Ray Barone just cannot seem to do anything right. To be fair, neither can Jim Belushi, Tim Taylor or most of the fathers in sitcoms and advertising today. None of these men or their cartoon counterparts, like Homer Simpson or Peter Griffin, ever seem to be able fulfill their fatherly duties without making a huge mess of things - a mess their wives ... [Read More…]

My roommates and I had our lawn mowed Thursday for the first time in a year and a half. "How do you let it get to that point?" my mom asked as though I said I hadn't showered in a year and a half. I responded, "I live with three girls, we're full-time students, we all have jobs and try to maintain somewhat of a social life and mowing the lawn is ... [Read More…]

The phrase "all-American family" conjures images of grills and puppies, happy mothers and fathers and two-and-a-half children in clothes from Baby Gap - all of the things my fiancé's family is not. I'll admit I have crazy relatives. Some of them have married into the family, and some of them are unfortunately and unavoidably related to me by ... [Read More…]

I hopped off the plane at Logan International Airport with a dream and my cardigan. After being in Boston for no more than 30 minutes, all of my previous perceptions about the city had been washed away by Boston's largest rainstorm in 50 years. After three days of constant rain and wet socks, the sky cleared, and I was finally able to see the ... [Read More…]

My feet hit the ground and turn slightly outward as I pick up speed to match the techno mash-up pounding in my ears. I lower my arms and pump them back and forth as I cross the street, dodge a biker or head uphill. I am hating that wind, but with a quick peek at my watch, I press on. I can't help it. I have a thing for running. Yet lately, I have ... [Read More…]

My family moved three times during my middle school career, and I quickly figured out starting a new school in real life is not like it is the movies. A cute boy didn't show me around; I wasn't given a lunch table diagram showing me where to sit in the cafeteria; and nobody cared who I was or where I was from. Except for one person, and her name ... [Read More…]

Until Saturday, I'd forgotten how terribly fun - and just plain terrible - spelling bees can be. Let me start by saying spelling bees are one of the oldest forms of torture known to man, second only to medieval menaces like the thumbscrew and Grandpa Fred at a nude beach. I coordinated the Scripts Regional Spelling Bee this year, and more than ... [Read More…]

Springtime in the Big Country is fast approaching and that means two nuisances are imminent - muddy puddles and mosquitoes. As March and April showers soak the area, an army of pain-inflicting pests set up camp on the Hill. The next two months will be a constant battle as the mosquito air raid begins. These tiny creatures are an undeniable ... [Read More…]

At some point, I'm either going to have to stop attending Invisible Children events or stow away on a cruise ship headed for sunny Northern Uganda. Every time I watch a video or hear someone speak about the injustices perpetrated there - or in any number of countries - I feel compelled to fight it. I want to commit acts of greatness, of strength ... [Read More…]