Boy, is it ever snowing! It sounds as if I could have a foot of snow. It may not all fall tonight, as we are under a huge storm that is hanging in here till late in the week, but I figure we will have a pile of snow by the time the storm moves on toward the weekend. Holy Toledo! I brought home some work in case I can't go in in the morning. If the whole mess doesn't fall tonight, can probably go in. I'll see how it goes.
Yesterday I was leaving the house to take trash to the dumpster, and I hadn't much more than left my yard and I found a lost dog. Yeah, go figure, me finding a lost dog! LOL! What is it about me and finding those critters? He was a beautiful, sweet German Shepherd, and he was panting like crazy. Poor guy needed water in the worst way. He didn't want to get into the truck. Even though he was a big dog, my truck is big, too, and he just looked at the open door like "You are kidding, aren't you?"
Fortunately, he had a tag with his name and a couple phone numbers on it, but I didn't have my cell phone. I backed up the road and ran into the house for my phone and some water. When I got back out, I couldn't see him, but he showed up when I called his name .... "Tiny"!! Yep, that huge dog, probably 80-85 pounds is named Tiny!! Anyway, I gave him the water which he gulped down in nothing flat, and while he did that, I called the phone number on his tag.
The man on the phone was startled, because he said Tiny was outside just a half hour ago! We talked about where each of us were, and we were both surprised that Tiny had traveled nearly two miles! We agreed to meet about half way, which was on my way to the dumpsters. Then, I had to coax Tiny into the truck! He did get in, but it was a bit of a struggle for both of us!
David, Tiny's owner, was really glad to see him and vice versa. We figured out how he got there. One of my neighbors, Bill, is a handyman, and he had been at David and Tiny's house doing some work. When He left on his ATV, Tiny followed him. David didn't think about it, because he has followed the man before, but usually turns around at the end of the driveway, so David went back in the house! Poor Tiny had followed until he was lost, apparently, but he was still following Bill's scent! Amazing!
I'm glad Tiny is home. He is a really cool dog. If I had room for a big dog, he would be a good candidate for living at my house! He stole my heart, but to be honest, it's a rare dog that doesn't! Heaven help me if I find one of these lovable furries with no locatable home!!!
Are any of you watching "Harry"? It's that new show on NBC with Kathy Bates. I'm liking it! She represents the kind of lawyer I'd like to meet!
Oh, and how 'bout that GE commercial with the dancing elephant? I just love that!
OK, I'm getting loopy! Back to couch vegging. Later, gators!
Monday, January 31, 2011
Saturday, January 29, 2011
There are plans and there is reality
I began to do housework earlier today. I did some, but when I realized it was a nice sunny 54° outside, I decided to take advantage of it and go to the deck and trim and groom the pups. I didn't get them all done. But I got three of them finished. I'll do the last two tomorrow and bathe all five.
Lolita and Maxwell have heavy undercoats, and they were really, really matted. I had to go very slowly and carefully to get all the "cotton balls" out of their fur. I could hardly believe it, because I gave everyone a thorough, all-the-way-to-the-skin brushing just a few days ago, so I can't figure out why in the world they are so matted in such a short time. I'm guessing that their tumbling, wrestling play has done it. Anyway, I got it all out and cut the fur on them down to about 2-3 inches, so perhaps they won't tangle up again too soon but they also won't freeze in the cold spell that is coming Tuesday and Wednesday. I also got Jazmyn done, but she has a beautiful silky coat of fur and there was no significant tangling on her, so I didn't have to cut her short. Joey will be groomed tomorrow, and he is another one that tangles easily, but I check him and he doesn't have 1/4 what those two did. And Sam's turn is tomorrow, as well.
By the time I was finished with them, I was freezing! The wind was blowing pretty strongly, and I knew that cooled it off a lot. I cleaned the deck, put the tools away, and when I came in the house, I saw that the temperature had dropped to 48°. Uh, yeah, that 6° drop and the wind coming up really made a difference! I've been in for over 30 minutes, and I'm still a little chilled. I didn't realize how cool I'd gotten. I guess I was really concentrating on those dogs! I had on a lined nylon running suit with sweats underneath, so I thought I was well enough dressed Well, there I go thinking again!
I'll get the housework done, too. There really isn't that much of it, and I can work it in around the really important stuff (my babies!) this evening and tomorrow!
For the record, I slept solidly last night for nearly nine hours! I was really refreshed this morning. I spent over an hour lolling in bed with the dogs, and it was great! I also stayed in my jammies till mid morning! Wooo hooo! Yeah, I'll get used to the new schedule with time, and all will be well. :)
Lolita and Maxwell have heavy undercoats, and they were really, really matted. I had to go very slowly and carefully to get all the "cotton balls" out of their fur. I could hardly believe it, because I gave everyone a thorough, all-the-way-to-the-skin brushing just a few days ago, so I can't figure out why in the world they are so matted in such a short time. I'm guessing that their tumbling, wrestling play has done it. Anyway, I got it all out and cut the fur on them down to about 2-3 inches, so perhaps they won't tangle up again too soon but they also won't freeze in the cold spell that is coming Tuesday and Wednesday. I also got Jazmyn done, but she has a beautiful silky coat of fur and there was no significant tangling on her, so I didn't have to cut her short. Joey will be groomed tomorrow, and he is another one that tangles easily, but I check him and he doesn't have 1/4 what those two did. And Sam's turn is tomorrow, as well.
By the time I was finished with them, I was freezing! The wind was blowing pretty strongly, and I knew that cooled it off a lot. I cleaned the deck, put the tools away, and when I came in the house, I saw that the temperature had dropped to 48°. Uh, yeah, that 6° drop and the wind coming up really made a difference! I've been in for over 30 minutes, and I'm still a little chilled. I didn't realize how cool I'd gotten. I guess I was really concentrating on those dogs! I had on a lined nylon running suit with sweats underneath, so I thought I was well enough dressed Well, there I go thinking again!
I'll get the housework done, too. There really isn't that much of it, and I can work it in around the really important stuff (my babies!) this evening and tomorrow!
For the record, I slept solidly last night for nearly nine hours! I was really refreshed this morning. I spent over an hour lolling in bed with the dogs, and it was great! I also stayed in my jammies till mid morning! Wooo hooo! Yeah, I'll get used to the new schedule with time, and all will be well. :)
Friday, January 28, 2011
Day 5 .... AT LAST!!
Whew! It has been interesting, confusing, exhausting, exhilarating, fun, informative, and a whole buncha other things! I've learned a lot, but not nearly as much as I'd like. As I've said, I tend to have a problem with wanting it all now. Yep, I want all the knowledge in my head and all the expertise in my hands and all the energy in my body. Now. That's not asking too much, is it? Nahhhh!
Today was really trying for me. I was trying to accomplish some pieces of the job that I have a pretty good idea about, but I kept running into parts and pieces that stopped me short. There were some things such as not being authorized as yet to access parts of the computer system that I needed. An oversight that will be remedied early next week, as the IT guy is coming to set it up for me and get me trained on a few aspects of it. And such as not being able to find certain forms. They are well organized, but my predecessor had a different way of thinking about how to file than I do. Not saying she is wrong, just different and not like I think. And such as trying to find forms that are called on thing on the printed page, but filed under other names in the computer. And such as trying to find files under the name of the patient when all I have is the surviving family member who has a different name. And such as ... well you get it.
It wasn't a bad day, just frustrating because things weren't going as I thought they should. I know full well that the first month or so is going to be spent trying to connect the dots, but knowing it and living it aren't necessarily the same thing! I spent the last couple hours of the day sorting files and drawers, tossing the unnecessary left behind, putting part of it into my system of thinking. I got done just a drop in the bucket of what needs to be done. I'm hoping I'll be able to get the major pieces done next week so my ability to access what I need is improved to a non-hair-pulling level.
In spite of everything, I was productive, and it is beginning to actually make sense in little increments. I've found that with each small thing I do, it helps me understand another one or two of the other pieces that I didn't know before. It's actually .... logical! Sorta!
OK, that's about all you're gonna get outta me tonight. I'm really tired, and my brain wants to rest. And I promise to get back to more fun topics soon. :)
Today was really trying for me. I was trying to accomplish some pieces of the job that I have a pretty good idea about, but I kept running into parts and pieces that stopped me short. There were some things such as not being authorized as yet to access parts of the computer system that I needed. An oversight that will be remedied early next week, as the IT guy is coming to set it up for me and get me trained on a few aspects of it. And such as not being able to find certain forms. They are well organized, but my predecessor had a different way of thinking about how to file than I do. Not saying she is wrong, just different and not like I think. And such as trying to find forms that are called on thing on the printed page, but filed under other names in the computer. And such as trying to find files under the name of the patient when all I have is the surviving family member who has a different name. And such as ... well you get it.
It wasn't a bad day, just frustrating because things weren't going as I thought they should. I know full well that the first month or so is going to be spent trying to connect the dots, but knowing it and living it aren't necessarily the same thing! I spent the last couple hours of the day sorting files and drawers, tossing the unnecessary left behind, putting part of it into my system of thinking. I got done just a drop in the bucket of what needs to be done. I'm hoping I'll be able to get the major pieces done next week so my ability to access what I need is improved to a non-hair-pulling level.
In spite of everything, I was productive, and it is beginning to actually make sense in little increments. I've found that with each small thing I do, it helps me understand another one or two of the other pieces that I didn't know before. It's actually .... logical! Sorta!
OK, that's about all you're gonna get outta me tonight. I'm really tired, and my brain wants to rest. And I promise to get back to more fun topics soon. :)
Thursday, January 27, 2011
4 down, 1 to go ....
.... and then a weekend! whoosh!
I'm getting it! It is slow, but the peces are beginning to come together and gradually make sense.
Yesterday I got the newsletter pulled together and ready for publication and mailing. It really wasn't a big job, but I had to figure out a few things about the software before I could type the pieces into it. Today I was able to make sense out of several other pieces of the tasks and began to put them into perspective that made sense to me. It's coming, it's coming!
This afternoon I was fingerprinted. No, I was arrested, but I did have to go to the police station and be finger printed for a background check. Have you ever been printed? Boy, is that an experience! They had to do three sets of prints, and by the time they were through, my hands were a holy mess! They give you a substance to remove the ink, a gritty stuff, and it took several applications to get it all off, then you still have to wash, and it took two applications of soap to get the remnants off my hands. I can't imagine that being done with an uncooperative arrestee.
Potluck tonight. It was, as always, so very good! We had 18 people gathered almost shoulder to shoulder around a conference table, and we had the..best..time! I love this group of people. It has changed, grown, morphed, and evolved over the last four years, and the group we have now just knocks my sox totally off! Ages range from mid 40s (well, occasionally younger, as tonight we had a 17 year old and a 7 year old) to 78 or 79, and what a wonderful time we have. Always! There are a handful of others that are not regulars, and most of them are good folks, too, but this group are the "full times" who come to almost every dinner, and they are awesome. Tonight I toasted "the best damn potluck group in the county," and boy it go over well. I think that is our unofficial name now!
OK, gotta get to bed. I'll be glad when I get the new polished off this job, so I can feel somewhat normal again, including being caught up on rest! I'm actually slelepng well and long enough, but the stress is taking a toll. As I said, four down, one to go and then I can have a weekend! I'm sleepin' in, fer sher!
I'm getting it! It is slow, but the peces are beginning to come together and gradually make sense.
Yesterday I got the newsletter pulled together and ready for publication and mailing. It really wasn't a big job, but I had to figure out a few things about the software before I could type the pieces into it. Today I was able to make sense out of several other pieces of the tasks and began to put them into perspective that made sense to me. It's coming, it's coming!
This afternoon I was fingerprinted. No, I was arrested, but I did have to go to the police station and be finger printed for a background check. Have you ever been printed? Boy, is that an experience! They had to do three sets of prints, and by the time they were through, my hands were a holy mess! They give you a substance to remove the ink, a gritty stuff, and it took several applications to get it all off, then you still have to wash, and it took two applications of soap to get the remnants off my hands. I can't imagine that being done with an uncooperative arrestee.
Potluck tonight. It was, as always, so very good! We had 18 people gathered almost shoulder to shoulder around a conference table, and we had the..best..time! I love this group of people. It has changed, grown, morphed, and evolved over the last four years, and the group we have now just knocks my sox totally off! Ages range from mid 40s (well, occasionally younger, as tonight we had a 17 year old and a 7 year old) to 78 or 79, and what a wonderful time we have. Always! There are a handful of others that are not regulars, and most of them are good folks, too, but this group are the "full times" who come to almost every dinner, and they are awesome. Tonight I toasted "the best damn potluck group in the county," and boy it go over well. I think that is our unofficial name now!
OK, gotta get to bed. I'll be glad when I get the new polished off this job, so I can feel somewhat normal again, including being caught up on rest! I'm actually slelepng well and long enough, but the stress is taking a toll. As I said, four down, one to go and then I can have a weekend! I'm sleepin' in, fer sher!
