The Toxic Housewife

Dr. Scott : You don't want to hurt anyone. Samara Morgan : But I do, and I'm sorry. It won't stop.                                   - The Ring Loyd Auerbach, parapsycologist My college once brought in a lecturer who went by the nickname "Professor Paranormal".  One of the things he discussed was that what we often think of as 'ghosts' can actually be something completely different.  For instance, say you move into a new house and repeatedly see a woman in your living room flipping through a newspaper.  If that woman appears the exact same way over and over, never varying her motions or interacting with you, then she is not -- strictly defined -- a 'ghost'.  She is in fact just an image left behind, just like you can take a picture and leave it somewhere.  The image may be of nothing special.  The person who left that 'picture' has no mental connection to ...

My kid's around here somewhere . . . I think I suddenly realized a few days ago that I have seemingly become what I always despised: one of those women who lets their children run rampant whilst she is obliviously off in her own world -- chatting on her cell phone, drinking Starbucks, completely turned away from her child. Okay, I'm not that bad (mostly because I hate Starbucks), but I suspect other people think I'm that bad.

Backseat Driver #2 I’m not claiming to be the best driver in the world.  I truly didn’t get a chance to start driving until I was 24, and it took me years to feel comfortable doing so.  Yes, I nearly ran over a cop once.  Yes, I bumped into a white pick-up one day, then almost did the same thing at the same time in the same intersection with the SAME TRUCK the next day.  And, to my immortal shame, I once got a speeding ticket because I was so busy rockin’ out to William Hung.  But those days are behind me now.

I have a few friends who are pregnant, and I keep trying to think of appropriate, yet original, baby gifts.  In the last few months, I've read several books that I would love to send to them; they'd definitely be original . . . however, I don't know that these particular friends would find them appropriate. Still, in the spirit of selfless service, I thought I'd share these books with all of you; perhaps you have a pregnant friend, particularly a first-time parent, who would find these books helpful.