Work for Free? Kinda. Sorta.

Posted on April 5, 2026 by renbog

Today’s prompt is, “What job would you do for free?”

First, I sat with that for a moment and thought about it. I thought about all the things I love doing or at least get joy from. Teaching. Writing. Reading. Baking. Sewing. Spending time with my grandkids. Working out. Then I thought about doing those jobs, or how those things might be turned into jobs. Teaching, whether it’s language arts or technology, whether it’s kids or adults. Writing — blog posts, short stories, poetry, my novel, research. Reading, like as an editor or proofreader, maybe. Baking cookies, cakes, brownies, bread. Sewing clothes, cross stitch, embroidery. Spending time with my grandkids — babysitting. Working out — coach, personal trainer.

I decided the only job I would do for free would be babysitting my grandsons. But please don’t think I’m some pillar of kindness! I love those boys more than life itself, and I do babysit them on occasion and of course, I don’t make my daughter and son-in-law pay me. But if I needed to babysit them regularly, I would never ask to be paid for two reasons: 1.) That’s my daughter, my family, and I would never ask to be paid to take care of family; and 2.) If I had to babysit the boys regularly, it would likely be because they were in some sort of situation where they couldn’t afford child care, so I wouldn’t be asking them for money.

All that being said, though, I actually would work for Free in all those other ways. Kinda. Sorta. Because I kinda sorta already have.

When I was teaching, I regularly worked beyond my contracted hours and days, and I did it happily because I enjoyed serving the people I worked for. Reading, and writing, I do this all the time to help people by helping to edit something they wrote. I bake things at my daughter’s request for parties or gatherings, and I bake things to share with friends and family. I sew to create gifts for people. When I had my personal trainer certification, I created some workouts for people because they asked and I wanted to help them. So I guess doing those things meant I was working in some capacity for free. I think we all work for free in some capacity. But at the same time, what exactly does it mean to work for free? Because money is the most common way to be paid for working, but it’s not the only currency. Yes, when I babysit my grandsons, I don’t get paid any money. But I get to build a relationship with them, and I get hugs and smiles. That’s some pretty rich currency right there! And the other day, while sitting on the couch with my oldest grandson (he’s 3 1/2), completely out of the blue, he scooted over, snuggled up under my arm, and said, “I really love you a lot, Meemaw.” There is no amount of money you could pay me that would be equal to that.

So I would do lots of jobs for free. Kinda. Sorta.

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Breakin’ The Law

Posted on February 15, 2026 by renbog
Daily writing prompt
Have you ever unintentionally broken the law?
View all responses

Yes, I unintentionally broke the law once. It was close to 30 years ago. I had to go to the grocery store to do some shopping. I had my daughter, Becky, with me. She was probably about 2 or 3 years old. One of the first things I did when I was in the store was pass through the aisle that had kids’ toys and books in it. I grabbed a little board book for her and handed it to her to keep her occupied while I shopped. I did my shopping and checked out, and then had to make a mad dash to the car because it was pouring rain outside. I grabbed her out of the cart and tossed her in her car seat, and as I did that, I saw the book in her hands and realized I didn’t pay for the book. In my head, I did a quick check and balance: I could put my groceries in the trunk, grab her and the book, run back into the store through the pouring rain and pay for the book, then go back out to the car with my toddler through the rain, OR I could just say a quick prayer asking for forgiveness and drive away without paying for the book. I opted for the latter. And that’s the story of the one and only time I shoplifted anything. I suppose I should have gone back another day and paid for the book, but by the time I got home, I wasn’t thinking about the book anymore and it never occurred to me to go back on a good weather day to pay for the book.

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Welcome to my Pity Party

Posted on November 20, 2025 by renbog

One of my mantras is, “My body doesn’t get to tell me what I can do. I tell my body what it can do.” That has gotten me through a lot of challenges, including a 5k, half marathon, full marathon, and learning to walk again. I love being the boss of my body. And I love my body and what it has allowed me to do and still allows me to do.

I can appreciate the small things, like being able to walk up and down a flight of stairs, or carry a drink in one hand and bags of groceries in another, or dance with my husband at a wedding. I can also appreciate the big things, like being able to throw a strong punch at a heavy bag and not fall over, or do box steps ups at the gym, or deadlift more than 100 pounds. My body is strong, and it is because of my hard work and resilience and dedication and fortitude that it’s strong.

