Freaky Frugalite

Do any of you guys remember what happened April 26, 1986? I was a teenager, just becoming aware of the world around me and what a big, scary place it could be. I remember very well what happened that day: The Chernobyl Nuclear Disaster in the Russian satellite country of the Ukraine. While it is [...]

In light of the Christmas holidays right around the corner — and with all the relatives coming and all — I thought I’d give you guys a little head start on discussing politics at the family dinner table. Of course, this one is disguised in a bit of humor. If anyone takes offense, you can [...]

On Sunday during church, the bombastic strains of the Hallelujah Chorus from Handel’s Messiah kept running though my head. It’s such a glorious piece, one that makes me want to jump up and down with glee. So I downloaded the song as my newest ringtone for my phone and have been having fun whenever I [...]

After weeks of empty promises, I finally made good on my word and took the kids out for a day trip. We endured 2 hours in crazy freeway traffic through our capitol city (Albany, NY) to visit the Olana Historic Site in Hudson, NY, and have a nice lunch along the banks of the Hudson [...]

I am fond of Russian history. I have read numerous books about the Romanov dynasty (the last Russian monarchy) because of their connection to Queen Victoria (the last Tsarina Romanov was the grand-daughter of Victoria). Something last week made me remember the Faberge Egg… I don’t remember now what that was, but I wanted to [...]

I finished my third biographical book about Susanna Wesley, mother of Reverend John Wesley, founder of the Methodist movement, and Charles Wesley, the brilliant hymn writer. I’m obsessive like that, I guess. When I want to know a topic of history, I cram it all in. I once read four books about Queen Victoria, one [...]

The painting is FIVE HUNDRED years old. People are *still* wrapped up in the Mona Lisa. I was an art major in school. I took art history, art theory, art art art. Overwhelmingly, there was this strange fascination with Leonardo da Vinci’s Mona Lisa. The adoring attention always baffled me. It’s a very nice painting [...]

Remember that song from Mary Poppins? The penguins sang it: Ohhhh, it’s a jolly ‘oliday with Mary! Mary makes the sunshine bright! I sing it sometimes in a very hoary Cockney accent, to irk my kids. Not that I do it very often, mind you. Did you know that London is hosting the 2012 Olympics?? [...]

I had to write an article about dishwashers recently, and did a little digging into the invention. A woman named Josephine Cochran invented it, in 1886! Our dishwasher is our favorite kitchen appliance. I have never owned one before I made room for it in our kitchen renovation in 2010. We LOVE our dishwasher! Before [...]

I’m reading a book, The Best of the Old Farmer’s Almanac: The First 200 Years, and what a hoot! It’s got a lot of history, but it’s also got a lot of really funny articles. While reading another gut-busting story, I would exclaim to my family, “Oh WAIT WAIT, here’s another one!” And when I [...]