Author: Roberta

We hear a lot these days about increased crime in America. Many times, it seems the criminals who are caught get away with little or no punishment. Some states have actually raised the dollar amounts for theft or other illegal acts to even count as a crime! In California, you can steal something with a value of $950, and there is virtually no penalty paid. So what happens in California now? Theft, shoplifting, and pickpocketing are all on the rise! Who knew? Sadly, some of my friends tell me they don’t go to their central downtowns as it’s far too…

The past few weeks have been sad for me. Three people I was close to have departed this earth. I have known two of them for years and am sorry they are gone. The third person is someone I have never met, and I will miss him the most. This fellow became part of my daily life. How could that be? He was a friend on Facebook. His name was Buz Hitchcock. I visualized him in my mind as the Willie Nelson type. Reading the outpouring of loving posts from his friends and Facebook followers upon his demise brought tears…

I recently watched a documentary that piqued my interest. It was about hippos in Columbia. Turns out they have become a major nuisance. How did they get there in the first place? Aren’t hippos supposed to be in Africa? In 1990, notorious drug lord Pablo Escobar wanted his home country of Columbia to have an exotic wildlife zoo. He purchased four hippos for that zoo. Today, those original four animals have grown to a “bloat” of over 200 hippos and have invaded the important Magdalena River. [It may seem comical (and a bit insensitive), but a group of hippos is…

I used to love to exercise. I thought nothing of riding my bike 30-plus miles up and down hills and dales. A five-mile brisk walk got my motor started. In my working days, I usually walked about 3 miles during my lunch break. I kept my home spotless, and our two vehicles were washed weekly. I even washed all the windows inside and out weekly, weather permitting. Of course, I also did the laundry, ironed for an hour or two, and got down on my hands and knees to scrub the floors. Not only that, but I bathed, washed my…

Many annoying things exist in our lives, but one thing that stands out is accessing data via computer, telephone, smart TV, and other modern devices. Recently, I needed to contact my pharmacy for some required medications. Here’s how that high-tech telephone conversation went. Robot: “You have reached the pharmacy. Please remain on the line. The next available representative will help you.” Ear-shattering music is played for five minutes – then: Robot: “Please remain on the line. The next available representative will help you.” More ear-shattering music. Finally, a more intelligent robot comes on the line. Robot: “Please state your name.”…

We had been letting a number of chores go unattended lately, so we bit the bullet and took the bull by the horns because he who hesitates is lost. Wow, that’s a lot of aphorisms for an opening paragraph! But you readers know that means we rose to the occasion to address some unpleasant or difficult situations. Since actions speak louder than words, Hubby and I decided to get caught up on all those chores we had let go by the boards. [Editor’s Note: Enough with the aphorisms, Roberta!] I recently wrote about cleaning out my closet, but I was…

I recently got bit by a dog. I was wearing open-toed sandals while visiting a friend. As we were sitting on her sofa chatting, her dog started gently gnawing on my big toe. It felt good – sort of like a provocative pedicure. Then, out of the blue, the dog clamped his teeth down and drew blood. I still don’t know why the sudden mood change. I can recall several dog bite incidents in my life. I had a friend whose dog, Shimmy, would always bite me – and everyone else. One never knew when he would bite – and…

Well, the year-end holidays have come and gone. It’s a relief in some ways and a big letdown at the same time. I had the same feeling when the final exams were over in college. So much effort – so much focus – and then it’s over. Exhilarated, exhausted, and somewhat empty. Now, what am I going to do? After hosting two sets of relatives, I‘ll start by getting the house back in order. The place isn’t too bad – they were very considerate guests. The guest sheets and towels all need washing. And, of course, the guest bedroom and…

After Christmas, I often hear people talk about what gifts they wanted versus what they got. So, if you got the opportunity this year, what would you ask Santa for? That is – what would you ask him for that’s realistic? As a youngster, I thought of many things, but most were out of the question. I recently heard a clever request a young boy made while sitting on Santa’s lap. He wanted a check for $1,000. I wonder what Santa thought? His mother, standing nearby, whispered he better think of something else. Do you think he got that $1,000?…

I know this may sound blasphemous, but I am thankful Thanksgiving is over. Why? Because, like other seasonal holidays, it can occasionally create a lot of pressure and generate unreasonably high expectations. Our families have always lived far away from us, so there’s never been a traditional Thanksgiving Day gathering place. When Hubby and I were younger, we overcame the distance by traveling many miles by plane, train, and automobile. Some years, family members would travel those same miles in reverse to come to our home. The grandkids were little in those days, so a Thanksgiving Day celebration with Grandma…