For at least 3 weeks before the July 4th holiday, we heard from unrestrainable mavericks who could not bear to wait for the holiday to exhibit their blasting prowess. From our perch on a hill-top near Sequoia Park, we were subjected to echoing pops and bangs from every direction, beginning on the hour at 9:00, then repeating at 10:00…
This year, I’m not having a milestone b’day. I’m calling it my trombone birthday. “Why?” you may ask. “Something about a parade,” is my obtuse answer. If you don’t get it, it really doesn’t matter. Probably a generational thing. Or a musical thing. Or simply nothing at all. Recently, it has come to my attention…
Originally published August 5, 2010 Okay, okay! I know an Ellie Update is due. And, no, she hasn’t disappeared from the earth. Quite the contrary. We have been real busy. And Ellie is making history – for developing real doggie skills after a life of more than four years in a puppy mill crate. Here’s what…
During the first months of 2009, I had major upkeep done on my fourteen year old Toyota Camry. New tires, new timing chain and A/C overhaul were the most expensive items. Now, at the beginning of February 2010, I bought tire chains and took the car to the shop for a quick check-up. Everything was…
January 2010. After experiencing one losing roll of the dice, I was loath to try the pound again. What to do, then, about finding a companion for my 70s? Why not broaden my search? At the time, I got some prescriptions filled over the internet. I get my Birks from an internet source. And my…
This story begins in early April 2009. Partnering with my then 9 year old grandson, Nick, we adopted a small terrier from the county pound . We named her Fifi, and for us, she turned out to be the dog from hell. Although she was 3 or 4 years old, we were unsuccessful in getting…
When I was about 7 or 8 years old, I began to design jewelry. Well, that was to design and redesign the same rings over and over. I would find a scrap of paper, then trace the outline of my hand, changing my stubby fingernails to great long pointy ones with dramatic half-moons at the…
