Susan

False Alarm

May 4, 2022May 4, 2022 Posted in dating, fire fighter, firsts, relationships, worstsLeave a comment

(re-run) Donnie, a firefighter, had a date with Lisa from Match.com. The date was just okay, but he knew there were only two kinds of women, those he would sleep with and those he wouldn’t. Lisa was in the first category. According to Donnie, men never had a wait-and-see attitude about a woman. Women could… Continue reading False Alarm

Six – Love

May 3, 2022May 3, 2022 Posted in dating, firsts, relationships, sports, worstsLeave a comment

(re-run) Alan went to in a dark disco bar in San Jose on a November night. He asked Donna, the woman with an amazing tan, to dance. Had she been to Hawaii? Mexico? The Bahamas? Alan didn’t ask her but admired her bronzed skin. The topic of tennis came up. Alan loved to play. So… Continue reading Six – Love

Drive-in Movie Blues

May 2, 2022May 2, 2022 Posted in California, cars, dating, drive-in movie, firsts, high school, humor, relationships, worstsLeave a comment

(re-run) Linda was a freshman and would start high school in the fall. She was doing summer stock at the Flamingo Hotel in Santa Rosa. The play was Bye Bye Birdie, and she was playing the part of a show girl. Jeff, one of the good-looking stage hands, drove a blue ’66 Cadillac convertible with… Continue reading Drive-in Movie Blues

Weirdest First Date or Most Purrfect?

April 30, 2022April 30, 2022 Posted in beach, Berkeley, Cal, California, cats, dating, firsts, grad school, Match.comLeave a comment

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?

Best Tomato-planting Advice Ever

April 28, 2022April 28, 2022 Posted in California, garage sales, garden, garden club, helpful strangers, language, memoir, Midwestern, morning person, the South, tomatoesLeave a comment

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

K is for Karma

April 26, 2022April 26, 2022 Posted in Carmel, dogs, Monterey Bay, thrift store, weedsLeave a comment

(re-run) My second day in paradise, the day after I pulled too many weeds and also went to a street fair, wasmy designated thrift store day. I drove to Carmel and got there just after the 10:00 opening. I picked out $10.00 worth of stuff so that I could get another punch on my punch… Continue reading K is for Karma

Sneaking into the Pool

April 25, 2022April 12, 2022 Posted in airport, Angel Falls, beach, Canaima, dysentery, hotel pool, humor, Iowa State University, memoir, microbes, relationships, teaching, travel, Venezuela, worstLeave a comment

(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!

April 24, 2022April 25, 2022 Posted in memoir, Motown, music, play list, Shazam, wine-tasting, winery, YouTubeLeave a comment

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

April 24, 2022April 24, 2022 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 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

April 23, 2022April 23, 2022 Posted in doctor, dogs, exercise, family, FOMO, hiking, live music, memoir, party, relationships, structure, vacation, weekend1 Comment

(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