Category Archives: personal reflections

2017 resolutions, goals, and life themes

Posted on January 2, 2017 by stillalife

The end of one year and the start of another is often a time for reflection and a belief that we can, at least symbolically, have a fresh start. When we choose what we want to do in the future, often we … Continue reading →

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Which is better, a city or a town?

Posted on December 27, 2016 by stillalife

Which is a better place to live, a small town or a city? That was the conversation my husband and I had while enjoying a white Christmas —  though not the single-digit temperatures — in Winthrop, Washington, population 415, or 1,916 if … Continue reading →

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Resolving the problem of extreme list making

Posted on December 19, 2016 by stillalife

Were you one of the gazillion readers who pushed sales of The Lifetime Magic of Tidying Up through the rooftop? For those who didn’t read the book, author Marie Kondo shared tips for the sport of extreme decluttering. Kondo gave one piece of … Continue reading →

Posted in humor, personal reflections | 6 Comments

Narrow escape from Grinchiness

Posted on December 12, 2016 by stillalife

I think I’m becoming a Grinch, the Doctor Seuss furry recluse character, who scorns the Christmas season in “How the Grinch Stole Christmas.” What has caused my grumpiness towards a holiday beloved by nearly all children and many adults? I guess it’s the … Continue reading →

Posted in current events/themes, personal reflections | 4 Comments

Reining in post-election anxieties

Posted on December 4, 2016 by stillalife

A few evenings ago, I was enjoying a music program by three baritones in an intimate setting, enjoying it, that is, until the singers descended upon the small audience in search of one or two women willing to join them for their next … Continue reading →

Posted in current events/themes, personal reflections | 3 Comments

Old Year’s resolutions

Posted on November 26, 2016 by stillalife

I’ve been riding an emotional wave this month, sinking deeply into the troughs and rising skyward with the crests.  The trough came on election day, the same day I received a rejection letter from an editor who had acted very interested in receiving my manuscript … Continue reading →

Posted in current events/themes, personal reflections | 3 Comments

Stereotypes in travel writing

Posted on November 8, 2016 by stillalife

After reading a recent Seattle Times travel piece that recommended particular activities for Baby Boomer and Millennial tourists in and around Waikiki, I’m writing a rant. (FYI, According to U.S. Census Bureau stats, in 2016, Baby Boomers’ ages range from 52-70, and Millennials’ from … Continue reading →

Posted in personal reflections, travel | 1 Comment

What to do when we can’t control everything

Posted on October 31, 2016 by stillalife

Blog ideas and free time have been in short supply lately. However, something I found in my inbox today struck me as a worthy topic, especially as we’re still hoping that the eternal presidential election cycle will actually come to an end. … Continue reading →

Posted in current events/themes, personal reflections | 1 Comment

Buying cars and studio portraits: same revolting experience

Posted on October 20, 2016 by stillalife

I’m about to shop for a new car.  Ever since the “good Samaritan” jammed the gearshift in my 2004 Subaru in the process of towing my car, which had a dead battery caused by the body shop that left the back door open too … Continue reading →

Posted in humor, personal reflections | 6 Comments

Travel as cultural immersion

Posted on October 13, 2016 by stillalife

When my roommate and I graduated from college, we worked for a year to save for a four-month European tour. We planned to hitchhike to every capital, sleep in youth hostels, and have adventures along the way. We ran out of money and … Continue reading →

Posted in personal reflections, travel | 5 Comments