stuff I didn't ask for
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 help support [...]
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 more funny [...]
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 the loss of [...]
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 [...]
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 in junior [...]
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 with criminal [...]
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 [...]
Friday night blues
It’s my second Friday as a widow…I can’t say I recommend it. Two kids are in bed following basketball practice. Two adult kids are at a movie (at my urging; life is for living and their father certainly would have jumped at a chance to be at Grand Cinema tonight). Jack Jack the dog is [...]
Jack Jack is in time out
Home from a holiday concert and what did we see? Little Captain Jack, busy as could be.
He’d found his travel bag, all ready to go; unearthed his two chew bones, oh no.
Ate all of one (and they were huge!), had started on another — what a deluge.
Of slobber and chew-bone yuck all over the couch; [...]
