Reintroducing Paige's Ponderings, my blog where I talk about whatever "pondering" I want to explore in the written and photo essay form. Check out my latest post below and feel free to explore the archives for some past provocative ponderings. Feel free to Tweet your feedback to me @ccsteed. Enjoy yourself!

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It is a dark and stormy night and so a perfect night for another installation of My Granddaddy’s Words. From what I can tell of my grandfather’s writing style, he wrote under different pseudonyms and personalities. He had a rough and tough guy he nicknamed Big Red who wrote his bad ass, take no shit… Read more »

First Obama Presidential Inauguration On this eve of the Inauguration ceremony, I am reflecting on where I was four years ago. I had the pleasure of traveling to Washington D.C. to attend the inauguration via a dear friend who started as a client of mine. It was a transformative experience. Being in the crowd of… Read more »

As many of you have no doubt heard, committeewoman Sandi Jackson resigned from her seat as 7th ward alderman. Citing personal and family issues, the seat that only just weeks ago she so defiantly denied ever daring to leave, she has vacated. Her resignation has closed the chapter on the Jackson family political dynasty and… Read more »

Reuben McCrary self drawing As a part of my blog, I’d like to create an ongoing series. On the regular, I will feature works from my grandfather, fellow writer Reuben McCrary. I didn’t know my grandfather because he died very shortly after I was born. But what I have from him are pieces, poems, drawings,… Read more »

The page has turned to open up a new chapter: a new year. 2013. We’re back on an odd numbered year. Great stuff happens for me in odd years. Not that my even numbered ones are bad, per se, but odd years rock out for me. Maybe because I am a little odd. Not crazy… Read more »

This past week, I was reminded of the power of doing important stuff with other people and how you can be motivated, encouraged and powered by the determination of others. I don’t mean blindly following herds with a sheep-like mentality, but how being a part of a movement with other people can feed the movement… Read more »

My husband and I were recently blessed to be guests at a beautiful and unique wedding this past weekend. It took place on a yacht in Newport Beach, California, an idyllic town itself requiring more adventuring at a later date. The couple exchanged their vows as the vessel sailed into the water with the setting… Read more »

This past July, I decided to challenge myself with a 30-day detox with Karyn Calabrese. I paid my money and I kept an open mind. Open to knowledge about real and fake food, and reconnecting with my body. I learned so many new ways to take care of myself with the right foods. I began… Read more »

When I shared with friends that I was traveling to Anguilla for Memorial Day weekend, most nodded their heads and said, “Oh, cool,” but I could tell behind the nod they had no idea where it neither was nor had ever heard of it. Someone even asked, “Is that in Africa?” No, not exactly. It’s… Read more »

Paris. What can I relate about Paris. Words can’t describe my experience in the City of Lights. Live jazz, that museum (Louvre), cuisine that was delicious, private clubs, Galleria Lafayette (the mall) but above all, the French people. They were lovely and don’t deserve the bad rep they have. The first night in Paris, my… Read more »