I looked for some quotes about Thanksgiving - but they all seemed trite to me. They didn't really express what is in my heart. The holiday feels a bit strange this year. I guess that is because we are in a new place. It makes me think back to other Thanksgiving celebrations I've known.
I can't remember Thanksgiving as a child, for some reason. I'm sure we had them...but I don't remember the family gathering anywhere. But, when I was an adult, I remember that my Dad said it was his favorite holiday. Perhaps it had always been that way - but as an adult, I started to pay attention to my parents as "people"...not just as my parents. When my Mom got leukemia, Dad would insist on the family all going out to eat...and he paid the bill. It was a way for him to give to us...but I didn't really see it then. Honestly, I kind of dreaded the whole thing...getting dressed up to eat in a restaurant seemed like a "forced" holiday. Now I see it differently, and I wish I had been more grateful at the time. We went for several years to Graves Mountain Lodge. Funny - I think about how much I hated walking up the hill in the parking lot in heels! Of course, now - that I am in a wheelchair, I would love to have that problem again! After Mom died, we went to the Boar's Head Inn in Charlottesville a few times. Daddy was sad then - and would always bring up how much Mom would have loved to be there. As the family dwindled...my grandmother died....my great aunt died...and soon it was just my sister and her family - along with my family - and Dad. And, even then, I still didn't "get it."
They say that with age comes wisdom....and that is certainly true with me. Now I see that Dad's greatest gift was not paying the bill for a Thanksgiving feast. His greatest gift was a sense of family. My sister and I are so close - and I think those dinners paved the way for the relationship we have now. It has made me re-evaluate what it means to be grateful.
This year it will be a small "celebration" - just George, Marilyn and me. But, I am so grateful for love in my life...for this little relaxed gathering in our new home in Pennsylvania. I am grateful that my son, Ben, and his wife, Heidi, are happy and safe in Oregon, and that they can have dinner with her parents - without experiencing the nightmare of air travel! I am grateful that my sister is well and that we were able to spend time together last week (she came for a visit - will write about that on another day). I am grateful that I have weekly phone conversations with my uncle, Weber. He keeps that little thread of childhood family alive for me. I am grateful that I am as mobile as I am, considering everything - and my life is full and active.
And, mostly, I am grateful for age - that transition in life that opens our eyes to what is really important, and what is not. Everyday, I am grateful for the opportunity to learn something new - and to perhaps look at things with new eyes.
I hope you have a wonderful holiday - and that you find that place in your heart where true gratitude resides.
Wednesday, November 24, 2010
Tuesday, November 9, 2010
THERE IS MAGIC TO BE FOUND....WE ONLY HAVE TO IMAGINE IT
"Of course there are fairies - just as there is Father Christmas." George Crawley
George Crawley died this year, on October 29th. Perhaps you have never heard of him...I hadn't. But I had heard of the incident that started the mystery he attempted to solve: the mystery of the Cottingley fairies.
On a summer day in 1917, in Cottingley- a West Yorkshire village- two cousins, Elsie Wright (age 16) and Frances Griffiths (age 10) borrowed Elsie's father's glass-plate camera and took pictures of fairies they claimed to see in the glen near their house. Once developed, the photograph showed Frances surrounded by whitish forms that resembled bits of paper. Their families dismissed the images as a childish prank, but the girls stuck to their story. Later that summer, they took another photo, this time of Elsie confronting what appeared to be a gnome. The families remained skeptical, but kept the photos as private curiosities - and they would have stayed that way, except two very influential men entered the picture.
The first was Edward L. Gardner, who was a leader of the Theosophical Society in Britain. He heard of the photos in 1920 and knew that if they were genuine, it would greatly advance his cause in the belief of the existence of spirit life. After examining the photos, he concluded that they were real - and wanted to use them as illustrations in his lectures. So, he made new prints, using an advanced dark-room technique, which showed the fairies clearly.
The second man was Arthur Conan Doyle. That name is familiar because he is the author of Sherlock Holmes. Doyle was a skilled photographer, and a devoted spiritualist as well. Mr. Gardner enlisted his help, and together they began to promote the photos.
There was no turning back now for Elsie and Frances. In 1920, using cameras supplied by Gardner and Doyle, they took three more fairy photos. Doyle later wrote a book defending the photos. (The Coming of the Fairies)
For the next 60 years, interest in the Cottingley fairies never went away. For decades the girls - now grown- were interviewed in the British Press and on television and they did not recant the story. In the late 70's and early 80's an investigation began in earnest, and Mr. Crawley was one of the investigators. He was a chemist and the editor-in-chief of the magazine British Journal of Photography. His 10-part series exposing the photos as fakes appeared in 1982 and 1983. He used a type of photographic forensics to show that the photos used by Gardner and Doyle could not have been produced by the cameras used by the girls without a little bit of darkroom manipulation (I suppose the forerunner of Photoshop!)
Amid all the hoopla of the 1980's the "girls" finally came clean, admitting the hoax in the Times of London. They said that they never had any intention of doing anything other than playing a trick on their family. They used fairy illustrations from a book - cut out and taped on hatpins and then stuck in the ground.
However - while Elsie, who died in 1988, confessed that all the photos were fakes, Frances, who died in 1986, maintained that the fifth photo was real.
Two of the three cameras the girls used are on display at the National Media Museum in Bradford.
I suppose because sometimes this world is an ugly place, there is a part of us all that likes to escape into fantasy. Yes, there is the magic of Santa Claus....and the playfulness of fairies...but more importantly - there is the wonder and gift of imagination. So - Mr. Crawley put a glaring spotlight on what everyone actually knew, even if they didn't want to admit it...the fairies weren't real. At least not real enough to photograph. But they did exist in the endless world of imagination - where they could scamper through the glen, hide behind the trees and dance in the moonlight.
At least, that is how I choose to see them.
George Crawley died this year, on October 29th. Perhaps you have never heard of him...I hadn't. But I had heard of the incident that started the mystery he attempted to solve: the mystery of the Cottingley fairies.
On a summer day in 1917, in Cottingley- a West Yorkshire village- two cousins, Elsie Wright (age 16) and Frances Griffiths (age 10) borrowed Elsie's father's glass-plate camera and took pictures of fairies they claimed to see in the glen near their house. Once developed, the photograph showed Frances surrounded by whitish forms that resembled bits of paper. Their families dismissed the images as a childish prank, but the girls stuck to their story. Later that summer, they took another photo, this time of Elsie confronting what appeared to be a gnome. The families remained skeptical, but kept the photos as private curiosities - and they would have stayed that way, except two very influential men entered the picture.
The first was Edward L. Gardner, who was a leader of the Theosophical Society in Britain. He heard of the photos in 1920 and knew that if they were genuine, it would greatly advance his cause in the belief of the existence of spirit life. After examining the photos, he concluded that they were real - and wanted to use them as illustrations in his lectures. So, he made new prints, using an advanced dark-room technique, which showed the fairies clearly.
The second man was Arthur Conan Doyle. That name is familiar because he is the author of Sherlock Holmes. Doyle was a skilled photographer, and a devoted spiritualist as well. Mr. Gardner enlisted his help, and together they began to promote the photos.
There was no turning back now for Elsie and Frances. In 1920, using cameras supplied by Gardner and Doyle, they took three more fairy photos. Doyle later wrote a book defending the photos. (The Coming of the Fairies)
For the next 60 years, interest in the Cottingley fairies never went away. For decades the girls - now grown- were interviewed in the British Press and on television and they did not recant the story. In the late 70's and early 80's an investigation began in earnest, and Mr. Crawley was one of the investigators. He was a chemist and the editor-in-chief of the magazine British Journal of Photography. His 10-part series exposing the photos as fakes appeared in 1982 and 1983. He used a type of photographic forensics to show that the photos used by Gardner and Doyle could not have been produced by the cameras used by the girls without a little bit of darkroom manipulation (I suppose the forerunner of Photoshop!)
Amid all the hoopla of the 1980's the "girls" finally came clean, admitting the hoax in the Times of London. They said that they never had any intention of doing anything other than playing a trick on their family. They used fairy illustrations from a book - cut out and taped on hatpins and then stuck in the ground.
However - while Elsie, who died in 1988, confessed that all the photos were fakes, Frances, who died in 1986, maintained that the fifth photo was real.
Two of the three cameras the girls used are on display at the National Media Museum in Bradford.
I suppose because sometimes this world is an ugly place, there is a part of us all that likes to escape into fantasy. Yes, there is the magic of Santa Claus....and the playfulness of fairies...but more importantly - there is the wonder and gift of imagination. So - Mr. Crawley put a glaring spotlight on what everyone actually knew, even if they didn't want to admit it...the fairies weren't real. At least not real enough to photograph. But they did exist in the endless world of imagination - where they could scamper through the glen, hide behind the trees and dance in the moonlight.
At least, that is how I choose to see them.
Sunday, October 31, 2010
THERE'S AN APP FOR THAT!
"Do you ever get the feeling that the only reason we have elections is to see if the polls are right?" Robert Orben
I am so tired of this election. I am tired of the constant bombardment of stupid ads. I am tired of the litter of political signs stuck on every available inch of free ground. I want to hurry up and vote and get it over with. As tired as I am of politics - there is something else that I am even more weary of....bedbugs.
At least two or three times a day, I am reminded in some way that there is a bedbug infestation. It is the stuff of nightmares. I was reading the paper this morning and when I glanced up at the TV - there was yet another video of bedbugs. There are videos of clusters of bugs hiding in the folds of mattresses...close-ups of the wretched insect....and pictures of the plethora of tiny red bites on some unfortunate person's body. EEEWWWWW!
In the NY Times this morning, there was an article about a new app for the iphone. A Bedbug Alert. It is a real value - at only $1.99. A GPS-enabled Google map indicates nearby bedbug-infested sites as red push pins. The locations are based on addresses of bedbug outbreaks reported by the media, by governmental agencies and by users across the country. You can click on a push pin for more information. It lists names of public places, like hotels or theaters...but not private places like a person's home. You can also report an encounter with bedbugs using the app.
I live within an hour - an hour and a half - of New York City and Philadelphia - numbers one and two on the list of top ten cities of infestation. So - this app seems like a great idea to me! I don't have an iphone...but if I keep seeing the videos of these creepy crawlies, I may have to go buy one just so I can get the app. Hmmmmm...suppose this is just a ploy by Apple to sell more phones! I don't trust anyone these days...after all - it is election season!
I am so tired of this election. I am tired of the constant bombardment of stupid ads. I am tired of the litter of political signs stuck on every available inch of free ground. I want to hurry up and vote and get it over with. As tired as I am of politics - there is something else that I am even more weary of....bedbugs.
At least two or three times a day, I am reminded in some way that there is a bedbug infestation. It is the stuff of nightmares. I was reading the paper this morning and when I glanced up at the TV - there was yet another video of bedbugs. There are videos of clusters of bugs hiding in the folds of mattresses...close-ups of the wretched insect....and pictures of the plethora of tiny red bites on some unfortunate person's body. EEEWWWWW!
In the NY Times this morning, there was an article about a new app for the iphone. A Bedbug Alert. It is a real value - at only $1.99. A GPS-enabled Google map indicates nearby bedbug-infested sites as red push pins. The locations are based on addresses of bedbug outbreaks reported by the media, by governmental agencies and by users across the country. You can click on a push pin for more information. It lists names of public places, like hotels or theaters...but not private places like a person's home. You can also report an encounter with bedbugs using the app.
I live within an hour - an hour and a half - of New York City and Philadelphia - numbers one and two on the list of top ten cities of infestation. So - this app seems like a great idea to me! I don't have an iphone...but if I keep seeing the videos of these creepy crawlies, I may have to go buy one just so I can get the app. Hmmmmm...suppose this is just a ploy by Apple to sell more phones! I don't trust anyone these days...after all - it is election season!
