This is a tale of the old “interactive voice response” phone service and the “navigation tree” hell. I know many can relate. I’m trying to rent a car for a week in September. I’m pretty comfortable with reserving online and have done so many, many times. I have two simple questions about the fees and…
Category: Everyday life
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Sleepless summer nights
I grew up in a Colonial-style home in Central New Jersey. Built in the 1930s, it didn’t have a central HVAC system. It had a furnace and a fireplace to ease the frigid winter air. In the summer, we had windows and fans. And it was hot. Kids in the neighborhood would camp out at…
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Dear gods of technology, back off!
I took today off from my regular job so I could get some things done — Run to the post office (which isn’t open during hours that any working person can conveniently get to); Have lunch with hubby (who also took the day off); Clean my office (“clean” being open to interpretation); and Make…
Battling the Bulge: Adventures in Fitness
(This blog was originally published on Tea & Strumpets.) Last week I wrote about my reasons for wanting to maintain a healthy-for-me weight. I wrote about my re-commitment to a healthier lifestyle and that I’ll be sharing my experiences with you. To start things off, I want to share my latest exercise find.. Wait….come back!…
Adventures in Plants, Part…I don’t remember
This blog originally appeared on the Roses of Prose, May 22. I’m plant-cursed Despite the fact that I’m a native of New Jersey (the GARDEN state), where I used to have thriving vegetable garden, and a bed of hostas that threatened to overrun the neighborhood, I’ve rarely had success with potted plants. In fact, gifting…
Adventures in plants, part…whatever
It’s a gorgeous winter day here in southeastern Virginia – mid-60s and sunny — so I thought I’d take advantage of the warmth and repot my two currently thriving plants. (Those of you who don’t know me should know this could be seen as plant-i-cide. I’m known to kill plants just by being in the…
Christmas Dance – Sam’s Story
Sam Herrmann is a 30-something accountant, married for more than a decade to Danielle (Dani). Their paths crossed one hot summer night when he was running laps for their college’s football team and she, a flutist in the marching band, was at band practice. They fell, and fell hard, for each other and have been…
Christmas Dance – Alexandra’s Story
Alexandra Anderson is an only child, raised by a single mother who died too young, then shuttled off to live with a father who had preferred starting a second family over sticking with his first. Alexandra clearly has some abandonment issues, and marrying Ben – handsome, smart and filthy rich Ben who somehow saw…
Puppy-dog tales
(This blog originally appeared at Roses of Prose, September 2014.) Recently my writing life has taken a definite fall to the wayside. My son has been house/dog-sitting for the past few weeks at a friend’s home at the Chesapeake Bay. I should clarify. Her home is ON THE BEACH. For a transplanted Jersey (Shore) girl,…
OH in the newsroom: Leah’s a food snob
Originally posted on the site of my blogging buddies, Tea N Strumpets, August 25, 2014: It hurt a little to hear one of my colleagues say that about me. Because I am NOT a food snob. I’m not! I’ll eat packaged, repurposed, fresh, stale, food that’s been left out overnight – you name it. Except…