It’s Showcase time again here in Pasadena! Yes, the time of year when the natives get out their flat-soled shoes and put away their real estate envy for a few hours to wander through an uber-decorated dream house, all for a good cause. This year’s makeover is a 1927 Spanish Revival in La Cañada, complete [...]
Grab a cup of cocoa, light the fire and settle in for some great TV viewing as the 123rd annual Rose Parade rumbles through the streets of Pasadena. As a proud resident of the City of Roses and a 20-year veteran of parade-going, I envy those of you who get to skip the early wake-up [...]
Here Come the Ducks! Here Come the Badgers! Here Come the Bandies! It’s that time of year again in Pasadena: Rose Bowl time. New Year’s weekend is right around the corner, and my in-box has been filled with a unusually high number of requests for advice, information and parking requests. Yes to advice and information; no [...]
I’m a big fan of Vanessa Van Petten and her website RadicalParenting.com . I’m Vanessa’s fan because she will take on any issue that affects kids in a genuine and fearless manner. And I love this site because it’s written from the teen perspective to help parents understand them. ( How she corrals all those teens [...]
A few weeks ago, my friend Leslie gave me a tour of her alma mater and current place of employment, the crown jewel of Pasadena’s academic life, Caltech. I’ve lived here for nearly 20 years but had never walked around the beautiful campus or soaked in the moonbeams and brain waves. Leslie was a fantastic [...]
Last Sunday, I was invited into a very elite sorority. Millions have aspired to join. Thousands have tried out. Only 93 have actually been selected for such special honor. But for one shining moment Sunday, I was named an Honorary Rose Queen. It was a dream come true. I was an invited guest at a [...]
Several weeks ago, a mother and father bird made a nest in the camellia bush just outside our back door. I’m no birdwatcher, so I have no idea what sort of birds these are, but that male is gorgeous with a black body, yellow bill and red crest. Who knows what drew the birds to [...]
Yes, yes, we all know about Tigers Moms, thanks to Amy Chua and the Wall Street Journal. If you’re like me, you like the idea of having an Animal Mom Persona, but the Tiger Mom is simply not your style. Maybe you couldn’t care less about your child’s string instrument mastery. No worries, the animal kingdom is full of maternal role models that can be exploited for your own personal PR boondoggle. Choose one from the list below and start your own controversial parenting cult.
Here Come the Badgers! Here Come the Horned Frogs! Here Come the Bandies! It’s that time of year again in Pasadena: Rose Bowl time. New Year’s weekend is right around the corner, and my in-box has been filled with a unusually high number of requests for advice, information and parking requests. Yes to advice and [...]
In the era of the Superkid, it can be a lonely road parenting an average child. When you hear other parents talk, it seems like every other child but yours (and mine!) is an academically gifted, award-winning pianist who started a foundation for rescue dogs while averaging 17 points a game as a power forward. [...]
