• Day One: Istanbul

    After an easy flight to NYC, followed by a long-but-okay (despite the screening of MISSION IMPOSSIBLE: GHOST PROTOCOL, which seemed to last forever) flight to Istanbul, we’re here. I actually, so far, don’t feel one way or another about being back. Another way to put this is that it feels like we never left. And…

    Read more

  • We’re Going to Need Some Witnesses

    …because we’ve made a will. Only twelve years past any reasonable expectation of such a document being drawn up. I guess the drafting of such an important disposition, even at this late date, frees us to die with impunity. Whew. This is important because Byron and I are getting on an airplane on Wednesday and…

    Read more

  • Then There Was the Time Jimmy Carter Woke Up Playboy to the Notion of Committing Adultery in One’s Heart

    Perhaps it started when then-President Richard Nixon invited Elvis Presley to the White House to discuss the possibility of the drug addict taking on a role as “federal-agent-at-large” with the Bureau of Narcotics and Dangerous Drugs. It definitely gained momentum when Chevy Chase began regularly spoofing Gerald Ford’s clutziness on Saturday Night Live. It felt…

    Read more

  • My Life Fell in the Woods, But It Didn’t Make a Sound

    Box of Godiva chocolates, delivery from ProFlowers, fully-loaded gift card, sentiment from Hallmark. Envelope of cash, place setting from the registry, His ‘n Hers towels, crock pot, expensive single-use dress. Pack of Pampers, pair of knitted booties, engraved rattle, assortment of onesies. Tray of deli meats, donation in the deceased’s honor, potted plant. Seashell, scrapbook…

    Read more

  • Cupcake Wars

    A whimsical side-adventure to our road trip this summer was Cupcake Wars. I’d like to say I forced my family into participation because that would make me sound strong and powerful and as though I wield a Dominating Will, but if I did try to convince you my family needed to be forced to eat…

    Read more

  • It is ridiculous to set a detective story in New York City. New York City is itself a detective story.–Agatha Christie

    It’s 55 degrees in Duluth today, fallen leaves are starting to cover the ground, the kids and I have been back to school for two weeks now, and we’ve started to close the windows at night. So maybe it’s time to wrap up the recounting of my summer vacation? When last I left you, we…

    Read more

  • “How can a nation be called great if its bread tastes like kleenex?”–Julia Child

    We may have a whole lot of Kleenex-tasting bread in the U.S., and I may feel shouty and stabby when well-off white men start making assertions about “legitimate rape,” and I might have to jam my tongue between my front teeth and hold it there when I see adult women wearing Winnie the Pooh sweatshirts…

    Read more

  • East Coast Road Trip: From Pho to Chocolate Haha!

    Today marks our last seven-hour stretch of driving for this fun, enriching, spirit-revitalizing road trip. By this evening, we should be back in Duluth, ready to think about hair cuts and eye appointments before the kids start school next week. So, now that it’s almost over, I’m finally ready to go back and recap some…

    Read more

  • …Or Maybe a Chunk At A Time

    If you ever see an ad for “Wanted: Person to Post Picture of the Day,” do not let me apply. That is a job at which I would fail miserably. However, I might make a go of “Wanted: Person to Toodle Around and Occasionally Share Moments of Her Toodles Digitally.” Whatever the wage per hour,…

    Read more

  • Quick Favor

      We’re packing up before heading out tomorrow on our three-week road trip to the East Coast. First stop will be three nights in Chicago. My hope is to put up some Picture of the Day posts along the way, but first: I’ve got scaffolding in place for the Writing for Social Media class that…

    Read more