A Girl, A Creek, and an Hour to Spare

Posted in best, board and care, California, cell phone, dogs, Facebook, humor, memoir, mom, nature, nine year old, relationships, treesLeave a comment

(re-run) When my worker woman showed up Monday morning after having been gone for a two-week long vacation, I had a long list of to–do’s for her. I answered the door and found her nine year old daughter standing next to her. I said hello and went over the list with Kelly. I left to… Continue reading A Girl, A Creek, and an Hour to Spare

The Serendipity of It All

Posted in DVD, Facebook, humor, internet, kitchen remodel, memoir, Native Americans, Netflix, political correctness, serendipityLeave a comment

Several months ago I rented a movie the old-fashioned way from Netflix. It came in the mail as a DVD, and I proceeded to lose it in my house. Let’s blame it on the kitchen remodel. I like the old way of using Netflix because then I can carry the DVD down to the beach… Continue reading The Serendipity of It All

Shop Till You Drop

Posted in best, California, Carmel, girl friends, girlfriends, helpful strangers, humor, memoir, music, relationships, retail, summer, thrift store, travel, underwear1 Comment

(re-run) We had already hit two thrift stores and were heading for a third. Then I remembered that Vicky wanted to go to the ones in Carmel. I turned onto Forest Avenue and took the winding highway 68 through the Monterey pines. It would lead to the new roundabout that would send the traffic north… Continue reading Shop Till You Drop

Jerky Jokester

Posted in California, cell phone, dumping someone, firsts, flirting, horse radish, humor, last, relationships, restaurant, worstLeave a comment

(re-run) Elena lived in the city. She went to the Cingular store to get a phone line. Fidel saw her and helped her get one set up. She filled out the paperwork and then changed her mind. He put the paperwork into the shredder but then asked her for her phone number. “If you want… Continue reading Jerky Jokester

The Future of us Baby Boomers

Posted in aging gracefully, Alzheimer's, elderly woman, humor, memoir, neighbors, pants, relationships, SafewayLeave a comment

One day a few years back, my next-door neighbor came over and asked me to take her to Safeway. She was the same age as my mom, which put her in her mid-eighties, so I agreed. I dropped off the neighbor at Safeway and then ran to the post office to mail my package. When… Continue reading The Future of us Baby Boomers

When the Rescue Dog is a Ratter

Posted in animal adoption, animal rescue, animal shelter, birdfeeder, birds, continental breakfast, hotel, humor, Jack Russell terrier, plum tree, rats, relationships, shed, squirrels, terrierLeave a comment

The timid white dog with the brown head wouldn’t take a treat from the rescue dog volunteer.  I liked her face, anyway, and took her home. Fast forward 18 months.  The plum tree in the back side yard becomes loaded with fruit. The platform for the shed which I stupidly put next to the plum… Continue reading When the Rescue Dog is a Ratter

Expectations

Posted in attitude, California, carpool, choices, chorus, dancing, Democrats, dinner, dreams, empathy, expectations, honesty, honey-do list, humor, husband, Jack Russell terrier, judgment, live music, preferences, relationships, socialist, texting4 Comments

It’s funny how you notice other people’s expectations and how they sometimes don’t align with your own. How they expect you to be available seven nights a week to do stuff. How they expect you to be hungry at regular meal times, even though your schedule is uniquely your own. How they expect you to… Continue reading Expectations

The Moon Landing and a Funeral

Posted in death, fishing, grandma, grandpa, high school, Home Ec, junior high school, memoir, moon landing, OCD, relationshipsLeave a comment

The day we landed on the moon, my parents took the family to a picnic/fishing spot at the Des Moines reservoir. I was going into high school in the fall, so it was a dorky thing to do on a Sunday, but hey? I couldn’t drive yet, and the food was always good on a… Continue reading The Moon Landing and a Funeral