Living Rich the Wrong Way: Nate’s Dream House on Oprah

I recently watched a disturbingly warm and fuzzy Oprah show. One of Oprah’s cohorts, Nate Berkus, had been directed to take a schlocky tract house in Seattle and turn it into a “dream home” for an admittedly lovely family. Were they deserving of such largess? I don’t know. I’m guessing Habitat for Humanity chooses the recipients of their good works without so much concern about how camera-friendly they might be.

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Living Rich: Cheap Thrills

Airport security wasn’t always as tight as it is today – and that extended to the airlines’ VIP lounges. When I was a senior in high school, a small group of us discovered Delta’s Crown Room at O’Hare Airport. And every now and then, we would smile our way in to enjoy a free night out. Comfy chairs. Snacks and drinks. A big-screen (for the time) TV. And excellent people-watching opportunities.

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Let’s Talk About…Talking

I picked up the phone and Miss Blake, the school nurse, was on the line. “Mrs. Strauss,” she said, “I’m sorry to have to tell you this, but your daughter fell on the playground and hit her head.” “Where is she? Is she in your office? Should I come and get her?” “Oh, no. Oh,…

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Why I Drive a Stick

Growing up in Chicago, there was no need for me to drive at all. Buses and subways were convenient and cheap. But then I moved to Idaho, where public transportation was nonexistent and nothing was in walking distance. So I had to learn. And the person who volunteered to teach me had a VW bug with a manual transmission.

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