coming in on Tuesday and staying until Sunday, we were able to squeeze in some fun. Deb and I got pedicures, and all four of us went to see the Cleveland Symphony perform. They left early Sunday morning, and I had to go to work that afternoon, making the Thanksgiving weekend officially over.

Which means it's time to think about Christmas.

All About Me

Some of you may know me in real life, or as an "invisible friend." You may know me as Melissa, or Missy, or, if you knew me prior to 1983, Ish. But if you don't know me, an introduction is in order.

I'm a reporter by training and temperament, but not by trade anymore. I spent 10 years as a sportswriter, first in my native Connecticut then in upstate New York, picking up a few nice awards along the way, before moving to the sports copy desk and moving to Cleveland almost 10 years ago. The sports desk job was all right, but I missed writing and wanted to do something new. I'd always loved home stuff, decorating and design, largely due to the influence of my sister, Deborah, who is an interior designer. So when the Plain Dealer launced a weekly home/garden section, Inside & Out, in 2002, I moved over there to become the homes reporter. Those were some good years, as the advertising came in and we did lots of great stuff like the old Sophisticated Home magazine. Then the economy changed, the industry changed, and the axes started to fall. In December, the ax fell on me and 26 other good, talented people.