I needed to have some work done on my car’s air-conditioning system recently. In trying to locate a place to have it done, my husband went online and came up with a name, phone number, and address – and nothing else. “I just don’t get how a business can operate without a website these days,” he said. Many of us don’t get that – because we’re the ones that are connected. We use computers and […]
Tag: blogs elsewhere
Observing boundaries and drawing lines
It was early November, 1991, and it was my last day at my job. I was making the rounds and saying my goodbyes, and my boss asked if it was OK if he hugged me. Anita Hill’s testimony at Clarence Thomas’ Supreme Court confirmation hearings was recent news, and people we being very careful about what might – or might not – be considered sexual harassment. (For the record, I was fine with a farewell […]
A parent’s work is never done
I’ve always described parenting as “the most important job I’ll ever have,” and don’t feel that calling it “a job” lessens it, because it’s work: 24/7, no retirement, no vacation, on-the-job training, high risk, high reward, fun, challenging, engaging work. But in a guest blog post on Work It, Mom!, Kimberly proposes differently – that motherhood is a life, not a job, because it’s not something you can separate from who you are. I think […]
The gender gap=a “happiness gap”?
Last week’s New York Times article on two studies investigating the relationship between activities (“time use”) and happiness, and the differences between men and women regarding that correspondence, has stirred up quite a blog response. Here’s mine, with a look at some of the others. The original article by David Leonhardt notes that research shows… …(T)here appears to be a growing happiness gap between men and women. Two new research papers, using very different methods, […]
What choice do they have?
When my first husband was in graduate school and I had my first post-college job, we didn’t have much money. For my annual checkups and affordable, reliable birth control, I relied on the local Planned Parenthood for several years. It’s been a long time since I was a patient of theirs, but I continue to respect their work, which is why I really hate to see the flare-up over their new clinic in Aurora, Illinois. […]
Another postcard – (not) with chimpanzees…
(…but with apologies to the band Barenaked Ladies. No apologies for liking the band Barenaked Ladies, however. And just in case you didn’t know, Barenaked Ladies are men (and a band). But I digress…) Back to my topic of the week: Chimpanzees. Maybe they’re the ones behind the wheel, causing all this trouble on the road. I just like knowing I’m not the only one with traffic issues – sharing the suffering with Madame Meow […]
Now, back in MY day…
There have been many times in my life that I’ve felt out of step with my peers. I was already married and a mother when I finished college, and since I did that on the conventional post-high-school timetable, I was still in my early 20’s. When many of the people I knew were still unmarried in their mid-30’s, I had a son in high school and a marriage that was on its last legs. At […]
“Welcome to the working week…”
“…I know it don’t thrill ya, I hope it won’t kill ya”– Elvis Costello(This is the theme song for the 6-8 AM Monday show on the ultimate volunteer radio station in the Volunteer State, WEVL 89.9 FM, Memphis) I didn’t have time to get this together on Monday, but for some of us it seems like the workweek is a much more fluid concept nowadays, so a roundup of work-themed posts is appropriate any time. […]
Love letters and thank-you notes
I’ve learned that several of my favorite bloggers share my blogging identity. I guess that shouldn’t be surprising, since I recognize that they’ve influenced what I do here, and how I do it. Of course, I wouldn’t add a blog feed to my reader if I didn’t like the content, but they’re not all there for the same reason. Some are just generally useful, providing information and tools for living. Some cover issues I want […]
Basic skills
Thanks to the aptly-named Busy Mom (she’s everywhere!) for pointing to this link to Popular Mechanics’ list of “25 Skills Every Man Should Know.” Some are traditional, some are more 21st-century high tech. Here’s a sampling: 1. Patch a radiator hose 2. Protect your computer5. Retouch digital photos 6. Back up a trailer 7. Build a campfire10. Use a torque wrench14. Maneuver a car out of a skid 15. Get a car unstuck 16. Back […]
How 28 met 26 (again!)
This is a phrase-completion test based on the following model: 24 H in a D = 24 hours in a day It doesn’t matter if you write the answers in uppercase or lowercase, but the answers must be exactly as expected (no additional intervals or dashes and the spelling must be correct). There is no time limit for this test. Answers will automatically be verified as you type them. Scoring: 1 to 5 is Average, […]
In case of emergency – the sequel
More PSA’s, via BlogHer, which is presenting a special feature on emergency preparedness this week: Once your “Ready-to-Stay” and “Ready-to-Go” kits are assembled, you need to know the appropriate circumstances under which to use them. The Department of Homeland Security offers insight on the choice between staying put and evacuating in an emergency: Whether you are at home, work or elsewhere, there may be situations when it’s simply best to stay where you are and […]
