I hate cleaning windows. I love the way they look when they are clean, but I hate cleaning them. I don’t care who knows it. And that includes the windows. My husband has purchased gadgets and gizmos to do the exteriors, but we still have screens and interiors to clean. I have neighbors who love to clean windows, so my windows have cleaning envy.

My window washing disdain dates back to my old house. Built in 1928, it had massive wood windows that required hauling the storms off the window frames, storing them and then cleaning the interiors. The windows were heavy and so were the screens. And they were almost as tall as me. The first floor alone had 19 windows. Gradually, I replaced the old house’s dinosaurs with newer models and/or lighter weight storm/screen combinations, but my disdain for window cleaning remains.

This house is twice as big and has 13 first-floor windows, but they have removable muntins. I love the look of muntins until I have to pull them out and reinsert them in the same holes — one is right in the lock. Who does that? Right now, I have three windows done. I have tried paying the kids to do them, but repairs are too costly.

My boys were better at breaking windows than cleaning them. Howie broke more than one window in our old sunporch just fooling around with my tennis racket. He also is the one who, while outside, threw a snowball at his brother, who was inside — breaking both the storm and interior windows. The basement windows were broken so many times by soccer balls that I installed glass block.

I admit I broke a few windows myself. I killed a bug with my wallet one time, and smashed the kitchen window — must have been full of pennies.

I know all the tricks: Vinegar, newspaper, squeegees, add a teaspoon of dish soap. I’m a Windex girl myself. Sometime before Sunday, I plan to get at least those other three windows on the front of the first floor done. And then we will be in for a storm of biblical proportions. And after that, I must clean out the closets. Every time a kid moves out, I take over a closet. I now have spring, summer, winter and fall closets. Oh and a closet of stuff I don’t know what to do with.  My husband is not amused, but I will remind him how lovely the windows look.

Pam Parker is the editor of Lake Erie LifeStyle, Her Times and House to Home at the Erie Times-News in Erie, Pa. She is the mom of three and stepmom to three.

Join me as I push the clouds and rain out of the way this weekend.

With my hands and feet!

I plan to do my nails in wild colors that shine even if the sun doesn’t. I saw this article in the July issue of InStyle magazine — one of my favorites. The mani blends contrasting colors with say purple on all fingers — but the ring finger could be a coordinating shade of blue. Or do green nails with a purple ring finger. Or silver with pearly white on that ring finger. I am so doing this tonight when I redo these nails … and my toes.

Enjoy the weekend — no matter what the forecast is.

Pam Parker is the editor of Lake Erie LifeStyle, Her Times and House to Home at the Erie Times-News in Erie, Pa. She is the mom of three and stepmom to three.

Estate is the proper term for some of the beautiful homes in the subdivision off of Asbury Road known as Asbury Woods Estates.

I ask my husband, father of three and stepdad to my three, what he wants for Father’s Day every year. In our early years together, answers ranged from a power washer to a more powerful power washer to other lawn and garden noise makers. Surgeries have eliminated his lawn activities, so this year, he wants a cordless drill.

I am opting for something sweeter. Like that adorable cupcake at left from Crumbs Bakery – it started in Manhattan in 2003 and moved into 13 states. I made friends with the PR folks, and Elena Alikhanian from Michele Marie PR in Beverly Hills, Calif., sends me pictures of cute and taste-tempting confections pretty regularly. If you dare to visit the website that shows all the cupcake flavors, your mouth will water like mine did. Click here – remember, I warned you.

A 6-pack of signature cupcakes is $27. The company sends the cupcakes frozen and recommends overnight delivery. If you don’t want to order from Crumbs, I’m sure you can concoct your own version of this cupcake or visit a local cupcakery and order up a batch. I’m also sure DIY versions are making the rounds on Pinterest, but I am not a DIY kind of gal.

My husband is also a fan of the Oakmont Bakery and the Pittsburgh Popcorn Company — both in the ‘Burgh, so our big city girl and her boyfriend always know what to bring home.

Back to the lawn and garden noise makers — I have to share that the first year we were married, my husband and our neighbor, a state cop, washed several driveways with their Father’s Day power washers. They were covered in mud and smiling from ear to ear.

Pam Parker is the editor of Lake Erie LifeStyle, Her Times and House to Home at the Erie Times-News in Erie, Pa. She is the mom of three and stepmom to three. 

