Author Archives: Ben

Bert and Ernie Recording for TomTom GPS Voice

Posted on December 4, 2011 by Ben

The wife thought this was funny:

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It Happened Again

Posted on October 23, 2011 by Ben

I went to the Hanover Theater in Worcester, Massachusetts again tonight. This time I saw Classic Albums Live, the Michael Jackson – Thriller show. It was incredible. I took one of the children. We had a great time. The music was impeccably performed. It was billed as a bunch of musicians who get up on stage and play an album, note for note, cut for cut, start to finish, live. That might not sound too thrilling (pun intended), but it was amazing. They got up on stage and played Thriller, note for note, cut for cut, start to finish, live. Then they took a little break, came back, and played a whole bunch more Michael Jackson songs. The aisles were packed with people dancing: Kids; adults; older adults; really old adults. And they were all smiling. And clapping. And having a really good time. When there wasn’t any more room in the aisles, people stood up at their seats and started dancing. Everyone I saw was having fun. The performers were having fun. Even I was having fun.

This doesn’t usually happen.

But it did happen once before, and recently. And it was at  the Hanover Theater again. This time, it was with the other child. And the boyfriend. We went to see Buddy Valastro, the guy from Cake Boss. He showed up in town with an even sillier premise. Take an Italian baker from Hoboken, New Jersey and stick him on stage in Worcester, Massachusetts with a bunch kids and parents from the audience. Add some cupcakes. He teaches us how to decorate them. We laugh at the audience members as they try to imitate his designs. He tells stories. And everyone smiles: The kid; the boyfriend; the dad; the people on stage. Once again, everyone in the room was having a great time.

Family friendly entertainment?

I didn’t think that existed anymore.

But it does.

Search it out.

Ben

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Read to a Thirteen Year Old

Posted on September 11, 2011 by Ben
Read to a Thirteen Year Old
Keep reading for as long as you can.
Trouble by Gary D. Schmidt
“Uh oh.”
The Vacation by Polly Horvath
“A children’s book with adult humor.”
The Curse of the Blue Tattoo: Being an Account of the Misadventures of Jacky Faber, Midshipman and Fine Lady by L. A. Meyer
“Skirts the edge … but never goes over.” This is not true of books one and three of the Bloody Jack series.
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Read to a Twelve Year Old

Posted on September 11, 2011 by Ben
Read to a Twelve Year Old
Don’t stop.
The Wednesday Wars by Gary D. Schmidt
“Chrysanthemum.”
To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee
“We like the chapter about reading aloud best. Note: For a while, we thought it might have been better if the child was a little older to better understand the tough subjects in this book. But we’re pleased we made it through. We just might reread this one every year for a few years. What would Atticus do?”
So B. It by Sarah Weeks
“Bought this one by mistake. Search it out.”
Gathering Blue by Lois Lowry
“Which blue thing are they talking about?”
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Read to an Eleven Year Old

Posted on September 11, 2011 by Ben
Read to an Eleven Year Old
Even an eleven year old can be captivated by a read aloud story. Many of these deal with complex issues.
Things Not Seen by Andrew Clements
“See.”
The Giver by Lois Lowry
“Give back.”
Good Night Mr. Tom by Michelle Magorian
“Good night Dad.”
Tangerine by Edward Bloor
“This is a tough story.”
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Read to a 10 Year Old

Posted on September 11, 2011 by Ben
Read to a Ten Year Old
Yes, you can still read to a ten year old. If you never have … try it … Now.
Ida B by Katherine Hannigan
“It’s tough to say ‘I’m sorry.’”
Walk Two Moons by Sharon Creech
“A journey.”
The Egypt Game by Zilpha Keatley Snyder, Alton Raible (Illustrator)
“Do you pick your friends, or do they pick you?”
The Adventures of Tom Sawyer by Mark Twain
“A great story from the past.” Caution: Tough to read aloud … don’t read it first.
Circle of Doom by Tim Kennemore
“Magic potions. But who’s in charge?”
Crispin: The Cross of Lead by Avi
The 2003 Newbery Winner. “Evokes an era.”
Number the Stars by Lois Lowry
“A story of friendship.”
A Week in the Woods by Andrew Clements
“Our school actually has these weeks.”
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Read to a 9 Year Old