Thursday, October 28, 2010
WHEN IS A DOG BISCUIT NOT JUST A DOG BISCUIT??
"If you think dogs can't count, try putting three dog biscuits in your pocket and then giving Fido only two of them." Phil Pastoret
My dog, Bizy, loves dog cookies. Actually, I believe she would come out of a coma if I merely whispered the word, "cookie." Yesterday, however, I observed a real first...at least for her. She usually starts working me for dinner at 5:00 - but yesterday, she was restless and started at 3. So, in order to buy me some time, I gave her a chicken leg. Now...don't panic...it was not a REAL chicken leg...it was a dog cookie SHAPED like a chicken leg. (Made by Milkbone)
She felt this was such a treasure, I guess, that she LITERALLY carried in it her mouth for THREE HOURS. She didn't sleep...she didn't even lay down...she just paced with this stupid chicken leg poking out of her mouth. She looked desperately in my face - like she wasn't sure what she was supposed to do with it. It wasn't until 6:00 - when I put her dinner out (an hour late - which is UNHEARD of around here) that she finally ate the thing.
This fabulous dog cookie produced anxiety and stress for my dog. Simple as that.
I think her experience was nearly "human" if you think about it. How much stress do we feel over our precious "stuff?" What if someone dents your new car - or you lose a favorite earring...or how about all the china that sits around and collects dust as you wait to use it on a special occasion? What do we do with our treasures? Kind of like that little creature in Lord of the Rings that kept referring to the Ring as "my Precious."
No huge earth-shattering conclusion here...just an observation. I do think Milkbone should consider changing the name of those cookies to Hush Puppies. Sure did work on Bizy!!!
My dog, Bizy, loves dog cookies. Actually, I believe she would come out of a coma if I merely whispered the word, "cookie." Yesterday, however, I observed a real first...at least for her. She usually starts working me for dinner at 5:00 - but yesterday, she was restless and started at 3. So, in order to buy me some time, I gave her a chicken leg. Now...don't panic...it was not a REAL chicken leg...it was a dog cookie SHAPED like a chicken leg. (Made by Milkbone)
She felt this was such a treasure, I guess, that she LITERALLY carried in it her mouth for THREE HOURS. She didn't sleep...she didn't even lay down...she just paced with this stupid chicken leg poking out of her mouth. She looked desperately in my face - like she wasn't sure what she was supposed to do with it. It wasn't until 6:00 - when I put her dinner out (an hour late - which is UNHEARD of around here) that she finally ate the thing.
This fabulous dog cookie produced anxiety and stress for my dog. Simple as that.
I think her experience was nearly "human" if you think about it. How much stress do we feel over our precious "stuff?" What if someone dents your new car - or you lose a favorite earring...or how about all the china that sits around and collects dust as you wait to use it on a special occasion? What do we do with our treasures? Kind of like that little creature in Lord of the Rings that kept referring to the Ring as "my Precious."
No huge earth-shattering conclusion here...just an observation. I do think Milkbone should consider changing the name of those cookies to Hush Puppies. Sure did work on Bizy!!!
Wednesday, October 27, 2010
HERE WE GO AGAIN....
"The worth of a book is to be measured by what you carry away from it." James Bryce
Last night was Book Club night at Barnes and Noble. My goal in attending was to meet some nice people with a similar interest - and I did. The ladies there were lovely and we certainly had a lively conversation! The book we read was The Heretic's Daughter by Kathleen Kent. It was the author's first novel - which is always of interest to me.
The plot centered around the Salem Witch Trials and was told from the point of view of one of the daughters of an accused witch. It was a new twist on an old story - and quite factually accurate since the author is a descendant of Martha Carrier, the accused witch. So, while it was technically fiction - it wasn't. Kent said that she had heard the story of Martha all her life - that the subject came up at every family gathering she could remember, and so she wanted to document the story in a way that was accessible for everyone.
I thought the book was interesting - although the last few chapters drug on a bit and I will admit to skimming over the parts about the deplorable conditions of the prison. I can only read so much about lice, oozing wounds and feces! But the thing that impressed me most was how relevant it was for today. We see the same kind of craziness happening now - with the excessive bullying in schools...the horrendous results of fundamentalism in all religions....and the atrocities that are committed in the name of God. It is a cycle of violence that simply continues to happen -which is very sad.
We look back at Hitler and his persecution of the Jews, and we say it could never happen again. But it does. In Serbia, in the Sudan, in the Middle East, and in the growing face of terrorism. On a different scale, we have the tragic bullying of gay teens and the mean spirited division of Republicans and Democrats. Oh...and don't forget the Tea Party! Did you see the women who was stomped in the head at a recent Rand Paul rally???? Dear God.
So, if you are looking for a book that will cause you to reflect on things as well as provide more information about the witch trials, then give The Heretic's Daughter a read. I don't think we have evolved very much in the last 200 years. A sad commentary of life on our planet.
The next Book Club meeting is Nov. 30th. I will let you know how that one goes. Now I have to go work on the book I am writing!!!
Last night was Book Club night at Barnes and Noble. My goal in attending was to meet some nice people with a similar interest - and I did. The ladies there were lovely and we certainly had a lively conversation! The book we read was The Heretic's Daughter by Kathleen Kent. It was the author's first novel - which is always of interest to me.
The plot centered around the Salem Witch Trials and was told from the point of view of one of the daughters of an accused witch. It was a new twist on an old story - and quite factually accurate since the author is a descendant of Martha Carrier, the accused witch. So, while it was technically fiction - it wasn't. Kent said that she had heard the story of Martha all her life - that the subject came up at every family gathering she could remember, and so she wanted to document the story in a way that was accessible for everyone.
I thought the book was interesting - although the last few chapters drug on a bit and I will admit to skimming over the parts about the deplorable conditions of the prison. I can only read so much about lice, oozing wounds and feces! But the thing that impressed me most was how relevant it was for today. We see the same kind of craziness happening now - with the excessive bullying in schools...the horrendous results of fundamentalism in all religions....and the atrocities that are committed in the name of God. It is a cycle of violence that simply continues to happen -which is very sad.
We look back at Hitler and his persecution of the Jews, and we say it could never happen again. But it does. In Serbia, in the Sudan, in the Middle East, and in the growing face of terrorism. On a different scale, we have the tragic bullying of gay teens and the mean spirited division of Republicans and Democrats. Oh...and don't forget the Tea Party! Did you see the women who was stomped in the head at a recent Rand Paul rally???? Dear God.
So, if you are looking for a book that will cause you to reflect on things as well as provide more information about the witch trials, then give The Heretic's Daughter a read. I don't think we have evolved very much in the last 200 years. A sad commentary of life on our planet.
The next Book Club meeting is Nov. 30th. I will let you know how that one goes. Now I have to go work on the book I am writing!!!
Monday, October 25, 2010
WARNING: BORING POST AHEAD
In Virginia, everything is done at the same location...the DMV. I have complained many times about the long lines there, and the slowness of service - but now that I have experienced Pennsylvania's requirements, I realize Virginia is much, MUCH easier and decidedly more efficient.
I actually obtained my driver's license with minimal effort. Yes, I had to provide my social security card (which I lost a bazillion years ago, so had to apply for a new copy), a copy of a bill with my name on it sent to my PA address, my birth certificate...uh...I think that was all. There are not many PennDot centers in the area (the equivalent of DMV) - and the ones that are available have different days and hours of operation. Just to make it interesting, I guess. The PennDot centers DO NOT deal with license plates. That part of the procedure has been privatized - so it is a business. There are lots of these - with different days and hours of operation. Sigh.
In order to get a handicap license plate, a doctor's note is required...but they won't take one from Virginia. They will accept one from any state that touches Pennsylvania's borders. Since I don't have a doctor here yet...I had to go with Plan B...which was to receive authorization from the police. So, I went to a police station (which was nothing more than a glorified trailer) and had the officer filled out a form certifying that I was indeed in a wheelchair. DUH.
On Saturday, George and I went to one of the License Plate centers and stood in line. When it was our turn - we proudly put all the required forms on the counter, along with our PA driver's licenses...and she asked for our insurance cards. When we gave her those, she said that we needed cards that said Pennsylvania. So...George (not the most patient person in the world) called GEICO...explained everything and asked that they fax the new cards to the center. The cards arrived...but they still said Virginia. Hmmmm....So, he called again...they apologized and faxed new ones that did indeed say Pennsylvania - but they put the wrong effectiveness date. Now, his patience is truly at an end. He calls again...and they finally fax the correct cards. We signed several forms, and then wrote a check for $120 for my van and $195 for George's truck.
Now we have ten days to get the vehicles inspected. Cost is a minimum of $70 per vehicle. It was $10 in Virginia. Also - have to wait for my handicap license plate and placard...so after all of this - I am still driving with my Virginia plate.
If you have read this boring post - my hat is off to you, dear reader! I tried to think of some way I could make this information more entertaining - but the entire experience sucked out my creativity! So - now I am free from the millstone of this legal necessity hanging around my neck and I can get on with things more interesting. At least, I hope so.
Wednesday, October 20, 2010
DID YOU HEAR THE ONE ABOUT THE HONEST POLITICIAN???
"The only time a politician is telling the truth is when he calls another politician a liar."
I saw this quote posted in the front yard of a house on my way to the grocery store - and it made me laugh. But, it was a laugh mixed with a bit of sadness and a lot of frustration and anger. I am so weary of the assault of political ads every time I turn on the TV. Just a bunch of hot air and negativity, and....yes....lies. The thing that astounds me is the amount of money being shelled out for these campaigns. Millions and millions of dollars. And - the candidates have the nerve to talk about wasteful spending by the government...the plight of the struggling middle class...the homes falling into foreclosure...the unemployment rate, etc.
I would like to see them throw the money that they are spending on these ads into one of these areas of need. If politicians can raise this much money - then why can't they find a way to pay for health care...or help the homeless...or improve education. The list goes on and on. Just think what this money could do.
I don't know what the answer is. Maybe if NO ONE showed up to the polls to vote. Maybe then they would get the message. Of course - the problem with that is the impossibility of getting EVERYONE on board. So - I know it is not an option. So...once again....we will trudge out to the voting booths...cast our one little vote...and pray. However...I kind of feel like it is as useful as spitting in the wind.
I saw this quote posted in the front yard of a house on my way to the grocery store - and it made me laugh. But, it was a laugh mixed with a bit of sadness and a lot of frustration and anger. I am so weary of the assault of political ads every time I turn on the TV. Just a bunch of hot air and negativity, and....yes....lies. The thing that astounds me is the amount of money being shelled out for these campaigns. Millions and millions of dollars. And - the candidates have the nerve to talk about wasteful spending by the government...the plight of the struggling middle class...the homes falling into foreclosure...the unemployment rate, etc.
I would like to see them throw the money that they are spending on these ads into one of these areas of need. If politicians can raise this much money - then why can't they find a way to pay for health care...or help the homeless...or improve education. The list goes on and on. Just think what this money could do.
I don't know what the answer is. Maybe if NO ONE showed up to the polls to vote. Maybe then they would get the message. Of course - the problem with that is the impossibility of getting EVERYONE on board. So - I know it is not an option. So...once again....we will trudge out to the voting booths...cast our one little vote...and pray. However...I kind of feel like it is as useful as spitting in the wind.
