Welcome to The Write Side of Me — a space where life, culture, and a little chaos collide. From family and community to news and politics, this is where I write honestly about the things that matter most, from my perspective and my passion.
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Notes from the Middle of Everywhere
It’s officially that time of year again—Daylight Saving ends, and so does my stable instability, as I like to call it. The extra hour of darkness outside always sneaks its way inside too. I’ve never done well in the dark, whether it’s the sky or my own head.
Lately, I’ve been trying to find light in the small things: warm coffee, the sound of my kid laughing at something dumb, the wind that refuses to stop reminding me I live on the plains.
The government shutdown has me angry and uneasy. I’ve been there, counting dollars, stretching meals, feeling the quiet shame of needing help. It enrages me to see people online turning that fear into chaos or pride. Watch this video...
I don’t know what the answer is, but I'm pretty sure this is not it. However I do know what hunger feels like, and I wouldn’t wish it on anyone.
Somewhere between dependence and dignity is where most of us live, trying to do the best we can. Please be kind, lend a hand if you can. We are all going through something no one else can see.
What have you seen or felt this week about it? Leave it in the comments — I’d love to hear real stories, not headlines.
I’ve also been reading about and watching different documentaries about Palestinians and Israel. Though it is an unpopular opinion I feel like it needs to be shared, I care for the people on both sides of the conflict. Right or wrong, they are people, most of them totally innocent of the sins of their leaders. I stand with life, with mercy, with anyone caught in the crossfire.
Sunday will be my first small-group Bible study. I’m equal parts terrified and hopeful. I’m awkward by nature — put me in a room of strangers and it’s like my personality hits the gas and the brakes at once.
But I’m craving community, and maybe this is how God gets me to stop running solo. Maybe it’s time for new friends, confidants, and a reset button for my soul.
I have a secret: I’m obsessed with serial killers.
When I was a kid, I thought “serial killer” meant someone who murdered people eating cereal. Now I watch documentaries while eating Frosted Flakes, which feels like cosmic irony.
My fascination started young — maybe around Waco. I remember watching the fire on TV with my dad and realizing how fragile belief can become when it turns into control. That led me down the rabbit hole of cults, then Charles Manson, and the rest is what makes up my browsing history.
What draws me in isn’t the violence but the psychology — the question of how a human mind goes wrong. Maybe that’s also why I love documentaries: they show you the moments when normal becomes monstrous.
Recently I finished the new series on Peacock, Devil in Disguise: John Wayne Gacy.
This is fantastic!
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Naturally, as soon as that series ended I started this on Netflix, Conversation with a Serial Killer: John Wayne Gacy. Watch the Trailer To hear his own account of the murders, trauma, and his own justifications....Astounding.
My favorite serial killers: Ed Gein, BTK (Dennis Rader) , Zodiac, Ed Kemper, Richard Spec...I can keep going. Albert DeSalvo (the Boston Strangler), Ted Bundy, Jeffery Dahmer, David Berkowitz (Son of Sam). That's probably enough for you to know I have a problem.
I’ve been used, belittled, and chastised my entire life, but never once have I strayed from my morals, my ethics, or my code of conduct just to get even. The world can twist you if you let it, but I’ve learned that standing firm isn’t about pride; it’s about peace.
If you don't know how to handle a woman who stands her ground, you probably shouldn’t be the one trying to move her.
As for me, I’m choosing rest, laughter, and maybe a little grace for myself. The world will still be spinning when Monday comes, but maybe I’ll meet it with steadier hands.
I’m signing off to spend the weekend with my family—trunk or treating, a busy Saturday with rec volleyball, then, hopefully, a quiet, peaceful Sunday spent on the couch with my husband by my side watching serial killer movies.
Wishing you peace and deliverance, from the middle of everywhere.
The Hard Things I failed out of college. I stopped eating. I got married when I shouldn’t have. And still, I built something good. This is what the hard things taught me. I couldn’t wait to leave this town. I don’t even remember why I hated it, only that eighteen-year-old me was certain freedom lived anywhere but home. Back then, you think life will go your way just because you’ve decided it will. I was going to be a history teacher, the thing my dad had always wanted to be but never was. I had a plan. My best friend and I were supposed to move to Gunnison together, share a dorm, live out the dream. But a week before we left, she backed out. Just like that, my security blanket was gone. I remember begging both my parents. “Please don’t make me go,” I begged. Looking back, now that I'm a mother myself I know how hard it was for my mom to tell me I had to go. So, I would look to my dad for the answer I wanted. He looked at me for a long time and said, “Raina Jo, nothin...
I am a proud woman. Strong. Resilient. Built Ford-tough with just a touch of emotional instability during March Madness. And while I’ve faced many challenges in life… nothing quite prepared me for what happened yesterday. Duke. A buzzer beater. The moment came when I was finally settling into a dangerous level of confidence. It wasn’t perfect—mistakes had been made—but we had battled back. Me from the armchair. Them from the court. A true partnership. Ten seconds left. We had possession. And then… A decision was made. A bad pass. Not just bad— horrendous . The kind of choice that makes you question everything you thought you knew about basketball, life, and trust. Turnover. And then… a 35-foot three. Braylon Mullins. Let me be clear: Braylon Mullins was 0-for-4 from three-point range. Zero. For. Four. And yet—naturally—he chose that exact moment to hit the most important shot of his life for UConn. Of course he did. That tracks. Meanwhile, Cameron Boozer stood there after the game—eye ...
I’ve spent the last several years writing from the journalist’s chair and the editor’s desk — always informing, explaining, and telling the stories that mattered to others, but rarely sharing my own. The Write Side of Me is where that changes. This is my space to write my way — without deadlines, word counts, or assignments. Just honest thoughts, real experiences, and a little bit of everything that makes life interesting. You’ll find a mix of life, family, community, culture, and politics here. Some posts will be light and personal, others might dive into tough topics or current events. It’s honest, heartfelt, sometimes messy — but always written with purpose and passion. I know what I have to say might not be for everyone… but maybe it’ll be for someone. If something here makes you think, laugh, or even question things a little, then I’ve done what I came here to do. So go ahead — bookmark this blog and stop by every now and then. I’ll be here, writing from The Write Side of Me — whe...
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