My Life 2003

Why Do I Do This?

Tell me I'm not the only mother who eats leftover breakfast food off her children's plates after they've gone to school. When I cook them breakfast on school days, I... Continue reading "Why Do I Do This?"

We Are Not Headline News Anymore

Thank you for your support during this stressful fire week. My family is safe, the kids went back to school on Monday, and we never had to evacuate. The cool,... Continue reading "We Are Not Headline News Anymore"

So Cal Wildfires Fund 2003

Donations to the Southern California Wildfires 2003 Fund can be made online. They also have a tool for letting others know of the site.... Continue reading "So Cal Wildfires Fund 2003"

The Winds Have Changed

Winds coming from the west have cleaned our air (we can breathe again!) but are making it worse for firefighters in east San Diego county. At the moment, I'd say... Continue reading "The Winds Have Changed"

We Are Hot, But Not Burning

We live in northern coastal San Diego, and the fires are close. The sky is a peculiar yellow, brown color. There is ash falling from the sky, just like the... Continue reading "We Are Hot, But Not Burning"

A Computer in His Room

Over the years, when interviewed about Internet safety, I would spout my rule about placing family computers in public areas --- no computers in bedrooms. In our home, we have... Continue reading "A Computer in His Room"

Live on the David Lawrence Show

Tonight I was a radio guest on the David Lawrence Show talking about Music Piracy and learning about places to get legal music downloads. David's a character, and the interview... Continue reading "Live on the David Lawrence Show"

Kids That Talk

I am blessed with kids that talk to me. They even call me (or email me) during the school day with stories of their successes and non-successes. I was going... Continue reading "Kids That Talk"

Normal

Writers crave feedback. Actually I'm talking about myself here. Each week I write my syndicated column, various entries into my various blogs, and occasionally an article or an ebook. What... Continue reading "Normal"

Telephone Etiquette Does Not Apply

Yesterday was not a good day. Among my circle of friends: one's father died, one's mother had a heart attack, one's father had a minor stroke, and one's mother was... Continue reading "Telephone Etiquette Does Not Apply"

"Was Like"

So I was like, "What happened to the past tense of say?" She was like, "But I like the word 'like.'" I like the world "like" too. But I also still like the word "said." Have you heard it yet? Continue reading ""Was Like""

What I Read During My Summer Vacation

By any and all measures, our family trip to the Carribean was a smashing success. And I read two books! A Map of the World by Jane Hamilton: I chose... Continue reading "What I Read During My Summer Vacation"

Note to Self: Use Separate Bags for Apricots and Rosemary

Unlike some who claim they learned all of life's important lessons in kindergarten, I learned something new yesterday: When harvesting fresh rosemary and sweet apricots, use two ... Continue reading "Note to Self: Use Separate Bags for Apricots and Rosemary"

Three Pink Bridesmaid Dresses

The coat closet in our front hallway doesn't have any room in it for guest coats. But we live in San Diego, and our guests rarely wear coats. What it... Continue reading "Three Pink Bridesmaid Dresses"

It’s Carpet Day!

I don't remodel well. I mean the "process" of remodeling ... where all one's stuff is moved around all day. I don't do that part well. Today is carpet installation day at the Feldman house. And all I wanted was for them to come in the morning, and leave me in the ... Continue reading "It’s Carpet Day!"

Time Marches On

The contractors have started putting our house back together, and we are looking forward to having hot water, closets, and bedrooms. Yesterday my daughter graduated from elementary school; which means my "baby" is in middle school. My son ... Continue reading "Time Marches On"

More on the "Toilet Malfunction"

Last week I started the story of our flood. Here's where we stand today on the Good News/Bad News Scoreboard: * no asbestos found in lathe and plaster walls (good... Continue reading "More on the "Toilet Malfunction""

It’s a Toilet Malfunction!

What did you do on Saturday night? We had a "toilet malfunction" and a four-room flood, followed by a crew of two guys moving our furniture, ripping out our carpet, and installing huge blow dryers. The climax of the adventure was at 1 AM ... Continue reading "It’s a Toilet Malfunction!"

Shaking the Family Tree

Before I started writing my weekly newspaper column, researching our family tree was my hobby. It was a hobby I set aside, however, when I started my website in 1996.... Continue reading "Shaking the Family Tree"

She'd Never Seen a Record Player

My daughter is studying the American Revolution in her fifth grade class, and learned some colonial-era folk dances from a woman who visited their classroom. To accompany the dancing, the... Continue reading "She'd Never Seen a Record Player"

Snow Day? Traffic Day!

Yesterday was a very bizarre day here in San Diego. In the wee hours of the morning a crane fell over at the intersection of two major freeways, and paralyzed... Continue reading "Snow Day? Traffic Day!"

Road Trip!

Summer is on my mind. The kids will go off in different directions for sleep-away camp, leaving my husband and I alone for nine whole days. I want to plan... Continue reading "Road Trip!"

School Field Trip Sparks Column Idea

Yesterday I went on an all-day field trip to the Museum of Tolerance with my daughter's fifth grade class. The Tolerance Center exhibit was fantastic, and today I'm going to... Continue reading "School Field Trip Sparks Column Idea"

Speech Team & Amazon e-Books

One of this week's highlights was my son making it onto the high-school speech team. He will be competing in "Original Prose Poetry," so he will get a chance to... Continue reading "Speech Team & Amazon e-Books"

What We Learned on our College Tour

Our spring-break college tour was great fun! Even though many thought our efforts premature (my son is just a freshman), we learned a lot. For example, my son agonized a... Continue reading "What We Learned on our College Tour"

Spring Break College Tour

As this entry is being published around the world, I am on the last leg of a five-day road trip, looking at college campuses with my son and his friend.... Continue reading "Spring Break College Tour"