random stuff I’ve done
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You May Call Me Ma’am Now
Not too long ago, being called “ma’am” (which usually happens in a service-type situation, with a waiter or cashier or what have you) made me feel kind of Grandma-ish. Like I am no longer a vital (nudge nudge) woman in the prime of life. But lately, I’ve decided I like “ma’am” better. After all, if…
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Corona Library
On Saturday, Cadillac and I headed up to the Corona Library to do a program. Corona is a city in Riverside County (I think) that used to produce a lot of oranges. The city was built around a circular road (a crown, i.e. Corona) and therefore has many big beautiful Victorians and other houses. We…
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Your Household Tip of the Day: Easy Off to Clean the Shower
The house we rent has a white fiberglass shower pan. It gets dirty. Like, so dirty I am not going to take a photo of it to show you. It is also difficult to clean, because it has grooves radiating out from the drain like spokes. Gunk gets stuck. Even Cadillac has a hard time…
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Rock Bottom Remainders at ALA
This is the fact: I generally have a better time when I am wearing flats, not heels. Heels (the possible exception being those leather-soled ballroom dance heels, which I haven’t broken out for years) force me into being an observer rather than a participant. You should be glad I thought of this last night as…
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Father’s Day Mountain Bike Riding
Father’s Day, 2012. Cadillac said he wanted to go mountain biking. With me. We shopped around for a bike. We have been shopping for a long time. I bought bike shorts, those things with padding in the crotch that remind me of those huge pads they give you after you have a baby, about a…
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Ray Bradbury
Ray Bradbury died June 5. I know everyone already knows that, unless you didn’t, and now you do. I can’t remember when I first read Bradbury. I know it had something to do with my brother, who had a vast collection of sci fi and fantasy books. When I wanted something new to read, I’d…
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The Day the Earth Stood Still: A Man and a Craft Store
I just finished the editing/rewriting of my next book. Now it has to go to my agent, who will undoubtedly see items that slipped by me. Anyway, I worked a LOT this week to finish it, because the kids get out of school on Tuesday, and it’s really hard to work when they are at…
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Morning at Children’s Hospital
Recently, I asked the kids’ pediatrician for a referral to the cardiologist, so they could get echocardiograms to see if they have noncompaction cardiomyopathy, the genetic heart condition that runs in my family. I am hoping the kids got Cadillac’s heart. Everyone in his family, on both sides, lives into their 90s, as long as…
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All About Towels
I am staring at a big basket of unfolded towels that’s been sitting here for two days and thinking about whether or not I should fold them. In the early days of our relationship, Cadillac would refold all the towels after I folded them. The way I fold them, he said, they didn’t fit as…
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Imagination, Play, Creativity and Reading
This “These Are Your Kids on Books” poster has gone viral in the past couple of days, and it reminded me of some conversations I’ve had about kids, imagination, and reading. When my daughter was in third grade, she was on the playground at her school. It was a private school, with mostly well-to-do families.…
MARGARET DILLOWAY 