Tuesday, January 25, 2011
Day 2 done
I'm adjusting. Day 2 is done, and I haven't had any huge problems with getting up and around. Well, except I left the house without my lunch and had to come back. Thank goodness I was only about a mile away. Then I got stuck behind a road grader going 12 miles an hour on a narrow winding road with no passing zones anywhere. So I ended up being about 7 minutes late for work, but since the schedule is flexible, there was no harm.
Learning so much. I'm impatient. I want to know it all NOW! I keep reminding myself that it will come, and for goodness sake, it is only Day 2!! I want to know the bits and pieces so I can really do the job, and as I keep saying, I will get it in time. sigh. I keep telling certain friends of mine, "Patience, Grasshopper." I guess I'd better tell myself that, huh?
And The Kids are adjusting. They seem to be doing just fine. I keep reminding myself that they have been left for several hours on many occasions, even up to 12 + hours when I do day trips. I also remind myself that time has no meaning to them, so they don't really know if I'm gone for 15 minutes or 15 hours, and they don't know that me being gone several hours every day is any different than me being gone one day, home for one or more and gone again. I haven't come home to bloodshed or house-shred, so I'm assuming they are getting along OK! Just think .... two years ago I absolutely could NOT have done this. They were simply too uncivilized to be left alone for long. If you remember, I couldn't leave Sammy, in particular, because of the trauma he lived with, and neither he nor Max were very reliably house trained. Sometimes, leaving for an hour left me with something to clean up. Yeah, we've come a long way.
Speaking of The Kids .... look at this "happy bed." As you can see, this is one evening when they actually left me one side of the bed! Barely, but I had room to get in and out without detangling myself from one or two of them!
<===and Two
Yeah, we've come a long way. :)
I got to go with my boss to a local facility today to assess for a volunteer or other services and needs. The man had already had the overall assessment, but our task was to check for the need of such things as the need for a volunteer as a companion or other needs. As the coordinator of volunteers, this will be something I will do when an admission is made, so it was a good field trip for me. And I have to tell you, I have never seen a home like this one! There is room for only three residents, and it is just gorgeous! It is like a regular home, very nice and comfortable. Lovely story behind it. The couple who run it live in their home next door. They built this place to house their own aging parents, and after they died, the home became a place for others to live. The woman is a nurse. What a perfect way to use the space.
Sunday night I had trouble sleeping. I didn't think I was nervous, but I must have been somewhat. I slept a couple hours, woke and had a little trouble going back to sleep. When I did, I did that thing that absolutely wears me out .... I dozed and woke, dozed and woke, dozed and woke until I finally gave up and got out of bed about 6:00. I didn't feel the tiredness during the day Monday, but last night I was ready for bed early. Last night I slept very well, thank goodness. But I'm a little tired again tonight. I'm probably going to hit the hay pretty quick.
Mornings are a bit of a challenge. I'm used to hanging out in my PJs until mid morning! I usually don't schedule anything out of the house till late morning or early afternoon, so being showered and dressed, having animals and birds fed and watered, having my breakfast and making a lunch and going out the door no later than 8:30 is just not easy for me! I know I will get used to it, but it isn't easy! Oh, BTW, before anyone says it, I actually do as much of the above as possible the night before, but there are odds and ends that I have to do in the morning. For one thing, I have my lunch planned and partially prepared and packed, but I don't make my sandwich at night. I don't like how it feels kinda soggy if it's been in the fridge that long. Yeah, I know, I'm just picky! Tomorrow I'm having homemade chicken noodle soup. It's out of the freezer and thawing in the fridge, so tomorrow morning will be easier since I won't have the sandwich to make.
On a different note, both of my girls are doing pretty well. Not to say they aren't both still sad about the ending of the marriages, but both are in better places emotionally now. It's a process, and it just has to be lived through. There isn't a short cut. I keep reminding them and myself that the end of a marriage is like a death in the family, and it must be grieved. I'm just relieved that they are beginning to live their lives again.
Look at this. My three society finches have completely taken over the little nest. Every evening, the all crawl into it and are there when I get up in the morning! So cute!
I guess they think they are "society" and have to be separated from the others! LOL!
And the little Zebra finch I inherited from Linda sits on top and guards. He did this a lot before he moved in to our cage. His little mate would go inside and he would guard from the top. Sorry it's blurry, I was in an awkward position and he moved before I could get a second, better shot.
The two spice finches just hang out on a perch, not being spectacular or doing anything cute, so they didn't get their pictures taken. HA!
I need to go to bed. So here .... enjoy .....
It was a very pretty sunset reflected there. No wonder my dogs and birds are so happy here! :)
Learning so much. I'm impatient. I want to know it all NOW! I keep reminding myself that it will come, and for goodness sake, it is only Day 2!! I want to know the bits and pieces so I can really do the job, and as I keep saying, I will get it in time. sigh. I keep telling certain friends of mine, "Patience, Grasshopper." I guess I'd better tell myself that, huh?
And The Kids are adjusting. They seem to be doing just fine. I keep reminding myself that they have been left for several hours on many occasions, even up to 12 + hours when I do day trips. I also remind myself that time has no meaning to them, so they don't really know if I'm gone for 15 minutes or 15 hours, and they don't know that me being gone several hours every day is any different than me being gone one day, home for one or more and gone again. I haven't come home to bloodshed or house-shred, so I'm assuming they are getting along OK! Just think .... two years ago I absolutely could NOT have done this. They were simply too uncivilized to be left alone for long. If you remember, I couldn't leave Sammy, in particular, because of the trauma he lived with, and neither he nor Max were very reliably house trained. Sometimes, leaving for an hour left me with something to clean up. Yeah, we've come a long way.
Speaking of The Kids .... look at this "happy bed." As you can see, this is one evening when they actually left me one side of the bed! Barely, but I had room to get in and out without detangling myself from one or two of them!
Three ===>
<===and Two
Yeah, we've come a long way. :)
I got to go with my boss to a local facility today to assess for a volunteer or other services and needs. The man had already had the overall assessment, but our task was to check for the need of such things as the need for a volunteer as a companion or other needs. As the coordinator of volunteers, this will be something I will do when an admission is made, so it was a good field trip for me. And I have to tell you, I have never seen a home like this one! There is room for only three residents, and it is just gorgeous! It is like a regular home, very nice and comfortable. Lovely story behind it. The couple who run it live in their home next door. They built this place to house their own aging parents, and after they died, the home became a place for others to live. The woman is a nurse. What a perfect way to use the space.
Sunday night I had trouble sleeping. I didn't think I was nervous, but I must have been somewhat. I slept a couple hours, woke and had a little trouble going back to sleep. When I did, I did that thing that absolutely wears me out .... I dozed and woke, dozed and woke, dozed and woke until I finally gave up and got out of bed about 6:00. I didn't feel the tiredness during the day Monday, but last night I was ready for bed early. Last night I slept very well, thank goodness. But I'm a little tired again tonight. I'm probably going to hit the hay pretty quick.
Mornings are a bit of a challenge. I'm used to hanging out in my PJs until mid morning! I usually don't schedule anything out of the house till late morning or early afternoon, so being showered and dressed, having animals and birds fed and watered, having my breakfast and making a lunch and going out the door no later than 8:30 is just not easy for me! I know I will get used to it, but it isn't easy! Oh, BTW, before anyone says it, I actually do as much of the above as possible the night before, but there are odds and ends that I have to do in the morning. For one thing, I have my lunch planned and partially prepared and packed, but I don't make my sandwich at night. I don't like how it feels kinda soggy if it's been in the fridge that long. Yeah, I know, I'm just picky! Tomorrow I'm having homemade chicken noodle soup. It's out of the freezer and thawing in the fridge, so tomorrow morning will be easier since I won't have the sandwich to make.
On a different note, both of my girls are doing pretty well. Not to say they aren't both still sad about the ending of the marriages, but both are in better places emotionally now. It's a process, and it just has to be lived through. There isn't a short cut. I keep reminding them and myself that the end of a marriage is like a death in the family, and it must be grieved. I'm just relieved that they are beginning to live their lives again.
I guess they think they are "society" and have to be separated from the others! LOL!
The two spice finches just hang out on a perch, not being spectacular or doing anything cute, so they didn't get their pictures taken. HA!
I need to go to bed. So here .... enjoy .....
 |
| The Capitan Range in half shadow. |
 |
| See the snow on the ground between the trees and the mountains? It's hanging around here and there. I'm not sure what is keeping it in that particular area. |
It was a very pretty sunset reflected there. No wonder my dogs and birds are so happy here! :)
Monday, January 24, 2011
A surprise on Sunday, and a first day today
Yesterday morning I woke to a surprise. I went to the kitchen to start coffee, and I saw about two inches of snow! I didn't watch weather the night before, and I didn't see anything about it online. I'm not the only one. A friend who lives in Capitan said she was surprised, too. It was really pretty, but the sky was almost clear, so I knew it wasn't likely going to last. And it didn't. It was almost all melted before noon!
A little later I was in the living room, and I noticed that the wind was stirring the snow on the roof and the trees, blowing it around. It was gorgeous! When the sun is shining brightly and snow crystals are dancing around in the sky, they sparkle like diamonds! Here is a little video, but the sparkle doesn't show up as well as it does in person. Still pretty!
A little later I was in the living room, and I noticed that the wind was stirring the snow on the roof and the trees, blowing it around. It was gorgeous! When the sun is shining brightly and snow crystals are dancing around in the sky, they sparkle like diamonds! Here is a little video, but the sparkle doesn't show up as well as it does in person. Still pretty!
I didn't get this posted yesterday because, for some strange reason, this video wouldn't upload. Something in the air of Bloggerville, I suppose. Anyway, I'm glad it posted today, if for no other reason, just so I knew it wasn't something permanent about uploading videos. I hate those moments when I don't know if it's me or .... whatever. I'm glad it's (apparently) not me!
Well ... today was the first day of my new job. It went well, in the "first day" sense. You know how it is during those first few days when so much information is coming at ya, so many faces and names, and I tend to just absorb whatever I can and try to not stress over it. My boss asked me about how I learn best, and since it is by doing, the hands-on part, she gave me lots of overviews, then I'll be going through files in the office and on the computer over the next few days and seeing what I can soak up. I'll keep a list of questions or "duh, I don't get it" things and talk with her for clarification.
The nice thing is that my predecessor was a highly organized person, so I won't be needing to sort out the grain from the chaff. It is all neat and organized, just waiting for me to get hold of it and begin to absorb it and make it my own.
The organization seems to be a friendly one. My first impressions of those I met today were good. It feels like a place and a group of people that I'll be pretty comfortable with very soon. The only hitch was that no one had been in the building where my office is located (there are two buildings) before we got there, and the thermometer is turned down over the weekend to 55°. It was c-c-c-cold in there! Remember, I like my space to be cool; I keep my house at about 65° to 67° during the day and 58° to 60° at night. But this was c.o.l.d!!! Within a few minutes, both of us were chilled. She turned up the heat, but it is a big building and was taking a long time. Then we noticed the vent into my office was closed!! She climbed on the desk to reach it and opened it. We went back to the other, warmer building and did as much as possible there.
By the time I left to come home, the office was comfortable! I mentioned that I'd get a space heater and bring it in to take care of that problem on Monday mornings, and she said that there are some already there. She will find one and have it available for me. Whew! Listen when this girl gets cold, it is really cold! I was home a little after 3:00, and it was nearly 6:00 before I felt comfortable. I was chilled to the bone! I sat on the couch in sweats and with a blanket over my legs, finally getting a big mug of hot tea to warm the inside of me, and it evened out! That won't be every day, thank goodness, 'cause, as I said, it was pleasant in the office by the time I left.
I brought home some reading materials and some of the "new employee" forms, and made good use of my time while I was warming my bones. There is more paperwork to do tomorrow, including TB testing and getting fingerprinted for a background check. Providing my office is as warm as I think it will be, I'll be sitting in my office learning about the facets of the job most of the day.
Now .... if I can just keep up my resolve for getting up and out the door. I'm NOT a jump-up-and-go kind of person. I usually take a couple hours to do email, drink coffee, cuddle with the dogs, all that stuff. That is now reserved for weekends. sigh. I'll get there, but it is going to take adjustments, for sure. Wish me luck, OK?
Thursday, January 20, 2011
I GOT A JOB!!
I got the call this afternoon, and I'm delighted! Beginning Monday, I will be working at Hospice of Ruidoso. I am really happy to have this opportunity, because Hospice is an organization that I seriously respect. I'm not taking a Social Work position. I let my license lapse when I retired, and it was issued in Missouri, so I would have to essentially start over in the licensure process. It is both expensive and lengthy to do that, and I wasn't sure I wanted to do it.
The position is one of an administrative assistant and program coordinator. The major pieces are this: coordinate the Hospice program, including training and coordinating volunteers; coordinate the Bereavement program and prepare a news letter. While I'm notoriously disorganized in much of my personal life, I have always been well organized in the office, and I know this will be a boon in this position. With my Social Work training, I will have a good understanding of most of the necessary components of the program. And having the experience with Hospice during my husband's last few days has give me some experience and perspective from that side of it. I will probably understand the process of the job pretty easily and will be able to relate to those I am working with, both coworkers and clients.
It is not a full time position. I'll be working 25-30 hours a week, and that leaves me time for some of my own endeavors, productive and just for fun, too. I think this is goiing to work out just about as well as I could hope for.
