The Creative Nest

There are certain moments in life when you realize things have gotten a little ridiculous. Like when your dog looks at you because you opened a bag of chips, when you walk into a room and immediately forget why you went there, or when you pull up to the gas station, look at the price on the sign, and quietly whisper, “Absolutely not.” Unfortunately, the car still needs gas. And right now, gas is hovering around $4.15 a gallon. Four dollars and fifteen cents. For gasoline. The stuff that goes into my car and then disappears. Honestly, I feel like I should at least get a tiny gift bag when I fill up. Maybe a candle. Perhaps a little cheese plate. At these prices, I expect the gas station attendant to hand me a receipt and say, “Thank you for your purchase. Your personal financial advisor will be in touch.” I drive a Subaru. It is a perfectly nice vehicle, but it is not a Bentley. It does not have a personal chauffeur. It does not serve me champagne. It doesn't even automatically brin...

There comes a point in adulthood when you realize that having a good handyman is almost as valuable as having a good hairdresser, a trustworthy mechanic, and a doctor who actually calls you back. If you have one, you know exactly what I mean. You find someone who shows up when they say they will, does what they said they were going to do, charges a reasonable amount, and—this is important—doesn’t leave you standing in your driveway wondering if you just paid someone $400 to make the problem slightly more interesting. And then you have a decision to make. Do you call your trusted handyman and say, “Hey, can you take a look at this?” Or do you get three quotes? I have discovered that there are apparently two kinds of homeowners. There are the “I have a guy” people. Then there are the “I need at least three estimates so I can compare the labor, materials, warranty, and the astrological alignment of Mercury” people.  I understand both sides. Getting multiple quotes makes sense. Sometim...

Let’s settle an important question. When you wake up in the morning and realize you have to be a functioning human being for the next several hours, what’s your weapon of choice? Are you reaching for a steaming cup of coffee, or are you cracking open an energy drink like you’re about to qualify for the Formula 1? Because apparently, there are two types of people in this world: coffee people and energy-drink people. And both sides are absolutely convinced they have discovered the superior method of getting through the day. Coffee people are a special breed. We don’t simply drink coffee. We have a relationship with coffee. There’s a whole ritual involved. Wake up. Stumble toward the kitchen. Start the coffee maker. Stare blankly into the distance while the coffee brews. Pour that glorious first cup and suddenly remember that life may actually be worth living. The first sip is practically a personality reset. Before coffee, it’s “Please don’t talk to me.” After coffee, it’s “Okay, I supp...