Under the Big Top

Which Came First, the Laundry or the Basket?

2008-04-15T12:04:00Z

Finding a Purpose in Folding Clothes We have two little expenditures, otherwise known as children, running around our house who are a delight, a joy, and a blessing. And those are just the compliments I get from the manufacturer of our laundry detergent. Trendy clothing stores like them; ‘tween jewelry shops love them; and their favorite ice cream parlor sends them birthday cards that include coupons for free cones. Yes, since having children my life has changed significantly. I am not complaining...(read more)

"Drillbit" Shreds the Point

2008-03-26T10:41:00Z

The family and I surrendered to the snow and cold, which meant that we attended a couple of movies. We were just too weary of the weather to do anything else. We'd seen advertisements for "Drillbit Taylor" and we collectively agreed that it would be something for young and old to enjoy. Wrong -- and I'm not too proud to admit it. Don't have any pithy Shakespearan quotes, either, because the Bard doesn't have any that specifically refer to train wrecks. In short, the film...(read more)

Spitzer's Woe

2008-03-12T10:04:18Z

Just as it’s too easy to compare Hillary Clinton with Lady MacBeth, it’s too easy to compare Eliot Spitzer, the recently disgraced governor of New York, with the devious and difficult Richard III. The dastardly British king was the first Shakespearean character who came to mind as I watched Spitzer’s tragedy unfold. And when I read yesterday’s Wall Street Journal editorial, which discussed Spitzer’s thuggish behavior and proclaimed the whole sorry saga as Shakespearean, ol’ Richard’s ghost practically...(read more)

Green Bay's Victory at Agincourt

2008-03-05T14:50:00Z

“I think the King is but a man as I am; the violet smells to him as it doth to me … His fears, out of doubt, be of the same relish as ours are; Yet … no man should see him with any appearance of fear; Lest he, by showing it, should dishearten his army.” --King Henry V, in disguise, to one of his soldiers on the eve of battle Prince Hal, who became King Henry V, understood the mixed blessings that accompanied his crown. As a prince, he was a squirrelly, riotous young fellow who enjoyed far too well...(read more)

The Palomino in Winter

2008-02-20T10:07:57Z

Good morning! Before you assume anything, let me clarify the title to this morning's blog post: It relates in name only to the great film "The Lion in Winter" starring Peter O'Toole and Katherine Hepburn. There is no Machiavellian-like holiday coup being attempted at the boarding stable among my horse's friendly herd mates. Nothing that I know of, at least. There's no dark-corner nickering, no glowering or suspicious glances, unless the grain cart trundles by without stopping...(read more)

(Pleasantly) Surprised at the Multiplex

2008-02-18T12:39:30Z

Good morning! Welcome back to my blog. The family and I attended a movie Friday evening, which we do about once per month. We're not large consumers of movies, due to the expense and the content. Those are issues that I'll discuss in future blogs; however, it was cold and we were in the mood for some laughs. We reviewed what was available, finally settling on "Fool's Gold," a romantic-adventure film that features two popular Hollywood stars. While I'm an advocate of live...(read more)

All the World (Is!) a Stage

2008-02-13T08:32:00Z

Good morning and Happy Valentine’s Day! This is my first post to my first-ever web log, or blog. Thanks to Living Lake Country and our web editor for this opportunity to belong to the online community. Back when I was a pony-taled scribbler plopped in an oversized desk with pencil and paper at Nakoma School, who knew that something like the Internet was coming? Who could predict that one day you could type your deepest thoughts into an electronic whirlygig, and then with the click of hand-held flibbertigibbit...(read more)