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
Category: beach
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
Two Dolls in Two Days
I am in my beach town, and it’s foggy and gray. I pulled weeds the first afternoon so that I could put out a full green can this morning for the yard waste truck. More weeds await, but it’s another gray day. I took off for thrift stores both days at lunch time. Yesterday, after… Continue reading Two Dolls in Two Days
The Rain and the Long Ride Home
(re-run) After spending four nights in a the relatively pollen-free ocean zone, I was ready to come home and face a slew of doctor and tax appointments for me and my sister. I got up to wet pavement and sunny skies. I showered, packed, and rolled my suitcase out to the gate, along with a… Continue reading The Rain and the Long Ride Home
FIRST DATE, WORST DATE EVER! 