At the risk of sounding sentimental … Last month I returned to Columbia, Missouri. That town was my home for eight years (1991-1999). Five of those years were spent in college. The rest were spent working for said college. I’ve always done a decent job of balancing my nostalgia with the reality of those years. …
The Horrible Unsentimental Mother
My daughter – the one conceived ten years ago this week after a few too many Rolling Rocks while watching that George Clooney movie about Chuck Barris – finished third grade this week. It seems like yesterday that this was her: No. Scratch that. It doesn’t seem like just yesterday. It seems like a million …
My Meta is So Meta.
Occasionally I have to get grounded from the news. Usually in times of extreme strife. Like after 9/11. The 2006 Beirut bombings caused me to flip out more than usual; I blame an antidepressant mishap for my extreme reaction, although really? The situation merited more extreme reactions than it got. Perhaps not the six sleepless …
Life’s Little Misguided Instruction Book
Have we all forgotten how to live? Did we ever know in the first place? While being full-on immersed in the book publishing stuff, I’ve been having difficulty focusing on reading books. Instead, I’m taking the iPad to bed every night and reading articles I’ve saved through the day. Which is probably why I’ve had …
My Only Comfort is the Night Gone Black
Garbage, “Only Happy When it Rains,” 1996 Last Tuesday night I saw one of my favorite bands of my 20s, Garbage. I’m generally skeptical of seeing bands past their heyday unless I’ve kept up with their music. I haven’t done that with Garbage. Their 2005 album “Bleed Like Me” was a bit off …
She’s Overboard and Self-Assured
(Every Friday, look for “Seen Your Video.” I’ll toss out a song that meant enough to me way back when to remain lodged in my head today and pick it apart. It’ll be flashbacky fun.) Nirvana, “Smells Like Teen Spirit,” 1991 Kurt Cobain died 19 years ago last week, so I guess that means …
Joyce Franklin and the Curse of the Third Grade Teacher
At the beginning of this school year, my daughter’s teacher pulled me aside and asked if I’d read the child’s most recent explanatory letter/manifesto/airing of grievances. “It’s so good,” she said. “I’ve never seen a third grader write like this. She could be a …” Please don’t say it please don’t say it please don’t …
There Doesn’t Seem to Be Anyone Around.
(Every Friday, look for “Seen Your Video.” I’ll toss out a song that meant enough to me way back when to remain lodged in my head today and pick it apart. It’ll be flashbacky fun.) Tiffany, “I Think We’re Alone Now,” 1987 There’s no way this week’s song wasn’t going to be something awful. I spent …
Steubenville Needs Riot Grrrls.
Twenty years, and where are we? We’re mired in the Steubenville rape case, and I’m wondering how the hell this is still possible. How does our culture still exist when there are kids who don’t know rape when they see it? How have we not devoured our own tail when we still have women bemoaning …
Why Should it Matter to Us if They Don’t Approve?
(Every Friday, look for “Seen Your Video.” I’ll toss out a song that meant enough to me way back when to remain lodged in my head today and pick it apart. It’ll be flashbacky fun.) Tracy Ullman “They Don’t Know,” 1983 Before “The Tracey Ullman Show” that birthed “The Simpsons,” Brit Tracey Ullman first …