We are a family of Vernondale Whalers from way back. And Tracy Tigers. The Millcreek Township School District school board voted 5-4 to close Vernondale and Ridgefield at last week’s meeting.

I feel for the families, but I also worry about the budget. My kids were moved 15 years ago from Vernondale to Tracy, and we knew it was coming. We also knew we could be moved again, and that is true for everyone in any large school district. Depending on enrollments, kids go where there’s room. There are no guarantees.

During last week’s school board meeting, I was confused.  Months ago, we heard the district would save $2.4 million on the school closings, and then the number changed as the idea resurfaced.

Here’s some advice to Millcreek leaders: We expect to hear: “Here’s the plan. It’s the best arrangement for the students and the best choice for the district.” Done. End of story. Move forward. It’s what the Erie School District did last year. Right now, this situation appears to drag out. The MTSD site states:

The official vote on these closings will not take place until the Special Board meeting on August 12, 2013, District administrators are in the process of finalizing redistricting and student realignment plans to prepare for the 2013-14 school year. These plans will be presented at the June 17 Operations Committee, which is scheduled for 7:00 p.m.  The School Board would then approve the final redistricting boundaries at the June 27 Board meeting. 

Don’t rush a budget and a superintendent

While the school district continues to battle numbers in a wicked school budget, it’s also rushing to hire a new superintendent– a huge mistake in my humble opinion. This district needs to focus on one thing at a time. Get this budget/school closings issue straightened out with an acting superintendent and start mending fences with residents. Then, look for a superintendent. Take your time and give residents some confidence.

Trust and transparency?

While we hear that Millcreek’s administrators have met with Erie School District leaders for advice, I’m not sure they are taking that advice to heart. An editorial in the Erie Times-News today pointed out that the public will meet four superintendent finalists at McDowell Intermediate High School’s Little Theatre, 3320 Caughey Road tonight at 6 p.m. Part of the editorial reads:

“When the Erie School Board searched for a successor to Jim Barker, the board released the names in advance and held separate two-hour open forums for its three finalists. Millcreek residents were required to submit questions in advance by e-mail.”

The editorial wonders how much filtering will go on with those questions. Read the full editorial here. You can meet all four candidates tonight from 6 to 8 p.m. — or it might be 7:30 p.m. — the MTSD notice has both times on it — must have been a clerical error.  Click on each name below to link to candidate resumes.

• Mr. Kenneth Berlin – principal of Iroquois Jr./Sr. High School
• Mr. William Hall – assistant superintendent who is serving as acting superintendent at Millcreek
• Dr. Joseph Macharola* – executive director of Appalachia Intermediate Unit 8 in Altoona
• Dr. Stephanie Williams – principal of McDowell Intermediate

Dr. Joseph Macharola refused to post his resume. You’ll have to Google him.

A word to the board and administration

Please get your ducks in a row, do your research, and be leaders. Please stop infuriating Millcreek residents with rushed decisions that affect this school district for years to come. Please.

Pam Parker is the editor of Lake Erie LifeStyle, Her Times and House to Home at the Erie Times-News in Erie, Pa. She is the mom of three and stepmom to three — all graduates of McDowell High School. 

One of the best things about being the editor of Her Times is hearing reader comments. And I heard many after my article “Hair today; gone tomorrow” appeared in our May issue.

Back in May, I wrote about how to rid yourself of the annoying peach fuzz that pesters many of us. Standing in bright sunlight, a mustache and/or furry cheeks can make us feel — well harried.

Linda Stevenson retires today as the senior vice president of Women’s Business Development at PNC Bank — after 47 years in banking.

Linda will continue her incredible efforts as the leader of the ATHENA PowerLink® program.

I am proud to call Linda my friend and a role model for all women.

Linda started the ATHENA PowerLink® program in Erie and Crawford Counties in 2000. I have served on her committees and learned a great deal from her in meetings. She has empowered countless female entrepreneurs in our region.

The ATHENA PowerLink® program is a business mentoring program. For one year a team of advisers offers free services in accounting, law, marketing, finance, human resources and technology. I had the privilege of serving on the advisory panel for the Sassy Peacock. I have watched owner Sabrina Fischer become a mentor in her own right — a true mark of success for Athena.

A Harborcreek High School graduate and the 2010 Women’s Roundtable Woman of the Year, Linda will continue to help women-owned businesses flourish  in our region.

