Look, I have a complicated relationship with the cyclists who travel 32nd Street and thereabouts. I know it’s not politically correct to say, but you’re mostly in my way. Mine is a reasonably trafficked street, but it only has two lanes, so when you’re riding your bike between moving cars and parked cars, with yourContinue reading “To the punk who gave me the finger while I walked my dogs”
Author Archives: Kari Neumeyer
Oh deer
Our property is bordered along one side by a creek. The creek is bordered by thick brambles of invasive blackberry bushes, which effectively fenced in our dogs. The ones that we raised from puppyhood, anyway. A few weeks after we got Mia, whom we believe to have lived a tough life on the streets, IContinue reading “Oh deer”
Everyone who’s ever had a dog has had a dog who died
I’m taking a new writing class with my fiction-writing teacher. A memoir-writing class, because I knew when Isis died that I was meant to write a memoir about our life together. I’m wary of writing a book where the dog’s death is a surprise. When I read Marley & Me, I knew how it wasContinue reading “Everyone who’s ever had a dog has had a dog who died”
Get over yourself, poets
I don’t pretend to know anything about poetry. I didn’t even know we were going to a poetry reading Monday night. I thought we were going to a music open mic thing. Rob’s friend Rion had a couple of pieces he wanted to perform. He asked the MC if profanity was OK. “I think misogynyContinue reading “Get over yourself, poets”
Beyond Oyster Dome
During the past few years, I’ve come to terms with the fact that I’m just not that outdoorsy. And that’s OK. Never mind that I live in the Northwest and that my friends and colleagues hike, kayak, climb rocks and sleep outside for fun. Sometimes I get to wade in rivers and brave the elementsContinue reading “Beyond Oyster Dome”
Warrior, come out and play
Since I’m writing a novel about mixed martial arts, I was excited when I first saw the trailer for Warrior. It looked like The Fighter, right down to the rivalry between brothers, except about MMA instead of boxing. I didn’t give much thought about whether the movie would be good or not; it didn’t matter.Continue reading “Warrior, come out and play”
Dogs in the graveyard
Early in Isis’ behavioral modification efforts, our trainer suggested we meet at the local cemetery. I thought it a strange place to take one’s dog, but was surprised to see a lot of people walking their dogs there. It’s near an official trail, so people naturally consider the graveyard to be a logical extension ofContinue reading “Dogs in the graveyard”
Unflappable
I had about four hours between appointments 20 miles from the office. Plenty of time to return in between, but where’s the fun in that? I brought along my laptop and planned to eat lunch/kill time at Starbucks. On the way to Starbucks from appointment #1, my car started making a funny noise. It soundedContinue reading “Unflappable”
The girl with the Isis tattoo, part 2
Getting a tattoo, it turns out, is a lot like buying a house or a used sectional couch. When I first saw our blue sectional couch in the corner of the townhouse where it was living with college girls, I thought it was in near-perfect condition. But when we got it home, I noticed thatContinue reading “The girl with the Isis tattoo, part 2”
The flip phone you’ll have to pry from my cold, dead hand
A year and a half ago, when I killed my Motorola flip phone, I replaced it with an identical model purchased from China on eBay. We were happy together for months before it malfunctioned. It stopped responding to any button I pushed. I gritted my teeth and “upgraded” through AT&T, getting a red Sony EricssonContinue reading “The flip phone you’ll have to pry from my cold, dead hand”
Kari Neumeyer 