Back in 1994, I was living in Glendale, California when a 6.7 earthquake struck in Northridge, California at 4:30 am. The house shook so badly I had a hard time making it the seven steps to my son’s room. I’d just gotten out of the shower and was about to leave to go to my traffic reporting job. There was no power, everyone was wandering outside their condos…
Now that I’m older I spend a fair amount of time reflecting during the holidays. This is an irritating habit old people have because we’re never sure how many holidays we have left. So, in an attempt to appear deep and philosophical we look back, then bore younger people with our reflections. This year my family gathered at Bernie and Donna’s house for Christmas dinner and later we…
Oh man, you knew this day was coming…the day when I won’t shut up about my audiobook coming out. I just found out you can pre-order the audiobook version of Come On Down! A Little Story About My Italian Mom’s Big Dream right now! I am told it should be available to download by December 17th. Order as many as you want. Really, go right ahead! (If you…
How the hell does November creep up on me so fast (every year) and whirl me into the holidays when I still haven’t even taken down my Halloween decorations? Add to that the embarrassment of realizing that I NEVER EVEN POSTED the winners of last year’s Annual Cutthroat Tunno Pumpkin Pie Competition! I am so sorry Nate, Alessandro and Muiriel! You deserve better. It truly wasn’t sour grapes,…
Holy smokes, my essay about my mom just went up on the Huffington Post! The link to it is in the highlighted words, just click on them: They’re calling it, “My Mom Dreamed of Getting on The Price is Right, I Never Imagined What Would Happen When She Did.” They may try another name for it too, which I will post if the name changes. I am thrilled…
I am not dead, just ruminating. I went on a fabulous birthday vacation. I thought 70 would feel old, but I feel the same as I did at 60, and even 50, so I’m not buying into that I’m-getting-old crap, but it is forcing me into action. (Quick vacation recap) I started off in Seattle and spent time with my daughter, her wonderful friends, boyfriend and his mom…
Today, as I was cutting and coloring my hair (spoiler alert for anyone who didn’t know) I wondered about Number 53. She’s the girl on the cover of Garnier Ultra Creme Nourishing Permanent Hair color. ($8.50 beats the 75 to 100 dollars hair salons charge to color my hair.) I do this to try and fool people into thinking I’m younger than the date on my driver’s license.…
Jim Rice, a baseball player for the Boston Red Sox, saved a boy’s life with his quick actions on August 7,1982. The photo on the Boston.com page (link below) is incredibly touching and the story makes you marvel at Rice’s kindness and immediate actions that made all the difference. (The quick story is that a young boy got hit by a ball and Rice immediately ran into the…
Frosty the Snow Cone Man proudly sits on top of my refrigerator. I believe he’s considered an antique now, as am I. Frosty is a plastic toy from my childhood. He was sold in the 60s as a gadget to help kids make snow cones…and friends (according to this advertisement). I don’t remember the commercial, or an influx of friends, but I know I begged for him and…
I was listening to Alexa broadcasting my favorite news program this Memorial Day morning and realized, once again, how lucky I am to be here. I wouldn’t be if it wasn’t for the ultimate sacrifice a couple of soldiers made during World War II. This is a re-post of a blog I wrote seven years ago, but it means just as much to me now as it did…