That Strange Shape-shifting Time

Sitting in that gigantic metal airbus which, using any rational reasoning, should not be able to overcome earth’s gravitational pull much less fly over miles and miles of checkerboard farmland, I settled in and begin the time shift. Not the shift of time from Mountain Standard to Eastern Standard, but rather the shift in mental time from oldest daughter in a family that was started a long time ago and now exists with missing pieces to the my current mental time of being a wife, mother and grandmother whose days are filled with activities far from that former family.

My father, whose gentle demeanor and small stature would never fit the imposing image of Patriarch, is now ninety-two and a half. His walk is slow and careful, and his hearing is down to 30%, but his outlook and general health are miraculous. With pressures from his “busy-body” daughter-in-law and his first born (myself) he is adapting to some new digital hearing aides. The cacophony of daily noise is slowly being filtered by newly awakened neurons in the brain. The buttons and dials that rest above his ears are tiny and hard to identify for the awkward and numbed fingers of a 92-year-old, and yet he still tries to adjust. They actually seem to be working as I had several long if somewhat innocuous conversations with him. My father was never one to exchange deep thoughts, therefore, it is mostly talk about the “old-days” or what is currently happening.

During most of the week I was at my first brother’s house. Dad was far more active than he had been while staying at my youngest brother’s house, which had been his new home since Mom died over a year ago. This second move was necessitated by the unhappiness of my other SIL who after a year of living with Dad was requiring more privacy. (My judgement was that she was totally being selfish, but that is another story.) So the other SIL and brother have taken him in. We walked several blocks in the neighborhood each day, walked around Walden Pond outside of Boulder and elsewhere. We could see his strength and balance improving each day and he even commented on this himself. His gardening, which he loves, was limited in this new place due to the width of the vegetable beds. Still, he enjoyed watching the squirrels steal the strawberries as he sat at the kitchen table.

The next door neighbor had a sewer problem which also became my father’s new feature show. Since he was in construction years ago, watching the work of the back hoe and the activity of the laborers became another fascinating pursuit.

One memory I have from when I was a very small girl was watching John Wayne movies on TV with my father. I had purchased the John Wayne/John Ford DVD set for his birthday a while back and we watched one of those movies together while I was there.

I am involved in that traditional race where we try to fill our parent’s lives with activities and exercise to extend their life span...that race ahead of inevitable death.

Strangely, it was not unbearably sad to leave at the end of the week this time, but perhaps it was because I did not allow my mind to wander to those places in the future. I was concentrating only on the moment.

Before I lock the door..

I am going to have lunch or dinner with my best friend from high school and college days. While we are very different, our history together has made us soulmates. Anyone who reads this in the next 24 hours can comment...I have a question. Should I allow hubby to come? This is an important question because of the following facts:

I love my husband dearly.
I have not seen this gal in years.
I love her dearly.
My husband tends to take over a conversation most times.
I usually don't care.
I have not had a girly night or time out in ages.

What do you think?

I am not setting this up for a specific answer...really.

Going Our Different Ways

I am getting ready to head out to my homeland for about 9 days. I have not talked to my father very much since his hearing is gone and he has not clue one about using a computer. I may (or may not) have access to a PC or laptop for blogging. I know, I can hear all the moaning and groaning in blogdom...oh wait, that is just the old apartment AC kicking in.

Well, in the event that some poor soul cares, I will not be back until after September 2--and depending on comments, y'all may or may not be my first priority at that time. If the Rocky Mountains move me, I will try a haiku or two.

Anyway, as I sit here eating my version of a 'CHuckee-CHeese' menu -- CHeese, CHips and CHardonnay, I am beginning to regret our policy of keeping the refrigerator food inventory down before a long trip. We have not been shopping in days. (Actually this whole thing of keeping two refrigerators in different locations slightly full is getting old pretty fast.)

Someday I must blog on the shelf life of things. Chardonnay, Chips and Cheese pretty much last forever when not opened. Therefore I am eating these tonight. Hubby gets a frozen burrito or two.

I will not answer the plant question (you figure that out) until I return. Ha!

Too Much of a Good Thing is Still Too Much of a Good Thing

Too much of a good thing is too much of a good thing. I really think that life is all about balance and evenness and while uneven is interesting and sometimes exhilarating, it usually means a fall or a slide until all is in balance again. This slide keeps us awake and helps appreciate the other side even more, but peace is really when all is in balance. I don't care how much you like it, you will get tired of too much exhilaration.

Last week I was reading a news story about the sea life in La Jolla, California. I remember visiting the shoreline there a few years ago. I could smell the richness of the sea long before I reached the walkway to look over the coast. The richness I am talking about was the smell of sea lion feces and old fish. This was in thanks to the many lumps of sea lions lounging on the floating docks and rocks in the water. They covered every bare space and if you were trying to get to a boat that had been tied up you better be careful that it didn't appear you were disturbing one of them...that could get you a nasty fine. According to the article they now are taking over the beaches. Centuries ago they probably owned the beaches. Now mankind wants to use the beach as well and there is a definite conflict of space. Too much of mankind and too many sea lions. No balance.

A similar event is taking place in my county. We now have more white tail deer than were here when the pioneers arrived. This is due to all the land we cleared and all the open grass areas we have developed along the freeways and in the city and county parks and of course, the well-manicured yards of every home. This is also because we no longer hunt deer for food. The deer have no interest in moving off your driveway when you arrive home from work. They stare at you like cattle casually chomping on that hosta leaf and wondering why you bother to come home each evening insisting they move. Hundreds of thousands of dollars of shrubbery and landscaping have been eaten to the bare bark. Neighbors try to protect rows of dramatic hostas and gardens of colorful roses with bird netting. Netting that gets tangled in the lawn mower and gets tangled in your shoe laces and doesn't look all that pretty and thus, distracts from the beauty of what you are trying to raise.

We have a private botanic garden nearby that finally put up a ten foot metal fence around its acreage with an automatic gate for cars. They were losing rare plants that were hundreds of years old due to deer foraging. Too many deer and probably too many people loving the plants. Ten years ago they did not need a fence around the garden.

Well, it should all slide back into place in the coming years. Disease and famine and death will reappear and painfully balance will reign once again in the end, although I may not be here to see it.

Yes, too much wine...but

I kind of like the color, and it is the first actual section where my selection of html code actually worked! I mean there are only so many lines of computer crap one can read...so for now it stays.

I am so glad you asked,

And now for ahbsolutely ehveryone who has ahsked... That butter yellow color on the walls of the living area of my house does not render itself as accurately on the web as I would like. The brand is Duron and the color is Jonquil. The first photo above is in direct sunlight and the second is not. Like most yellows, it changes dramatically with the lighting...I also understand that yellows fade as well. This yellow has a slight peach cast that you cannot see.

I hope to do some type of overcolor or glaze in a darker brown, orange or copper color to add depth.

Inspiration

Today in my email I got the "Buzzword of the Day"

"blogger:
Bloggers have become the media’s new darlings, but in BuzzWhack’s view marketing guru Guy Kawasaki’s definition rings truer than ever: Someone with nothing to say writing for someone with nothing to do."

That really motivates me to take some time and post today...

