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Virtual Tip Jar Fail

Posted in Beatles, Facebook, live music, livestream, memoir, pandemic, Paypal, technology, tip jar, Zoom, ZumbaLeave a comment

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

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The Uses for a Nine Year Old

Posted in California, children, dogs, humor, Lafayette, math, memoir, relationshipsLeave a comment

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

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The Blond-tourage

Posted in aging, blondes, California, cocktail waitress, girlfriends, hairdresser, humor, memoir, relationships, waitressing7 Comments

Every woman over fifty gets the same advice from her hairdresser — lighten up your 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 you. So… Continue reading The Blond-tourage

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Moon Over Lafayette

Posted in California, dating, firsts, flirting, humor, Lafayette, relationships, restaurant, worstLeave a comment

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

Why the College Students Are Protesting

Posted in memoir, Vietnam, college, protest, government, war, Gaza, Israel, Palestinians, hostages, Kwnt State, Kent State, bombsLeave a comment

Those of you not old enough to remember Kent State in 1970 and the four students gunned down during a protest over the war in Viet Nam, let me tell you that one of my friends is married to her older husband, who was there and witnessed it. He remembers. Now, colleges across the country… Continue reading Why the College Students Are Protesting

Head in the Clouds Harry

Posted in ADHD, Boston, California, clueless, dating, friends, hiking, New HampshireLeave a comment

(re-run) Margo met Harry at the Appalachian Mountain Club, a sport-lovers organization in Boston. He was athletic looking with a nice smile. He asked her to go on a short hike with him in New Hampshire. She agreed to drive separately and meet him at the trailhead since she had a dinner to attend that… Continue reading Head in the Clouds Harry

Good Thing for the Rat

Posted in costumes, donations, Facebook Marketplace, income tax, inventory, memoir, rats, vintageLeave a comment

When I went to the garage the other day to get something from the second refrigerator, I noticed the white top of my blue rolling cooler (ice chest) had rat droppings on it. OMG! I’ve lived here thirteen years and have never seen a rat in the garage. Long story short, I got busy finding… Continue reading Good Thing for the Rat

A Tale of Two Trees

Posted in apples, asphalt, children, dogs, greenbelt, HOA, Home Owners' Association, memoir, park, playground, shade trees, treesLeave a comment

(re-run) Thirteen years ago, I moved into my cozy house next to a park. When I hear the squeaky swings I know that someone is in the greenbelt. My dogs run to the park to play ball or go for a walk. They always head right once out the front door, never left. They know… Continue reading A Tale of Two Trees

Prom Be Gone

Posted in dancing, dating, firsts, fraternity, high school, Prom, puppy love, relationshipsLeave a comment

(re-run) It was supposed to be junior prom at Stoughton High, but it got cancelled (thirteen years before the movie Footloose). Patsy wasn’t going steady with anyone, so she wasn’t too upset. At the last minute the school arranged a dance in the high school gym, but with no decorations, no court (no prom queen),… Continue reading Prom Be Gone

A Good Dog Neighbor

Posted in relationships, humor, memoir, dogs, California, neighbors, best, animal shelter, son, phone call, sister, outdoors, parkLeave a comment

(re-run) Yesterday my son and I had lunch at the local sandwich shop. He brought his little dog, half Chihuahua, half terrier. I fed Violet scraps of lettuce under the table while we ate. She thinks she’s a vegetarian. Afterward, we followed the usual routine and came back to my house, where Violet could run… Continue reading A Good Dog Neighbor

Back in my Fat Pants Again

Posted in beach, Beatles, calcium, country music, Dexa scan, heat wave, humor, ice cream, memoir, osteoporosis, pants, singing, summer, Sun Kings, weight gainLeave a comment

(re-run) It sounds like a country western song. “Well, my true love done left me. He mosied ‘round the bend. It makes me sad that I’m heading back to my fat pants again!” In the winter, when I can hide under many layers, I am thinnest. Maybe it’s all the no-calorie tea and hot water… Continue reading Back in my Fat Pants Again

A Great Dane Story

Posted in animal training, Barbie, birds and bees, dog manners, dogs, friends, Great Danes, humor, Iowa, Ken, memoir, parents, relationships, teensLeave a comment

(re-run) When I was thirteen, I hung out at my neighbor Bonnie’s house, just one block away from mine, but it was different world.  Both her parents worked full time, so we teens could be there with no parental supervision. We were supervised, though, by the family’s Great Danes. I remember three dogs, but there… Continue reading A Great Dane Story