If anyone out there is planning a trip to a Disney theme park, and you haven’t heard about this promotion, then you’re missing out.  You give a day of service, and get a day at the park for free.  What’s more, most of the service isn’t actually a full day.  It’s a few hours at [...]

I have three tutorials on the burner, but they’re taking some time, mainly because this week I’m accompanying a bunch of vocal students for a competition, and it’s been nonstop rehearsals.  Plus, my family keeps making completely unreasonable requests for food and clothing.  Don’t they know I’m creating here?!  In the meantime, here’s something cool I [...]

When I was in high school, I read The Grapes of Wrath for my American Lit class.  By the end of the book I felt like I had trudged through the Dust Bowl myself, and was in danger of entering my own Great Depression.  I almost didn’t read The Persian Pickle Club because, well, it’s [...]

Disclaimer:  this isn’t really a paper airplane, so much as it’s a paper….well, tube, really.  But it soars and glides and brings a tear to a cub scout’s eye, so your kids are guaranteed to love it.  And if you can resist giving it a whirl yourself, you’re a stronger grown-up than I. You will need a [...]

1.  You’re getting married. 2.  You’re hosting the Oscars. 3.  You’re cold.  The iron is hot.  Tada! 4.  Turn the steam on high, instant facial. 5.  You left the clothes in the dryer again.  For a week. 6.  It will offset the wrinkles on your face. 7.  You haven’t had any good second-degree burns lately. [...]

Once upon a time, there was a beautiful princess.  She lived in a grand palace with her parents, the queen and king, and had an army of servants to do her bidding.  Her life was perfect. But this isn’t her story. This is the story of an ordinary girl in the nearby village, who wished she were a princess [...]

To the inventors of seat warmers:  My cozy booty thanks you. To the  writers of The Office:  Will you marry me? To the manufacturers of king-sized sheets:  Seriously.  Putting the tag in the fitted corner does not help.  I think I have the sheet on sideways.  Again. To the sun:  I miss you.  You never visit [...]

1. Duct tape 2. Bribery (“If you practice your piano, I will remove the duct tape.”) 3. Praise (“You are doing great! It’s amazing how well you can play with your legs strapped to the bench!”) 4. Threats (“Finish that song, or I’ll remove the duct tape verrrrry sloooowly.”) 5. Guilt (“Do you know how [...]

I don’t know who wrote this, or I’d give them credit. It wasn’t me. That loud, cackling laugh you heard across the western United States? That was me. Politics Explained FEUDALISM: You have two cows. Your lord takes some of the milk. PURE SOCIALISM: You have two cows. The government takes them and puts them [...]

Maria from Russia says she fell in love with me the minute she saw my picture on facebook. She then linked me to her dating site. Should I be flattered? Do you think she knows I’m a girl? These days, it probably doesn’t matter. Maria, if you’re out there, I’ll try to let you down [...]