Tag Archives: family

Popping the question

Posted on January 25, 2012 | Leave a comment

My nephew got engaged last week.

He proposed to his girlfriend while they were making dinner at his apartment.  They texted me the news, including photos of the ring.  A few days later they made the announcement on Facebook.

A modern love story.

I couldn’t help but compare that to Mr. Darcy’s proposal to Elizabeth Bennet in Pride & Prejudice.  (I watched it again last night when my cable box was on the fritz.)

He proposed the first time in the rain.  They argued, and she rejected him.

The second time (pictured here) they met in the middle of a field — in the middle of the night — in their night clothes. 

Then Mr. Darcy asked Elizabeth’s father for her hand in marriage before the family had even eaten breakfast.

For such a proper time in history, that whole thing seems a bit scandalous in comparison….don’t you think?   Imagine your own son or daughter wandering into your front lawn at dawn in their PJs talking weddings.  You’d think they were drunk.

Of course, it would make a good story.

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Posted in Commentary, Family, Humor, Life, Love, Movies, Relationships

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Open arms

Posted on January 21, 2012 | 2 Comments

What can help you both build up your immune system and decrease your risk of heart disease and stress?

Hint: it’s not a pill, an exercise routine or the now ubiquitous green smoothie.

It’s the hug — that simple (and simply wonderful) one-on-one human contact between friends and loved ones.

Fantastic, huh?

Lucky for all of us, today is National Hug Day!  The holiday was established in 1986 to encourage PDA-phobic Americans to ‘reach out, reach out and touch someone.’ So now’s your chance to get out there and improve your health, your happiness and your overall state of being.

You’ll probably freak out a few people along the way, but hey — that’s just a bonus for feeling so gosh darn happy!

(See you out there.)

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Posted in Commentary, Exercise, Family, Friends, Health, Holiday, Humor, Life, Love, Philosophy, Relationships

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Burned

Posted on January 11, 2012 | 6 Comments

On my way to the subway last night, I overheard a snippet of conversation as two girls walked by:

“…so then I threw it all up, and I have never eaten it again.”

Man.  I guess we all have one of those stories. Mine happened when I was 13 years old.

After a morning of shopping, my mom and I got chili dogs at the Midtown Drive-In in Mayfield, Kentucky.  They were a favorite.

Then.

On the way home, I started feeling not-so-good.  Bad, actually.  And I told my mom, who was driving the car, that we needed to pull over.  NOW.  Her response?

“Hold on.  We’re almost there.”

How does one “hold on” when you getting ready to throw up?  I don’t know now, and I certainly didn’t know then.  My clothes and her car upholstery suffered as a result.

And I’ve never eaten a chili dog since.

So…have you sworn off a food that turned on you?  Share your story in the comments section.

And enjoy your lunch!

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Posted in Commentary, Food, Foods, Humor, Life

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A masterpiece

Posted on January 9, 2012 | 2 Comments

Last night was a very special occasion at my house.

I wore the burgundy silk for dinner.  Anna did my hair.  And Mrs. Patmore made a sinful raspberry meringue.

 

 

 

 

 

 

It was the long-awaited season premiere of Downton Abbey.

Over the holidays, I had taken the quiz “Which Downtown Abbey Character Are You?” and was shocked (not really) to discover I was like Lady Mary. The near-miss heiress of Downtown Abbey?

I so get that.

But last night, seeing all the changes that have taken place at the big house since the first season, I felt a bit more like Mr. Carson.

Why can’t things go back to the way they were?

I don’t like Matthew’s new fiancee, and I especially don’t like Mr. Bates exit at the top of this episode. And poor Lord Grantham is so unhappy. His gentle humor and good spirits were the foundation of season one.

I want him happy. I want Matthew and Mary and Bates and Anna together. I want everyone home and safe, sipping tea and making dinner.

Good thing I’m not writing the show. It would never have lasted.

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Posted in Commentary, Entertainment, Family, History, Humor, Life, Love, Relationships, Television, TV

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Plastic people

Posted on January 5, 2012 | 1 Comment

It’s been bitterly cold in NYC the past few days, and in the family-friendly Upper West Side, this has been a common sight:

The plastic-covered baby carriage

On an intellectual level, I realize the plastic covers serve a useful purpose, shielding the child inside from the cold, snow and rain.

