earthquake – FIRST DATE, WORST DATE EVER!

Another Tree Bites the Dust

October 28, 2019October 28, 2019 Posted in California, earthquake, HOA, memoir, October, restaurant, trees, weather, wind1 Comment

Last week I said to a neighbor as we stood in the green belt, “I wish I could pick up this pine tree and move it away from my house.” Guess what? Today the wind gusts of 60 mph did just that. But instead of moving it, the winds snapped it off at the base.… Continue reading Another Tree Bites the Dust

Let it Rain

October 24, 2019October 24, 2019 Posted in earthquake, fires, hiking, memoir, OCD, power, power company, rain, windLeave a comment

If you live in California, this is the time of year that you pray for rain. With no precipitation since May, the hills are bone dry, so brown they are white. I hiked the hills yesterday. Not one green sprout of anything could be found anywhere. The trees are green, but that is all. When… Continue reading Let it Rain

Wake-up Call

October 16, 2019October 15, 2019 Posted in California, dogs, earthquake, Facebook, Loma Prieta, Midwestern, Oakland, relationships, Richter scale, Santa Cruz3 Comments

The 30th anniversary of the big quake (and my first quake) is tomorrow. It was 6.9 on the Richter Scale, the Loma Prieta earthquake, centered near Santa Cruz. The floor started rolling, and there was noise and lights swinging. It lasted for 15 long seconds. By the time I grabbed the baby and found the… Continue reading Wake-up Call

The Flying Hammer and the Cleaning Lady

May 13, 2019May 12, 2019 Posted in cleaning lady, contractor, earthquake, hammer, holidays, humor, husband, kitchen remodel, picnic, Pyrex, relationshipsLeave a comment

Many moons ago, when I was the mother of three young children, my husband (now ex) said, “Let’s remodel the kitchen. I stupidly agreed, not realizing that I would be the one to suffer through six weeks of no kitchen sink and six weeks of feeding my family with no way to cook anything except… Continue reading The Flying Hammer and the Cleaning Lady

Shake, Rattle and Roll

February 24, 2018February 24, 2018 Posted in animal rescue, California, caregiver, doctor, dogs, earthquake, fires, holidays, humor, Iowa, memoir, mudslides, nature, relationships, San Francisco, tornadoLeave a comment

Twenty earthquakes happened under my town yesterday. The biggest one was under the posh community of Diablo, three miles from here. They are calling it a swarm of quakes. The quakes are just big enough to get your attention or wake you from your slumber. The dogs don’t like them. The tremors are noisy, as… Continue reading Shake, Rattle and Roll

An Ode to the West Coast

January 30, 2018January 30, 2018 Posted in best, Big Sur, California, caregiver, dancing, earthquake, fires, hiking, humor, Iowa, memoir, Monterey Bay, mudslides, nature, relationships, San Francisco, Study abroad, Super BowlLeave a comment

Earthquakes, fires, and mudslides aside, California is an awesome state. You’ve lived at both ends, and it is like leaving one country and entering another. San Diego is warm, sunny, and filled with swaying palm trees. You were only there for 18 months, long enough to visit every beach and experience every tourist attraction. You… Continue reading An Ode to the West Coast

Worst Quake Ever

October 17, 2017October 24, 2017 Posted in earthquake, firsts, memoir, relationships, worsts2 Comments

1989 — We’d been in California for almost four years, two Midwestern transplants with a split-level house and two babies. It was our daughter’s third birthday, so Hubby took the day off, and we went to the Oakland zoo. The birthday party with playmates would be the next day. After as much fun as anyone… Continue reading Worst Quake Ever

FIRST DATE, WORST DATE EVER!

Susan Elya

Category: earthquake