If you loved it, you fed it: a Mother’s Day Post, recipe included

That's Bubby grinning in front with Aunt Ann next to her and in back, (l-r), Aunt Adele, Mom (aka "Aunt Irlene"), Aunt Bessie & Aunt Freda. My family was comprised of women who were not warm and fuzzy. They were efficient. Mom, in particular, was not all shy about noting the shortcomings of her offspring. … Continue reading If you loved it, you fed it: a Mother’s Day Post, recipe included

Pandemic musings from a virtual reference librarian

There’s a lot of noise out here right now, as everyone screams silently from wherever they’re holed up.  Sweetheart and I are holed up at home and beyond grateful. Our jobs haven’t been dramatically affected. Having previously weathered extended periods of under- and unemployment, we fully understand and appreciate how lucky we are. The last … Continue reading Pandemic musings from a virtual reference librarian

‘Hamilton’ lyrics hit home for me & my sister: who tells our cousin’s story?

On Halloween, Sweetheart and I saw “Hamilton,” which is finally touring. It would probably be more accurate to say that I finally saw “Hamilton” and Sweetheart came along for the ride. He knows I wouldn’t have spent gobs of money and dragged him out on a work night if I hadn’t been pretty certain he’d … Continue reading ‘Hamilton’ lyrics hit home for me & my sister: who tells our cousin’s story?

Guest post: The Cooking Class, With Attempts at Salesmanship and Decluttering Thrown In

by Debby Waldman For my sister’s 60th birthday this year, my husband and I invited her to join us on a two week trip to Italy and France. In turn, Amy offered to treat me to an early birthday gift, a cooking class in Sardinia. She organized the class through a travel blogger, Claudia Tavani, who … Continue reading Guest post: The Cooking Class, With Attempts at Salesmanship and Decluttering Thrown In

On my way, featuring the Amy Waldman who isn’t me & not a single photo

Greetings from Seat 6A and the Milwaukee-to-Toronto leg of my Grand European Birthday Adventure.  I consider it a good omen that my seat number is the same as mine & Debby’s favorite road in Cape Cod. It winds (to paraphrase a famous song about another road) from West Barnstable to Provincetown. On the West Barnstable … Continue reading On my way, featuring the Amy Waldman who isn’t me & not a single photo

Magic hats and appendices: Let the packing commence!

On Labor Day here in the US, I began piling up what I want to bring on my Big European Adventure, commencing Friday. “Want” is not an accidental adjective. Some of what I pile up is not going to make the cut. That said, I have put a fair bit of thought into what I’m … Continue reading Magic hats and appendices: Let the packing commence!

How to turn 60 & go to Europe: be my sister’s sister

For the next few weeks, welcome to my travel blog.  When I turned 50, I threw a girls-only sleep-over party. Dinner and breakfast were both co-ed affairs, with invitees welcome to show up for either or both.   It was a glorious event, held at a friend’s mansion-turned-law-office. (You can see photos here.) Judy (who flew … Continue reading How to turn 60 & go to Europe: be my sister’s sister

Betty, Who Ran Out of Lives Too Soon: A Cat Tale, with Claws

So, it’s been awhile since I blogged last and the only thing I’m going to say about that is that I’ve missed it.  Also, a lot has happened in the world. The Amazon is burning. Today, in advance of his trip to the G7 this weekend, the Orange Nightmare threw the stock market into free-fall … Continue reading Betty, Who Ran Out of Lives Too Soon: A Cat Tale, with Claws

John Forster’s pitch-perfect musical response to Admissions Scandal… 26 years before it happened

Note: I took a couple of weeks off to hang out with out-of-town family and work a lot, but will be back next Sunday with some sort of story....here's a brief and entertaining (thanks to John Forster) take on the college admissions debacle. Wait!? You got a Ph.D. and an MD, you took all your … Continue reading John Forster’s pitch-perfect musical response to Admissions Scandal… 26 years before it happened

Neighborhood readers talk books, eat cake: ‘Resistance Women’ Part II

What a couple of weeks it’s been.  Fifty people, including members of the Macy-Huffman and Mossimo-Loughlin families were charged with screwing deserving college applicants out of admission to schools where they may have thrived. It would have been the talk of Sunday shows in the US, but for the white male horror show at a … Continue reading Neighborhood readers talk books, eat cake: ‘Resistance Women’ Part II