There’s been a lot of talk amongst us about defining our generations. Is your generation whiny, apathetic or brilliant and brave? It’s probably too early to tell for sure, but it’s a good excuse to talk about films.
What are the amazing films of your generation? Heathers? Chasing Amy? Showgirls? American Pie? Continue reading
They say it takes a village to raise a child. Any new parent can tell you that the village certainly seems to think so. When you have children, people come out of the woodwork to offer you unsolicited and often, unhelpful advice.
It starts when you are pregnant. The first thing I remember is someone telling me to spend the money on a high-end digital thermometer. That’s actually not bad advice as babies are squirmy especially when they are sick. Those thermometers are fast and are certainly better than the mercury thermometers that were around when I was a child. They took forever and were next to impossible to read. Continue reading
Welcome to a new series of columns on the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints for people who are unfamiliar with the Mormon Church. Since Mitt Romney is a viable candidate for president, the religion is being discussed a lot. I, personally, had not heard much about the church before I moved to Colorado. The church is based in Utah and is much more common out west. Since moving here, I’ve had the opportunity to learn more about the church and thought I’d share some facts. NurseWretched pitched in with her extensive knowledge of the church as a one-time member. Continue reading
Technically, the answer is “yes.” Men and women, after all, start off much the same in utero. That’s why men have nipples. Men do have milk ducts and some mammary tissue. Whether a man can produce enough milk to sustain an infant is unclear. Some male mammals do lactate. The Dayak fruit bat definitely lactates. Occasionally, male goats lactate (it is not clear on exactly what occasions. Perhaps holidays).
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If you are like most people, you probably think of orgasms and births as very separate things. One should, ideally, precede the other, but they are not likely to occur simultaneously. People who believe in orgasmic birth call it the “best kept secret” about birth. Orgasmic birth is the idea that the woman can have a sensual birth experience and may even climax when the baby emerges. It’s a completely different approach to the pain management model that currently exists concerning birth. Continue reading
Every site has an article about how to do something especially romantic. The problem is that the bar keeps getting raised and raised until finally, it’s all just a giant disappointment. That’s why it’s a good idea to break some new ground this Valentine’s Day. Do something creative. Continue reading
When I was a teenager, I worked for my grandfather. It was a sort of torture for us both. One year, he had to send out some catalogs and the manufacturers he worked with sent him some literature to include in the catalog. Some of the pages weren’t well made, so he decided that those little plastic reinforcements needed to be put on the little holes in the pages. This meant they needed to be put on all three holes on every single page in every single catalog. I am not sure how many of those little plastic reinforcements I had to put on, but I know that they ordered a case of those plastic rings of death and I used them all. It went on for more than a month. Continue reading
When you’re gone, you probably hope that people will remember your noble deeds or staggering accomplishments. However, smell is the sense that is most strongly tied to memory. In my case, that means most people will probably remember an onion-y cheese smell when they think of me. Continue reading
Do you have fantasies of sitting around a wood stove reading stories to your children? Do you fantasize about living in harmony with nature? Would you like to garden alongside your children and raise your food naturally? If so, Parenting Off the Grid may be for you.
“Off the grid” is an expression that may be unfamiliar to those who live in urban environments. It’s a movement that embraces a commitment to live as self-sufficiently as possible. Some people are committed enough to live without public utilities entirely. Others use a combination of solar power, farming and a minimalist lifestyle to make themselves more self-sufficient than most people. There is a certain type of western U.S. resident that aspires to this lifestyle which is more readily available in Montana, Wyoming and certain parts of Colorado. Continue reading
I’m sure I will get flamed for this but if one more person tells me how great “The Kite Runner” is, I will dedicate my life to reading Harlequin Romances. I’m not even sure I would hate it if everyone else didn’t love it so much. I’m just weary of hearing so much about it.
I also fall into the company of a passionate group of people who despise “The Fountainhead”. I also despise people who like “The Fountainhead.”
What books do you hate that others go on and on about? Like, “The Seven Habits of Highly Effective People”? Or perhaps “Three Cups of Tea”?