Baseball

“I wrote 63 songs this year. They’re all about Jeter.” Just kidding. The game we love, the players we hate, and more.

Culture and Criticism

From Norman Mailer to Wendy Pepper — everything on film, TV, books, music, and snacks (shut up, raisins), plus the Girls’ Bike Club.

Donors Choose and Contests

Helping public schools, winning prizes, sending a crazy lady in a tomato costume out in public.

Stories, True and Otherwise

Monologues, travelogues, fiction, and fart humor. And hens. Don’t forget the hens.

The Vine

The Tomato Nation advice column addresses your questions on etiquette, grammar, romance, and pet misbehavior. Ask The Readers about books or fashion today!

The Vine: February 5, 2002
February 5, 2002 · No Comment

Dear Sars,
Just taking a brain-break at work to read the Vine. If you still post Vine feedback now and then, I have a thought to share with today’s Procrastinator — this helped me greatly in …

Songs In The Key Of “Huh?”
February 4, 2002 · 3 Comments

Regina: Let’s say you could do anything you wanted.
Sarah: Oh, yes — let’s.
Regina: No, really. Let’s say you could do whatever you wanted and get away with it.
Sarah: Okay. Hee.
Regina: What?
Sarah: Oh, just thinking about …

The Vine: January 30, 2002
January 30, 2002 · No Comment

Dear Sars,
I started dating “Mike” three years ago when I was 15 and he was 18. We both shared a dark past (he was in remission for leukemia; I had received a kidney transplant two …

The Vine: January 29, 2002
January 29, 2002 · No Comment

Ms. Sars:
Am I missing the clues? Am I just not picking up on the signals he’s throwing out? A few months ago, he told me he still loved me, but that he didn’t know if …

Tech Wars
January 28, 2002 · No Comment

“Check the back of the TV where the wires lead into the TiVo.”
“I DID that.”
“So you’re sure they’re leading to the right –”
“YES I’m sure they’re leading to the right outputs! What am I, STUPID?”
“It’s …

The Vine: January 25, 2002
January 25, 2002 · No Comment

So last year, in my hometown, I got together with a guy, who soon after introduced me to his best female friend — let’s call her “Angela.” The three of us hung out a couple …

The Vine: January 24, 2002
January 24, 2002 · No Comment

Sarah,
I would love your objective opinion on a problem I’m having with my mother-in-law. She is a 70-year-old chain-smoking alcoholic with various health problems. According to her, she is always on the brink of death. …

The Vine: January 23, 2002
January 23, 2002 · No Comment

Hey, Sarah:
My mom’s been sober for about ten years — as a result of extensive therapy, and a week at rehab. However, I’m starting to notice all the old signs again — brown paper bags …

The Vine: January 22, 2002
January 22, 2002 · No Comment

Dear Sars,
I have been friends with this girl for quite a few years now; she considers me her best friend, but lately I find that I cannot stand being around her. The problem is, she …

The Vine: January 31, 2002
January 21, 2002 · No Comment

Three times in the last two days, I have heard the expression “I’d rather be lucky than good.” What does that mean? Why is it better to be lucky than good? I didn’t know who …