Search Results for: blog the good the bad and the ugh ly

Bad Habits to Break

We all have habits; some are good and some not so much.  Many of these habits are ones we’ve developed in our marriage, which means that some need to be broken and others need to be developed. Let’s consider some bad habits that can creep up in a marriage.  The first is criticizing.  Isn’t it funny how the things you once found endearing have suddenly become an annoyance?  Or ever notice how after being married for an extended length of time, you only notice the negative qualities in your spouse? Both of these can cause a critical spirit to rise … Continue reading →

The Good, the Bad and the Ugly

It’s always interesting to reflect back on the past year, to review the most significant moments, to pay special attention to those things you might have changed and to marvel at how quickly it all went by.  Some of us might get stuck in the past, while others find it easier to move on. I would have to say that without a doubt, the year 2012 was the most difficult for me as a parent.  Our family went through a troubling situation with our teen daughter that lasted several months.  All it took was one boy to enter the picture … Continue reading →

Divorce: A Bad Word

I will never forget when my children were younger and a neighbor child rang my doorbell to inform me that my son (who was about 7 years old at the time) had said a “bad” word.  “Really?” I responded.  “What did he say?” You could tell this kid was proud of himself, sure that after he told me, my son would be getting into some really big trouble.  Loudly he declared, “He said,” but then he barely whispered, “hell.”  I had to bend over to hear the word. Well as it turned out my son was apparently relaying a message … Continue reading →

Five Free Family Fun Moments

Family fun doesn’t have to be expensive or even cost a thing at all. While taking in a movie and snacks at the theater might cost you $60 or more per family, isn’t it nice to know that there are still some things in life that are free? 1. Family game night. The popularity of family game night might have started as a marketing campaign for Hasbro to get you to buy more games, but the idea is not a bad one. Many of us grew up playing board games and have many fond memories of the hours we spent … Continue reading →

Giving and Taking

As a parent of a teen it can sometimes feel like all you do is give, give, give.  In turn, your teen takes, takes, takes. Out of all the ages and stages of life, the teen years tend to be some of the most selfish.  You thought it was bad when your child was two or three years old and constantly screaming, “Mine!” Its one thing to declare a toy as “Mine!” and quite another when a teenager feels the world belongs to them and it should oblige their every whim.  Parents tend to be at the brunt of this. … Continue reading →

Whew, I Almost Bought That! A Tip to Avoid Impulse Buying

I’ve got to stop checking my Facebook news feed, not because I have been spending too much time being distracted (although that is probably somewhat true), but because I keep seeing all of these special offers, such as the Amazon.com Lightening Deals (“liking” your favorite store pages is one way to see exclusive deals this holiday season). Yesterday I almost grabbed one. I actually added it to my cart. With one click, Amazon would have happily wrapped the thing up in the smiley box and send it straight to my door. It was a popular video game that I knew … Continue reading →

Turkey Prices Are Looking Good This Year

In the middle of constant bad news about food prices, there is one bright spot–relatively cheap prices on whole turkey. How are we enjoying this bounty? Well, grocery stores are determined to keep these prices low for a couple of reasons. They are hoping to lure in customer who might also buy more expensive trimmings and other groceries to round out their meal. The lower turkey prices will bring people in to the store. Many grocery stores were able to lock in their prices on turkeys before the drought caused grain and corn prices to go through the roof. So, … Continue reading →

How Much Work Will You Really Do On Vacation?

One of the benefits of owning and operating your own business is that you can often take your work with you when you go out of town for a vacation. While that is certainly a good thing, it is important to have reasonable expectations about how much work you will be able to get done while you are on the go. For the past few days, I have been traveling with my family. We still have a few more days of vacation left, and I have not been able to do as much work as I thought that I would … Continue reading →

Hurricane Sandy Relief

Well, it’s Election Day and thank goodness – I don’t think I can take any more ads, debates, or Facebook posts. While many people are focused on the election, much of the country’s focus is still on Hurricane Sandy’s destruction on the east coast and providing relief to those in need. While the physical storm is over, the real problems still exist and will for months, if not years to come. Some people are having trouble getting gas, some are still without electricity, many are homeless, and now that section of the country is facing a nor’easter, which could bring … Continue reading →

More Thoughts on the Disney-Lucasfilm Buyout

Now I’ve had some time to think about it, I have more sophisticated thoughts about the Disney-Lucasfilm buyout. The idea that I’m struggling with the most is that Disney wants to keep releasing more films every few years into infinity. One day soon, the original trilogy will be buried under a pile of new films, and I just feel so strange about that. According to George Lucas, the script treatments for episodes 7-9 are totally original; they won’t follow any specific plots from the novelized extended universe. Disney’s most likely going to follow Lucas’ scripts, but if it keeps making … Continue reading →