But sometimes my body likes to give me a dose of reality. Today was one of those days.

Today’s workout was simple enough in technique, just not task: row 10k meters in teams of 3 — the goal was to complete it in 40 minutes or less. I knew I was going to be a bit of a weak link — I was definitely the oldest person at the gym today by probably a good 20 years or more over everyone else there, and I’m just not as good an athlete as everyone who was there today. Simple fact. It doesn’t bother me. I know I can’t do the things so many others can do — partially because of age, partially because of skill, partially because of condition. I’m no longer self-conscious about it. I also don’t think anyone pays one bit of attention to my “limitations”. We all are just the athletes we are. (Side note: the culture at my gym is just so damn fantastic. CrossFit Washington is exactly what I needed after moving away from K-Fit Minooka.)

I partnered up with Brady, our coach, and Crystal, a killer athlete. We were rowing about 300m-500m each and then switching off. I wasn’t rowing as many strokes per minute as they were, but I was okay — I was holding my own. Where things started to go off the rails in my head was the last 3 times I was on the rower. I started to feel my lower legs and feet go more numb than normal. I knew what it was: fatigue. The truth is neuropathy impacts muscles — muscles don’t get the signals they need from the nerves, so muscles aren’t as strong as they should be, and muscles tire more easily. I’ve had this happen when I’ve tried to run longer distances (or even walk) since my back surgery: my legs just get so tired, they feel so weak and heavy. That’s what happened today. Even though there isn’t a lot of movement of the lower legs on a rower, there is still plenty of pushing and movement of the ankles. It’s like my body picks the worst times to remind me that I ain’t all that — like when I’m working against the clock on a strenuous workout as part of a team! Thank God I finished when I did because I’m not sure I had another 500m in my legs by the time we got to the end. Crystal got on the rower at 9500m and I told her to let me know if she wanted to halve it with me instead of her finishing off the last 500m; I figured I could handle about 250m. But I didn’t need to because Crystal, like the beast she is, finished off that last 500m like it was the first 500m.

I waited until I got into my car to fall apart. I was pissed off the whole way home, hating this body of mine, hating what happened to me when I didn’t ask for it or deserve it. By the time I got home, I wasn’t pissed anymore, just sad. And when Jim asked how the workout went, the waterworks started. So I’m having a bit of a pity party for myself, and for the record:

I. DON’T. CARE.

Guess how often I feel sorry for myself? Almost never. In fact, I literally can’t remember the last time I felt that way. I’m not going to sit here and fill myself with toxic positivity — oh, look at what you CAN do, Renee. Remember where you used to be. Look at how far you’ve come. Everyone has off days. You’re so strong. You’ve inspired people. It’s just one workout. Other people have it way worse than you do. All those things are true, but for the moment, I ain’t feeling them and they’re not comforting me.

So for now, for a bit, not forever, not even for days, I’m gonna be sad for what I wasn’t able to do, sad for feeling my limitations, sad for having to live with a condition I don’t want. In a little while, I’ll be over it. Parties never last forever. Neither will this pity party.

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#AtoZChallenge: Z — “Lick the Palm of the Burning Handshake” by Zola Jesus

Posted on April 30, 2025 by renbog

This month, all my A to Z Challenge posts will feature a song that is on my personal list of “deep cuts.” These are songs that my husband often razzes me about, that there’s no one else who has ever heard of them or is listening to them, or they’re songs that possibly are just not that mainstream. If we are of the same era or run in the same musical taste circles, none of these may seem that off the beaten path, but that doesn’t mean they aren’t fun songs! Enjoy!

My final post for this year’s challenge is a song I heard once on WXRT and downloaded immediately. Maybe it’s a really popular song, but I’ve heard it once on the radio and then never again!

The first thing that attracted me to the song is how it sounds. It’s got a bit of a dark, haunting sound to it, and I like music that sounds that way. I also really like the singer’s voice — it’s unique, different, maybe akin to Florence Welch from Florence & the Machine.

I also like the lyrics because they’re cryptic. I’m not sure what the song is about (I’m sure I could Google it and see what kinds of interpretations others have come up with), but I feel like it might be about some kind of dysfunctional relationship. There’s something about the opening lines, “I’m the only one that sticks around/When they call your name out of a crowd,” that makes me sad, like she loves or cares about someone and stands by him or her when that person is always drawn to others. It seems to add insult to injury when she says, “I don’t try to go/I just won’t and you know.” The other person just really seems to take her for granted. If you’ve read my other posts this month, then you know how I love a song about tortured love, and this one seems to fit the bill!

