The Reluctant Columnist - Predicting The Winner

My journey to baseball enlightenment was a long one. I've never been what you would call a "sports enthusiast." I played basketball in fourth grade but could never locate the "key" everyone kept talking about and I never understood why I couldn't just hold the ball and run. That would make the game a whole lot easier, wouldn't it? I played softball in a rec league in middle school with similar results. I spent most ...

Ike’s Sights - A Shameful Glance Ahead

Drop this paper and go do your homework. Watch some TV. Update your Facebook page with that muscle shirt photo you took in the mirror. Go raise your kill/death ratio on Call of Duty Black Ops or gain levels on World of Warcraft/Runescape. If you are an Oakdale High football player, do anything but read the following text of this column, because this article is not for you. As far as you know, this week's ...

Mommy Musings - iWonder

This week's column was supposed to be about my 25-year High School Reunion. It's actually already written and was completed 48 hours prior to my Friday deadline. Like most of my colleagues, I am usually pounding out my column an hour or two before my editor is to read it. I guess you could say it's tradition.

Dawn’s Column - Home ‘Improvement’

A little over a year ago, right before I got married, my then-fiancé and I embarked on an ill-advised, do-it-yourself closet system installation. I had believed that it would be easy and convinced him of the same. I say "ill-advised" because my original theory was disproved when my guy just about blew a gasket a short while into the project.

Marg-Ins - Never A Dull Moment

As September gives way to October, the weather - hopefully - is changing to more of a fall feel, baseball (at least in San Francisco and Oakland) has given way to football and it's time to start preparing for the next big few holidays. I see Halloween costumes, turkeys and stockings in the near future.

The Reluctant Columnist - Getting To Know Me

I'm sure by now some of you have noticed my byline in the Oakdale Leader. I took over the civics and hospital beat in the last week of August and I think it's about time that I introduce myself. My name is Andee and I am new to The Leader and to Oakdale, but I have been working for Morris Multimedia (The Leader's parent company) for a few years. I am currently working for both ...

Kimberly's Book Reviews

Mistress By Midnight Publisher: HQN Books ISBN: 0373774885 HHHHH Recently, for a change of pace, I've been reading historical novels. I love the richness of detail inherent in a well-written historical romance novel and I was lucky enough to find two I really enjoyed so I'm sharing. The Blurb: Merryn Fenner is on a mission to ruin the Duke of Farne. A beautiful bluestocking with a penchant for justice, Merryn has waited ten years ...

Stuff N' Nonsense - My Youngest Sister’s Wedding

By the time you read this, my youngest sister, Kamrin, and her fiancé, Kyle will have tied the knot. You see, Kamrin and Kyle got married on Friday, Sept. 16 in Sanger. I'm sure the ceremony was lovely and I'm sure there were plenty of sniffles from the audience because weddings - although joyous occasions - never fail to start the waterworks no matter how jaded you are about the whole process.

Editor’s Notebook - Inside The Story

On Sept. 8, 2009 Brent Layton of Escalon and Nikki Freitas of Riverbank got the news no military parent ever wants to hear … their son had been killed in action while serving his country.

Dawn's Column - Those Unexpected Expenses

As I drove off after work the other day, my otherwise "healthy" car stopped running. Right there in the middle of the street.

Marg-ins - Remembering 9/11

When we - meaning the group of reporters and I that work together each week to put stories into print - sat down for our Wednesday morning staff meeting this past week, the question was raised about how we were going to mark the upcoming 10th anniversary of 9/11.

Ramblings - Education Can Be Fun?

The seasons move on. The schools are back in session. We're headed toward Friday night football, cold and rain, and Christmas. Forget shopping. Did you know Riverbank officials are already planning the Christmas parade? "But not yet, not yet," as the hero's friend in the movie Gladiator says. The summer crickets are still calling, metaphorically, and doves still cooing across town.

Stuff N' Nonsense - Back To School

With the start of the new school year, I have a senior, a junior, and a first grader. The two teens are dialed in, they know their routine and it's been an easy transition from one grade to the next. However, with my little one, it's been a different story.

Rich In Thought - An Offer I Couldn't Refuse

My original plan for this month's column was to discuss my transition into "retired life" and the phases I went through on the path to ultimately accepting that decision. It was something parallel to the five stages of grief, starting with a denial and isolation then ending with acceptance.

Dawn's Column - Having History

You could say I have a little history in this neck of the woods.

DAWN’S COLUMN – I Could Not Ask For More

My husband and I recently celebrated our anniversary.

Didi’s Dogs

This is a new column, which will run periodically, focusing on pets and their problems. It is a question and answer format, covering a wide variety of topics.

Marg-Ins-Getting Into The Game

So there's no way to deny it, I am definitely a sports fan(atic).

Out Of Bounds – Preparing For The Zombie Apocalypse

I could watch Brad Pitt solve a crossword puzzle for three hours.

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.