By Nancy Black I followed the directions exactly as written. I shook the can vigorously. I cleared all our pets from the yard. And then I moved my outstretched arm in a big, sweeping motion from left to right, as instructed. Less than two minutes later, they were dead. No, not the mosquitoes I was […]
By Nancy Black Am I the only one left in Dallas who remembers the monumental failure of moped rentals in the mid-70s? It sure seems that way. Not only have our community leaders destroyed our beloved city’s streets by allowing undocked bike-sharing loose on our neighborhoods, they have now unleashed rental scooters onto our already […]
By Nancy Black I kill succulents. Yes, the plants dubbed as “perfect for the North Texas climate” don’t last a week in my house or yard. I’ve tried everything: letting them dry out completely, letting them soak up water from the bottom, watering from the top, direct sunlight, indirect sunlight, inside, outside. It’s no use. […]
By Nancy Black Colorectal cancer. Mass murder at community newspaper. Plano’s very unpatriotic poop in our lake. Those were my notes to myself about possible subjects for this week’s editorial. Colorectal cancer because a childhood friend of mine just died, at the age of 53, from the disease. She wasn’t just any elementary school friend, […]
By Nancy Black “Where is all this glitter coming from?!?!” I cried out those words to my household members this week as I walked our hallways spying little bits of sparkles randomly appearing at my feet. My dog and cats didn’t answer, but my teenager swears they had nothing to do with it. Must have […]
By Nancy Black I have the distinct pleasure of being the parent of a media-crazed 14-year-old. Part of that joy is traveling with a teenager to Pop Con conventions. One, called PAX West, is in Seattle each year. PAX South is in San Antonio. And IndyPopCon? Well, it’s in Indy. While my child is wandering […]
By Nancy Black Yes, I finally did it; I broke down and spent the big bucks for a pool. It darn near broke my piggy bank, too. But, I’m telling you all, that was the best $8.99 I have ever spent. Some might refer to our new backyard pleasure circle as a “kiddie pool.” It’s […]
By Nancy Black Ernestine is one of the most iconic characters from television in the late 1960s and early 1970s. Played by the brilliant Lily Tomlin, she was featured on “Rowan & Martin’s Laugh-In,” one of the funniest, edgiest shows of its time. “Ernestine was a nosy, condescending telephone operator who generally treated customers with […]
By Nancy Black The best part of online high school? Students come home alive. I was going to write this week about how wonderful online high school has been for my teenager and me. All the classes are on the computer. My student talks with teachers and other students, does daily assignments and has huge […]
By Nancy Black “Do not use [name of pharmaceutical product*] if you are allergic to [name of pharmaceutical product],” the soothing female voice-over actress from a commercial said. “How am I supposed to know if I’m allergic to something if I’ve never tried it?” I responded out loud as I watched late night TV while […]