ArchivesMarch, 2009

I grew up watching my grandmother work crossword puzzles. This was serious business.  Every Sunday morning on her way home from church she would stop at the corner store and buy The New York Times.  She'd lug that heavy newspaper up the stairs to her second-floor duplex and take out the magazine section.  She never Continue Reading

Movie buffs would tell you that it isn't smart to go camping on Friday the 13th. But what to do if you're a Boy Scout?  The movie series Friday the 13th takes place at the fictional Camp Crystal Lake, which happens to be a real Boy Scout camp in northwestern New Jersey. Despite its gory Continue Reading

It wasn't too long ago that cups with lids were considered "kid stuff."  (We still ask for a cup with a lid when we take our first-grader out to eat.)  Sippy cups were a boon to parents who were tired of wiping up their small children's spilled drinks. But somewhere along the line, it became Continue Reading

Last week I took my older son to the Motor Vehicle office to get his learner's permit. (This probably means that soon I will be buying myself some hair dye--or tranquilizers.) I spent some time that morning on the DMV website, finding out exactly what documents my son needed to present in order to convince Continue Reading

Did you remember to "spring forward with your clock yesterday?  Great--because it's time for a whole new installment of Weird Holiday Monday.  If you’re a new visitor, this is our day to list a few of the lesser-known celebrations and commemorations that take place during a particular day, week or month.  We’re not going to Continue Reading

Seven years ago today, our little boy was born.  He was a dinnertime baby, and I'd been in the hospital for about 23 hours by the time of his birth.  He was born two weeks early.  Early enough, in fact, that I had done a bunch of "baby laundry" but hadn't gotten the changing table Continue Reading

Yesterday I bought a birthday candle in the shape of a number 7.  That's for my first-grader's birthday tomorrow.  That's right; my little guy is turning 7.  And though this weekend we are having some relatives and neighbors to celebrate his special day, that's not enough for him. He wants a "friend party." The last Continue Reading

Those of us who live in the mid-Atlantic region enjoyed a Snow Day Monday. I hardly saw the kids all day.  The younger two were out the door by 9 AM, shoveling the walk and building an igloo with the kids next door.  That igloo got bigger as the day went on.  They came inside Continue Reading

When I was teaching eighth-graders, I had the misfortune pleasure of chaperoning their three-day class trip to Washington, D.C.  It was a whirlwind trip during which we visited the Washington Monument, Lincoln Memorial, Mount Vernon, Tomb of the Unknown Soldier and Arlington National Cemetery.  And we spent a lot of time on the bus.  It Continue Reading

It's the beginning of a new month and a whole new installment of Weird Holiday Monday.  If you're a new visitor, this is our day to list a few of the lesser-known celebrations and commemorations that take place during a particular day, week or month.  We're not going to talk about St. Patrick's Day or Continue Reading