Monday Musings

Our first visitor this week landed on the railing of the deck, jumped to my husband's leg and then leaped to the rope of the large green umbrella and finally landing on one of the spokes at the top. Maybe he thought it was a tree. We are glad that we saw him as now we will be more careful in lowering and raising the deck umbrella!

The daughter, SIL, Xman and son all came to spend the weekend for a birthday celebration. The child exploded over my brandnew house in seconds. Windows with the view of the water were smudged with tiny little fingerprints, rugs covered with dangerous obstacles, wood floors sprinkled with milk and walls getting their first nicks from the 'cars'.


We ate baby back ribs, salad, corn on the cob and garlic bread on the deck the first evening followed by an angel food cake. The weather cooperated wonderfully. Early morning found Xman waiting for more food.


Breakfast was waffles. Delicious!!

Kids got a relaxing breakfast while hubby and I babysat. Uncle had lots of fun entertaining the little guy as well...

...including the traditional "lending of the bigshoes."


One look at our lawn that had been destroyed by the bulldozer removing the chain link fence and Xman decided we needed to do some more seeding.

Then in just a few short hours everyone was gone and all that was left were the sweet memories.

Symbolism?

Upon arrival at work early this morning, this is what greeted me from outside the fourth floor window on the cool side of the building as I walked, lost in thought, toward my cubicle. I was planning the day in my head when I got that feeling that I wasn't alone and upon looking up and out the window, this meditating creature was studying me.


My office is on the fourth floor of the building and that meant this guy was way outside his normal terrain. After dropping off my stuff and booting up my PC, I crossed the floor to the other side of the building to sign in and saw this as I looked up and out the window.


I think someone is trying to tell me to "pray" that the "sharks" don't get me at work.

(This week has been the most exhausting for hubby as the radiation toxins are now starting to reveal symptoms. Some digestive problems but mostly just exhaustion. He sleeps 10 to 12 hours each night. But he is going strong when he is awake.)

Heading out this weekend to the house. We are celebrating a belated birthday for my hubby with the kids. They will be spending the night. Mattresses still sit on the floors and there are not a lot of chairs, but we will make do. There are also only two mirrors available. Many boxes and temptations for Xman...we will have to be on our toes. Weather is predicted to be comfortable enough for a barbecue. Our first since last summer!

Black Talk

“Caw." "Ca rue ca rue.”
Two feathered friends’ rhythmic cool
Summer jazz session

Alice in Wonderland or Your Kingdom at Work

Alice was talking to the White Rabbit last week about her upcoming croquet game with the Queen and how nervous she was at making an effort to do well so that she could make the Queen look good. (She had been invited to join the Queen’s Team by the Fish-Footman recently at a high-tea.)

The White Rabbit briefly checked his watch, and then casually pointed out to Alice that her way of playing croquet with the Queen could be so improved if she took advantage of some strategies that had been demonstrated by the Cheshire Cat last year and written up by the Dormouse. It should be noted and was forgotten by Alice at the time that White Rabbit always had good ideas that weren't always well thought out.The Dormouse had never made a lot of money, but was much smarter than most subjects in the Kingdom and did lots of strategizing and writing. The White Rabbit suggested she follow him down the Hole of Possibilities for a demo of this strategy. Alice eagerly complied and when they reached the bottom, he demonstrated this strategy on his new large computer and Alice, of course, was impressed. She knew that the Cheshire Cat had gotten an award by the Wonderland Croquet Association for his innovative approach last year and since she had some leftover cake in her apron pocket, she was hoping that she could get him to let her in on the little secret. After all, this would benefit all of the kingdom and not just her, because this would make the Queen very generous and happy for months.

After thanking White Rabbit Alice decided to run this idea by the Mad-Hatter. He seemed to be her mentor these days. His style of insanity seemed to work the best in the Kingdom. He also agreed with White Rabbit about approaching Cheshire Cat as a good way to use up the cake before it got stale. The Kingdom of Wonderland is full of stale cake at this time of the year.

So Alice put on her cleanest apron transferring the piece of cake to the starched pocket and went off to visit the Cheshire Cat at his office. Cheshire Cat was one of the few people in the Kingdom that had a windowsill to sit and dream on, which he seemed to do more often than not, and that was exactly how Alice found him. He smiled his 'Ultrabrite' toothy smile as she approached. (Alice hated that easy smile of his.) He stretched very slowly before leaping from the window sill, and took his time recognizing her presence. She explained her venture with the Queen and then told him she had talked with White Rabbit who in turn suggested she might use his "already created, magnificent, brilliant and very original strategy."

Cheshire Cat started purring and then looked off into space as if he were thinking. Somehow, above the noise of his loud purring, she knew he wasn’t thinking about any one thing and was just stalling for time or maybe deciding if he could disappear easily. After stroking his whiskers with both paws he finally stated that this type of strategy cost lots of cake and the time of someone very wise, such as Dormouse who happened to be under Cheshire Cat’s domain at the time.

“But you have already developed the strategy and I just want to implement it on the exact same croquet field? This would make us BOTH look good. We could BOTH benefit. I would certainly mention your name to the Queen.” Alice reasoned.

Cheshire Cat looked at her as though she were speaking French! He seemed insulted. (He had recently lost three mice due to starvation because he moved some cake into incorrect pantries and therefore, lost it, and as a result, he was a little on edge.)

“How many pieces of cake and how much time?” she finally asked.

Cheshire Cat stared at the ceiling. “Uh…” pause…”Ahem…” pause “maybe…I guess between 20,000 and 50,000 pieces of cake and …I don’t know how much time. You would have to ask the Dormouse but, unfortunately, he is visiting his Aunt Brie in Iceland right now.”

Alice stared at her shoes. She had only three days before the big event. She had 45,000 pieces of cake in her freezer, but she needed a new cake plate which cost about 6,000 pieces and she had promised Mad Hatter she would help him with a tea party that also needed cake and she didn’t know how many people were going to be invited to the tea party so she didn’t know how much cake would be needed and oh dear.

“Ok, I'll let you know if I can get my hands on some more cake,” she said and left.

Alice was low in mood and just a little panicked. She passed Mad Hatter by the stream and told him her dilemma. Mad Hatter suggested they keep her cake in the freezer until next year when it would be more useful---but maybe more stale. He also suggested that instead, an alternative would be to send the cake to Mock Turtle who was a very cooperative turtle and maybe he could study the strategy and help Alice.

Alice was wondering how long this would take. Friday’s and weekends were not the best days for the young and popular Mock Turtle to learn stuff and Mock Turtle was more a soccer kind of turtle and not a croquet kind of turtle.

Alice watched the sun set on another day beyond the field across the stream thinking and trying to be positive.

To be continued…maybe.

"Morning, Squirrel"

Sound of crush above.
Pink crepe petals surrender;
Scattered summer bared.

Too Much of a Good Thing is Still Too Much of a Good Thing

Too much of a good thing is too much of a good thing. I really think that life is all about balance and evenness and while uneven is interesting and sometimes exhilarating, it usually means a fall or a slide until all is in balance again. This slide keeps us awake and helps appreciate the other side even more, but peace is really when all is in balance. I don't care how much you like it, you will get tired of too exhilaration.

