Category: beach

Do You Want a Cookie, Little Girl?

Posted in dating, relationships, humor, firsts, California, hiking, Hawaii, skiing, music, best, nature, romance, beach, boyfriend, parkLeave a comment

(re-run) Pam ran a personal ad in the Contra Costa Times: Single white female looking for single Asian man. Her two previous boyfriends had been Asian. James called and left a message with his phone number on a Friday night. The next morning Pam checked her phone messages. She liked his voice as she listened… Continue reading Do You Want a Cookie, Little Girl?

Pepper Might’ve Saved my Life Today

Posted in beach, California, dog behaviors, dog walks, garden hose, gardening, guardian angel, memoir, neighbors, old lady card, timing, tree trimmer, treesLeave a comment

(re-run) When I got back from the beach walk where I froze as Pepper smelled every bush and tree along the way, I went inside, put a pot of water on to heat, gave each dog a treat and took Daisy outside to play ball in the front yard. After I’d thrown the first ball,… Continue reading Pepper Might’ve Saved my Life Today

Weed Whacker Workout

Posted in beach, dogs, foxtails, garden, memoir, Monterey Bay, mulch, neck, neighbors, weedsLeave a comment

I’ve never owned or used a Weed Whacker. I’m an Iowa girl who pulls weeds by hand so they don’t come back. But this year is the exception.  With record rainfall, the weeds are on steroids this spring. See photo. I ordered an electric weed whacker from my local hardware store since I didn’t want… Continue reading Weed Whacker Workout

Sneaking into the Pool

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, my roommate and partner in crime 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… Continue reading Sneaking into the Pool

Surprise in the Porch Stove

Posted in beach, dog training, dog whisperer, dogs, glue traps, Jack Russell terrier, memoir, poison, porch, ratsLeave a comment

(re-run) I got home from the beach, with temps up to 70 degrees. “Why am I coming back?” I asked myself as the car’s outside temp rose to 82, then 88 then 92 as I pulled off the freeway in San Ramon. When I got home, the dogs went ballistic as they always do. We’re… Continue reading Surprise in the Porch Stove

Daisy’s Night Run, a Skunk, and an Anniversary

Posted in beach, California, dogs, foxtails, memoir, Monterey county, raccoons, runaway, skunkLeave a comment

(re-run) With hot weather in the Bay Area, it seemed like a good time to run down to the beach, plus the handy woman was available to come at the same time with her daughter. We had trees to plant, foxtails to pull, and a flat roof filled with pine needles to clean. The dogs… Continue reading Daisy’s Night Run, a Skunk, and an Anniversary

A Scavenger’s Life

Posted in beach, cell phone, dogs, humor, internet, re-purpose, re-use, recycle, scavenger, travelLeave a comment

(re-run) I see value in things that others don’t see. It can be blessing and also a problem. That paper bag? Take it to my favorite thrift store. The plastic bag the newspaper comes in? A poop bag on a dog walk.  A cracked dinner plate? A water-catch for a ceramic pot. So when the… Continue reading A Scavenger’s Life

Frostbite Memories

Posted in beach, California, college, dog walks, dogs, frostbite, gardening, Iowa, memoir, Monterey Bay, old lady card, tourists, tree trimmer, trees, wind, winter breakLeave a comment

(re-run) Today the sun was shining, the ocean was royal blue and the wind was bitter cold. I had the dog on a choke chain since I couldn’t squeeze the prong collar back together (I’d taken it apart in the wrong place).  I headed down my street past a tree- trimmer truck that has just… Continue reading Frostbite Memories

Return to the Scene of the Crime

Posted in animal rescue, animals, beach, bench, California, carbon monoxide alarm, dogs, donations, fences, Good Will, hard boiled eggs, memoir, Monterey Bay, Nordstrom, repurposing, smoke, smoke alarms, thrift store, yard, yard workLeave a comment

(re-run) Two weeks ago, I tried to burn my house down.  I came home in time to turn off the burner under the hard-boiled eggs. Eight of them had become missiles and hung in pieces from every surface in the kitchen. Four of them turned black in the Teflon pan. When I put the key… Continue reading Return to the Scene of the Crime