Weirdest First Date or Most Purrfect?

Mary met him on Match.com. He had dark hair and eyes and was pale but cute. He drove a Mustang, and Mary loved Mustangs. She was a bit older, but they were both deep into their twenties. He was earning his PhD at Cal and was a teaching assistant, so that meant he was super… Continue reading Weirdest First Date or Most Purrfect?

Chemistry is Everything

(re-run) Sharon was a Sigma Kappa at Cal Berkeley, in her junior year. As she stood outside her sorority house, chatting with the house mom, a guy that she knew from Kappa Sigma crossed the street. “Hey Sharon, do you want to go to a pinning party with me tonight?” “Okay,” Sharon said, even though… Continue reading Chemistry is Everything

Judging from the Trends

(re-run) I was asked to judge a picture book contest. I’m a picture book author of 29 books and also a mom of past picture-book fans. Picture books are books with both words and art, usually 28 to 64 pages, and usually for young children. The gift book people have figured out how to put… Continue reading Judging from the Trends

Best Tomato-planting Advice Ever

One morning, at a local garage sale, I stumbled upon the Alamo Garden Club people, selling plants in one of the member’s driveways. I picked up five tomato plants since the price was right. “Do you know how to plant them?” the man seated next to the cashier asked. “Yes,” I said. “I grow them… Continue reading Best Tomato-planting Advice Ever

How Thrifting Improved my Day

(re-run) Okay, I admit it. I’m a thrift store junkie. So when I go to my fave beach town, I make sure to stop at every thrift store at least once. That makes for six stops, nine if I venture down to Carmel. This trip I stayed in my town. I wandered into Second Chance… Continue reading How Thrifting Improved my Day

Sneaking into the Pool

(re-run) While student teaching in Venezuela, we learned how to have fun with not much money. One of the American teachers had stolen a couple of striped beach towels from an upscale hotel, and she had been sneaking into the hotel pool for years. “Just carry the towel and act like you belong,” Linda said.… Continue reading Sneaking into the Pool

There’s That Song!

I like to make different playlists on YouTube. Sometimes I want my meditation playlist with mellow songs. Other times I like my post-colonoscopy list, which is all my favorite songs ever. I also have a Michael Jackson playlist and a summertime playlist. I’ve been looking for a certain song for my whole adult life, really.… Continue reading There’s That Song!

A Great Dane Story

(re-run) When I was almost 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… Continue reading A Great Dane Story

Shake-up in the Routine

(re-run) I am a creature of habit. If it’s Monday, then it’s exercise with Carolyn at 9:30. If it’s Tuesday it’s chorus at 7:00. If it’s Wednesday, it’s exercise with Milan at 9:30. If it’s Thursday it’s Wild Card day. If it’s Friday, it’s exercise with Yuko at 9:30. Only this week things were goofed… Continue reading Shake-up in the Routine