Last week I was reading a news story about the sea life in La Jolla, California. I remember visiting the shoreline there a few years ago. I could smell the richness of the sea long before I reached the walkway to look over the coast. The richness I am talking about was the smell of sea lion feces and old fish. This was in thanks to the many lumps of sea lions lounging on the floating docks and rocks in the water. They covered every bare space and if you were trying to get to a boat that had been tied up you better be careful that it didn't appear you were disturbing one of them...that could get you a nasty fine. According to the article they now are taking over the beaches. Centuries ago they probably owned the beaches. Now mankind wants to use the beach as well and there is a definite conflict of space. Too much of mankind and too many sea lions. No balance.

A similar event is taking place in my county. We now have more white tail deer than were here when the pioneers arrived. This is due to all the land we cleared and all the open grass areas we have developed along the freeways and in the city and county parks and of course, the well-manicured yards of every home. This is also because we no longer hunt deer for food. The deer have no interest in moving off your driveway when you arrive home from work. They stare at you like cattle wondering why you bother to come home each evening insisting they move. Hundreds of thousands of dollars of shrubbery and landscaping have been eaten to the bare bark. Neighbors try to protect rows of dramatic hostas and gardens of colorful roses with bird netting. Netting that gets tangled in the lawn mower and gets tangled in your shoe laces and doesn't look all that pretty and thus, distracts from the beauty of what you are trying to raise.

We have a private botanic garden nearby that finally put up a ten foot metal fence around its acreage with an automatic gate for cars. They were losing rare plants hundreds of years old due to deer foraging. Too many deer and probably too many people loving the plants.

Well, it should all slide back into place in the coming years. Disease and famine and holocaust will reappear and painfully balance will reign once again in the end, although I may not be here to see it.

My life is stuff

Once upon a time there were 247 boxes all taped and clearly marked that correlated with a list that disappeared somewhere a long time ago in the land of the grand scheme of things. The boxes sat patiently in a cold warehouse among mice and dust and other strange boxes for approximately two years. The lower class boxes sat less patiently in a hot metal shed with heat and humidity and freezing temperatures through the same number of seasons. I think now there are only 50 boxes left to open and with contents that require sighing or lamenting. Let's see, one box contains a 2 foot blue silk bat with real bat teeth that can hang from the ceiling! (Now there is a conversation starter.) Another box is filled with old faded photos of people I don't even know! There is the small blue suitcase of baby clothes that I was saving for my daughter who does not want or need them. Maybe they will be appropriate if and when my son has a baby. There is nothing more depressing than admitting that most of your memories are only of value to you and your husband. The things that you save will eventually be burned, thrown away, or given away when you finally shuffle off this mortal coil. And your children will be swearing under their breath at the work that will entail.

After two days of such work and late in the afternoon of the second day, my husband asked if I wanted to go for a "sunset paddle." This is really his code for "Do you want to sit with me while I go out and fish." He got the bait bucket and I got the lifejackets and paddles and off we went to the dock to put the canoe in the water.


This was a big mistake on my part in spite of the serene picture above because the air was deathly still and the humidity was high and the heat was still in the air and I was miserable. I also forgot to take water and I was thirsty. There is nothing worse than a crabby woman in a canoe.

We passed the 'Gossiping Gang of Geese' that camp on the sandbar near the mouth of the river.

I turned to the cool side of the sky away from the setting sun and caught a photo that almost made me pretend that the evening was getting cooler and that a breeze was coming up.

But I was wrong. It was a sizzling hot evening and even the surface of the water seemed to be sizzling. This was the surface of the water's true color, no tweaking.

We were glad to see the sun descend behind the peninsula of land as we paddled back to the dock. (Caught only one reasonable sized perch.) It was still hot, but we pretended that this was a cool evening sojourn.

My Blogroll Part III

Leaves of Grass Sonia is from Brazil and I cannot remember how I found her website. I must have followed a comment on someone else's blog. Comments are usually good hints at an interesting blog. While she doesn't write much in her second (3rd 4th?) language, I love the ability to visit her view of rural Brazil via my computer. She is/was a journalist and now posts photos of her life there in the countryside and photos about her family history. She has the most beautiful children as frequently happens in places like Brazil. It must be the sunshine or the food. Recently she has started to share her family photos from generations back.

Bill's Stuff I discovered Bill when he routinely commented on my house blog. He was/is/wants to go through a similar process. He also writes about other stuff like cooking, washing dishes, his family and we seem to be on the same wave length politically. He works with computers or software or something in the technology field and most recently he has been overecoming a physical challenge. It is always impressive to see people meet this stuff head-on and with strength, which he does every day. He is a good example for his family.

East and West at Every Turn I think Sky was originally from a southern state in the U.S. and she tends to blog and comment with a Southern drawl and gracious charm. She is now married to an East Indian American man who creates the most beautiful gardens for her in the beautiful northwest and she takes pictures to make us all envious. Of course, Seattle is a great place to grow stuff anyway. She posts text that is a reminder for me about poets and authors I have long forgotten. She aways sends uplifting comments to my blog as well.

The Daily Warrior Tammy is the perky 'Katie Courac' on my blog list. She makes me believe that no matter what happens life is good and worth living and to just go for it. Hey, even her pedicure’s are perky! She faces unique personal challenges and makes champagne from the stale grapes she sometimes gets. I am so totally amazed at her inner strength that when I get down I feel I should slap myself. Her sweet new grandson is the light of her life and in her newer entries she has become very creative with some text/photo combo entries called Haigu which I am hoping to try myself -- someday. (They are somewhat like a jigsaw puzzle and cannot be done lightly. Tammy does them so well it is a little intimidating.)

Idiot Out Wandering Around Scott was fiddling around with his blog format recently and finding himself personally, so recently he has not done much posting. I also started reading him through other blogs and comments on my house blog as he was in the process of building his house. I think he was more hands-on in his house project than we were.

Stepping Stones of Truth Val lives in Dorset, England and posts the most envious photos of gardens she visits. She has a special love of Japanese gardens. Her home is like a lovely English cottage---only larger---with beautiful flowers. She knows how to appreciate the good things in life, and dares to pretend she can sail. Sometimes when reading her blog, I think I am visiting Agatha Christie's blog or that pair of gardeners in Rosemary and Thyme on Public Television. What fun.

Glenda in the Land of Oz Glenda is political and liberal and sometimes even funny in spite of that. She has a rich history in her life. You don’t want to get on her dark side. She will post you nude with a duck head at a moments notice ! (Just see some of her photos.) She generously comments on my blog from time to time. She, like me, is a peace-nik and so unhappy with the way things seem to be going in the world today, but she is also pro-active about it.

Daring to Write. Wenda is a writer and a teacher of writing. The title of her blog is what got my attention. She is one of the many bloggers I look to as I study writing and try to improve my own. She teaches writing in Canada. I enjoy reading her well-crafted vignettes of life. She can be hard on herself which helps me to be easier on myself. Currently her blog is a diary of how to get healthier.

Ask-the-painting-contractor-chickie I cannot remember how I found Carina…through the Blogger dashboard (?). Who could pass up a blog with this title? Her blog is new and different and funky. I mean, how many painting-contractor-chickies do YOU know? She sometimes posts about one of her jobs which may require acrobatics or a good sense of ethics. (Also I am hoping for some free advice when I try that glazing technique over the ‘butter yellow’ room...) She also posts about her dogs which obviously are her other non-painting life. Carina has gone the way of the 'lost' bloggers...easy come easy go.