Friday, October 15, 2010
CLEAN AND SHINY
"Let us be grateful to people who make us happy; they are the charming gardeners who make our souls blossom." Marcel Proust
This morning, Kathy arrived in a whirlwind of positive energy. She is the dear lady who cleans for us and is very much appreciated. Being in a wheelchair limits a lot of things that I can do...and vacuuming is one of them! Oh - I can do it a little bit - but it is not easy...trying not to get my wheels tangled up in the power cord, etc. - so I am always delighted when my house is fresh and clean with all the little dust bunnies whisked away.
Yesterday I felt stressed- getting ready for her to come, but today I am relaxed and grateful, not only for her hard work...but for her sweet spirit. Being in a new place - and not knowing anyone, can feel disconcerting. So I am thankful she is so friendly and helpful...and easy to talk to. She is helping us with the little things that are important - like knowing how to pronounce the names of the streets and towns. Like Maunch Chunk Road...and Tamaqua. Not your run-of-the-mill suburbia names!
I think being in a new place also makes me feel vulnerable. I am slowly learning my way around - but it seems strange to realize that no matter where I go, I will never run into anyone who knows me. I am sure that will change eventually. Marilyn and I are planning on attending a book club at Barnes and Noble later in the month. Perhaps we will meet people there. I will write more about that later.
But, for today, I just feel grateful - and more determined to find the blessings in the little things. Also, I am learning quite a lesson about BEING a blessing. It doesn't take much...just a smile and kindness. Simple recipe to brighten some one's day. That's what Kathy does for me. She not only makes my house shiny...she makes ME feel shiny.
This morning, Kathy arrived in a whirlwind of positive energy. She is the dear lady who cleans for us and is very much appreciated. Being in a wheelchair limits a lot of things that I can do...and vacuuming is one of them! Oh - I can do it a little bit - but it is not easy...trying not to get my wheels tangled up in the power cord, etc. - so I am always delighted when my house is fresh and clean with all the little dust bunnies whisked away.
Yesterday I felt stressed- getting ready for her to come, but today I am relaxed and grateful, not only for her hard work...but for her sweet spirit. Being in a new place - and not knowing anyone, can feel disconcerting. So I am thankful she is so friendly and helpful...and easy to talk to. She is helping us with the little things that are important - like knowing how to pronounce the names of the streets and towns. Like Maunch Chunk Road...and Tamaqua. Not your run-of-the-mill suburbia names!
I think being in a new place also makes me feel vulnerable. I am slowly learning my way around - but it seems strange to realize that no matter where I go, I will never run into anyone who knows me. I am sure that will change eventually. Marilyn and I are planning on attending a book club at Barnes and Noble later in the month. Perhaps we will meet people there. I will write more about that later.
But, for today, I just feel grateful - and more determined to find the blessings in the little things. Also, I am learning quite a lesson about BEING a blessing. It doesn't take much...just a smile and kindness. Simple recipe to brighten some one's day. That's what Kathy does for me. She not only makes my house shiny...she makes ME feel shiny.
Thursday, October 14, 2010
LET'S WAIT UNTIL TOMORROW....
"If it weren't for the last minute, I would never get anything done." Anonymous
I am a procrastinator - and I live in a house filled with procrastinators - which is not a good thing. I must say, I can become the slave driver in the bunch...a characteristic that is often not appreciated!! Today has been "slave driver day" and suddenly I find myself alone - the others have carefully disappeared. Actually - Marilyn has escaped upstairs, and George has gone to get his driver's license (a tale in itself of REAL procrastination!) So I will take time to write this blog - something else I have been procrastinating about.
We are still unpacking. We have been here for almost two months - and there are still boxes to open and pictures to hang. The major living spaces are done...for the most part - but the places like the living room and the dining room have become the depositories for the already mentioned boxes, pictures, and other things we don't know what to do with.
Our cleaning lady comes tomorrow. She is supposed to come every two weeks - but because of scheduling difficulties, it has been three weeks this time - and I am suddenly worried that she will think/know we have not been accomplishing much since she was last here! Cleaning ladies, while SO MUCH APPRECIATED, can be a true source of stress for me. I always have to clean before they come.
We still have workmen here almost everyday, putting in a bathroom and closet downstairs - so we have used that as an excuse to procrastinate. You know..."After they finish the bathroom, we can really work on unpacking." Like putting a bathroom in the BASEMENT has anything to do with the living room upstairs!
The workers DO track in a lot of dirt - and my floors in the utility room and kitchen are awful. I am thinking about using the Swiffer and cleaning them before she comes tomorrow. Maybe then she will overlook the unopened boxes in the living room.
Oh well...it is a good thing it is a rainy day. Nothing else to do but clean. Now - I will just lay low and wait for Marilyn and George to think it is safe to come out of hiding, and then I will crack the whip again! Just teasing. Sort of.
I am a procrastinator - and I live in a house filled with procrastinators - which is not a good thing. I must say, I can become the slave driver in the bunch...a characteristic that is often not appreciated!! Today has been "slave driver day" and suddenly I find myself alone - the others have carefully disappeared. Actually - Marilyn has escaped upstairs, and George has gone to get his driver's license (a tale in itself of REAL procrastination!) So I will take time to write this blog - something else I have been procrastinating about.
We are still unpacking. We have been here for almost two months - and there are still boxes to open and pictures to hang. The major living spaces are done...for the most part - but the places like the living room and the dining room have become the depositories for the already mentioned boxes, pictures, and other things we don't know what to do with.
Our cleaning lady comes tomorrow. She is supposed to come every two weeks - but because of scheduling difficulties, it has been three weeks this time - and I am suddenly worried that she will think/know we have not been accomplishing much since she was last here! Cleaning ladies, while SO MUCH APPRECIATED, can be a true source of stress for me. I always have to clean before they come.
We still have workmen here almost everyday, putting in a bathroom and closet downstairs - so we have used that as an excuse to procrastinate. You know..."After they finish the bathroom, we can really work on unpacking." Like putting a bathroom in the BASEMENT has anything to do with the living room upstairs!
The workers DO track in a lot of dirt - and my floors in the utility room and kitchen are awful. I am thinking about using the Swiffer and cleaning them before she comes tomorrow. Maybe then she will overlook the unopened boxes in the living room.
Oh well...it is a good thing it is a rainy day. Nothing else to do but clean. Now - I will just lay low and wait for Marilyn and George to think it is safe to come out of hiding, and then I will crack the whip again! Just teasing. Sort of.
Thursday, October 7, 2010
WHAT'CHA CALL IT...
"The name of a man is a numbing blow from which he never recovers." Marshall McLuhan
I have been thinking a lot about names lately. Since the novel I am currently working on is a fantasy, I have a lot more freedom in choosing names for characters and places. Actually, I have a LOT more freedom. And - that is not necessarily a good thing.
Since my previous novels were contemporary crime thrillers, the names were ordinary. The places were real...or, at least, based on real places. But - in this new novel-in-the-making - everything is fictional. I have been reading a lot of fantasy novels lately - as well as doing research (as previously mentioned in my post about the Idiot Guides) - and the one thing that I find annoying is not having a clue how to pronounce the author's "fictional names." I can't relate to a character with a name like, "xyqilka." I'm sure the author had some pronunciation in mind...but he neglected to put it in the book. And - when you have an entire cast of characters with equally bizarre names - then the story is reduced to whatever happened to the "xy" guy and the "lzp" girl.
J.K. Rowling was smart. I know...duh! But she had the sense to make her characters' names easy to pronounce - or "sound out" as they used to say when I was learning to read. (No...that was not when they were still carving things on stone tablets!) Of course, Harry and Ron were ordinary names...and Hermoine, while not typical today, was still something people had heard of. Even the names like Dumbledore and Hagrid were easy to figure out. She had the ability to create something completely new - like Hogwarts - and make it accessible for every reader.
So...this is my current dilemma. The plot is in place. Most of the main characters are "fleshed out". Now I am wrestling with names for the characters and for the fictional realms they inhabit.
I have a new appreciation for the creators of video games. It takes a lot of imagination to birth a fictional world - and give everything a name.
Adam must have felt a lot of pressure in the Garden of Eden!!! I can empathize!
I have been thinking a lot about names lately. Since the novel I am currently working on is a fantasy, I have a lot more freedom in choosing names for characters and places. Actually, I have a LOT more freedom. And - that is not necessarily a good thing.
Since my previous novels were contemporary crime thrillers, the names were ordinary. The places were real...or, at least, based on real places. But - in this new novel-in-the-making - everything is fictional. I have been reading a lot of fantasy novels lately - as well as doing research (as previously mentioned in my post about the Idiot Guides) - and the one thing that I find annoying is not having a clue how to pronounce the author's "fictional names." I can't relate to a character with a name like, "xyqilka." I'm sure the author had some pronunciation in mind...but he neglected to put it in the book. And - when you have an entire cast of characters with equally bizarre names - then the story is reduced to whatever happened to the "xy" guy and the "lzp" girl.
J.K. Rowling was smart. I know...duh! But she had the sense to make her characters' names easy to pronounce - or "sound out" as they used to say when I was learning to read. (No...that was not when they were still carving things on stone tablets!) Of course, Harry and Ron were ordinary names...and Hermoine, while not typical today, was still something people had heard of. Even the names like Dumbledore and Hagrid were easy to figure out. She had the ability to create something completely new - like Hogwarts - and make it accessible for every reader.
So...this is my current dilemma. The plot is in place. Most of the main characters are "fleshed out". Now I am wrestling with names for the characters and for the fictional realms they inhabit.
I have a new appreciation for the creators of video games. It takes a lot of imagination to birth a fictional world - and give everything a name.
Adam must have felt a lot of pressure in the Garden of Eden!!! I can empathize!
Tuesday, October 5, 2010
JUST A SPOONFUL...
"I have measured out my life with coffee spoons." T.S. Eliot
It is difficult to find quotes about spoons...almost as difficult as it is to find a spoon, these days! This is a pet peeve of mine. No one uses spoons anymore. I am so tired of restaurants carefully folding the silverware in your napkin - and when you unroll it - there is no spoon! I have had to stir my coffee with the end of a fork, which is really weird. I would like to know the reasoning behind the disappearing spoon. In this fragile economy, perhaps some restaurant owner decided that you could save money if you didn't have to wash spoons, and then his lame idea spread like wildfire. Maybe spoons are stolen more often than any other piece of silverware - they don't carry the danger of poking or cutting you. But, then again, stealing spoons might be the direct result of never having one in a restaurant when you need it!!! You could just steal one from somewhere else and carry it around with you.
How many times have you dripped salad dressing on your shirt or tie because you were scooping up the remnants of your salad with a fork? Okay. Maybe that has just happened to me. O'Charley's has the most delicious pecan chicken salad with balsamic vinegar and it is always a challenge to eat all the cranberries in it without getting a spot of the dressing on my shirt. If I had a spoon - it would be no problem! I know, I'm sure that if I asked the waiter for a spoon, he would be glad to get me one. They must have a few floating around in the kitchen somewhere. It is just the principle of the thing. As a kid, we set the table with a knife, fork, and spoon....even if we weren't serving something "soupy." When did that change?
Oh Lord...I sound like an old fart. Every time I begin a sentence with "As a kid..." I know I have fallen into the pit of the grumpy old fart.
In these times when the world seems unhappy with everything, I guess complaining about the lack of spoons can be considered ridiculous, at best. Oh...I have a theory....maybe the Tea Party has confiscated all the spoons! Just think about it...how can you have a tea party without spoons! Of course, they would have to be the size of shovels, considering all the crap they are serving up for consumption! (Hee, Hee...I couldn't resist!)