Blogging will still take place. The schedule or regularity remains to be seen, but trust me .... You ain't rid of me yet!! LOL!
The position is one of an administrative assistant and program coordinator. The major pieces are this: coordinate the Hospice program, including training and coordinating volunteers; coordinate the Bereavement program and prepare a news letter. While I'm notoriously disorganized in much of my personal life, I have always been well organized in the office, and I know this will be a boon in this position. With my Social Work training, I will have a good understanding of most of the necessary components of the program. And having the experience with Hospice during my husband's last few days has give me some experience and perspective from that side of it. I will probably understand the process of the job pretty easily and will be able to relate to those I am working with, both coworkers and clients.
It is not a full time position. I'll be working 25-30 hours a week, and that leaves me time for some of my own endeavors, productive and just for fun, too. I think this is goiing to work out just about as well as I could hope for.
Blogging will still take place. The schedule or regularity remains to be seen, but trust me .... You ain't rid of me yet!! LOL!
Tuesday, January 18, 2011
Rant
I'm going crazy with banks and their practices! I won't name names, because Big Business/Big Bank everywhere has trackers to find these things and uses the information. Sometimes they use it to improve services, etc. I don't know if that information is used for other things, and these days, I'm very suspicious of banking practices.
I recently went out on a Saturday. My first stop was at a drive up window where I deposited a large amount. Let's say $1500 for reference. My account balance before I did so was almost $400. I wasn't broke. Next I went to several stores, my last stop being a big name nationwide retail store. In the four stops, I used my ATM card. At Big Name, my card was rejected! What?? However, I've found times when any of my cards will work this time but not next. It happens. I wasn't really worried, so I wrote a check which was electronically deposited (meaning it was debited to my account then and there, and it cleared).
Today I was having trouble with the bill pay feature online. That's another story (I've had this kind of problem in the past with this bank), but I had to call the bank to find out what was wrong, and in the course of the conversation, I mentioned that situation. The woman who was helping me commented that it was rejected because of insufficient funds. WTF?????
Later I looked, and I learned that the uses of my card on that day totaled .... are you ready for this? .... $2 more than the balance BEFORE my deposit of $1500!!! Yet the electronic check, from the same account, was accepted. OK, this is bad enough, but my real rant is this ....
HOW CAN BANKS ELECTRONICALLY RECOGNIZE MONEY YOU'RE TAKING OUT VIA ATM OR ELECTRONIC CHECK AND DENY IT, BUT THEYWON'T CAN'T RECOGNIZE THE MONEY YOU PUT IN AN HOUR BEFORE??????
Ridiculous crap.
Yes, I'm angry, really, really angry. They use our deposits in this was and many other ways! Infuriating!
Besides that, they can't figure out why my bill pay is not working. It's going to IT and they will call when they figure it out. I'm thinking I need to change banks.
I recently went out on a Saturday. My first stop was at a drive up window where I deposited a large amount. Let's say $1500 for reference. My account balance before I did so was almost $400. I wasn't broke. Next I went to several stores, my last stop being a big name nationwide retail store. In the four stops, I used my ATM card. At Big Name, my card was rejected! What?? However, I've found times when any of my cards will work this time but not next. It happens. I wasn't really worried, so I wrote a check which was electronically deposited (meaning it was debited to my account then and there, and it cleared).
Today I was having trouble with the bill pay feature online. That's another story (I've had this kind of problem in the past with this bank), but I had to call the bank to find out what was wrong, and in the course of the conversation, I mentioned that situation. The woman who was helping me commented that it was rejected because of insufficient funds. WTF?????
Later I looked, and I learned that the uses of my card on that day totaled .... are you ready for this? .... $2 more than the balance BEFORE my deposit of $1500!!! Yet the electronic check, from the same account, was accepted. OK, this is bad enough, but my real rant is this ....
HOW CAN BANKS ELECTRONICALLY RECOGNIZE MONEY YOU'RE TAKING OUT VIA ATM OR ELECTRONIC CHECK AND DENY IT, BUT THEY
Ridiculous crap.
Yes, I'm angry, really, really angry. They use our deposits in this was and many other ways! Infuriating!
Besides that, they can't figure out why my bill pay is not working. It's going to IT and they will call when they figure it out. I'm thinking I need to change banks.
Monday, January 17, 2011
Finding family
Since I began working on family genealogy, I'm thinking about extended family with whom I've lost touch. Some of them we (my sibs, parents, cousins and I) have tried to find, some we have, some we have not. One that my mother really wanted to find was her baby brother's widow and their children. My uncle died in 1972. He was young, just 54 years old. He had been battling cancer for several years, so it was expected. His family had made a rather lengthy trip around the country to visit family a while before he passed away. As I recall, it was around three years earlier. They came to visit us, my folks in my home town and Mom and Dad brought them to my house in Albuquerque. It was a nice visit, although he was very weak and tired.
Somehow after he passed on, we all lost contact with his family. I don't know why or how. My uncle was gone and his wife, of course, kept closer contact with her own family. I don't know if there were other reasons. I didn't have a sense of any problem between her and our family. I know my mom always spoke highly of her. The worst thing I heard her say is that my aunt and her family were different, coming from another part of the country (New York State), but she didn't say "different" as if it were bad. Just different. And Mom and my uncle were very close.
Through the years Mother had sent letters to old addresses and they were returned as they had moved. She occasionally heard about them living somewhere, would get an address, but it would be the wrong people. I remember her making a couple phone calls with the same result. In the 1990s, I tried to help her via the internet, but there wasn't as much of a "net" then or I wasn't as adept, and I had the same result. There were always too many by those names to be sure, and when we called or wrote, it was not the right ones. Mom finally decided my aunt must have remarried and had a different name.
Then my mom and dad died in 2000. I didn't even think about it for a while. When I did later on, my efforts were half-hearted, in part because Mom was gone and in part because my own life was in chaos with my husband's health and other issues. Then recently I've been thinking about that family again.
Today I spent a couple house online, googling the names of my aunt and cousins, then wading through scads of internet references to those and similar names. I found a number of references that I was pretty sure was one of the cousins, and yet every reference lead to basically a dead end. I could find no website or address that made sense. I retraced my steps, and perhaps I entered something differently, but all the sudden I was finding some references that made some sense. I found what I thought to be addresses for the two younger of the cousins, but I wasn't finding anything current on the older one. He is just four years younger than I, and I knew him better and hoped to start with him in reconnecting. I found a drivers license in the Chicago area that expired in 2003, and I was pretty sure it was him. I found older ones that were expired, too, but I couldn't find anything newer.
In exasperation, I went back to the google list and clicked on another entry, and I knew I'd found my cousin! The age was right, the name, including his middle name (his mom's maiden name) was right, and then I realized that I was reading his obituary. He passed away in 2004, almost two years before my husband. Cancer. Damn.
However, the information in the obit gave me enough validation of details about his brothers and, wow, my aunt, who was alive at that time! I knew now what I'd found earlier on them was accurate!
Next I found a Facebook reference to the oldest surviving cousin, and I sent him a message. On a lark I put the youngest cousin's name in and came up with him on FB, as well, so sent him a message, too. I haven't heard back from either of them yet, but I'm hopeful.
This is a picture of me with the eldest of the cousins, not the one who passed away in 2004, but the first of four boys. He died of pneumonia only a couple years after this picture was taken. I was 2-3 and he was perhaps just over a year in this photo.
I really to hope I can reconnect with this family. I'd love to see my aunt again if she is still alive. She will be 90 this year.
I'd like to get to know my cousins. I'd like to find out from my aunt what has happened through the years and how we lost contact. And I'm thinking about some other cousins that I don't know about any longer. Most of them are older than I am, so there is the increasing chance that they are gone. But I guess it would be good to know. I'll have to check with my brothers and see if any of them know the whereabouts of the cousins their ages.
Our world has become to fast paced, people move about more than ever, and it is really easy to lose touch. I wonder how many of their cousins my kids stay in touch with. Since we stopped having family reunions, I know the contact is less. That's sad. When I was a small child, all but one aunt and two uncles lived within 100 miles of us. By the time I was in my twenties, my cousins and I were scattered all over the US. Time marches on, we all march with it, and the ties are stretched to breaking.
Are you close to your cousins? Do you know where all of them are?
Somehow after he passed on, we all lost contact with his family. I don't know why or how. My uncle was gone and his wife, of course, kept closer contact with her own family. I don't know if there were other reasons. I didn't have a sense of any problem between her and our family. I know my mom always spoke highly of her. The worst thing I heard her say is that my aunt and her family were different, coming from another part of the country (New York State), but she didn't say "different" as if it were bad. Just different. And Mom and my uncle were very close.
Through the years Mother had sent letters to old addresses and they were returned as they had moved. She occasionally heard about them living somewhere, would get an address, but it would be the wrong people. I remember her making a couple phone calls with the same result. In the 1990s, I tried to help her via the internet, but there wasn't as much of a "net" then or I wasn't as adept, and I had the same result. There were always too many by those names to be sure, and when we called or wrote, it was not the right ones. Mom finally decided my aunt must have remarried and had a different name.
Then my mom and dad died in 2000. I didn't even think about it for a while. When I did later on, my efforts were half-hearted, in part because Mom was gone and in part because my own life was in chaos with my husband's health and other issues. Then recently I've been thinking about that family again.
Today I spent a couple house online, googling the names of my aunt and cousins, then wading through scads of internet references to those and similar names. I found a number of references that I was pretty sure was one of the cousins, and yet every reference lead to basically a dead end. I could find no website or address that made sense. I retraced my steps, and perhaps I entered something differently, but all the sudden I was finding some references that made some sense. I found what I thought to be addresses for the two younger of the cousins, but I wasn't finding anything current on the older one. He is just four years younger than I, and I knew him better and hoped to start with him in reconnecting. I found a drivers license in the Chicago area that expired in 2003, and I was pretty sure it was him. I found older ones that were expired, too, but I couldn't find anything newer.
In exasperation, I went back to the google list and clicked on another entry, and I knew I'd found my cousin! The age was right, the name, including his middle name (his mom's maiden name) was right, and then I realized that I was reading his obituary. He passed away in 2004, almost two years before my husband. Cancer. Damn.
However, the information in the obit gave me enough validation of details about his brothers and, wow, my aunt, who was alive at that time! I knew now what I'd found earlier on them was accurate!
Next I found a Facebook reference to the oldest surviving cousin, and I sent him a message. On a lark I put the youngest cousin's name in and came up with him on FB, as well, so sent him a message, too. I haven't heard back from either of them yet, but I'm hopeful.
This is a picture of me with the eldest of the cousins, not the one who passed away in 2004, but the first of four boys. He died of pneumonia only a couple years after this picture was taken. I was 2-3 and he was perhaps just over a year in this photo.
I really to hope I can reconnect with this family. I'd love to see my aunt again if she is still alive. She will be 90 this year.
I'd like to get to know my cousins. I'd like to find out from my aunt what has happened through the years and how we lost contact. And I'm thinking about some other cousins that I don't know about any longer. Most of them are older than I am, so there is the increasing chance that they are gone. But I guess it would be good to know. I'll have to check with my brothers and see if any of them know the whereabouts of the cousins their ages.
Our world has become to fast paced, people move about more than ever, and it is really easy to lose touch. I wonder how many of their cousins my kids stay in touch with. Since we stopped having family reunions, I know the contact is less. That's sad. When I was a small child, all but one aunt and two uncles lived within 100 miles of us. By the time I was in my twenties, my cousins and I were scattered all over the US. Time marches on, we all march with it, and the ties are stretched to breaking.
Are you close to your cousins? Do you know where all of them are?
A blogging award
I was tagged by Dawn for the “Stylish Blogger Award". I didn’t yell at her because it’s been a long time since I’ve been tagged like this, and also because she is such a sweet lady that I just couldn’t be too upset with her. :)
This is a pay-it-forward style award. Here are the rules:
1. Thank and link back to the person who awarded you this.
2. Share 8 things about yourself
3. Pay it forward to 8 bloggers that you have recently discovered (or not so recently)
4. Contact those bloggers and tell them about their awards.
Okey-dokey, here we go ....
1. Have truck, will travel. Of course you know this already. But you don’t know how ready that truck is to travel! Now, if I’m going to be gone for a few days, still have to pack clothing, but everything I might need otherwise is there. Coming from a family where the father preached preparedness, I usually am. There is a litany of emergency items to cover almost all situations: tools, tire inflation device and a can of the stuff to spray in the tire to do a temporary fix, antifreeze, washer solution, deicer, long handled window washer/ice scraper, about everything imaginable to cover breakdown and most weather conditions that might effect me. Inside are bottles of water for drinking, gatorade, cans of juice, crackers, extra mittens, earmuffs, stocking hats, a couple small blankets and a space blanket, snow boots, a collapsible sun hat, umbrella, a windbreaker, toothbrush, toothpaste, hairbrush, sunscreen, lip protection, cloth shopping bags, dog food, a couple dog dishes for water and food. several extra collars, harnesses and leashes (in case I need to rescue an animal), poop-pick-up bags, an ashtray full of coins, maps for all 48 contiguous states, several window screens to protect from the sun, and from about April through October or November, I carry a couple umbrella chairs in the back for outdoor concerts or impromptu camping/picnics.
