December 1, 2004

Serenity for a Low, Low Price

by Crystal Wood

I don't know about you, but serenity is stressing me out.  Read more.

The Other Kindest Cut (Or, Ian Visits the Urologist)

by Ian Healy

In the summer of 2004, my wife was placed on medication that required her to stop taking birth control pills. After going through three Caesareans, I thought that there'd been enough people digging around in her abdomen, so when the sergeant asked for volunteers for the most dangerous of missions, I stepped forward and saluted. I told my wife I would go get a vasectomy. Being the father of three beautiful children had strengthened my convictions that I most definitely didn't want to father a fourth, but the months dragged by, and I kept conveniently "forgetting" to schedule the appointment. Read more.

My Annual Guide to Reclaiming the Holidays

by Chris K. Hanlon

I love the holiday season. I love the decorations, the music, the food, and especially the traditions. All of these connect us to others and remind us of our heritage. What I detest is the notion that you have to spend, spend, spend--because that just tears us apart.  Read more.

Creating Personal Space

by Cheryl Wright

Women increasingly long for a cozy retreat from the rigors of a tough world and are seeking innovative ways to be good to themselves. They need some space, even if only the corner of a room, to get away by themselves sometimes to read, think or dream. They would love to have a little area where they can kick off their shoes, take a load off and relax. Read more.

Chasing Serenity

by Carrie Pålsson

Maybe it's simply because Seinfeld re-runs come on more often than the local news, but when I hear the word serenity I can picture George Costanza's father lifting his hands toward the sky and shouting out "Serenity now!" Or maybe it's because I can relate to the feeling.  Read more.

What's Love Got to Do with It?

by R. Kim Gongre

I guess most everyone around my age has probably heard the pop standard recorded by Tina Turner way back in the 80s. Both the decade and the song seemed to reflect a generation experiencing the unconscious early stages of a deep dissatisfaction. Some might think that the singer is dissatisfied with love itself, but I think it goes far deeper than that. Read more.

Music for the Trip to Serenity

by Arlene Guillen

It's tempting to pair Serenity with the holiday season. It sounds like something you'd read in a Christmas card. But in reality, Serenity and the days leading up to Christmas couldn't be further apart. You're searching for the right gifts, attending holiday parties, drinking and eating too much. And all of this can be quite stressful. So stressful in fact, that you'd be too preoccupied to know if Serenity showed up at your door before December 24th. I think that Serenity shows up on Christmas Eve, because it's just too late to do one more thing, so you give up and relax. The holiday season is really the trip to Serenity. And every trip needs traveling music, so I have a selection of holiday CD's for you to take on the ride.  Read more.