Beyond the Fields We Know Kerrdelune is another blogger with many readers. She touches my soul with her photos of nature which reveal her graphics artist background and Buddhist leanings. Her photos show such peace and beauty. Her text is poetic and philosophical. Reading her blog is a nice reward at the end of a busy day. Her style is what I need to work toward when I snap pictures. Aye, there’s the rub---no snapping!!

Driftwood Inspirations Chancy is 75 years young. Her blog like mine tends to be all over the place, but she is a much better writer and a lovely poet. She is insightful on many levels. She is 'slowblog' so go there when you have time to digest thoughts. No fastblogging there. She also is very generous when she comments on my blog.

And last but not least is my blog-child. I like to take credit for giving birth to this blog, but as parents know we cannot take credit for anything our progeny produce. I commented favorably about the writing of a blogger on Robert Brady’s blog wondering why she didn’t have a blog if her own. Thus I inspired Maya’s Granny to begin her own blog. She lives on the side of a mountain in Alaska, is a grandmother to a beautiful little girl, has an interesting relationship with bears and I am just beginning to learn about the rest of her rich tapestry of life.

There are dozens more blogs that I read on occasion and have yet to add to my blogroll. Too many blogs and too little time. It amazes me after two years of this blogging thing that I look upon my blogroll the same way I would any people in my neighborhood - with homage here to the late Fred Rogers - my favorite neighbor. Some I see everyday and some our paths cross only on occasion. I think the most amazing part is their loyalty. A few come and go, but so many still post comments to their blogfriends even after they have long given up blogging on their own.

Honor Blogroll -Part II

A study published today said the average blogger is a 14-year-old blogging about her cat. Haven't gotten to her blog yet...but here is the second group of my regular reads below:

Old Horsetail Snake Hoss has an extremely popular blog and is known as an 'elderblogger'. He posts frequently and there is always a little contest to see who can post their comment on the day's blog-entry first. He tells ‘sullied’ little stories, posts funny, if somewhat irreverent, cartoons and ends with a his version of the definition for his word of the day. Once I was going to respond with a blog comment, but being number 24 or 34 or whatever, I decided instead to do a demographic review on the people who commented on his blog. I found that most of his readers are young and most are female. I am sure he is grinning all the time because of that. He is a sweetie. (By the way, this Honor blog roll thing was Hoss's idea.)

Just ask Judy I don’t get out to Judy’s place as much as I used to. She also is high up in the popularity of the blogosphere and that is how I first found her. She is the Yin to Hoss's Yang. (or vice versa?)

Thoroughly Modern Millie Millie is a very well-known 80-year-old who gives us all joy when we see that life goes on in a such a wonderful way as we age. She is a snowbird and blogs about that transition each season. She also blogs about the past and these posts are usually romantically touching. (She has a son that markets her blog as if he were her agent and posts videos of her struggles to open things---that doesn’t sound funny, but it is.)

Written, Inc Carmi is a journalist in Canada. I don’t get to his blog as much as I would like. I was most taken by his unique digital photos. While looking at common everyday things he frames them as different and odd and striking. It is not the traditional digital diarrhea of pretty photos that we all insist on posting. Sometimes he posts a question with them which stimulates quite a few comments. He also is one of the few current father bloggers that I have on my list.

Honeystrain Honeystrainin is her mid-30s and an irreverent mom. Good place to go when you need a pause and an good laugh. Her sardonic take on our culture as seen through the eyes of someone younger. She also makes and sells pretty cards that seem oddly gentle in juxataposition to her writing.

Self Winding I found this blog while blog-surfing. The banner caught my eye. It was so peaceful. Anna gives me an art fix and a British blog-ring-thing that only happens when a blog is written by a true Brit. Her blogs require some deep thinking sometimes --- can't just breeze through those posts. She also likes gardening. I don’t think I have ever commented on her blog, so she doesn’t know I read it, I am sure. She started her blog back in 2002 and one of these days I will really read it!

Time Goes By Ah yes, Ronni, who doesn’t suffer fools lightly and has no patience with those who do not respect the 'elderly'. Her blog is also famous and read by many of us older bloggers since her primary theme is the ageing process as well as society's take on elders. She just moved from New York City to rural Maine which shows that even elderbloggers can bend and not break. It has been interesting to watch her start to breathe more slowly in the new space.

long-toothed hinterland dweller Jude is the hinterland dweller that takes me through the exotic (to me on the other side of the earth) backyard in Australia. She is also an elderblogger. It is nice to have someone who blogs about strange fruit and strange bugs and stranger animals. I love to visit Australia vicariously this way. We have gardening in common and a love of the great outdoors. (Here blog may be ending...or re-starting...?)

Earth Home Garden I don’t comment on this blog often but I do visit often to stop by and view the beauties of nature. The outdoor photography with artistic tweaking is why I visit Jim’s place. I don't think he can take a bad photograph or he certainly does not post them. He and his wife live in a cabin in the woods in California. They seem to do fine without a car and consciously live a simple life. They could be aging hippies for all I know.

Well, that is the summation of the middle group. The rest are still to come.

Summer in the city

Moving between parked cars
Black beneath pulsing with sear
All is frozen, still

One of those Days...

Hubby's surgery is this morning. 15 needles the size of ... well, never mind, breathing in and breathing out.

(Remember to smile. In the process of moving the sofa table which did not have the top drawers taped shut I cautioned: "Be careful, don't drop the drawers."
Hubby's response. "I can drop drawers at a moments notice. Just let me know.")

My Blog Honor Roll--Part 1

When I first discovered blogging, I viewed it primarily as a way to swim the creative waters and as a way to detail a journal of my days. I have started a number of journals/diaries in my past, only to abandon them shortly thereafter. When I discovered that I could include pictures to my blog it only added a wonderful new dimension in testing those creative waters. After a while my blog became interactive. I commented on others blogs and they commented on mine. My personality is such that I like to intereact with a broad range of people. Variety is the spice of life and has been my mantra in food, music, entertainment and blogreading. (My husband often jokes that he doesn't understand why I have stayed married to him for so long, if that is the way I feel.) In blogging, as others tweaked my perspective and motivation in a whole new way, my addiction was complete. I also am intrigued by the voyeuristic aspect of visiting people and their lives so virtually.

Egoiste commented on my very first post and now has disappeared into the black pixels of the blogosphere. This probably says a great deal when it comes to blogging and bloggers. We are an ephemeral bunch, and perhaps not at all what we appear to be and maybe, instead, more so what we want to appear to be. When I first started this blog I viewed it as something that might be of interest to any geeky grandchild that I might have. But, to my surprise, although I got less personal as I got more public, along the way I made many pixelated friends.

The two-year anniversary of this blog falls on August 22 and I feel that I really should comment on this approaching milestone in some way. Sticking with something like this for two years should be of some significance---at least for me. (Maybe it shows that I at least have tenacity if no writing talent.) So, I have decided to honor my blogroll, the list of my motivators, which has grown in length as I have grown in courage. I have to list them now, because if the list grows longer, I will not be able to accomplish such a task in the future. This will be a three-part series where each blogger gets their little time and space. ( Ah, I've got you now, don't I? Your dying to see what I say about you. But if I hurt anyone's feelings--get over it--you shouldn't be blogging if you are that sensitive!)