It is difficult to find quotes about spoons...almost as difficult as it is to find a spoon, these days! This is a pet peeve of mine. No one uses spoons anymore. I am so tired of restaurants carefully folding the silverware in your napkin - and when you unroll it - there is no spoon! I have had to stir my coffee with the end of a fork, which is really weird. I would like to know the reasoning behind the disappearing spoon. In this fragile economy, perhaps some restaurant owner decided that you could save money if you didn't have to wash spoons, and then his lame idea spread like wildfire. Maybe spoons are stolen more often than any other piece of silverware - they don't carry the danger of poking or cutting you. But, then again, stealing spoons might be the direct result of never having one in a restaurant when you need it!!! You could just steal one from somewhere else and carry it around with you.
How many times have you dripped salad dressing on your shirt or tie because you were scooping up the remnants of your salad with a fork? Okay. Maybe that has just happened to me. O'Charley's has the most delicious pecan chicken salad with balsamic vinegar and it is always a challenge to eat all the cranberries in it without getting a spot of the dressing on my shirt. If I had a spoon - it would be no problem! I know, I'm sure that if I asked the waiter for a spoon, he would be glad to get me one. They must have a few floating around in the kitchen somewhere. It is just the principle of the thing. As a kid, we set the table with a knife, fork, and spoon....even if we weren't serving something "soupy." When did that change?
Oh Lord...I sound like an old fart. Every time I begin a sentence with "As a kid..." I know I have fallen into the pit of the grumpy old fart.
In these times when the world seems unhappy with everything, I guess complaining about the lack of spoons can be considered ridiculous, at best. Oh...I have a theory....maybe the Tea Party has confiscated all the spoons! Just think about it...how can you have a tea party without spoons! Of course, they would have to be the size of shovels, considering all the crap they are serving up for consumption! (Hee, Hee...I couldn't resist!)
Monday, October 4, 2010
BANNED!!!
"A censor is a man who knows more than he thinks you ought to." - Lawrence Peter
"Think for yourselves and let others enjoy the privilege to do so, too." -Voltaire
"To limit the press is to insult a nation; to prohibit reading certain books is to declare the inhabitants of that nation to be either fools or slaves." - Claude-Adrien Helvetius
Yes - three quotes today. I couldn't choose between them.
The AARP magazine arrived the other day. Normally, I glance at it to see who is on the cover and then toss it in the trash, but this issue had an article that attracted my attention - and frankly, made me furious. The back page of the magazine had a list of books banned by American schools and libraries. Before I share some of the books included on this despicable list - let me say that I am 100% against banning books of any kind. If the argument is that we want to protect our children - then I think that responsibility should rest on the shoulders of the parents. It is not the job of schools or libraries to police our children's reading activities.
Okay...here are a few of the books included this year and the categories they fall under:
TOO POLITICAL
Then again...considering the determination and success of AARP to reach all Americans the moment they turn 50...perhaps we should unleash them on the quest to find Bin Laden!! They have a terrific track record!
Now - go be a rebel and read something off this list. (Don't start with the "too much sex" category!)
"Think for yourselves and let others enjoy the privilege to do so, too." -Voltaire
"To limit the press is to insult a nation; to prohibit reading certain books is to declare the inhabitants of that nation to be either fools or slaves." - Claude-Adrien Helvetius
Yes - three quotes today. I couldn't choose between them.
The AARP magazine arrived the other day. Normally, I glance at it to see who is on the cover and then toss it in the trash, but this issue had an article that attracted my attention - and frankly, made me furious. The back page of the magazine had a list of books banned by American schools and libraries. Before I share some of the books included on this despicable list - let me say that I am 100% against banning books of any kind. If the argument is that we want to protect our children - then I think that responsibility should rest on the shoulders of the parents. It is not the job of schools or libraries to police our children's reading activities.
Okay...here are a few of the books included this year and the categories they fall under:
TOO POLITICAL
- Uncle Tom's Cabin - Harriet Beecher Stowe, 1852
- All's Quiet on the Western Front - Erich Maria Remarque, 1928
- A Farewell to Arms - Hemingway, 1929
- The Grapes of Wrath - John Steinbeck, 1939
- For Whom the Bell Tolls - Hemingway, 1940
- Animal Farm - Orwell - 1945
- 1984 - Orwell - 1949
- Dr. Zhivago - Pasternak, 1957
- Madame Bovary - Flaubert - 1856
- Ulysses - James Joyce - 1922
- The Sun Also Rises - Hemingway - 1926
- I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings - Angelou, 1969
- Jaws - Benchley - 1974
- Forever - Judy Blume - 1975
- On the Origin of the Species - Darwin - 1859
- The Lord of the Rings Trilogy - Tolkien - 1954
- Harry Potter series - Rowling - 1997-2000
- The Autobiography of Benjamin Franklin - Benjamin Franklin - 1791
- The Scarlet Letter - Hawthorne - 1850
- The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn - Twain - 1884
- Gone With the Wind - Mitchell - 1936
- Of Mice and Men - Steinbeck-1937
- The Diary of Anne Frank - Frank - 1947
- To Kill a Mockingbird - Lee - 1960
- Cujo - King - 1981
- The Color Purple - Alice Walker - 1982
Then again...considering the determination and success of AARP to reach all Americans the moment they turn 50...perhaps we should unleash them on the quest to find Bin Laden!! They have a terrific track record!
Now - go be a rebel and read something off this list. (Don't start with the "too much sex" category!)
Saturday, October 2, 2010
BRIGHT AND HAPPY DAY
"Autumn burned brightly - a running flame through the mountains, a torch flung to the trees." Faith Baldwin
What a glorious day! This is my favorite time of year - and I don't believe I have ever lived in a place that showcased Autumn's splendor quite like it does here. Today we drove to Hawk Mountain Sanctuary - just a few miles from my home. I wasn't even sure what it was - mostly drove there out of curiosity. The road was winding and narrow and around every bend was another jaw-dropping vista. We passed bicyclists going up and down the mountain and when we arrived at the top - we were stunned to find at least 400+ cars! It is a state park - much like something you would find on Skyline Drive. Lots of wooded trails, etc. We didn't get out - but decided to return during the week. Also went to the huge Farmer's Market in Allentown. Again - overwhelming to me...so much stuff - and so many people..so will schedule our next visit there on a Thursday! We stopped by the Pioneer Festival to see what that was. A lot of antique tractors...tee pees...animals...and food. Seemed like everyone on the planet was enjoying the weather today.
We are having another bathroom installed downstairs...and I awoke to the sounds of a jackhammer! The floor was vibrating as they were breaking through the concrete to bury the water pump. I escaped to my patio and enjoyed the early morning sun with my tea. That is such a treat. I guess it is one of those simple things that I had not been able to do in my old house because it wasn't accessible. But this home is perfect for me to do those little things that mean so much.
So - I have had a very happy day....I hope you have, too.
What a glorious day! This is my favorite time of year - and I don't believe I have ever lived in a place that showcased Autumn's splendor quite like it does here. Today we drove to Hawk Mountain Sanctuary - just a few miles from my home. I wasn't even sure what it was - mostly drove there out of curiosity. The road was winding and narrow and around every bend was another jaw-dropping vista. We passed bicyclists going up and down the mountain and when we arrived at the top - we were stunned to find at least 400+ cars! It is a state park - much like something you would find on Skyline Drive. Lots of wooded trails, etc. We didn't get out - but decided to return during the week. Also went to the huge Farmer's Market in Allentown. Again - overwhelming to me...so much stuff - and so many people..so will schedule our next visit there on a Thursday! We stopped by the Pioneer Festival to see what that was. A lot of antique tractors...tee pees...animals...and food. Seemed like everyone on the planet was enjoying the weather today.
We are having another bathroom installed downstairs...and I awoke to the sounds of a jackhammer! The floor was vibrating as they were breaking through the concrete to bury the water pump. I escaped to my patio and enjoyed the early morning sun with my tea. That is such a treat. I guess it is one of those simple things that I had not been able to do in my old house because it wasn't accessible. But this home is perfect for me to do those little things that mean so much.
So - I have had a very happy day....I hope you have, too.
Friday, October 1, 2010
IT'S RAINING. IT'S POURING. BUT - I'M NOT SNORING!!!
"Let the rain kiss you. Let the rain beat upon your head with silver liquid drops. Let the rain sing you a lullaby." Langston Hughes
My...it has been raining!!! We were lucky though. We didn't have to drive in the worst of it. When we left Richmond, it was just a normal rain...and we were ahead of it all the way. By the time we got home, though, the clouds were rolling in and the heavens opened during the night. I love the sound of rain at night. That is why I love the above quote. It really is like the rain sings a lullaby. When I was a kid, there was a tin roof over my bedroom and I can still remember the thunderous drumming of the rain. It was nice to be safe inside - which is what I felt after getting home. All around us there is flooding. The little stream that runs beside one of the main roads leading to my house is now a little rushing river. The wind blew down one of my bird feeders - but the little birds are still trying to make quick trips from the nearby bush to the feeder to grab a few seeds and take them back to where it is relatively dry, deep in the bush.
We have workers at the house today. Another bathroom is being installed, and some railings are being put in. Every time they go out the door, or come in (which is VERY often) the dog barks like she has never seen them before. sigh. I love this poor little old barking mess of a dog! She has not left my side since I returned. I don't know how people live without pets.
We had a nice- quick- visit to Richmond...and my sister! Got my hair done, as planned - whew! No more gray roots...at least for a few weeks! We ran some errands and visited our friend, Marguerite, at The Alchemist. Also, we toured the Crosswalk Art Gallery where my sister, Patricia Motley, is going to be showing some of her work. I am so proud of her. Her art work is beautiful and I am glad that - finally - others will be able to experience it.
The only bad part about driving to Richmond and back is the traffic on 95. When we were coming home Wednesday, it wasn't too bad - but on the drive down it was terrible. We were driving 25 mph forever. And all those Bozos who race past you on the shoulder of the road and then cut in front, drive me crazy. I always wonder where the cops are!!!
So - now back to the ordinary. Must do laundry. But, a nice rainy day inside is sometimes - like today - a real treat!
My...it has been raining!!! We were lucky though. We didn't have to drive in the worst of it. When we left Richmond, it was just a normal rain...and we were ahead of it all the way. By the time we got home, though, the clouds were rolling in and the heavens opened during the night. I love the sound of rain at night. That is why I love the above quote. It really is like the rain sings a lullaby. When I was a kid, there was a tin roof over my bedroom and I can still remember the thunderous drumming of the rain. It was nice to be safe inside - which is what I felt after getting home. All around us there is flooding. The little stream that runs beside one of the main roads leading to my house is now a little rushing river. The wind blew down one of my bird feeders - but the little birds are still trying to make quick trips from the nearby bush to the feeder to grab a few seeds and take them back to where it is relatively dry, deep in the bush.
We have workers at the house today. Another bathroom is being installed, and some railings are being put in. Every time they go out the door, or come in (which is VERY often) the dog barks like she has never seen them before. sigh. I love this poor little old barking mess of a dog! She has not left my side since I returned. I don't know how people live without pets.
We had a nice- quick- visit to Richmond...and my sister! Got my hair done, as planned - whew! No more gray roots...at least for a few weeks! We ran some errands and visited our friend, Marguerite, at The Alchemist. Also, we toured the Crosswalk Art Gallery where my sister, Patricia Motley, is going to be showing some of her work. I am so proud of her. Her art work is beautiful and I am glad that - finally - others will be able to experience it.
The only bad part about driving to Richmond and back is the traffic on 95. When we were coming home Wednesday, it wasn't too bad - but on the drive down it was terrible. We were driving 25 mph forever. And all those Bozos who race past you on the shoulder of the road and then cut in front, drive me crazy. I always wonder where the cops are!!!
So - now back to the ordinary. Must do laundry. But, a nice rainy day inside is sometimes - like today - a real treat!
