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Bringing kids to Disney World? How to make most of your trip

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:00:39 GMT

Theme park prices are high, and they show no sign of coming down anytime soon. If you’re spending money on a trip to the largest attraction in Florida, Walt Disney World, how do get the most for your buck?As an Orlando native who just recently started bringing her twin toddlers to the parks, I have lots of thoughts on how to execute an efficient, worthwhile Disney trip. Here are some tips for making the most of a Disney trip with kids.Brave the crowdsBringing children to the Disney parks is a magical experience. It can also be a nightmarish one if you’re unprepared. Set yourself up for success by doing some planning ahead of time: Identify priority attractions for your family, make sure you bring plenty of water and sunscreen, and always don your most comfortable shoes/pants/hat/stroller. This is a marathon, not a sprint.When you go is crucial: The most affordable way to visit a park if you plan on going multiple times per year is to buy an annual pass. Kids under 3 do not require a...

Can mom end bad marriage so close to retirement?

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:00:39 GMT

Q. I am trying to help my mother understand whether she can afford to get out of a bad marriage where she is also nearing retirement.  They signed a pre-nuptial agreement because it was a second marriage for both. Per their agreement, most of their assets are considered separate property and cannot be divided.  My mom has a mortgage-free condo in North Carolina which she rents out and intends to someday use in retirement.  She also has almost a million in retirement assets.  She hasn’t ever worked full time, which was great when I was young, but hasn’t helped her build wealth.  She can ask for alimony, but I understand only until retirement, and they are both five years away from Social Security retirement age.I suppose she will have some Social Security but as a part-time classroom aide it’s not likely to amount to much. He earns a lot of money, but I’ve heard it is hard to challenge a pre-nuptial agreement.A. First of all, this is not a simple situation, and your mother should con...

‘Paved Paradise’ explains why parking is a local nuisance & global blight

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:00:39 GMT

BOOK REVIEW“Paved Paradise: How Parking Explains the World”By Henry GrabarPenguin Press, $30Grade: AYou might expect a book about parking to be a snore. I did. I’ve tried to read a few in the public library. Didn’t get far.But I have news to report. Henry Grabar’s “Paved Paradise: How Parking Explains the World” is not a slog; it’s a romp, packed with tales of anger, violence, theft, lust, greed, political chicanery and transportation policy gone wrong. The protagonist — and the villain — is the car. The theme is our culture’s propensity to value automobile ownership over almost everything else, and at a heavy cost.If you own a car, you’ve got to park it somewhere. If you live in or near a city — most of us do — the consequences are all around you. Everyone already knows how fundamentally the automobile has shaped our physical environment. Roads and highways are only part of it.“Paved Paradise” sensitized me to ...

Hulu documentary delves into Randall Emmett scandal

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:00:39 GMT

Men behaving badly in Hollywood — or more precisely, the takedowns of these people in power — have inundated the news over the last few years, with movie producer Randall Emmett being one of the central figures. So much so that a 90-minute documentary, “The Randall Scandal: Love, Loathing, and Vanderpump,” begins streaming Monday on Hulu.Emmett’s downfall began with an investigation (“The Man Who Played Hollywood: Inside Randall Emmett’s Crumbling Empire”) by L.A. Times reporters Amy Kaufman and Meg James into claims against Emmett that include allegations of race discrimination, workplace abuse, and questionable on-set behavior toward actor Bruce Willis as his mental acuity declined ― all of which Emmett denies.The ABC News Studios-L.A. Times Studios-produced doc will feature interview footage with Emmett’s ex-fiancee, “Vanderpump Rules” star Lala Kent, and exclusive interviews with Kent’s mom and brother, past employees a...

‘The Family Stallone’ gives new spin on celeb reality series

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:00:39 GMT

It seems as if Sylvester Stallone has never been more popular, popping up in “Guardians of the Galaxy Vol,.3,” starring in the hit “Yellowstone” spin-off series “Tulsa King,” coming soon in “Expendables 4” and now, his first reality series “The Family Stallone” on Paramount+.“I’ve probably been on the road 60 percent of my life,” Stallone, 76, announces in the first episode.  “I looked around, my daughters are grown. Wouldn’t it be nice to spend some serious time with them?“Where, “he added with a laugh, “they couldn’t escape? They had to be with me.”Married to Jennifer Flavin Stallone, their three daughters are: Sophia, at 26 the oldest, “My dad raised us as military brats. You get up, you do 10 push-ups.”Sistine, 24, the middle child says, “My dad is over protective and quite intimidating.”And Scarlet, 20, rates as the wild card, “the funniest person ever.”Jennifer says, “We don’t live in a normal world. But when we’re all together, getting dinner, it feels like home.”“The first t...

