We got hammered over the weekend – not during the Super Bowl, but by a snowfall of 28.5″ from Friday night into Saturday. It was the second biggest snowstorm since 1996 when 30″ fell. That year, we plopped toddler Hugh down outside in the drifts and he burst into terrified tears. This weekend’s snowfall was of Biblical [...]
By now, readers of this blog are aware that I am a highly critical person. Or, as my sons would say, a “nit-picker.” I can’t help it. I notice misspellings, typos, and all things inappropriate. Many of you are excellent proofreaders too, and notice that my postings often have typos – and I urge you [...]
Recently a MOB reader emailed to ask for recommendations on what her friends, with teenage kids, might enjoy doing during an upcoming trip to New York City. It’s timed for mid-February, and they’re staying on Times Square, so I actually suggested the Westminster Dog Show. This tip is valid only if you’re a dog lover. I [...]
Sometimes the best laid plans are the most last-minute ones. This seems counter-intuitive, but just think what impromptu action spares you: over-thinking, over-planning, over-waffling. Late last Wednesday night, my friend Lindsay emailed from her business trip in NYC asking if I could run up, go to dinner, and spend the night on Thursday. I didn’t [...]
Last night’s news had a report that American children are now spending almost the equivalent of a full workday staring at a screen. Facebook. XBox. Texting. TV watching. Web surfing. It adds up. Big deal. I would like to point out that I, a representative of the middle-aged American, am a target of marketers as well. Screens are [...]
Sometimes it’s depressing to live in a place that nobody considers exciting. When we go on trips and people ask where we’re from, and the answer is “Pennsylvania” or “Philadelphia,” there’s a glassy smile and a vague, “Oh, that’s nice…” or maybe a “Yes, the Liberty Bell….” Ian reported that in Europe, everyone said “Rocky!” While [...]
While grocery shopping recently, the products seemed to spring to life. It made the hum-drum task much more entertaining. For instance, I suspect that devilish Mrs. Paul and hunky Mr. Clean (no, he’s not gay) are an item. Furthermore, I believe they’re sneaking off to a love nest. How else to explain this improbably named [...]
I remember long ago, when Malcolm was a newborn, a friend saying “OMG, in 13 years, you’re going to have 3 teenage boys! I can just picture them all swarming into the kitchen, yanking open the fridge, raiding your food supply, leaving carnage in their wake.” This was not what I wanted to hear. The [...]
Top ten reasons why ten is my favorite number. 1. It’s easy to add and multiply. 2. I was born on the tenth of July. 3. My first initial is J, the tenth letter of the alphabet. Jennifer…July…ten… 4. On scales of things, ten is usually best….unless you’re ranking pain. 5. We throw big birthday [...]
Reading. Eating. Napping. Wondering. Why did Garnet Hill send me this big, expensive, full-of-catalogs-but-otherwise-empty envelope when I know they’re not shipping the pink hydrangea PJs until January? Oh, that’s right, I also ordered a headband. Which should have been sent by itself in a little tiny envelope for a lot less money, or shipped with [...]
