Author: tonihall805@outlook.com

When I was 15 years old, I took my first official payroll job stocking shelves at the local Woolworth Department Store in Van Nuys, California.  I had to take the bus to get there and I hated the job, but loved the money.  Thankfully, I have spent the bulk of my working years loving my job and enjoying the money.  Yet eventually, even this aspect of my life will transition to a new life: retirement.  And loving retirement is not a foregone conclusion. Continue reading “Preparing for Retirement”

Wednesday night my husband asked if I would accompany him to watch the new “Equalizer 2” movie.  We couldn’t recall the first “Equalizer” that  starred my favorite actor, Denzel Washington, so we found it On Demand and watched it. Thirty minutes into the movie, I was feeling physically sick as it became clear that Denzel was going to do battle to free a young Russian woman who was being trafficked for sex in this country.  I admit that I have always struggled with man’s inhumanity. Good must always do battle with evil; I just struggle with why there is so much evil.  And the problem seems to be worsening. Continue reading “Where is the Love?”

I watched a clip of a Trump rally this week and realized that we have to be on guard more than ever for lies, deflections, exaggerations, scapegoating, red-herrings and straw man arguments.  It doesn’t just come from Trump but from his media supporters.  How do we combat this constant barrage of unfair and unethical argumentation? Continue reading “Masters of Deception”

For a minute, I wanted to set aside the American flag because Donald Trump was wrapping himself in it.  I wanted to take a knee during the National Anthem because he demands that I stand.  But then I thought to myself, “Hell no!”  I am not going to cede my American values and the aspiration of justice and freedom for all to an immoral, ignorant, liar, and want-a-be dictator like Donald Trump.  He’s not the patriot, I am.  And unless our collective voices become louder and more demanding than his, we are going to lose our country. Continue reading “Calling All Patriots”

Over the years I’ve taken many different personality tests.  I’ve taken them for career exploration, teams, a course, work groups, leadership training, and personal interest.  They all confirm what those around me already know: I’m primarily a type A, driver, achiever, task oriented person.  Add to that my Virgo perfectionism and you have a recipe for an obnoxious presence.  Admittedly, my personality is at times annoying to people who are far more laid back, warm, and fun-loving.  I’m always trying to moderate or tone down my strong inclination to get things done and done perfectly, but it isn’t easy. Continue reading “My Annoying Type A Personality”

I am fighting a horrific case of what I call, “Trump Fatigue”.  It’s that urge to curse, throw something, or escape to my happy place every time I hear his voice or hear about another of his lies or some other ill-informed decision he’s made.  Trump Fatigue is a disease.  For me, it manifests itself with my heart racing, a pit in my stomach, and the desire to lash out.  It’s the feel of my blood pressure rising and a feeling of frustration born out of a sense of helplessness and disbelief that too many Americans are complicit in his behavior. Continue reading “Fighting Trump Fatigue”

I’ve fully accepted the fact that one day I will die.  That’s non-negotiable.  What I find myself trying to negotiate with God is the method of my demise.  And falling from the sky in an airplane is at the top of my, “Please, not that way!” list.
Continue reading “Overcoming the Fear of Flying”

Yesterday was my beautiful daughter, Kimberly Joy’s birthday. It is hard to believe that my second child, born on June 2, 1982, after only four hours of back labor is a college graduate, married, and employed 36 year old woman.  It has been a challenging road to get here and perhaps we missed all the small warning signs that something was different in her brain chemistry until she was in college and had her first break in 2003. Continue reading “My Daughter’s Mental Illness”

For most of my adult life I have lived and worked in predominately white sections of Southern California.  Although California is known for its diversity, it is like the rest of the world where neighborhoods are segregated along racial, ethnic or religious lines.  As an adult, I chose to break out of segregation and to integrate as my own contribution to ending prejudice in the world. There are upsides to choosing to live this way, but there are also some challenges.  This week I’m living with what I call the  “Megan Markle Effect”. Continue reading “The Megan Markle Effect”

I can’t go into a movie theater or a restaurant or my office these days without plotting my immediate escape in preparation for an active shooter.  On Wednesday, I sat through my second training on what to do in case there is an active shooter on campus.  For the second time, my entire body went ice cold.  But this time, I got angry, too. Continue reading “Active Shooter”