Published in Catness·1 day agoMember-onlyI Keep My Cats in a FreezerThey seem to like it, and it’s completely dog-proof — I’ve heard the coyotes singing across the fields, and I’ve seen neighbors’ dogs running loose with fresh blood on their mouths from whatever they had just killed. Needless to say, I worry about my outdoor cats. I live in two rooms in my sister’s house — two rooms which I…Cats3 min readCats3 min read
Published in Boomers, Bitches, and Babes·Mar 6Member-onlyBreast Cancer Risk AssessmentDo you know your risk level? — I expect to receive a phone call from my doctor’s office today with results from the mammogram I had on Friday. Mammogram time has aligned with tax season this year for an added dose of anxiety. In 2020, my twin sister went for a routine mammogram — that she almost…Breast Cancer3 min readBreast Cancer3 min read
Published in Grading with Crayon·Mar 3Member-onlyTeaching PantoumsAlmost any student can write a pantoum — I’ve declared Fridays to be Poetry Workshop Days for the rest of the school year. Poetry is my favorite thing to teach, so it’s a little treat for myself at the end of each week. Today, I’m teaching them to write pantoums, which is a form that helps any student…Poetry2 min readPoetry2 min read
Published in Catness·Feb 26Member-onlyCats and Sensory OverloadSweet Zombie’s story — At three in the morning, I woke to what may have been the sound of coyotes. Sweet Zombie was in his favorite place, curled up in a tight gray ball right next to me. I couldn’t help myself. Even though I knew what the consequences would be, I reached out…Cats2 min readCats2 min read
Published in Catness·Feb 21Member-onlyCats and ChildrenIt is a rare cat who enjoys the company of children — “Don’t chase the cats!” I say for the hundredth time, but my nephew Carson just can’t help himself. He isn’t really intending to chase. He’s just so darn enthusiastic. And radiating with energy. In general, energy and enthusiasm act as cat repellents. Cats like people who are calm. Whenever Carson…Cats4 min readCats4 min read
Published in Boomers, Bitches, and Babes·Feb 17Member-onlyHow Not To Date an IntrovertAnd why this introvert is giving up on dating forever — Back in December, in a fit of loneliness, I reactivated my Facebook dating account. I’m still dealing with the repercussions. I’ll admit, sometimes I am naïve. So when I saw Facebook had a new matching feature called “Friendship,” I assumed people were using it to look for friends. As far…Dating2 min readDating2 min read
Feb 10Member-onlySomeone Peed on My Hand and that Wasn’t Even the Worst Part of My NightA tale of coyotes and territorial cats — In case you’re wondering about the gun lying next to my bed, let me tell you about my night. I went to bed early because my colon, Janine, was acting up. I accidentally ingested a tomato seed several days ago, and Janine has been throwing a fit ever since. Around…Farm3 min readFarm3 min read
Published in Boomers, Bitches, and Babes·Feb 10Member-onlyYou Should Be WritingWhy do writers procrastinate so much? — Currently, I need to be working on a novel. Or poetry. Or a new collection of essays I just started. …Writing2 min readWriting2 min read
Published in Catness·Feb 6Member-onlyI Am Loved by Many CatsThere’s no trophy for it, but it’s still a worthwhile achievement — People who don’t like cats often describe them as “aloof.” Some people even believe that cats don’t truly love their humans. These people have likely never had a cat of their own, or if they did, they somehow failed to bond with their own cat. That failure lies with the…Cats3 min readCats3 min read
Published in Boomers, Bitches, and Babes·Feb 5Member-only2023 Reading ChallengeI’m already falling behind — This year, in a burst of optimism, I signed up for the Goodreads Reading Challenge. I set my goal at 50 books, which is very doable — if I actually take the time to do it. It’s February 5, and I’ve read 2 books. Okay, technically, I’ve read 3, but…Books2 min readBooks2 min read
