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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

DON'T MISS!

I've written hundreds and hundreds of posts over the years. To help you find your way to the best of the best, I've tagged my favorites "Don't Miss!" Scroll down here to find them.

Another way to locate Riffs on Life that you might enjoy is to click above on your favorite category – "My Ever-Changing Family," perhaps, or "Funny Button." You can also use the search box located way up top to hunt for stories by topic. There's fun reading at "garden," "aging," "kids" and, of course, "Jon."

I’m Back! The Writer in Me Is Back With a Book Pitch

March 26, 2019 By Barbara Falconer Newhall 12 Comments

The Douro River from a Viking Cruise ship. After travels, writer me is back at work on a book pitch.

I’m back at the keyboard and hard at work on the book pitch for my project. What do you think? Read more.

Out-Takes From a Small Town Police Blotter Reveal a Serious Case of the Human Condition

October 18, 2018 By Barbara Falconer Newhall 4 Comments

In California’s Gold Country, the bad news is not too bad, if a recent edition of the Western Nevada County Union’s police blotter is to be believed. Read more.

Too Many Walls — and Not Enough Bathrooms — at Our House

July 28, 2018 By Barbara Falconer Newhall 14 Comments

Too many walls: Homeowners of this 1950s ranch are contemplating removing the wall between their kitchen and dining room. Photo by Barbara Newhall

Our house has too many walls. It was built in the 1950s when families wanted to close the door on the kitchen mess, and one upstairs bath was just fine. Read more. 

My Brand-New White Hair. It’s Real. It’s Scary. But I Kinda Like It

May 24, 2018 By Barbara Falconer Newhall 21 Comments

White hair author Barbara Falconer Newhall has stopped coloring and dying her hair so that the white hair now shows. Photo by Barbara Newhall

My white hair grew out when I was too sick with mono to keep it colored. To my surprise, I think I look smashing in my new look. Read more.

Mono — It’s Never Too Late to Come Down With the Cool Kids’ Kissing Disease

May 17, 2018 By Barbara Falconer Newhall 8 Comments

Elderly woman with mono. Author and blogger Barbara Falconer Newhall succumbs to mono and curls up with an alpaca blanket for comfort. Photo by Jon Newhall

My doctors, a string of them, hadn’t thought to test me for mono. After all, seventy-somethings don’t get mono. Or so we thought. Read more.

Splash! My New Mobile-Friendly Website Is Here

April 24, 2018 By Barbara Falconer Newhall 2 Comments

Introducing Barbara Falconer Newhall's new mobile-friendly website with pic of Barbara at age 8 with new nner tube on the beach. Photo by Tinka Falconer

My new mobile-friendly website is up and running, and I feel the way I did when I got a brand-new inner tube with my name on it: ready to go places. Read more.

Ann Patchett — My Brand-New Favorite Author

October 26, 2017 By Barbara Falconer Newhall 1 Comment

detail of cover of Ann Patchett's audio book "Truth and Beauty."

I’ve got a new favorite author. It’s Ann Patchett. Step aside Marilynne Robinson and Annie Dillard, Leo Tolstoy and Richard Ford. You, too, Philip Roth. Read more.

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LET’S CONNECT

ON THE FUNNY SIDE

The Writing Room: Heather Donahue and Me – How I Got Hooked on a Pothead

Heather Donahue's book jacket Grow Girl: How My LIfe After "The Blair Witch Project Went to Pot"

I bought Heather Donahue’s book about marijuana farming, "Grow Girl," because she’s a writer friend of a writer friend of mine. This is what happened.

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!

Searching for a dress for an aunt to wear to wear to a niece's wedding. this blue spandexy ones was at nordstrom. by Eliza J. $104.90. Photo by Barbara Newhall

Wedding Wear: The Aunt Wore Black

The Pentwater Michigan marquee announces book talk by Barbara Falconer Newhall on her book, Wrestling with God. Photo by Barbara Newhall

My One-Woman Road Trip Begins — Grosse Pointe to Pentwater

adoptive-family

A Baby to Adopt — The Letter That Made It Happen Forty Years Ago

1951-birthday-party

Two Big Things to Do Before You Die (Your Dear Ones Will Thank You)

MORE DON'T MISS!

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