Getting Away from all the No, No, No’s

Posted in animal adoption, bands, books, boyfriend, California, childhood, dogs, humor, memoir, outside the box, piano, relationshipsLeave a comment

My mom, bless her heart, had to keep five children in line, mostly by herself.  She did this by keeping everyone in his or her place, as in, “No, you can’t do that!” I just found out that my younger sister also wanted to play clarinet in the band, like I did. But I was… Continue reading Getting Away from all the No, No, No’s

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

The Woes of Being a Shopkeeper

Posted in antique, business, California, humor, memoir, partner, relationships, retail, rocket science, worstLeave a comment

The woman who works for me, eleven years my junior and twice as strong, told me that when her hot tub broke, she told a man at her community pool that she needed a rocket scientist to figure out what was wrong with it. “I’m a rocket scientist,” the guy said. A good pick-up line?… Continue reading The Woes of Being a Shopkeeper

A Tongue Twister

Posted in California, dating, firsts, flirting, heart surgery, honesty, humor, kiss, memoir, parking lot, relationships, restaurant, worstLeave a comment

Donna met a guy named George through a group of friends.  She was about to have open heart surgery, so she didn’t feel much like flirting. George was average looking but persistent. He kept texting her before and after the surgery.  She thought he was into her, but then he insisted that she call him.… Continue reading A Tongue Twister

Porch Pirates, Poinsettias and Peaches

Posted in animal adoption, best, board and care, burglaries, California, caregiver, holiday weekend, holidays, humor, last, memoir, neighbors, pet, relationships, Thanksgiving2 Comments

The joke going around social media is that if you want to get rid of your junk, put it in an Amazon box and leave it on your porch. It’s not that funny around my neighborhood. Porch pirates are everywhere this time of year. Neighbors are sure to tell each other when they will be… Continue reading Porch Pirates, Poinsettias and Peaches

The Overachieving Steer, Knickers

Posted in Australia, best, bipolar, memoir, Nebraska, OCD, overachiever, parent-teacher conference, relationships, South America, steer, Study abroad, summer, worstLeave a comment

In Australia, there is a Holstein steer that is six feet, four inches tall.  That’s one big bovine! I first heard about him on the nightly news tonight.  Then I Googled the guy to see what else I could find out about him. His name is Knickers.   He is too big to fit in the… Continue reading The Overachieving Steer, Knickers

Daisy the Rescue Dog, Month # 12

Posted in ARF, California, dog training, dogs, humor, Jack Russell terrier, labrador, memoir, relationships, rescue1 Comment

We’ve been through a lot together: chewed up leashes, broken chairs, too-small-harnesses, failing out of manners class, and me building a gate that you cannot jump. Daisy, you have cost me lots of money. You have been put in your place and punctured when you would not acquiesce to the bigger dog over a ball… Continue reading Daisy the Rescue Dog, Month # 12