It's been a while. In every area of my life, I've been trying to avoid answering the question "How are you?" and this blog has been no exception. The honest answer is that I'm not doing well, and I've run out of ways to navigate around saying that - to others, and to myself. I… Continue reading Treading water
We adopted you on a Tuesday. June 14, 2005. We'd seen your funny face on the website of the county animal shelter the night before, and you were just who we'd been looking for. Terrier mix #A1025967. I went to visit you first thing in the morning, and learned you'd recently been adopted out but… Continue reading In loving memory
It's good to be back. A few weeks ago I packed up the car and headed for the beautiful red rocks of Utah for the St. George Marathon: my first time leaving California or racing any distance since the COVID-19 pandemic started, and my 23rd marathon. As with many things about life these days, nothing… Continue reading Rose-colored
About halfway through a recent long run, I was making my way slowly up an incline when another runner - much faster, stronger, and younger than I am - passed me on the left. During the brief moment that we were shoulder-to-shoulder, they looked over at me and said "You are so impressive!" It was… Continue reading Over the hill
It's July 1st, which means that half of this calendar year is gone. Unfortunately it's been little more than a numbing blur of work, but I'm currently halfway through a brief vacation, and am starting to regain some feeling. If you're a regular reader of this blog, you may be noticing this recurring theme. In… Continue reading Half-life
(Knowing what I know, Part 4) "Knowing what you know about Alzheimer's disease, what do you do differently in your own life?" I've been slowly making my way through my responses to this question in a series of posts, so far covering advance care planning, physical exercise, and cognitive activity. Today I'm feeling ready to… Continue reading A grain of salt
新年快乐 and welcome, Year of the Metal Ox! The lunar new year began yesterday, the one time of the year that I reliably get a little new age-y, check my horoscope, and read way too much into what it tells me about what lies ahead. I've never gone in much for astrology, but the Chinese… Continue reading Inefficiency goals
Whether you know me in real life or only through this blog, there are two things that you surely know about me by now: 1) I have worked as a dementia educator for many years, and 2) I have a funny old terrier named Norma. We adopted Norma from a shelter nearly 16 years ago,… Continue reading Teacher’s pet
brain dump 