Sometimes I think I'd be better off hoofing it.  Instead, because I live in the suburbs and work in other suburbs and mine is a major metropolitan area WITHOUT any reliable mass transit, I have a car.  I already hate driving, but driving in winter?  Oh, honey, no.  Here's what gets me:

Washing the car.  In that it's a dance that exhausts me.  It obviously needs it, since my normally dark blue car is now a nice salty white, marking my clothes anytime I lean into the trunk to get groceries or brush up against the door trying to get in.  But I can't wash it when it's going to snow, because then it'll just get covered in snow and instantly dirty.  I can't wash it when it's too cold, because the locks and doors may freeze.  I can't wash it ever, it seems like, because winter days are always one of those things.

The expectation that since you can drive, it's o.k. to drive in major snow.  You know what?  It's not.  Not even a little bit.  Laugh all you will at those southern cities who shut down at 2 inches of snow, but I think they have they right idea.  We'd all be better off staying home when it snows even a little instead of trying to deal with idiot drivers who think that since they have an SUV, they are quite capable of driving the actual 45mph speed limit in 5 inches of snow.  You're not.   I mean, sure you can drive in 5 inches of snow.  You just can't stop in 5 inches of snow. Which you'll find out when you try and brake.  Good luck with that.

Pumping gas.  This just sucks ass no matter the weather, but in winter?  Oh, lord.  There's the decision of whether to do it now, or wait in the hopes that the temps will bust out of the single digits.  There's the further decision of whether to wear your gloves while you do it and risk getting gasoline all over them or take them off and have gas get on your hands.  And please don't get me started on the aggravation of the stupid receipt machine running out of paper and you having to troop through dirty slush to the station to get your receipt.  Or just leaving without it and telling the husband that you lost it.

Do you drive in winter?  What sucks about it?

by Suniverse

Every morning, without fail, I eat oatmeal for breakfast.  Oatmeal, no sugar, a little cinnamon, some raisins and a splash of milk.  That's it.  Every day.  I feel healthier, sure, but I start daydreaming sometimes about what I would eat if I was out of the oatmeal ghetto.  Here are some of my favorite cold-weather breakfast foods.


Belgian Waffle.  Oh, my.  My, oh, my.  I love those fluffy, crispy, whipped cream topped, syrup laden little nooks and crannies.  I like to make sure each little square has its own shallow pool of syrup before I eat, but I'm careful to only pour a little syrup at a time, because I don't want it to get too soggy. Not a fan of the fruit topping, though.  That seems overkill.

Pancakes.  I like them cooked in butter on a sizzling grill.  I like the thinner, larger ones, not the little silver dollar ones. These need to be plain, with the syrup on the side, so I can dunk each bite.  I almost have to say that for pancakes, I like the fake maple syrup better than the pure maple syrup.  I think because it's thicker and heavier and gooier.  No whipped cream on these.  Fruit . . . nah.

French Toast.  Again, must be crisp. I don't like them dipped too long in the egg mixture - just a quick drag through and into the buttery frying pan.  I like these with a bit of powdered sugar and real maple syrup on the side.  And if they're made from a baguette?  All the better.

O.k., friends, what's your favorite breakfast food?

by Suniverse

Sadako is a twenty-something New York City denizen. She enjoys children and YA lit, making fun of bad movies, and blogging at Dibbly Fresh.

Movie quotes are everywhere. And these days, if they're popular, they don't just become part of a yearbook page: they become memes. Here are some great quotes that have already become memes and some that need to.

"Veggiesaurus, Lex! Veggiesaurus!" Jurassic Park

Jurassic Park has created its share of memes--"Clever girl" and Newman squealing at shaving cream come to mind. But the above meme has to happen. The meatless diet reigns supreme among hipsters. And admit it: the 5 year old inside of you still loves any dinosaur mention.

"Four for you, Glen Coco. You go, Glen Coco." Mean Girls

So many people get their inspiration from baby names. Think of the little girls named Madison from Splash and the fact that many kids may be named Max from Where the Wild Things Are. To counteract these rather dull names, I personally hope that Glen Coco gets some recognition.

"I'm six five, I weigh 220 pounds, and there are two of me." The Social Network

This one works on so many levels. It has to become the new You're the man now, dog! (And not just because I love using the term "Winklevi so much. Well, OK, partly.)

"Does versatile mean full of eggs?" Charlotte's Web

Oh, Wilbur, I know what it's like to be small, pink, clingy, and behind on my SAT vocab prep. I personally advise using this quote when you want to pretend that, dude, you totally knew that nonplussed meant confused, but you were just pretending you didn't. It's not as well known as some of the others, but for those of us confused by big words, it needs to happen.

"Can you just hold on for a second, I'm on my hamburger phone." Juno

Yes, Juno could get tiresome. And yeah, I think the hamburger phone gag is too twee for words. But something needs to replace the quacking duck phone that Snooki and JWoww are so partial to.

What other movie quotes need to make the transition into memes?

My college experience was a little different than most. For starters, I went to a very, very conservative Baptist college where kids got kicked out for drinking and fornicating (not necessarily in the same offense). I also was married by the time I started my Senior year. BUT, I still learned a few life lessons. You know, because that's what you're supposed to do in college.

1. Think about it--No really, think about it. Think about everything you've ever been taught, throw it out the window, start from the beginning and re-think it through. Stop taking everything for granted. Question everything. Yes, it'll get you into trouble, and yes, it may mean that you break ties with people and ideas, but it's awesome.

2.  Trying new things should be a way of life--So maybe I didn't get much of a chance to try a naked keg-stand for the first time, but improv? Strolling around NYC without an agenda? Tasting weird local delicacies? Yes, yes, and yes.

3.  Sometimes the most relaxing thing in the world is a blanket, warm sun, the quad, and the (sights and) sounds of boys on guitars--No explanation needed.

4. The coolest teachers will force you to grow beyond the subject matter--Whether it's your college professor, your boss, or a mentor, the best teachers will ask you to read the book, then challenge you to reach beyond the words and think, "How will I be different knowing what I know now?"

5.  That back boiler room window? Perfect for late night returns/escapes--Er, I meant to say...always have a backup plan.

What did you learn in college that didn't come from a textbook?

Posted by The Naked Redhead

I come from an immigrant family and am used to listening to people with sometimes unintelligibly heavy accents.  I also grew up in a city with a very diverse population and have lived in different parts of this country and have traveled abroad, so I am absolutely the person who gets to decide which accent is the best and which is the most annoying.

Scottish brogue.  Good lord, my knees are weak and my panties are already around my ankles.  There is little someone with a Scottish brogue can't get from me.  The timbre, the lilt . . . yum.


British educated Indian.  I LOVE this accent because it sounds very snooty but also has a great slant to it that keeps it from being so very, very white.  And colonial.

New Jersey.  Yeesh.  My ears. Just write it down or text me, o.k.?

Teenagers.  Yes, they have an accent.  It's the same no matter where they are from - annoying.

What accent makes your knees weak?  Which one has you stuffing your ears with cotton?

by Suniverse