PART I

Tomorrow is Another Day -- middle-angel, who lives in Japan, was my first. (Tee hee, sorry about that). She has the following text in her blog description: “As a libran, I put a high value on balance in everything. Pacifist, optimist. middle-aged, married.” I misread this during my early blog reading days. I mis-read the same way I mis-type. I thought she had written “As a librarian” and was wondering what a Japanese librarian would be like, so I started reading her blog. I find she does more sophisticated work than that and that is why her English is so outstanding. She is my gentle and slow day person. She helps me re-enter the Asian simple, retrospective and peaceful mode. She posts pictures of really delicious looking food. Sometimes she talks about her grown daughter, and her husband is a wonderful potter as well.

My World and Welcome to It --Peruby, who lives in Ohio, is an everywoman. She is a single mom with a beautiful teenage daughter and various pets. Yes, for her, this is the best of times and the worst of times. She has also discovered digital photography and provides a pictorial review of her rural life in Ohio in between making sure the public schools have their PC systems working. She always sympathizes with me when I am down. We don’t really have a lot in common but we are somehow always on the same wave length.

Living the Scientific Life -- Hedwig the Owl aka GrrlScientist is a very special young woman. She is pretty, very smart, outspoken, and has overcome tremendous challenges in her personal life. I think a Blogger comment helped me discover her blog. She is currently looking for a job in the field of science/working with birds and is a WONDERFUL journal-type blog writer. I am totally amazed that someone hasn’t gobbled her up yet—either by marriage or by work. It will happen someday I know, no grass grows under her feet. We share travel and the love of the South Pacific and Asia, but I cannot keep up with her passion for birds. She has a crazy sense of humor as well. I sort of feel 'motherly' when connecting with her. She has built up a hugh fan base in the blog community.

Pure Land Mountain -- Just go to Robert Brady’s well-known blog on Pure Land Mountain and you will know why I visit there often and why he is so famous. He doesn’t need the ‘interesting’ younger photo of himself to attract readers. He is a poet and a philosopher. He paints pictures and feelings and funny events all with just words. He is insightful and inspiring and makes most blog writers jealous. (His brother is a terrific writer also, but is not linked on my blogroll--I have to stop somewhere---don't I?)

Full Fathom Five -- I think I remember how I found Mary Fowler at Full Fathom Five. She is a New Englander and part of all that that entails--spare of words but clear of thought. She has a love of boats and a new, energetic white dog. I stumbled on her husband’s blog where he was talking about sails and I thought I might learn something to share with my sailor husband. Then I discovered the blog of his wife who teaches English to Asian students and in a focused way is working on self-improvment.

White Noise -- I started sharing blog comments with mannababies when she was pregnant with her third and building a house. This is a woman who can never have too much to do. She is a devoted and talented mom and yet still has time to blog, take very artistic photos, and eat the good food she cooks. Her life currently revolves around those lovely children. She has no time to sleep, unfortunately. She reminds me of myself juggling all those balls years ago. We do have coffee and chocolate in common. Her life is always moving, new houses, new jobs!

Roomination – I think I found Ginga through Hoss (who is honored in the blog to come). She knits and I don’t. She does have a youthful sense of humor that brightens the day. She may actually live within driving distance of my new house.

At The Cerebral Outpost Carol has wonderful patience as she doesn’t post often and each post has been carefully edited and written and is a very good read as a result. She has that ‘wry’ sense of humor, and when she leaves considerate comments on your blog, you may actually think you were old friends at some time. She was recently married and shared that special event with her readers. The first blog I read of her’s was so flat-out funny about a large crawfish, a cat and a treadmill…yep, she is worth visiting.

Loose Leaf: Notes from a Writer's Journal Colleen, on the other hand, is a prolific blogger, a published writer, and a featured person on NPR. She is fearless and her philosophy is "Things I would not tell anyone, I tell the public." She lives in a small town of artists and active bloggers in the Blue Ridge Mountains of Virginia. While our daily lives are not all that similar, there are threads of philosophy in her blog that I can always relate to. I also frequently find little details in our historic lives that we have in common as well. Her place in her community reflects a strong citizenship.

Well, that is the first batch of virtual friends who have allowed me to visit. More to come.

Blog Coordination

I have been asked by some blog pals to create one last post for "Build This House" and so, I will leave it up for a few weeks longer---hoping for that peaceful time when I can post a final photo that shows we know we belong.

I drank all the wine...so deleted that blog. (Don't worry, I have a small wine cooler in the new kitchen and will slowly add that.) Actually, I think I will start a spreadsheet which will be more useful to me. If I get that going I can share.

Therefore, since I do like this 'working with words thing' and posting digital photos, I have started a new blog about the Great Outdoors which is the other room of my new house.

Welcome to my unfinished yard.

Things

We are a culture that places so much value on ornamental and useless things. I have thrown away, given away, and sold more things than most people in the world own.

As I unpack, I find I still have hundreds of boxes of items that I have not seen since I packed them and stored them over three years ago.

One of the first boxes I came across was labeled for the master bedroom. Inside, among other items, were three silk clutch purses: red, purple and gray. There was also a black clutch purse with a faux turquoise stone on the clasp. Then there was a delicate white and pink beaded purse that I 'think' I wore to a high school prom. The thing about these purses is that I may have never used them more than once each. I am not a person who goes to formal affairs very often...certainly not after college. I don't know anyone who uses clutch purses anywhere.

Well, should I throw them away or turn them in for the office white elephant sale? I threw them into an empty box, and then, almost immediately, scooped them up again and put them in a smaller box. Why? Just in case I have a granddaughter someday. What fun for dress-up!

Gee, this is why I have so much junk!

Moving Days

Doing the walk-thru today, renting a large U-Haul tomorrow, maybe spending a night in the new house on Sunday and taking off Monday from work to unpack many of the boxes. Hopefully the house will feel totally like ours by next week.


I had some help with the moving, but first Xman has to fix the wheels on his golf bag.


That was a lot of work so he had to take a break for a snack.


Finally he was ready to do some heavy lifting. Notice, using only one hand and he knows how to use his back muscles!



Boy that sure tuckered him out fast!

Blogging Anniversary – Part III

Leaves of Grass Sonia is from Brazil and I cannot remember how I found her website. I must have followed a comment on someone else's blog. Comments are usually good hints at an interesting blog. While she doesn't write much in her second (3rd 4th?) language, I love the ability to visit her view of rural Brazil via my computer. She is/was a journalist and now posts photos of her life there in the countryside and photos about her family history. She has the most beautiful children as frequently happens in places like Brazil. It must be the sunshine or the food. Recently she has started to share her family photos from generations back.

Bill's Stuff I discovered Bill when he routinely commented on my house blog. He was/is/wants to go through a similar process. He also writes about other stuff like cooking, washing dishes, his family and we seem to be on the same wave length politically. He works with computers or software or something in the technology field and most recently he has been overecoming a physical challenge. It is always impressive to see people meet this stuff head-on and with strength, which he does every day. He is a good example for his family.

East and West at Every Turn I think Sky was originally from a southern state in the U.S. and she tends to blog and comment with a Southern drawl and gracious charm. She is now married to an East Indian American man who creates the most beautiful gardens for her in the beautiful northwest and she takes pictures to make us all envious. Of course, Seattle is a great place to grow stuff anyway. She posts text that is a reminder for me about poets and authors I have long forgotten. She aways sends uplifting comments to my blog as well.

