► Black Friday is a few days away. For those of you who partaking in this capitalism holiday, Oprah Winfrey's Favorite Things is here to make you feel like shit since you can't afford most of what's on it. Actually this year she's including some affordable gifts. But in this economy her definition of affordable means gifts whose prices do not have a comma.  I went to her website to see what she's peddling. What shocked me was her photo. Damn...she looks like a snow globe bobblehead that should be on a dashboard of a taxi cab. Below are some of crap she's promoting this year (aka pay for play). Anyhoo, I'm baffled about the $32 chocolate chip cookies. They look like sawdust...and probably taste like it too. And $99 for a scarf? Unless that scarf has magical Harry Potter powers that makes Miss O disappear, I'd rather spend my money paying bills.  Read More  Photo:  Oprah Winfrey Magazine.com Comment: Now that you've seen some of O's Favorite T...

My littlest has learned the joys of exploration and curiosity. Luckily, she's a sweet little toddling who is so cherished by everyone in the family, and we all call her by a nickname.  There is something special about the last and youngest when they are a surprise after a disappointment. My older kids have always been besotted with her and don't mind caring for her or playing with her. My youngest son likes to learn to cook and asked me to teach him how to draw. My daughter has been my sidekick, going everywhere with me and helping me organize things that had been pushed to the side for too long. And the oldest is just happy to be home with all of us. We spend as much time as we can outside, weather permitting. I will never work during the kids' winter break again. It isn't like my job saves lives or anything, and everyone who works for me is salaried, so the break is good for them, too. We ate a lot, rested, relaxed, and spent a lot of time with friends and family. Too...