Musings from my driveway, my home and my heart
My grandmother, Rozalia Krzemienski, a Polish immigrant with a third-grade education, ran a tiny shot-and-a-beer bar for autoworkers in Detroit for 60 years. I spent my childhood summers with her, watching her deal with customers and make decisions as the small-business owner of the Rose Café, which was named after her. She taught me some... Continue Reading →
My friends come to me for car advice because I’ve covered the global auto industry for more than 20 years. But they also stop by when they want to talk about . . .
A schnauzer, a hatchet and a rosary were some of the tools my grandma relied on when she was forced into retirement at age 84 the day after my grandfather died. They ran a little shot-and-a-beer bar called the Rose Cafe on Michigan Avenue in Detroit that served Cadillac and Chrysler autoworkers. It was a... Continue Reading →
Just two hours into our annual neighborhood garage sale on Saturday, it was clear something was wrong. “Nobody’s buying anything!” said one neighbor. “I’ve only sold $10 worth of stuff.” In recent years, bargain hunters would be running up our driveways an hour before the official start time of 8 a.m., searching for the best... Continue Reading →
As a college essay coach I’ve found that parents often are the greatest stumbling block to a winning piece of writing. Here is my advice to well-meaning parents who are tempted to parachute in and take charge of the process. Keep Your Hands Off the Essay Elementary school teachers often tell me that they can... Continue Reading →
I met with one of my business-writing clients at Starbucks this week. As we were finishing up, the real truth came out. Despite his impressive resume and credentials, he is intimidated by writing and doesn’t know how to overcome the fear as he seeks to launch his career in a new direction. I had a... Continue Reading →
I’ve become something of a Honda CR-V evangelist to the women in my Pilates classes and book club. I’ve owned three of them in the last 10 years and whenever I’m asked for car advice I invariably recommend the CR-V compact SUV because of its “perfect fit.” So I was surprised at my reaction to... Continue Reading →
When the conversation lags at business dinners or cocktail parties, I like to liven things up by asking people a simple question: “What was your first job?” People have done everything from “herding turkeys” to “recording the results of PAP-test smears.” But all seem to agree that a first job is not only memorable, it... Continue Reading →
It’s no secret among women that pink grapefruit-scented cologne can trick others into thinking you’re six years younger than your real age. Some researchers even claim that Calvin Klein’s Eternity perfume can take 12 pounds off a woman’s perceived weight with one spritz. The 2017 Infiniti Q60, the Japanese automaker’s new flagship coupe, may work... Continue Reading →
The first birthday gift my husband gave me was a Honda HR21 lawn mower, a perfect present since some of my happiest hours are spent working in the yard. As a result, I’ve come to think of Hondas, including the current CR-V parked in my garage, as some of the most practical and worthwhile offerings... Continue Reading →
Anita's Way 