Out in Left FieldOut in Left FieldWhere parenting and politics meet, but don't always play nice. Articles
FULL COLUMN: 5 things to think about regarding the Penn State tragedy
2011-11-15 16:04:00 …from last week’s Creative Loafing. My family is from Pennsylvania, and includes several Penn State graduates. When I first heard that former Assistant Coach Jerry Sandusky was charged with sexually abusing eight boys, and the abuse seems to have been ignored and/or covered up by Head Coach Joe Paterno, and other administration officials, I immediately ... More About: Tragedy , Column , Things , Full
PREVIEW: “Take off that bra, you’re only eight.”
2011-11-09 02:47:00 Children have always been curious about adult roles. When I was young, my sister and I often played a game called “Grown Up.” We would dress in our mother’s clothes, say the rosary, and use words like “disappointed.” We poured tea and pretended to be more mature than any other six and seven year-old in ... More About: Preview
FULL COLUMN: “Take off that bra, you’re only eight.”
2011-11-08 16:47:00 …From last week’s Creative Loafing . Children have always been curious about adult roles. When I was young, my sister and I often played a game called “Grown Up.” We would dress in our mother’s clothes, say the rosary, and use words like “disappointed.” We poured tea and pretended to be more mature than any ... More About: Column , Full
PREVIEW: MissRepresentation
2011-11-04 00:30:00 My husband and children sat with me on a recent Saturday night to watch a program we recorded about women’s portrayal in the media. Cue the obligatory Natalie Merchant soundtrack followed by yawns and complaints. But wait, much to our surprise, MissRepresentation, a documentary premiering on Oprah’s channel, OWN, was actually quite good. My boys ... More About: Preview
PREVIEW: Carpe Dayum, my 11 year-old son’s first date leaves him more exp
2011-11-01 23:57:00 This was an innocent date, the kind where everyone eats ice cream and no one yells, “No means no!” She asked him to a sporting event with her family. Wrap your head around that for a moment. I’m sure when my Nana fought against discrimination to work outside the home this is exactly what she ... More About: Preview
Halloween with the Robinsons
2011-10-30 17:58:00 My boys are regulars on their school’s morning program, where Youngest writes the copy and Oldest reads it. Topics are usually related to sports. Until this past Friday, when they were invited to perform and showcase other talents. They’ve been raised on the Beastie Boys, so it shouldn’t come as any big surprise when they ...
PREVIEW: Class Warfare; Not all movements are created equal
2011-10-25 14:12:00 Those of us dismayed by elected officials and their way of doing business are energized by Occupiers taking to the streets, in New York City, Tampa, and around the country. There is something exciting about groups of people who’ve had enough and decide to make a better world for all of us. At first, the ... More About: Preview , Class Warfare , Equal , Class
My first novel, Olivia’s Kiss, is reviewed and gets 4 stars
2011-10-25 01:48:00 BigAl over at BigAl’s Books and Pals reviewed my novel and found it worthy. Quite worthy. They gave Olivia ’s Kiss a favorable review and 4 stars. The story: Olivia Foster is a beautiful, headstrong killing machine, shocked to find herself yearning for something different. Olivia discovered a talent for killing men while in her teens, after ... More About: Stars
PREVIEW: Raising Radicals
2011-10-22 20:18:00 I couldn’t believe my ears. After walking into an event recently and greeting a few acquaintances known to be quite religious, I caught the tail end of their intense conversation. “Children shouldn’t be taken places where their minds are manipulated,” an older gentleman was saying. “Children shouldn’t be made to believe in nonsense. They aren’t ... More About: Preview
PREVIEW: Oh enough already with the complaints
2011-10-21 02:48:00 “Just because you have a pain, doesn’t mean you should be one.” –Nana and Mom paraphrasing Maya Angelou all my life. I have news for anyone over sixty and dealing with malfunctioning body parts. If you are about to go on a lunch date or vacation or shopping trip, especially with younger friends or family ... More About: Preview
PREVIEW: Class Warfare; Not all movements are created equal
2011-10-19 14:12:00 Those of us dismayed by elected officials and their way of doing business are energized by Occupiers taking to the streets, in New York City, Tampa, and around the country. There is something exciting about groups of people who’ve had enough and decide to make a better world for all of us. At first, the ... More About: Preview , Class Warfare , Equal , Class
PREVIEW: Then and now; adjusting to middle school
2011-10-12 01:17:00 My sons have been in sixth grade for over two months. They left a small, private Jewish elementary school to attend a slightly larger public middle school located in eastern Hillsborough County, nestled between three churches and five liquor stores. Add to this culture shock the fact that we moved from Lutz to South ... More About: Preview , School , Middle
PREVIEW: Tá brón orm
2011-10-07 03:25:00 Yom Kippur is almost upon us. I have found, after writing about this for so many years, that Jews and goyim alike are fascinated by the idea of atonement. Friends who would never circumcise their sons, give up presents at Christmas, or eat matzoh for Passover are nevertheless interested in the whole lamenting and ... More About: Preview
PREVIEW: Apologies and more on Yom Kippur
2011-10-07 03:21:00 My mother always taught her Catholic children that Judaism was the foundation of our faith. It officially became my faith in 1995. For the most part, everyone handled it well. Our family gatherings have never turned into a Jerry Springer episode. There are some repercussions. For example, I can’t be godmother to nieces or nephews. ... More About: Preview
A multi-tasking mommy – stick a broom up me arse so I can sweep as I
2011-10-02 21:49:00 Hundreds have inquired about my threat to unleash hair and attitude at a local Open Mic…okay, maybe dozens is more like it. Seems I let the idea slip in an op-ed I wrote recently for The Tampa Tribune. I query editors every day. I get ignored every day. But I also get published, and that ... More About: Mommy , Multi
PREVIEW: Are you ready for some football?
