by: Lauren Jonik The 2018 mid-term election season in the United States generated a considerable amount of buzz both on social media and on conventional media outlets. The message was clear: VOTE. But, after doing our civic duty, what comes next? Here are several ideas for how to remain an active, engaged citizen long after you’ve peeled off the “I Voted” sticker from your clothes. There is only one team So often, the narrative around politics becomes “us” versus “them.”…
by: Natalie Parletta Dogs are loyal, devoted companions. Yet even with training, so many problematic dog behaviors puzzle and frustrate their owners, often resulting in abandonment and neglect. A new breed of dog trainers and scientists say it doesn’t have to be like this—we can educate ourselves to better understand our canine buddies. I should have known when she yanked me off of my feet, face first into the mud as we walked to the car. I was leaving a…
Both Dena Moes and Lisa Romeo are writers, wives and mothers. Their memoirs explore family connections and the adventures they’ve taken to get to know their loved ones– and themselves– more deeply. Dena Interviews Lisa. . . Dena Moes: You have been a writer for much of your adult life. You have worked in journalism and PR, gotten an MFA and helped found a writing program where you taught. Is there a pivotal point at which you knew you wanted to…
by: Jordan Walker “Laughter is your spirit being brought forth from you lips and leaving you,” according to Russ Green, a stand-up comedian who performs regularly in Washington, D.C. The foundation of stand-up comedy is truth. As any comedian will tell you, you cannot deny a laugh, or the lack thereof. However, when the universal standard for the truth is being challenged, divided, and questioned every day on every major news network and by everyone with access to a public…
by: Lauren Jonik Dena stood in the corner of the bathroom with a sledgehammer in her hand and a smile on her face. The pale pink bathtub and the ceramic tiles on the wall soon would be gone. As I scrolled through her photos, I wondered if it was a good idea that she and I had become Facebook acquaintances— I didn’t know her well enough to consider her a friend in any real sense of the word. My family…