Sunday, September 26, 2010
THE OLD GRAY MARE - SHE AIN'T WHAT SHE USED TO BE!
"There is only one lasting cure for gray hair. It was invented by a Frenchman. It is called the guillotine." P.G. Woodhouse
I will be traveling back to Richmond for a couple of days - to get my hair done. I know - it is a dreadful cliche' of a Southern woman, but I don't care. Good hairdressers are hard to find - and once you "break one in" it is not easy to simply let them go and start over! My hair is horribly out of shape and the gray is winning the battle over the blond. So - I have to go. You remember that old Clairol commercial "Only her hairdresser knows for sure?" Well, that doesn't apply to me anymore! Of course, when you get to be my age, everyone knows that your natural hair color is gray, so I know I'm not fooling anyone.
The plus side is that I get to see my sister!!! So that makes it all worthwhile. Will not blog for a couple of days - but will have much to share when I return.
I will be traveling back to Richmond for a couple of days - to get my hair done. I know - it is a dreadful cliche' of a Southern woman, but I don't care. Good hairdressers are hard to find - and once you "break one in" it is not easy to simply let them go and start over! My hair is horribly out of shape and the gray is winning the battle over the blond. So - I have to go. You remember that old Clairol commercial "Only her hairdresser knows for sure?" Well, that doesn't apply to me anymore! Of course, when you get to be my age, everyone knows that your natural hair color is gray, so I know I'm not fooling anyone.
The plus side is that I get to see my sister!!! So that makes it all worthwhile. Will not blog for a couple of days - but will have much to share when I return.
Friday, September 24, 2010
PUT ON THE KETTLE
"You can never get a cup of tea large enough or a book long enough to suit me." C.S. Lewis
I am a devoted tea drinker. It isn't that I don't like coffee...I really do...but at some point I decided that tea was better for me, so I switched. Actually, it probably wasn't so much that the coffee was bad for me...it was more about that non-dairy powdered creamer that I used by the boat load in each cup. Anything that artificial has to corrode something vital in my body.
So - back to tea. I love mornings when I can consume the entire pot. Of course, that means that I can't go anywhere until afternoon because of all the time I spend getting rid of the tea I drank!! Every cup is worth two trips to the bathroom. OK...perhaps that is TMI...but I know I am not the only one with this problem.
My favorite tea is just about anything from The Republic of Tea. Fabulous flavored tea - and the British Breakfast tea is wonderfully bracing in the morning. I don't use those dainty china teacups, however. For me, my cup of choice is the biggest ceramic mug I can find. I certainly have some lovely teacups - but it seems like such a waste of time for me. I guess I am more of a "chugger" than a "sipper." (Sound dreadful, now that I have put it into words!)
On the weekends I like to use loose tea. Something about that feels more "weekend-y" to me. It really does taste better. I had a hard time finding just the right "tea ball" however. Finally found one through Amazon.com that is like those gold coffee filters they make for coffee makers. (You really CAN find everything at Amazon!)
On Sundays I now have the luxury of two papers - the Morning Call and the New York Times. A pot of tea, two papers, CBS Sunday Morning on TV...mmmmm....THAT is what a call a great morning!!!
Not sure why I decided to write about tea today...perhaps it is because I just added it to my grocery list. So, I will end this bit of drivel with another quote I found by an unknown author:
"Remember the tea kettle - it is always up to its neck in hot water, yet it still sings!"
I am a devoted tea drinker. It isn't that I don't like coffee...I really do...but at some point I decided that tea was better for me, so I switched. Actually, it probably wasn't so much that the coffee was bad for me...it was more about that non-dairy powdered creamer that I used by the boat load in each cup. Anything that artificial has to corrode something vital in my body.
So - back to tea. I love mornings when I can consume the entire pot. Of course, that means that I can't go anywhere until afternoon because of all the time I spend getting rid of the tea I drank!! Every cup is worth two trips to the bathroom. OK...perhaps that is TMI...but I know I am not the only one with this problem.
My favorite tea is just about anything from The Republic of Tea. Fabulous flavored tea - and the British Breakfast tea is wonderfully bracing in the morning. I don't use those dainty china teacups, however. For me, my cup of choice is the biggest ceramic mug I can find. I certainly have some lovely teacups - but it seems like such a waste of time for me. I guess I am more of a "chugger" than a "sipper." (Sound dreadful, now that I have put it into words!)
On the weekends I like to use loose tea. Something about that feels more "weekend-y" to me. It really does taste better. I had a hard time finding just the right "tea ball" however. Finally found one through Amazon.com that is like those gold coffee filters they make for coffee makers. (You really CAN find everything at Amazon!)
On Sundays I now have the luxury of two papers - the Morning Call and the New York Times. A pot of tea, two papers, CBS Sunday Morning on TV...mmmmm....THAT is what a call a great morning!!!
Not sure why I decided to write about tea today...perhaps it is because I just added it to my grocery list. So, I will end this bit of drivel with another quote I found by an unknown author:
"Remember the tea kettle - it is always up to its neck in hot water, yet it still sings!"
Thursday, September 23, 2010
AN IDIOT'S GUIDE TO WASTING TIME
I have been reading The Idiot's Guide to Elves and Fairies. Before you panic - I am reading it as research since the book I am working on is Fantasy. I wanted to carry it with me the other day when I was anticipating a long wait to get my Driver's License, but was afraid of the strange looks I would get. Anyway - I started wondering about these Idiot Guide books...and just what kind of strange topics they cover. If they have a book about Elves and Fairies - then they should have one for anything! I recognized this was an excellent opportunity to procrastinate and waste some time surfing the net!
So - a quick trip to Amazon.com provided a few answers:
The Idiot's Guide to Mindfulness - This was first on the list. Good place to start. Concentration.
The Idiot's Guide to U.S. Gov't. and Politics - Should be required reading in Washington. (I am also tempted to say something catty about Sarah Palin - but will leave that to your imagination.)
The Idiot's Guide to Amazing Sex - I kid you not! Just think - all it takes is a book!!! Who knew?!
The Idiot's Guide to the Law of Attraction - This one only has five copies left. Order soon!
The Idiot's Guide to 2012 - I am having enough trouble with 2010!
The Idiot's Guide to Algebra - Could have used that in high school!
The Idiot's Guide to the Bible AND The Complete Idiot's Guide to the Bible - wonder what the difference is? Maybe more color pictures in the one for the Complete Idiot.
The Idiot's Guide to Writing a Novel - I've been tempted to get this one.
The Idiot's Guide to Eating Raw - How many ways can you say "Don't cook it"?
Moving on - I looked for the "Dummies" books...didn't find as many of those.
Sex for Dummies - Sounds less appealing then the amazing sex promised to idiots.
How to Fix Everything for Dummies - Everything??? Really??? Why....because they can't do it for themselves? Sorry...corny joke!
Facebook for Dummies - I love it!
A Complete MBA for Dummies - I have to find this book and look through it...
Wonder what the difference is between being a Dummy and being an Idiot. And - what about a Complete Idiot???
Maybe reading about Elves and Fairies isn't so crazy after all...but if you see me reading about Amazing Sex, don't interrupt me!!!
So - a quick trip to Amazon.com provided a few answers:
The Idiot's Guide to Mindfulness - This was first on the list. Good place to start. Concentration.
The Idiot's Guide to U.S. Gov't. and Politics - Should be required reading in Washington. (I am also tempted to say something catty about Sarah Palin - but will leave that to your imagination.)
The Idiot's Guide to Amazing Sex - I kid you not! Just think - all it takes is a book!!! Who knew?!
The Idiot's Guide to the Law of Attraction - This one only has five copies left. Order soon!
The Idiot's Guide to 2012 - I am having enough trouble with 2010!
The Idiot's Guide to Algebra - Could have used that in high school!
The Idiot's Guide to the Bible AND The Complete Idiot's Guide to the Bible - wonder what the difference is? Maybe more color pictures in the one for the Complete Idiot.
The Idiot's Guide to Writing a Novel - I've been tempted to get this one.
The Idiot's Guide to Eating Raw - How many ways can you say "Don't cook it"?
Moving on - I looked for the "Dummies" books...didn't find as many of those.
Sex for Dummies - Sounds less appealing then the amazing sex promised to idiots.
How to Fix Everything for Dummies - Everything??? Really??? Why....because they can't do it for themselves? Sorry...corny joke!
Facebook for Dummies - I love it!
A Complete MBA for Dummies - I have to find this book and look through it...
Wonder what the difference is between being a Dummy and being an Idiot. And - what about a Complete Idiot???
Maybe reading about Elves and Fairies isn't so crazy after all...but if you see me reading about Amazing Sex, don't interrupt me!!!
WHERE THE **** IS THE MOON????!!!!
"Weather forecast for tonight: dark." George Carlin (as the Hippie-Dippie Weatherman)
I was ready. I had my camera by the door. I had looked on the Nikon Website for information on taking night pictures. And it started to get dark. REALLY DARK. And - it was far too early for it to be that dark. I turned on the TV - and there was a little message on a blue screen that read: searching for satellite. (Direct TV - rant to follow). Sheets of rain began to pound my windows - the wind was whipping like crazy! I had not experienced any storm like it since Hurricane Isabelle marched through Richmond and ripped six trees out by their roots in my yard. And - it went on forever!
I have probably mentioned before that stability in my family depends on the TV. When we are forced to resort to actual conversation, things can get ugly - especially at dinner time when we are unable to chew without the television. So - I was delighted to discover in my panic that we were still able to watch recorded shows on the DVR even though the frickin' satellite had somehow disappeared in the rain! That was going smoothly until...the power went out. Talk about dark!!!!!! It was that eerie dark where you can't see ANYTHING. At that moment, the conversation turned to: "Where is a flashlight?" No one knew the answer to that one! Probably one of those mysteriously missing objects that disappeared in the black hole of the move. Fortunately, before things got really ugly, the power came back on.
On the TV screen, with the message about searching for a satellite, was a button marked, "more info". Okay. I decided I would click it. A list appeared giving us suggestions to regain service. Helpful things like: Press the red button behind the folding door on the front of the unit. (There is no red button...or blue...or pink...or purple. THERE IS NO BUTTON!) Plug and Unplug the connection cables. (They always tell you to do this!!! I think it is simply something to keep you busy until they fix the problem.) And - my favorite - "If it is safe to do so, move the dish to a different angle." (Yes - crawl up on the roof in the middle of a thunderstorm and play with the satellite dish!!!! They should add: "Electrocution will quickly take your mind off the lack of service!!)
After awhile - the missing satellite was apparently located and all service was restored. The rain stopped (although lightning continued for some time) and the sky was filled with clouds. The full moon was dimmed by the cloud cover - and not worth taking a picture of. Now I guess I will have to wait until 2029.
And - I am somewhat worried about what will happen to our TV service when it snows. I actually asked the technician who installed the dish about that problem, and he told me to go on the site and order a "dish bra". I can't believe I fell for that. Of course, there is no such product on the site. I bet he is still laughing at me! George said that we could use one of my old ones. I failed to see the humor in that - unless he had to crawl on the roof to put it on!!! Then I would laugh.
I was ready. I had my camera by the door. I had looked on the Nikon Website for information on taking night pictures. And it started to get dark. REALLY DARK. And - it was far too early for it to be that dark. I turned on the TV - and there was a little message on a blue screen that read: searching for satellite. (Direct TV - rant to follow). Sheets of rain began to pound my windows - the wind was whipping like crazy! I had not experienced any storm like it since Hurricane Isabelle marched through Richmond and ripped six trees out by their roots in my yard. And - it went on forever!
