God is in the Details – In a Church Pew or a Tree Branch?

I’d rather discuss my bowel movements than my religion. Both are private matters to me. But here goes…with the latter. Last Saturday evening I attended an Easter service after a multi-year absence. Previously I had attended this particular church (or listened to the sermons via audio format) regularly (like my bowel movements!) for about ten [...]

Women Leaders – Born or Bred?

I think the world is screwed up. Can I get an Amen!? Why is that? Could it be that the world is run by a bunch of asshat leaders? Which by the way happen to be more of the male gender than female. Which is how we got the word morass: A frustrating, confusing, or [...]

Attention Alcoholic Parents: Clean Up Your Act — Before You Kill Someone

We have a “I’m not an alcoholic” alcoholic in my family. She’s a grown adult. She thinks pouring alcohol down her throat—and passing out on the kitchen floor—is the answer to something. Or why would she keep doing it? Here’s what I’ve learned over the years (and this applies to any addiction or idiotic behavioral [...]

Thoughts on Mother’s Day – and its original concept

The founding purpose of Mother’s Day—by Julia Ward Howe in 1870—was not intended to be  a sentimental tribute to the softer side of Motherhood. It was a rally cry for Mothers to unite their kick-ass side and STOP WAR. Julia was appalled at the carnage of the Civil War—the senseless death of hundreds of thousands [...]

Thoughts on Brides – and the Female Psyche

There are many statistics about America that alarm me: * 1 in 4 children go hungry every day. * 16% of Americans 65 and older live at or below the poverty level. * General Electric made $5.1 billion profit in 2010 and paid $0 in taxes. Ugh. Ugh. And ugh. Another statistic that I find [...]

Thoughts on Weddings: A Spectacle or a Sacrament?

In less than twelve hours, the Wedding of the Millennium will commence in all its British pageantry. I’m looking forward to the Royal Jamboree—and hoping Princess Diana’s bro, Earl Viscount of Whatever, Charles Spencer, drops another IED bomb of a speech. (Except it’s a wedding and not a funeral.) His eulogy for Diana was the [...]

How to Save the World and a TV Show

Yesterday I wrote about the plight of the entire planet (including all of mankind) with all its woes. I think that monumental task requires God’s help. In the same vein, there is a TV show that needs help, but the solution is much simpler. To rescue only two and a half of the men, you [...]

Relating in the Classroom – Taking a Stand (Part 5)

[This is part five of a five-part series about memories from elementary school. Dedicated to Diane Heine Stipp.] My sixth grade teacher, Mr. Allen, called himself “Chubby H.E.” I thought it was because he ate a lot of cake. Every week he asked for a volunteer among the girls to bake him a cake and [...]

The Girlfriend Thing is Disappearing With Me

I’m a woman’s woman. I prefer a woman’s company to that of the other gender. I empathize with women, appreciate their wisdom, and champion them whenever I can. And I really value their friendship.   That said, lately I’ve been wondering what’s happened with the female-connection thing in my life. I’ve been getting rid of [...]