Worst/Best Dog Trainer Ever

(re-run) When Wiener, the ten-pound 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… Continue reading Worst/Best Dog Trainer Ever

How my Bug Collection Changed a Generation

(re-run) When my new science teacher announced on the first day of 7th grade that no one would get an A in his class if they didn’t make an insect collection, I was like, “NOOOOOOOO! I hate bugs!” My mother hated bugs. Her mother hated bugs. They hated mice, snakes, and dog poop, too. I… Continue reading How my Bug Collection Changed a Generation

The Late Winter Blues

+ Hail, thunder, sunset, a rainbow. It all happened Sunday afternoon within five minutes of one another. Monday brought polar weather to my California town. It’s the second half of February. I am ready for winter to be done. True, we haven’t had snow, except that one day. We rarely have ice, but this morning… Continue reading The Late Winter Blues

Dive Bar Dancing

(re-run) I never imagined that I’d still be dancing in bars at this age. But hey, a girl’s got to dance, and in the winter the live music is in the bars. So here I sit, waiting for my girl friend, who is dumping her grumpy guy tonight to come dance with me. She’s got… Continue reading Dive Bar Dancing

The Week of Love

My chorus is singing a love-themed concert this spring. The songs individually are all good except for the flowery Love is a Many Splendored Thing. It reminds me of 1970’s soap operas. The songs are running together in my brain.  Sure, they are different vintages, but none of them is current, and many of the… Continue reading The Week of Love

Scary Pit Bull Encounter

(re-run) It was a beautiful winter day that Sunday morning. I took the greyhound rescue dog for a walk in the crisp air while my hubby stayed home with the three children. I walked uphill from my court and took Virginia Lane to Virginia Court, down to the creek. I took the bridge across it… Continue reading Scary Pit Bull Encounter

Mr. No Class

They met online through a singles website (not the swiping one). Tom lived and worked in Napa. Carin lived less than an hour away in the San Francisco East Bay on a horse ranch with her seven horses. She ran a small upscale hair salon.  After much texting and talking, they got together for dinner… Continue reading Mr. No Class

He Ain’t Heavy, He’s my Match Date

(re-run) Ingrid had been on an online dating website for a little over a month. She had tried meeting a few guys but only if they were willing to email back and forth and actually pick up a phone and call. Fred had flirted and called, and now it was time for them to meet.… Continue reading He Ain’t Heavy, He’s my Match Date

The Dog Crate Disaster

(re-run) When my pup was just over a year old, the Ghost Ship Fire happened in Oakland (2016). 36 young people died in a warehouse that had been converted into an artist co-op with an illegal dance club on the second floor. When the fire started, the young people dancing upstairs were trapped, and they… Continue reading The Dog Crate Disaster