stuff I didn’t ask for
Deriq, we hardly knew ye
I don’t know if you know this, but Internet star and all around amazing creature, Deriq the Octopus, died last month. You may remember I excitedly told you about the eight-legged love in this June post. I cried (of course I cried, right?) when I saw the posting on Deriq’s Facebook page late last month. [...]
Charter salt in the wound
Let me set the scene. I was just home from an exhausting three-day visit across the state last night, one that culminated in a five-hour drive to reach my house. It was Father’s Day, which the kids and I alternated running from and trying to make meaningful all weekend. I had a big mound of [...]
Oh, Amazon, we were soooo close
to breaking up. Dear Amazon.com, Can I just say how glad I am we’re still in a relationship? After the other night? I know I don’t have to remind you how far back we go. I’m pretty sure I was one of your first customers. And although I strive to support the local merchants who [...]
Vibrating mascara? Why?
Here I am, sitting on my living room floor, having an e-mail tug-of-war with my sister/friend who lives in Portland and watching Hell’s Kitchen. Basically, a satisfying evening…at least I’m talking to another adult and watching drama in someone else’s kitchen. But, wait, here comes a commercial for Maybelline’s vibrating wand mascara. What do we [...]
Pearls Before Swine before Reporters
I have a colleague with a brilliant sense of humor and, lucky for me, he sends me things that can cheer up any bad day. One of his fav passions is “Pearls Before Swine,” a comic strip created by Stephan Pastis that runs in hundreds of newspapers, The strip’s author has a blog that is [...]
Father’s Day, whether I like it or not
No, no, no, no. Please don’t let Father’s Day come. Last month was bad enough. I suspected Mother’s Day was going to be a bummer, but it was easily five times worse than I thought. It shouldn’t have been. Bad, yes, but horrible? My children did all the right things, despite their own sorrow at [...]
They’re not just talking Loch Ness for water monsters
This just in from the University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and it’s not for the squeamish: “Bacterial infections and water-borne illnesses are real risks for those who enjoy swimming, water-skiing or many other recreational water activities,” said Dr. Dennis Maki, professor of medicine and infectious-disease specialist at the University of Wisconsin School of Medicine [...]
Every Day in May… a.k.a Blog War
This is going to sound made up, fabricated, a complete lie…but bear with me. I work with some amazing professionals at the Union-Bulletin newspaper, many of whom are younger than me — smarter, cooler, hipper…you name it and I come in about last on several lists. Really, it’s like a Twilight Zone episode where I’m [...]
Things that go squish in the bite
Last week I walked into our Milton-Freewater public library with fire in my belly and an urge to cry. I had a letter in my hand warning me I was the owner of a “backyard fruit tree” and Oregon law was demanding I do something about it. Basically, I was harboring my crab apple tree [...]
It’s official — Walla Walla is the new Siberia
There is something downright freaky about this weather. On Thursday, I left the building zipping up my coat, side by side with a copy editor wearing a long coat, scarf and gloves. This morning, people are in fleece and sweaters. What gives? Even the very air is thickly gray, it seems, laden with old frost [...]
