The Christmas of ’51
Several years ago, I posted a story about the Christmas holidays and the Christmas of 1951, when my husband was 4 years old. It’s a story worth reposting because its message conveys the real meaning of the holidays: being with the ones you love. Read more 
My Neck Obsession
A few weeks ago, I was watching the last season of Dexter and couldn’t stop staring at Hannah McKay, Dexter’s murderous psychopath girlfriend. The actress, Yvonne Strahovski is young, thin, and beautiful but it was her neck that had me mesmerized…she was wearing a spaghetti-strapped tee which showcased a beautiful silken neck that looked smooth as cream even when her hair was limp and frizzy from the Miami heat and humidity. Read more
The Ultimate Weapon: The Water Bottle
I’m tired. Bone-weary, dizzy, worn out. More exhausted than when I had a newborn, or when I flew back from Hong Kong with my infant daughter and swore to my husband that I must have a brain tumor because I was so off-balance that each step gave me vertigo. Handing him the baby because I didn’t trust my coordination was all I could do before I hit the pillow and fell into a deep sleep. Of course, I didn’t have a brain tumor; I felt fine the next day. But my current condition is different. I am chronically sleep deprived. Read more
Life with a Veganista
One day my daughter came home from school and told me a joke: How do you know someone is a vegan? Answer: They tell you. There is some truth to that joke as vegans have a reputation – rightly or wrongly – of being preachy at times. Last December, my daughter decided to become a vegan and started on a journey to live a complete animal-free lifestyle, which means no meat, no dairy, no honey, no leather, and no products that have been animal tested. Read more
Will Ferrell and Diane Savino on Equal Rights
Over the past week the country has been preoccupied with two cases before the Supreme Court regarding the equal rights of gays and lesbians to wed. In the first case, the Court is considering a challenge to Proposition 8, the California Constitutional Amendment which eliminates the right of same-sex couples to marry; and in the second case, the court is hearing a challenge to DOMA (Defense of Marriage Act) that authorized states not to recognize same-sex marriages. Read more
Regifting: Practical and Thrifty or Thoughtless?
Every holiday season, many people receive a gift where it’s obvious the gift is a regift: a gift that has been received and given in the guise of a new gift by the original recipient. Some of the country’s most respected etiquette experts claim regifting is acceptable if done carefully meaning both the original donor and the new recipient don’t know. However, the notion of regifting is abhorrent to some because it implies that someone did not put enough time and thought into seeking just the right gift for the recipient. Read more
The Christmas of ’51
Last year I posted a story about the Christmas holidays and the Christmas of 1951, when my husband was 4 years old. It’s a story worth reposting because its message conveys the real meaning of the holidays. Merry Christmas. Read more
Eye Candy
Several years ago on a weekend getaway with 5 girlfriends, my friend, Beverly disclosed that she was showing her kids eye candy. I immediately stopped what I was doing and looked at her perplexed as her twins were about 8 years old at the time. I remember asking her what exactly she was showing her kids and she said something to the effect “oh, the Washington Monument, the White House, the Lincoln Memorial.” Read more
Girlfriend Weekends
Every year or so, I leave my husband and daughter (and the animals) for a long weekend with a group of girlfriends from college. The planning of the event starts a year ahead of time with primary consideration given to our geographic locations (Washington, Virginia, Florida, New York, Connecticut, and Massachusetts) and the ease of travel to the destination chosen. We all enjoy the outdoors and are drawn to places that offer hiking, walking, and sunshine – the Adirondacks in upstate New York, Tucson, Arizona, Newport, Rhode Island, and most recently, Portland, Oregon. Read more
TFW: The Fucking Weather.com
When I need to add some humor to my day, my go-to website is www.thefuckingweather.com (although the site is often referred to as TFW for those less inclined to drop the F bomb). People talk about weather all the time and it’s a safe topic to discuss when there isn’t anything else to have a conversation about because the weather is relevent and people have either a sense of curiosity, wonder, or disgust with it on any given day. And, of course there is always the looming weather disaster somewhere in the world which generates chatter. But, if you simply want a more humorous take on the weather go to TFW – one of the most hilarious weather websites ever created. Read more
Paddock Post 