The Daily Warrior Tammy is the perky 'Katie Courac' on my blog list. She makes me believe that no matter what happens life is good and worth living and to just go for it. Hey, even her pedicure’s are perky! She faces unique personal challenges and makes champagne from the stale grapes she sometimes gets. I am so totally amazed at her inner strength that when I get down I feel I should slap myself. Her sweet new grandson is the light of her life and in her newer entries she has become very creative with some text/photo combo entries called Haigu which I am hoping to try myself -- someday. (They are somewhat like a jigsaw puzzle and cannot be done lightly. Tammy does them so well it is a little intimidating.)

Idiot Out Wandering Around Scott was fiddling around with his blog format recently and finding himself personally, so recently he has not done much posting. I also started reading him through other blogs and comments on my house blog as he was in the process of building his house. I think he was more hands-on in his house project than we were.

Stepping Stones of Truth Val lives in Dorset, England and posts the most envious photos of gardens she visits. She has a special love of Japanese gardens. Her home is like a lovely English cottage---only larger---with beautiful flowers. She knows how to appreciate the good things in life, and dares to pretend she can sail. Sometimes when reading her blog, I think I am visiting Agatha Christie's blog or that pair of gardeners in Rosemary and Thyme on Public Television. What fun.

Glenda in the Land of Oz Glenda is political and liberal and sometimes even funny in spite of that. She has a rich history in her life. You don’t want to get on her dark side. She will post you nude with a duck head at a moments notice ! (Just see some of her photos.) She generously comments on my blog from time to time. She, like me, is a peace-nik and so unhappy with the way things seem to be going in the world today, but she is also pro-active about it.

Daring to Write. Wenda is a writer and a teacher of writing. The title of her blog is what got my attention. She is one of the many bloggers I look to as I study writing and try to improve my own. She teaches writing in Canada. I enjoy reading her well-crafted vignettes of life. She can be hard on herself which helps me to be easier on myself.

Ask-the-painting-contractor-chickie I cannot remember how I found Carina…through the Blogger dashboard (?). Who could pass up a blog with this title? Her blog is new and different and funky. I mean, how many painting-contractor-chickies do YOU know? She sometimes posts about one of her jobs which may require acrobatics or a good sense of ethics. (Also I am hoping for some free advice when I try that glazing technique over the ‘butter yellow’ room...) She also posts about her dogs which obviously are her other non-painting life.

Beyond the Fields We Know Kerrdelune is another blogger with many readers. She touches my soul with her photos of nature which reveal her graphics artist background and Buddhist leanings. Her photos show such peace and beauty. Her text is poetic and philosophical. Reading her blog is a nice reward at the end of a busy day. Her style is what I need to work toward when I snap pictures. Aye, there’s the rub---no snapping!!

Driftwood Inspirations Chancy is 75 years young. Her blog like mine tends to be all over the place, but she is a much better writer and a lovely poet. She is insightful on many levels. She is 'slowblog' so go there when you have time to digest thoughts. No fastblogging there. She also is very generous when she comments on my blog.

And last but not least is my blog-child. I like to take credit for giving birth to this blog, but as parents know we cannot take credit for anything our progeny produce. I commented favorably about the writing of a blogger on Robert Brady’s blog wondering why she didn’t have a blog if her own. Thus I inspired Maya’s Granny to begin her own blog. She lives on the side of a mountain in Alaska, is a grandmother to a beautiful little girl, has an interesting relationship with bears and I am just beginning to learn about the rest of her rich tapestry of life.

There are dozens more blogs that I read on occasion and have yet to add to my blogroll. Too many blogs and too little time. It amazes me after two years of this blogging thing that I look upon my blogroll the same way I would any people in my neighborhood - with homage here to the late Fred Rogers - my favorite neighbor. Some I see everyday and some our paths cross only on occasion. I think the most amazing part is their loyalty. A few come and go, but so many still post comments to their blogfriends even after they have long given up blogging on their own.

Posting for Peace

This is not a political blog, but Glenda has reminded me of the importance of this holiday and I am hoping and hopping on her bandwagon.

Thursday Thoughts #2

(Musings based on Colleen's approach to Thursdays. I do have 13 this time and snub my nose at superstition.)

1) Watching the Cavuto show on Fox which I never watch but did this time because I was too lazy to change the channel. Ann Coulter was channeling demons with the 'Culture of Terrorism' speech that she said the Democrats are spreading. Boy after that I really need a Margherita. (Personally I think she needs more s*x.)

2) Walking home in the sun from work and smelling the freshly washed plants and the chocolate earth renews my soul. I am not meant to spend large amounts of time indoors.

3) At my wedding there were only about 20 people and none of them were blood relatives or any type of family relation to either my husband or myself. The youngest was 11 and the oldest was 80.

4) The lady who is doing my house blessing has gotten her chickens in...a bunch of different types.

5) I have started a draft entry for my two year blog. It is getting complicated.

6) Because I live in an apartment above another apartment I cannot exercise in the early morning when I am metabolically ready...exercising in the late afternoon after work is hard for me. I am skipping a lot of afternoons.

7) The first piece of furniture/equipment that is going into the new house this week is the new elliptical machine. I think(?) we have our priorities straight.

8) My daughter is going through a rough time and I don't know quite how to help her although I am full of advice. But right now I am biting my tongue.

9) I always wonder what it is about families that face tragedy and heal together versus families that fall apart.

10) My sweet niece that lost her mother (my middle sister) when she was 13 just graduated from high school. I wish I was more a part of her life.

11) A pair of woodpeckers live in the woods outside our new house. Guess we won't cut down all those dead trees right away. They get really noisy when they are together. I can't tell if they are squabbling or just getting life straightened out.

12) Why are carpenters so hot? I mean there is something really sexy about a well-shaped guy sawing a board. The smell of freshly sawed wood is also an aphrodisiac.

13) Final county permit approved today. Now tomorrow is supposed to be the occupancy permit. I did the Lilliput dance around my office and got people to shake my hand!

Being Stubborn Is Not a Virtue

I have been spending every weekend running errands for the housebuilding, or socializing with my grandson and his family, or trying to get laundry done (the washer is available -- now it's not -- now it is -- dance). Therefore, trying to get a haircut has not been crossed off the list of things I have to do. Each day I have looked witchier than usual when I get ready for work. I have gone through various routines of hair combs, pins, hair ties, etc. to alleviate the situation. I am not into much appearance maintenance stuff as it really is a losing battle, but sometimes one has to make the commitment to develop a put-together look to avoid being confused with someone homeless.

Finally, this morning at work, in frustration while untangling the hair on my neck which was caught in my necklace, I called a hair salon that is about a 20 minute drive from me and asked if I could get a haircut that evening. They didn't know the name of the person I requested but said they could get me in at 4:00 with someone else.

I had a meeting at work until 4:00 but told people at the meeting I would be leaving at 3:30. It was a survey meeting and they were working through the various tedious questions with my colleague and I. With only three questions left and my eye on the clock, I excused myself and hurried back to my office to get my stuff.

What on earth was I thinking? I repeat, WHAT WAS I THINKING! We have been on the weather channel all day. Just getting across the street through the flood caused by the rain should have caused me to pause. The ambulance racing up the hill should have caused pause. The beginning of rush hour should have caused a pause.

