[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
Who Cares What the Calendar Says, It’s Time to Think (and Drink) Spring
A few weeks ago, a well-known and storied prognosticator delivered yet another of his dire predictions about the condition of the world as we know it. We will be locked in a state of stagnation, he said, a period characterized by frozen assets, low averages, and very little growth. Moreover, he gauged, this predicament would… Continue reading Who Cares What the Calendar Says, It’s Time to Think (and Drink) Spring
On Valentine’s Day, Say Cheese (and Beer)!
Not too long ago, I had to face a harsh reality: lactose no longer tolerates me. And not the other way round, either. I’ve got nothing against the disaccharide sugar component of a glass of milk. We were BFFLs, in fact. Milk helped sweeten a lot of unpleasant and otherwise bland foodstuffs, like oatmeal. And… Continue reading On Valentine’s Day, Say Cheese (and Beer)!
When It Comes to Easter Beers, Don’t You Want Some Bunny to Love?
Pondering which beers to serve with the upcoming Easter meal got me thinking about the celebration itself. And you know, I gotta say, as holidays go, Easter is a bit silly. At least on the surface, in the way we Americans do it. (Of course, to a devout agnostic, all Americanized, religiously affiliated holidays seem… Continue reading When It Comes to Easter Beers, Don’t You Want Some Bunny to Love?
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
Are You Heart of Hearing?
It’s the middle of February, and you know what that means: Valentine’s Day, one of the year’s most controversial holidays, is upon us. Similarly celebrated and hated, fussed over or made fun of, this all-sorts saint’s day is nonetheless an inexorability of our buy-or-die culture. Everywhere, from the corner grocery store to the gas station… Continue reading Are You Heart of Hearing?
Commonplace and Essential: More Poems for People Who Don’t Like Poetry
This is the next installment in our “Janus Series,” in which we are glancing back at a few of our favorite things from 2011 in order to get you excited about what may lie ahead. As always, there’s no rhyme or reason to the order of things; it’s just a jumble of ideas and items,… Continue reading Commonplace and Essential: More Poems for People Who Don’t Like Poetry
Glancing Backward to Look Forward
Because the month of January (named for the two-headed ancient god, Janus) teeters on the fence between the old year and the new, it offers a distinct vantage point for glancing backward at what has been, as a way to predict what may be lurking up ahead. In other words, it’s a time for deciding whether… Continue reading Glancing Backward to Look Forward
A Triple Trifecta of Trivial Treats
Scribbleskiff is sitting in dry-dock for a spell. We’re taking some time away from the business of busyness to rest and clear out the scuppers, so to speak, to restock our supplies, chart new courses, and ready ourselves for the next adventure. For instance, we’re keeping our weather eye trained on the approaching, unusually large waves… Continue reading A Triple Trifecta of Trivial Treats