You joke, but have ever spent a summer in San Francisco? Brrrrrrrrr!

Imperialism and fear of the "Dark Continent" was not just a US thing. European nations colonized most of Africa.

I grew up in the Misouri Synod and it wasn't all completely bat-shit crazy, at least the churches I attended. Although I completely disagree with the synod's stance on women serving in leadership positions, the church I attended as a youth in Illinois was very big on community service, and not just of the conversion…

:(

I did get a staph infection once, but I try to wash my hands frequently.

I'm a 6th grade teacher too!

You can palm a basketball. I've never been able to do that.

Oh man, the small hands/big joystick thing-y... Yes, I may have heard this before myself.

Wait, I have been wondering about your screenname. Do you really hate goats?

My wrists are the skinniest part of my body! I am actually a rather curvy/athletic-body type lady, with teeny-tiny hands. Its somewhat hilarious, especially because I play the cello.

Dear Kate,

My BFF is going through a divorce. When she met her soon-to-be-ex, she was a much higher earner than him, and "financed" much of their lifestyle. For instance, when they bought a house (before they got married), her portion of the down-payment came from her savings, while his was borrowed from his family. Which, there…

It's mostly a joke. A lot of Sebastopol is on well, which can be dubious. My inlaws live in Sebastopol and they are on well. We are on city water, which comes from the Russian River and it's... okay. Better than the swill available in Decatur, IL, where I spent a delightful 4 years. Let's hear it for nitrates in the…

I can't believe I never thought of that before. I better practice this joke more.

If you are Russian when you go into the bathroom, and American when you come out, what are you inside the bathroom?

Oh, you San Franciscans and your Hetch Hetchy reserve water. I'll stick to my Russian River/well water.

I bet that y'all looked super-cute. Hooray for letting people choose their own dresses!

Yeah, my husband did about jack-shit for the thank you cards, but whatevs. Your friend shouldn't feel bad. Being sick is a legitimate excuse. Life does happen.

Oooh, I bet they were gorgeous together. I was actually inspired by a spread in Martha Stewart Weddings where the bride was a stylist and had her bridesmaids pick out all these beautiful vintage maxi-dresses from the seventies in shades of coral, blush and mint. The effect was so pretty, it gave me the confidence to…

I retained veto power. I didn't need to use it, though. My friends have pretty good taste, and I was very clear on what kind of "look" I was after. I did say go crazy in the shoe department, and man, a couple certainly did. But it was fun.