Give it a listen — I hope you like it!

And of you’ve read any of my posts this month, thank you so much! I really enjoy writing, despite how good or not good I am at it, so any time I have an audience, I am flattered!

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#AtoZChallenge: Y — “Why You Wanna Break my Heart” by Tia Carrere

Posted on April 29, 2025 by renbog

This month, all my A to Z Challenge posts will feature a song that is on my personal list of “deep cuts.” These are songs that my husband often razzes me about, that there’s no one else who has ever heard of them or is listening to them, or they’re songs that possibly are just not that mainstream. If we are of the same era or run in the same musical taste circles, none of these may seem that off the beaten path, but that doesn’t mean they aren’t fun songs! Enjoy!

The movie Wayne’s World is a goofball comedy and a ton of fun. Most people associate Queen’s “Bohemian Rhapsody” with this movie, and rightly so. The headbanging scene to this song is iconic! But if I’m being honest, when I think of this movie, I think of the song I am sharing in this post.

I will concede that Tia Carrere likely isn’t the best singer or musician, but I’m not here to debate her quality. This song is featured for a very short amount of time in the movie, so most people probably don’t even think about it. But the smidge I heard in the movie interested me so I sought it out to listen to the whole thing, and I fell in love.

It’s a sweetly sad song. To me, Carrere really sounds sad while she’s singing this. And there are plenty of lines in the song that tug at the heart: “Sometimes we get lost in our lies,” Sometimes what is wrong seems so right, sometimes when we shouldn’t, we might,” There’s a little bit of you in everything that I do.” I just feel like these lines are sad but sweet. Also, I just appreciate the pleading tone she has when she sings, “Why you wanna break my heart?”

If you appreciate sad breakup songs, maybe this one will make your playlist!

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#AtoZChallenge: X — “Exile” by Taylor Swift

Posted on April 29, 2025 by renbog

This month, all my A to Z Challenge posts will feature a song that is on my personal list of “deep cuts.” These are songs that my husband often razzes me about, that there’s no one else who has ever heard of them or is listening to them, or they’re songs that possibly are just not that mainstream. If we are of the same era or run in the same musical taste circles, none of these may seem that off the beaten path, but that doesn’t mean they aren’t fun songs! Enjoy!

If you’re a Swiftie, then my song choice for this post is nothing new to you. But if you’re a casual Taylor Swift fan, only familiar with her many pop songs, maybe you’ll be hearing something new today!

“Exile” features Bon Iver in duet with Taylor Swift, and it tells the tale of a relationship gone sour, and both parties are hiring over it. The melody is haunting and the lyrics are poetic and beautiful while also being heartbreaking. It’s obvious this couple just had trouble communicating, and that trouble even carries into the breakup, with both of them thinking the relationship ended for different reasons. But in the end, they know it needs to be done even though it pains them for it to end.

For me, there is one line that just gets me right in the heart: “There is no amount of crying I can do for you.” I know what she means in this line, that there just isn’t any amount of crying that will change things, and that makes the ache even worse.

So, if you’re a fan of Taylor Swift, enjoy this song! If you’ve never heard it before, I hope you find it beautifully sad or sadly beautiful!

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#AtoZChallenge: W — “Welcome 2 America” by Prince

Posted on April 27, 2025 by renbog

This month, all my A to Z Challenge posts will feature a song that is on my personal list of “deep cuts.” These are songs that my husband often razzes me about, that there’s no one else who has ever heard of them or is listening to them, or they’re songs that possibly are just not that mainstream. If we are of the same era or run in the same musical taste circles, none of these may seem that off the beaten path, but that doesn’t mean they aren’t fun songs! Enjoy!

My song choice for this post is one I am guessing all but the most hardcore Prince fans aren’t familiar with but should be. Prince was a groundbreaker his whole career, everything from his style to his music not fitting neatly into any single genre to being apologetically sexual to reinventing himself over and over again as time and society required and still staying relevant to talking social issues. My favorite Prince song is one his most popular, “Little Red Corvette,” but one of his most thoughtful songs is this one.

