Leftovers
By Wendy Pierman Mitzel ~ Thanksgiving Leftovers:
So I said this: "Life is about amusing your mother. Just do it. Hang the ornament."
And this: "You will find, as you get older, you really don't care about being awkward."
Maybe I no longer feel awkward because no matter how cool I try to be, my kids still try to avoid me. Still, forced family fun consisted of helping to set up the new sparkly deer on the front lawn, adorning the tree and watching stand-up (John Mulany) while noshing on pizza. I had to whine and resort to motherly guilt but, I made it happen.
Also, I broke down and upgraded to an iPhone 6+ mainly because I needed the extra big screen with the extra big icons/keyboard. Am pretty sure I got snookered somewhere on the deal because my "free" upgrade was in no way shape or form free. When I put the phone up to my ear to talk, I feel like I'm back on the clunky relics from the 90s. But it does have fingerprint access.
And over the course of four days our family provided pet-care for one always-hungry yellow lab, two slobbering St. Bernards, one welcoming kitty, and three ducks. Next year we add a pachyderm.
Then, today, I got into the minivan (really did Read more...
By Cami Beiter - As a teenager, I coveted the occasional cigarette with a select few, a very small circle. Most of my friends played sports. If our dirty little secret (and occasional habit) were discovered, coaches and parents, would have something say about it. We snuck a drag here and there...whether it was at a forbidden kegger, the late night concert or sitting on a friend’s deck after school.
My high school had a designated smoking section. I’m not sure how it worked, or was monitored. I can’t imagine sending a note into school: “My child has permission to smoke in the designated area, stink like an ashtray and blow smoke rings with fellow classmates.” Those who frequented the smoking section were forever deemed a, “bleacher creature.” My friends considered it social suicide to be seen on that area of campus. Dudes sported Ozzy Osbourne T’s with ripped sleeves, big hair, acid washed jeans...while other creatures of the bleachers, the fashion requirement was black, black and more black. If my friends and I wanted to sneak a drag, we did what most girls did...smoked in the girls bathroom. We walked in, dead-bolted the lock to the main door, and lit up. God,