Articles written by Lynda Chitwood

What is Helium

About me - Lynda Chitwood

I am a 44 year old living in Riverside, CA. I am a So Cal girl, born and bred. Wife, mother, grandmother, sister, daughter, friend, in-law, outlaw, angel, devil....you name it, I've held the title. (Some worse!)

I have been creating stories both in my head

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Style & Beauty > Hair Color & Coloring Should you go gray naturally or dye your hair as you age?: 5 of 76
A few weeks ago, my husband and I treated ourselves to a day at the spa. As I was climbing into the red clay mud bath, a woman remarked to me, "I love the color of your hair, is it your natural color?" I explained that it was as close to my natural color as I could remember, since I have been coloring my hair for decades. She... More..
Food & Drink > Salad Recipes Recipes: Quick and easy salad recipes: 5 of 67
Sesame Spinach SaladMy family is a group of eaters. We love to eat, and even though we know how to eat healthy, we are far too fond of meat, cheese, bread and desserts.Once, we embarked on a diet where we ate A LOT of salads. My husband refers to that as thesticks and weeds' diet. This salad was one of those "let's throw stuf... More..
Travel > North & South America Travel experiences: Mexico: 2 of 21
When I retire, my dream will be to do so in Mexico. Family and friends scoff at this. Living in Southern California, most people's impressions of Mexico come from Tijuana, Mexicali, and the party-hardy atmosphere of Rosarito. When people quote to me, chapter and verse about killings, government corruption, and poor living con... More..
Home & Garden > Rental Properties Tenant horror stories: 1 of 7
Never judge a book by its cover. That's what we've been told, and we've all seen that it's true. If you have ever had to appraise renters, you know how true that can be.There's a young couple that lives in the apartment next door. She is quiet, an educated professional who works full-time and from their apartment. Her boyfrie... More..
Pets & Animals > Ferrets What you need to know about ferrets: 3 of 20
The Don'ts of Ferret Ownership Don't Get A Ferret If You Don't Have The Time If you travel a lot, work long hours, or have a lot of outside commitments, a ferret is not a good choice. These days, families tend to be on the run a lot, with kids doing many activities. While this is an outstanding way to raise your kids, it is n... More..
Pets & Animals > Ferrets Ferrets as pets for children: 1 of 6
As a ferret owner, and parent/grandparent, my opinion is that children and ferrets, generally, do not mix. I am sure there are ferret owners writhing in their seats at that statement, and I make no apologies, but offer a story that has nothing to do with ferrets, and everything to do with the nature of a child.Before my first... More..
Creative Writing > Memoirs Testimonies: On being a grandmother: 6 of 30
Tomorrow, the baby will be here. His mommy and daddy will drop him off, and go off for a weekend in the mountains, with sledding and snowboarding. Things you just can't do with a 5-month old baby around. A weekend for his big brother to pretend, for awhile, that he is the only child.Three days for mom and dad to revisit a lif... More..
Jobs & Careers > Stress & Time Management The hazards of modern commuting: 1 of 5
One of these days, I am going to get myself shot. I am not a peace officer, nor do I engage in illegal activities. My driving is going to get me shot. I have two serious flaws when I drive, one being that I believe in observing speed limits, traffic signs and the basic rules of driving. My other flaw is that I always seem to ... More..
Creative Writing > Memoirs Testimonies: Adventures in ferret ownership: 3 of 14
Ferrets are illegal in California.We can't seem to find out why, but the closest answer seems have something to do with ferrets being let loose in Australia, proliferating and upsetting the natural balance. Go figure.So it was surprising one day a few years ago, when my husband sent me a text. "Do we want a ferret?" it said. ... More..
Pets & Animals > Ferrets Characteristics of the ferret: 2 of 8
Have you ever known someone who just always has a sunny disposition, no matter what? Someone who just stumbles and bumbles around life's obstacles with such happy-go-lucky enthusiasm that you are sure there's something wrong them? At the same time you are amused and slightly envious of them? That is just a taste of what life ... More..