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 […]
Weekend Update (Do You Know Where Your Children Are?)
“You’re going where?” I ask. “Brussels, Paris, then Rennes and maybe Brest,” he says. It’s my 18-year old on the phone from Europe. My son the factory worker, my son the office worker, my son the engineer-in-training, with a touch of mad scientist thrown in. Curious about everything. Vibrant and adventurous. My son, calling last […]
Winning (when it counts)
Winners and losers. Isn’t that how most people view the world? And usually, the “win” involves money, a title, and stuff. Along with the spoils of winning come reassurances that the basics in life will be taken care of, and a great deal more: satisfaction in your accomplishments, the realization of a dream, and maybe […]
Discipline
It is a holiday weekend in the US. Families are gathering, preparing picnics, watching Wimbledon (as I will be, shortly) or their other favorite sports. They’re preparing for foot races under a sizzling sun, for fireworks in the local park, for unwinding. They are slowing down. Pulling in. Taking a few days off. I am […]
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 […]
Shower Shockers, Water Worries
Shower shockers Who doesn’t do some of their best thinking in the shower? And who doesn’t recall the terrifying shower scene in Alfred Hitchcock’s 1960 thriller, Psycho? Janet Leigh is unwinding after a harried day of larceny, an eerie encounter with a creepy character, and is lulled as she finally cleans up, letting her guard […]
Moaning and Groaning. COOL Complaint Zoning?
The Complaint Department is Open! But today, I’m also in search of silver linings, if you happen to have any in sight. Mine? Wimbledon Week 2 is here! And that helps everything, even though I missed last week’s incredible 11-hour match with its extraordinary 70-68 fifth set! So here is my contribution to Monday morning […]
The Travel Twin
I really don’t have an evil twin. It just feels like it some days. And then there’s this: I think an evil twin would come in handy. Of course, I would endow her with a complex persona, not just character flaws and secret longings. She’d be my polished pinch-hitter (for whatever I dislike), my cocky […]
Why We Sweat the Small Stuff
When the small stuff adds up…
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 […]