Hey, whatever works.

Emily Post’s original book of etiquette recommended you spend a night or two in your own guest room, to judge its suitability for sleeping and to identify any possible issues. A simple piece of advice, but very effective.

This makes me giggle, as in my rural German family, where were all about the homemade and mom’s special touch and all that....commercial brown-n-serve rolls are ALWAYS on the table for T-giving. This (and some canned cranberry sauce) are the only commercial convenience foods allowed on the table. Yes, Cousin Mary may…

I have to admit, this is something I sometimes have to get used to. I once finally was in bed with someone I’d known for years, who was always very gentle and polite, and he turned into a nasty filthy dirty-talker in the sack. And...wow....the change in him made things....er....difficult. It was like he was a…

Heck, it goes all the way back to the silent film era. Think of Rudolph Valentino. And Jacob Krantz, a handsome aspiring actor, a Jewish guy from Vienna, was redubbed “Ricardo Cortez” and became a popular “Latin Lover” movie star for a while, even being the first actor to play Sam Spade. It’s a dumb stereotype but one…

I love to do a half turkey breast in my slow cooker, this way: slice one good-sized onion, scatter across the bottom of the cooker. Pour in 1/4 cup water. Rub the breast half (3-4 lbs) with oil, salt, pepper, and whatever other seasonings you want. Place on top of the onions, cover, and cook on HIGH for 3 hours. When…

For me, it’s some sliced turkey on a roll with lettuce and a slice of cranberry jelly from the can. Chips, pickle, and a Pepsi on the side. That’s our traditional Thanksgiving evening meal. (We always ate at noon.)

Like you, I use old pickle jars to store leftovers, dry beans, small pasta, etc. in my kitchen, and this makes a ton of sense. I could have used one the other night when trying to ladle spaghetti sauce into a jar and not have any get on the counter. I also use them when taking soup to work for lunch (I warm it all…

I’m with you....publicly wallowing in shame and guilt very quickly segues into mere attention-grabbing. If you’ve done something wrong, sincerely apologize, think about what you’ve done and what kind of person you should be, and move on and do better without making a big deal of it.

Yup, in Baltimore. There’s a company that sells at the Catonsville Farmers Market on Sundays, and at the Waverley/32nd Street market on Saturdays, that does delish Old Bay pickles. I forget what they’re called...something like Baltimore Dill, I think. Another company called In A Pickle does them as well. It does seem…

A good option is to find a vintage percolator at a thrift shop or estate sale, clean it up, and then you’ll have incredible coffee in grand old style. Seriously, those things made GREAT coffee, and the blurping sounds it made, while plugged in on the counter, can actually be very comforting.

Something that worked in my family for decades....everyone has an assigned dish. Preferably something they do well. And they make it every year and bring it. It actually made things smoother and as cousins grew up they started contributing (or taking over). You just took care of the sweet potato casserole/cranberry…

If you crave nature, there are three spots to visit...The National Arboretum, with displays of bonsai, a grove of state trees, and a gorgeous azalea garden. Visit anytime, but springtime is best for the azaleas.

Another little hint: if you’re stomping around the Capital building on a summer day, look for the little brick summer house on the grounds. It’s an architectural gem, with a little artificial grotto, all designed by Frederick Law Olmstead. And it’s actually cool inside. Go there to sit and take a break and appreciate…

Also...if you’re in Montgomery County, their monthly bus pass is worth its weight in gold. When I lived there, I ABUSED that mofo and wouldn’t use my car for a week or more, except to maybe grocery shop. And the MoCo bus system (called “Ride-On”) is excellent.

The cafeteria at the National Museum of the American Indian has extremely good food but is even more extremely overpriced, and the museum is poorly curated.

Oh, and another story...this isn’t monetary tipping, but it worked out well for me.

Once, I was a regular at a bar in DC. Just before Christmas, after a couple of beers, I left a $20 tip to my regular bartender, two $10 bills that I folded into a sort of flower (I know one origami trick) and left on the counter. When I came back after the new year, I saw the flower pinned to the back of the bar, and…

Some friends and I were talking about writing (or doing a website) about celebrating holidays in the modern world (never came to fruition), and we agreed that we would say that you shouldn’t be tied to a traditional meal if you didn’t want it. Have a family talk, figure out something you all like that’s a little above…

Guess again.