But my claustrophobic mind registers only one panicked thought…

He’s smothering!  Get that poor kid out of there!!

Sorry.  All better now.

It does makes me wonder — would my fear of small spaces have been averted if my mother had used such a baby carriage when I was young?  Will children today whose mothers use such contraptions have less of a chance of developing claustrophobia?

For their sake, I hope so.

Some good should come out of being publicly shrink-wrapped.

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Posted in Children, Commentary, Family, Humor, Life, Walking, Weather

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Ugly wins

Posted on December 28, 2011 | 3 Comments

This post is ugly and time sensitive.

So VOTE NOW!

My sister-in-law Debbie is competing in an ‘Ugly Christmas Sweater Contest’ sponsored by First Kentucky Bank.  Take a look at her entry below.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

What could beat that?

So click on the photo.  It will take you to the Facebook page where you can ‘LIKE’ the photo and vote her sweater the ugliest in the land.

BUT VOTE NOW!  The contest closes today at 1:30pm ET / 12:30pm CT.

Ugly rules.  (And family even more so.)

Note: Debbie WON! Thanks for your support.

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Posted in Christmas, Family, Fashion, Holiday, Humor, Life

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White Christmas

Posted on December 23, 2011 | Leave a comment

I attended a way fun holiday party last night with an unusual twist:

The hosts used only napkins, cups and plates that could be placed directly into the compost –  very smart, very green.

Unfortunately, paper products of that ilk aren’t green…or any color, for that matter.  Composting means they can’t contain dyes.  So the party ware was of the decidedly winter white variety.

It was worth it.

But if you prefer color in your paper products, get a load of these! Toilet paper, paper towels, napkins and tissues by Renova in the brightest of the brights!

I love these vibrant, saturated tones.  The toilet paper pictured here is made of 100% virgin pulp, is very soft and absorbent, and is tested under “dermatological and gynaecological control.”

Ya gotta admit, it looks pretty cool.  And it’s also available in black, green, orange, and purple.

White Christmas?  Not necessarily.  (Can’t wait to see Nana’s face…)

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Posted in Commentary, Cooking, Crafts, Design, Food, Holiday, Home, Humor, Life, Shopping

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Here’s a tip

Posted on December 20, 2011 | Leave a comment

MBA students at Boston University recommended brands for purchase and revitalization in team presentations Monday and today.

I’d like to add another to the list:

The felt tip pen

One such pen swallowed by a woman in Great Britain 25 years ago was recovered by doctors from her stomach intact and ready to write. Stomach acids had eaten off the pen’s brand name — darn the luck — but not the ink inside. In fact, upon removal, doctors wrote ‘hello’ with the pen.

Find that hard to believe?

The woman supposedly swallowed the pen using it to check spots on her tonsils in a mirror while standing on a ladder when she fell, leading to the accidental ingestion.

Heck — forget the pen company.  Buy the movie rights!

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Posted in Business, Comedy, Commentary, Family, Health, Humor, Internet, News

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Because…

Posted on December 19, 2011 | 2 Comments

…they are dogs and the photo is stinking cute.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Credit to Matt Dunn for the pooch pic.

I know it made my very long day a whole lot brighter!

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Posted in Animals, Comedy, Commentary, Dogs, Family, Humor, Life, Photography

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Video this

Posted on December 18, 2011 | Leave a comment

Have you watched America’s Funniest Home Videos lately?

Show’s still got game.

I caught part of the Christmas special tonight.  It’s probably the first time I’ve watched the program in 10 years and — darn it — the clips of kids and cats and dogs and grandmas caught in compromising circumstances while celebrating their holidays made me laugh aloud.

Embarrassing, but true.

AFV also kept the holiday show in the family by hosting the special at Disneyland’s Winter Wonderland.  So all the lights and Disney characters and Santa himself added a certain something-something.

Plus, if you are a Tom Bergeron fan like me and find the days between seasons of Dancing with the Stars particularly dark and dreary without his quick wit and showmanship, you can get your weekly dose between clips of painful pratfalls and precocious kiddies.

Tonight was a good reminder for me, too.

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Posted in Humor, Holiday, Television, TV, Entertainment, Family, Celebrities, Commentary

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