2. I would love to have a small camp trailer so I could take The Kids and do little trips. but I don’t have the money for it, and I’d have to learn to back up a trailer. I don’t know ANYONE brave enough to try to teach me that! In spite of that, I drove with a trailer behind my van from Kansas City to Seattle to Melbourne, Florida and back to Kansas City in 2005 and 2006! Boy, was I careful to be sure I could pull straight forward everywhere I stopped!! I actually would like to develop a skill of maneuvering a trailer, just to know I could if I needed to.
3. I am an eternal optimist and a very trusting person. Sometimes I wish I could get over that. No, I don’t really want to change who I am, but I would like to be a little more protective about myself. I trust people to be who they present themselves to be, and until they do something that proves otherwise, I will believe in them. That causes me to be hurt sometimes. People take advantage of it, of me, either innocently or on purpose, and I wish I could be more cautious. But when I’ve tried to change that, I don’t like who I am. So I keep hoping for the best, hoping people I meet have honor and are honest. It usually works out. I won’t change.
4. I love my kids and my grandkids! You probably didn’t have to be told that, but it’s a fact about me that is important. I wish we lived closer, but they live where they must to make a living and for their own happiness, and I live where I do for my comfort and peace of mind. Sometimes we do what we have to. And some of it is OK. The cool thing is that being a long way apart doesn’t stop our loving each other and communicating almost daily via various technologies, phone, cell phone, text messages, email, Facebook, etc. That’s one thing I certainly like about this age in our technology .... instant communication!
5. I’m about to embark on a new phase of my life. I’m going back to work after being retired for five years. It’s a necessity, but I’m not hating it. I’m not thrilled about losing some of the freedom to go and do or stay and sit, as the mood indicates, but it’s OK. I’m rather eager to see where my path is taking me.
6. I’m also looking forward to my new endeavor with a clothing line, too. It is still in the embryo stage, but I am excited about the prospects. I’ve always been a person who enjoys, in fact, thrives on new challenges, so this and the aforementioned job are both just new chapters waiting to be read and experienced!!
7. I saw another dog today on the internet that made my heart go pitter-patter! No, I can’t adopt it. First of all five is enough! Secondly, it is (fortunately!!!) several hundred miles away and just not a possibility. I’m hopeless!
8. Following the concept in #7, I would very much love to run an animal rescue. If I had the room and the funding, I would do it in a heartbeat. There are so many out there that need homes, and I would love to give them some protection from a world that has not been very kind up till now. The trouble with this idea, besides the space and money, is that I wouldn’t want to give any away! I really do love animals, and I’d be so happy to be in a position to do something for the lost ones. Ahhh, well.
OK, I did it! Now I need to tag some folks. Who’s gonna get it? LOL!
1. Caroline - because she needs something to spice up her life and keep her busy. Ha ha ha ha!
2. Diana - because she needs something to get her off the stuck place she is in at the moment. C’mon, girl!
3. Mel - because I enjoy reading a blog that is so different from most I read. Mel’s life is very close to the earth and I learn a lot there.
4. Jennifer - because Jen has one of the coolest relationships with her family of anyone I know.
5. Donna - because I love reading about the RV travels. Fun and interesting!
6. Judy - another traveller. Judy travels with cats. How cool is that?
7. Cyndi - A “would be” traveller. Or is that “will be” traveller? On the brink of retirement, she and her hub are gearing up for the big day!
8. Pam - because Pam has a gentle heart and I love reading about her life.
This is a pay-it-forward style award. Here are the rules:
1. Thank and link back to the person who awarded you this.
2. Share 8 things about yourself
3. Pay it forward to 8 bloggers that you have recently discovered (or not so recently)
4. Contact those bloggers and tell them about their awards.
Okey-dokey, here we go ....
1. Have truck, will travel. Of course you know this already. But you don’t know how ready that truck is to travel! Now, if I’m going to be gone for a few days, still have to pack clothing, but everything I might need otherwise is there. Coming from a family where the father preached preparedness, I usually am. There is a litany of emergency items to cover almost all situations: tools, tire inflation device and a can of the stuff to spray in the tire to do a temporary fix, antifreeze, washer solution, deicer, long handled window washer/ice scraper, about everything imaginable to cover breakdown and most weather conditions that might effect me. Inside are bottles of water for drinking, gatorade, cans of juice, crackers, extra mittens, earmuffs, stocking hats, a couple small blankets and a space blanket, snow boots, a collapsible sun hat, umbrella, a windbreaker, toothbrush, toothpaste, hairbrush, sunscreen, lip protection, cloth shopping bags, dog food, a couple dog dishes for water and food. several extra collars, harnesses and leashes (in case I need to rescue an animal), poop-pick-up bags, an ashtray full of coins, maps for all 48 contiguous states, several window screens to protect from the sun, and from about April through October or November, I carry a couple umbrella chairs in the back for outdoor concerts or impromptu camping/picnics.
2. I would love to have a small camp trailer so I could take The Kids and do little trips. but I don’t have the money for it, and I’d have to learn to back up a trailer. I don’t know ANYONE brave enough to try to teach me that! In spite of that, I drove with a trailer behind my van from Kansas City to Seattle to Melbourne, Florida and back to Kansas City in 2005 and 2006! Boy, was I careful to be sure I could pull straight forward everywhere I stopped!! I actually would like to develop a skill of maneuvering a trailer, just to know I could if I needed to.
3. I am an eternal optimist and a very trusting person. Sometimes I wish I could get over that. No, I don’t really want to change who I am, but I would like to be a little more protective about myself. I trust people to be who they present themselves to be, and until they do something that proves otherwise, I will believe in them. That causes me to be hurt sometimes. People take advantage of it, of me, either innocently or on purpose, and I wish I could be more cautious. But when I’ve tried to change that, I don’t like who I am. So I keep hoping for the best, hoping people I meet have honor and are honest. It usually works out. I won’t change.
4. I love my kids and my grandkids! You probably didn’t have to be told that, but it’s a fact about me that is important. I wish we lived closer, but they live where they must to make a living and for their own happiness, and I live where I do for my comfort and peace of mind. Sometimes we do what we have to. And some of it is OK. The cool thing is that being a long way apart doesn’t stop our loving each other and communicating almost daily via various technologies, phone, cell phone, text messages, email, Facebook, etc. That’s one thing I certainly like about this age in our technology .... instant communication!
5. I’m about to embark on a new phase of my life. I’m going back to work after being retired for five years. It’s a necessity, but I’m not hating it. I’m not thrilled about losing some of the freedom to go and do or stay and sit, as the mood indicates, but it’s OK. I’m rather eager to see where my path is taking me.
6. I’m also looking forward to my new endeavor with a clothing line, too. It is still in the embryo stage, but I am excited about the prospects. I’ve always been a person who enjoys, in fact, thrives on new challenges, so this and the aforementioned job are both just new chapters waiting to be read and experienced!!
7. I saw another dog today on the internet that made my heart go pitter-patter! No, I can’t adopt it. First of all five is enough! Secondly, it is (fortunately!!!) several hundred miles away and just not a possibility. I’m hopeless!
8. Following the concept in #7, I would very much love to run an animal rescue. If I had the room and the funding, I would do it in a heartbeat. There are so many out there that need homes, and I would love to give them some protection from a world that has not been very kind up till now. The trouble with this idea, besides the space and money, is that I wouldn’t want to give any away! I really do love animals, and I’d be so happy to be in a position to do something for the lost ones. Ahhh, well.
OK, I did it! Now I need to tag some folks. Who’s gonna get it? LOL!
1. Caroline - because she needs something to spice up her life and keep her busy. Ha ha ha ha!
2. Diana - because she needs something to get her off the stuck place she is in at the moment. C’mon, girl!
3. Mel - because I enjoy reading a blog that is so different from most I read. Mel’s life is very close to the earth and I learn a lot there.
4. Jennifer - because Jen has one of the coolest relationships with her family of anyone I know.
5. Donna - because I love reading about the RV travels. Fun and interesting!
6. Judy - another traveller. Judy travels with cats. How cool is that?
7. Cyndi - A “would be” traveller. Or is that “will be” traveller? On the brink of retirement, she and her hub are gearing up for the big day!
8. Pam - because Pam has a gentle heart and I love reading about her life.
MLK
I've been posting at FB all day And I forgot all about posting here! I'm a bad bloggy person!
OK, self flagellation over, here is a tribute to the memory of Martin Luther King, Jr. first a video of one of my favorite songs from back in the day and I loved the Three Dog Night! This is fun, and so perfect for today.
And a few quotes that I like best from the rich collection he left for us:
Hatred paralyzes life; love releases it. Hatred confuses life; love harmonizes it. Hatred darkens life; love illuminates it. Martin Luther King, Jr.
All labor that uplifts humanity has dignity and importance and should be undertaken with painstaking excellence. Martin Luther King, Jr.
An individual has not started living until he can rise above the narrow confines of his individualistic concerns to the broader concerns of all humanity. Martin Luther King, Jr.
At the center of non-violence stands the principle of love.
Martin Luther King, Jr.
Life's most persistent and urgent question is, 'What are you doing for others?'
Martin Luther King, Jr.
Never forget that everything Hitler did in Germany was legal.
Martin Luther King, Jr.
Life’s most persistent and urgent question is, ‘What are you doing for others?”Martin Luther King, Jr.
Our scientific power has outrun our spiritual power. We have guided missiles and misguided men.
Martin Luther King, Jr.
That old law about 'an eye for an eye' leaves everybody blind. The time is always right to do the right thing.
Martin Luther King, Jr.
Make a career of humanity. Commit yourself to the noble struggle for equal rights. You will make a greater person of yourself, a greater nation of your country, and a finer world to live in. ~ Martin Luther King Jr.
The function of education is to teach one to think intensively and to think critically. Intelligence plus character - that is the goal of true education.
Martin Luther King, Jr.
We must develop and maintain the capacity to forgive. He who is devoid of the power to forgive is devoid of the power to love. There is some good in the worst of us and some evil in the best of us. When we discover this, we are less prone to hate our enemies.
Martin Luther King, Jr.
We must learn to live together as brothers or perish together as fools.
Martin Luther King, Jr.
"The ultimate measure of a man is not where he stands in moments of comfort and convenience, but where he stands at times of challenge and controversy." -- Martin Luther King, Jr.
Live on, Reverend King, in our hearts, our minds, with your voice echoing in our ears and always reminding us of our tasks.
OK, self flagellation over, here is a tribute to the memory of Martin Luther King, Jr. first a video of one of my favorite songs from back in the day and I loved the Three Dog Night! This is fun, and so perfect for today.
And a few quotes that I like best from the rich collection he left for us:
Hatred paralyzes life; love releases it. Hatred confuses life; love harmonizes it. Hatred darkens life; love illuminates it. Martin Luther King, Jr.
All labor that uplifts humanity has dignity and importance and should be undertaken with painstaking excellence. Martin Luther King, Jr.
An individual has not started living until he can rise above the narrow confines of his individualistic concerns to the broader concerns of all humanity. Martin Luther King, Jr.
At the center of non-violence stands the principle of love.
Martin Luther King, Jr.
Life's most persistent and urgent question is, 'What are you doing for others?'
Martin Luther King, Jr.
Never forget that everything Hitler did in Germany was legal.
Martin Luther King, Jr.
Life’s most persistent and urgent question is, ‘What are you doing for others?”Martin Luther King, Jr.
Our scientific power has outrun our spiritual power. We have guided missiles and misguided men.
Martin Luther King, Jr.
That old law about 'an eye for an eye' leaves everybody blind. The time is always right to do the right thing.
Martin Luther King, Jr.
Make a career of humanity. Commit yourself to the noble struggle for equal rights. You will make a greater person of yourself, a greater nation of your country, and a finer world to live in. ~ Martin Luther King Jr.
The function of education is to teach one to think intensively and to think critically. Intelligence plus character - that is the goal of true education.
Martin Luther King, Jr.
We must develop and maintain the capacity to forgive. He who is devoid of the power to forgive is devoid of the power to love. There is some good in the worst of us and some evil in the best of us. When we discover this, we are less prone to hate our enemies.
Martin Luther King, Jr.
We must learn to live together as brothers or perish together as fools.
Martin Luther King, Jr.
"The ultimate measure of a man is not where he stands in moments of comfort and convenience, but where he stands at times of challenge and controversy." -- Martin Luther King, Jr.
Live on, Reverend King, in our hearts, our minds, with your voice echoing in our ears and always reminding us of our tasks.
Saturday, January 15, 2011
Ed Ames on Johnny Carson
This is the famous tomahawk throw by Ed Ames on the Tonight Show with Johnny Carson. In case you've somehow missed it in the past. It's a total hoot!