“Welcome 2 America” is an uncomfortable commentary on everyday life in the United States. If it makes you cringe, I think it’s supposed to. If it makes you angry, I think it’s supposed to. It it offends you, I think it’s supposed to. If it makes you pause and think, I think it’s supposed to. He drops truth nuggets throughout the song. Things like being distracted by our phones, having an app for literally every situations, losing actual physical human contact to virtual contact, digs at Google, taxes, modern music, the ignoring of truth, education, social media celebrity, and hosts of other topics. He’s not kind, and that’s okay. I think a lot of Americans need a little tough love, and Prince delivers it.

Take a breath, and take a listen.

Posted in Blogging A to Z, Social Issues, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , | 4 Comments

#AtoZChallenge: V — “Everybody Wants Some” by Van Halen

Posted on April 26, 2025 by renbog

This month, all my A to Z Challenge posts will feature a song that is on my personal list of “deep cuts.” These are songs that my husband often razzes me about, that there’s no one else who has ever heard of them or is listening to them, or they’re songs that possibly are just not that mainstream. If we are of the same era or run in the same musical taste circles, none of these may seem that off the beaten path, but that doesn’t mean they aren’t fun songs! Enjoy!

Van Halen is one of the most popular and prolific rock bands in music. Their song catalog is extensive and rich with mega hits. But one of my favorite songs by them is from the cult classic movie Better Off Dead. There’s a great fantasy sequence in that movie where John Cusack’s character dreams into existence and singing hamburger, and it features this song. It makes this scene in the movie a real standout! I used to think the song only worked in the context of the movie, but once I started to listen to the song on its own. I decided it works on its own — it’s a fun, rollicking tune that oozes classic Van Halen sounds!

Have a listen and check out this video. It has the fantasy sequence from Better Off Dead as well as other scenes from the movie. And if you haven’t watched the movie, do it! It’s got some of the best quotable lines!

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#AtoZChallenge: U — “Up and Down” by The Cars

Posted on April 26, 2025 by renbog

This month, all my A to Z Challenge posts will feature a song that is on my personal list of “deep cuts.” These are songs that my husband often razzes me about, that there’s no one else who has ever heard of them or is listening to them, or they’re songs that possibly are just not that mainstream. If we are of the same era or run in the same musical taste circles, none of these may seem that off the beaten path, but that doesn’t mean they aren’t fun songs! Enjoy!

I know I am a day behind in my posts — I will end up posting on Sunday to get caught up!

One of the best band from the ’80s is The Cars. Ric Ocasek had one of the most identifiable and distinctive voices in rock ‘n’ roll. The Cars had plenty of mega hits — but by fat, my favorite song by The Cars is this one, “Up and Down.” It’s the last track on the album Panorama, and what I love most about it is the hard driving beat of the song. The guitar and drums in this song just fill my head, especially at the end of the song. It’s just such a great, rocking tune that sounds better the louder you play it!

Give it a listen, nice and loud!

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#AtoZChallenge: T — “Truck Stop Sally” by Pray for the Soul of Betty

Posted on April 24, 2025 by renbog

This month, all my A to Z Challenge posts will feature a song that is on my personal list of “deep cuts.” These are songs that my husband often razzes me about, that there’s no one else who has ever heard of them or is listening to them, or they’re songs that possibly are just not that mainstream. If we are of the same era or run in the same musical taste circles, none of these may seem that off the beaten path, but that doesn’t mean they aren’t fun songs! Enjoy!

It will be nothing short of a miracle if anyone reading this post will know the song I am sharing! Sometimes I feel like I am the only one who knows it haha!

I used to be a pretty avid watcher of the TV show American Idol when it was at its height of popularity. One season, one of the contestants was a singer named Constatine Maroulis, and I fell immediately in love with him! He was sexy and cool and I loved the edge he had to his singing. So I found myself going down a Constantine Maroulis rabbit hole and discovered he had been in a band called Pray for the Soul of Betty. One of that band’s songs was this one, “Truck Stop Sally.” Of course, I listened to it because it was Constantine Maroulis and I was fangirling on him, and I loved the song right away! It’s still in regular rotation on my playlist. I loved the edginess of the song as well as the strong imagery and story the song tells. And I’m not gonna lie, Constantine Maroulis still sounds sexy as hell to me when I listen to it!

Enjoy this video of the song — Constantine is pretty easy on the eyes LOL!

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