The Concert That Was Almost a Disaster

  Don’t you hate when you try and do something nice, but it takes a dicey turn? This happened when I bought two tickets for my husband Randy and me to see “The Monterey Jazz Festival on Tour” at our local music venue. It wasn’t our usual fare, but everything at this theater is good, […]

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Life Lessons from the Omelet Station

Imagine making fifty omelets in a row as a line of sharp-eyed seniors watch your every move. My son Paul performs this amazing feat each Sunday as chef in an upscale retirement community. In doing so, he’s learned three valuable life lessons. Allow yourself to make mistakes – The learning curve and pace have been […]

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When Alexa Rebels

Ever since my gadget-loving husband Randy brought an Amazon “Alexa” home in 2014, I’ve had mixed feelings about this device. Yes, it’s nice having any song played instantly, or getting a recipe for easy chili, or finding out how long Frank Sinatra was married to Ava Gardner. But lately, our Alexa is starting to remind […]

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When Spouses Surprise Us

It was an amazing message to receive from my husband, with almost historic significance. I looked at my phone in shock. Was this a mistake? But no, it had come from Randy. I stared a few more moments, at a missive I’d never received in over forty years of marriage. “I’ll make dinner tomorrow night.” […]

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Libby’s Nose for Trouble

It started out as an ordinary night. Libby wanted to go outside around 10:00 p.m. (Yes, she does that sometimes). I sighed, getting up from my comfortable bed where I’d been watching “Extraordinary Attorney Woo” on Netflix. I noticed Libby seemed especially frantic about getting out the door, yipping, circling, and doing her high-pitched aria as […]

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See a Penny… Pick it Up

Magic can happen anywhere. My mother found this out recently. Facing surgery in a few days, she needed a distraction and decided to go shopping in a local clothing store. She strolled around for a while but nothing caught her eye. As she was leaving,, an older woman who was also heading for the door, pointed […]

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8 Tricks to Reading Your Cat’s Mind

Cat lovers understand. Felines are mysterious. One minute they’re nuzzling your face. The next they’re biting your hand. What’s not to love? Here are 8 surefire ways to read your cat’s mind and if not exactly get this animal, at least level the playing field. Their Eyes—When your cat’s eyes do a slow blink, that […]

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A Word You Don’t Want to Hear When Out Walking

It felt like any other fall stroll. My Yorkie Libby and I did our usual daily loop–down our driveway, along the road, up the next street, and reverse. We were heading home when our neighborhood FedEx driver slowed down to talk to me. His face looked serious. “Just want you to know, Laurie, I saw […]

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