TV premieres to look forward to this summer

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:00:39 GMT

The big news in TV right now is the Hollywood writers strike, which began earlier this month.If the strike lasts for months? The network lineup — all those cop shows and sitcoms — will not be ready to premiere in the fall as usual. We’ll cross that bridge if and when we get to it. For the time being, writers have not yet asked audiences to boycott TV altogether or cancel their streaming subscriptions, but a number of shows in production have been paused.A mix of new and returning shows, here’s a look at what’s on tap in the first few weeks of the summer TV season.“American Born Chinese” (May 24 on Disney+): An action comedy starring Oscar winner Michelle Yeoh and based on Gene Luen Yang’s graphic novel, it tells the story of a teen and a new student he befriends at school who is the son of a mythological Chinese god.“Platonic” (May 24 on Apple TV+): Rose Byrne and Seth Rogen star in this 10-episode comedy series as former best friends who reconnect in middle age — and become so cons...

Readers’ Corner: The truth, and nothing but the truth

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:00:39 GMT

The president of the Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts in the Berkshires awarded me an honorary doctor’s degree in journalism at last weekend’s commencement.As an alum, it’s more than I deserve. I declined at first, but President James Birge insisted. I accepted on behalf of everyone who believes in the truth.“Truth is my job,” I said in my acceptance speech. “Even if it takes all day, I never stop digging for the truth.”Truth keeps my old car on the road and sells this newspaper. I promised President Birge and his amazing staff I’d write about the recognition and today is proof the Herald keeps a promise. I’d rather stay out of the news, but sometimes it can’t be avoided.Ain’t that the truth.What was just delivered to President Biden is Exhibit A.Former U.S. Attorney for Massachusetts Rachael Rollins called the Herald liars and blocked me from her Twitter feed after she attended a DNC fundraiser featuring First L...

Life goes on in robin’s nest outside window

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:00:39 GMT

Dear Dr. John,As I look outside my kitchen window, I see a nest of robins in a tree. Our kitchen is on the second floor of our townhouse so it’s perfect for viewing the birds. I’ve watched the babies for almost a week, and I can see their heads as they stretch for their feeding. I’ve got great photographs!How much longer can these three babies squeeze into the nest as they grow and when will they step out to learn how to fly? It seems that both parents come and go with food. I’ve seen what appeared to be insects and even bees in their beaks and now I see some worms too. Is that a typical diet and when will the young eat on their own? Lastly, if one or two should fall, is it safe for me to put them back in the nest or on the branches around the nest? C.H.Dear C.H.,It seems that you have a perfect bird’s eye view, no pun intended! The eggs hatch approximately two weeks after they are laid. The first meals are regurgitated by the parents deep into the young birds’ throats and since you...

Absent dad wants to walk her down the aisle

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:00:39 GMT

Q. So I haven’t seen my dad in nine years. He walked out on our family to hang with a much younger woman in his office and we haven’t seen him since. Evidently, he just broke up with her and he is reaching out. But, here’s the thing: I’m getting married in two weeks and he just texted me that he is sorry and would like to walk me down the aisle. That honor goes to my bonus dad. He has been in our lives for 7 years and has been there for all of us, especially my little brother who is now 14. My first thought is that I don’t want my father anywhere near my wedding. It would just be too awkward. Am I being too harsh? What’s good ex-etiquette?A. Isn’t life’s timing ironic? If this had happened even a year ago you may have had time to forge somewhat of a relationship, but in two weeks it’s doubtful the pain associated with your father’s choices can be healed. And even if your goal is to forgive him and move on, it doesn’t mean you want him to walk you down the aisle.Enter your bonus dad,...

Your guide to a stylish Memorial Day getaway

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:00:39 GMT

For the nation, Memorial Day honors those who’ve given their lives to fight for America. For many of us, it also marks the annual three-day weekend that unofficially kicks off summer. And it’s the time of a million fantastic sales. These days — as with almost all holidays — those sales happen in advance of the actual day.So if you haven’t already made your plans for your long weekend getaway, it’s time to do three things —and pronto:Make those plans, now.Shop for the getaway — with a smart, sales-centric strategy.Pack your weekend getaway bag and go.Here’s a quick cheat sheet on what to buy and pack, according to your destination —based on what your preferred mood and activities are, and with a keen eye on Memorial Day sales. Ready? Get set. Now go, already. Beach, beach, and more beachWhere: Pelham House (pelhamhouseresort.com), Dennis PortWhy: Lounge on the private beach and in the sunken firepit centered in the seaside pool, then nosh at the rooftop eatery. Consider i...