Currently viewing the category: "The Examined Home"

The Examined Home: Violence in Literature

On June 24, 2011 By

By Loris Nebbia

Recently I heard the famous author John Irving speak about writing fiction. One thing he said stayed with me, and that was that the good writer of fiction must “appall the reader.”  To determine if his comment was true, I began to sort through fiction that I’d read and think of where [...]

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The Examined Home: Advice for Creating Dinner Bliss

On June 10, 2011 By

By Loris Nebbia

One of my favorite fictional characters said, “Where there’s life, there’s a mess,” so with this truth in mind, consider this list about dinner time as an inspiration. I’ve used it to look for the truths behind the goals described. Maybe I’m serving leftovers late after retrieving children from practice ran [...]

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The Examined Home: iPhone and the Loss of Eye Contact

On June 3, 2011 By

By Loris Nebbia

I’m not a poet, but I love poetry. I’m dedicated to a famous poem by the American Imagist, William Carlos Williams that is titled “This is Just to Say.” You probably read it in college or high school. I love its insouciance and I love the fact that it is easy [...]

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The Examined Home: Your Child’s Emotional Tank

On May 27, 2011 By

By Loris Nebbia

My car makes an irritating pinging noise when I’ve used up all gas. Not only that, but a light blinks, warning me that if I don’t supply it with fuel, the car will stop. Because I’m somewhat terrified of running out of gas, I tend to pay attention to these subtle warning [...]

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The Examined Home: Politics and Lemonade – Three Variations of a Summer Favorite

On May 13, 2011 By

By Loris Nebbia

When I was a teenager, I lived in St. Louis, MO. My sister, Gloria, convinced me to join the Political Science Club at our high school with her. This was not a good fit for a dreamer like me. Politics confuse and infuriate me. I went reluctantly, full of dread.

The Political [...]

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The Examined Home: The Problem with ‘If Life Gives You Lemons, Make Lemonade’

On May 6, 2011 By

by Loris Nebbia

What is all this juice and all this joy?/ A strain of the earth’s sweet being in the beginning… –from “Spring”by Gerard Manley Hopkins

The problem with the saying about lemonade is that it might work easily on things like fruit or favorite shrunken sweaters, [...]

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The Examined Home: Our 2011 St. John’s College vs. USNA Picnic Basket

On April 26, 2011 By

The 29th Annual Annapolis Cup, aka St. John’s College vs. the United States Naval Academy Croquet is upon us. If you’re like us, food and fellowship are a big part of the way we celebrate this cultural jewel, so our own Loris Nebbia has detailed one of her favorite picnic baskets to be enjoyed on [...]

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‘The Examined Home’: Lemons, Life & The Art of Turning Loss Into Gain

On April 15, 2011 By

Lemon to Juice

Someone asked how to get a juice out of a lemon. You don’t need a fancy juicer. Lemons should be kept at room temperature, but if your lemon has been in the fridge, that’s okay. Take it out and put it in the microwave for 10 seconds. No more.

Next roll it [...]

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‘The Examined Home’: Filling That Quarter Acre with Flowers & Rooting Hydrangeas

On April 8, 2011 By

Good Provoked

One day last summer I was minding my own business in my garden. I was standing at the edge of the patio, one foot on the grass, staring at the flowers, puzzling over some editing I had to do when a wasp flew up—brazen and unprovoked—and stung me on the elbow.

Mind you, [...]

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‘The Examined Home’: Three Ways to Serve Mac ‘n Cheese

On April 1, 2011 By

Mac ‘n Cheese is an American standard, but if you’re used to eating the kind found in a cardboard box, I’m here to tell you that the recipe is easy to make from scratch and it tastes creamy and flavorful and fresh. And on these chilly, rainy days macaroni and cheese makes a quick, [...]

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