You Know You're in L.A. When.... (part 2)

A ticket to Avatar at the Cinerama Dome is:

$18!!!

I don't want to sound like a grandmother, but was it that long ago that movies were $5?

Let It Snow

My Sunday column on westport.patch:

"Kids almost universally love it. Adults almost universally do not. I understand that. There are big hassles that go along with a serious snowfall. There's the shoveling, the ice scraping, the cars buried in drifts on the side of the road, the commuting to work on slippery, slushy roads. Still, I have to side with the kids on this one.

Last weekend's storm could not have been better – unless instead of getting 9 inches we'd gotten the foot and a half that were forecast. And right before the holidays, it couldn't have been better timed. Here are all the reasons I believe the white stuff is worth the trouble."

read the rest at:

http://westport.patch.com/articles/let-it-snow-2

You Know You're in L.A. When....

It's 65 degrees outside and everyone's walking around in sweaters and jackets. And not only is it 65 degrees outside, but certain people (relatives who shall remain nameless) heat their houses to EIGHTY inside! I wish I could say I'm joking about that, but I'm overheated and dehydrated an unfortunately, not joking at all.

Christmas Chaos

There's been so much to write about, but so little time. Santa needs way, way more helpers. The big day came around way too quickly. We never did that gingerbread house, didn't get around to hanging those outside lights and I'm still mailing out a few Christmas cards. Sorry about that, everybody.

I'm happy to report I got a Kindle for Christmas! Yippee. I couldn't be happier. But my favorite gift of the day was a card from the kiddies that read:

Dear Mom and Dad
Marry Christmas. We are very greatful to be your children.
love, QB and Mopsy. 

How cute is that?

We flew on Christmas day to Los Angeles. (I don't recommend travel on the 25th. It's not a lot of fun. Jarv almost missed his flight. One bag got lost. Had trouble getting a car at the rental place. Two kids who were still awake at 2 am EST had meltdowns.)

So now we're here at the in-laws. Everyone's cranky and tired, and, well, we're at the in-laws, so I anticipate I'll have many amusing, irritating anecdotes over the next week.  Keep you posted.

It's a Very Cyber Christmas

My Sunday column for Westport Patch:


"It used to be that the big dig on Christmas was that it had gotten too commercial. It had become all about shopping instead of religious and family-centric. Now, it's gotten one step worse: even theshopping has become utterly impersonal.


My sisters and I all have Amazon wish lists for our families, so we don't even need to talk to each other for ideas. It's click and go. I pick something off a list, type in a gift card, check the box for wrapping paper, and buy it with one-click. The whole process takes 30 seconds and I never even have to change out of my pajamas. Not only that, but 36 hours later, the box is on the recipient's doorstep, shipped free. It literally couldn't get any easier. And I think that's the problem."

read the rest at:

http://westport.patch.com/articles/its-a-very-cyber-christmas

To the Point

I told Mopsy I had to write an article today for Westport Patch about last night's snow storm. She gave me an unsolicited pointer on how to frame the piece:

"Here's what you should write, Mom. It wasn't snowing until it was. The End."

She has a point.

One Potato, Two Potato

My column this week on westport.patch.com:

One Potato, Two Potato

Making our own fun in the country is a reminder to keep the holidays simple.

"Sometimes simple is best.

We went off to see friends in the country recently. It was really rural, as in their house sits on something like eight acres. Aside from Legos, our five collected children found lots of things to do: chase after their dog, play paint ball in the woods, and gather beautiful Araucana eggs from the chicken coop each morning and afternoon.

What most amused me, though, was playing with a bizarre contraption involving large PVC piping attached to an air compressor at one end. Our host, Jeff, announced his work of art: the Potato Cannon.

Say what?"

read the rest at:

http://westport.patch.com/articles/one-potato-two-potato

Peace, Love, Joy, Irritation

Here's this week's Sunday column on Westport Patch. When I told Jarv what the subject was, he said, "You really should be careful about having opinions about everything and being so judgmental all the time." But luckily, I'm writing an Opinion column for Patch. So, really, it would be quite a boring read if I wasn't so opinionated. Finally, my general state of grumpiness is good for something.

"I don't know about you, but until last weekend ended, I had been focused on Thanksgiving: getting to our friends' house for the weekend, making pies, eating pies. Good stuff like that. I'm just now starting to think about Christmas. 

So I was taken aback when I opened our mail the Friday after Thanksgiving and found, yes, a Christmas card waiting for us. It was sitting smack on top of the pile of catalogs and bills, all proud of itself with its cheery green envelope and special holiday stamp. I appreciate that this relative (on my husband's side, naturally) wanted to send us holiday greetings. But did she really have to do it on November 27?"

Read the rest at:
http://westport.patch.com/articles/peace-love-joy-irritation

Wacky Weather

It was 65 degrees today on December 3rd. I'm so relieved the Republicans decided global warming is all a bunch of hooey.