Mandi Castle's Blog, page 4
December 28, 2015
Busted
It was bound to happen. You know that moment when you’re doing something you’re not supposed to be doing, and you get caught? That happened to me. You see, this whole writing thing that I do has been a huge secret from most of my real life people for a long time, especially my family... Read More in Busted
December 15, 2015
Things You Should Have Learned in Grade School but Obviously Didn’t
It seems that people aren’t getting smarter with the invention of smart everything, so in keeping with the giving season that it is, I’m offering you a quick guide to help you not look stupid. Or Stupider. Part of it is your own fault: A lot = two words A lot of you never learned... Read More in Things You Should Have Learned in Grade School but Obviously Didn’t
November 30, 2015
Ch ch ch ch Changes
It’s not just the weather changing these days. I get these reminders on social media sometimes that say, “This time last year” or “Two years ago today” and things like that, and I really like to see where I was. To look at those memories with a smile and a sigh. My daughter just turned... Read More in Ch ch ch ch Changes
October 6, 2015
I Didn’t Really Straddle Jesus
One day I logged onto Facebook and found myself a member of a new group. This happens frequently, as most of you may know. One minute you don’t know what Jamberry is, and the next you’re trying to figure out how to make the microfiber mascara work and all because someone added you to a... Read More in I Didn’t Really Straddle Jesus
September 21, 2015
Five Things My Pregnant Friend Doesn’t Know But Needs to Know
Dear beautiful pregnant friend, Look how cute you are with your sweet little basketball belly and that nubbin of a button poking through your fitted maternity shirt. Isn’t it sweet, that pregnancy glow? I’m sorry it’s about to end. The thing is, my dear friend, they (whoever they are) don’t tell you everything. In fact,... Read More in Five Things My Pregnant Friend Doesn’t Know But Needs to Know
September 9, 2015
And the Wind Cries . . . Samara
It can happen unexpectedly. Every once in a while, someone stumbles into your life, and you just know there’s something there. A kind of connection. Chemistry. When I first met her, she was a phone girl in a whore house. Immediately, I developed a full blown girl crush. I thought to myself, I don’t hardly know... Read More in And the Wind Cries . . . Samara
August 6, 2015
A Close Encounter with Magic Mike (and I’m not talking about the movie)
I went to an all nude male review once when I was eighteen. I used a fake ID and walked in holding my best friend’s hand in one hand and a Zima in the other. I felt out of place. Very out of place. Someone was getting married or turning twenty – one or something... Read More in A Close Encounter with Magic Mike (and I’m not talking about the movie)
July 31, 2015
Everything Does NOT Happen for a Reason
In America alone, someone dies by suicide every thirteen minutes. Every thirteen minutes. I originally posted this piece on SisterwivesSpeak.com in September. In this post, I mention a suicide that occurred my Senior year of high school. Today, the daughter of that friend is raising money for suicide prevention by selling t-shirts. If mental illness... Read More in Everything Does NOT Happen for a Reason
May 11, 2015
Pages of Paige
“Write the best story that you can, and write it as straight as you can.” Ernest Hemingway I kind of like Ernest Hemingway, so I take his advice as often as possible. That’s what I tried to do when I created Paige and the rest of her story in Dear Stephanie. I tried to write... Read More in Pages of Paige
May 7, 2015
It’s Been a Long Day
People always say that you don’t get to pick your family. I disagree. When I was six years old, a family with three little girls moved into the house next door. My mother was thrilled. Being the only girl with four older brothers, my hobbies had become making and eating mud pies, getting into fights... Read More in It’s Been a Long Day