2011-09-27 20:50:00 Ladies, quit complaining and enjoy football season. I live with three boys, counting Husband, and every year, when our oppressive Florida heat downshifts into simply sweltering, they begin The Ritual. This annual event involves fantasy spreadsheets, sports radio and worrying about things called “stats.” It involves sitting on the couch with sperm-killing laptops. It involves ... More About: Football , Preview
Best of the Bay 2011
2011-09-26 14:56:00 I’ve been writing for Creative Loafing since 2009, and have been honored to receive several Best of the Bay awards. Never been to the actual ceremony, though, so I was flattered to receive an invite to present at this year’s function. (Read more about The Loafies here.) While it’s true, I didn’t win a goddamn ...
PREVIEW: Misery loves company
2011-09-22 19:43:00 We’ve all been warned about fair-weather friends. These are the types of acquaintances who want to enjoy and celebrate during good times, but have a tendency to disappear when times get tough. I’ve noticed the opposite trend as we get older. People flock, hover, and make meatloaf during economic disasters or health crises. It’s as ... More About: Preview , Company
PREVIEW: Apples dipped in honey, what’s not to like?
2011-09-20 20:34:00 The holiest days of the year are approaching and you know what that means! Every year before Rosh Hashanah, synagogues send tickets to members for High Holy Day services. Non-members in the Tampa Bay area usually pay around $200. That’s right. Local Jews pay that kind of money for tickets to a show that doesn’t ... More About: Preview , Honey , Apples
Thanks voters…and Jesus
2011-09-16 02:06:00 The good people at CBS Tampa saw fit to nominate me for Most Valuable Blogger Award 2011 in the category of Lifestyle and Family. Thanks to the voters for making me #1. Yet another reason why I’m so happy to be home. More About: Jesus , Voters
SNEAK PEEK: Hippie moms
2011-09-15 00:45:00 While shopping in Greenwise the other day, I noticed a mom in sandals and dreadlocks raising hell about the lack of vegan options for her 8 year-old. She threatened a boycott, quite loudly in fact, because her daughter was an organic being and much too precious for pesticides, animal secretions, and hormones. As I stood ... More About: Sneak Peek , Moms
FULL COLUMN: Spies like us
2011-09-14 13:31:00 School has begun, usually my favorite time of year, yet my kids are handling it pretty well and I’m about ready to fall apart. During orientation, a student walked the halls with braided back hair and five tattoos. Husband insisted he was a parent. Like that’s good news? The whole idea of my kids moving ... More About: Column , Full , Spies
FULL COLUMN: Back to school for bullies, too
2011-09-10 18:04:00 It’s back-to-school time and my children are filled with the usual apprehension, wondering if they’ll have time for basketball amidst all the studying, writing, and reading that’s required. They also worry about cafeteria food and if middle-school girls are nice. These are normal concerns. What about kids who have these worries on top of more ... More About: School , Back , Column , Full
SNEAK PEEK: Back to school for bullies, too
2011-09-08 18:04:00 It’s back-to-school time and my children are filled with the usual apprehension, wondering if they’ll have time for basketball amidst all the studying, writing, and reading that’s required. They also worry about cafeteria food and if middle-school girls are nice. These are normal concerns. What about kids who have these worries on top of more ... More About: Sneak Peek , School , Back
SNEAK PEEK: Spies like us
2011-09-06 13:31:00 School has begun, usually my favorite time of year, yet my kids are handling it pretty well and I’m about ready to fall apart. During orientation, a student walked the halls with braided back hair and five tattoos. Husband insisted he was a parent. Like that’s good news? The whole idea of my kids moving ... More About: Sneak Peek , Spies
Healthy Kids Lunch Program from EVOS
2011-09-02 22:15:00 My favorite fast-food place, EVOS, announced today that it will continue to further the growth of the EVOS Healthy Kids Lunch Program at public and private schools in all markets this school year. Launched only two years ago, the company expects to double the number of great-tasting, healthy lunches served in the first three ...
So JCPenney is not only boring, but sexist, too
2011-08-31 17:16:00 JCPenney has the cutest shirt for your daughter. I’m not sure which is worse – the shirt, Bieber reference, or (b)ad grammar. “Who has time for homework when there’s a new Justin Bieber album out? She’ll love this tee that’s just as cute and sassy as she is.”
SNEAK PEEK: Spies like us
2011-08-30 23:31:00 School has begun, usually my favorite time of year, yet my kids are handling it pretty well and I’m about ready to fall apart. During orientation, a student walked the halls with braided back hair and five tattoos. Husband insisted he was a parent. Like that’s good news? The whole idea of my kids moving ... More About: Sneak Peek , Spies
FULL COLUMN: Tell yer story walking, grumpy old men
2011-08-28 13:10:00 As a wife, I’ve had only one deal-breaker all these years: hitting. Abuse is the only non-negotiable issue and, so far, Husband hasn’t laid an unwanted hand on me. I say so far, and really have to chuckle. During our college years, when most girls went out dancing, I went out arguing – all while ... More About: Story , Walking , Column , Full
SNEAK PREVIEW: Tell yer story walking, grumpy old men
More articles from this author:2011-08-26 02:10:00 As a wife, I’ve had only one deal-breaker all these years: hitting. Abuse is the only non-negotiable issue and, so far, Husband hasn’t laid an unwanted hand on me. I say so far, and really have to chuckle. During our college years, when most girls went out dancing, I went out arguing – all while ... More About: Story , Preview , Walking 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7 |
 |
|
 |
