Cindy Hval

When I awoke on Saturday morning I had four or five close friends; by the end of the day I had 50. A few days later I had over 100. Yes, that’s right, after years of resistance, I finally joined the Facebook revolution. Surely it’s no coincidence that this month Facebook became the most popular Web site in North America, surpassing even monster hit generator Google. I’m pretty sure I was the site’s 400 millionth registered user, but so far I haven’t received a T-shirt or a coffee mug, nor have I been asked to appear on Good Morning America.

I’ve never visited the Statue of Liberty, but I think I know what inspired Emma Lazarus when she wrote, “Give me your tired, your poor, your huddled masses yearning to breathe free. …” She’d probably just spent a Saturday morning at the Department of Motor Vehicles. Last month I received a license renewal notice in the mail. I placed the letter in a safe spot so I could renew online. That spot is so secure I haven’t been able to find the notice since. And then I forgot about it – until another letter came in the mail.

In the 2004 movie “Dodgeball: A True Underdog Story,” legendary dodgeball star Patches O’Houlihan says, “If you can dodge a wrench, you can dodge a ball.” Fortunately, kids who sign up for Spokane Youth Sports Association’s new dodgeball program won’t have to test the veracity of that statement. In fact, according to program coordinator LeRoy Woodrich, the activity that once was relegated to P.E. class or school recess, has become a kinder, gentler sport.

January was National Soup Month, but it’s not too late to celebrate with a steaming bowl of chicken noodle or a hearty serving of black bean. Researchers say that soup can help you lose weight and boost your immunity. Perhaps that’s why Americans consume more than 10 billion bowls of it each year. But I’ve discovered an additional benefit – making homemade soup is great therapy. In fact, it’s become my surefire stress reliever.

The earthquake that rocked Haiti on Jan. 12 sent emotional shockwaves around the world and into a living room on Spokane’s South Hill. When 7-year-old Ella Magnuson watched the news with her dad and saw the devastation she said, “I got sad. I started thinking maybe they might need water or food.” Meanwhile her brother Mack, 11, did his own research at school. “I found out pretty much everybody was homeless, even the president,” he said. “I saw pictures of people, like, stuck in buildings with their hands extended.” He too wanted to help.

Many marital experts agree that a little mystery in a relationship adds spice. For Derek and me the ongoing challenge of translating woman-speak into man-speak continues to add intrigue, even after 23 years. Indeed, I’m afraid any more mystery might lead to heartburn. We must not be alone, considering a quick search of Amazon.com reveals 2,419 book titles under the topic “marital communication.” Even though I’m a professional communicator, occasionally Derek finds my skills somewhat lacking. For example, Saturday morning, I awoke to the smell of French roast brewing. “Is the coffee ready?” I hollered to Derek who was in the living room.