Dear Snarky, My husband’s stepsister is lying about being a teacher and I need a way to stop her. Due to a lot of schools deciding to start the school year virtual she is advertising […]
Swimming Away a Pandemic Funk
I don’t know about you but this pandemic has really put a dent in my mojo. It’s totally understandable, of course, since our constant companion is a specter of fear that, at least for me, […]
I’m Not an Expert But I Play One on the Internet
A week or two ago I wrote about how the most fundamental of science knowledge and common sense seems to be eluding a significant swath of the U.S. population. Mainly because so many people are […]
Embracing the Incognito Freedom
I’m on a mask roll. Yes, I realize that I recently wrote about masks so let’s call this “Masks – the Sequel.” I feel it is my duty, nay let’s make that my calling, to […]
Meet the Mask Enforcers – Advanced Middle-Aged Moms
There’s a lot that has surprised me about people’s understanding and reaction to the coronavirus. Before COVID-19 I thought we were a fairly intelligent country. More than 90 percent of Americans over the age of […]
Dear Snarky – I’m Being Harassed By My Hair Stylist
Dear Snarky, My hair stylist has taken to social media to try to ruin me. I have been going to this woman for a very long time and we’re friends on Facebook. Once the lock […]
A Sprinkling of Silver Linings
I think we can all agree that so far 2020 has been annus horribilis. (Shout out to my high school Latin that I haven’t used in 40 years.) If you’re one of those people that […]
Dear Snarky – A “Karen” Wants a Name Change
Dear Snarky, My mother is being ridiculous and I need some words of wisdom to share so she quits making a fool of herself. My mom’s name is Karen. She’s not one of those Karen’s. […]
I Hope Your Origin Story is Better Than Perry Mason’s
I’m over origin stories. Specifically, I’m over the use of origin stories as a way to create television and movie content. I say this because “Perry Mason,” one of my most beloved TV shows, was […]
Cheez-It Parenting in an Extreme Parenting World
Help, I’ve fallen down a rabbit hole and I can’t get out. Worse, I don’t even know if I want to get out which is quite frankly embarrassing because I feel like I’m in the […]
Dear Snarky – Pool Protocol, the Office Ass & the Family Slacker
I’ve received a couple of Dear Snarky letters that deserve an answer – a short answer. So, I’ve decided to do one of my favorite things – “Snarky in Seconds.” This means I’ll be answering […]
Hands Down on this Display of Affection
I’m going to straight up admit I’m a stalker. But, I’d like to think I’m a stalker with a certain level of panache. This means I don’t stalk my children because in a word – […]
When Road Construction Gives You Home Improvement Flashbacks
Every time I drive down a street near my home that has been eviscerated by road construction I visibly shudder. It’s been a construction hot mess for more than a year. For me it’s the […]
Home Alone (But Not For Long Enough)
It has been 77 days. 77 long, long days. But it has finally happened. I’m alone in my home. Blissfully alone. Ah, the sounds of silence because what I’m not hearing is someone on a […]
Dear Snarky – When a Grad Party Cancellation Gets F-Bomby
Dear Snarky, I’m so angry at my family! My daughter’s very small high school graduation party was scheduled for this weekend and now I’ve had to cancel it because so many of my family members […]
Bored In Dream Land
I’m not a dreamer. Yes, I have dreams as in hopes and wishes but as far as dreaming while I sleep I’ve never been someone who remembers my dreams and then likes to start a […]
Dear Snarky – I Feel Like My Friends Are Gaslighting Me
Dear Snarky, I think I have flushed some longstanding friendships down the toilet. One of my friends was driving me absolutely crazy by whining nonstop on social media, group texts etc about how hurt and […]
Quarantine Curious
Here’s what my current life situation has succumb to: I’m wasting time being abnormally curious about why all the fire hydrants in my neighborhood have been painted gray. Is it primer? Is there some kind […]
Can a Patriot Rescue Us from Quarantine Brain?
