Category: holidays

My Day Offline

Posted in biking, California, childhood, divorce, dogs, holidays, humor, internet, memoir, mom, nature, offline, relationshipsLeave a comment

Every morning I get up, feed the dogs, boil a pot of water, and make a blog post.  Then I drink my cup of hot water, scroll through Facebook, and wait for my reflux meds to kick in. Then I eat breakfast, take a shower, and start my day. I usually return to the internet… Continue reading My Day Offline

Porch Pirates, Poinsettias and Peaches

Posted in animal adoption, best, board and care, burglaries, California, caregiver, holiday weekend, holidays, humor, last, memoir, neighbors, pet, relationships, Thanksgiving2 Comments

The joke going around social media is that if you want to get rid of your junk, put it in an Amazon box and leave it on your porch. It’s not that funny around my neighborhood. Porch pirates are everywhere this time of year. Neighbors are sure to tell each other when they will be… Continue reading Porch Pirates, Poinsettias and Peaches

The Six Stages of Thanksgiving

Posted in California, cleaning, dancing, dusting, exercise, food, friends, holidays, humor, live music, memoir, relationships, ThanksgivingLeave a comment

I am having Thanksgiving at my house today for nine or ten people. I say that because my brother in law may or may not show up. There is lots of football to be missed if he comes ninety minutes north to my house.  It will be me, my three kids, my two sisters, my… Continue reading The Six Stages of Thanksgiving

I Said Yes

Posted in aging, best, California, dancing, dating, dogs, exercise, friends, girl friends, gym, hiking, holidays, humor, relationships, sister, Spanish, surpriseLeave a comment

I said yes. To a date. With a much older man. My girlfriend met him and didn’t approve. But she also said she wouldn’t dance with any guy she wouldn’t want to kiss. I dance with everyone – men, women, kids – many of whom I would never put my lips on.  Does dancing have… Continue reading I Said Yes

Spinning a Spider Story

Posted in arachnids, best, California, Carmel, firsts, holidays, humor, insects, spiders, worstLeave a comment

My strength and toning instructor loves to tell us trivia while we work out. Last week she said spiders are the most active between 6 and 8 p.m. and that the female spiders go out looking for food at that time. The males follow. Isn’t that just like a male anyway, to wait until we’ve… Continue reading Spinning a Spider Story

Her Left Foot

Posted in babies, best, California, childhood, children, daughter, emergency room, feet, firsts, holidays, hospital, humor, memoir, mom, nine year old, pain, parents, relationships, summer, worstLeave a comment

It was Labor Day weekend. We needed to get a handle on the mess in the garage. I asked my oldest to watch my youngest while we parents worked outside. She was nine, in 4th grade already for a week, and the baby was almost two and a half. Then a series of unfortunate events… Continue reading Her Left Foot

Worst Roommate Ever

Posted in dating, friends, girlfriends, holidays, humor, kitchen sink, memoir, Nebraska, Omaha, relationships, romance, roommate, worstLeave a comment

By the time I graduated college, I’d had somewhere close to 37 roommates: the first two in the triple room my freshman year, the next two in another triple when I changed dorms after one quarter, my solo roommate all of sophomore year, then the string of roomies after I moved into the sorority. Every… Continue reading Worst Roommate Ever

Dog Training, the $100 Secret

Posted in animal adoption, animal rescue, animal shelter, ARF, best, California, dog training, dogs, holidays, humor, memoir, relationships, secret, worst5 Comments

When I got a ten-week-old puppy the Monday before Christmas two+ years ago, I didn’t realize how hard it was going to be. I’d trained many a dog, but I did it within the context of my family, with my children at the ready to wear out the new pet. This time I was living… Continue reading Dog Training, the $100 Secret

The Navy Guy and the Babe Mobile

Posted in best, California, cars, college, Connecticut, dating, drinking, firsts, friends, girlfriends, holidays, house party, humor, marriage, marriage proposal, navy, Ohio, party, relationships, roommate, worstLeave a comment

Bruce was a lieutenant in the navy, and he lived with four bachelor roommates. They’d been out to sea for six months and were back for six months. A guy could save up a lot of money in six months, so Bruce was able to buy a silver Jaguar XKE convertible. He nicknamed it his… Continue reading The Navy Guy and the Babe Mobile