The “spider on the couch” trick dates back to medieval times when, for some reason, the month of October was particularly boring and members of royal households everywhere were looking to scare up some fun. They would suddenly shriek, “There’s a spider on ye couch!” and all the servants would come running, armed with brooms… Continue reading “Spider on the Couch” Trick for a Halloween Treat

Candy corn may be considered Halloween’s cruelest trick, hiding at the bottom of a treat-filled bag, but throwing a handful of that candy corn into 10 ounces of vodka makes everything worse. I had to hold onto my mad scientist’s hat and my stomach after attempting to enjoy candy corn, the way many people enjoy… Continue reading Beware of the Candy Corn Cocktail

The dark, salty waves of Picnic Point Beach in Mukilteo, Washington form the perfect backdrop for tales of shipwrecks and souls lost at sea. I’d like to know about those stories. I’m pretty sure I could spend a lot of money in local gift shops on historically accurate accounts and haunted tours, but I’d rather… Continue reading DIY Ghost Stories Part 2: Picnic Point Beach, Mukilteo, WA

“Student Driver. Please be Patient,” written on a bumper sticker, does little to deter Starbucks fueled Seattleites from tailing the car and passing on narrow roadways at speeds 20 miles above the limit. “Lane, position, Alex! Lane position! Now, pick up speed, go! Go!” Nate yells to Alex, who is actually going the speed limit—as… Continue reading Autumn Leaf Festival in Leavenworth–With a Student Driver at the Wheel

Crafting projects needn’t result in the shrill, shrieking sound of sirens or smoke alarms, but just in case, I’ve decided to issue a “craft alert” in my house, whenever I take up a new project. I think it’s only fair to prepare Nate, Alex, and the cat in case they need to seek shelter, buy… Continue reading Fall Craft Alert: DIY Marbled Paper

Since raiding the blackberry bushes at the local high school last weekend could have led to the distribution of campus-wide “wanted” posters, Nate and I decided to keep a low profile at the curriculum night event on Thursday. Keeping a low profile in fact is the best advice when attending these sorts of things, in… Continue reading Keeping a “Low Profile” at the Parent Curriculum Night

Ambushing the shrubbery at the local high school takes guts—and a willingness to drive onto school property in broad daylight and operate under a “pick-the-blackberries-now-ask-questions-later” policy. On a Saturday at 3 p.m., Nate, Alex, and I decided that we had what it took to carry out an attack: an appetite for blackberry shortcakes and two… Continue reading Planning a Blackberry Bush Attack

Flournado: The “Pie of the Storm,” reared its ugly head in my kitchen last night in a massive flurry of white powder and shortening, but I gained the upper hand and made an apple pie, so all is well—until the sequel, which I hope won’t happen any time soon. I must confess: I don’t like… Continue reading Flournado: “The Pie of the Storm”

Jelly fish appear to have invaded my pantry because, if I look closely, I can see tentacles poking out from the shelves—and clear bellies filled with “hot n spicy peanuts mix”—held together by a twist tie that seems to be gagging the whole thing in a most unsightly manner. And it’s not like I go… Continue reading Pack that Snack

When the sun sets over the Everett, Washington marina and the band strikes up a tropical beat, cocktail emboldened audience members hit the dance floor with salsa moves that range from “traditional” to a hip swaying version of the “chicken dance,” which I didn’t think was possible until I saw it. And, when the crowd… Continue reading How to Know When It’s Time to Take Salsa Dancing Lessons