The word patriot is not what it used to be. A mere five years ago if someone was called a patriot I would assume they were talking about a Paul Revere-esque figure and the whole, […]
Dear Snarky – My Mom Favors and is Enabling Our Older Sister
Dear Snarky, We’re two sisters who are sick and tired of our mother enabling our oldest sister. We’re both college students that have been working doing instacart during the coronavirus to make extra money. Meanwhile, […]
Looking Forward to Looking Forward
One of my family’s favorite games last month was to play the, “What am I going to do when the quarantine is over?” Of course, first on the list is to leave the house with […]
Hair Raising Quarantine Issues
If there’s one thing the lock down has taught me it’s that I’m now so over my family. Wait, that’s not what I intended to say. Was I thinking it? Yes, but I did not […]
Clueless in the Cul-de-Sac
Who are these people in my neighborhood? As the official Gladys Kravitz (the nosey next-door neighbor from the classic TV series “Bewitched”) of my hood I’ve been flummoxed by the number of people out and […]
Dear Snarky – My Husband is Having a Quarantine Midlife Crisis
Dear Snarky, I love my husband very much but I’m afraid he’s about to ruin his life and our finances. He’s always wanted to be an artist but became an accountant instead. Since he’s been […]
A Failure at Masking My Anxiety
I swear I wasn’t going to write about the coronavirus. I wanted to write about something that would take everyone’s mind off of our current situation. The problem is I have nothing, nada, zero, zilch, […]
Dear Snarky – My MIL Has Gone Quarantine Crazy and is Planning a Party That I Don’t Want
Dear Snarky, My mother-in-law is driving me crazy. I had a baby in February and since the lock down went into place she has been blasting me with texts, phone calls and emails about how […]
It’s All About the Flour Power
Well, this couldn’t suck more could it? Yes, I get it things could be worse, much worse. So, slow your roll on sending me that email. But in terms of things being suck worthy I’m […]
Dear Snarky – I’m Getting Attitude For Taking a Pass On Our Family Easter Dinner
Dear Snarky, My parents and sister are acting like spoiled brats and being totally clueless about social distancing. Not only are my parents, who are in their late 60s, still going to the grocery store […]
Covidiots
When we make it through the other side of this Covid-19 nightmare I’m hoping future generations won’t look back and say, “What a bunch of idiots.” Because that’s what I’m thinking right now – idiots. […]
Dear Snarky – I was invited to a virtual bridal shower that I think is a shakedown for cash
Dear Snarky, A sorority sister sent me an Evite to a virtual wedding shower. The Evite suggests that instead of gifts we Venmo her money. The reason she gave is that she didn’t want to […]
Hand Wringing About Hand Washing
The coronavirus has taught me a lot of things. For example, who knew that after spending five plus decades on this planet I really didn’t know how to wash my hands. I always considered myself […]
Dear Snarky – Coronavirus = Family Fury
*Almost all of the letters I’ve gotten the past several days have, in some way, been about the coronavirus. So, because of this strange time we’re living in I decided to answer a couple of […]
The “Barrister of the Air”
I love traveling for all the obvious reasons and for the fact that it never disappoints in giving me something to write about. For example, as soon as I got on a plane bound for […]
I’m the Real Cookie Monster
True confession time here. I’ve been in a long-term relationship with Girl Scout Thin Mint Cookies for more than forty years. As I’m writing this I’ve got a shiny foil sleeve of Thin Mints on […]
Dear Snarky – Overheated at the Office
Dear Snarky, I work with a woman who is temperature control freak. She complains that she is always freezing. It could be the middle of August and she would say she was “sooo cold.” Because […]
Dear Snarky My Life Coach Embarrassed Me
Dear Snarky, I need your help to get someone banned from their job. I have been seeing a life coach for several months. I really liked this woman and I found her advice helpful. Our […]
Sprinkling Our Outrage
The human brain is fascinating. It lets us conveniently forget unsettling facts and allows us to process information in a way that shields us from thinking too deeply or even logically. My current deep thoughts […]
Dear Snarky – I Tried to Give a New Mom at School the Inside Scoop and it Backfired
Dear Snarky, A new family has moved into our neighborhood. One of the kid’s is in my daughter’s class. I met her mother and she seemed really nice. The problem is there’s a mom at […]
Pet Therapy For Troubled Times
I recently thought I might need some pet therapy. My dogs and cat are just fine, thank you and I don’t need a licensed emotional support animal because according to the quickest of Google searches […]
Dear Snarky – The Super Bowl Ruined My Super Proposal
Dear Snarky, The Super Bowl ruined my engagement and I don’t know what to do about it. My boyfriend of almost two years had planned to ask me to marry him during the Super Bowl. […]
Family Drama Can Be a Royal Pain
Family drama is fascinating especially when it’s not your family having all the drama. This is why I’ve been keenly interested in the whole Meghan Markle/Prince Harry saga. It’s like a “Real Housewives” reunion show […]
Why Can’t Women Just Be the Boss and Other Reflections on the Word Bossy
People I’m worried. I’m not feeling this new year. And by not feeling I mean it’s making me angry. Loyal readers might be shaking their heads and saying, “Umm didn’t you just have a sizable […]
We Need to Cut Back On All the “Be Happy” B.S.
We’re one week into 2020 and I’m already at full rant, like Defcon 1 rant. I tried to tamp this rant down, but it just made it worse like when you squeeze yourself into shape […]
Happy 2020!
It’s New Year’s Day and this just isn’t any New Year it’s the start of a new decade. So cue all the stories and lists about how to make this next decade “the best ever.” […]
Dear Snarky – My Sister Wore a Bridal Gown to MY Wedding
Dear Snarky, It’s official my sister is insane because she wore a wedding dress to my wedding. Let me back up a bit. She wore a wedding dress she had purchased two years ago and […]
When Dateline Podcasts Mess With Your Sanity
Was someone trying to kill me? I swear I’m not being melodramatic. I had proof. A white van had been following me on multiple occasions and someone was unlocking my kitchen sliding glass door when […]
Thanksgiving Is Getting the Shaft
What happened to Thanksgiving? I feel like it has become the fruitcake of holidays. Sure, it’s a day everybody acknowledges and celebrates but it’s not something you’re that passionate about. It seems like more and […]
The Yuck Factor of Flying is Getting Worse
When did we become a society devoid of being cognizant of our surroundings? And what has happened in the past decade to give people the mistaken belief that they possess a super power and are […]
Writing Can Get Pretty Ugly
*Note: I write a weekly opinion column for the Kansas City Star. Some of the stuff I muse about is a little more political in nature than I what share on this blog and by […]
Dear Snarky – I’m Being Shunned For Bringing Cupcakes to a School Party
Dear Snarky, I’m being shunned at my son’s elementary school due to having the “audacity” to bring mini chocolate cupcakes to the first grade Halloween party. I never received the link to the online sign […]
Snarky in the Suburbs 