Fit to be Tied

Posted inClothing, Columns

When I started my new job a little over a year ago, I made sure to dress nicely on the first day.

I wore a shirt, tie and jacket like I had at previous jobs. The jacket matched the pants I wore pretty well, so much so that people thought I had worn a suit.

My boss pulled me aside later in the day, told me she appreciated that I cared so much about my appearance, but that I didn’t need to dress that well each day.

I inquired further and found out that I didn’t even need to wear a tie each day. Better yet, I could wear jeans on Fridays as long as I didn’t have to meet with anyone important.

Score.

Book Review: Juliet, Naked

Posted inBooks
For better or worse, I have spent an ample amount of time in online forums over the past 10 years. I have gotten into arguments about soccer, music television, you…

Not Ready for Prime-Time Party

Posted inColumns

A few weeks ago, we had a Christmas party. We started this tradition about a decade or so when we both left the full-time newspaper business.

We look forward to the event every year and never have a bad time. Even with the bad weather – it rained all day this year – the 2009 edition turned out as wonderful as ever. Except for one thing.

At no point in the party did we all sit around in a circle and break into an impromptu sing-along of holiday songs.

An Elementary Success

Posted inMovies
When we go to the movies, I prefer to laugh. I will sneak a chick flick in on occasion and maybe an action movie here and there, but I need…

He’s Crafty

Posted inColumns, Family

I enjoy making people laugh, especially my family. Several times a week, I express mock anger because Maria did not laugh at a joke or pithy comment.

But even I have to draw the line when I know I’m being made fun of.

When Bridget started school five years ago, we made an important decision to have as much involvement in her school life as possible. That has made the PTO an important part of our lives.

One night last week, I offered to help Maria with getting the presents to teachers from the PTO together. She has worked a lot this holiday season and needed a break.

So I started out with something simple – cutting string. I could totally handle that. I measured eight inches, cut and moved on. No problems at all.

Then I hauled boxes of t-shirts into the house. Again, something that was right up my alley. I felt very helpful and even cracked a few jokes in the process.

But the fun soon came to an end. Well, at least it did for me. My wife and daughter were getting ready for some serious comedy.

Creative Punishments

Posted inAmerica, Columns, TV

By now, everyone has probably heard about the Salahis, the couple which went to a state dinner at The White House without an invitation.

If you haven’t, count yourself lucky. This couple joins the ever-growing ranks of people intent on doing whatever it takes to become famous for no real reason at all.

They wanted to get on the latest incarnation of the “Real Housewives” franchise – something that is neither real nor features housewives, but that’s a whole different topic – and like to put themselves in the spotlight.

Which is how they ended up pushing and pushing for an invitation to the state dinner until some Secret Service agents basically decided they weren’t worth dealing with and let them in.

So what do we do now? There has been a lot of talk about punishing White House staff and the Secret Service guys who let them through. That’s all well and good. My first suggestion is that when someone shows up and isn’t on the guest list, but insists they belong, the first question should be “Have you ever been on or aspired to be on a reality show?”