| Tragic reminder of the power of nature
Down by the river near where I live, someone has placed a solitary bunch of flowers on the towpath. It is a mournful, lonely reminder that right here, last weekend, a 15-year-old boy drowned. It seems from what can be pieced together about the poor lad's last moments that he was cycling along the path, hit one of the many potholes opened up by the winter flood, his bike buckled under him and he was flung into the freezing water. He disappeared immediately, consumed by the torrent. A week on, his body has not been recovered. At his school, the tragedy hit especially hard: the day after the boy disappeared, an inquest opened into the death of another pupil who had drowned only six months previously. .
Got That Twinkle in Your Eye?
Anyone even thinking about having kids may wonder whether they've turned into some kind of bipolar monster, cooing over passing infants in strollers one minute, then freaking out over the outrageous cost of college the next. Believe it or not, this behavior's pretty normal. Contemplating parenthood means taking on a pile of new responsibilities that can throw you into a tailspin, forcing you to think about wills and life insurance and pacifiers all at once. To make this life-changing transition a little smoother, you might consider doing some early financial planning for the topsy-turvy time from pregnancy through early infanthood. Start while the little tyke is just a twinkle in your eye, because, take it from me, you can't predict how fast "trying" will turn into "expecting." Wait until the bun's in the proverbial oven, and you may be too saddled by morning sickness to do much more than watch terrible television and eat soda crackers.
The Magnificent Anderson
Best known as the level-headed Scully from the cult-hit television show, The X-Files, Gillian Anderson is back in England with kids and a new movie. A natural blonde (shocking to fans of the redheaded agent), Anderson proves that there's more to her than aliens.
by ANNABEL RIVKIN Since Gillian Anderson moved to London, she's got married and divorced, secured a BAFTA nomination and had a new baby with a new man. As her political thriller, The Last King of Scotland, garners praise, she talks to Annabel Rivkin about her unconventional life.
Gillian Anderson speaks slowly. Her three-month-old son Oscar was awake until 4.30 this morning, 'and that's not normal,' she says, calm but bleary.
'The thing is, I moved house at the same time as he was born so I started from a place of tiredness.' She was meant to move with her boyfriend, businessman Mark Griffiths, and her 12-year-old daughter Piper, a good month before Oscar was born but he decided to come early.
Buy stuff cheap for grandkids
A friend who is about to become a first-time grandmother said recently, "You know, Mary, I think I'm going to have to buy a lot of stuff to have at my house when the baby comes." How right she is. When a baby comes for a visit or for child care, it's a lot easier to already have some of that "stuff:" crib, stroller, high chair, etc. These items aren't cheap. But, for new grandparents and parents, help is just two days away. This Saturday from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m., a consignment sale of children's furniture, toys, clothing and gear will be held in the fellowship hall at First Presbyterian Church at 1621 E. Garrison Blvd. in Gastonia. From noon-2 p.m., prices will be cut 50 percent. Items included are cribs, pack and plays, bassinets, strollers, high chairs, swings, toys, play yards and nursery bedding.
I didn't write any of this, except for the first paragraph
Lonely? Looking for a good time? Or maybe for a chance to earn your M.R.S. without having to go through the trouble of actually dating? Why don't you do what I did and try to find your lifetime mate on craigslist? Here are a few examples of the classy options that are available: "Dear lady, You had on pants and a blouse. I was sporting slacks and a shirt. We were walking in opposite directions, and I could tell you were interested by the way you avoided eye contact. I would have said something then, but I didn't want to embarrass the man holding your hand and helping you push the stroller. Obviously we are meant for each other. Please e-mail me with a pic when you read this. Also, I need to borrow some money. Yours forever, MOTDM (Man on the Downtown Mall)" -- Charlottesville, Sunday, Dec.
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