Posted on September 11, 2011 by Ben
Read to a Nine Year Old
Many of these titles will spark interesting conversations.
The Young Man and the Sea by Rodman Philbrick
“The best part about this book is all the stuff they left out. It isn’t needed.”
The Outcasts of 19 Schuyler Place by E. L. Konigsburg
“Another one of those books that just sounds good while reading aloud.”
Everything on a Waffle by Polly Horvath
“Make the recipes … the potatoes are truly the best.”
Surviving the Applewhites by Stephanie S. Tolan
A 2003 Newbery Honor Book. “Who do you want to be?”
The True Confessions of Charlotte Doyle by Avi
“To see.”
Maniac McGee by Jerry Spinelli
“We have rules against much of that behavior in our home.”
Regarding the Fountain by Kate Klise
“Tough to read aloud, but worth it.”
Hatchet by Gary Paulsen
“Survive.”
A Barrel of Laughs, A Vale of Tears by Jules Feiffer
“A tall tale.”
Loser by Jerry Spinelli
“It sounds good when reading it aloud.”
Oh, The Places You’ll Go by Dr. Seuss
“Read it the night before the big competition … or give it as a college graduation gift.”
There’s a Boy in the Girl’s Bathroom by Louis Sachar
(one for Banned Book Week) “The animals talk.”
Wringer by Jerry Spinelli
“Read it just before the tenth birthday.”
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Read to an 8 Year Old

Posted on September 11, 2011 by Ben
Read to an 8 Year Old
There is no reason to stop reading to them when they are old enough to read on their own. Besides, you’d miss some really great books.
The Landry News by Andrew Clements
“The truth can hurt.”
A Long Way from Chicago by Richard Peck
“Go grandma.”
Because of Winn Dixie by Kate DiCamillo
“Quite the party.”
The Man in the Ceiling by Jules Feiffer
“One of our favorites.”
Mean Margaret by Tor Seidler, Jon Agee (Illustrator)
“Sometimes it’s hard to love.”
Harry Potter Book and the Prisoner of Azkaban by J. K. Rowling
“Amazon sent it FedEx to arrive on the release date.”
Love that Dog by Sharon Creech
“Poetry. Very sad. Very good.”
The View from Saturday by E. L. Konigsburg
“The same story … over and over… good over tea.”
Harry Potter Book and the Goblet of Fire by J. K. Rowling
“Long … but good enough to read ahead.”
The School Story by Andrew Clements
“A how-to for publishing.”
Dear Mr. Henshaw by Beverly Cleary
“Is anyone listening?”
The Best Christmas Pageant Ever by Barbara Robinson
“We read it in June. But Christmas works, too.”
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The Price of Fighting the Fight

Posted on September 11, 2011 by Ben

Ten years ago, our area was overrun by the Asian longhorn beetle. We’ve been fighting it ever since. Teams of specially trained inspectors have permeated our forests and neighborhoods as they search for the beetles and their paths of destruction.

They claim that the beetles threaten our trees, but to date, not one tree has fallen victim to the bug. This does not mean, however, that we are safe. So far, about 30,000 trees have been cut down. They say that they have done this to protect our woodlands.

I wonder who is winning.

Ben

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Is Your Cutting Board Warped?

Posted on August 30, 2011 by Ben

My cutting board is warped. The one I made out of the tree from the front yard. Not to name names or anything, but one of the children put ours in the dishwasher. Sometime after that, it began to develop a significant sag: the center is now lower than two outside edges, like a shallow “U.” It’s still usable, but I miss its flatness.

Before I go making another one, I’m interested in whether anyone else is having the same problem.

Please let me know here by taking this anonymous (although I could probably track you by IP address) poll:

How Is Your Cutting Board Holding Up?
Check All That Apply

  • It is still flat. (71%, 5 Votes)
  • It is warped, but sits flat. (14%, 1 Votes)
  • It is warped and doesn't sit flat. (0%, 0 Votes)
  • I still use it all the time. (57%, 4 Votes)
  • I haven't used it very much recently. (29%, 2 Votes)
  • It's all my fault, I put it in the dishwasher. (14%, 1 Votes)
  • What cutting board? (14%, 1 Votes)

Total Voters: 7

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