Or will it ruin them for life? God, I love a good romance. A book’s just not satisfying to me unless there’s some kind of passionate coming-together in it of a man and a woman. My love of romance started with The Witch of Blackbird Pond and the manly, frequently annoyed sailor Nat, and continued on [...]
Entries from February 2009
February 21, 2009
Why Reality TV Is Good for You
What I’ve learned from “Top Chef” As the wife of a TV writer (and the sister, sister-in-law, and friend of many more), I should be morally opposed to reality shows. They’re not the only reason network sit-coms and dramas no longer dominate the airwaves, but they’re definitely a leading one. And there’s a lot to hate about reality shows [...]
February 16, 2009
A Cure for Insomnia
I’ve actually found something that works If you know me, or you’ve been reading this blog, you know that I occasionally have huge issues with sleeplessness. Which I know makes me unique: no one else in this country ever suffers from insomnia, right? Sarcasm aside, there are multiple industries devoted to curing people’s insomnia, and [...]
February 13, 2009
Why Do We Read to Our Kids?
This is another steal from a post of mine at bookstorepeople. I’ve become shameless. Of the many wonderfully gaspable moments in Steven Levitt and Stephen Dubner’s Freakonomics (which you you should read if you haven’t), the one that may well have made most parents gasp the loudest is when their research reveals that a child’s [...]
February 8, 2009
Why Do We Read?
Note: this post is a tweaked version of one I wrote for the other blog I contribute to, Bookstore People. I always feel slightly guilty stealing from myself, but . . . it’s not actually wrong, is it? You know the thing teachers say in elementary schools-”First kids learn to read and then they read [...]
February 7, 2009
10 Things You Should Never Say to Your Child
All of which I have said to mine. Some of them more than once. As my sister Nell likes to say, it’s a little bit funny and a little bit sad . . . 10. “I just assumed you were doing your homework all this time . . .” 9. “I am so fat.” 8. “Oh, [...]
February 4, 2009
Multi-Tasking, the NEW Way to Drive Yourself Crazy
I never do just one thing–how about you? In a few minutes, I’m going to go throw the ball for my dog. Only I’m not just going to throw the ball for my dog. I’m also going to grab a book or magazine and read it while he’s trotting back and forth. And, since I [...]
