Before children, Chris and I would sleep late on weekends. (Is “sleep in” an East Coast expression? I don’t remember anyone saying that in the Midwest). We might get up at 9, 10 or even 11, depending on which parties or concerts had taken place the night before. Then we had a baby. And babies arise at the [...]
Tuesday night, I made a reasonable request. “Hugh, please clear the table and load the dishwasher.” (bracing for objection, hoping it wouldn’t come) “Why can’t Malcolm do it?” “Because Malcolm just finished emptying the dishwasher.” “He was only finishing the job I had started! I already did the top rack and the cutlery. I mean, come on, [...]
When a friend sent us this photo he snapped of Ian graduating on Friday, I was so grateful. Let’s just say I had a view of the back of his mortarboard. I’ll spare you the details of the chaotic hell-ride-in-the-rain to graduation that caused us not to be able to sit with my dad in the four [...]
After much hype and hoopla, Newsweek recently unveiled its NEW LOOK. After all the make-over buildup, I was expecting a fabulous layout and punchy graphics. While the outside still makes a fine coaster, the innerds are dowdier than ever. Articles and opinion pieces look like a collection of schlocky, badly-designed advertorials. The layout is as modern as 1966. A sea of [...]
After years of repetitions of Curious George, Roald Dahl titles and Mrs. Piggle Wiggle (all of which I loved), I miss reading aloud to our boys. Everyone is too old now, except 12-year-old Malcolm – on rare occasions. He’s currently rushing to finish The Hobbit before the end of school, and 40 pages of reading piled [...]
I’m participating in Fun Monday, which today poses the question “What part of your body – or your life – do you take care of the best?” The answer changes from time to time, but at this very moment, I’d have to say (warning, this is boring) our garden is in the best shape of [...]
In our world, “gap” is now linked with the word “year,” and it means Ian is taking time off between high school graduation and freshman year of college. We’re completely on board with this concept. What a great idea, to take a bit of time before leaping from the frying pan into the fire. To have [...]
Chris and I have something even better than a vacation house: FRIENDS with vacation houses. Over Memorial Day weekend, we took Kevin & Linda up on their lovely annual offer, and drove to the Jersey Shore to meet up with their family and two other couples for sea, salt, and sun. We are all-boy in the child department – an average [...]
Maternal guilt is riding high over here at MoB these days… Well, maybe not too high… Okay, I actually think Jennifer and I have come to terms with our most recent parental misstep… Fine, we don’t have any guilt whatsoever but we do feel obligated to recognize a birthday. Last week, on May 15, 2009, [...]
On Fridays, as you may have noticed, Emily and I write about something in the news here on MOB. I’m deviating from that tradition a bit to bring you a clip from British comedian Ricky Gervais because 4 out of 5 of us in this house find it hilarious, and laughter is a great way [...]
