Confessions of an incompetent homeowner — WHEN I GOT DIVORCED AND BOUGHT A HOUSE, my ex said to me, “I can’t wait until it snows and you have to shovel. I’m going to bring a chair over to sit and watch!” Yes, he had done most of the snow removal during our marriage, but it’s not…

The value of examining your core beliefs regularly — The world is flat. Applying leeches will get rid of a patient’s illness. If someone takes your picture, they’ll steal your soul. At one time, each of these statements was believed by groups of people. Today, we scoff at these theories because we know them to be untrue. But the…

Dogs just want to be near their people; cats are all about the stuff. Ever since Otis decided to move in, I’ve studied him as one would an alien. Cats ARE aliens. Pretty sure. The differences between him and the two golden retrievers couldn’t be greater. Aloof and confident (feline)…

But thanks for typing out that prayer??? — Like many people of various faiths, I believe God is everywhere. In nature, in the love of family, in the kindness of strangers. I have often sensed deity walking in a park or driving in rush hour traffic. My Christian upbringing informed me that we can talk to God anywhere…

Excuse me while I cartwheel across the family room — Fifteen years and four months ago, I started a college fund for my kids with high hopes. Even though my ex-husband and I had talked about college funds for many years, he had never gotten ‘round to opening them. (Because he had an MBA in Finance, he insisted on managing…

Learning from Generation Right — I’ve been living under an illusion for many years now that I am a reasonably competent person. I mean, I’ve managed to stumble through life with no major problems. I’m doing well, right? Oh, me. Silly, silly me. Over the holiday weekend, I was reminded (repeatedly) that this is not…

What is she trying to tell me? — I’m not superstitious. I’m not even a little ‘stitious. So when the huge limb dropped off our towering maple from a random gust of wind the night my mom died, I didn’t think much of it. In an attempt to find any humor in the day, I joked, “Mom dropped…

Once you’ve lived with one, you recognize them immediately — Readers: This article mentions interpersonal violence. While on vacation with my kids in Washington, DC, years ago, I witnessed a scene that made the hair on the back of my neck stand up. We had returned from an exhausting day of walking the National Mall in intense heat. It was…

Hope you enjoyed your retirement. Now, back to work! — In a stunning move, the Biden administration today unveiled a plan to end labor shortages, which have plagued restaurants, retail operations, and the trades over the past year. “Throughout history, the American people have applied creativity and pragmatism to solving problems,” said President Biden. “We’ve also instituted mandatory enlistment at…