Maddie's Mom Writes

Category: This and That

  • Common Misconceptions, Part Two

    Napoleon was Vertically Challenged I used to find solace in the fact that someone so short could still have such a profound effect on history. My God! The man practically invented canned food. Well, not literally. But he did set things in motion that eventually led to the canning of all sorts of foods. I,…

  • Inspire, Promote, Encourage, Sing!

    Inspire, Promote, Encourage, Sing!

    There is no doubt that songs can be inspirational. Songs are written about all manner of things and because words put to music are often easier to remember than otherwise, songs have been used through the ages to teach and inform as well as sell and influence and even warn. A national anthem tells the…

  • Things I Just don’t Understand, Part One

    Bath Tissue “If I put bath tissue on the shopping list, will you know which kind to get?” My husband, Bernd, actually said that to me. Me. Just who does he thinks does all the shopping around here? The Shopping Fairy? Why wouldn’t I know what kind to get? But that’s not what I don’t…

  • Common Misconceptions, Part One

    In my ongoing efforts to educate and delight, I thought I might start a new series. Also, series of these sorts are handy to have around when you don’t really have anything truly amazing to write about (this statement presupposes that I sometimes do). In other places and at other times, I’ve written copiously about…

  • Weird Words, Part 7

    Preface No seriously, this is a preface and it’s not about the word “preface.” Although, it is kind of a weird word if you think about it too much. I tend to do that … think about words too much. Many times to the point where they suddenly seem meaningless. I got hung up on…

  • Following Blogs

    I have very little spare time. It always seems to me that should not be the case. I don’t work outside the home, but taking care of a house, yard, a husband, a cat and a dog do take up quite a bit of time. Because my husband still works a full-time job, I essentially…

  • You Can’t Legislate Away Stupidity

    Do you ever wonder what’s next? I do. I have read reports that a significant number of emergency room visits are due to individuals taking over-the-counter medicines that contain acetaminophen and then also taking acetaminophen by itself. The overdoses were the cause of the emergency room visits and led to death in a number of…

  • I Don’t Watch the News

    Some years ago now, we cancelled our cable television subscription. We did not replace it with any other kind of reception. At the time, we had dumb phones, so there was no watching of old TV show (my husband’s current favorite is The Rifleman), or YouTube videos (I like amusing cat and dog videos). Cancelling…

  • Do Not Try to Sit on Your Coke Bottle

    Have you ever wondered what engendered some of the seemingly ridiculous warnings and precautions in instruction manuals? Every time I buy something new and read through the instruction manual, I have to shake my head. Mostly I imagine they are occasioned by the American tendency to sue anyone and everyone else for their own stupidity.…

  • Revenge at What Cost

    My husband works at an eye care facility. He’s been there for about nine years and he’s done the same work for over 20 years. He’s a dispensing optician; the person you see after your exam. He helps people select frames that will work with their prescription, shape of head and face, and also with…