I have probably mentioned before that stability in my family depends on the TV. When we are forced to resort to actual conversation, things can get ugly - especially at dinner time when we are unable to chew without the television. So - I was delighted to discover in my panic that we were still able to watch recorded shows on the DVR even though the frickin' satellite had somehow disappeared in the rain! That was going smoothly until...the power went out. Talk about dark!!!!!! It was that eerie dark where you can't see ANYTHING. At that moment, the conversation turned to: "Where is a flashlight?" No one knew the answer to that one! Probably one of those mysteriously missing objects that disappeared in the black hole of the move. Fortunately, before things got really ugly, the power came back on.
On the TV screen, with the message about searching for a satellite, was a button marked, "more info". Okay. I decided I would click it. A list appeared giving us suggestions to regain service. Helpful things like: Press the red button behind the folding door on the front of the unit. (There is no red button...or blue...or pink...or purple. THERE IS NO BUTTON!) Plug and Unplug the connection cables. (They always tell you to do this!!! I think it is simply something to keep you busy until they fix the problem.) And - my favorite - "If it is safe to do so, move the dish to a different angle." (Yes - crawl up on the roof in the middle of a thunderstorm and play with the satellite dish!!!! They should add: "Electrocution will quickly take your mind off the lack of service!!)
After awhile - the missing satellite was apparently located and all service was restored. The rain stopped (although lightning continued for some time) and the sky was filled with clouds. The full moon was dimmed by the cloud cover - and not worth taking a picture of. Now I guess I will have to wait until 2029.
And - I am somewhat worried about what will happen to our TV service when it snows. I actually asked the technician who installed the dish about that problem, and he told me to go on the site and order a "dish bra". I can't believe I fell for that. Of course, there is no such product on the site. I bet he is still laughing at me! George said that we could use one of my old ones. I failed to see the humor in that - unless he had to crawl on the roof to put it on!!! Then I would laugh.
Wednesday, September 22, 2010
SHINE ON HARVEST MOON!!!
Last night I was spellbound by the beauty of the full moon in the clear night sky. There are so many windows in this new house - some span two floors - so they provide perfect ways to enjoy the outside world (without encountering mosquitoes!!)
As I was surfing the net this morning, I discovered that tonight - for the first time in 20 years - we will have a "Super Harvest Moon". The action begins at sunset tonight...the last day of northern summer. As the sun sinks in the west, bringing the season to a close, the full Harvest Moon will rise in the east, heralding the start of Fall. The two sources of light will mix together to create a kind of 360-degree, summer-autumn twilight glow that is only seen on rare occasions.
As the Moon creeps above the eastern skyline, it may appear strangely inflated. This is what I like to think of as "moon magic"...or, for those of you less enchanted by fantasy - an "illusion." Astronomers don't even really understand why a low-hanging moon appears wider than it really is. I don't need to have an explanation - I just want to enjoy it! They say that the view improves as the night wears on.
I never questioned the reason for calling an autumn moon a harvest moon - but I discovered this morning that it started in the days before electricity. Farmers depended on bright moonlight to extend the workday beyond sunset so that they could gather their ripening crops in time for market. I guess the farmers would really like the one we are going to see tonight because it would be extra "Harvesty."
Anyway - be sure and enjoy tonight's celestial fanfare welcoming the Fall season. They say it won't happen again until 2029. Warning: Don't try and calculate how old you will be then. It's depressing!
Tuesday, September 21, 2010
LICENSED TO DRIVE
"If you can't see the bright side of life, polish the dull side."
I don't know who said that - but I like it. Today I had to get my Pennsylvania driver's license. Sigh. During my adult years, I have spent many a frustrating hour waiting at the DMV, so I was prepared for the worst this morning. It is called the Photo ID Driver's License center here - and if I had not used the Garmin, I would never have found it. Tucked away on some obscure road, behind a warehouse. The front of the building didn't even face the road. When we arrived, the parking lot was packed and people were standing outside, smoking and looking like Zombies who had been waiting far too long. Marilyn and I got our numbers - 209 and 210 - and she found a seat. I just sat in the aisle in my wheelchair. We looked up and realized that they were working on number 124, so we took a deep breath and prepared ourselves for a long, LONG wait.
Within moments, a policeman tapped my shoulder and told us to go to the counter. WE HAD NO WAIT. The clerk was so friendly and helpful, and she said that I didn't have to wait because my wheelchair was blocking the aisle and it was a fire hazard! So - today - it was a good thing to be in a wheelchair. Definitely an example of polishing the dull side of life and finding the shine!
I don't know who said that - but I like it. Today I had to get my Pennsylvania driver's license. Sigh. During my adult years, I have spent many a frustrating hour waiting at the DMV, so I was prepared for the worst this morning. It is called the Photo ID Driver's License center here - and if I had not used the Garmin, I would never have found it. Tucked away on some obscure road, behind a warehouse. The front of the building didn't even face the road. When we arrived, the parking lot was packed and people were standing outside, smoking and looking like Zombies who had been waiting far too long. Marilyn and I got our numbers - 209 and 210 - and she found a seat. I just sat in the aisle in my wheelchair. We looked up and realized that they were working on number 124, so we took a deep breath and prepared ourselves for a long, LONG wait.
Within moments, a policeman tapped my shoulder and told us to go to the counter. WE HAD NO WAIT. The clerk was so friendly and helpful, and she said that I didn't have to wait because my wheelchair was blocking the aisle and it was a fire hazard! So - today - it was a good thing to be in a wheelchair. Definitely an example of polishing the dull side of life and finding the shine!
Monday, September 20, 2010
BACK IN THE LAND OF THE LIVING
"There is nothing wrong with change, if it is in the right direction." Winston Churchill
Here I am, alive and well, having emerged semi-victorious over the mountain of boxes and packing paper! Moving is an atrocious job, shaking us to our core. At least, that is what it was like for me. And yet - now that the dust is beginning to settle a little, I find that I really like where I am. In many ways it reminds me of Warrenton, where I grew up. The rolling hills and farmland stretch before me every time I leave my driveway. We are definitely in the country and I love it. I can hear the birds in the morning and that constant drone of traffic that I was used to in Richmond is gone. It is quiet. And, at night, it is REALLY quiet.
We have lovely neighbors across the street who showed up at our front door with food during our first days here. The people we have encountered in the grocery store have been pleasant - and amused by my accent. Oh well. Having lived in the south all my life, I recognize regional differences here - not bad - just different.
My sister came up on the train and spent a few days. That was wonderful!!! We worked and played - okay...we played more than we worked! I was sad to see her go...but she will be back soon. I made her promise.
We still don't have everything done - the living room looks like a war zone and we don't have pictures hung. There are still boxes in the basement to sort through - and we are constantly searching for things. I'm sure that most of the mysterious disappearing items will be found buried in one of those boxes in the basement.
I was most worried about our elderly dog and cat adjusting - but they are thriving. Actually, it seems to have given my dog new life! Goes to show what a waste of energy worry is. Of course, I am sure I will continue to do it!!!
I am glad to be back at the computer...back to blogging. Thanks for all your good energy and prayers during this transition. Now it is time for me to settle in and return to writing. I will keep you posted!
Here I am, alive and well, having emerged semi-victorious over the mountain of boxes and packing paper! Moving is an atrocious job, shaking us to our core. At least, that is what it was like for me. And yet - now that the dust is beginning to settle a little, I find that I really like where I am. In many ways it reminds me of Warrenton, where I grew up. The rolling hills and farmland stretch before me every time I leave my driveway. We are definitely in the country and I love it. I can hear the birds in the morning and that constant drone of traffic that I was used to in Richmond is gone. It is quiet. And, at night, it is REALLY quiet.
We have lovely neighbors across the street who showed up at our front door with food during our first days here. The people we have encountered in the grocery store have been pleasant - and amused by my accent. Oh well. Having lived in the south all my life, I recognize regional differences here - not bad - just different.
My sister came up on the train and spent a few days. That was wonderful!!! We worked and played - okay...we played more than we worked! I was sad to see her go...but she will be back soon. I made her promise.
We still don't have everything done - the living room looks like a war zone and we don't have pictures hung. There are still boxes in the basement to sort through - and we are constantly searching for things. I'm sure that most of the mysterious disappearing items will be found buried in one of those boxes in the basement.
I was most worried about our elderly dog and cat adjusting - but they are thriving. Actually, it seems to have given my dog new life! Goes to show what a waste of energy worry is. Of course, I am sure I will continue to do it!!!
I am glad to be back at the computer...back to blogging. Thanks for all your good energy and prayers during this transition. Now it is time for me to settle in and return to writing. I will keep you posted!
Tuesday, August 10, 2010
IS IT HOT ENOUGH FOR GLOBAL WARMING YET?
"I have not seen Al Gore's movie." Dick Cheney
Well - I must admit that I have not seen it either...but I believe in global warming...especially on a day like today! Went to Walmart and it was hot inside the store. The clerk was begging us to call management and have them lower the temperature. So - if global warming hits Walmart - then it is bad!
I have tried to sit quietly and write a blog for two days now - and life has interfered. So instead of frustrating myself further - I think I will simply give in to taking a few weeks off, now that I am in the middle of the move. My Internet service will not be up and running in the new house until the 31st of August - in spite of lengthy conversations with Verizon...emphasis on lengthy.
The movers arrive on the 18th and will pack us on the 18th and 19th...load the truck on the 20th....and move us in on the 23rd. We will spend three nights in a hotel (with the dog and cat...that ALONE will provide me with material for a blog!) So - I will restart my blog the first part of September, when I have a clear head.
Enjoy these last weeks of summer...in front of a fan, preferably.
See you in September. I think that is a title for a song.
Well - I must admit that I have not seen it either...but I believe in global warming...especially on a day like today! Went to Walmart and it was hot inside the store. The clerk was begging us to call management and have them lower the temperature. So - if global warming hits Walmart - then it is bad!
I have tried to sit quietly and write a blog for two days now - and life has interfered. So instead of frustrating myself further - I think I will simply give in to taking a few weeks off, now that I am in the middle of the move. My Internet service will not be up and running in the new house until the 31st of August - in spite of lengthy conversations with Verizon...emphasis on lengthy.
The movers arrive on the 18th and will pack us on the 18th and 19th...load the truck on the 20th....and move us in on the 23rd. We will spend three nights in a hotel (with the dog and cat...that ALONE will provide me with material for a blog!) So - I will restart my blog the first part of September, when I have a clear head.
Enjoy these last weeks of summer...in front of a fan, preferably.
See you in September. I think that is a title for a song.
Friday, August 6, 2010
FACT OR FICTION
"Handle them carefully, for words have more power than atom bombs." Pearl Stracham Hurd
I've been thinking about the power of blogs, lately. Not just because I write one - but because I have become increasingly aware of the degree to which they affect the information we receive. It used to be that we heard the news at 6:00 by good old trusty Walter Cronkite who ended his broadcast with, "And that's the way it is" and we believed him because he said so. His voice was the be-all and end-all to the news. He told us everything we needed to know. Life continued after the designated news hour without the rabid craving for more and more information that seems to consume us now. Were we better off then? I don't know. Hey - I surf the web as much as the next guy, so I can't really make a judgment.
The thing is, however, that I wonder if we have lost a clear avenue of truth. It isn't just a matter of the 24 hour news channels which are truly more about opinions than facts. It is this whole slippery slope of the internet...a place where people can put anything about anyone out there for the world to read/see with no real perimeters for the truth. I could write in this little space that Sarah Palin wears men's underwear...and if it is a slow news day, someone trolling the internet might stumble across this insignificant blog and decide that bit of completely unfounded information was newsworthy. Theoretically, I could turn on the TV and see "Sarah Palin proves she has balls because she wears men's underwear" scrolling along the bottom of CNN.
