There is a generation, one that is quickly disappearing, that witnessed more changes than any humans in history. We need to appreciate all they lived through. Here’s a eulogy to one of them.
Grandma
My Grandma was born June 12, 1919 in Miles City, Montana. She was a granddaughter, daughter, cousin, friend, Wife, Mom, Grandma, and a Great Grandma. She lived 89 years…she did good.
The year Grandma was born there was a Boston molasses disaster, the 18th Amendment to the U.S. …
Save yourself enormous hassle and don’t take home pretty red leaves from parks. Especially if you live in North America (they grow everywhere).
A father and daughter (I won’t name names - because I don’t know them.) collected ‘pretty red leaves’ to take home. A fellow park attendee spotted them on their way out.
Poison Oak, Ivy, and Sumac grow as vines, shrubs, and trees. A sticky oil called urushiol covers the leaves and if the oil gets on your skin, it causes an itchy blistering rash on most people. It’s awful. 85% of the population is allergic to this family of plants.
Urushiol oil is in all parts of the plant including leaves, stems, and roots. …
So, one day I snuck away to a friend’s beach house to finish writing my book. I got hung up on the title and a friend helped me out.
So, one day I snuck away to a friend’s beach house (disclaimer: it’s a mile from the beach, which is 32 miles less than my house to the nearest beach). The beach house is close enough that you still get the beach weather and a hint of beach air- that cool wispy salt encrusted oxygen that invigorates my soul.
I scrubbed out 5 days to finish one of my books without interruptions. At the beach house, I could escape kid, husband, mother-in-law, pets, chores, and the endless To Dooz list.
My friend, the beach house owner, joined me for a…
A letter to the media.
I thought the first female Vice President of United States would be splattered all over the media, but alas it isn’t so. I thought the media would hound her and show the first female US VP address Congress, travel to another country, visit the White House, meet with important Ambassadors from around the world, and sign this, or speak to that.
Where’s the big deal? I know it’s an important moment in our history, but the silence is insulting. …
Don’t worry, there’s a happy ending.
The Pet Dilemma
For reasons outside of my control, we have not had a dog or cat or any kind of furry cuddly pet for 12 years. I agree, it was horrible and shocking and sad. A few months before the pandemic came to our awareness and reality, we convinced my mother in law that we absolutely needed a pet. Not any old kind of pet, but a dog pet.
Months before, I worked up the chutzpah to demand a pet for our household. It started after my daughter made a house for a pill bug she caught. Then she named him and…
Dooh! I’ve done it more than a few times.
Confessions from a writer. I’ve done this, not on purpose mind you. Sometimes I don’t find out until months later, like recently, when I went back to read an old email from a new boss I’ve only met over zoom.
My first boss as a writer. I wrote a bunch of children’s books for his company and get this, I got paid for it! I was more excited to make 5 cents a word for creations birthed from my mind than my old 6 figure income working for NASA.
How crazy is that? I miss the income and security and…
When Recycling Easter Eggs Goes Wrong
Every so often I drag my daughter into a “let’s do this craft” fun thing to do. You know the ones. They’re cute. They’re simple. They’re on parents’ newsletters, blogs, emails, ads, and flyers everywhere you look.
I like to pick the easy ones. That way, we have a 50/50 chance of replicating the art picture.
I chose a craft from one of the 23 Ways to Upcycle Your Leftover Plastic Easter Eggs (redtri.com) from the Red Tricycle website. They’re always packed with great ideas. We would make Jelly Soap.
Prepare the Egg
The first step, other than making sure you have all…
Try Taro Root Powder Mix and Boba
I tried Taro Boba drinks before and they all tasted like buttered popcorn and I’m not a fan. I heard a few people rave about the flavor so I decided to give it one more chance to woo me because the same recipe can taste different (quality of ingredients, chef,…).
I bought the Taro mix from Nuts.com (not affiliated, just loved it) and it tastes awesome. I blenderized the Taro mix, almond milk, a splash of evaporated milk, and ice. A few seconds later I beheld a masterpiece. It could be described as a little nutty, but it’s more than…
As I sit in my chair, waking up, the fog working to lift through caffeinated imbibing, I look at my dog and am struck by how happy she is.
She hasn’t eaten nor gone outside to do her business. She hasn’t partaken in the caffeine ritual. She wanders from human to human, greeting each with a contagious whole body enthsiasium.
Each human, regardless of wakeful state, is powerless to resist. They each in turn, bend down give full body pets as if to say, “Hello stranger, haven’t seen you in eight whole hours!”
Some of the humans are grumpy. One…
I submit the outdoor office:
I found myself out of a job so I wrote a book. Then I wrote a second one. It happened again and now I’m a paid writer. My dream job. Granted not my dream pay, but my office rocks the Casba.
I’ve been lucky to rock this outdoor office too, though typing on a rocking chair can be challenging (not complaining):
