I can't believe the first post I've produced in two months is a picture of me with "Farrah-esque" hair.  I obviously didn't have quite the volume she had, but was going for that look, lo those many years ago!

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I started getting text messages early this morning, "Mom, we're walking across Memorial Bridge, now.  This is amazing." 

"Tell everyone there are about a billion people here and half of the military that's not in Iraq."

"What an amazing speech, huh?"

My 19 year old son and h… Read full post »

A phobia (from Greek: φÏŒβος, phobos, "fear"), is an irrational, intense, persistent fear of certain situations, activities, things, or people. The main symptom of this disorder is the excessive, unreasonable desire to avoid the feared sub/… Read full post »

I’ll be home for Christmas

It was a day much like today.  It was near the end of the school term, twenty two years ago. Snow was falling, and students were bouncing off the walls in anticipation of the coming vacation.  Most everyone, including my family, was planning a trip… Read full post »

Actual image of the author (as a child) demanding her Carrot/Christmas Pudding.

Every year around about August or so, my daughter will ask, "Mom, will you make Christmas Pudding? Puullllleeeez?"  

"Is it Christmas already?  My how time flies!  And wher… Read full post »

Hill Farm, later Arequipa, c 1910  

This is a true story…

I awoke with a start, struggling to swim up to consciousness and remember where I was.  Shoving my long, sweaty, tangled hair out of my face I pushed myself up to a sitting position.… Read full post »

"Summer makes me drowsy, autumn makes me sing.  Winter's pretty lousy, but I hate spring."   Dorothy Parker

"Thou blossom bright with autumn dew..."    William Cullen Bryant

"I trust in nature for the stable laws of beauty and utility. … Read full post »

A week ago, a couple of friends and I headed to Ashland, Oregon for some good theatre and lots of laughs.  Also on our agenda, was the hare-brained idea of doing a photojournalistic "poll" of political signage.  Where were the Obama signs - in the city or the country?  Th… Read full post »

A few years ago, my then 21 year old daughter asked me, “Mom, was I a rape baby?  I think I’m old enough to know.  I can handle it.” 

I thought for a moment. 

“No,” I replied, “But I am.” 

Adoption is a common theme in… Read full post »

See below for more information from NY Times piece to be published on Sunday, 9/13/08. 

Perhaps it is fitting that the ALA's annual Banned Books Week  is coming up so soon - September 27-October 4, 2008.  Held every year at the end of September, its intent is to call attention… Read full post »

Earlier this week, John and Cindy McCain dropped into my little town for a visit.  Of course, they weren't there to visit anyone the likes of me.  It was a visit to the more than 100 supporters who felt compelled to pony up $33,100 for the privilege of attendi/… Read full post »

First day of school, September, 1957. 

I’ve been in school forever, or so it seems.  Monday morning, bright and far too early, I start my 29^th year of teaching. 

I couldn’t wait to be old enough to go to school.  You can’t tell… Read full post »

The author with her first horse. (And doesn't that thing's grin scare the hell out of you?)

Now I know that today is to be all about Open Call Olympics and other serious subjects, but I wanted to pin a tail (as it were) on my post from yesterday wherein  I… Read full post »

The other day, as I was cleaning out a long-neglected messy drawer, I came across a poem I wrote when I was in the 7^th grade. Despite the fact that it was crammed in amongst old receipts (just in case someone wanted to return that Christmas present!), stray photographs and… Read full post »

Betty in the Tahoe Vista Animal Shelter  (This was her "mug" shot in the online lineup of adoptable animals.)

Several years ago, I decided was time for a new dog.  My last two dogs had died under difficult circumstances (one was coyote food) and it had taken me a while to… Read full post »

July 15, 2008 – Times of London 

Men accused of transatlantic airline bomb plot admit conspiracy in court 

“The Crown alleges that the eight accused formed a terrorist cell which intended to detonate liquid bombs on board seven crowded passenger jets flying… Read full post »

I know that travel photos are supposed to appear on Monday, according to the rota, but since today is Sunday, I thought these would be appropriate.  I have a thing for churches.  I don't know if it's a past life memory or what, but I seem to be drawn to them,… Read full post »

I know, I know - I’m too old to be attaching cutesy things to my backpack purse.  But, I have found in the past that when I travel in foreign countries it’s best to declare right off the bat that you’re a fan of someone other than GWB or/… Read full post »

Our rail journey of over 2000 miles through sparsely populated country began with its first “attraction” just outside Toronto – the VIA waver.  A man who has, for the past 20 years, stood by the tracks as the trains (both east and west) with a sign saying, &… Read full post »

I adore Florence.  I loved Rome.  I long to be in England.  I love to travel but hate to leave home.  That sounds like a contradiction, but for me, it really isn’t.  In a few days I’ll be leaving on the “trip of a lifetime” and I/… Read full post »

When most people think of Marin County, California, they tend to think of BMWs, extremely costly homes requiring live-in help, and, the last time I was down to visit, traffic gridlock; albeit very expensive car-type gridlock.  Growing up in the 1950s and ‘60s, we had/… Read full post »

 It’s not what you're thinking.  While it is true that I suffer from undue anxiety about any number of things, at this time of year, I greatly fear seemingly innocuous things like sparklers, firecrackers and unattended barbeques run amok.  Independence Day is righ/… Read full post »

 Everyone loves summer, right?  The days are long, the temperature warm and everyone’s in a wonderful, cheery mood.  All it takes to confirm this theory is a cursory glance at any woman’s magazine:  “Lose 10 Pounds in One Day!”  “Skin Ca/… Read full post »