tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35433013979781160872012-01-17T21:59:47.131-08:00Thoughts at the end of the day.Rennoreply@blogger.comBlogger161100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3543301397978116087.post-61678763026087447272010-03-06T17:57:00.000-08:002010-03-06T18:00:17.217-08:00

Upon joining our household the new towel is subjected to much admiration, petting, and occasional draping over-the-arm for inspection. It is introduced to the family, who must say only nice things about it (who knows how long this one will be a part of their lives?). The towel is then laundered and tucked gently into the towel drawer. When brought out during the first month or two, it is only

Rennoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3543301397978116087.post-52383471057538635712009-12-29T15:15:00.000-08:002009-12-29T15:19:30.314-08:00

Last month I took my car in for service. When I was next at the grocery store, I discovered that the dash button that pops open the trunk no longer worked. Despite my energetic and increasingly forceful efforts, it has continued to do nothing ever since.We resorted to opening the trunk with the key or the button on the key fob.I would occasionally consider calling the mechanic, but inertia is a

Rennoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3543301397978116087.post-5949360685315431412009-09-06T20:38:00.000-07:002009-09-06T22:22:55.633-07:00

It's nice to have a happy ending, even if it's over something relatively unimportant.Today we went to the California State Fair. Dude was there with his girlfriend when Squeeze and I arrived, and we met them for a snack before going our separate ways - they headed off to the rides and we strolled around for hours, looking at whatever caught our attention.It was an absolutely beautiful day. It's

Rennoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3543301397978116087.post-27042877265952366202009-04-12T11:20:00.000-07:002009-04-12T12:15:02.346-07:00

A few weeks ago, Squeeze and I had breakfast at the Tower Cafe, each of us sampling their Famous French Toast.It was incredibly delicious, but in these trying financial times, we can't afford to go out to eat all the time. Since we still had a craving for that yummy dish, I decided to try to create a french toast recipe that was similar to what we had experienced on our outing.I was very pleased

Rennoreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3543301397978116087.post-75463875224777117342009-04-03T18:54:00.000-07:002009-04-03T18:54:34.930-07:00

Although I don't like to cook, I LOVE baking. Yesterday I wanted to combine my love of baking with another food I love: lemons.It's true. I love lemons. It's a life-long affair that started when I was a little girl. I don't remember who introduced me to them, but I am forever grateful. My preferred lemon-eating method is to cut it in half, salt it, then squeeze it and slurp up the juice. This is

Rennoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3543301397978116087.post-59279523890888087432009-04-01T19:44:00.000-07:002009-04-19T20:03:52.121-07:00

Summers were endless in the small desert town of my childhood. Probably because they began in April and ended in November. The days were filled with roller skating, bike riding, tree climbing, dirt clod wars, and - my favorite - swimming at the community pool. You could judge how far the season had progressed by the shade of green my hair had turned. There were games of hide and seek that

Rennoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3543301397978116087.post-5995102986696444602009-03-29T11:27:00.000-07:002009-03-29T13:15:10.564-07:00

It's been sunny and clear here this past week. The trees are leafing out, it seems like everything is blooming, and the wind is blowing, spreading pollens to every part of the valley. Aside from the misery of allergies, it feels like the most beautiful place in the world right now. Feeling a bit of spring fever, and anxious to get out of the house, Squeeze and I decided to go out to breakfast at

Rennoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3543301397978116087.post-89042573851607459592009-03-21T13:39:00.000-07:002009-03-21T13:55:12.590-07:00

There are two things you need to know about me in order for this picture to really make sense.1. I'm fairly new to gardening, and not yet adept at identifying seedlings.2. Last year I attempted to start seedlings indoors and they all died when I tried to transplant them. I know now several things I did wrong, but I didn't feel up to trying again this year.This year, I'm just putting the seeds in

Rennoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3543301397978116087.post-21503098320747050062009-03-19T17:23:00.000-07:002009-03-19T17:28:01.687-07:00

Today I realized that I no longer truly indulge my curiosity. Does this mean I'm officially old?I'll look things up on line or pick up a book about an interesting subject, but when it comes to interacting with people, I am extremely reluctant to approach them and ask what I want to know. I distinctly remember my kids marching up to complete strangers and asking them extremely personal details.

Rennoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3543301397978116087.post-33710268912816221642009-02-28T16:01:00.000-08:002009-02-28T16:09:21.824-08:00

Today's post brings my February total to... humph. One.Excuses considered:It's a short month.I've been busy.I was sucked in by 100 Words.All of these things are true, but it's more accurate to say that the time slipped away while I was trying to think of something interesting to say. I haven't found the knack of writing consistently yet. I could use some motivation. Perhaps I should ask my

Rennoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3543301397978116087.post-53752415188293735632009-01-14T17:16:00.000-08:002009-01-14T17:21:07.017-08:00

Today I had to bribe myself into taking a walk. I'm not proud of this.I'm not sure why I wasn't eager to go.It was a beautiful day today - clear, sunny, in the 60's. Only yesterday I was noticing how good I feel when I take a walk outside.The thing is, it's appallingly easy to collapse on the couch with my laptop when I get home from work. Never mind that I know that exercising on a regular

Rennoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3543301397978116087.post-64587719560916657512009-01-01T11:22:00.000-08:002009-01-01T20:57:57.591-08:00

I have one big resolution for this year: I resolve to improve my living environment.It's embarrassing to admit that this area of my life is not under control.  There are many things that I could improve, and I could easily overwhelm myself with a long list of habits to change, but not all of them affect my bank statement. This one does. After seeing 6 months worth of energy usage reports from my

Rennoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3543301397978116087.post-65441542323699059952008-12-18T19:58:00.000-08:002008-12-18T20:01:42.748-08:00

Mashed potatoes are one of the limited number of dishes I am truly comfortable making. This wasn't always the case. It always looked so easy when mom made them. Zip, splash, mash. They came out right every time. The first time I made mashed potatoes for my extended family, I ended up in tears. It was Thanksgiving and I had been married for only a few months. I had made them a few times

Rennoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3543301397978116087.post-10550547793489689302008-12-11T22:15:00.000-08:002008-12-11T22:21:25.858-08:00

“The war is on.” These words greeted me as I arrived at work this morning. My friend gestured across the waiting room to the front counter of a neighboring office. “With them.” I wondered what had happened after I left yesterday. Whatever it was wasn't evident to my untutored eyes as I looked across the lobby. My cluelessness must have been broadcasting loud and clear, because my friend

Rennoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3543301397978116087.post-72332310044952158682008-12-09T19:37:00.000-08:002008-12-09T19:39:56.543-08:00

My father died in late September, two weeks before what would have been my parents' 50th wedding anniversary. When I was a child, my dad was the mostly silent presence in the recliner at the end of the room every evening. He was the keeper of the belt that was occasionally threatened, but rarely used. He was the builder of stilts, the cranker of ice cream, the by-hand cracker of walnuts,

Rennoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3543301397978116087.post-20610607735991923172008-12-06T12:16:00.000-08:002008-12-06T12:48:47.460-08:00

Two nights ago, my allergy medicine made its first attempt at escape. Last night it tried again. Tonight, it finally succeeded. This is the story of how my significant other – I'll call him Squeeze – found me on the bathroom floor with my pajama-clad bottom waving in the air, laughing myself silly. I don't know why, after so many years of taking pills without drama of any sort, this has

Rennoreply@blogger.com1