“Rod Stewart Hair”
“I like your hair!” a woman at the party said.
Opinions
The holidays are here, and for many parents, it’s all about managing their kids’ expectations. They think they need to give their kids the biggest presents, the most presents, and the coolest presents. But trust me: Little Sally won’t be scarred for life if she doesn’t get a pony.
It’s okay to...
“The Cookie Situation”
“People have been asking about the squeaking of the ship,” our captain reported, somewhere in the middle of the Atlantic, “but I must tell you, this is nothing to worry about.”
He then proceeded to explain how a ship needed to give in heavy swells, just as an airplane had...
The Graphic office intercepted a letter intended for Santa last week (don’t worry, we made sure it got where it needed to go), and it struck me that not everything changes with time—the toys may go by different names, or come with more features, but the trends—for the most part—stay the same. And...
Decisions and sacrifices
Dear Dave,
We have two preschool kids, and I’m a stay-at-home mom. My husband brings home about $2,500 a month, and our mortgage payment is $1,000 a month. Recently, we’ve had to tap into our savings in order to pay the bills. Should I go back to work? There are a couple...
During this season of Thanksgiving, Americans gather with friends and family to count our blessings. Blessed to live in the land of the free and home of the brave, we give thanks to the courageous sons and daughters who put their lives on the line to secure freedom and liberty from one generation...
Each day, 29 million students participate in the national school lunch program. The Center for Rural Affairs and Nebraska Food Council advocate for the Child Nutrition Act reauthorization, with inclusion of the Farm to School Act and Kids Eat Local Act, to bring responsible food choices into...
“Transatlantic Turnaround”
My husband, Peter, and I are returning from Spain by boat. The whole idea started when Peter read a book about the sinking of the Lusitania.
“That sounds like fun!” Peter told me, as he read.
“Death at sea?” I asked.
“No, the part before that!” Peter clarified.
Peter...
The holiday season is officially in full swing and with it, unfotunately, comes more than “comfort and joy.” Don’t get me wrong: the last three months of the year are my favorite, and not just because of the holidays. The sparkling, crisp air, the calm of the evenings, the irresistible (and...
Landlords and duplexes
Dear Dave,
I’m 23, debt-free, and I’ve almost got my fully-funded emergency fund in place. I was curious about your thoughts on saving up money to buy a duplex, living on one side, and renting out the other. It would be my first home purchase, and my first rental property...
Q: What’s the progress report since the EPA approved year-round sales of E15?
A: At the start of the busy driving season, the Trump administration approved year-round sales of gasoline blended with 15 percent ethanol, ending the summer ban on the retail sales of E15. The ruling delivered welcome...
