Big Little Wolf's Daily Plate of Crazy

A fine wine, a conversation
Deep crimson color. Full-bodied taste. What could be better than a wonderful Côtes du Rhône in hand, and conversation shared with a friend in France?
That friend is a journalist who writes with a refined eye and wicked wit on all things stylish and oh-so French. And what subject comes [...]

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Kids will be kids
Care to go for a truism to start your day? In the name of world peace and global inter-connectivity? Then start with kids.
And in that light, here’s my oh-so-self-evident observation, based upon 36 hours of hosting a teenager from Latvia in our hybrid little American homestead.
The bad news is: kids will be [...]

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Ten tips on knowing yourself
You already know why I wouldn’t shave my head.
So how well do you know yourself? Do you take the time to reflect on who you once were, who you are, who you are becoming? It is not indulgence for many of us; it is necessity, natural, at times wearing, but [...]

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I have a vague recollection of agreeing, last evening, to host a 17-year old from Latvia, for two weeks. Did I imagine it?
My body is worn (violins please), my sleep is pocked (cue the violas), my financial situation is right in keeping with the National Debt (are we up to a quartet yet?) but, [...]

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So my kid is up at 4:00 am, Friday morning. Yes, this morning. In the kitchen. Which of course wakes me up, after four blissful hours which possibly could have extended into five. I’m a light sleeper no matter what, and these days, that’s an understatement.
So I pad out to the kitchen (10 steps [...]

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I wandered into this, compliments of Google. Perhaps you’ve seen it elsewhere, but I loved it. (But then, what’s not to love? It’s delicious and romantic in an endearing, geeky sort of way.)  A Parisian love story. Even though it’s an ad for Google, it’s quite charming, meandering from a few key phrases to translate [...]

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Women in the baby blur
You know that blur that occurs after (most) women have babies? And they don’t have nannies to help, or nearby family stepping in on a regular basis, or maybe they do, but the reality of the days and nights is a growing fuzziness, a stream of sleeplessness and round-the-clock activity?
You [...]

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“Men in Speedos need release,” he said.

Now, I will not specify where this remark was made, nor the precise context. Suffice it to say that this friend is a man of impressive athleticism; he swims, he runs, he works out with focus and dedication. There was discussion of the urgent desire for enthusiastic engagement (opportunities [...]

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Leaving… on a jet plane…

Grab the passport, pack in an hour, and hop on a plane – for a fabulous destination!
Oh yes. I used to do it in a heart beat, with no worries and a great deal of efficiency. Moreover, I was always excited to travel – especially if it meant the airport (great [...]

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I was thinking about my in-laws the other evening. I loved them, and haven’t seen them in nearly 10 years. They are a close knit family, grounded, smart, and unpretentious. We communicated in an amusing mix of languages, and got along well for more than a decade.
I remember how proud my father-in-law was when I [...]

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