As a new mom, I’ve accepted the fact that my lunch will probably consist of whatever I can grab from the fridge and eat with one hand, and I now consider the day a success when I squeeze in a shower. It’s easy to forget to take care of ourselves while caring for our little ones. And our backs are often the first victims of this self-neglect. Days spent lifting and carrying that ever-growing bundle of joy can lead to spasms and aches and shooting pains.
Read MoreThere was a time when no one who could afford to do otherwise dreamed of carrying his own luggage. That was what porters were for. As you might have noticed, if you’re a fan of PBS’ Downton Abbey, even a couple of weeks in the country (attire for formal balls; mandatory tails for dinner) required such items as a campaign bag, a carpet bag, a dressing case, a hat box, and a steamer trunk. The last item was impossible for a single person to carry – even empty.
Read MorePeople with back pain frequently tell me that their number one problem is that they don’t have time to work out. They say this with pride, and then describe the back surgery they are contemplating; a surgery that is likely to bench them for weeks or months.
Read MoreA book full of investigative reporting is a living thing, one that lies fallow for a long time before it buds, and finally – if you’re lucky – blossoms and bears fruit. This can take a while.
Read MoreRecently, it occurred to me that writing a book is a lot like landscaping. You start with an empty lot, brimming with potential, but still lumpy and muddy, with iffy soil. (With a book, this is idea stage, where you tell yourself that your options are unlimited, and that you, being you, can do anything.)
Read More"How do you get from here to there, what do you do?" Strangely, that little snatch of song was stuck in both our heads and neither of us could come up with the next line.
Read MoreToday, May 1st, is the day by which prospective college freshman must “commit,” – that is, they must click on the box that initiates the enrollment process. Writing that deposit check is hard enough for parents, but for many ambitious students, the uncertainty continues.
Read More