Saturday, January 27, 2018
There’s a story on my news feed about a mother who came home from work to find her baby girl’s head had been shaved by her mother-in-law, without so much as a by-your-leave. Brought back a 60-year-old memory that’s still a bit of a sore point. It seems my mother-in-law thought my 15-month old baby... Sign in to see full entry.
Friday, January 26, 2018
HILLBILLY ELEGY
The Center: 1-25-18 -- Write Your Own Story session. Ibbie was back after a bout with the flu and wrote another wise and funny bit about camping trips and swimming in the river, about a joke she made that backfired. At nine she was prone to carsickness, especially on those winding roads in the... Sign in to see full entry.
Thursday, January 25, 2018
WHEN IT’S NOT WORKING FOR YOU
It might have been 2001 or 02 when I came across an online advert for a writer’s workshop being held at some retreat center around Mt. Hood in Oregon. One of the headliners was to be Ursula LeGuin, the fantasy-science fiction author. I had some vacation time coming, signed up for that week off and... Sign in to see full entry.
Wednesday, January 24, 2018
PNEUMONIA WEATHER
After a cold snap, when a kid has reached the bitter end of her patience about being stuck inside, there comes a day when the sun is out and it warms up to maybe 50 degrees and it’s okay to get outside in just a windbreaker and no hat. Sometime during the hike through the woods or halfway through a... Sign in to see full entry.
Tuesday, January 23, 2018
THING 1 AND THING 2
Thing 1 A cleanout specialist plumber named Kurt showed up right on time, got straight to work, cleaned out the blocked pipe (100-year-old cast iron pipes accumulate gunk) and sold me a can of enzyme cleaner. He was out within an hour and a half, and I can now run the kitchen sink, the dishwasher... Sign in to see full entry.
Monday, January 22, 2018
HAPPY MONDAY
When I worked a 40-hour week, the weekend was the busy time in my working mom schedule. Weekends were for catching up with the laundry and shopping for groceries, cooking some things in advance, ferrying kids to their activities, maybe a movie on Saturday afternoon, and all those surprises that come... Sign in to see full entry.
Sunday, January 21, 2018
NPR – SATURDAY SPECIALS
Yesterday as usual I tuned in to NPR, KFUO FM 90.7 in St. Louis to pick up the entertainment programming. Their Saturday lineup used to include “Car Talk” and then “Best of Car Talk” but that witty and practical show is now off the air. For years I’ve followed the Tappet Bros., Click & Clack, who... Sign in to see full entry.
Saturday, January 20, 2018
BY FORCE OR PERSUASION
Long before the ‘60s cultural revolution – the era of rock ‘n roll and women’s liberation – it was not unusual for law enforcement and regular citizens to blame the victim in the case of rape. If the offense was reported – unless it was extremely violent, a serial crime or murder – it might not be... Sign in to see full entry.
Friday, January 19, 2018
THURSDAY WRITERS
Here in Mundane we haven’t had any of the winter extremes “enjoyed” by the south and east coast, thank heavens, but The Center and school districts have had closures. I was ready with writing topics: (then) tell about your ancestor’s arrival in this country, how’d it go for them, or (now) how do you... Sign in to see full entry.
Wednesday, January 17, 2018
UNDERDOGS, ETC.
There’s no thrill in sports like when the underdog comes from behind to beat the favorite. A Hail Mary pass in the last few seconds of the last quarter, when the expected winners are all but doing their victory dance, is sure to bring the crowd to its feet. All through the years I’ve admired the... Sign in to see full entry.