memoir – Page 3 – FIRST DATE, WORST DATE EVER!

Five Zippers

September 14, 2026September 13, 2026 Posted in beach, dogs, Jack Russell terrier, memoir, Prozac, Thunder Shirt, travel, zippersLeave a comment

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

Grateful Not to Be Dead

September 13, 2026September 12, 2026 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 Grateful Not to Be Dead

9-11

September 11, 2026September 10, 2026 Posted in 9-11, attack, divorce, fences, memoir, puppy, TV, veterinarianLeave a comment

It was 9:30 in the morning, California time. I was doing my usual clean-up after sending our three young children off to school. The oldest was almost 15, the middle one 12, and the youngest just 7. The new Dachshund puppy needed to go outside, but with hawks around, I needed to go with him.… Continue reading 9-11

Surprise in the Porch Stove

September 6, 2026September 5, 2026 Posted in beach, dog training, dog whisperer, dogs, glue traps, Jack Russell terrier, memoir, poison, porch, rats1 Comment

I just got home from the beach with temps up to 70 degrees. “Why am I coming back?” I asked myself as the car’s outside temp rose to 82, then 88 then 92 as I pulled off the freeway in San Ramon. When I got home, the dogs went ballistic as they always do. We’re… Continue reading Surprise in the Porch Stove

Sneaking into the Pool

September 4, 2026September 2, 2026 Posted in airport, Angel Falls, beach, Canaima, dysentery, hotel pool, humor, Iowa State University, memoir, microbes, relationships, teaching, travel, Venezuela, worstLeave a comment

(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

Daisy the Rescue Dog, Month # 9

August 28, 2026August 27, 2026 Posted in animal adoption, animal rescue, ARF, ball launcher, California, dog training, dogs, food, humor, leash, memoir, relationships, rescueLeave a comment

Today is Daisy’s ninth month with me and my younger dog, Pepper. Two females is never the best idea for dog-mates. I thought Pepper would retain her Alpha position because she is bigger. But Jack Russells are born with attitude to spare, and Daisy has managed to boss both of us around. I’ve never had… Continue reading Daisy the Rescue Dog, Month # 9

A Mouse in the Bed

August 25, 2026August 24, 2026 Posted in childhood, grandma, Iowa, memoir, memory, mom, mouse, storms, trees, validation, voleLeave a comment

(re-run) When my oldest was in 4th or 5th grade, she told me one morning that there was a mouse in her bed. “There’s no mouse in your bed!” I said. “There is,” she said. “I felt it crawling over my leg.” She went off to school, and I told my mother, who was visiting… Continue reading A Mouse in the Bed

Peace Corps Fail

August 23, 2026August 22, 2026 Posted in dogs, memoir, Midwestern, Peace Corps, postal service, relationships, Spain, teaching, travel, Venezuela2 Comments

(re-run) It was in the spring of my first year of teaching when the call came. I was at Greenwood Elementary in Greenwood, Nebraska. I had applied to the Peace Corps the year before. They had just seen my application. They wanted to fly me to Chicago for an interview that weekend. They gave me… Continue reading Peace Corps Fail

God’s Favor

August 21, 2026August 20, 2026 Posted in cancer, car pool, Christian school, church, God, Heaven, helicopters, joke, kindergarten, memoir2 Comments

There’s the old joke about the man who is stranded in a flood. First, a guy in a canoe comes by and offers to help him. “God will provide for me,” he says as he turns down the canoe ride. Then a second guy comes by in a row boat and offers a ride. “God… Continue reading God’s Favor

First Date with a Stoner

August 19, 2026August 18, 2026 Posted in bar, Beatles, best, boyfriend, California, dancing, dating, feet, football, friends, helpful strangers, humor, marijuana, memoir, music, relationships, socializing, worstLeave a comment

(re-run) You said yes to the guy who asked you out two years ago and you turned him down. Now he has shown up at a dancing venue in Concord on the same day you wondered whatever happened to him. You see, he lives in San Francisco and you live in Suburbia. Then you agree… Continue reading First Date with a Stoner