SOFA: Country Mouse & Small City Mouse in the Big City

I got in my car and drove to from New England to Chicago, Illinois.  The first weekend in November is SOFA. The comic con of fine craft. What? You don't know what any of that is? Let me school you, after the jump!

Farm Stand Culture

 

 It's a beautiful thing.  Get picking through some ripe stuff, after the jump.

Positivity and Dickishness

I'm naturally a dark, pessimistic, punishing person.  Unlike most people in that camp, I've had to work hard to change it and usually maintain a fairly sunny disposition.  But, here's the thing, sometimes, I'm still kind of dick.

Giving Yourself Credit

The problem with giving one's self credit is that the people who shouldn't give themselves credit are often the first to do so and the rest of the folks who should recognize their own distinction are often the last to want to do so.  Because of this, those of us who are self aware are usually terrible at appreciation ourselves and crippled by the thought of being the jerk who wrongly self-aggrandizes.

Say It Again, Sam

Sometimes parents just say the same things over and over and over and over and over and over and wonder why kids just don't listen, never learn, or wait until the yelling starts.  It's a whole pattern and it's not all their fault.  Break the cycle, after the jump.

All Five Seasons, All Five Senses

 That's right, five seasons. An explanatory exploration, after the jump!

Spring's Surprising Springing

 

In buying our new haus, we have no idea what the previous owner had planted.  Spring has been fun!  An informal tour, after the jump.

Monster High Doesn't Have a TV Show, Isn't That Weird?

Or, so says one of my kids.  Turns out, she was right.  A huge trend right now is taking advantage of all the media available to kids, natural business opportunity.  Kudos to my kiddo who noticed one successful franchise which hasn't needed a television presence.  Some musings, after the jump.

Moose Are a Reality

My college roommate and perennial friend from Arkansas, Abby, believes that moose do not exist.  The proof, after the jump.

Children Can be Brilliant

Truly, sometimes they are really quite clever.  Some insight, after the jump.