I was completely soaked by the time I reached the car in front of the apartment building. I tossed in the umbrella and other items and squeezed myself (like wringing a wet washcloth) behind the steering wheel. While I started the car I glanced at the clock radio---4:15!! What? I suddenly realized that the clock on the wall in our meeting room was over 30 minutes behind. I called the shop and said I would be late and was on my way, and could they still take me? (Of course, what other idiot plans for a hair cut in a monsoon?)

Well, with brilliance slightly short-circuited by rain, I decided to take a shorter route off the main highway. It was definitely an over the river and through the woods trip. Only, I couldn't get over the river as the bridge was flooded and a cop car was turning everyone away. Driving carefully back through another suburb and squinting through the wall of gray rain I saw all of the swales at the sides of the road were becoming rivers. Cars that passed were spraying waves of water on each side.

A normal person would have turned back as it was already 4:45 and I was no where near the mall with the hair shop. As a matter of fact, I wasn't sure where I was.

Damn it, I am getting this haircut. I am not going back.

Through luck and tenacity I made it to the mall by 5:00, but to my surprise (I did say the brain was short-circuiting, didn't I?) all sheltered parking was taken I waded through more water and with the posture and possible smell of a damp dog finally entered the shop. They could still take me, but the stylist had gone for coffee. No duh, I was almost an hour and a half late. I sat damp, limp, and cold thumbing through glossy magazines of those rich New York models who would look good even with a bucket of cold water thrown in their faces.

Finally, the stylist arrived and to shorten this tedious blahog...I got a nice cut and was able to join bumper to bumper traffic getting back home by 7:00. I am still a stubborn old bitch, but now a much better looking one.

Wanting Answers Already

Friday Flexing

This work week has been unnaturally long and demanding. I am not a bureaucrat and trying to fake it is killing me. I came from the world of education where there was a goal, a product, a reward. Bureaucrats work for visibility, power and god knows what else! Oh, yes, sometimes a little money. They also lie to your face. I hate working with people like that. Do they think I won't figure it out? I have a graduate degree! I am NOT an idiot. Maybe a little old and a little more passive, but not dumb.

So, I am going to string together my rants and flex my gray matter as therapy from the doldrums I am in so that I have a clean slate for the weekend.

1) Children push your buttons and don't even know they have that power. My son who lives 15 minutes from me and works 10 minutes from me, can manage to see me only once every ten weeks or so and never responds to my emails or phone calls---which actually have become pretty sparce on my part. I don't ask the wrong questions and he doesn't hate us; it is just a personality thing with him. I hate it and maybe I will kill him someday, if I stop loving him.

2) Energy and crazy ideas. I don't have them anymore. I dream but the body and mind ain't as willing as it used to be and that is why I am so thankful I have children. They rope me into lots of stuff. Grandchildren are even better.

3) My husband still has energy and crazy ideas. So, I accept that this is not an aging thing...maybe a menopause thing? Sorry guys. But I do have to rally the energy to put the brakes on him sometimes.

4) Global warming has me scared. I work with people who really understand its power. I used to work with another group of people 20 years ago who predicted this mess. I hate that people are so complacent about this.

5) I have to believe that what goes around comes around. This administration must reap the rewards of its efforts someday along with the rest of us.

6) I am once again living in a room of partially packed boxes. I have been here before. I think when I add it all up, the moves for myself, my children, and my mother-in law, the sum is at the very least 20 household moves. I can pat myself on the back for my resilience if nothing else.

7) Hubby is down at the house today washing the oyster racks and unpacking a few things. Last night was a killer lightning storm which kept us awake for hours, so he wanted to see how the drainage on the property was going.

8) And this just in...for more years than I care to count I have bitten my fingernails. I stopped (no effort on my part) several months ago right after the Hilton Head trip. What gives?

9) Gee, its Friday already. There is a light behind that gray cloud.

Post Script: Saw "Prarie Home Companion" last night. It provides the warm fuzzies you would expect, has outstanding low-keyed acting on the part of everyone, and HOSS would love the bad jokes sequence---all about P*****s, T and A's and bathroom humor. The other jokes were better, but this movie does have something for everyone. Sort of like an Our Town without the puritanical bent. (It helps if you are a Garrison Keillor fan, which I have been for years.)

Patience - the Slow Tango

Ask you can see from the photo above, my patience paid off. It took me almost another hour, but once I was down to a few tangles the resolution was fast and easy. I had to be really slow and patient, though, because the necklace wanted to dance itself back into a tango of knots at every time I sighed with frustration and accidentally shuddered. I think it was dancing because of the results of our late meeting with the doctor (proctologist urologist---both sound pretty dismal) last night.

I wore the necklace to work today. It was in celebration of the 94% cure (NOT remission) rate that the doctor promised my husband. These are odds that everyone would wish for. We are going ahead with the 'seed' therapy which has the least side effects and the one day down time. The only drawback (well not the only but the big drawback) and unusual restriction is that he cannot hold his grandson for any length of time for 60-90 days.

I will not write about the process in detail (unless someone needs information for their own journey down this path and lets me know). I am sure there will be some set backs, but we are optimistic because we have a ton of stuff to do in our long lives ahead.

Hari Bapa Bahagia

Indonesian Red Cross Society | UNICEF Indonesia | Mercy Corps | Caritas | Save The Children | Direct Relief International | Oxfam | Help Jogja

This is a little late but none-the-less important. If you still have your father on Sunday think about those who didn't get to see their father grow old, and if you can spare a little, send it to one of the links above. It is good karma.

Whitie in the Suburbs

Most handy homeowners have a favorite little one-stop store that they visit on the weekends in the spring. In small towns it is a local hardware store. In larger cities in my area it is usually the one-stop Lowes or the Home Depot. In spring these places are crowded with experts and innocents shoulder to shoulder all in search of something to fix or remodel or enhance on their house or in their yard.

We live rather close to one of the most successful Home Depots in a very affluent home area. Just trying to get a parking place can cause a small altercation. That is why I should not have been surprised at what happened outside my local Home Depot last Saturday.

As usual, I was into elaborate talking mode accompanied by elaborate hand waving mode to explain the type of item we should be looking for as my husband and I descended the stairs from the parking lot to the main entrance. Suddenly, mid-way down the stairs, he placed his hand on the front of my shoulder to stop me from taking the next step. He was looking at the small crowd of people at the bottom of the stairs in front of the primary entrance to the store.

As I focused on the crowd I began to see that this was not a normal milling of people. There was one large man who looked about 40, at least 6'’4"”, his head towering above all the others and standing in an aggressive stance while two smaller men behind him were pulling on his faded red t-shirt and attempting to hold him back. The man was somewhat attractive and maybe Arabic or Asian Indian descent. He reminded me a little of Vincent D'Onofrio, the detective on Law and Order, Criminal Intent.

He was that good looking, but like D'’Onofrio there was something a little creepy about him. Anyway, on the other side of the small circle of the dozen on so people were two much smaller men their faces twisted and arguing back. They also looked middle-eastern or Asian, but were clearly older with gray hair...maybe in their late 50'’s and short in stature. In between this pushing and shoving and shouting were two Home Depot employees with the traditional red aprons trying to keep the peace. One was a heavy-set black man working very hard to calm down the Vincent-look-alike. The black man would no sooner get the '“V-O'” look alike back to the edge of the circle and seemingly calm and then the guy would rise up like a big bear and head for the two men again. This went on for at least five minutes. The big guy was relentless and I thought he might be drunk or on something, even though he seemed pretty coordinated.