Best wishes, Linda, and many thanks for all you have done so far — with much more to come.

Pam Parker is the editor of Lake Erie LifeStyle, Her Times and House to Home at the Erie Times-News in Erie, Pa. She is the mom of three and stepmom to three.

Where did four decades go, and how did they slip away so quickly? This summer, the Villa Maria Academy class of 1973 celebrates its 40th reunion.

In the past couple of weeks, I have seen and heard from a lot of folks from my class. Some I see on Facebook. I ran into Marilyn McLaughlin Gallagher in Walmart. She will forever be the mayor of the Munchkin City to me, in the county of the land of Oz. She played the character in a play I directed when our junior class presented a Villa Maria version of the Wizard of Oz.  Or maybe she was the coroner.

Our Oz story concentrated on “no place like Villa.” We substituted plain brown loafers for ruby slippers — we were pretty stuck on plain brown loafers in those days, and by “we,” I mean the uniform police under the jurisdiction of the good sisters of St. Joseph. Our class was blessed with a uniform of heather blue skirts, cardigan sweaters that buttoned to the chin and matching knee socks. For dress day, we wore suit jackets, jewel neckline blouses that buttoned up the back and plain stockings.

We were blessed because the class ahead of us had invested in brown tweed skirts and sweaters. Not many girls looked good in brown tweed skirts with white Peter Pan collar blouses and plain brown cardigans. Even Mr. Rogers wore red, and his had a flashy zipper.

I often drove my car — a 1965 Chevy Bel Air — over the double-lane sidewalk that connected to the West Erie Plaza to the VMA parking lot. It was a big sidewalk and a perfect shortcut because waiting for the light on Pittsburgh Avenue or trying to gain entrance into the parking lot via a left-hand turn from West Eighth Street could take minutes — many minutes, precious minutes. I made a movie of one of those rides, and poles were promptly installed in that driveway, rather sidewalk. I think they are still there.

I haven’t attended reunion events in a very long time. But when the Party on the Patio kicks up on July 19, I will be there to share memories of Sports Days, Oz and listen to the laughter of women who are still my closest friends. A 1973 group will also gather at the beach on July 6.

Some of the best advice I ever received came at our commencement (where we all wore white dresses — try finding one of those when 100 plus other girls are looking for one). The speaker advised, “Make new friends; keep the old. One is silver, the other gold.” Thanks to the Scouts for the message, I have plenty of silver and gold to cherish. Here’s to the Villa Victors.

If you need info on a class reunion at Prep or Villa, visit www.prep-villa.com.  Thanks to my pal, Christine Eddy at Villa for all the updates.

Pam Parker, a proud graduate of Villa Maria Academy, is the editor of Lake Erie LifeStyle, Her Times and House to Home at the Erie Times-News in Erie, Pa. She is the mom of three and stepmom to three.

From left, Howie Eckert, Laura Alexis, Kelly Eckert, Nick Carmosino, Ryan Eckert, Pam Parker and Kim Parker at Waterman’s Surfside Grille in Virginia Beach.

What a difference a year makes.

Last year my oldest graduated as a doctor of physical therapy after seven long years of studying. This year, we spent a long weekend in his new hometown of Virginia Beach.

We shared love, laughter and libations on this trip and made memories.  Some of the memorable moments:

My youngest, who recently turned 21, told us frequently, “I’m a grown man.” He also selected the fave meal of the week —  the Waterman burger – a burger topped with a lump crabcake and  cheese. It was incredible.

Our view above Rudee’s Inlet near the beach included a marina. Captain Jack and the Lost Pearl, a pirate ship, regularly cruised by larger boats with loudspeaker blaring, “Give me all your treasure.” The boat tours the inlet and includes a bar.

We had an air show on Friday courtesy of the Naval Air Station in nearby Oceana. It is home to the F/A-18 Hornets and Super Hornets.

Everyone in Virginia Beach must be working for the Chamber of Commerce. The police officer directing traffic near a construction site outside our rented condo talked to us on a break and shared all the pertinent stats of the area. He also offered tips on shopping, eating and traveling. He moved there in the 1980s from New Jersey.

It’s a great place to visit, and we will be back. It’s also not far from the Outer Banks.

Pam Parker is the editor of Lake Erie LifeStyle, Her Times and House to Home at the Erie Times-News in Erie, Pa. She is the mom of three and stepmom to three.