Electric scooters have arrived in our city and are raising all sorts of questions. Where should they be parked when not in use? Are they allowed on the sidewalk? On the street? Who has the right of way? In a recent column in the Washington Post, John Kelly tackled the older problem of crowded sidewalks. … Continue reading Parking Strip Etiquette
Author: authorpolk
I live in the suburbs of Washington, DC with my dog, husband, and two sons. I teach environmental education and am a librarian. I also write children's books and hope to be published one day. In the meantime, I blog about the crazy things my dog Pettigrew does.
In My Own Voice #16: Food Glorious Food
Food is one of the joys of life. For years my family embraced this philosophy, tucking treats into my bowl. Sharing morsels from the cutting board and grill. Filling their pockets with bars that sustained me on long walks or when I was managing an especially stressful situation, say an encounter with a mail truck. … Continue reading In My Own Voice #16: Food Glorious Food
In My Own Voice #15: Ninja Dog
Mostly black, I blend into my surroundings. A master of hidden movement, I belly crawl through the hostas, barely causing a leaf to quiver. I can hold one position without moving for long periods of time. See Playing possum. Ingeniously protecting our home-front perimeter, I have created strategically placed people blinds: nests in the flowerbeds … Continue reading In My Own Voice #15: Ninja Dog
Leave While You’re Still Having Fun
Leave while you’re still having fun. All good things must come to an end. My mother dutifully did her best to instill these truisms. But I didn’t believe. I wanted to eek out that last drop of pleasure. Stay until the bitter end. Although I didn’t know it at the time, I was a trailblazer … Continue reading Leave While You’re Still Having Fun
What Was I Thinking?
On top of a piece of newspaper lay the pieces of my back door lock. And I had put them there. The lock worked from the inside, but couldn’t be locked from the outside. This wasn’t the first time it had happened. The first time I ignored the problem until the lock was stuck in … Continue reading What Was I Thinking?
Mommy Can’t Mow
Note: Instead of a typical blog post, I am sharing a poem I wrote. TheDrabble published a shorter version of it May 8th. What I find especially amazing is that on listening to the poem, my 15-year-old son was able to figure out just why the mower wasn't working and what to do to solve … Continue reading Mommy Can’t Mow
In My Own Voice # 14: Summer Came All Too Quickly
It’s hot. It’s humid. Perfect for a siesta. But definitely not perfect for a walk. All I want to do is find a warm patch of grass, stretch out my legs, and rest. Doesn’t that sound nice to you? But no. She doesn’t get it. Walking a few blocks through this miasma is exhausting. I … Continue reading In My Own Voice # 14: Summer Came All Too Quickly
Pat the Bunny . . . and Pettigrew too
To touch is to give life.--Michelangelo “So you also pat bushes,” my friend said as we walked down the sidewalk. I paused, my hand betraying me as it hovered against the hedge edging the walkway. Although her words were inclusive, I felt like I had been caught; my unconscious action noted and commented upon. Because … Continue reading Pat the Bunny . . . and Pettigrew too
The Presence in the House
I spent the weekend with my nephew, an up-and-coming movie producer, whose latest piece deals with the effects of a sudden death; how that person’s presence can linger. (The End of Summer) But it’s not only ghosts that leave a mark. Pettigrew has a presence. When he’s not in the house, the air feels different. … Continue reading The Presence in the House
Surveillance
Living in a suburb of Washington, DC, means that highly placed government officials, the kind that warrant a personal secret service detail, occasionally live in our neighborhood. On our early morning walks, Pettigrew and I see parked outside of homes, the distinctive, dark SUVs, motors idling on cold mornings. On warm days, they sport bike … Continue reading Surveillance
