There's a great season 1 Babylon 5 episode, TKO, that deals with the death of the father of one of the main characters. Actually, that whole series has several episodes that deal with main characters departing and the mourning that takes place afterwards.

I just want to throw this out into the internet ether here - as a lapsed Iowan, I always appreciate reading good articles about my home state. Keep it up, IA!

Boo to you! You and your birdnado mascot can take a hike unless you're playing Nebraska. Go Hawkeyes! Actually, full disclosure here, my family has had season tickets for ISU football for years. I only went to Iowa to be two hours further away from home.

Yes! I traveled down the celebrity ghost stories rabbit hole earlier today thanks to an earlier post: George Wendt's is super creepy.

While I agree with all of the standard listicle stuff, I would also add goals/hopes/dreams for the future. What if your goal is to someday open your own bed and breakfast or get a PhD? Is that going to square away with his plans? Is he going to be supportive of your goals?

Woohoo for you! First of all, there's some excellent advice floating around in this thread from having the dinner at a restaurant to J.Crew for the wedding dress (mine cost $295 in 2004). I, too, had a small, 30-person wedding. My dad always joked that I had to have a morning wedding because he didn't want to foot the…

My local news website frequently makes that mistake. I'm almost to the point where I turn into Grandpa Simpson and start writing curmudgeonly letters to the writers/editors whilst wearing an onion on my belt.

Mr. MRob is a lapsed Minnesotan. During the last election cycle, he made a gentleman's bet with one his mom's boyfriends about her winning the presidential election. That's $100 he was happy to lose.

I seriously just don't get her, and I'm originally from the land of Steve King.

Damn. Had I not been in Minnesota chilling without internet I would have told you to go for it. I love hiking by myself. I get to set my own pace, stop when I want, and I don't have to talk to anyone. Where did you go camping at?

Oh, Nene. She's just the best. Leave it to her to have the appropriate response.

Aw shit. My sister got the Islands in the Stream single on tape for Christmas the year it came out. I'm not a bit country fan, but damn, this song is on almost every playlist I create.

This was true for my paternal side of the family. My grandfather died in 1978, and my grandmother had a debilitating stroke in 1983. Of the seven siblings (3 women, 4 men), my aunt from Oregon was the one to move back to Iowa to care for Grandma full time even though five of this siblings lived between 5 and 30…

Okay, funny period story time: When Mr. MRob was a kid - like 5 or 6 years old - he was on a flight with his mom and little sister to California. Now, being the inquisitive young man that he was, he went snooping through the cabinets in the airplane bathroom. Lo and behold! There are these little packets that say…

I primarily teach the pre-100-level classes. My school only recently implemented placement testing. As a result, there has been a marked increase in students needing those classes - particularly 18-21 year olds. The statistics are pretty fresh, but my department has seen a dramatic increase in the number of students…

Are you me? I just finished a research paper on adult math learners. Here's my mini C.V.:

I'm in the mood for some new music. What are y'all listening to? I'm currently listening to Gonjasufi and Yppah. Hit me with your best shot!

I am late to this party, but your argument is one that is often brought up in regards to the soap that I watch - General Hospital. It is often lamented by soap blogs and commenters that so few of the female characters have genuine woman friends.

As for my women friends - I have always been a boys' girl. I have two…

I had to. My first period arrived the week of swimming lessons. My older sister gave me a quick tutorial, and that was that.

I was in eight in 1986. How on earth am I supposed to pick one song?! Just take a look at the Billboard Year-End Hot 100 list and think of all of the awesome songs that aren't even on there.

1986 was a good year for music

Hell yeah, 1986! That's my year, too, but I can't pick just one song.