Bag and Baggage

Not The First Time I've Had This Request

Denise Howell — Sat, 13 Jun 2009 04:57:35 +0000

Sprinkled Donuts
Originally uploaded by Incase Designs

Child (after reading a book about healthy eating and emerging with precisely the opposite take-away): Sometime I want to eat more donuts. With sprinkles on them.

Parent: I'll keep that in mind.

Child: Do you know how to make them?

Parent: No, I don't.

Child (exasperated): Unh! Get a cookbook!

And Also With You

Denise Howell — Tue, 09 Jun 2009 17:09:00 +0000

Career Path
Originally uploaded by John and Keturah

Parent (noticing child is weaving erratically while walking to the car): What's going on? If you open your eyes, you'll stop crashing into things.

Child: Nope. I'm using The Force.

New Column: Goodbye Economy, Hello Balance

Denise Howell — Tue, 02 Jun 2009 03:09:53 +0000

My latest column for The American Lawyer posits that belt tightening and work life balance can go hand in hand. It's tempting for law firms and other businesses to view balance as a "perk" to be scaled back when trying to cut costs. But done right it's a way to save money now and emerge competitively from the down economy without big cash outlays.

Thanks for all your feedback on these points as I was putting this together, and please let me know what you think.

[Update] Discussion:

Caryn Tamber, Work-life balance is dead. Long live work-life balance!
Sarah Randag, What if Firms Thought of Flexible Work Schedules as ‘Balanomics’?
Sarah Randag, Can Offering Work Flexibility Help a Firm’s Bottom Line?

Refrigerator Box On Steroids

Denise Howell — Sun, 31 May 2009 17:34:22 +0000

The Llama Cottage control tower/fort and half the airplane squadron are nearly ready for takeoff. The Cottage (here's Erin Montague's review) is on my Dad and stepmom's property in Mendocino, and rents through the Little River Inn.

Not If You Can Help It

Denise Howell — Fri, 29 May 2009 16:07:28 +0000

05092008
Originally uploaded by pa1nt

Parent (reading instructions about testing submarine ballast in a sink or tub): Next, we need to take the sub to your bathroom.

Child: Why — so I can pee on it??

Volt With Your Hat

Denise Howell — Fri, 29 May 2009 15:48:51 +0000

Sophie's Baby Hat
Originally uploaded by firepile

Parent: What kind of batteries do we need for the submarine?

Child (examining picture on box): Two double-A's. And one hat battery.

Star Wars Nails

Denise Howell — Sun, 24 May 2009 16:35:49 +0000

Fashion Nails
Originally uploaded by Official Star Wars Blog

Visiting Parent of Girl Children: I've got some stuff for doing our nails.

Child: That would be deLIGHTful.

Visiting Parent of Girl Children: Great! We can decorate them with hearts, stars...

Child: I'll take Star Wars, please.

A Galaxy Not So Far Away

Denise Howell — Sat, 23 May 2009 16:33:29 +0000

I love these paintings by Xander Laytin (more), found via Don Shump on Geek Dad, in their Star Wars category. I'm also thinking you add a black circle to a big Chinese lantern and you're talking Death Star.

I Think This Makes Me "Goose"

Denise Howell — Wed, 20 May 2009 02:47:48 +0000

Polishing up the dogtags in light of the latest from the stalwart aeronautics team:

CC License For Facebook Users

Denise Howell — Tue, 19 May 2009 17:19:24 +0000

Good news. My quibble: "Except where otherwise noted" seems a little vague to cover the fact users already grant a potentially broader license (i.e., if the CC license prohibits commercial use) to Facebook when they sign up.