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Barbara Falconer Newhall

Veteran journalist Barbara Falconer Newhall riffs on life as she knows it.

  • A CASE OF THE HUMAN CONDITION
  • MY EVER-CHANGING FAMILY
  • WRITING & READING
  • MY ROCKY SPIRITUAL JOURNEY
  • WIDOWED
  • FUNNY BUTTON

A Case of the Human Condition

I’m Barbara Falconer Newhall and I’ve got an incurable Case of the Human Condition. And since you do too, I’m counting on you to laugh and cry along with me as I riff on life as we know it . . . Below you'll read about my creaky, old fifties house, my forays into home gardening, my shopping stories, my spectacularly low-fashion wardrobe -- and more.

Hanging Pictures: Too Much Art. Not Enough Wall Space. Sheltering at Home Week 24

August 27, 2020 By Barbara Falconer Newhall

hanging pictures how-to-hang-pictures

Hanging pictures: we spent an entire Sunday on the project, pulling everything out of storage and propping it up all over the house. Read more.

Is Fluffy the New Black? Is Our Quarantine Hair Trying to Tell Us Something? Sheltering at Home Week 23

August 16, 2020 By Barbara Falconer Newhall

Rep.-Katie-Porter. is fluffy the new black?

Is fluffy the new black? Fluffy hair. Fluffy, loose-fitting clothes. Fluffy, loose-fitting life styles. Fluffy boundaries between home and work.  Read more.

We’re Putting Our Shabby Old Patio Out of Its Misery — At Last. Sheltering at Home Week 22

August 11, 2020 By Barbara Falconer Newhall

shabby-old-patio

Our shabby old patio was a mess when we first laid eyes on it forty-two years ago. Today, it’s still not a pretty sight. Time for a redo.  Read more.

Why Do ‘Those People’ Make Me So Mad? A Philosopher Sheds Some Light. Sheltering at Home Week 20

July 29, 2020 By Barbara Falconer Newhall

Stars and Stripes. In a message to those people, a man hangs the American flag on the front of his house. Photo by Barbara Newhall

When we address “those people,” do we really want to be heard? Or do we just want to get mad, feel righteous and force our desired outcomes on those “other” people? Read more.

World Hunger — Is It Up to Me to Fix It? Sheltering at Home Week 20

July 27, 2020 By Barbara Falconer Newhall

world hunger and food-abundance

The bare dirt spot in my garden is taking up more real estate in my brain than world hunger, homelessness and disruption. Read more.

I Finally Got to Go Shopping. Here’s How That Worked Out. Sheltering at Home Week 19

July 25, 2020 By Barbara Falconer Newhall

near-empty-store-shelf

After months of sheltering at home, I got in my car to do some actual brick-and-mortar shopping. A favorite retailer had other plans for me. Read more.

I’ve Got a Pile of Antique Bricks in My Backyard. And They’re Headed for the Dump. Sheltering at Home Week 18

July 15, 2020 By Barbara Falconer Newhall

antique bricks in a brick-walk-and-terrace

The antique bricks in our garden staircase are pavers. They were made for the streets of San Francisco 100 years ago. Too bad the staircase is falling apart. Read more.

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LET’S CONNECT

ON THE FUNNY SIDE

‘Tis the Season to Declutter. Or Is It?

1960s-peace-flag

‘Tis the season to declutter — to ditch the 1960s peace flag and make room for the garlic roaster and the pickleball paddles. Or is it?  Read More.

MORE "ON THE FUNNY SIDE"

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  • A Case of the Human Condition
  • My Ever-Changing Family
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TO MY READERS

Please feel free to share links to my posts with one and all and to quote briefly from them in your own writing, remembering, of course, to attribute the quote to me and to provide a link back to this site.

My Oakland Tribune columns, btw, are reprinted by permission of the Trib. With the exception of review copies of books, I do not accept ads or freebies of any kind. Click on the "Contact" button if you have questions. Enjoy!

 

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Garden Artisan Jillian Steinberger prunes the camellias in Barbara Falconer Newhall's yard. Photo by Barbara Newhall

In the Garden With the Grammar Geek: Is It Ever OK to Use the Passive Voice?

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TV or Not TV: The Week We Turned Off Our 1980s Go-To Screen

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KRKS_FM talk show host and Christian pastor Gino Geraci hosts the Crosswalk radio show in Denver. Crosswalk photo.

My Chat With Gino Geraci — Here’s the Link

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