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: October 8, 2001b
October 8, 2001 · No Comment

Hi Sars,
I’ve been following your site for a while, and the recent increase of Vines concerning relationships made me decide to send along my own problem.
Here’s the thing: A few months ago, my friend started …

The Vine: October 8, 2001
October 8, 2001 · No Comment

Today, a handful of reader responses to past Vines, and then I tackle a bit of the backlog.

Sarah,
I’ve been meaning to send this info to you since 9/11, but have hesitated because your readers tend …

The Vine: October 5, 2001
October 5, 2001 · No Comment

I’ve gotten dozens of emails about Smelly Cat Dad’s dilemma, so I’ve put together a list of the suggestions below, in case anyone else out there is facing a similar problem.
1. The obesity could put …

The Vine: October 4, 2001
October 4, 2001 · No Comment

Sarah —
I had to pop in and give my two cents in response to Worried Friend and the source of her worry, “Natalie and Fred.”Your advice was so spot-on it isn’t even funny, and I …

The Vine: October 3, 2001
October 3, 2001 · No Comment

Dear Sars:
Normally I would content myself with quiet lurking, but the letter from Lise, your response to her, and subsequent letters from Vine readers have prompted me to weigh in here.
Frankly, you certainly don’t need …

The Vine: October 2, 2001
October 2, 2001 · No Comment

Hi Sars,
My heart really goes out to Ben’s Shadow, as I’m sure many, many readers have said.What a beautiful person he must be to have written so touchingly from his pain.
I don’t have any words …

15 Things To Love About Toronto
October 1, 2001 · No Comment

1. Chips and dip. Ketchup-flavored chips — that’s the genius of socialism at work, right there. Why don’t we have these in the US? Why does the Frito-Lay Corporation persist in futzing around with flavors …

The Vine: September 28, 2001
September 28, 2001 · No Comment

Sarah,
I’m sure you’ve been inundated with people looking for advice after last week’s tragedies.Even so, I hope that you can give me a little guidance.
Last May, I fell in love with the man of my …

The Vine: September 27, 2001
September 27, 2001 · No Comment

Hello, Sars. Love your web site. I’m behind on my work catching up on Ketchup and the old Vine columns. It’s worth every “wasted” minute.
I am actually writing this on behalf of a friend of …

The Vine: September 26, 2001
September 26, 2001 · No Comment

I’ve had three early miscarriages. I didn’t name any of them, nor do I “celebrate” the birthdays or due dates or anything like that, but I will defend to the end the right of a …