Editor’s Column
The books of our lives
Jun. 28, 2011—What books influenced your life? What have been your most meaningful experiences as a reader? Since this is the Summer Reading Issue of House Organ, I thought it would be fun for some of us to compare notes. I’ll go first. My parents still sometimes talk about what a pain I was to read to...
Zoe without the zzzzzzzzzz’s: My storm-phobic dog creates sleep-deprived days—for me
May. 31, 2011—You know how advocates for pets are always citing figures showing that pet owners live longer? I am completely puzzled about how this could possibly be so. One example: one of the keys to a long and healthy life is getting enough sleep. I cannot recall a single occasion when a pet has helped me...
What are your top three reasons? Tell us!
May. 2, 2011—This special issue of House Organ is devoted to reasons why Vanderbilt is a great place to work. We all have our own reasons, don’t we? What are yours? We want to know. Those of us with college-age children wake up in the morning thankful that Vanderbilt has a tuition benefit. If you’re a sports...
Reaching for the stars
Mar. 28, 2011—I am a total astronomy geek. In elementary school, I cleaned out the school library’s supply of astronomy books, many of which, I later learned, were at least 10 years old and spectacularly inaccurate. For example, even by 1966, it was well known that there was no chance that Venus had a planetwide boiling sea,...
Cats! Dogs! Snake?
Mar. 3, 2011—House Organ Pet Poll brings voters by the thousands by Wayne Wood Duke, the European Doberman who was photographed lounging in his driveway by Wendy Ashe of the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit, was the royalty of the 2011 House Organ Pet Poll, which was conducted in conjunction with the annual “Pets of Vanderbilt” issue. Duke...
My trendy grandparents
Jan. 26, 2011—No landline? check. Free range chickens? check. My grandparents were the trendiest people I’ve ever known. As I read about hot new trends in how to live, I’m amazed at how many of these my Dad’s parents, whom I called Mamaw and Papaw, practiced decades ago. Trend # 1: Not having a landline phone. “Cutting...
Tidings of comfort and joy, Professor and Mary Ann!
Jan. 7, 2011—We begin with a little holiday trivia: Have you ever noticed that “O Little Town of Bethlehem” can be sung to the tune of the “Theme from Gilligan’s Island”? I’ll just wait here a minute while you sing along to yourself and try it out. [pause] It works, doesn’t it? The tunes fit and the...
My European Crime Spree
Nov. 2, 2010—Since I believe that promoting international peace and goodwill is one of the most valuable things an American citizen can do, I should probably stay home for a while. On a recent trip to Europe, in only 10 days I had two brushes with the law, which is about two brushes more than I’ve had...