Short Days, Dangerous Crosswalks, Too Many Books

The winter solstice is behind us, so each day is two minutes longer as we creep our way out of the dark nights of winter.  In the meantime, I must remember to take off my sunglasses after following along the freeway sound wall and turning onto the mile-long road to my court. The ten-block drive… Continue reading Short Days, Dangerous Crosswalks, Too Many Books

The Turquoise Trailer and the Homeless Couple

(re-run) My little beach house sits on land bought back in 1929 from the railroad company.  The old deed shows the purchase price of $25.00. For some reason, the original owner didn’t want to buy the land up to the railroad tracks. Now, 95 years later, the land between my back fence and the old… Continue reading The Turquoise Trailer and the Homeless Couple

Snowshoeing with the Girls

(re-run) The last time I was in Tahoe in the winter, Valentina, Margo and I went snowshoeing. The guys went skiing, but we girls weren’t up for that. Maybe it was the house party the night before, or maybe it was a fear of snowboarders taking us out as we meandered down the slopes. Full… Continue reading Snowshoeing with the Girls

A Donner Party Winter

(re-run) Lake Tahoe has had record-breaking snowfall this year. It is falling so fast that the ski resorts have had to close some days because of the chance of avalanches. When was the last time Tahoe has seen twenty-five feet of snow in one month? I am not a meteorologist, but one equally snowy year… Continue reading A Donner Party Winter

Oranges, Anyone?

It was a very cold Saturday when I headed out to run an errand. I’d walked one dog, played ball with the other one, taken down the tree, packed away the Christmas stuff and done three loads of laundry. My youngest was on a plane on her way back to Baltimore. I passed the tiny… Continue reading Oranges, Anyone?

Lime Vodka, Raisinets, and Cheesecake

(re-run) It’s an American teenager’s rite of passage to get sick the first time they drink.  I was no exception. Aside from tasting different liqueurs on babysitting jobs after the kids went to bed, I had only tasted my dad’s beer, Schlitz. No thank you. I was not a fan of fizzy bitter fermentation. So… Continue reading Lime Vodka, Raisinets, and Cheesecake

Tartan Plaids and an Angry Boy

Monday afternoon the power went out in Monterey. There were high winds. I ran to the Goodwill after working in the wind, picking up pine cones, twigs, tree moss, and branches, and will have to do it again the next time I go down there to check on my little house. While I was there,… Continue reading Tartan Plaids and an Angry Boy

A Donner Party Winter

(re-run) Lake Tahoe has had record-breaking snowfall this year. It is falling so fast that the ski resorts have had to close some days because of the chance of avalanches. When was the last time Tahoe has seen twenty-five feet of snow in one month? I am not a meteorologist, but one equally snowy year… Continue reading A Donner Party Winter