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A couple of tall ships are visiting Bodega Bay.  I keep thinking about going out and standing on the dock to see them close up and maybe even get a tour.

But then, I have work to do.

Whenever I start a new novel, I feel like I’m treading water in the middle of the ocean, no land in sight.  Above me is the stormy sky, threatening rain and in the distance, lightning which will have nothing to strike but little old me bobbing around on the white caps.  Around and below me is the dark sea.  I’ve swum in the ocean before and remember the uneasy feeling of something under there in the darkness threatening to come up, grab hold and pull me down.  After seeing the movie “Jaws”, I now have a picture in my head of what that something is, which is why I’m too chicken to swim in the ocean any more.  Thank you very much, Peter Benchley. Ah, the power of the written word to plant ideas in a person’s head!  It doesn’t help that I live on the...

Someone forwarded me an email on Bob Hope.  Many of you are probably too young to remember him.  He was an actor and comedian who could keep an audience laughing for hours and never be obscene or use foul language or gestures.  He entertained troops in World War II, the Korean War, and Vietnam War.  He had one wife (Dolores) and was happily married to her for 69 years.  He was still telling jokes at age 100:  “I don’t feel old.  In fact, I don’t feel anything until noon.  Then it’s time for my nap.”

On giving up his early career as a boxer:  “I ruined my hands in the ring.  The referee kept stepping on them.”

On never winning an Oscar:  “Welcome to the Academy Awards or, as it’s called at my home, ‘Passover’.”

On Presidents:  “I have performed for 12 presidents and entertained only 6 of them.”

On receiving the Congressional Gold Medal:  “I feel very humble, but I think I have the strength...

A few weeks ago, I did a blog on collections.  I mentioned a friend who had a button collection passed down to her by her mother.  When I think of buttons, I think of the colorful plastic buttons, metal or glass buttons like the ones my mother collected in a fishing box.  I never dreamed of the kinds of buttons my friend had stitched to display cards.  Some were hundreds of years old and all were works of art.  Carved, enamel, brass, silver, bejeweled, Victorian black glass, mother of pearl, each is an amazing and unique piece of art. 

But what do you do with cardboard sheets of buttons that fill a box when you’re down-sizing?  She had been to button faires and met other collectors. But she wanted to do something special with them.  They’re gorgeous enough to be jewelry.  But how do you find someone who would use them for that purpose?  Curious, I went on line.  Most of the button jewelry I found was the kind a child...

I admit I’m hooked on reality shows.  Not the survivor type where people eat spiders and worms or live on islands and vote each other off, but the real reality shows like Clean House, Intervention, Hoarders, Curb Appeal, Dirty Jobs, What Not to Wear, Antiques Roadshow.

Perhaps I should have added this to my “ways I waste time” list of last week. 

I justify my time watching these shows as education.  I am learning what makes people tick.  I’m dreaming of things I can do with my, or better yet, my daughter’s yard.  I’m learning what to wear that is age appropriate.  Sadly, someday I may have to give up my jeans.   Well, maybe…

What have I learned from my favorite shows? 

Clean as you go.  You can have all the pots and pans washed and put away before you serve dinner.

Don’t let your mind go where you don’t want your body to follow.

There...