Another Toy Recalled
This is making the email forward rounds, and I couldn’t resist posting it. Tragically, the source is unknown.
Now, for THAT I would let my kid have a Band-aid.
3 comments October 20th, 2007
New Zen: Mamacosita-sweeta.
In my new column at Literary Mama, I talk about my recent trip to Italy, where I celebrated my 10th wedding anniversary with my gorgeous husband. Isn’t he cute?
3 comments October 17th, 2007
How Have You Misused Jesus’ Name Today?
“What? What are you asking me? I — Look! Look over here at this shiny, pretty Jesus!”
This is one of the oddest things I’ve ever seen. I’m so impressed with this reporter’s composure and restraint, letting this guy’s idiocy speak for itself. It’s like a Daily Show skit, but it’s real . . .
4 comments October 16th, 2007
New Zen: Peace. Now.
And this picture of my boys, friends, illustrates one of the big reasons why I love being a part of a Quaker meeting . . .
Add comment October 15th, 2007
New Zen: Dark Night of the Summer
I was so busy with school starting and all, that I forgot to post my column at Literary Mama about school starting and all . . .
Add comment October 15th, 2007
Editing is Hell
Please forgive my prolonged absence from the blog. I’m currently editing an anthology about the intersection of motherhood and politics, and my book is due November 1. This means that I’ve been spending a lot of time doing this to people:
Add comment October 10th, 2007
New Zen: Searching for Words
I got to read my new Lit Ma column this weekend at a fundraiser for Write Around Portland. The event was organized by two lovely friends, Michelle Freedman (author of The Ravioli Kid) and Margaret Foley, co-founder of Thereby Hangs a Tale. A number of my friends showed up, including Linera Lucas and Dena DeCastro. Such fun!
This piece — about God and gender, and about not knowing what to teach my children about God and gender, among other things — made me particularly nervous because of how I know it would be received by those friends of mine who are conservative Evangelicals (something I once was, before my liberal Quaker days), if they were to find and read it. I’ve been feeling sad and anxious lately, too — overwhelmed by sparse summer childcare, a looming deadline, our beloved dog’s diagnosis with cancer, the difficulty of living in a too-small house. Life doesn’t feel easy these days. It’s nice, if the face of all that, to participate in an event that was such fun, and to connect with such lovely people.
2 comments August 7th, 2007
Outsourcing Childcare
Some days, this would look pretty good . . .
Report: Many U.S. Parents Outsourcing Child Care Overseas
Add comment July 29th, 2007
Welcome Back, Potter
To celebrate the release of the new/last Harry Potter book, I’m posting this video starring Patrick Towne, brilliant actor in his own right and also husband of author/actress Brett Paesel. I had the honor of co-hosting a MotherTalk event last year for the release of Brett’s book, Mommies Who Drink. Brett is hilarious, brilliant, savvy, and somebody you not only want to read but want to be friends with. At the end of the night, Pat came by to pick up Brett, and the few of us left talked and laughed until the wee hours. Pat is like the brother or brother-in-law or cousin you wish was in YOUR family, just so would have an excuse to hang out regularly. I love these people.
Anyway, Pat plays a grown-up Harry Potter in this video. It won’t make sense to those who didn’t watch bad 1970s TV. But for those of us who did . . . well, I think you’ll agree that this is dead on. I especially appreciate the Overbearing Laugh Track and the “freeze frame” final shot. Brilliant!
Add comment July 29th, 2007
Last Night at the Zoo
Last night, we saw Pink Martini in concert at the Oregon Zoo, with some friends of ours. (Thanks, Liz and Casey, for saving us seats! Traci, we missed you!) I am a huge fan of China Forbes and Thomas Lauderdale and Co., especially the new album, Hey, Eugene! I can’t find a video of my favorite new song, “Dosvedanya Mio Bambino,” but here’s one of my other new favorite, the new album’s title track: “Hey, Eugene!”
And here’s a great video of the good old Pink Martini standard, “Sympathique.” Not new news, but, oh, I do so like the video!
1 comment July 29th, 2007
