Special Occasions - Is it just me, or do "special occasions" happen every week? Parent's, Valentine's Day, National Pet Week. Here's one: Boss's Day Isn't that Monday through Friday? And the birthdays just keep comin'. My nephew starts the countdown two months in adv ...

Kitesurfing - Guys will do anything for a rush: jump out of airplanes, skate on handrails, ride animals that clearly prefer to be left alone. Boys will spin in circles until they black out and collapse (nature's way of preparing them for keg parties). Some turn ...

Boxing - Last time I scrapped was the fourth grade, when Benji Leva spat on my sister at the bus stop. I pulled the bully's raincoat over his head, kicked him in the backpack, and bolted to school as fast as I could. Would you believe I had no formal train ...

Dating - If there's one really good argument for staying married, it is this: dating. On my own priority scale, dating falls somewhere between doing taxes and chewing glass. You've got to get dressed up and bring your résumé< ...

Artsy Mom - My mom has always been creative. A long time ago -- back when "Saturday Night Live" was funny -- she'd decorate cakes to look like soccer fields, pyramids, women endowed with Hostess Sno-Balls. You lost your innocence early in my home. Mom work ...

Ad Hell - Had a bad dream. It started with a call from Peter the Re-fi Guy: "Did you know that we can refinance your home or car or many sparkly objects?" At which point a dump truck delivered through my window an avalanche of mail: bribes to switch phon ...

Baseball Buddy - My dear friend Yahaira is learning baseball. She didn't take to football or hockey, but for some reason she's into the MLB. It may have something to do with the skin-tight pants. She doesn't read the sports page, but she does look at the pictu ...