Life in the fast lane--where's the on ramp?

By Pat_B - About Me - E-mail this page - Add to My Favorites - Add to Blog List - See other blogs in Journal

Friday, April 21, 2023

THE OLD GRAY MARE (SHE AIN'T WHAT SHE USED TO BE)

This was a song from my early years, still sung along with other nonsense songs by the time my kids were in middle school. Like most moms whose kids have flown the nest I have momentos, school projects and craft items they've made for me over the years: papier mache from cub scout days, gifts they... Sign in to see full entry.

Thursday, April 20, 2023

"THE HUMAN COMEDY" - RECOMMENDED READING

A couple days ago I took myself to the Famous Brand Shoes store. Daughter had sent me a gift card as an inducement to go ahead and shop to replace these old comfy sneakers I've been wearing for several years. I really hate shopping for shoes, but it was time to git 'er done. The young woman in... Sign in to see full entry.

Wednesday, April 19, 2023

THEN & NOW ...

You may have heard the expression "the good old days." Someone says, with that little smile that reaches all the way to their eyes, how much better it used to be. We didn't waste so much, no plastic in the landfills, etc., etc. The food was home grown and prepped, no preservatives, healthier.... Sign in to see full entry.

Tuesday, April 18, 2023

THE HOMESTEADERS - NEW PLOT THREAD

In case you don't remember the opening scene, a Crabby-Abby held a shotgun on Raleigh and Wes (? not his name) as they rode in from nowhere to water their horses at the watering trough next to her corral. She told them to git! They tried a bit of charm, - we don't mean no harm, ma'am - and for the... Sign in to see full entry.

Monday, April 17, 2023

WALTZING WITH ZOMBIES

A couple days ago I pulled this book from my shelf to refresh my memory about the story behind the title. It was one of the novels I wrote when I was doing the 50,000 words in 30 days challenge in Chris Baty's National Novel Writing Month. Zombies was my entry in 2007, (winner! which means I got 50K... Sign in to see full entry.

Sunday, April 16, 2023

SCENE FROM A MALL (from the archive)

You see it every day as you make your way through the mall: an "old married couple" out shopping. He's striding three impatient steps ahead of her. She's hurrying along behind, purse dangling over one arm, struggling to keep up. His face is a storm cloud, she looks anxious. What brought this to mind... Sign in to see full entry.

Saturday, April 15, 2023

BEFORE ROE V WADE, A WOMAN WAS ON HER OWN

The setup: Who: My mom. Where: An unincorporated village in the Cascade foothills of western Washington state. When: Circa 1949. What: A letter from DCFS (Dept. of Children and Family Services). Why/How: Politics When I opened the kitchen door after school, mother was standing at the sink, a coffee... Sign in to see full entry.

Friday, April 14, 2023

WHY WAS GMA PATCH SO CRABBY?

Yesterday I realized why I've been so out of sorts lately. Woke up with an intense urge to pee, hurried to sit on the porcelain throne, only to offer up a silly dribble. But at the same time my nerves bloomed with pressure, the "electric" spark going all the way through my body to my toesies and... Sign in to see full entry.

Thursday, April 13, 2023

ANCESTRY NOT COM

Went back and tried again, but the bits and pieces of family lore would not come back to me. I came up with a bit of history that came down to me from generations back, told to me by my mother as she heard it from my dad's parents. Let's begin with my dad's father or great-grandfather- mid 19th... Sign in to see full entry.

Wednesday, April 12, 2023

ANCESTRY, NOT DOT COM

Well, it happened again. Rewrote this entry, edited it to a fare-thee-well, but when I input the code to copy and paste. ZAP! Into the outermost fringes of the Twilight Zone. Maybe it's the Universe's way of telling me it wasn't a good idea, anyhoo. It was all about the Jesse James Gang, Jonathan... Sign in to see full entry.

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