Wow! Has everyone been taking grouchy pills?

Most callers have been ... fairly nice and understanding when we've explained to them why listings for bazaars are being handled a little differently this year at the Idaho Press-Tribune. First of all there's the reduced space of the newspaper, the economy, our efforts to treat everyone the same, and ... the economy!

But then there are those...read more

There are just some things in the produce aisle at my favorite grocery store I won't buy. You know- those really strange looking vegetables and/or fruits you take notice of, think you may have seen before, but you don't know where, and you have no idea at all what to do with them?

I have my own private stock of weird produce growing in my garden, as we speak. And that includes the biggest...read more

Had me on a hunt for the missing Sept. 2007-Feb. 2008 photo disc archive album recently - the e-mail that came from Greg, the head of the photo department.

The reason for my panic?

I misread his instructions.

"If you have it, return it to the photo 'god' immediately," I thought the message said.

The word was in reality "pod." But it got me thinking how much power and/or...read more

Here's my advice for all those would-be handymen (women) out there who like me just can't seem to talk themselves out of trying to repair household items that in reality have served us good and long and deserve to be put down.

Take for instance my watering wand, purchased about 10 years ago with the promise (attached to the tag) that never again would the owner have to stretch or bend to...read more

A few weeks ago IPT nice guy, Mike Butts penned a most wonderful blog. "What I like about summer" was the title. His words painted a beautiful picture of fun on the water slide, Saturday afternoon naps, happy vacationing kids, and loose fitting, comfortable warm weather clothing.

Here's my rebuttal or what I don't like about summer ... especially THIS YEAR

Coming to work without...read more

Road Rage: (noun) Violent anger caused by the stress and frustration involved in driving a motor vehicle in difficult conditions.

... And I never experienced anything like that, until recently.

OK. I don't think it's fair to blame just the folks who've moved here from California for all the stress and frustration I've experienced on Treasure Valley roads. Actually can't blame...read more

No sooner had I recovered from the shocking results of Dancing With the Stars and the American Idol finals than I recouped, found a new star to root for and was once again blasted from the realm of "high expectations" when Britain's Got Talent, Internet singing sensation Susan Boyle, was also awarded with nothing more than the second place spot and a firm denial to "sing for the...read more

I began with Star Trek way back when it first began, black and white TV, the first episode the day after my birthday, in September 1966.

Back then, space really was the final frontier. We hadn't stood on the moon yet, and the new civilizations that Capt. James Kirk (those of us who knew him well, called him Jim), Spock, Sulu, McCoy - better known as "Bones," Scotty, Chekov and the...read more

You'll never catch me doing that again.

Of course we're all looking for ways to stretch the old paycheck, save money or make a little extra ... with emphasis on the last one. I know I'm not the only one. But I can't imagine what I was thinking to take on not one, but three wedding cakes for the summer.

Oh sure, I used to do them back in the Dark Ages when I was young, full of energy...read more

Got one of those forwarded e-mails and it got me thinking, if you can do pears that way, why not other things.

It was one of those tests. Just answer the questions (don't peek at the answers below) and you might just know everything ... it said.

No. 5 caught my eye.

"In many liquor stores, you can buy pear brandy with a real pear inside the bottle," it said. "The pear is whole...read more

With time growing short this week and what was left to do as far as my job is concerned, I really didn't think there was time enough for me to come up with a blog that could help stifle my most recent complaint!

I mean I'd already addressed my pet peeves in an earlier blog, which included when you receive a greeting card in the mail, and it contains a bunch of confetti or glitter, and you...read more

Got a kick out of a recent e-mail sent by a friend. It contained a list of "handy tips." You know, simple little things none of us would ever think of, that make even the most humongous task easier.

Now mind you I've gotten other similar lists, and almost always I discard them or make a copy and put it away for another day. I never before had thought about actually trying some of them...read more

Been noticing those irritating things a lot more lately. You know. It's those once hardly noticeable actions that when they begin to show-up in your conscious mind, nearly drive you nuts!

We have names for them, annoyances, distractions, and pet peeves, to name a few. My top-10 list follows:

• Pictures grouped on a wall that hang crooked despite your constant egging them back to the square...read more

It wasn't all that long ago we bit the bullet and purchased another "nearly" new car, putting us in debt for the rest of our natural lives. Can't help that I'm cheap. I'm from that "older" generation, when cars used to last forever. At least it seemed like that. Never had to look at the mileage before the purchase, because if it ceased to work in a month or two...read more

Trying to be frugal?

The times certainly call for it. However, don't underestimate the cost of such a goal. Take for instance, my recent creative journey into the world of homemade greeting cards.

It all started when I received a lovely handmade edition for my birthday. The design was unique, the placement precise and knowing that someone actually thought enough of me to spend the time to make...read more

I'm starting to feel the pangs of that old familiar "get out the seed catalog" fever, as brighter, sunnier and most of all WARMER days happen on a more frequent basis.

Seems like a long time ago since I sat out under my maple tree looking up at the sky through gently blowing leaves. However, I am going to try not to go overboard this year.

Last growing season, my trips to local greenhouses...read more

Help! I'm on computer overload and fading fast. And if there is one more username, password or process that I have to squish into my aging brain in order to login into something important, I might just self-destruct.

Ever felt like that? And if you have, what did you do?

The most disturbing result of this hi-tech life we're all living, for me at least, is all that easy stuff that I've...read more

It all began with me wondering why wearing the color yellow always makes me feel good. The drab color days before however, are never wonderful. You know. It's those times when I'm committed to staying in ... all day ... dressed in my jammees and house slippers. Don't want to answer the telephone either, just enjoy the time undetected and by myself. But when that "yellow" urge...read more

A few weeks ago I noticed peeking up out of my mulch and bark front garden, some tiny green leaves.

"What? Flowers are coming up already," I thought.

There were still patches of snow in the yard, and it was much too cold for any serious contemplation of spring! Easy to fix. Just kick the surrounding mulch over the offending shoots and we're back to winter. ... Or so I thought.

Seems...read more

Before the big day (Valentine's Day) arrives, I just have to take an inch or two and tell you about the marvelous valentine given me by a sweet reader.

You might remember when I admitted recently that I'd made an error in an ingredient amount during the transposing of a wonderful recipe (Nut Chews) sent in by Linda Wade.

During my efforts to get the recipe in and published for the Super...read more

I don't know if this will be as big of a surprise for you as it was for me. But for once, I did get some very useful information from one of those forwarded e-mails that circulates all over the country.

I'm sure you're not unfamiliar with how irritating rolls of aluminum foil, plastic wrap, and well, almost every other roll type product can be! You give it a pull and the whole roll shoots...read more

We're coming up on the Valentine's Day week, a.k.a the Week of Love at Your Front Porch. Just a few days ago I sent out a plea to readers to submit their love story in our quest for the Best Love Story Ever. I've gotten two wonderful stories so far, but even more phone calls from folks who don't think they have a story to tell.

"I'd like to enter a story, but we didn't...read more