Oh, lawdy!! [wiping tears from eyes]
Oh, lawdy!! [wiping tears from eyes]
A great way to wake up
A few nights ago I woke and couldn't go back to sleep for a while, so I was channel surfing. I found My New Favorite Show. Well, I have several "favorites," and I'd hate to put one above the others, but this one is right up there. Anyway, the show was coming on at 6:00AM, and at 3:00 I figured (hoped!) I would not still be awake for that, so I recorded it, two half-hour shows from 6:00 to 7:00. I watched it later on, and now I'm recording it every morning and watching it whenever I have a few minutes or there is nothing worth watching or whatever. This morning I woke and didn't feel like reading, but wanted something to pass through my waking up, lounging in bed time. I watched a couple episodes of this and laughed my head off!!! What a delightful way to wake up!
The show is Carson Classics. Each segment is a collection of snippets of some of the best moments of hilarity and goofiness from the Tonight Show while Johnny Carson was the host, or as many of us called it, The Johnny Carson Show. In my opinion, Johnny Carson wasthe best host ever on the Tonight Show. Others have been good; Johnny was simply the best.
One of the segments I watched this morning was from a 1978 show, and I was particularly enjoying a few things:
I especially enjoyed his list of things from a "new" book out called Hottest New Business Ideas of 1978. These caught my attention and made me chuckle, while the audience was amazed at them:
The best part of it all is that I laughed and laughed for about 45 minutes while I watched the show. What a fabulous way to wake up! And thank goodness for DVRs, so I don't have to wake up at 6:00 to get my dose of laughter!
I miss Johnny Carson.
The show is Carson Classics. Each segment is a collection of snippets of some of the best moments of hilarity and goofiness from the Tonight Show while Johnny Carson was the host, or as many of us called it, The Johnny Carson Show. In my opinion, Johnny Carson wasthe best host ever on the Tonight Show. Others have been good; Johnny was simply the best.One of the segments I watched this morning was from a 1978 show, and I was particularly enjoying a few things:
- Johnny in his bold plaid sports jacket!! Hard to believe those were once in fashion.
- I noticed some segments of his show went on and on. If the hilarity was good, they didn't shut it off! Oh, for the days of live TV with the control being in the hands of the people on the set, not the ones who paid for the commercials!
- There were microphones in front of everyone. No clip-ons that follow voices all over the stage, so things were sometimes made more funny by what you couldn't hear!
- The humor was almost all clean. A few references with innuendo, but not a lot. And it was funnier because there was a lot more play on words to deliver a point. Many commedians now just aren't funny to me because they can't say two sentences without foul language, and while I'm not a prude (I've been known to use, ahem, a few bad words) it just isn't funny to hear so much poo-poo punctuation in the lines.
I especially enjoyed his list of things from a "new" book out called Hottest New Business Ideas of 1978. These caught my attention and made me chuckle, while the audience was amazed at them:
- Books being recorded on tape so you could listen to them
- A remote control to start a car from inside the house
- An instant thermometer, like a bandaid strip that you placed on the forehead; "N" showed up for no fever, "F" if there was a fever present.
- A man who was doing videotapes of homes for a Real Estate Broker, so he didn't have to leave his office, saving time in showing customers the properties.
- A "bark light" that turned on when the dog barked. A forerunner to the "clap-on, clap-off" lights?
- Shoe inserts that had water between two layers of foam, keeping the feet cool and comfortable.
The best part of it all is that I laughed and laughed for about 45 minutes while I watched the show. What a fabulous way to wake up! And thank goodness for DVRs, so I don't have to wake up at 6:00 to get my dose of laughter!
I miss Johnny Carson.
Thursday, January 13, 2011
Odds 'n' ends
I got a haircut today with a new stylist in town. I think I like her. I have to play with the hair for a couple days to see but it seems like a good cut. The stylist I've been going to is OK, not great, and she's rather timid, always asking me how much I was cut off (I have no idea how to determine that), or if I want this or that, things that she should know from previous cuts. I don't like my wishes being ignored, but I want a stylist that knows her job and is confident. The new lady seems pretty confident and secure. She knows the stylist I was going to a few months ago who had to quit because of health issues; in fact, she had her hair cut by the same woman, and she knows how hard it is to change stylists (or doctors or dentists!). Anyway, the cut seems right. I hope it works.
Then I went to my shift at the thrift shop, and I was SO busy! The first 20-30 minutes were slow, only a couple people in, and then for two hours, I was swamped! I had over 30 customers in that time, and made sales to all but a handful. Crazy!
While I was there, a local potter brought in some simple pots she had made to show her students the colors she had to put on pots before being glazed. I brought home these two. Chips and dip, perhaps?
I thought they were just fun. They aren't "art," but they are unusual.
When I got home, I was thinking about how the pups are going to do when I start a job. I know they will be OK, but the one sad thing is that they are used to having me here with them pretty much every day. It's going to be a change for all of us. Life rolls along. I couldn't have left them two years ago, so there is some sort of reason to this plan. They will be alright.
Look at this. Joey and Sam are good buddies. I often find them both on the floor, or wherever, close together. They start out investigating something together, one of them lays down, and the other follows suit. I really love that they are such sweet friends.
A little later in the evening Joey was looking for something in the living room. He just kept circling the room sniffing and clearly he wasn't finding what he wanted. He went to an area where the pet traveler used to be. There is a sherpa carrier there, but not the hard sided one he likes best. He went into the sherpa, but came right back out. That was clearly not what he wanted.
You see, a few days ago I did some minor rearranging of furniture. It was only a little, but one thing that was moved was the carrier to a place that would be easier access for him. I hadn't thought about it till tonight, but now it dawned on me that I hadn't seen him go in it recently. So I called him over to the new location of the carrier and showed him . His tail began wagging furiously, and he scooted right in!
The boy was glad to see his "home"! I'm surprised he didn't know where it was. It is only about 3-4 feet away from the previous spot, but it is behind a different chair. I don't know .... maybe he already found it and just was being appreciative of my efforts by wagging his tail and going in. Whatever!
And I'm noticing my chair legs need a good oiling and polishing!
But first, I'm gong to bed! Night!
Then I went to my shift at the thrift shop, and I was SO busy! The first 20-30 minutes were slow, only a couple people in, and then for two hours, I was swamped! I had over 30 customers in that time, and made sales to all but a handful. Crazy!
While I was there, a local potter brought in some simple pots she had made to show her students the colors she had to put on pots before being glazed. I brought home these two. Chips and dip, perhaps?
I thought they were just fun. They aren't "art," but they are unusual.
When I got home, I was thinking about how the pups are going to do when I start a job. I know they will be OK, but the one sad thing is that they are used to having me here with them pretty much every day. It's going to be a change for all of us. Life rolls along. I couldn't have left them two years ago, so there is some sort of reason to this plan. They will be alright.
Look at this. Joey and Sam are good buddies. I often find them both on the floor, or wherever, close together. They start out investigating something together, one of them lays down, and the other follows suit. I really love that they are such sweet friends.
A little later in the evening Joey was looking for something in the living room. He just kept circling the room sniffing and clearly he wasn't finding what he wanted. He went to an area where the pet traveler used to be. There is a sherpa carrier there, but not the hard sided one he likes best. He went into the sherpa, but came right back out. That was clearly not what he wanted.
You see, a few days ago I did some minor rearranging of furniture. It was only a little, but one thing that was moved was the carrier to a place that would be easier access for him. I hadn't thought about it till tonight, but now it dawned on me that I hadn't seen him go in it recently. So I called him over to the new location of the carrier and showed him . His tail began wagging furiously, and he scooted right in!
And I'm noticing my chair legs need a good oiling and polishing!
But first, I'm gong to bed! Night!
Wednesday, January 12, 2011
Wednesday wonderings
Learn to get in touch with the silence within yourself
and know that everything in this life has a purpose.
There are no mistakes, no coincidences, all events are blessings given to us to learn from.
~~Dr. Elizabeth Kubler-Ross ,(1926-) US writer, founder of the hospice care movement
~~~~
There have certainly been times that I've thought a curse had been thrown at me. My life seemed to crumble around me and I wanted to just give up, quit fighting what seemed to be an upstream swim. One of those times was just recently, and I'm not completely out of it yet.
I've mentioned the difficult things going on in my life in the last few months. It's the breakup of two of my daughters' marriages and the impending divorces with the ugliness that is sprouting and blossoming and choking, leading to the heartache of each of my girls. It is devastating to all of us when their husbands have been part of our family for 21 years and 16 years. It is really hard because I've loved these men, trusted them, and been so thankful that they came into the girls' lives. Now in the past weeks, I'm having to readjust my thinking. At times I've been close to hatred for the hurt they are each causing, and i have had to bring myself back from the precipice of anger to a saner center when I know I don't hate them, but I do hate what they are doing to the girls and to the family at large.
And while I was trying to give both girls a shoulder to lean against, and an ear to scream into, I was also struggling with my own personal issue of realizing my retirement is slipping away too fast and that I need to find a job. Yes, five years into my retirement, I'm looking for a job because I see that I won't be able to stay independent very long if I don't subsidize my retirement income. I've seen this coming for a while, but I covered my eyes and hummed "Na, na na na na," to avoid facing it. I just allowed myself to peek between my fingers when the girls began to fall apart.
For about four weeks, I simply shut down. I felt as if my life was literally coming apart at the seams, allowing my happy retirement to spill out across the ground. I did all the things that you hear about (or have experienced) including wailing "Why me?" and wondering what I'd done wrong to deserve this, and counting my good deeds as if that would set things right.
Then something changed. I'm not sure what it was. Maybe one day I'll be far enough out of all this to be objective and see what that trigger or turning point was. But for now I can't. But everything began to fall into recognizable form, allowing me to grasp it and begin to take control of it all. No I can't change what my girls are going through, but I can and did get off my befuddled butt and actually start looking for a job. I've interviewed at one and have dropped of my application at a couple others, and I feel in charge of my financial destiny again. But the best of it is that I also unbefuddled my butt on another level, also.
Several months ago I had an idea for a business venture that I was excited about. It is a clothing line, simple garments of natural fabrics that would travel well with easy care. But something happened, and I lost my momentum. I lost my confidence in myself, began doubting the project, became afraid of losing money .... and losing face. So I quit. The beginning steps I'd taken were stashed away and when I ran across sketches and patterns here at the house, I sorta looked away.
However, there was something in this recent crisis that stirred me to "go back to the drawing board." I've now taken some of the next steps, including realizing a name for the line. "Gentle Graces," Grace for my mother's name, my middle name, the name of my granddaughter and two great nieces; Gentle for the look of the clothing, soft and flowing. And you know what they say about naming puppies .... name them and they are yours! Well, it's kinda the same for clothing lines, I think!
I'll be taking a job, probably part time, to allow time to devote to the business. That will give me enough to live on while having some time and money to put into the business. I'm excited! I've ordered fabric samples. I'll be talking to a couple seamstresses soon to see what their services will cost. I can sew and I will make my prototypes, but I'm not a seamstress. If this is going to succeed, it needs to be professional workmanship. I'm also evaluating aspects, such as target market, local outlets (I already have a couple), etc. I'm not rushing, but I'm moving steadily forward.
So this is my blessing. It took a major upheaval (or three!) to get me off my static position, to quit feeling sorry for myself, and to get several balls rolling. I'm not easy! I'm not a pushover! I resist with all my might when something tries to make me do something that needs to be done! But as Kubler-Ross says, "There are no mistakes, no coincidences, all events are blessings given to us to learn from." Yeah, a swift kick has helped me to learn, and I'm so glad it came my way, although it was just awful for a while there. And even thought I have a huge blue bruise on my tush!
My girls are still hurting, but now I can be more effective for helping them, and they dont have to worry about me. That's something.
~~~~
What is one of your blessings, a blessing that was a clear blessing or a blessing that you had to work through to see that it was not a mistake? If you think it is too long to write about in the comments, do it on your blog and leave a note here so we can follow.
Tuesday, January 11, 2011
Arizona
I'm gong to open a can of worms. But you know me .... canned worms are some of my best buddies! LOL!
This is rather rambling, but I can't figure out how to organize it, as it is just the jumble of my thoughts over the shootings in Arizona.
What is your opinion of the situation? I'm hearing people say "Don't make it political," or "Don't blame the media," or "Consider it a random act of violence."
Random act of violence: But it wasn't, apparently, random.
Blaming the media: I think the media makes a lot of situations worse by the rhetoric they spout on a regular basis. This morning I heard someone say the media didn't do anything to convince him to do what he did, but I kinda think they do.There are certain media groups or individuals that don't say "Go shoot someone," but they do say things that are negatively inciting about groups or individuals they don't like or who have different opinions. I hear things from both extremes that are antagonistic toward other opinions or views. Let's face it, when anyone, including you and me, "talk down" a person or group, we tend to use language, intonation, etc. that is inflammatory. I think it is pretty much human nature to do so. And why do we do that? Because we want to convince people to see things our way, agree with us, and thereby validate our opinions. What many in the media don't get is that their words are taken seriously by some people. I'm not talking about seriously inspiring thought for debate, but seriously taken as "gospel." IMO, that is downright scary.
Is it political: I don't know. I haven't heard anything that says this shooter had a political motive. Keep in mind I avoid most "news" from the media, however, so I may not have heard all the "news" about this incident. I have concern, however, about the probability that politics fit in here some way. There are soo many things that are politically influenced. Hells-bells, friendships are impacted with the political trash that is e.v.e.r.y.w.h.e.r.e these days!! I really wish we could turn the clock back and have political discussions without hubris and acrimony.
