It’s Search Ironic Mom time, when I take actual search terms that led victims to my blog and attempt to answer their original query. Today’s first search term is below. Dear Ironic Mom: Signed, Annoying Kid Dear Annoying Kid: Thank you for inquiring about “annoying mom habits.” If you have to google this, consider yourself […]
Leanne Shirtliffe
How To Leave Your Spouse
I’ve often told my husband that the perfect gift for me is 24 hours alone in a boutique hotel. I’m pretty sure he thinks I’m joking. But this weekend, I’m getting something better: a writing weekend away with my wordbitches, Elena, Trish and Gigi. If you wish to plan your own weekend away, I’ve shared […]
How To Drive Your Parents To Drink
When I tweeted this, I likely should’ve shut my computer. To be fair, the ball wasn’t exactly a volleyball. It was a globe. An inflatable one. Vivian and William were using the sofa that divides the kitchen from the living room as a net. And they were spiking. Meanwhile, I was drinking club soda from […]
A Fun Intrepretation of the Year of the Dragon
Gung Hay Fat Choy! It’s the Year of the Dragon according to the Chinese calendar. You likely already know a few dragons, and I’m not referring to your in-laws, either. People who were born in 1940, 1952, 1964, 1976, 1988, and 2000 are dragons. Babies born in 2012 will also be dragons. I’m sure their […]
I Hear Movie Quotes…All the Time
There are two types of people in this world: people who like quoting movies and me. I can’t remember lines from movies. I’m occasionally decent with Shakespeare, but only because I’ve taught some of the Bard’s plays a dozen or more times. But when it comes to movies, I tank faster than a cruise ship […]
Family Vacations: The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly
What’s better than spending Christmas in Canada when there’s not enough snow to go sledding? Spending Christmas in Arizona when it has above average “winter” temperatures. Since you don’t come to this blog to read about unicorns (unless some catastrophe has befallen them – say, a guillotine), here’s the good, the bad, and the ugly […]
The Story of my Avatar: A Contest
In honour of my 300th post, I thought I’d share the story of my avatar. This photo was taken by Tim Reisdorf, a close family friend, on a cool November day in 2008. I had flown home to Winnipeg for two days – a rare weekend away by myself – to attend Lefse Bootcamp for […]
Laughter from a Teacher Who's a Twit
I am more thrilled than a kid on a snow day to be guest-posting at Lessons from Teachers and Twits, especially since I am both a teacher and a twit (something my guest post demonstrates clearly). Lessons from Teachers and Twits is the blog of one of my online besties, Renee Schuls-Jacobson, who I love […]
Thing 1 and Thing 2 Do Nashville and Chicago
After their crazy adventure with Mike in Saint Paul, Thing 1 and Thing 2 needed a holiday. The gracious, kind, and ever-interesting Leigh of the blog HopefulLeigh hosted them: first in Nashville, then on Christmas vacation in Chicago. The Things logged frequent flyer miles! Check out this picture of them in stockings: Please check out […]
100 Things To Do With a Dead Chicken
It’s Search Ironic Mom – that time when I pull up actual phrases that weird people have searched to get to my blog – and attempt to answer them. Today’s Search Ironic Mom question concerns poultry, of the recently dead variety. Dear Dead Chicken Guy: I don’t have 100 things for you (I had to […]