“What’s next – locusts?” That’s what a friend said to me last week, after hearing about the computer viruses, the broken down car, the hole in my son’s ceiling the night before we were leaving town, the air conditioning that died and required repair – twice, water pouring into my bathroom through a light fixture, […]
Good news and bad news
There’s good news and bad news. Oh, I won’t even begin to discuss the state of the BP oil spill, our lagging economy, not to mention my pitiful personal life. But there’s still a cornucopia of good news – offset of course, by weird news (at the very least), and yes, bad news. But may […]
Standing Room Only (Low Fare, No Care?)
I couldn’t resist this tidbit – Ryanair finally goes for its Standing Room Only air travel, according to The Telegraph (UK). Seats back in the upright position? Try “backs upright in the standing position!” This decision has been bandied about for awhile; I caught wind of it last year (and was amused), thinking it was […]
Al and Tipper Gore: What do you think?
Al and Tipper Gore Unless you’ve been living under a rock, by now you’ve heard the term gray divorce, likely in conjunction with the news that Al and Tipper Gore are splitting up after 40 years. Of course, the original announcement was followed by a claim that Al Gore’s marital defection was in fact the […]
My Son, the Office Worker
He’d managed to get his dirty clothes washed. Finally. But it took a phone call to his grandparents who live about an hour away. I imagine my son convincing his grandfather to fetch him, driving from their small town to the big city, and then back to their home for a family weekend of discussion […]
Would you dare to quit your job?
A particular news item caught my eye early today: As the job market begins to loosen up, human resource managers might increasingly be surprised by an announcement from employees they haven’t heard in a while: “I quit.” Catchy quote, isn’t it? And hopeful. It appeared in The Wall Street Journal, as reported on Yahoo Finance. […]
Moderating Optimism
Are you an optimist? A pessimist? A pragmatist? Can’t say I much like labels. And I strongly dislike labels that tend toward mutual exclusivity in the way people slap them on their foreheads and parade about. Or slap them on the next guy, and judge. Personally, I’m pessimistic about individuals stepping into another’s shoes, and […]
Can you be bought?
Everything has its price I’ve spent days, weeks really, maneuvering through objects and obstacles. In my little den. The jammed office. My bedroom, the living room, a wretched corner in the kitchen. I am looking. Taking silent inventory. Running numbers in my head. I toss aside the memories as best I can. Memories of marriage […]
Success (My Way)
Defining success is rarely a simple matter.
I did what I was told
Whatever it was, I did what I was told, the quintessential good girl following the rules: I studied, I smiled, I won awards, I did not rebel, I lived with secrets. I followed the rules and did not cheat though I saw others do so and prosper; I followed the rules and did not lie […]