Technological Wonders

There's really no question in my mind that computers are smarter than we are. Well, perhaps I should speak only for myself. My computer is smarter than me. And just when I think I have it figured out, something else changes and the learning curve starts all over again. My laptop has been home with me on several occasions now, I have finally gotten over the fear of unplugging ...

Ramblings - Save Us From Telephone Solicitors

May the Good Lord preserve and keep us from telephone solicitors - please. It isn't bad enough the mail carrier stuffs my letterbox with advertisements and invitations to buy everything from bathroom tissue to pink elephants. They go, mostly unopened, into the kitchen garbage can and from there to swell a county garbage dump with useless paper. The waste is ferocious. That accompanies the daily task of separating gaily-colored ads from the newspaper's reading material ...

Mommy Musings - Bye-Bye Winter?

I think I missed winter. If it were not for the two little people I try desperately to keep up with and my slight case of insomnia I would swear I have channeled good ol' Rip Van Winkle. The only logical explanation for missing an entire (not to mention necessary) season would be sleeping through it. But indeed it is fact, somehow we have made it through the latter ...

Dawn's Column - The Newlywed Word

Are we still newlyweds?" My husband and I looked at each other and asked that question when we recently saw our pastor who officiated our marriage ceremony. He greeted us with, "Oh, there are the newlyweds" and then he remembered that it's been over a year since our wedding. In fact, it'll be two years in just a few months. He quipped that he must have tied the knot good for us. Newlyweds. Hmmm. I ...

Marg-Ins - Full Speed Ahead

Time just has a way of sneaking up on you. Those of you that have reached a certain age plateau – and you know who you are – can probably attest to the fact that once a certain age comes that ends in a '0' time seems to move a little faster. Perhaps the thing that made this most abundantly clear was the recent class I took with my daughter. We were required to attend ...

Stuff N' Nonsense - Delving Into A Dangerous Place

Recently, I turned in the rough draft of my 18th novel to my publisher. Initially, there's always a sense of exhilaration that I completed this monstrous creative task but after the high fades, I'm swamped by feelings of loss.

The Reluctant Columnist - Here’s To Our Health

Fitness seems to a reoccurring theme in my life lately. Our group of newspapers, Oakdale, Riverbank and Escalon, has decided to introduce a monthly health and fitness section, which means I will be writing health and fitness stories at least once a month. Our office is also participating in a 100 miles in 100 days challenge, so I have been trying to walk or bike at least a mile a day. Add in all of ...

Kimberly's Book Reviews

DeletSpecial Agent's Perfect Cover Publisher: Harlequin Romantic Suspense ISBN: 037327758X HHHH When I was looking for a new book to read and review, I came across the first in the "Perfect, Wyoming" continuity series and I knew it would be a good candidate. Why, you ask? Well, for one, I could read it quickly and right now my life is hectic so a fast, easy read is optimal; second, I'd always wanted to read a ...

Editor’s Notebook - Changes For The Better Slated In 2012

As we ease in to the New Year, some changes 'are afoot' for The Oakdale Leader and its companion papers, The Escalon Times and The Riverbank News.

Dawn's Column - Step Away From The Chips

After some discussion and observation, it seems to me that most people make New Year's resolutions that are related to better health. They usually go something like this: join the gym, lose weight, stop smoking, cut back on the beer, and so on.

Marg-Ins - Welcome To Animal Farm

And so the menagerie grows. Despite my best intentions, we seem to continue to add more pets to the household. Perhaps it is because I have long wanted to be a volunteer at the Stanislaus Wildlife Care Center – I love animals – but haven't found the time to fit it in to my schedule.

Stuff ‘N Nonsense - Our Cranky Holiday Tradition

As I've mentioned before, my childhood was a bit unorthodox. We didn't celebrate Christmas or birthdays or any holiday (with the exception of Thanksgiving) and I always felt left out when my friends returned from winter break with new clothes or at the least cool holiday stories to share. So when I was old enough, I tried to make up for lost time. I went overboard buying my sisters and brother Christmas ...

