It’s almost mid September, and for every self-respecting, semi-literate Germanophilic Baltimoron — like myself — that can only mean one thing: It’s time to celebrate not one but two holidays: Der Tag and Oktoberfest. The latter, of course, is a wildly popular, mammoth festival held in Germany to promote Bavarian culture and its greatest contributions… Continue reading How to Host Your Own ‘Mencktoberfest’
Category: Bookish Babble
Tell Me Again, Hayden…
Each week, I attempt to introduce you to something new — a song I’ve heard or a band I’ve fallen for, a beer and food pairing that I’ve enjoyed, or a poet or writer that I know about but you may not. In the latter category, it seems, I have been focused mainly on the deceased,… Continue reading Tell Me Again, Hayden…
Let Others Say It for You, Say It Best
Flummoxed. Faltering. Discombobulated. Inarticulate. Dumbfounded. Dumbstruck. Nonplussed. Tongue-tied. Tight-lipped. Laconic. Hushed. Speechless. In other words, dear reader, Scribbleskiff is at a loss for words this week. I’ve been so busy again, getting caught up in the rigmarole of regular life, managing (and being managed by) the important things, that I’ve been unable to get carried… Continue reading Let Others Say It for You, Say It Best
Of Poems and Promises, Meatloaf, Memories, and the Pleasures of Failure
No one likes to fail. And yet everyone does, every once in awhile. Falling flat on your face is part of being human, though rarely is it anything but terribly embarrassing and painful. I have enough self-respect (well, enough left these days) to know that not trying — a nonattempt, so to speak — is… Continue reading Of Poems and Promises, Meatloaf, Memories, and the Pleasures of Failure
Poetry Picks to Suit Your Better Nature
In December, a young man’s fancy doesn’t normally turn to thoughts of nature, or to the arousing (and consolatory) effects of it. Not in the usual, “greeny flower” ways, that’s for sure. That’s a spring thing. No, common thoughts of nature this time of year usually involve strategies to avoid it. Sure, snowstorms in a… Continue reading Poetry Picks to Suit Your Better Nature
Edgar Allan Poe Died Here. Let’s Party!
Sometime last year I wrote about one of my favorite annual autumnal activities, escaping to the imaginary village of Sleepy Hollow and visiting for awhile with its spooky, kooky inhabitants. It’s a ritual I look forward to each year, as summer begins winding down and the natural world puts on one last great display of… Continue reading Edgar Allan Poe Died Here. Let’s Party!
What to Read on the Night Before the Night Before Christmas
This is the Christmas Eve tradition in our house, as I’m sure it is in many others across the country: before heading off to bed, the children write a note to Santa, set it next to a plate of cookies and carrots, and then settle in by the fire to hear someone read “A Visit… Continue reading What to Read on the Night Before the Night Before Christmas
New YA Author Takes His Dragon and Heads Back to the Future
[Ed. Note: This month, we introduce a new-to-us concept, the “guest blogger.” Our very first is Anna M., who, though a novitiate among e-scribblers, is no novice when it comes to an appreciation for belles lettres. Only a rising college sophomore, Anna has already read more books than all of the staff at Scribbleskiff combined.… Continue reading New YA Author Takes His Dragon and Heads Back to the Future
Fathers and Daughters, by the Book
Recently, I overheard my girls singing the words to “Daughters” by John Mayer. This pleased me, but perhaps not for the reason you’d think. Although I like it when my kids sing, I generally don’t like them singing songs like that written by a guy like this. Nonetheless, I am a big fan of any art… Continue reading Fathers and Daughters, by the Book
No Tricking: Here's an Altogether Ooky Grab-bag of Treats for Your Halloween
I know it sounds kinda scary to say, but Halloween is my favorite American holiday. Or at least it tops the list of Holidays-With-No-Purpose — that is, celebrations that we all celebrate for no reason other than celebrating something. I mean, does anybody really care what Halloween’s all about? I realize there are lots of… Continue reading No Tricking: Here's an Altogether Ooky Grab-bag of Treats for Your Halloween