And then I found this video on FB. It says a lot. BTW, if Jon Stewart turns you off, please watch/listen, anyway. It is really neutral, thoughtful, and worth the listen.
And I found this article at http://hotword.dictionary.com/:
What'd ya think?
This is rather rambling, but I can't figure out how to organize it, as it is just the jumble of my thoughts over the shootings in Arizona.
What is your opinion of the situation? I'm hearing people say "Don't make it political," or "Don't blame the media," or "Consider it a random act of violence."
Random act of violence: But it wasn't, apparently, random.
Blaming the media: I think the media makes a lot of situations worse by the rhetoric they spout on a regular basis. This morning I heard someone say the media didn't do anything to convince him to do what he did, but I kinda think they do.There are certain media groups or individuals that don't say "Go shoot someone," but they do say things that are negatively inciting about groups or individuals they don't like or who have different opinions. I hear things from both extremes that are antagonistic toward other opinions or views. Let's face it, when anyone, including you and me, "talk down" a person or group, we tend to use language, intonation, etc. that is inflammatory. I think it is pretty much human nature to do so. And why do we do that? Because we want to convince people to see things our way, agree with us, and thereby validate our opinions. What many in the media don't get is that their words are taken seriously by some people. I'm not talking about seriously inspiring thought for debate, but seriously taken as "gospel." IMO, that is downright scary.
Is it political: I don't know. I haven't heard anything that says this shooter had a political motive. Keep in mind I avoid most "news" from the media, however, so I may not have heard all the "news" about this incident. I have concern, however, about the probability that politics fit in here some way. There are soo many things that are politically influenced. Hells-bells, friendships are impacted with the political trash that is e.v.e.r.y.w.h.e.r.e these days!! I really wish we could turn the clock back and have political discussions without hubris and acrimony.
And then I found this video on FB. It says a lot. BTW, if Jon Stewart turns you off, please watch/listen, anyway. It is really neutral, thoughtful, and worth the listen.
| The Daily Show With Jon Stewart | Mon - Thurs 11p / 10c | |||
| Arizona Shootings Reaction | ||||
| ||||
And I found this article at http://hotword.dictionary.com/:
After the tragic Arizona shooting, the word “vitriol” was everywhere in the news. What is its literally dangerous meaning?
After Saturday’s shocking attack on Arizona lawmaker Gabrielle Giffords and a crowd of bystanders, an unusual word proliferated through all forms of media. Shortly after the shooting tragedy, Pima County Sheriff Clarence Dupnik cited “vitriolic rhetoric” as a potential source for the violence.
This article is not about politics or the relationship of media and violence in American culture. The topic at hand, of course, is “vitriol.” What is it?
Vitriol is an old-fashioned name for one of the most dangerous chemicals you can find: sulfuric acid. This substance is incredibly corrosive, meaning it eats away other substances due to chemical reactions. When sulfuric acid meets water, it produces an exothermic reaction, meaning that the chemical reaction with water produces heat. Reactions between the two are responsible for many horrific burns.
The acid is so corrosive that, even in diluted form, a drop of it will burn through a piece of paper. Medieval chemists named this substance vitriol after the Latin vitrium, “of glass.” In solid forms, sulfur compounds can have a glass-like appearance (like the image of crystallized copper sulfate above.)
Vitriol has been used poetically to refer to harsh speech since the 1700s. Sheriff Dupnik’s remarks are not the first time that the caustic word has been used to describe recent political discourse. In April, 2010, President Obama referred to some politically-themed talk shows as vitriol.Oh, and here's one more interesting read about it: NPR
What'd ya think?
Monday, January 10, 2011
Billboards, eyeBalls, and Blue skies
Today I saw a billboard. I wasn't quick enough to take a picture, and when I came back I spaced out and missed it. But here is what it was:
Seriously, that's all. The words filled the whole billboard. And I thought how much better off we all would be if we followed that directive. Just forgive whatever is between us and others; forgive what anger we are holding; forgive ourselves; just forgive. Hmmmmm.
I am having an annoying twitch. My right eyeball is twitching over the last couple days. You know how you occasionally get a twitch in an eyelid occasionally and how irritating it is? Well, it is even worse when the eyeball itself is twitching!
I've found a number of potential causes for this.
And this: "A twitching eyeball has many possible causes, including uncorrected refractive error, binocular mis-alignment, poor tear quality or quantity, an irregular corneal surface, infections, foreign objects, or a neurological disease."
Apparently this may last for several days. If it doesn't resolve in a few more days, I guess I'll be seeing a doctor. I need to have my eyes checked, anyway. I just hoped to do it a couple months away from now, but we don't always have control, do we? Meanwhile, I'll try to ignore the pesky twitching!
The sky was amazing this morning.
I mean .... really amazing!
Seriously, that's all. The words filled the whole billboard. And I thought how much better off we all would be if we followed that directive. Just forgive whatever is between us and others; forgive what anger we are holding; forgive ourselves; just forgive. Hmmmmm.
I am having an annoying twitch. My right eyeball is twitching over the last couple days. You know how you occasionally get a twitch in an eyelid occasionally and how irritating it is? Well, it is even worse when the eyeball itself is twitching!
I've found a number of potential causes for this.
- Fatigue or lack of sleep (possible, but unlikely)
- Over consumption of caffeine (not likely, either)
- Physical or emotional stress (well, now, there we go!)
- Anxiety or phobias (nah)
- Brain damage or other neurological disorders (not that I know of)
- Associated with temper tantrums (especially in children) (not recently!)
- Eye stress associated with extended viewing of the computer screen (OH, C'MON!!!)
- Epilepsy (nope)
And this: "A twitching eyeball has many possible causes, including uncorrected refractive error, binocular mis-alignment, poor tear quality or quantity, an irregular corneal surface, infections, foreign objects, or a neurological disease."
Apparently this may last for several days. If it doesn't resolve in a few more days, I guess I'll be seeing a doctor. I need to have my eyes checked, anyway. I just hoped to do it a couple months away from now, but we don't always have control, do we? Meanwhile, I'll try to ignore the pesky twitching!
The sky was amazing this morning.
I mean .... really amazing!
Sunday, January 09, 2011
Funny furry siblingness
I have been on the couch with all five dogs for an hour or so. Joey, Sam and Lola were in a a furry pile to my left, snoozin' away. Sam started snoring, as he does every time he sleeps. Lola hates it when he snores, and after a few minutes she raised her hear and looked at him with doggy disgust. But she put her head back down and seemed to sleep. But after a couple more mnutes, she raised her head again, then got up and jumped off the couch. She stretched out on the floor, sighed heavily and went back to sleep.
Well, she woke Sam. She had to crawl over him to get down, you see. So he hopped down from the couch, too, and flopped down beside Lolita on the floor and within a minute or so, was snoring again!
Lola raised her head, snorted rather loudly and moved to another part of the living room floor. But .... ha ha ha ha!!! .... her snort woke Sam and he followed her to the new resting spot and snuggled up with her again!! She raised her head, looked at him, looked at me, moved a few inches away, sighed very loudly and went to sleep!
Sorry, Lola. I can't make him stop snoring! They don't do that kind of surgery on doggies!
Well, she woke Sam. She had to crawl over him to get down, you see. So he hopped down from the couch, too, and flopped down beside Lolita on the floor and within a minute or so, was snoring again!
Lola raised her head, snorted rather loudly and moved to another part of the living room floor. But .... ha ha ha ha!!! .... her snort woke Sam and he followed her to the new resting spot and snuggled up with her again!! She raised her head, looked at him, looked at me, moved a few inches away, sighed very loudly and went to sleep!
Sorry, Lola. I can't make him stop snoring! They don't do that kind of surgery on doggies!
Saturday, January 08, 2011
Boo-boos, bottles and bed ....
Well, the saga of my silly mishaps continues, although it isn't awful. My luck, however, is not stellar!
Zoë and I went in to Ruidoso today, together as we had several common places to go. One of the first stops was at a grocery store that I forgot I'd stopped at briefly on New Year's Eve, and they had my lost post office key. Yeah! Unfortunately, someone removed the cute frog that was attached to the chain. Stupid. To make it worse, the lady at the service desk remembers that it was still attached a few days ago, so someone who works there stole my frog. I ask her to pass along that I appreciated getting my key back but definitely DID NOT appreciate someone stealing my frog. grumble grumble. Oh, well.
A stop at the post office where I had to wait while one clerk single-handedly tried to locate a package a woman was picking up. While I waited eight other people came in to join the queue. Why is it the post office cannot add another clerk when the line backs up like that? I don't get it. I waited for something over ten minutes while the package was located.
Next I stopped to pay a bill. I'd received a bill in the mail, but when I sat down to write checks, I couldn't find it. No problem. Since I was going into town, it would save me a stamp anyway. Well, since it is Saturday, the little office is closed, and the cashier couldn't find it in the computer. They still have my "rewards" card under my previous name, and she could find that, but she couldn't find what I owed them. Personally I hoping for nothing, but I'm not holding my breath on that! Anyway, I gave up on that and will call them on Monday.
We made several other stops, including having lunch at a steak house that has a good salad bar. Oh, Yum! However, I think eating as much salad as I did cancels the benefits!
Our final stop was at Walmart. When I got home I discovered that I was missing four bottles of wine. The last things to be rung up, they simply didn't make it into my basket. Dang. I called the store, and after and incredible conversation with some ditz, I spoke with a manager who said simply, "Come back in and pick them up, no problem." I'll go tomorrow. It's almost 50 miles round trip for me, so I chose to not go back this evening.
Let me tell you about the conversation with the ditz ....
I'll give you only the highlights here, as it was nearly ten minutes of utter stupidity. I said the bottles didn't get into the basket, although they are on my bill. She said there were four bottles there at the desk, and asked what I'd bought. I explained three bottles of Tularosa Vineyards, two of them were Gewürztraminer and one of Merlot, and a bottle of Gabbiano Chianti. She said three bottles were dark and one was, uh, well, a different color; was that mine? I said I don't remember what they look like, but what I purchased was three bottles of Tularosa Vineyards and one of Gabbiano. She ummed and errred some more and asked me to describe the labels. What??? Freaking what??? I calmed myself and said, I don't remember what the labels look like, but three should have the words "Tularosa Vineyards" and one would say "Gabbiano." Another set of mumbling and hesitating noises and she asked me if one of them had a green band around the neck! I'm not kidding you!! OK, I was losing my patience. I said, in a voice that I'm sure was stiff and clipped, because it came from between my clinched teeth, "Please read the labels, Tularosa and Gabbriano." There was a looooong silence. And she said, "I think I'll have you talk to a manager." Pregnant idea, dimwit!!
The manager was great. She said simply come back in and just to be sure it was without further problem, ask for her or one of her peers (gave me both names) tomorrow. Sheesh.
I've discovered a new pleasure lately. I don't do well staying in bed for a long time. For so many years, I've struggled with fibromyalgia, and for those of you who don't know, it is hard to stay in one place a long time. Aching muscles and tendons cause me to have to move around frequently. So it was hard to lie in bed for long periods outside sleeping hours. I can go to bed and read or watch TV or 30 minutes or so. I can wake up and stretch for a while in the morning, but I can't stay there with any degree of comfort. So for many years, I've avoided going to bed to read for long periods or lolling in bed in the morning either.
I think it became simply habit. I was self-trained to not go to bed till I was mostly ready to sleep and when I woke, I stretched and loved the pups for a bit and got up. Well .... the last couple weeks, I've found myself thoroughly enjoying reading in bed. Yeah! For a couple hours at a time! I don't know why, I just know that I am able, finally, to wake in the morning, get a cup of coffee, and read for extended periods of time. Or I can go to bed at night and read until I fall asleep, even if I'm not super tired when I crawl in.
I know, I know. This sounds odd. I'm sure some of you won't understand it. But trust me, for me it is a big deal. Learning that I'm comfortable in my bed to read or to lounge while I watch TV for as long as I wish is like a wonderful revelation! I believe I quit thinking about it because for almost 30 years, trying to stay in bed for very long was excruciating and I never "reconsidered" my options. For the first time in many years, more years that I can count, I love being in my bedroom, in my bed, reading forEVAH!!! Mmmmmmm. I actually love my bedroom now. Life is very good! :) In fact ....
Zoë and I went in to Ruidoso today, together as we had several common places to go. One of the first stops was at a grocery store that I forgot I'd stopped at briefly on New Year's Eve, and they had my lost post office key. Yeah! Unfortunately, someone removed the cute frog that was attached to the chain. Stupid. To make it worse, the lady at the service desk remembers that it was still attached a few days ago, so someone who works there stole my frog. I ask her to pass along that I appreciated getting my key back but definitely DID NOT appreciate someone stealing my frog. grumble grumble. Oh, well.
A stop at the post office where I had to wait while one clerk single-handedly tried to locate a package a woman was picking up. While I waited eight other people came in to join the queue. Why is it the post office cannot add another clerk when the line backs up like that? I don't get it. I waited for something over ten minutes while the package was located.
