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MONTCLARION: JANUARY 29, 2010
The ongoing economic challenge (do we still call it a recession?) has me thinking of new ways to entertain. So when a coupon appeared in the mail last week for a free bowling party (shoe rental extra) I went straight to my hotmail address book. GIRL’S NIGHT OUT. MEET IN THE LOUNGE AT SOUTHSHORE LANES AT 6 PM.
Eight intrepid moms met in Alameda that night. The lounge was a room in need of a remodel, but no one seemed to mind. The heralding of happy hour had buckets of beer at a discount, and $3 “minis” of Sutter Home wine. You could feel the excitement starting to build. Continue Reading »
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There’s snow in them thar hills….
Hills Swim Club with a snow-capped Mt. Diablo in background - photo by Shad Wojtala
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CONTRACOSTATIMES.COM: JANUARY 23,2010
The greatest gift I ever received came from my family, tucked inside a Mother’s Day card. It was airfare to Ireland, where I would join in the celebration of my dear friend’s 50th birthday. Jillian had invited three girlfriends, all of whom she felt would ring in her milestone robustly. I, for my part, was bringing my flute – something I could play in the pubs that would endear us to the locals.
The flute had been more than a musical instrument to me, growing up. It had been a generational link. Both my mother and grandmother were flutists – so it must have been in my blood to be able to pick it up, without practice, and play along to most tunes.
Continue Reading »
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MONTCLARION: JANUARY 23, 2010
Everyone I know belongs to a book club. For some reason, I can’t commit. If there were a newspaper club, I might think about joining. But then it would probably be made up of dinosaurs like me – and what fun would that be?
I did give one book club a try, recently. A local moms group put novels aside, to view photos of the host’s trip to Thailand and Laos. I was happy to attend as it didn’t involve “homework” and featured an authentic Thai meal.
But even more to my liking is the club that meets monthly for munchies and movies. The Film Club was formed five years ago by Tina Banda (a local cinematographer) and her guitarist husband Michael Papenburg. The rotating host calls the evening to order, introduces the film (anything from an obscure foreign art film to a box office hit) and afterwards, a lively discussion ensues over dessert. How sweet is that? Continue Reading »
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MONTCLARION: JANUARY 15, 2010
There’s a weird, hollow feeling in my heart. Nothing can treat it – it just has to heal on its own. The pain occurs every time my daughter goes back to college.
You’d think I’d be used to it by now. We’ve put her on a plane to Georgia plenty of times over the last two years. For some reason – it doesn’t get any easier.
I should be happy with my daughter’s choice of schools. Our family loves Athens, and is Bulldog proud to the point where most of our wardrobe sports big red G’s. This Christmas we exchanged Georgia sweatpants and tee shirts – and I got a keychain that barks out the UGA fight song. Continue Reading »
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HILLS NEWSPAPERS: JANUARY 8, 2010
I have a new best friend. It’s not something I asked for, or sought out, or even necessarily wanted in my comfortable mid-life years. I have plenty of friends. But suddenly, I’ve got a new lifelong companion, and no matter how mismatched we may be, we’re locked in this relationship.
This new friend of mine is a titanium hip, presented to me by a surgeon who said life would be better “bionic”. My limp, more pronounced as the last bit of cartilage in my socket disappeared, would be better, in time, with the aid of my new metal partner. Continue Reading »
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MONTCLARION: JANUARY 8, 2010
2010 is just seven days old, and already I’ve broken my number one resolution – to eat less chocolate. Why is the cocoa bean so alluring? Like a smoker to a cigarette, it’s the first thing I think about each morning as I rifle through the cubboards for a truffle to sweeten my coffee. A pour man’s mocha, I call it. It’s how I greet the day.
Does this make me a bad person? No. It just makes me a plump person, which leads me to my other resolution – weight loss. If anyone knows of a good fat free chocolate, please let me know. Continue Reading »
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MONTCLARION: January 1, 2010
WELL, IT WAS bound to happen. After years of writing this column, I’ve got nothing to say. No salacious gossip, no new ideas. The well is dry, and the bucket is missing. Don’t think the irony escapes me. It’s New Year’s Day, and I’ve got nada.
I suppose I could write about crime, again. Smash-and-grab thieves have been wreaking havoc in the hills. One crook even took a bunch of reusable shopping bags from the back of a reader’s car. Continue Reading »
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MONTCLARION: December 25, 2009
MERRY CHRISTMAS! I hope this day finds you in good cheer, enjoying the warmth of family, friends and the holiday yule log on channel 20. The yule log is especially important if it’s a “spare the air” day — but that’s a subject for another column.
If you’re like me, you’ll be looking for a way to extend Christmas through the weekend. Here are my picks for some last-minute outings: Continue Reading »
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MONTCLARION: DECEMBER 18,2009
‘TIS THE SEASON “… to get ripped off. Every year we hear the warnings: Don’t leave your valuables in the car. But we mess up anyway, and the bad guys know this.
Consider the recent rash of auto break-ins at Redwood Regional Park (Skyline Gate) and the nearby Hills Swim Club. Most have occurred in broad daylight, when it’s clear that the victims are going for a walk or a workout. In the time it takes to count to 10, the car window is shattered and the goods are grabbed “… everything from packages to purses to laptops. Continue Reading »
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Ginny Prior is a writer, broadcaster and journalism professor. Her bi-weekly travel column appears in several East Bay MediaNews Group papers and her Town Crier column appears weekly in The Montclarion. Ginny’s adventure travel “Ginettes” can be heard on the Sports Byline radio network. Follow Ginny on TWITTER and FACEBOOK.Categories
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