It Doesn’t Take a Village [Of Strangers.]

Most of the time, I am highly amused at the odd antics of strangers – especially since I seem to attract so many of the especially bizarre. However, there is one stranger behavior that irritates me like no other – the “volunteering” to parent my children. I need my friend’s and family’s help in parenting […]

What was Said at Arby’s.

WHY ARE CRAZY PEOPLE ATTRACTED TO ME. Like, for reals. If I had to rate myself on a scale of Super Approachable to “Hazardous Area – Stay Away”, I’d be on the “Nuclear Waste – Clear the Area” end of things. Not by choice or plan – I just think my resting unapproachable face scares […]

The Awkwardly Intense Busybody Club: Corporate Edition.

The Awkwardly Intense Busybody Club used to be my favorite bizarre occurrence to report on, garnering itself its own category on my blog. But now that my kids are older (the AIBC tends to be more magnetized to babies), it’s been a while since I’ve had a stranger tell me what I ought to do as […]

The Awkwardly Intense Busybody Club: Bookstore Branch.

It’s been far too long since I’ve run into a member of The Awkwardly Intense Busybody Club. It has saddened me, really – I’ve missed their bizarre advice and awkward statements about and to my children. I blame it on the kids for growing up: The AIBC are magnetized to babies, so once you’re through […]

Wal-Mart’s Revenge.

Sam’s Club. Despite my feelings toward his mother Wal-Mart that I shared without reserve last week, I’ve always found Sam to be a delightful fellow. Big quantities, cheap prices, more locations than Costco, adorable little old ladies handing out samples… Actually that last point is starting to change. Because my third to last visit brought […]
Bubblegum Lies

Bubblegum Lies.

Saturday night, we met my Mom and brother at Rusty’s BBQ. It’s the only place we ever meet them, because it’s halfway between our houses and is exactly what you want in a good, off-the-path Southern BBQ place: without pretense, containing random kitsch (I especially like their license plate map of the United States), booths […]

The Awkwardly Intense Busybody Club Goes Succinct.

It’s been way too long since I’ve run across a member of the AIBC. I don’t know if it’s because Noah is older (they’re especially attracted to babies) or that I don’t shop enough anymore (which I highly doubt is the case.) But I miss them, and that’s a fact. I mean sure, every time […]

Excuses, Excuses.

I was right. Ali’s new hair clearly makes her look older. So much older, in fact, that we had a first on Tuesday. Being that I remember it well from my own upbringing, I am positive that it was merely a foreshadowing of what the rest of my kid’s homeschooled life is going to consist […]

Hark the Herald Legos Sing

Last year, Chris and Ali debuted their first Nativity Scene made from Legos.  This year, they started earlier, planned better, and enlarged their panorama to encompass the entire city of Bethlehem. However, Lego isn’t exactly a religious company, seeing as how they have custom sets for every possible historical and fictional setting, but not a […]

Awkwardly Intense Busybody Club: Mall Task Force.

The mall becomes a dangerous place during the Christmas holidays. …Busy shoppers crowd the walkways, sending claustrophobics gasping for a tiny piece of fresh, un-fouled by Chinese-Mall-Food-Breath. …Indoor fake snow causes small children to slip and fall and break their precious limbs. …Kiosk Predators get desperate to sell their unwanted merchandise and begin shooting their […]