Mommy Musings – The Unimaginable Of Life

It has happened yet again. Another year has come to pass and the promise of a new year is once again on the horizon. Last week I shared how language often helps me with my varying column topics and this week that still holds true. The topic of resolutions seems more than fitting for this issue of Dec. 28, but after nearly 10 years at this keyboard it ...

The Reluctant Columnist - Christmas Coconuts & Other Weird Traditions

When I was a little kid I assumed that everyone celebrated Christmas exactly the same way that my family did. Christmas shopping was done no sooner than two weeks before Christmas. The outside lights did not go on the house until after Dec. 9, which happened to be my sister Sandra's birthday. And above all I knew that Santa did not wrap the presents he left on Christmas morning.

Dawn’s Column - Pre-Wrapped, Pre-Lit? Sold

Due to some out-of-the-ordinary circumstances this year I'm dealing with a time crunch, so I'm all about convenience for the holidays. My husband and I have been cooking larger meals and freezing the extra in order to have some things we can just "zap" in the microwave at another time. I've found myself combining appointments and commitments with quick stops for shopping when I have a ...

Still Matters - Love Matters

May always makes me think of Mother's Day and flowers. And this year we added a graduation, planning for a wedding in June, and everything else in between.

EDITORIAL – Attention Oakdale – All Units: 11-99

Attention Oakdale – All Units: 11-99

Marg-Ins – In With The New

Stuff ‘N Nonsense - Adjusting To The Dream Job

Who knew there would be an adjustment period to living the dream? I certainly didn't. Many of you know I published my first book in December 2006 and it's been a dream of mine for longer than I can remember to support myself solely on my fiction writing income. After many years of incredibly hard work, I managed to make that dream a reality and I left my post at The Leader to live the dream.

RICH IN THOUGHT -Toes In The Water, You Know The Rest

As I write this column, I am planning to be off work for an ROTC assignment.

Reporter’s Notebook – A Tainted Finish

Monday, April 15 did not start for me as it did my friend and running teammate Cathy McClelland or Oakdaleans Vanessa Walton and Tom Burchell, or Jesse Santana of Riverbank. I did not board a motor coach in my sneakers with a race bib pinned to the front of my shirt in anticipation of running the 117th Boston Marathon.

Marg-ins - No Fooling Around

No need to check the calendar and this isn't an April Fool's Day joke – I am just trying to get my column schedule back 'on track' after having been haphazard about it the last couple of months. I know one ran just last week, so forgive me for the back-to-backs.

Marg-Ins - Two Decades And Counting

Marg-Ins - Love Lost … And Found

More than a week past deadline, I finally have taken a few deep breaths and will try to get this column written. Typically, the 'Marg-Ins' column appears the first Wednesday of the month, which means it is running a week later than normal this time. Being the editor comes with certain privileges, one of which was giving myself a break on writing this last week. It's because the subject ...

Rich In Thought – All The X’s, L’s, V’s And I’s

The Super Bowl Season is upon us as many of us gather for what is as close to an American holiday as it can get.

Still Matters – The New Girl

Hello, Escalon, Oakdale, and Riverbank. I am the new girl at the Oakdale Leader office. You may have seen my name on a few different articles, pictures, or both in various issues. Or by now, you may have even met me in person.

Community Corner – What’s Growin’ On …

Happy New Year! We all survived the Mayan calendar apocalypse and the "Fiscal Cliff" – kind of started to remind me of the Y2K phenomenon 13 years ago.

Stuff ‘N Nonsense - A Graceful Exit

I have an issue with finality. At the end of every year, as everyone is celebrating the ball drop on a New Year, I'm lamenting the fact that I'll never be in that moment again - another year lost to time, never to experience again. In that second before the big calendar change, I panic just a little knowing that it's over. I'm happy to report that the panic doesn't last but ...

RICH IN THOUGHT - Be Prepared, Do Something, Denial Kills