When you wait for the termite guys to come fix the dry rot, and they don’t come for 2.5 hours, you get a lot of yard work done as you wait. Since I’m old and can’t move a heavy 66-gallon can full of yard waste, I park it on the street and then fill it… Continue reading Bucket by Bucket
Category: beach
Day 2 at the Beach
Normally, on Day 2, I spend the whole day thrifting and doing yard work. But today I wrote in the morning, had a nice chat with a college friend now in Georgia about her son’s wedding, took Pepper for a walk, played ball with Daisy, and then talked on the phone with a friend going… Continue reading Day 2 at the Beach
Five Zippers
When you have a Jack Russell terrier for a pet, nothing is business as usual. Daisy is so smart and high-strung that she witnesses everything I do and plans ahead, as in, she’s going to open the door soon, so I will be ready to escape. Or, she’s coming in the front door now, so… Continue reading Five Zippers
Five Red Chairs
I bought them in April because of the upcoming tariffs. There were only five left in red. They had to be red. They were delivered to my neighbor’s house since I’m not always here. They came unassembled. I tried to put one together. I had the diagram, the parts, and the time. I did okay… Continue reading Five Red Chairs
Sneaking into the Pool
(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
Do You Want a Cookie, Little Girl?
(re-run) She 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?
Dealing with Duff
What is duff, you ask? It’s decaying vegetable matter covering the ground under trees. It’s what burns in a wild fire. It’s especially thick under evergreen trees because those pine needles build up and don’t necessarily get raked up like obvious leaves do. Insurance companies want those of us who live in California to get… Continue reading Dealing with Duff
The Third Day at the Beach
(re-run) When I visit my beach house, it’s usually for two nights. One night is a no-go. It’s too much work to pack up and take the dogs, driving down one day and driving back the next. Every now and then I get an extra third night. That seems to be the difference between getting… Continue reading The Third Day at the Beach
Daisy’s Night Run, a Skunk, and an Anniversary
(re-run) With hot, 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… Continue reading Daisy’s Night Run, a Skunk, and an Anniversary
Memorial Day Weekend – Hello to Summer
(re-run from 2020) My next-door neighbor just told me that he had the Coronavirus in December, that he was down for 10 days, lost weight, lost his sense of smell and taste, and felt like he had a big rubber band around his chest. He had to sleep in a chair because it hurt to… Continue reading Memorial Day Weekend – Hello to Summer
FIRST DATE, WORST DATE EVER! 