Monday motherhood: Felix Baumgartner

In 1984, I jumped out of an airplane with my friend Frank Spinelli.  Haven’t seen him in years but we’ll always have New Jersey, where we spent the morning learning how to pull a rip cord to release the backup parachute in the event the main one didn’t open.  It did, for both of us, and so we lived to tell of our stupid adventure – which was definitely a positive outcome for our future children.  I'm a mother of three.  Frank just had his first. Did you see Felix Baumgartner jump from space … [Read more...]

Friday fodder: The VP Debate (where I go back to high school)

Unlike the Presidential debates, last night’s lone opportunity given to Vice President Biden and Congressman Ryan - to promote themselves as the preferred second-in-command come November – matters to me in only one essential way: if the president hits his head playing basketball and slips into a coma, or chokes on a pretzel and dies, which candidate can better take his place? (Fair warning: much of what I say here will sound petty.  Arrest me.) I don’t like Paul Ryan.  Never have.  And … [Read more...]

I’m sick about the presidential debate

President Obama and First Lady Michelle email me a lot, mainly asking for money.  Occasionally, I give them $3.  Today, I told them they wouldn’t get a penny more unless and until they make amends for the magnificent display of incompetence that was demonstrated last night during the first presidential debate, between Mitt and Barack.  I refer to “Dance Moms” as ‘train wreck television.' Last night was ‘train wreck politics’ if you call yourself a Democrat. I’m still foaming at the mouth over … [Read more...]

Thursdays in the kitchen with Jo: oven-baked barbecue ribs

Two weeks ago, I made a perfect Sunday dinner.  I know this because those sitting around the table said so.  It was time for ribs and time for a new slow-cooked, easy recipe.  Instead of a crockpot version, however, this meal calls for the oven.  It didn’t make a lot of sense considering the blistering heat we’ve been experiencing here lately, but I was in the mood for ribs, dammit!  Long racks of ribs! This recipe comes courtesy of some nice woman at Food.com.  I cut down on some of the hot … [Read more...]

“Pitch Perfect” is pitch perfect

It’s a good bet that headline will be repeated, even though it’s kinda lame.  When I say ‘lame’, am I being insensitive to anyone who has a problem with their legs?  Including my mother who contracted polio at a young age and walks with a noticeable limp?  I digress…again. I first saw “Pitch Perfect” at summer’s end when I dubbed it “Bridesmaids” meets “Glee”.  The fact that NPR repeated this description proves that I am, occasionally, very clever.  About the movie… Unlike “Bridesmaids”, … [Read more...]

Book review: Daring Greatly by Brené Brown

The term comes from Theodore Roosevelt, who wrote: “It is not the critic who counts; not the man who points out how the strong man stumbles, or where the doer of deeds could have done them better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood, who strives valiantly; who errs and comes short again and again; because there is not effort without error and shortcomings; but who does actually strive to do … [Read more...]