Next I stopped to pay a bill. I'd received a bill in the mail, but when I sat down to write checks, I couldn't find it. No problem. Since I was going into town, it would save me a stamp anyway. Well, since it is Saturday, the little office is closed, and the cashier couldn't find it in the computer. They still have my "rewards" card under my previous name, and she could find that, but she couldn't find what I owed them. Personally I hoping for nothing, but I'm not holding my breath on that! Anyway, I gave up on that and will call them on Monday.
We made several other stops, including having lunch at a steak house that has a good salad bar. Oh, Yum! However, I think eating as much salad as I did cancels the benefits!
Our final stop was at Walmart. When I got home I discovered that I was missing four bottles of wine. The last things to be rung up, they simply didn't make it into my basket. Dang. I called the store, and after and incredible conversation with some ditz, I spoke with a manager who said simply, "Come back in and pick them up, no problem." I'll go tomorrow. It's almost 50 miles round trip for me, so I chose to not go back this evening.
Let me tell you about the conversation with the ditz ....
I'll give you only the highlights here, as it was nearly ten minutes of utter stupidity. I said the bottles didn't get into the basket, although they are on my bill. She said there were four bottles there at the desk, and asked what I'd bought. I explained three bottles of Tularosa Vineyards, two of them were Gewürztraminer and one of Merlot, and a bottle of Gabbiano Chianti. She said three bottles were dark and one was, uh, well, a different color; was that mine? I said I don't remember what they look like, but what I purchased was three bottles of Tularosa Vineyards and one of Gabbiano. She ummed and errred some more and asked me to describe the labels. What??? Freaking what??? I calmed myself and said, I don't remember what the labels look like, but three should have the words "Tularosa Vineyards" and one would say "Gabbiano." Another set of mumbling and hesitating noises and she asked me if one of them had a green band around the neck! I'm not kidding you!! OK, I was losing my patience. I said, in a voice that I'm sure was stiff and clipped, because it came from between my clinched teeth, "Please read the labels, Tularosa and Gabbriano." There was a looooong silence. And she said, "I think I'll have you talk to a manager." Pregnant idea, dimwit!!
The manager was great. She said simply come back in and just to be sure it was without further problem, ask for her or one of her peers (gave me both names) tomorrow. Sheesh.
I've discovered a new pleasure lately. I don't do well staying in bed for a long time. For so many years, I've struggled with fibromyalgia, and for those of you who don't know, it is hard to stay in one place a long time. Aching muscles and tendons cause me to have to move around frequently. So it was hard to lie in bed for long periods outside sleeping hours. I can go to bed and read or watch TV or 30 minutes or so. I can wake up and stretch for a while in the morning, but I can't stay there with any degree of comfort. So for many years, I've avoided going to bed to read for long periods or lolling in bed in the morning either.
I think it became simply habit. I was self-trained to not go to bed till I was mostly ready to sleep and when I woke, I stretched and loved the pups for a bit and got up. Well .... the last couple weeks, I've found myself thoroughly enjoying reading in bed. Yeah! For a couple hours at a time! I don't know why, I just know that I am able, finally, to wake in the morning, get a cup of coffee, and read for extended periods of time. Or I can go to bed at night and read until I fall asleep, even if I'm not super tired when I crawl in.
I know, I know. This sounds odd. I'm sure some of you won't understand it. But trust me, for me it is a big deal. Learning that I'm comfortable in my bed to read or to lounge while I watch TV for as long as I wish is like a wonderful revelation! I believe I quit thinking about it because for almost 30 years, trying to stay in bed for very long was excruciating and I never "reconsidered" my options. For the first time in many years, more years that I can count, I love being in my bedroom, in my bed, reading forEVAH!!! Mmmmmmm. I actually love my bedroom now. Life is very good! :) In fact ....
.... Life is beautiful!!!!
Friday, January 07, 2011
Massssssssssssssage
The massage was wooooooooonderfuuuuuuul. This lady know what she's doing, and it is hard to believe she is a student! Lawdy.
Her touch was perfect, heavy enough to do some good, light enough to not be painful, and she knew exactly where to "hit" me. Goodness sake, I feel soooo good. I'll be scheduling more with er, for sure.
When she was done with me, I did some paperwork for her credit, and while I did that, she gave the dogs a massage! Especially Max. He was in doggy heaven!! I swear to goodness, his eyes looked like they were rolling back into his head much of the time. And when she sat on the floor to massage them, Sam immediately ran over to her and flopped in her lap. Shy Sam! Nervous, untrusting Sam! Wow!
Life is very good right now! :)
Her touch was perfect, heavy enough to do some good, light enough to not be painful, and she knew exactly where to "hit" me. Goodness sake, I feel soooo good. I'll be scheduling more with er, for sure.
When she was done with me, I did some paperwork for her credit, and while I did that, she gave the dogs a massage! Especially Max. He was in doggy heaven!! I swear to goodness, his eyes looked like they were rolling back into his head much of the time. And when she sat on the floor to massage them, Sam immediately ran over to her and flopped in her lap. Shy Sam! Nervous, untrusting Sam! Wow!
Life is very good right now! :)
My day
Well! Yesterday was .... interesting.
I woke up to find one of the dogs had thrown up on the bed. Ick. It was rather liquid, and as I stripped the bed, I found it had gone all the way to the mattress pad (barely), but fortunately not to the mattress. I began washing the bedding, and ventured into the living quarters to start the day.
I began to fix The Kids' breakfast, and I glanced into the living room to see .... blech .... another spot of vomit in the middle of the carpet. sigh. I finished fixing their food and began to prepare to clean the spot in the carpet. I vacuumed around the area because I decided that since I was getting the carpet cleaner out, I might as well do all the main area of the living room. The carpet cleaner isn't difficult to set up and is very easy to use, but I hate to set it up for just one spot. Besides, since there is snow/damp earth outside, I supposed the dogs are tracking in enough that cleaning only the spot might show up really badly just how dirty it is.
After cleaning the living room carpet I decided I might as well continue to the bedroom, our second-most used room. When I was finished with that, I was preparing to clean and put away the machine and to put the room back in order. As I moved my cart of plants back to the window .... wait for it .... wait for it .... one of the pots toppled off, spilling black potting soil onto the damp, off-white carpet!
All I could do for a moment was just stare, unmoving, as if I had been playing freeze-tag. Damn. So I scooped up as much of the spilled soil as I could and moved the cart out of the way. And it toppled AGAIN! Now I had two ugly stains! I confess that I said a nasty word. Twice. And the dogs scattered!
After picking up as much as possible, I ran the cleaner over the area again. And again. And again! Most of the nasty dark stain came up, but after five (5!) repeats, there was still a visible grey stain. I decided I would let it dry (after all, it was thoroughly saturated by now), vacuum it and if necessary shampoo again. It will probably not be completely dry until tomorrow. I just hope it will come up. gah.
I showered and went into Capitan. I was going to make asparagus bundles for the potluck last night and I needed to get the vegetables, as well as some fabric softener, as I'd used up the last in my bottle before getting all the bedding done. On my way out, I stopped at the highway to pick up my mail and discovered I've lost my mailbox key! Now, I've only been one place since the last time I picked up my mail, so I called but they had not found it where I parked. Nope. Well, fiddle-sticks!
I drove to the Nogal post office where, fortunately, they had another key. Otherwise, they would have had to drill the lock and replace it, taking several days. My next trip was to the mercantile/hardware in Capitan to have copies made. gah. Another set of delays in my day. My original plan was to be to the store and back home again by noon, and it was now going on 2:00.
I got to the grocery store and found they have no asparagus!!! Good grief! I'm at the store without my recipe file to check out ingredients for some other recipe. I decided the only thing I could really do was a salad. I knew I had several cheeses at home, so I bought baby spinach, Roma tomatoes and avocados. (At home I added feta and mixed up a dressing of olive oil, white basalmic vinegar basil and garlic. It turned out great!) Then down the street to Linda's studio.
At Linda's I was picking up a small coffee grinder I'd loaned her. She has a new coffee maker like mine that grinds and makes coffee with one push of a button, so she didn't need it any more. I also use it for grinding herbs, so having it on hand is good. She knew I was coming so I was surprised when I got there and she was locked up! Her car was there, so I knew she wasn't far away. I went next door and a friend said the grinder was on the work table, so I tried the back door since Linda sometimes leaves that open when she is just gone for a short time. Nope. Locked. I check a couple other places that she frequents, but could find her no where. I headed home to fix the salad, feed the pups and turn around to go back to town for the dinner.
The dinner was great, as usual. Our group has grown, but it has grown in a healthy way, including some new people who are great fun to be with. The good is always wonderful, as it was last night, and the company is better than I can describe. We laughed and laughed last night while we ate and ate. Laugh and eat, laugh and eat .... is there anything better? I think not!
When I got there I asked Linda if she brought my grinder and she smiled and said yes. Then she left before giving it to me!
What a day! Nothing serious went wrong, yet it seemed that I just couldn't accomplish anything on MY schedule! When with the universe learn that it's ALL ABOUT ME????? LOL!
I'm enjoying a quiet morning. I noted on FB earlier that it is so nice to spend the morning reading in a house so quiet that all I hear is the soft tweety-chattery noises of the finches and the occasional cycling of the furnace off and on. I wish every day could be this laid-back. This afternoon, I'm looking forward to having a massage. One of our new potluck members is going to school to be a massage therapist, and as part of her final work, is giving free massages to thirty people. Lucky me to be one of the thirty!
This day is certainly starting out better! giggle.
I woke up to find one of the dogs had thrown up on the bed. Ick. It was rather liquid, and as I stripped the bed, I found it had gone all the way to the mattress pad (barely), but fortunately not to the mattress. I began washing the bedding, and ventured into the living quarters to start the day.
I began to fix The Kids' breakfast, and I glanced into the living room to see .... blech .... another spot of vomit in the middle of the carpet. sigh. I finished fixing their food and began to prepare to clean the spot in the carpet. I vacuumed around the area because I decided that since I was getting the carpet cleaner out, I might as well do all the main area of the living room. The carpet cleaner isn't difficult to set up and is very easy to use, but I hate to set it up for just one spot. Besides, since there is snow/damp earth outside, I supposed the dogs are tracking in enough that cleaning only the spot might show up really badly just how dirty it is.
After cleaning the living room carpet I decided I might as well continue to the bedroom, our second-most used room. When I was finished with that, I was preparing to clean and put away the machine and to put the room back in order. As I moved my cart of plants back to the window .... wait for it .... wait for it .... one of the pots toppled off, spilling black potting soil onto the damp, off-white carpet!
All I could do for a moment was just stare, unmoving, as if I had been playing freeze-tag. Damn. So I scooped up as much of the spilled soil as I could and moved the cart out of the way. And it toppled AGAIN! Now I had two ugly stains! I confess that I said a nasty word. Twice. And the dogs scattered!
After picking up as much as possible, I ran the cleaner over the area again. And again. And again! Most of the nasty dark stain came up, but after five (5!) repeats, there was still a visible grey stain. I decided I would let it dry (after all, it was thoroughly saturated by now), vacuum it and if necessary shampoo again. It will probably not be completely dry until tomorrow. I just hope it will come up. gah.
I showered and went into Capitan. I was going to make asparagus bundles for the potluck last night and I needed to get the vegetables, as well as some fabric softener, as I'd used up the last in my bottle before getting all the bedding done. On my way out, I stopped at the highway to pick up my mail and discovered I've lost my mailbox key! Now, I've only been one place since the last time I picked up my mail, so I called but they had not found it where I parked. Nope. Well, fiddle-sticks!
I drove to the Nogal post office where, fortunately, they had another key. Otherwise, they would have had to drill the lock and replace it, taking several days. My next trip was to the mercantile/hardware in Capitan to have copies made. gah. Another set of delays in my day. My original plan was to be to the store and back home again by noon, and it was now going on 2:00.
I got to the grocery store and found they have no asparagus!!! Good grief! I'm at the store without my recipe file to check out ingredients for some other recipe. I decided the only thing I could really do was a salad. I knew I had several cheeses at home, so I bought baby spinach, Roma tomatoes and avocados. (At home I added feta and mixed up a dressing of olive oil, white basalmic vinegar basil and garlic. It turned out great!) Then down the street to Linda's studio.
At Linda's I was picking up a small coffee grinder I'd loaned her. She has a new coffee maker like mine that grinds and makes coffee with one push of a button, so she didn't need it any more. I also use it for grinding herbs, so having it on hand is good. She knew I was coming so I was surprised when I got there and she was locked up! Her car was there, so I knew she wasn't far away. I went next door and a friend said the grinder was on the work table, so I tried the back door since Linda sometimes leaves that open when she is just gone for a short time. Nope. Locked. I check a couple other places that she frequents, but could find her no where. I headed home to fix the salad, feed the pups and turn around to go back to town for the dinner.
The dinner was great, as usual. Our group has grown, but it has grown in a healthy way, including some new people who are great fun to be with. The good is always wonderful, as it was last night, and the company is better than I can describe. We laughed and laughed last night while we ate and ate. Laugh and eat, laugh and eat .... is there anything better? I think not!
