My Pretty Little City

Punctuation Hurts My Feelings

My friend, GG, wrote me the other day. She works in a university library and spends a lot of time with students. She told me she just found out that she’s some kind of passive aggressive witch because she punctuates her texts. As you can imagine, I was intrigued. I asked for more information. She…

Life’s Dilemmas

While driving home tonight I listened to a report on NPR about a sex offender who had recently been released from prison and just moved to my town. There is a law that allows the police to release a community notice about sex offenders. It usually posts the person’s picture, name, registered address and the…

You’ve Been on my Mind

Whenever I think about how long it’s been since my last blog post, the lyrics from America’s Sister Golden Hair run through my mind. I know I’m dating myself. “I’ve been one poor correspondent and I’ve been too too hard to find but it doesn’t mean you ain’t been on my mind” I guess, in…

Lessons from Tolstoy

When I’m driving or walking I often think of things I’d like to talk over with you all. When the blank page is before me and I finally have the chance, I forget every last blasted thing. On January 17th, I had a thought, which, in a rare instance of recall and follow up, I …

Vi Chronicles: My Sister’s Boyfriend

When Vi and Tony moved to Hartford, Connecticut, my sister, Ann Marie, was still in High School. It must have been daunting to move from our small home town to a city and a large, diverse high school.  She approached it with her usual common sense and confidence. In no time she had friends and…

First Impressions are Tricky

What happened is this: I went to a meeting. Many of the people there didn’t know all of the other people there. Introductions were made and there was much shaking of hands, both at the beginning and close of the event. One woman nearly tore my arm off. As the tiny bones in my hand…

Not Gone Yet

Dear all, Just touching base. I’m sorry I haven’t been by all your blogs lately. I started a new job a few months ago. It’s a long commute with a new company and a new hotel brand. It’s been a steep learning curve. Pair that with littleb’s spring sports schedule, my grandkids, and other family…

What’s In Your Coffee?

I went to the dentist recently.  I dreaded the visit because the last time I went the hygienist pointed out the staining on my teeth and made me feel substandard in the tooth brushing category. I convinced myself it was her issue, not mine, but also changed my entire tooth brushing regimen to avoid another…

Manatees in T-Shirts and Other Notes

I used to carry a notebook to jot down the random thoughts I’m prone to in case one turned out to be the inspiration for a best-selling book. Or any kind of book, really. This method didn’t work well because the notebook, no matter how small, would always get in the way of the keys,…