For the last two weeks I have experienced the joys of a major home renovation. My first poor decision was to refinish the hardwood floors and remodel the master bathroom at the same time. Did you spot the error in my strategy? Needless to say, refinishing the floors before starting the bathroom renovation would have made a…
I recently attended The Steampunk World’s Fair in Piscataway, New Jersey. The Fair is the world’s largest steampunk event. It’s a very friendly convention. Everyone who attends loves some aspect of the Victorian aesthetic and is genuinely thrilled to meet others of the same mindset. The Fair is a celebration of creativity. There are fantastic…
I spent the last few days at the PAX East gaming convention in Boston. PAX East is a celebration of all types of gaming; tabletop, card, arcade, computer, handheld, mobile and console. The attendees range from industry veterans to tweens just starting to appreciate the world of PS4. Young or young-at-heart, we are all united…
The Hershey Company recently banned the import of British chocolate into the United States. This draconian move has outraged a large contingency of chocoholics across the globe. The prohibition feels like a personal attack upon those who love their Cadbury’s Flakes and Yorkie bars. The reason for this emotional response is simple – our comfort…
This week’s East Coast blizzard dumped up to three feet of snow across New England. In my part of Connecticut we got off relatively lightly with only a foot of snow falling overnight. As anyone without a snow blower will tell you, that is still quite a large amount of snow to shovel from a…
This week I took my four-month-old Yorkshire Terrier Boudicca (aka Boo) for her first puppy swimming lesson. It may surprise you to know that not all dogs swim the first time they encounter water. Even a Labrador puppy may panic the first time they fall into a pool or pond, with disastrous results. Therefore, I decided…
Each January, members of the Screen Actors Guild have the opportunity of voting for their fellow performers to receive a SAG Award. One of the industry’s most prized honors, the voting system allows guild members to cast a ballot for the best acting and stunt performances in the preceding year’s films. It’s both a privilege…
Every year I make New Year’s resolutions. I’ve even managed to keep my resolutions going throughout the year providing I define a maximum of three goals. The only rule is that the goals must be quantifiable, so that I can assess my progress as I go. If I choose more than three, I inevitably lose…