We Need a Lemon Law, Mr. Trump

Posted in cars, congress, firsts, house of representatives, lemon law, memoir, politics, president, women's march, worstLeave a comment

(re-run from 2018) When a person buys a new or used car, and it gives the new owner nothing but problems in its first year, in many states, after three attempts to repair it, the owner can return the vehicle. Consumers everywhere are protected by the Magnuson-Moss Warranty Act, the Federal Lemon Law which applies… Continue reading We Need a Lemon Law, Mr. Trump

Where’s the Beef?

Posted in bacon, beef, Beyond Burger, California, climate change, Costco, cows, energy, food, Iowa, memoir, Millennials, nursing home, pescatarian, plants, sister, Thanksgiving, vegetarianLeave a comment

(re-run) My sister fell out of her recliner at her nursing home (board and care home, actually) and landed on her face and glasses. The glasses were badly bent, so I needed to go to Costco on the DAY BEFORE THANKSGIVING to see if they would bend them back into shape with their magical optical… Continue reading Where’s the Beef?

My Republican Beach Town

Posted in boycott, Carmel, cost of living, memoir, pandemic, teaching, thrift store, thrifting, writers, ZelenskyLeave a comment

A thrift store in Carmel had a half-off sale yesterday and today. I paid cash for my stack of books at the book store. I mentioned that cash is important, especially for people who don’t have bank accounts or credit cards. “Without cash, what would those people do?” I commented. “Those people always find a… Continue reading My Republican Beach Town

Neighborhood Pack Rat

Posted in Amazon, antique store, Coronavirus, Costco, Covid 19, Depression, elastic, fabric, face masks, garage, grandma, memoir, neighborhood, neighbors, pack rat, recycle, scavenger, sewing, sewing room, shelter in place, social distancing, thrift storeLeave a comment

(re-run) You know our kind. We save everything, just in case. I might need that someday. I’m going to wear that size again. That thing on the side of the road still has use left in it, and it’s free. That has a good memory for me. Who keeps stuff that evokes bad memories? No… Continue reading Neighborhood Pack Rat

The Story of Dr. Seuss

Posted in author, biography, books, Caldecott Honor, children, children's books, Dick and Jane, divorce, Dr. Seuss, Pulitzer Prize, Random House, The Cat in the HatLeave a comment

(re-run) I just finished a 430-page biography about Theodor (Ted) Geisel.  You might know him better as Dr. Seuss (his mother’s maiden name). When I chose the book to review, I expected a children’s biography, not an in-depth  tome that chronicled his life, year by year, from birth to death at age 87. He had… Continue reading The Story of Dr. Seuss

Pretending to Be Fat

Posted in Ally McBeal, college, costume, fat shaming, Halloween, humor, memoir, national news, obesity, Robert Downey, Jr., sexLeave a comment

I found this photo of myself this morning, in a glass cabinet where I stuff important stuff. I don’t remember putting the photo in there, but here it is. I wore hats even back then. I am working on a middle grade novel, so that provides me with an outlet to write daily. My blog… Continue reading Pretending to Be Fat

Best Birthday Ever

Posted in birthday, Coronavirus, Covid 19, dancing, dogs, Facebook, friends, girlfriends, June, lunch, mom, pandemic, park, scientist, yard, Zoom1 Comment

(re-run from deep into the pandemic) I was dreading the big one with no way to celebrate it during a pandemic. What would I do all day?  How could I make the day different from all the other ones during the lockdown? The good news is that I didn’t have to do anything at all.… Continue reading Best Birthday Ever