Blogs are unrestrained by traditional journalistic methods and ethics and some of them have readerships larger than many newspapers, TV and radio shows. They have the power to shape opinions and affect lives. Just look at the recent debacle with Shirley Sherrod, the USDA worker who was forced to resign because of a political-media fiasco that was started by a blogger.
Unfortunately, there are no electronic filters that separate truth from fiction. There really is only one tool we can use: critical thinking. We truly have to think about what we see and hear. We have to evaluate and select. We have to engage our minds.
Maybe that is a good thing. In this world where technology is taking over everything - it is nice to know my mind is still my most valuable tool.
Still, some days I miss good old Walter.
I've been thinking about the power of blogs, lately. Not just because I write one - but because I have become increasingly aware of the degree to which they affect the information we receive. It used to be that we heard the news at 6:00 by good old trusty Walter Cronkite who ended his broadcast with, "And that's the way it is" and we believed him because he said so. His voice was the be-all and end-all to the news. He told us everything we needed to know. Life continued after the designated news hour without the rabid craving for more and more information that seems to consume us now. Were we better off then? I don't know. Hey - I surf the web as much as the next guy, so I can't really make a judgment.
The thing is, however, that I wonder if we have lost a clear avenue of truth. It isn't just a matter of the 24 hour news channels which are truly more about opinions than facts. It is this whole slippery slope of the internet...a place where people can put anything about anyone out there for the world to read/see with no real perimeters for the truth. I could write in this little space that Sarah Palin wears men's underwear...and if it is a slow news day, someone trolling the internet might stumble across this insignificant blog and decide that bit of completely unfounded information was newsworthy. Theoretically, I could turn on the TV and see "Sarah Palin proves she has balls because she wears men's underwear" scrolling along the bottom of CNN.
Blogs are unrestrained by traditional journalistic methods and ethics and some of them have readerships larger than many newspapers, TV and radio shows. They have the power to shape opinions and affect lives. Just look at the recent debacle with Shirley Sherrod, the USDA worker who was forced to resign because of a political-media fiasco that was started by a blogger.
Unfortunately, there are no electronic filters that separate truth from fiction. There really is only one tool we can use: critical thinking. We truly have to think about what we see and hear. We have to evaluate and select. We have to engage our minds.
Maybe that is a good thing. In this world where technology is taking over everything - it is nice to know my mind is still my most valuable tool.
Still, some days I miss good old Walter.
Tuesday, August 3, 2010
BITCH, BITCH, BITCH
The Five Stages of a Woman's Life:
To grow up.
To fill out
To slim down
To hold it in
To hell with it!
I saw this in a catalog today, and it made me laugh. I am so at the "to hell with it" stage of things!!! Of course, the question here is what was I doing wasting time looking through a catalog when I have a zillion other things to do. I was wasting time...I was procrastinating (see earlier post since I have already confessed to this weakness.)
I have been "intending" to get to this blog for hours now, but I kept getting interrupted. As can be expected at this stage of things, there are a lot of last minute papers to be forwarded, checks to write (actually, I feel like I am hemorrhaging money), and more loose ends to tie up then I was aware of. No wonder "moving" is listed as one of the most stressful things in life...right up there with losing a spouse.
I have printed out so many papers and forms and I keep running out of ink! I think this whole printer/ink thing is a rip-off. Actually, I have owned printers that cost less than the price of ink. Now that we have all these different cartridges for separate colors as well as black, I don't think any of them last as long as they used to.
I sound like an old fart - complaining. All I need to do is start a sentence with, "In the good old days...."
Oh well...what can I say...to hell with it!
p.s. Keeping true to form, I nearly deleted this entry before I posted it. Damn! Thank goodness for auto-save!!
p.s. Keeping true to form, I nearly deleted this entry before I posted it. Damn! Thank goodness for auto-save!!
Sunday, August 1, 2010
I MEANT TO....BUT....
"It is not good enough for things to be planned - they still have to be done; for the intention to become a reality, energy has to be launched into operation." Walt Kelly (cartoonist most known for his comic strip, POGO"
I read this quote, and my immediate response was, "Well, Duh!" There is certainly nothing profound in these words. Still, it seems to be the place where I am prone to slip up. I am great at making lists...at scheduling things that need to be done. But sometimes, I fall victim to procrastination (a particularly attractive temptation to me) and my best intentions fizzle.
One of the most repeated pieces of advice given to writers is to be sure and write something everyday. I can certainly see the value in this - and I have known many would-be writers who talk about writing, but never get around to actually doing it. But, I think placing such a unyielding requirement on writers can backfire...especially if they are like me, and prone to self-flagellation when they miss the mark...or miss a day or two....or four. If I am honor bound to write everyday, and life interferes and I don't write for several days, I feel guilty and my motivation dissipates. Then I have to jump-start the writing rhythm again, laboriously wading through the thick sludge of inactivity to uncover a single creative thought.
So, instead I tell myself that I will TRY and write everyday. I know this is not a particularly noble ambition. Actually, I heard someone say once that to say you will "try" means that you intend to fail with honor. That sounds harsh - but I can see that there are times that would be true. Like when someone invites you to an event that you have no intention of attending, but instead you say that you will "try." Oh come on! I know that I am not the only person who has done that!
With my writing, the "try" method works best for me. I would love to say that I will write a blog everyday...but I know, especially now with the move, it is unrealistic. So, I write as often as I can. Tomorrow I already have a list of things to do:
I guess he ought to know!
I read this quote, and my immediate response was, "Well, Duh!" There is certainly nothing profound in these words. Still, it seems to be the place where I am prone to slip up. I am great at making lists...at scheduling things that need to be done. But sometimes, I fall victim to procrastination (a particularly attractive temptation to me) and my best intentions fizzle.
One of the most repeated pieces of advice given to writers is to be sure and write something everyday. I can certainly see the value in this - and I have known many would-be writers who talk about writing, but never get around to actually doing it. But, I think placing such a unyielding requirement on writers can backfire...especially if they are like me, and prone to self-flagellation when they miss the mark...or miss a day or two....or four. If I am honor bound to write everyday, and life interferes and I don't write for several days, I feel guilty and my motivation dissipates. Then I have to jump-start the writing rhythm again, laboriously wading through the thick sludge of inactivity to uncover a single creative thought.
So, instead I tell myself that I will TRY and write everyday. I know this is not a particularly noble ambition. Actually, I heard someone say once that to say you will "try" means that you intend to fail with honor. That sounds harsh - but I can see that there are times that would be true. Like when someone invites you to an event that you have no intention of attending, but instead you say that you will "try." Oh come on! I know that I am not the only person who has done that!
With my writing, the "try" method works best for me. I would love to say that I will write a blog everyday...but I know, especially now with the move, it is unrealistic. So, I write as often as I can. Tomorrow I already have a list of things to do:
- Go to the Social Security office and apply for a replacement Social Security card. (Lost mine years ago and suddenly I realize that I am going to need it for a PA driver's license.)
- Pick up change of address cards at the Post Office and an application for a passport. (Marilyn is insisting that I do this in case we want to go to Canada for Christmas shopping. Hmmmmm....oh well.)
- Call and make appointments with the vet for Sophie and Bizy
- Go to the bank
- Take boxes in the back of my van to Goodwill
- "TRY" to write a blog.
I guess he ought to know!
Friday, July 30, 2010
"MAMA SAID THERE'D BE DAYS LIKE THIS."
"Bad moods become bad days, which become bad weeks, which become bad months and years. Before you know it you're living an unhappy life and you probably think this is normal." Brenda Anderson
I was looking for a quote about grouchiness when I found this dismal and depressing statement by Brenda Anderson. My curiosity was piqued and so I did some research to find out who this Miss Susie Sunshine was. Turns out she has a Ph.D. in Psychology and her work involves the biological basis for the effects of exercise and stress on mental health and cognition. Hmmmmmm....at least she is not a counselor.
Anyway...I am in a bad mood. I freely admit it. This is not the norm for me...so I notice it. I think it must be something wrong with the planets, or stars, or whatever weird astrological forces are lurking in the atmosphere. It seems like everything I set out to do is involved, complicated, or impossible. Everything I pick up - I drop...everything I reach for - I can't find...you know how it goes.
Things are coming down to the wire for our move...and there are so many little details to take of. Everything that is done by faxing has to be done at least three times. Important emails seem to disappear into the black hole of the Internet, and things that I have been trying to get settled all summer (like getting a new wheelchair) just keep getting more complicated.
So - I suppose I am grumpy for a reason. Still - it doesn't feel like me. Even writing this blog is like pulling teeth. Yes, I know that is a dreadful cliche...but it's the best I can do for now. No one wants to read my whining...yet, here I am...recording it all for your reading "pleasure!"
I guess we all go through days like this. The only thing I know for sure is that my sense of humor is still intact...even though it may be a tad dark and skewed. I have to keep laughing...or I may turn into Brenda Anderson!
I was looking for a quote about grouchiness when I found this dismal and depressing statement by Brenda Anderson. My curiosity was piqued and so I did some research to find out who this Miss Susie Sunshine was. Turns out she has a Ph.D. in Psychology and her work involves the biological basis for the effects of exercise and stress on mental health and cognition. Hmmmmmm....at least she is not a counselor.
Anyway...I am in a bad mood. I freely admit it. This is not the norm for me...so I notice it. I think it must be something wrong with the planets, or stars, or whatever weird astrological forces are lurking in the atmosphere. It seems like everything I set out to do is involved, complicated, or impossible. Everything I pick up - I drop...everything I reach for - I can't find...you know how it goes.
Things are coming down to the wire for our move...and there are so many little details to take of. Everything that is done by faxing has to be done at least three times. Important emails seem to disappear into the black hole of the Internet, and things that I have been trying to get settled all summer (like getting a new wheelchair) just keep getting more complicated.
So - I suppose I am grumpy for a reason. Still - it doesn't feel like me. Even writing this blog is like pulling teeth. Yes, I know that is a dreadful cliche...but it's the best I can do for now. No one wants to read my whining...yet, here I am...recording it all for your reading "pleasure!"
I guess we all go through days like this. The only thing I know for sure is that my sense of humor is still intact...even though it may be a tad dark and skewed. I have to keep laughing...or I may turn into Brenda Anderson!
Wednesday, July 28, 2010
HOW HOT IS IT?
Most of the country has been suffering through an incredible heat wave lately. Triple digit temperatures for days and days. I have never been a huge fan of summer because I do not like the heat. So I know it's been really hot when I go outside on a 96 degree day and announce, "Well, it's not too bad out here!" Anyway, I started wondering about the crazy expressions we have that refer to heat. Of course, there are the obvious ones...hot as hell...hot as fire...hot enough to fry a frog on a lily pad (I'm not too sure if that is a common expression, or one my Dad made up. He was always doing that to make me laugh.)
So - with a little research, I came up with a list that has some more "original sounding" expressions:
Or, perhaps there is a little bit of my Dad in all of us. We want to make each other laugh. Humor makes everything more bearable - even the hottest of days.
Now...if I could just figure out what "hoot'n poot" means.
So - with a little research, I came up with a list that has some more "original sounding" expressions:
- It is so hot the birds have to use potholders to pull worms out of the ground.
- It's hotter than a billy goat in a pepper patch.
- It's hotter than two cats fighting in a wool sock.
- It's so hot that I tied my mule in a field of corn, and the corn started popping and the mule thought it was snow and froze to death! (Ok...really lame.)
- It's so hot I saw two trees fighting over a dog.
- It's hotter than a hoot'n poot. (I have no idea what that means!)
- It's so hot that the trees are creeping around looking for shade.
- It's hotter than the devil's underpants.
