Monthly Archives: September 2010

025. Vocabulary Blues

Posted on September 30, 2010 by Octo-woman

One time when grandson Bryce was about 14, he had a tiff with his mother – my daughter Gretchen.  During the course of a highly charged conversation, Bryce swore at her.  This was earthshaking.  It was unheard of.  Nobody we … Continue reading →

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged | 4 Comments

024. Treed and Trapped

Posted on September 29, 2010 by Octo-woman

In the past few weeks, I’ve been trying to euthanize the four trees presently occupying the parking strip out in front of the house. According to their DNA, they are named Ornamental Japanese Plum trees, but most of my neighbors … Continue reading →

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged | 2 Comments

023. Saint Joseph Tutorial

Posted on September 28, 2010 by Octo-woman

You may already know this story told about the writer G.K. Chesterton, but it bears repeating.  (As the mother of seven children, I’m fluent at repeating myself. “Kids, brush your teeth.  Did you brush your teeth?  I said, go up … Continue reading →

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged | 2 Comments

022. Gardening Time

Posted on September 27, 2010 by Octo-woman

In the world of horticulture, there seems to be two kinds of gardeners: gardening nuts and gardening sluts.  Guess which I am. Late last spring, daughter Susy planted in my back yard six tomato plants that she had lovingly raised … Continue reading →

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged , , | 3 Comments

021. Housing Melt-down

Posted on September 26, 2010 by Octo-woman

The real estate section in this morning’s Sunday paper  is, as usual, teeming with the never-ending bad news about the housing/mortgage crisis.  I just hate reading that stuff mostly because I feel a personal responsibility for my contributions to it. … Continue reading →

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged | 2 Comments

020. Identity Crisis

Posted on September 25, 2010 by Octo-woman

Recently, an accountant was telling me about a client he had. She was an actress with a legal name as well as her “stage” name.  She had bank accounts in both names, but she neglected to make reference to the … Continue reading →

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged | 4 Comments

019. Skydiving

Posted on September 24, 2010 by Octo-woman

Three months ago, my grandson Bryce became a certified skydiver. I wish I could tell you that his goals were altruistic.  Like maybe wanting to drop behind enemy lines and single-handedly win the war, or rescue desperate flood-bound victims, or … Continue reading →

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged | 1 Comment

018. Traffic Jam

Posted on September 23, 2010 by Octo-woman

It’s almost time to go to Costco.  Daughter Gretchen and I do nearly all our grocery shopping there and we do it at warp-speed. My shopping excursions didn’t used to go so smoothly. Years ago, when daughter Judy was between … Continue reading →

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged | 7 Comments

017. My Sister’s Closet

Posted on September 22, 2010 by Octo-woman

I don’t know how I get so lucky.  My granddaughter T.T. likes to surreptitiously take  unposed photos of me on her cell phone and then she posts them on Facebook.  Last night, as a “surprise”, she uploaded 18 more of … Continue reading →

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged | 4 Comments

016. Thumb-sucking

Posted on September 21, 2010 by Octo-woman

It’s just one rally after another this year! Son Matthew and I have been following the plan of the Daily Show’s Jon Stewart to have a “Rally for Sanity” in Washington D.C. There are those in my family who don’t … Continue reading →

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged | 5 Comments