Category: humor

The Benefits of a Hard Childhood

Posted in childhood, dysfunction, firsts, friends, generation, high school, humor, immigrants, labor, memoir, Pioneer seed cornLeave a comment

My childhood friend from Iowa called the other day. As we were comparing notes about our dysfunctional childhood households (hers with physical abuse, mine verbal), she mentioned the immigrant caravan at the border. “What are going to do about that?” she said. “Let in the women and children,” I said.  “I’m not sure about the… Continue reading The Benefits of a Hard Childhood

Be Careful What You Wish For

Posted in California, chorus, dogs, garden, humor, last, memoir, nature, outdoors, relationships, worst1 Comment

(re-run) I’ve lived in my little house for seven years and four months. The neighborhood is about 48 years old, and the trees that are here are huge. My pie-shaped lot is wide and shallow in the back.  Las Trampas Ridge is due west, beyond the freeway, but I could not see it because of… Continue reading Be Careful What You Wish For

A Funeral, an Appendix, and a Dead Concert

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

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

The Bonus Daisy Post

Posted in animal adoption, animal training, California, dog training, dogs, hot tub, humor, nature, park, rescue, worst1 Comment

(re-run from 2018) Normally I write about my rescue dog on a monthly basis, on her adoption anniversary date, the 26th of October. Consider this a bonus post, since she has been making news these past two days. Every morning I get into the hot tub with my cup of black tea, and Daisy perches… Continue reading The Bonus Daisy Post

Worst/Best Dog Trainer Ever

Posted in Alpha, best, Dachshund, dog training, dogs, family, firsts, German, German Shepherd, humor, Rottweiler, worstLeave a comment

When the family Dachshund was two, he started pooping in the upstairs hallway. This was not okay with me. I found a dog trainer named Sheila who came to the house and worked with the entire family. That first session was an eye opener. Sheila hooked Wiener’s collar to a leash, and when Wiener snapped… Continue reading Worst/Best Dog Trainer Ever

Wrapping Up the Weekend

Posted in bartender, dogs, gardening, humor, letter carrier, lunch, memoir, party, planner, racetrack worker, rats, relationships, retirement, sewingLeave a comment

It’s Sunday evening, the dogs are snoring, and I reflect on my awesome weekend. Nothing monumental happened.  It was your run of the mill event, with a return trip from Monterey, a potluck party to attend, a visit to Sis, lunch with my son, a couple of dog walks, and an afternoon sewing, gardening, and… Continue reading Wrapping Up the Weekend