children – Page 4 – FIRST DATE, WORST DATE EVER!

A Funeral, an Appendix, and a Dead Concert

August 27, 2023August 26, 2023 Posted in Boston, brother, Catholic, children, daughter, deceased, family, friends, funeral, girlfriends, Grateful Dead, humor, pain, relationships, siblings, surgery, surprise, waiting room, worstLeave a comment

(re-run) PK lived in Jersey when her childhood friend’s mum was terminally ill in Boston. Her friend called to say her mother had died, and PK woke up, wanting to go to the funeral and surprise her friend. She felt bad but thought it was the heat. She loaded up her three-year-old daughter and took… Continue reading A Funeral, an Appendix, and a Dead Concert

Creative People Make Messes

June 22, 2023June 22, 2023 Posted in art, children, computer, creativity, directors, doll house, dolls, illustrators, memoir, relationships, sewing, sewing machine, writers

(re-run) If you’re an orderly person like Monk on the TV show of the same name, this column is not for you. You crave things in place, all the time. Otherwise, you get agitated. The other side of the coin is the person who is so busy creating that he/she doesn’t notice the mess. When… Continue reading Creative People Make Messes

Worst Neighbors Ever

April 7, 2023April 7, 2023 Posted in abuse, children, dogs, humor, memoir, Nebraska, neighbors, relationships, worstLeave a comment

(re-run) When I was twenty-eight, I bought my first house. It was in Omaha, on 50th Avenue, south of Leavenworth. It was a cute little two bedroom, one bath with a full basement and big fenced-in backyard. Since I wanted to get a dog, it seemed perfect. I had a budget, and this house was… Continue reading Worst Neighbors Ever

My Three-quarter Bike Ride

March 21, 2023March 21, 2023 Posted in biking, California, children, exercise, handy woman, Iron Horse Trail, lunch, melanoma, memoir, pandemic, railroadLeave a comment

(re-run) I suggested the bike ride. My adult children don’t spend enough time outdoors or get enough exercise, but they do like to ride the Iron Horse trail, an easy, shady railroad right of way that connects towns up and down the I- 680 corridor. I knew I had them when I suggested lunch at… Continue reading My Three-quarter Bike Ride

The Story of Dr. Seuss

March 2, 2023March 2, 2023 Posted in author, biography, books, Caldecott Honor, children, children's books, Dick and Jane, divorce, Dr. Seuss, Pulitzer Prize, Random House, The Cat in the HatLeave a comment

(re-run) I just finished a 430-page biography about Theodor Geisel. You might know him better as Dr. Seuss (his mother’s maiden name). When I chose the book to review, I expected a children’s biography, not an in-depth tome that chronicled his life, year by year, from birth to death at age 87. He had two… Continue reading The Story of Dr. Seuss

Best Friends of Days Gone by

February 15, 2023February 15, 2023 Posted in 1970s, agent, children, children's books, friends, getting published, Maid of Honor, memoir, wedding2 Comments

On another day of reflection, I’m wondering how I lost track of two dear friends, one from high school, the other from college. I was maid of honor in the bridesmaid line-up at each of their weddings. I’m still wondering how that ever could’ve happened, looking back over the past forty years. I got married,… Continue reading Best Friends of Days Gone by

The Neighbors, the Pit Bull, and the Daily Pooper

February 5, 2023February 5, 2023 Posted in animal control, antique store, California, children, confrontation, dogs, Frisbee, high school, leash, memoir, middle school, neighbors, pit bull, poop, teaching1 Comment

(re-run) We bought a house on a street that was a long court with two courts coming off of it. We were up at the top, and it was a great and safe place for my kids to walk Penny, our greyhound-mix dog. Until it wasn’t. “That was a short walk,” I said when they… Continue reading The Neighbors, the Pit Bull, and the Daily Pooper

Christmas Eve Lock-out

December 24, 2022December 24, 2022 Posted in children, Christmas, Christmas Eve, dog walks, lock-out, locksmith, memoir1 Comment

(re-run) As we were getting ready to walk the three dogs on Christmas Eve, I announced to my two adult kids that I wasn’t going to bring my bulky key ring of keys. My son said he would bring his key. As we left through the laundry room door, I turned the knob on the… Continue reading Christmas Eve Lock-out

Musical Cleaning Day (waiting for plumber)

November 17, 2022November 17, 2022 Posted in Bill Withers, CD player, children, cleaning, dogs, Isley Brothers, memoir, music, musicians, pandemic, plumber, poem, purge, reflux diseaseLeave a comment

(re-run) The plumber said he’d be here by mid-morning, but it wasn’t looking good. I worked on a review for a new children’s book coming out next month. I watched some Dry Bar Comedy while I digested my breakfast. That is no longer a multi-tasking feature of my aging body. Reflux. It’s best to let… Continue reading Musical Cleaning Day (waiting for plumber)

The Red-tailed Hawk and the Toddler Fence

November 13, 2022November 13, 2022 Posted in birds, California, children, humor, hunting, Lindsay Wildlife Museum, memoir, Mount Diablo State Park, nature, outdoors, relationships, toddler, worstLeave a comment

(re-run) As a bird lover, I feed the song birds and the finches. I have an ongoing water supply in the form of a fountain in my back yard. I’ve planted native plants for the hummingbirds. When I hike, I am thrilled to find a hawk feather to add to my hat. Twenty-odd years ago,… Continue reading The Red-tailed Hawk and the Toddler Fence