Why is this such a big deal? So, the guy may have wanted an “open marriage.” When my husband and I got married ten years ago, I told him I wanted to have an open marriage. He said, “You do?!” And I said, “Sure.” He asked, “Really?!!!  An open marriage?!!! You and me?!!! An open marriage!!!” I told him yes. I was sure. And what I meant, obviously, was that I wanted a marriage where we could tell each other anything. That’s what an open marriage is, right? There’s no other meaning, is there? Because if there is, then I’m in deep s—t.

Why is this such a big deal?

So, the guy may have wanted an “open marriage.” When my husband and I got married ten years ago, I told him I wanted to have an open marriage.

He said, “You do?!”

And I said, “Sure.”

He asked, “Really?!!!  An open marriage?!!! You and me?!!! An open marriage!!!”

I told him yes. I was sure. And what I meant, obviously, was that I wanted a marriage where we could tell each other anything.

That’s what an open marriage is, right? There’s no other meaning, is there? Because if there is, then I’m in deep s—t.

Physicists Anxiously Await New Data on ‘God Particle’

From the December 11th New York Times. High noon is approaching for the biggest manhunt in the history of physics. At 8 a.m. Eastern time on Tuesday morning, scientists from CERN, the European Center for Nuclear Research, are scheduled to give a progress report on the search for the Higgs boson — infamously known as the “God particle” — whose discovery would vindicate the modern theory of how elementary particles get mass.

(I will, obviously, be live blogging the event on Tuesday morning. If you have any questions, I will be happy to answer them. I will also be answering questions about seasons two through four of “Saved By The Bell.”)


So, there was this article in the New York Times about how more and more “professionals” are using emoticons in their emails… and how it’s annoying the stuffing out of some [grumpy, in my opinion] people. My thoughts: 1) The trend piece is about five to ten years late. 2) A journalist/activist/radio personality interviewed said she will “de-friend” anyone on Facebook if they use a “little smiley-frowny face.” And she won’t give them any second chances. : ( Anyone who is THAT against the use of emoticons should probably not use the word “de-friend” as a verb when interviewed by the New York Times.  3) There was a complaint from ”the parent coordinator in an elementary school in Manhattan who spends much of her days answering and responding to e-mails of the (largely professional) body of parents.” For her, “the whole subject touches a raw nerve.” Want to know what touched a raw nerve for me? The description of the school as being made up of a “(largely professional) body of parents.” Maybe it’s because I’m a stay at home mom? Maybe it’s because I felt like it was code for saying “upper class”? Maybe I’m just grumpy myself today. What do you think? Perhaps I’m overreacting? I’d love your opinion. ; )

So, there was this article in the New York Times about how more and more “professionals” are using emoticons in their emails… and how it’s annoying the stuffing out of some [grumpy, in my opinion] people.

My thoughts:

1) The trend piece is about five to ten years late.

2) A journalist/activist/radio personality interviewed said she will “de-friend” anyone on Facebook if they use a “little smiley-frowny face.” And she won’t give them any second chances. : (

Anyone who is THAT against the use of emoticons should probably not use the word “de-friend” as a verb when interviewed by the New York Times. 

3) There was a complaint from ”the parent coordinator in an elementary school in Manhattan who spends much of her days answering and responding to e-mails of the (largely professional) body of parents.” For her, “the whole subject touches a raw nerve.”

Want to know what touched a raw nerve for me? The description of the school as being made up of a “(largely professional) body of parents.” Maybe it’s because I’m a stay at home mom? Maybe it’s because I felt like it was code for saying “upper class”? Maybe I’m just grumpy myself today.

What do you think? Perhaps I’m overreacting? I’d love your opinion. ; )

Well, look what we have here: David Vienna of The Daddy Complex is in Redbook Magazine. Yea! Take a look! ”The latest issue of Redbook has a piece called ‘Exactly What’s He Thinking When During 7 Pivotal Moments of Your Relationship.’” I preferred reading THAT article to THIS article about New York City moms who dress up for school drop-off. Here’s a link to that New York Times article if you want to read it. If there was an emoticon for rolling my eyes, I’d plug it in here. The funniest part is that Brooke Shields is interviewed, and she basically says: Yeah, it’s hard to compete in the glamour department with these women. Or something like that. Don’t quote me. Because I’m not directly quoting her.   Anyway, I always take these kind of pieces with a grain of salt. You just need to interview three people and, boom, a trend is sweeping the nation. 

Well, look what we have here: David Vienna of The Daddy Complex is in Redbook Magazine. Yea! Take a look! ”The latest issue of Redbook has a piece called ‘Exactly What’s He Thinking When During 7 Pivotal Moments of Your Relationship.’”

I preferred reading THAT article to THIS article about New York City moms who dress up for school drop-off. Here’s a link to that New York Times article if you want to read it. If there was an emoticon for rolling my eyes, I’d plug it in here. The funniest part is that Brooke Shields is interviewed, and she basically says: Yeah, it’s hard to compete in the glamour department with these women. Or something like that. Don’t quote me. Because I’m not directly quoting her.  

Anyway, I always take these kind of pieces with a grain of salt. You just need to interview three people and, boom, a trend is sweeping the nation. 

(via thedaddycomplex)

Do you remember I asked if you wanted to be in my super-secret and pretend book club to discuss the New York Times Magazine article, “What If The Secret To Success Is Failure?”  So… now that you all have read it, great. I actually wrote an essay based on what the article meant to me and Lisa Belkin was kind enough — plus, I slipped her a five dollar bill — to run it in today’s Motherlode on the New York Times. Here’s the link to my essay.

Do you remember I asked if you wanted to be in my super-secret and pretend book club to discuss the New York Times Magazine article, “What If The Secret To Success Is Failure?”  So… now that you all have read it, great. I actually wrote an essay based on what the article meant to me and Lisa Belkin was kind enough — plus, I slipped her a five dollar bill — to run it in today’s Motherlode on the New York Times. Here’s the link to my essay.

What if the Secret to Success Is Failure? »

This is one fascinating read. I highly recommend it. I would make it a part of the Mammalingo book club, except we don’t have one. However, if you do read the article and want to share your thoughts, I’d love to hear them. Yes, mine is the world’s laziest book club. 1) We read articles, not books. 2) You lead the discussion. 3) And I hope that you’ll also prepare some kind of an appetizer. Talking about books (or articles) makes me hungry. 4) Finally, if this is like my real-life book club, I’ll probably miss most of the meetings.

That said, let’s get back to the New York Times’ article that’s coming out this weekend… but is actually available now: ”Why our children’s success — and happiness — may depend less on perfect performance than on learning how to deal with failure.”