Alternate Title: Why Wasn’t I Born Icelandic Original publish date: Dec 24, 2016 Tonight is Christmas Eve. (This year, it is also the first night of Hanukkah. Chag Sameach to all my Jewish friends!) I like Christmas Eve because it’s kind of the low-pressure run-up to Christmas in my family, and always has been. Growing up, we spent Christmas Eve with my mom’s side of the family, usually at my Grandma’s house. Grandma Del was a hot sketch who owned a red Firebird, which she drove all over … [Read more...]
Why Girls (or Really, Anyone) Should Love Star Wars
I’ve had a lifelong love affair with Star Wars, and with all the new movies and shows coming out, I’m like a kid at Christmas. (Two words: BABY. YODA.) I was two years old when Star Wars came out, so Star Wars has been around for basically my entire life. It was only when I hit college that I realized that not every girl loved Star Wars as I did. Some of them liked it but wouldn’t admit it until I came out and admitted it, myself. Some of them had boyfriends who were totally into it but … [Read more...]
6 Fun Things to Know About Rhode Islanders
As a transplant to Rhode Island, I've often noticed how unique this little corner of the United States can be! And after nearly 16 years living here, I'm still observing the idiosyncrasies of my fellow Rhode Islanders. A few of the biggies: Rhode Islanders don't leave. Rhode Islanders don't drive distances. And I have a sneaking suspicion that Rhode Islanders don't know where Rhode Island actually is. Check out my article in the Patch for more fun things to know about Rhode Islanders and see … [Read more...]
It’s Just Snow, People!
Every winter, after a few snowfalls, New Englanders participate in their favorite sport. No, it’s not hockey or skiing--it’s complaining. We loooove to kvetch about winter, snow, ice. And we’ve had some pretty intense winters the past few years, so I get it. However, as a writer, I have a strong hibernation tendency, so I looooove winter. Yes. I am crazy. But I honestly don’t mind when the world has to stop for a little while. We’re on the go, go, go, constantly. I see snow as Nature’s way … [Read more...]
Is Parenting Middle-School Kids the Hardest?
I'm a parent, in addition to being a writer, so I often write about parenting. I recently published an article for Medium! The article was inspired by an article I read in NPR, which posited that the tween years are the toughest time of parenting. I wasn't sure if I agreed--my tweens are pretty cool. (And no, I do not for one moment take their relative coolness for granted.) [Tweet "You can baby proof your house against burnt fingers and bumped heads, but you can’t child-proof the world … [Read more...]
Pokémon GO gave my kids a taste of 1980s childhood
Could a video game be the key to getting kids outside, roaming the neighborhoods in packs the way they used to? It was a weekend morning. My husband and I were cleaning out closets while listening to the “West Wing Weekly” podcast and trying to gauge if we had done enough work to warrant a Starbucks break. (Try to contain your envy at our glamorous life.) Our kids were on a bike ride trying out their newly-acquired Pokémon GO game. We had just looked at the clock to see if it was time to check … [Read more...]
Potty Mouth
I have a potty mouth. I don't mean, "every once in a while I slip and say a hell or a damn." I mean, "fuck is my favorite word." I would say it all day if I could, and I often do. I say it when I'm angry, I say it when I'm excited, I say it when I'm annoyed, I say it all the time. I'm not a total Philistine--I mean, I know how to express myself without it, and I certainly don't go around writing it in the company blogs I write. So if you're a client, you don't need to worry that I'll write it … [Read more...]
25 things that went through my mind as I was sick for the week between Christmas and New Year’s
Well, I guess it’s better that I’m sick during the week we closed the office. WTF? Sick on my vacation? THIS FUCKING ROTS. (Spoken in my mind) Being sick is kind of lonely. Wonder what the kids are doing… (Spoken aloud/loudly to children playing knee-hockey in my bedroom) OMG GET THE FUCK DOWNSTAIRS CAN’T YOU SEE I’M SICK? Something really funny that I forgot as I walked from the bedroom to the laptop (fevered brain fog.) Yeah, let's watch Star Wars again. This fever is insane. My … [Read more...]
Happy Thanksgiving
Thanksgiving is tomorrow, and I already know what I’m eating and reading. I know this because I eat the same things every Thanksgiving--so do you, most likely. My Thanksgiving menu includes: Turkey Dinner rolls Mashed potatoes Cranberry sauce Some kind of vegetable casserole my mother always makes involving Campbell’s cream soup (or Stop & Shop brand if it was on sale) Another vegetable casserole involving cheese crackers or those crunchy onions in a can (I think the … [Read more...]