Orange County Register

I guess I’m just old-school when it comes to the newspaper. But it really disturbs me each time I find out that one of my fellow moms doesn’t read the paper. Yes, I know you can get all the latest news online. But, nothing compares to the luxury of having your paper delivered and reading it at your leisure. Even, if that means stuffing it into your bag in the morning and pulling it out during lunch.

The paper and I go way back. As a kid, I would read the funnies everyday in The Fresno Bee. Do they still call them funnies?  With each milestone and move in my life, I never let go of the paper, and have subscribed to a laundry list of them. From The Minneapolis Star Tribune to The Oakland Tribune - it just didn’t feel like home until the paper delivery had commenced. I even subscribed to a Japanese paper because I loved the way it looked. 

After so many places, and so many papers, I’m so happy to have come back to my beloved Orange County Register. However, I must admit that The Register isn’t the only paper sitting in my driveway when I wake-up in the morning. Yes, The Los Angeles Times is right there next to it vying for my attention.  Don’t worry though, my heart will always belong to The Register.

I know that the newspaper may not seem very green, but there are so many uses beyond reading it. The most notable being:

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• A paper mache must — Can you even do it without newspaper?
• Gift wrap — Simply pick a section, wrap the present, and add a bright bow.
• Wet shoe moisture absorber — Just stuff the paper in the shoe and watch it wick away.
• Morning wake-up call — As soon as the paper hits the concrete I’m AWAKE.
• Puppy training/ cat box liner/hamster cage/bird cage — Need I say more?
• Fish wrap — I adore saying that I got some ink in the fish wrap!
• Delivering babies — Add boiled water and you’re set.
• Clean windows — No paper towels needed.
• Window covering — Not glamorous, but does the trick.
• Fire starter — Add kindling and a couple of logs for the perfect fire.
• Private eye disguise —  Cut out eye holes and you’re ready to spy just like Maxwell Smart.
• Great conversation starter  — “Did you read about _____ in the paper?”
• Packing material —  A moving day must.
• Stand-in umbrella/blanket/tent — A camping utensil.
• The perfect doggy poop bag — How many orange plastic bags have you seen dangling off leashes?

I could keep going, but I think that you get the idea. I’m willing to bet that you have a few uses of your own. For me, Sunday wouldn’t be the same without the paper. From fighting over the funnies to reading the game scores aloud, the newspaper has become a family event in my home.

Cheers to newspapers and the people who read them!

More from Book ‘Em:

• Don’t forget the dictionary
• Equal-time for cats
• My dog chews on books while Dean Koontz’s writes them
• A monster for all seasons

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• OC Moms home
• Mom forums

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