Shaking leaves on the family tree

So, are you related to anyone famous?

Back From Bulgaria

Why is it, that when a uniformed man with a European accent asks where we're going, we feel lucky if we actually wind up arriving there? It's as though we half-expect a border guard to say, “Rousse?? What do you mean you're going to Rousse? You can't go to Rousse, you silly Americans.”

A tale of two pimps

Today we are going to look at two men that could easily be called pimp.

Kids Don't Have To Cost Much

Finding kids' clothes and toys for less.

Shopping At A Downtown Delight

A new candle store in downtown adds scent to your home.

On the Road Pet Peeves

Everyday I drive around and see stupid stickers or accessories on the "classy" citizens of the CSRA’s automobiles.

Who's your pick for the Great American Band?

I'm putting the question out to you. Are the Beach Boys the American equivalent of The Beatles; if not, who is, and why?

Great Goggly Moggly

Swimming is great, with one minor side effect.

A stripper named Luscious (not what you think)

Ok, I am not an expert on male strippers and I don't plan on becoming one but I heard an ad on the radio that made me wonder what some of those dudes are doing.

Laibach Correction and Other Things

Slovenia, not Slovakia, as I said in my Laibach entry of the other day. (Thanks, Andrei!)

Romanian Uniform Groupie, Part II

I have this ritual: Check out uniform until guard notices. Look away. Sneak glance to make sure he's looking elsewhere. Check out uniform until guard notices. Look completely innocent. Check out uniform. Wonder how he's supposed to yank that nightstick off his back in an emergency. Check out cool boots.

Romanian Uniform Groupie, Part I

I think police officers here simply think you deserve what you get if you're fool enough to jaywalk in Bucharest. Why issue a ticket? The person probably won't live to pay it.

Utilities in Romania

And it was. By noon, the faucets were gushing. Of course, it was several minutes before they were gushing anything I actually wanted to touch, but at least the toilet would flush.

Tell me about your dog

I'm working on a theory of modern life that people are growing closer to their pets.

Bless His Heart

I was enjoying my morning coffee earlier and padding around the house glancing outside to watch the soft rain sprinkle over the back of the farm - and just taking my time weaning into the day, when the phone rang.......

Doesn't it always?

Movie Review: The Astronaut Farmer

The Astronaut Farmer is a story about a cattleman who wants to fulfill his lifelong dream of becoming an astronaut by building a rocket in his barn.

Shouldn’t it be called The Astronaut Cattleman?

Clean-up in the Aisle of (My) Life

I'm always amazed when I go shopping with my boys -- the big and the small.

The Faces of Bucharest

He has a tough-looking face that is chisled enough to really catch the shadows in a dim bar. The kind of face that surprises when it smiles and makes me wish I had the patience to be a painter.

Strange Creatures

There was an opening among the spines on top through which produded a sort of antenae with an orange eye on the end. It could retract this at will.

Do working mothers contribute to teen delinquency?

Many mothers that work outside the home do it out of "Crass Materialism"

Woman dances with golden retriever

The Chronicle has a story Friday on the rising popularity of dancing with dogs, particularly among older women. This video clip shows canine freestyle stars Carolyn and Rookie in action.

Laibach Concert

The message I got from tonight is, there is a dark side to each and every “great” country out there.

EXTRA! EXTRA! Read all about it. PARENTS…YOUR JOB IS TO BE UNPOPULAR!

PEOPLE... dare to be unpopular!!! Good parenting is NOT measured by how often your child has a smile plastered on their face. If you spend your energy making sure your child is infinitely happy, then you are going about it all wrong.

Gruparea Industriala Concert

A couple of guys we met—one of whom has a radio show in town and another who works for a record company—told me and Mark that the vocalist has been performing this music since Nicolae Ceausescu's reign. It was illegal then, because the Communist leader didn't approve of any music with Western influences.

Valentine's Day Massacre Part 2: Survival Guide

In case you haven’t heard, tomorrow is Valentine’s Day. If you are
single and not looking forward to it, here are a few tips that might help you
survive.

My pick for the official Valentine's Day song

Every holiday - even the ones I hate - should have an official song. I don't know what governing body is in charge of such decisions but I am recommending that this song (Happy Valentine's Day by Outkast) and the video below be used to promote the day.

Remembering Charlie Norwood

Share your memories and thoughts on the life and accomplishments of U.S. Representative Charlie Norwood.

Love Extravagantly

What does Love look like?

Nature's Call and Other Surprises

I didn't take into consideration the possibility that there might be naked people in the next room.

Old Side of Town

The streets all curve, so there would be absolutely no way to spot a band of marauding ninjas if they were laying in wait.

Valentine's Day Massacre Part 1: What NOT to do

One of the few things about this time of year that I still like is the advice that all the "experts" give out. Everyone with "Dr." in front of their name is offering their two cents on how to get through Valentine's Day.

A Day in the Park

We wondered what will happen to the parks when foreign developers come. Maybe they will be turned into parking decks. That would be the worst thing that can happen. People don't have front porches to sit on here. They don't have yards to get them out of the house.

Roses, chocolate, candle light, slow jams... Is this romance to you?

How Romantic Are YOU?

Seek And I Hope To Find

What is lost will be found -- I hope.

Video: David Caruso - Endless One Liners

David Caruso always knows what to say and when to say it.

Train Never Came

It turned out that the anouncement pretty much said, “Abandon all hope ye who ride trains. It ain't coming today.”

Worst fight scene ever

At least it's bad in a funny way...so at least you get some enjoyment from the pain of watching it.

Where Oh Where has James Brown Gone? Oh Where Oh Where Can He Be?

It's February 6th, 2007, Do you know where James Brown is?

What Was in the Dog Park

There was a giant Sirius Black-type creature who said very clearly he intended to swallow us whole.

Snow

It snows at night but is usually gone by morning. I'm glad. After one day of snow, I now always speak of the snow by a pet name I'm probably not allowed to use in this blog.

Lost in the Eighties

Pink striped stockings. Polka-dot stockings. Fish net stockings. Purple stockings.

Fewer School Days for Georgia?

Would shortening the current school year by ten days make or break a given school year's quality of academia?

Weigh in on proposed legislation by Georgia legislators.

The Sparrows of Bucharest

They don't fly away here—they simply scurry under cars. They're very well fed, and every single one has Popeye muscles.