Recently I realized that I don't watch enough programming to justify having subscriptions to both HuluPlus and Netflix. For as little time and attention span as I have for watching entertainment on a screen, it made no sense for me to pay for both, even though they...
(This message is aimed mostly at Americans and people traveling in the U.S. during December.) To anyone who goes out to a restaurant, bar, hotel or any other place where hospitality employees are working so YOU can enjoy Christmas, TIP GENEROUSLY. Bartenders and cab...
A tamal on top of other tamales. At Christmas time, we Mexicans often become more focused than usual on tamales, so I'd like to share a public service announcement from Pocho.com. This is what I've been saying for years: the singular of "tamales" isn't "tamale." It's...
We're all aware that it's risky to bring up the following topics: politics and religion. We also tend to avoid, by silent agreement, topics like money and how much weight someone has gained. How about we add another red flagged subject to our don't-even-bring-it-up...
Okay, the tree isn't pink, but every single ornament is. Pink is my favorite color and now that I live on my own again, I can do anything I want with my apartment. This photo shows enough of the room so that you can see that this tree isn't big. I wanted a tree that I...
Many people who celebrate Christmas see it as a time of great expense, thankless effort and having to get along with people they can't stand. It's a time of ill-fated expectations, endless holiday tasks and extra responsibilities. People who experience the holiday...
This is a revision of a piece I first posted in December 2011. Family gatherings are fun, pleasant and filled with love and respect, especially during the holidays. I offer the following suggestions merely as a public service for that small, practically non-existent,...
Do you love horror movies? Are you looking for a good cinematic scare while also getting into the mainstream American spirit of this season? I've been absolutely binge-ing on horror movies over the Thanksgiving weekend, so here's some guidance. Many horror...
This is why divorce won't lead me back to my spinster name: "REGINA MARIA RODRíGUEZ:" This graphic is from Slate's article Why Aren't There More John Smiths in the U.S? Do you see that name that's sixth from the top, "Maria Rodriguez?" Two thirds of my given name is...
Happy Day of the Dead! It's November and I love November because it's the last month before my absolute favorite month: December. Over the next week Halloween candy will flood into workplaces all over the United States. This is the cycle: grown ups buy candy, give it...
I love black frosting. I haven't posted a cake in a while. This cake is from my favorite bakery Central Continental Bakery in Mt. Prospect, Illinois, USA. They don't have the most sophisticated website, but they have the best buttercream frosting (vanilla and...
Has anyone noticed this phrase that’s become popular? The phrase “Yeah, no” is interesting to me because it seems to have replaced “no” in a lot of sentences. Instead of, “No, I’m not going to be able to make it,” we say, “Yeah. No, I’m not going to be able to make...
Originally posted years ago. The Michael J Fox Show didn't make it. In the pilot of The Michael J. Fox Show, Mike's son Ian is presented as a college dropout, although Ian clarifies that he has simply prioritized making his first million before age 22. Ian lives...
I like what friend and fellow blogger Gunner* has to say about Breaking Bad: ...for a beloved TV show to end on a high note is rare. It's like Breaking Bad broke up with us, and we're used to being the ones that lose interest in a story and watching the next good...
And again, after last night's Breaking Bad episode, "Granite State": Yay, Flynn!