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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.

Sheltering at Home Day 9: I’m Going for the Small — Really Small — Pleasures.

March 26, 2020 By Barbara Falconer Newhall

Small-Pleasures-new-barn-lights-two-sizes

There are small pleasures to be had while sheltering in place. OK, they’re really, really small. But I’m making the most of them. Read more.

Desperate Times, Desperate Measures: I Just Used Glue on a Postage Stamp — Sheltering Day 8

March 25, 2020 By Barbara Falconer Newhall

envelope-with-stamps desperate times desperate measures

I’m breaking rules all over the place today, like using forbidden glue to attach stamps to an envelope. Desperate times, desperate measures. Read more.

Dining in a Construction Zone — Sheltering at Home Day 7

March 24, 2020 By Barbara Falconer Newhall

dining-in-a-construction-zone

We’re dining in a construction zone. Social distancing has brought our home remodel to a halt, so we’re moving into our half-finished dining room anyway. Read more.

Oh-Oh. Is Cabin Fever Setting In? — Sheltering at Home Day 6

March 23, 2020 By Barbara Falconer Newhall

cabin-fever-at-home

Is cabin fever setting in at our house? Staying home and out of breathing distance of COVID-19 is driving me and mine into cranky arguments. Read more.

We Are Pushing 80 — Do We Stay Out of Supermarkets? Sheltering at Home Day 5

March 22, 2020 By Barbara Falconer Newhall

farmers-maret

At age 79, should my husband stay out of supermarkets during the COVID-19 pandemic? He’s used to making daily trips for groceries. Read more.

The Quarantined Grand Princess Pays Us a Visit — Sheltering at Home Day 4

March 21, 2020 By Barbara Falconer Newhall

Grand-Princesss-quarantined

From our house we can see the Grand Princess, anchored in the bay, its quarantined crew waiting to succumb or not succumb to the COVID-19 virus. Read more. 

Buzz Saw Bliss — Sheltering at Home Day 3

March 20, 2020 By Barbara Falconer Newhall

Buzz saw bliss -- a lumberjack-in-tree

It was loud. It was awful. It was the sound of a buzz saw echoing across the canyon. At last, that bushy old Monterey pine would be gone from our view. Read more.

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LET’S CONNECT

ON THE FUNNY SIDE

“Listen to Your Mother” — Moms Across the Country Get the Mic for Mother’s Day

Nancy Davis Kho read from her story published in "Listen to Your Mother" (Putnam) book reading at A Great Good Place for Books bookstore in Oakland, CA, April 24, 2015. Photo by Barbara Newhall

It was a fun night at A Great Good Place for Books when three funny ladies celebrated “Listen to Your Mother” an Erma Bombeck style collection of mom stories. Read more.

MORE "ON THE FUNNY SIDE"

CATEGORIES

  • A Case of the Human Condition
  • My Ever-Changing Family
  • On Writing & Reading
  • My Rocky Spiritual Journey

 
Need some levity? Push my Funny Button!

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!

 

DON’T MISS!

Artichokes stacked for sale at Whole Foods, Berkeley, CA. Photo by BF Newhall

I’m a Meat-Eating Loser – I Didn’t Win the New York Times Ethicist Contest

Auschwitz. Star of David patches were sewn on to the clothing of Jews during Nazi domination of Eastern Europe. On display at the Dohany Stree Synagogue, Budapest. Photo by Barbara Newhall

A Mother Who Prevailed at Auschwitz

covid-19-warning

Tales From the Pandemic Shut-Down — It’s Been Three Years

Oval portrait of Jane Johnston Schoolcraft, ca. 1825. Courtesy Bentley Historical Library, University of Michigan

The Lost Poems of Jane Johnston Schoolcraft — A Native Michigan Voice Rediscovered

MORE DON'T MISS!

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