Our weekly Events Wire newsletter is your guide to Northern Santa Barbara County concerts, arts, and local happenings—delivered every Friday.
I’m typing out my column in protest. Well, in truth, my body is protesting. My right shoulder and arm have been throbbing for a couple of weeks with some kind of inflammatory flare-up that has limited my activities and range of motion. Who knew that clicking a computer mouse could hurt so much? My immune […]
Can it be? Has yet another year come and gone? Each year I feel more like Sisyphus, the mythical King of Ephyra who, for his sins against the gods, was condemned to roll a huge boulder to the top of a towering hill. Each time he made it to the summit, the boulder would roll […]
It’s the most wonderful time of the year. At least, that’s what that seasonal holiday song would have you believe. Yes folks, another year has come to its inevitable end—which means getting ready for the holidays. Be it Hanukkah or Christmas, or in my case both, we all have shopping to do, followed by wrapping, […]
I used to love to go grocery shopping with Mom while growing up in Spokane, Wash. We always shopped at the local grocer, Rosauers market. She also took me to her cousin’s fruit stand for huge, sweet apples and produce. We lived down the street from a small mom-and-pop shop that had the best candy! […]
Once more we have come full circle to my favorite month—October. Its name is derived from the Latin “octo” for eight, because it was the eighth month in the ancient Roman calendar of 10 months. But, in 700 A.D., January and February were added by the emperor Numa Pompilius, (translation: Pompous Nudge), resulting in Daylight […]
This week begins the celebration of Rosh Hashanah, the Jewish new year of 5776. My husband explained that the Jewish calendar differs from the Gregorian version. Apparently a pope created the latter calendar, naturally naming it after himself, whereas God chose with the former, just as he did the people who live by it! I […]
It’s been a lovely August here at Waterman Manor. The drought has killed all the weeds in the garden and, although some of the garden hasn’t fared too well, my white roses still look splendid! I have been resolute in watching our water use, rationing every drop in the garden. I also cut my husband, […]
Move over Alexander Hamilton! Treasury Secretary Jack Lew has announced plans to redesign the $10 bill to replace Mr. H’s image with that of a woman. The new bills are slated to appear in 2020, in time to mark the 100th anniversary of the 19th Amendment, which gave women the right to vote. Huzzah! I’m […]
The last time I graced these pages I wrote of how to communicate with a teenager. Since then I have rediscovered two powers that all teens have. I say rediscovered because, looking back, I once also possessed these powers. Teenagers are invulnerable and all-knowing. They wear the armor of invincibility and the helmet of omniscience. […]
I am the oldest of four children. My brother and sister, the twins, are five years younger, and I have 10 years on my youngest brother. The twins, now grandparents like me, brought up seven teenagers between them, and I am coping with one, so we can all attest to one thing—payback is a bitch! […]
You may have noticed, dear readers, that every column I write ends with something called a tagline. It’s that little sentence or two, printed in italics, that informs readers where to send comments, fan mail, and gifts of an ostentatious nature, all directed to me through my editor, Mr. Ryan Miller. Last month was my […]
I have been going through the leavings of the past year, tossing the useless and itemizing the rest. No, I am not working on our taxes—although there is something taxing about becoming 61 years old. Yes, it’s my birthday, and three days prior it was The Brit’s and my ninth wedding anniversary. Cue the music! […]
