Trudy worked at an engineering firm. Joe was the visiting copy machine repair man, or as her office mates called him, the Xerox guy. One day Trudy had to make copies. Joe was at the machine, repairing away. “Oh,” she said. “No copies for me!” “Hey there,” Joe said. “We should catch dinner sometime.” “Okay.”… Continue reading Moon Over Lafayette
The Blond-tourage
(re-run) Every woman over fifty gets the same advice from her hairdresser — to lighten up her hair. As our skin fades and our looks do, too, we need brighter lipstick, sparkly-er clothing and blonder locks to stay looking as young as we can. My apologies to women of color; this may not apply to… Continue reading The Blond-tourage
Virtual Tip Jar Fail
I love live music, and the pandemic has made it harder to find. Some of the local bands have gone online, putting out their virtual tip jar while they play for an hour or two. Sometimes they are sponsored by a business, sometimes they do it from their apartments. I love the Beatles, so when… Continue reading Virtual Tip Jar Fail
The Uses for a Nine Year Old
My Girl Friday (who works for me on Mondays) has a daughter, who sometimes comes along with her to work. Now that her daughter is nine, she is useful in many ways. 1. She entertains my dogs. 2. She entertains my sister, giving her someone to watch. 3. She brings music into the house, since… Continue reading The Uses for a Nine Year Old
Worst Professor Ever
(re-run) She taught the research class at the University of Nebraska at Omaha. I needed the course to earn my master’s degree. It would be easy. I’d written dozens of research papers at Iowa State. She said we could choose any topic. All we had to do was take a position, defend it with an… Continue reading Worst Professor Ever
The Value of Rock and Roll Music
(re-run) John Lennon is turning over in his grave. One of his biggest songs, All You Need is Love, is now a GAP commercial with Katy Perry singing it as she poses for the camera in GAP clothing. Dick’s Sporting Goods uses Come Together in an ad, and Airbnb uses In My Life. If only… Continue reading The Value of Rock and Roll Music
Freaky Friday
(re-run) It was a beautiful day in Monterey County. I got up early, ate breakfast, showered, wrote a blog post, and stuffed more branches (blown down in the last storm) into the green can. Then I left for Carmel to be there when the thrift stores opened at 10:00 a.m.. One of them was having… Continue reading Freaky Friday
Help your Mood, Pull some Weeds
(re-run) Yesterday, I made the short trip to my little downtown beach town, got some cash from the ATM, picked up two newspapers, and headed back home. On the way into town, I saw two city workers spraying Roundup on the weeds in the median strip. They were still at it, in the very same… Continue reading Help your Mood, Pull some Weeds
Chorus Concerts a Super-spreader Weekend
(re-run from 2021) I’m in a chorus with 94 people. Last spring we performed Friday night, Saturday night, and Sunday afternoon. We all had to show a negative antigen test from Friday morning. We thought we were golden. We took off our masks. I’ve been wearing a mask to every rehearsal for four months. But… Continue reading Chorus Concerts a Super-spreader Weekend
Weirdest Dinner Party Ever
It was the holidays. Lynn and Richard had invited six couples and one single neighbor over for a lovely dinner party. The guests were told not to bring anything except ourselves. Since it was a long drive to Richmond and since we had a voucher to go kayaking the next day in Sausalito, my then-boyfriend,… Continue reading Weirdest Dinner Party Ever
Monday, Monday
(re-run) The neighbors have a new puppy. I can hear it squeaking at their back door. The windows are open, a hot night for October in California. My stitched-up leg is on the foot stool. The pain has lessened. After all, it is day 5. Only 9 more to go before the stitches come out.… Continue reading Monday, Monday
Prom with an Older Woman
(re-run) Alan was a sophomore when he got asked to junior prom by an older girl. He rented a tux from his date’s father, Mr. Cohen, at the local men’s shop in Monterey. Alan’s dad had to play chauffeur in his 1962 Chevy Bel Air, since Alan didn’t have his driver’s license yet. When they… Continue reading Prom with an Older Woman
Why I Love Saturday Mornings
When I was a kid, cartoons made Saturday mornings great. We sat around in our pajamas and ate our cereal in front of the TV. There was never time any other day of the week. Now that I’m grown and also retired, I still love Saturday mornings. I don’t have to Zumba, I don’t have… Continue reading Why I Love Saturday Mornings
Julie Takes a Ride
(the post that started it all) Julie and her friend, Denise, went to The Rusty Pelican on a Friday night. It was their go-to hang-out. But lately it had been heavy on girls’ night-out groups and light on eligible men. Would it be the same old, same old kind of night, or would Julie finally… Continue reading Julie Takes a Ride
FIRST DATE, WORST DATE EVER! 