Finally, when 'V-O' got on his high horse one final time, the black man lost his patience and gave up the polite and calming approach and started talking loud and using his chest to bump the man back. I got the feeling that he had dealt with this in another life, maybe the military. He seemed very controlled and confident and began ordering the guy to get off the property. This level of confrontation seemed to freeze the crowd momentarily.

I also had lost my patience and ignoring the mess, hurried down the stairs and just around the circle into the doorway hoping that hubby was behind me. As I looked through the automatic glass door, I was surprised to see a line of shocked people inside the door with their purchases and full shopping carts waiting to leave. What a mess!

Well, my husband and I hurried on into the store and headed back to the aisle to get going. We had a long day of errands ahead of us, and this idiot was not going to slow us down anymore. He was gone by the time we made it through the checkout a short time later. All the white suburbanites were pretty much in shock that such a thing could happen in their precious little neighborhood. I ws just very irritated and thankful that no blood had been spilled.

String Theory?

Sometimes I find that my life is running in a theme. Or perhaps not. Perhaps I just see things with a different skew depending on events.

I spent about an hour trying to untangle this silver necklace above. It is one of those long single strand necklaces---reminded me of the beads we wore back in the 'hippy' days. I bought it at a kiosk about a month ago and placed it carefully in a jewlery bag. When I took it out to wear it for the first time this past week I discovered that it had been impatient to get out and had tied itself in knots. This first hour of trying to untie knots has taken much patience and I have made about 15% progress. So, if I devote a good part of my life to this task, I may actually wear this someday. It is a test of patience.

I went down to the house we are building yesterday and there were lots of loose ends that I wish I could tie up. We had taken the 1,000 pieces of hardware for our masterbedroom closet and were eager to at least begin this task of installation. Unfortunately, we soon realized that there was still too much builders' junk in there to even begin to start an installation. There are lots of other little things still as well. My towel bars are too wide for the small bathrooms with little wall space and I don't know if the builder can return them...are they going to be an ebay entanglement? There are about 4 new holes in the walls as if they were looking for something---maybe something tangled behind the sheetrock? Another test of patience.

And last and certainly not least, my husband's medical report that I had blogged about a while back did not come back benign. It is not an aggressive thing and he is a good candidate for the least invasive procedure (sort of like gardening where they plant seeds (!)) but it is still an entanglement from which we wish to extricate ourselves as soon as possible as well as another test of patience that we have to get through. I am not the type of blogger who feels better blogging about this stuff, so you will not read all the details from here. You all have enough entanglements and tests of patience in your own lives.

Well, I shall disentangle myself from this chair and get another cup of coffee before I start my well-deserved weekend that I have so patiently been waiting for.

Like Sands Through the Hourglass?

Some days it's more like shovels of dirt through the manhole and I am in it. When did this kid get his driver's license?

Are YOU Prepared?

I received a ‘guide’ in the mail yesterday. It was titled “Home Guide to Emergency Preparedness.” Photo above is of the first page. Nothing says preparedness like a cartoon of politically correct people with smiles on their faces. They had everyone represented including the ‘media-geek’, but they forgot the disabled (unless the elder-person represents both.) My first reaction to this mailing was remembering, (chagrin, chagrin,) how the teachers of my youth taught us to cover our heads under our desks if there was a nuclear attack. I am glad to see that preparedness has come so far.

Anyway, since everything in the recent news has been about the feds cutting local terrorist prevention funding and that most local agencies are pretty much saying it is going to be up to the individual to save themselves in an emergency…i.e. “Don’t call us because we will be very busy writing our press releases.” I was pretty interested in how I should proceed to save my butt if the need arose.

So I continued to peruse this missive. The second page consisted of ‘Bioterrorism frequently asked questions.’ After defining bioterrorism the answer to the burning question “What can we do?’ was “Stay alert and stay calm because this helps government agencies control the situation and protect you.” What? Then they went on to describe methods of dispersal and resulting symptoms of a number of biological agents. That was really fun reading, but not much help.

There was a list of useful phone numbers, most of which I am guessing would not be answered during an emergency, but nice to post on the side of the refrigerator for false reassurance purposes. There was a whole page on smallpox (which I was vaccinated against in my twenties when I headed overseas…wonder if that still is effective?).

Then the page on “Preparing Your Home for an Emergency” was finally getting to specifics. They suggested that we store a 3-5 day supply of food, water, vitamins, medicine, etc., planning on one gallon of water per person per day.

And, at last, the best part. Shelter in Place-SIP. If you are a federal employee you hear and test for this several times a year in your office building. This SIP was written for someone who owns and lives in a single-family house. The safest place in my apartment is the bathroom--see this shoebox room below. There is no way to turn off the huge vent fan in this room as that is the only return vent and run by the building itself. I can barely find room to brush my teeth each morning. Storing 3-5 days of supplies in this room would mean we would have to use some one else’s bathroom in this building for the duration. (Yes, I was standing on the toilet when I took this picture.)



And then the very best part was this diagram above of an evacuation plan for my building…I live in such a sophisticated high tech society. Anyway if you come for a visit, I will post this evacuation plan by the door so that you can get out safely.

The Small Story

I have probably explained this habit of mine before, but I will tell about my relationship (addiction) with Amaryllis plants.

Over the years I would receive one as a gift and being the frugal person and lover of plants that I am, I would see if I could keep the bulb alive for the next year. I knew that the bulb would only bloom once and then spend its months restoring itself with just the lovely large leaves. I would cut the dead blossom (sometimes removing the pollen while it bloomed so that the blossom would last longer) and then keep the plant watered and in sun inside my house until the weather permitted me to move the pot outside. I would continue to nurture the plant outside until September when I would stop watering and move it into a dry area where it would not get the rain. Once the leaves started to yellow and wilt -- usually before the really cold nights -- I would cut the leaves, make sure the soil was dry and then pack the plant away into a dark place in my basement until the next season.

I got into the habit of forcing the amaryllis to bloom in February when nothing else was going to provide me such beauty except leggy pontsettias after the winter holidays and before the spring blooms began. Over time I had collected and forced each year about 25 of these bulbs. They lined the space along the windows in my family room. And I probably looked a little silly hauling all the pots outside each year and back inside in the fall. I gave most of them away when we sold the house and had to move into the rental house.

With each additional move I got rid of a few more.

Three weeks ago when I was cleaning this tiny apartment I moved a small bench to vacuum near the kitchen wall. There was a black garbage bag with something heavy inside. I assumed it was some boat or fishing gear that my hubby had tucked away. Well, I am sure you are way ahead of me and realize it was one of the amaryllis plants. It happened to be my largest that has multiple bulbs in one pot that I have not had time to separate.

I brought it out and saw that it had not even begun to send up any shoots even though it was months behind schedule. I was sure that it was dead and not just dormant, but I watered it anyway and placed it next to our kitchen window. Well, as you can see, in three short weeks, it has rewarded me tremendously!

There is some lesson in this about patience or unrequited love or something and if I was more energetic some haiku or poem that I should create...but I am just happy to be so lucky!