When I got there I asked Linda if she brought my grinder and she smiled and said yes. Then she left before giving it to me!
What a day! Nothing serious went wrong, yet it seemed that I just couldn't accomplish anything on MY schedule! When with the universe learn that it's ALL ABOUT ME????? LOL!
I'm enjoying a quiet morning. I noted on FB earlier that it is so nice to spend the morning reading in a house so quiet that all I hear is the soft tweety-chattery noises of the finches and the occasional cycling of the furnace off and on. I wish every day could be this laid-back. This afternoon, I'm looking forward to having a massage. One of our new potluck members is going to school to be a massage therapist, and as part of her final work, is giving free massages to thirty people. Lucky me to be one of the thirty!
This day is certainly starting out better! giggle.
Thursday, January 06, 2011
What were you?
A fellow blogger, Donna, had an interesting blog this morning. So I stole it. Of course I did! I’m like that!
She said it is interesting to know what people have done as jobs or careers in their lives. I agree. So here is mine. Read Donna’s, too, then go home and write yours! Leave a note in the comments if you follow this trek in your own blog, and we’ll all run over and read it!
Of course I did the obligatory babysitting as a kid through junior high school and high school. In the 9th grate, I got my first “real” job as a clerk, stocker, do-everythinger in a record store. For those of you who are younger than this ol’ lady, a “record store” sold “records,” an ancient forerunner to 8-track tapes => cassette tapes => CDs. ;D Yeah, I know, you don’t understand what 8-tracks or cassettes are, either! That was a dream job for a teenager, as I got to see and hear first hand all the newest releases, and I was able to buy them before most of my friends! I worked there after school and on Saturday until I graduated from high school.
After graduation, I didn’t go to college. I didn’t know what I wanted to study, and I thought it was a waste of time. My parents were not especially happy about it, but understood when I said I’d love to go, be with my friends, but I’d probably goof off and drop out as all four of my older siblings had (at that time; two would later complete degrees and one a master’s). I thought I’d work a while and figure out my direction and go later. So I took a job at the credit bureau doing office stuff. In less than a year I was the office manager. Then I got married, had babies and forgot about college. For a while.
I continued working in the financial field in a loan office for a couple years. OK job, but not much challenge. After the birth of my second child I began working for a doctor as his assistant. After a move from New Mexico to Kansas City, MO, I did a short stint in an insurance office, than back to the medical office for another 11 years. I did the front office and office management in this position, until I decided to go to college at the ripe old age of 36. I carried 9-12 hours evenings and worked full time for several years, then took two years to finish the bachelor degree and master’s degree at the age of 44. With that .... I were a social worker!
I spent the next 18 years working with families, helping them to take lives in a different direction. I loved, loved, loved this work. Toward the end of this tenure, I was dealing with emotionally ill clients during the day and a husband who was physically and emotionally deteriorating daily, and it became a very difficult life. I happily retired late in 2005.
After returning to New Mexico I worked for a year and a half in an art gallery, doing sales, office work and public relations. I enjoyed it, but the collapsing economy crushed that job, so I’ve been home for a couple years now. As the economy is continuing to cause discomfort in my budge, I’m now looking for a job. Who knows what that might be? Another new career? Perhaps ! Stay tuned!!
Now .... GET BUSY ON YOUR OWN STORY!!!!
She said it is interesting to know what people have done as jobs or careers in their lives. I agree. So here is mine. Read Donna’s, too, then go home and write yours! Leave a note in the comments if you follow this trek in your own blog, and we’ll all run over and read it!
~~~~
Of course I did the obligatory babysitting as a kid through junior high school and high school. In the 9th grate, I got my first “real” job as a clerk, stocker, do-everythinger in a record store. For those of you who are younger than this ol’ lady, a “record store” sold “records,” an ancient forerunner to 8-track tapes => cassette tapes => CDs. ;D Yeah, I know, you don’t understand what 8-tracks or cassettes are, either! That was a dream job for a teenager, as I got to see and hear first hand all the newest releases, and I was able to buy them before most of my friends! I worked there after school and on Saturday until I graduated from high school.
After graduation, I didn’t go to college. I didn’t know what I wanted to study, and I thought it was a waste of time. My parents were not especially happy about it, but understood when I said I’d love to go, be with my friends, but I’d probably goof off and drop out as all four of my older siblings had (at that time; two would later complete degrees and one a master’s). I thought I’d work a while and figure out my direction and go later. So I took a job at the credit bureau doing office stuff. In less than a year I was the office manager. Then I got married, had babies and forgot about college. For a while.
I continued working in the financial field in a loan office for a couple years. OK job, but not much challenge. After the birth of my second child I began working for a doctor as his assistant. After a move from New Mexico to Kansas City, MO, I did a short stint in an insurance office, than back to the medical office for another 11 years. I did the front office and office management in this position, until I decided to go to college at the ripe old age of 36. I carried 9-12 hours evenings and worked full time for several years, then took two years to finish the bachelor degree and master’s degree at the age of 44. With that .... I were a social worker!
I spent the next 18 years working with families, helping them to take lives in a different direction. I loved, loved, loved this work. Toward the end of this tenure, I was dealing with emotionally ill clients during the day and a husband who was physically and emotionally deteriorating daily, and it became a very difficult life. I happily retired late in 2005.
After returning to New Mexico I worked for a year and a half in an art gallery, doing sales, office work and public relations. I enjoyed it, but the collapsing economy crushed that job, so I’ve been home for a couple years now. As the economy is continuing to cause discomfort in my budge, I’m now looking for a job. Who knows what that might be? Another new career? Perhaps ! Stay tuned!!
Now .... GET BUSY ON YOUR OWN STORY!!!!
Wednesday, January 05, 2011
New year, starting over and finding an old friend
It is 2011. Are you saying "two thousand eleven," or are you saying "twenty eleven"? I've used both, and I suspect with time I will use the "twenty" designation for the century all the time. I've heard discussions, both online and IRL about this, and the thing that makes me laugh is that apparently no one cared until just recently. We completed the first decade plus without me hearing any discussion about it. I think it's funny how we can sometimes suddenly realize this sort of thing. I remember my grandmother talking about the change of the last century. She said everyone said "nineteen hundred blank-blank" for many years. I remember her saying "nineteen hundred fifty seven." I think it was in the 1920s that she said people began saying "nineteen twenty three." Well, many say (and I believe it) the world is speeding up, so perhaps we have just "figured it out" sooner.
I've had an interesting holiday season. There has been some good and some bad stuff in Lynilu Land. I've shared a lot of meals and companionship with friends during the past month. Several potlucks, a couple of restaurant gatherings, all which have been wonderfully yummy! I've enjoyed the company of friends even more than the food. Oh, my! What fun it has been! Now I'm having a touch of that post-holiday let down. You know what? We should work on getting together often during the year, holiday or no, spreading the fellowship out and not cramming it so intensely between Thanksgiving and New Year's Day. Anyway, I'm fine after a few days of pouting because the party's over!
On the sad side is the two divorces I mentioned a few days back. Both seem to be moving on, good or bad. I'll just be so glad when it is resolved. One does not have children to consider; they are grown. In some ways that makes it easier, but on the other hand it also results in a greater sense of being alone.The other has children who are furious and devastated, so their mom has to deal with her own emotions AND theirs, but she isn't alone. I don't know which is worse. It just stinks, no matter. If people have just sorta drifted apart and no longer have high emotional ties, it is different, perhaps. Both my girls still passionately love their husbands. I've certainly seen them vacillate back and forth across that infamous fine line between love and hate in recent weeks. I'm hopeful that both will come out on the other side of this with enough to get by financially, with a strong sense of self worth, and without becoming so hardened that they can't move onward and upward. Tall order, I know, but I'm holding out for that!
Many years ago my late husband bought one of the original Ronco Showtime Rotisserie and BBQ units. He was such a fan and frequent purchaser of things that fall into the category of "As Seen on TV." Lawdy, we had so many gadgets! Now, I'll admit, I liked a lot of them. I still use the Magic Bullet, a little mixer/blender, just the right size for doing a single blender drink. I love it for drinks or small chopping/blending jobs.
Anyway, the rotisserie is another one I really liked. But for whatever reason, I have not used it since before he passed away. That was five years ago, and I'm guessing we hadn't used it for a couple years before that.
My hub liked it so well that he bought one for all five kids one year. I don't remember the price, but it was not an inexpensive item. I'm vaguely remembering a figure around $1000 for the whole family. I don't know if all the kids still have theirs, but Allan does and he uses it often.
So I had a chicken in the fridge, and I knew I had to cook it today. I was trying to decide how to fix it. There is one way that is scrumptious, but it entails treating the chicken (with some things that sound very odd, I might add, but is delicious!), and refrigerating it overnight before cooking it. That was out because of the time frame involved. I pulled out cookbooks and checked my recipes in the computer, but nothing was grabbing me.
Then I remembered the rotisserie. I didn't even know if it still worked. It has been well wrapped and stored in a cabinet on my deck for 4 years. I brought it in, and plugged it in. It did work, so I cleaned it up and skewered the chicken. The nice thing is the rotation makes it self-basing, so unless you want to add seasonings, you have nothing to do but wait. I opted for some rosemary and garlic in a little butter and olive oil which was brushed over the outside as it made the first few rotations. Lawdy, does it smell good!! I was actually going to have it for dinner, but as the smells began to fill the house, I decided it is for lunch. I'll snack for dinner!
Don't ya love rediscovering an "old friend" like this?
I've had an interesting holiday season. There has been some good and some bad stuff in Lynilu Land. I've shared a lot of meals and companionship with friends during the past month. Several potlucks, a couple of restaurant gatherings, all which have been wonderfully yummy! I've enjoyed the company of friends even more than the food. Oh, my! What fun it has been! Now I'm having a touch of that post-holiday let down. You know what? We should work on getting together often during the year, holiday or no, spreading the fellowship out and not cramming it so intensely between Thanksgiving and New Year's Day. Anyway, I'm fine after a few days of pouting because the party's over!
On the sad side is the two divorces I mentioned a few days back. Both seem to be moving on, good or bad. I'll just be so glad when it is resolved. One does not have children to consider; they are grown. In some ways that makes it easier, but on the other hand it also results in a greater sense of being alone.The other has children who are furious and devastated, so their mom has to deal with her own emotions AND theirs, but she isn't alone. I don't know which is worse. It just stinks, no matter. If people have just sorta drifted apart and no longer have high emotional ties, it is different, perhaps. Both my girls still passionately love their husbands. I've certainly seen them vacillate back and forth across that infamous fine line between love and hate in recent weeks. I'm hopeful that both will come out on the other side of this with enough to get by financially, with a strong sense of self worth, and without becoming so hardened that they can't move onward and upward. Tall order, I know, but I'm holding out for that!
Many years ago my late husband bought one of the original Ronco Showtime Rotisserie and BBQ units. He was such a fan and frequent purchaser of things that fall into the category of "As Seen on TV." Lawdy, we had so many gadgets! Now, I'll admit, I liked a lot of them. I still use the Magic Bullet, a little mixer/blender, just the right size for doing a single blender drink. I love it for drinks or small chopping/blending jobs.
Anyway, the rotisserie is another one I really liked. But for whatever reason, I have not used it since before he passed away. That was five years ago, and I'm guessing we hadn't used it for a couple years before that.My hub liked it so well that he bought one for all five kids one year. I don't remember the price, but it was not an inexpensive item. I'm vaguely remembering a figure around $1000 for the whole family. I don't know if all the kids still have theirs, but Allan does and he uses it often.
So I had a chicken in the fridge, and I knew I had to cook it today. I was trying to decide how to fix it. There is one way that is scrumptious, but it entails treating the chicken (with some things that sound very odd, I might add, but is delicious!), and refrigerating it overnight before cooking it. That was out because of the time frame involved. I pulled out cookbooks and checked my recipes in the computer, but nothing was grabbing me.
Then I remembered the rotisserie. I didn't even know if it still worked. It has been well wrapped and stored in a cabinet on my deck for 4 years. I brought it in, and plugged it in. It did work, so I cleaned it up and skewered the chicken. The nice thing is the rotation makes it self-basing, so unless you want to add seasonings, you have nothing to do but wait. I opted for some rosemary and garlic in a little butter and olive oil which was brushed over the outside as it made the first few rotations. Lawdy, does it smell good!! I was actually going to have it for dinner, but as the smells began to fill the house, I decided it is for lunch. I'll snack for dinner!
Don't ya love rediscovering an "old friend" like this?
Tuesday, January 04, 2011
Tuesday thoughts
Death is no more than passing from one room into another. But there's a difference for me, you know. Because in that other room I shall be able to see.
~Helen Keller
~~~~
Sooooo .... what awaits you?
I've thought about this many times, and I think the difference for me will be simply peace in my heart. Not that my life here is/has been terribly troubled, but I've had my share of trials and tribulations here. I know that's rather bland. That's what I get for having a decent life!!
But what an amazing difference for someone like Helen Keller! Or people who have lived with limb loss or paralysis. And those who struggle with mental health issues. I think that other room is gonna be pretty cool!
So, again, what awaits you?
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