- It is hot enough to cure tobacco.
- It's so hot that it makes me want to take off my skin and sit in my bones.
Or, perhaps there is a little bit of my Dad in all of us. We want to make each other laugh. Humor makes everything more bearable - even the hottest of days.
Now...if I could just figure out what "hoot'n poot" means.
Monday, July 26, 2010
WHERE IS YOUR PLACE OF WONDER?
"I shall always be haunted by thoughts of a sundrenched elsewhere." Isabelle Eberhardt
There are places on this earth that simply make your heart sing. For some people, it is the beach - the sound of the ocean and the white sand - can send them to a personal nirvana where they are refreshed and restored. Not me. The ocean has never held any attraction for me...too much sand and grit, and I was always afraid of things in the water.
But - the mountains hold magic for me. Recently a Facebook friend posted about their trip to Mt. Rainier...and my mind immediatedly returned to my visit there last year...to what I refer to has one of my very best days ever.
You wouldn't think that a mountain retreat would be ideal for a wheelchair. It certainly would have been fun to explore the trails and hike, but I have learned to appreciate all that I am able to do, and so my limitations were not a big deal for me. I was simply overwhelmed by the immense beauty of the place. It was a deeply spiritual experience for me...and as strange as it seems, I felt like I was "home."
In that place, my creative mind was alive and teeming with ideas for stories and poems and works of art...and all I could do was breathe the sweet air deeply and immerse myself in the awesome wonder of this place.
I remember sitting on the deck of the lodge drinking a cup of tea. It was in the low 70's...perfect weather. I had on a hot pink shirt...and suddenly this little hummingbird hovered about 10 inches from my face for the longest time (that is, for a hummingbird!) I held my breath. It was a mystical connection like nothing else I could remember experiencing before. Of course, I guess the reality was that the hummingbird thought he had discovered the world's largest flower! But, even now, as I think about it, I can feel that "zing" deep inside myself ...that wash of gratitude for being alive in that moment.
As a writer, it helps to nurture those moments in my life. It helps to seek them out...to take the time to just appreciate the miracles around me, particularly in nature. And in the richness of those experiences, I remember the way it feels when I tap into the treasure trove of imagination that already exists inside me...it just takes a few seconds with the memory of that hummingbird and once again, I find my creative wings and fly.
There are places on this earth that simply make your heart sing. For some people, it is the beach - the sound of the ocean and the white sand - can send them to a personal nirvana where they are refreshed and restored. Not me. The ocean has never held any attraction for me...too much sand and grit, and I was always afraid of things in the water.
But - the mountains hold magic for me. Recently a Facebook friend posted about their trip to Mt. Rainier...and my mind immediatedly returned to my visit there last year...to what I refer to has one of my very best days ever.
In that place, my creative mind was alive and teeming with ideas for stories and poems and works of art...and all I could do was breathe the sweet air deeply and immerse myself in the awesome wonder of this place.
I remember sitting on the deck of the lodge drinking a cup of tea. It was in the low 70's...perfect weather. I had on a hot pink shirt...and suddenly this little hummingbird hovered about 10 inches from my face for the longest time (that is, for a hummingbird!) I held my breath. It was a mystical connection like nothing else I could remember experiencing before. Of course, I guess the reality was that the hummingbird thought he had discovered the world's largest flower! But, even now, as I think about it, I can feel that "zing" deep inside myself ...that wash of gratitude for being alive in that moment.
As a writer, it helps to nurture those moments in my life. It helps to seek them out...to take the time to just appreciate the miracles around me, particularly in nature. And in the richness of those experiences, I remember the way it feels when I tap into the treasure trove of imagination that already exists inside me...it just takes a few seconds with the memory of that hummingbird and once again, I find my creative wings and fly.
Sunday, July 25, 2010
IF THE SHOE FITS...
"Creativity often consists of merely turning up what is already there. Did you know that right and left shoes were thought up only a little more than a century ago?" Bernice Fitz-Gibbon.
This started out to be a blog about creativity...but the above quote stirred my curiousity and away I went on a tangent. First I wanted to know who Bernice Fitz-Gibbon is. Or was, actually. She was an American advertising executive who became a pioneer in the retail industry, and who was inducted into the Advertising Hall of fame in 1982...the year she died. Typical that a woman would have only been honored after she was dead....sigh...but, I digress.
So, after finding out who she was, then I felt confident that she probably knew what she was talking about when it came to the right/left shoe thing. I did some research and was amazed how many websites there are that are devoted to the history of shoes! Since I love shoes,(sneakers, actually) I can completely understand the fascination. As late as the 1830's all shoes were made straight - no allowance for right/left - and were in two widths: slim and fat...sometimes called stout -which I find is equally offensive...who wants to be told they have stout feet? Breaking them in had to be quite an uncomfortable chore.
By 1841, the U.S. military was using left/right shoes, and by 1851, most shoes could be ordered this way. Except for ladies shoes, which were still straight as late as 1880. Again...typical. Couldn't let the men have feet that hurt. And, dear God, whose idea was it to make high-heels??? That requires research for another day.
I have quite a collection of sneakers...every kind and color...high-tops, mostly. So I was interested in the history of sneakers...and guess what??? There are sites for that bit of info, too! In 1908, Converse shoe company was started and produced shoes for professional atheletes...and in 1917, Keds, owned by Goodyear, had the first mass-marketed atheletic shoes. But, it wasn't until the 1950's that sneakers became the preferred footwear of teenagers and the symbol of rebellion. Fashion officially sanctioned the sneaker when James Dean was photographed wearing Levi's and white sneakers. Thank you, James Dean.
Now - all of that had nothing to do with creativity...but maybe it did. I think I read a quote that said the creative mind is seldom tidy. Creativity requires curiousity..and sometimes letting your curiousity roam free among the fantastic realms of the internet, you can come up with great ideas.
I bet you look at your shoes a little differently after reading this. And - I, for one, am grateful that I have a right shoe, and a left shoe...and not one of them is listed as "stout".
This started out to be a blog about creativity...but the above quote stirred my curiousity and away I went on a tangent. First I wanted to know who Bernice Fitz-Gibbon is. Or was, actually. She was an American advertising executive who became a pioneer in the retail industry, and who was inducted into the Advertising Hall of fame in 1982...the year she died. Typical that a woman would have only been honored after she was dead....sigh...but, I digress.
So, after finding out who she was, then I felt confident that she probably knew what she was talking about when it came to the right/left shoe thing. I did some research and was amazed how many websites there are that are devoted to the history of shoes! Since I love shoes,(sneakers, actually) I can completely understand the fascination. As late as the 1830's all shoes were made straight - no allowance for right/left - and were in two widths: slim and fat...sometimes called stout -which I find is equally offensive...who wants to be told they have stout feet? Breaking them in had to be quite an uncomfortable chore.
By 1841, the U.S. military was using left/right shoes, and by 1851, most shoes could be ordered this way. Except for ladies shoes, which were still straight as late as 1880. Again...typical. Couldn't let the men have feet that hurt. And, dear God, whose idea was it to make high-heels??? That requires research for another day.
I have quite a collection of sneakers...every kind and color...high-tops, mostly. So I was interested in the history of sneakers...and guess what??? There are sites for that bit of info, too! In 1908, Converse shoe company was started and produced shoes for professional atheletes...and in 1917, Keds, owned by Goodyear, had the first mass-marketed atheletic shoes. But, it wasn't until the 1950's that sneakers became the preferred footwear of teenagers and the symbol of rebellion. Fashion officially sanctioned the sneaker when James Dean was photographed wearing Levi's and white sneakers. Thank you, James Dean.
Now - all of that had nothing to do with creativity...but maybe it did. I think I read a quote that said the creative mind is seldom tidy. Creativity requires curiousity..and sometimes letting your curiousity roam free among the fantastic realms of the internet, you can come up with great ideas.
I bet you look at your shoes a little differently after reading this. And - I, for one, am grateful that I have a right shoe, and a left shoe...and not one of them is listed as "stout".
Saturday, July 24, 2010
EAVESDROPPING IS BETTER THAN PROZAC
"If I didn't try to eavesdrop on every bus ride I take or look for the humor when I go for a walk, I would be depressed all the time." Lynda Barry
To be a writer - it helps to be a great eavesdropper. Listening in on other people's conversations can provide you with a wealth of material that slips easily into your work - and you don't have to add a footnote to give credit for stealing the idea, phrase or situation. It is perfectly legitimate plagiarism.
I suppose this activity can go hand and hand with people watching...another source of ideas...especially for developing characters. And - there are always the people and situations from our childhood. Anne Lamott said that anyone who survived childhood has enough material to write a dozen novels. True.
Airports are like gold mines for observing and listening...and it takes your mind off waiting. I find myself making up stories about the people I see...giving them fictional travel itineraries, and relationship dramas. Keeps my mind busy - my imagination active - and boredom at bay. I just have to remember to jot these ideas down so I can use them when I need to jump start my sluggish writing muse.
So, on these hellishly hot days - take a trip to the mall where it is cool, and have a seat. Try not be too obvious. You don't want anyone to think you are a weirdo, so maybe use a book as a prop and keep your sunglasses on. Who knows what marvelous treasure you may come away with to use in writing fiction. Plus, it will keep you from sweating...my absolutely least favorite thing to do!
To be a writer - it helps to be a great eavesdropper. Listening in on other people's conversations can provide you with a wealth of material that slips easily into your work - and you don't have to add a footnote to give credit for stealing the idea, phrase or situation. It is perfectly legitimate plagiarism.
I suppose this activity can go hand and hand with people watching...another source of ideas...especially for developing characters. And - there are always the people and situations from our childhood. Anne Lamott said that anyone who survived childhood has enough material to write a dozen novels. True.
Airports are like gold mines for observing and listening...and it takes your mind off waiting. I find myself making up stories about the people I see...giving them fictional travel itineraries, and relationship dramas. Keeps my mind busy - my imagination active - and boredom at bay. I just have to remember to jot these ideas down so I can use them when I need to jump start my sluggish writing muse.
So, on these hellishly hot days - take a trip to the mall where it is cool, and have a seat. Try not be too obvious. You don't want anyone to think you are a weirdo, so maybe use a book as a prop and keep your sunglasses on. Who knows what marvelous treasure you may come away with to use in writing fiction. Plus, it will keep you from sweating...my absolutely least favorite thing to do!
Wednesday, July 21, 2010
DID YOU HEAR THAT?
"True silence is the rest of the mind. It is to the spirit what sleep is to the body; nourishment and refreshment." William Penn
Yesterday I had the dreaded task of setting up new phone/internet/TV service for the new house. You know how it goes...blah,blah,blah,PRESS 1...blahblahblah, PRESS 3...blah,blah,blah, PRESS 7. On and on and on until you are absolutely certain that there are no humans left on the planet. We have been overtaken by Automatons. AND - when you finally get to speak to a person...they put you on hold, where you have to listen to more automated voices giving you all the information about fabulous offers that you are not interested in. At least that was my experience yesterday. The thing is - that when you are on hold - you still have to be listening in case the voice changes to that elusive live person that you have clawed your way through the automated maze to find. So - while I was waiting/listening on hold, yesterday, Marilyn was asking me questions, and I was checking my email - and suddenly I realized that I was suffering from "input overload."
We are constantly infused with noise...at least, I am. I cannot chew unless the TV is on...I sleep with a "sound machine"...I feel restless without the continual whirrrrr of the ceiling fan circulating air. When the electricity went off recently, I sat up straight and wondered, "What was that?" Oh yes...silence.
My son recently went on a hike up Mt. Hood (I think that was the one) and he said that the thing he noticed when he stopped to rest - after huffing and puffing - was the silence. The absolute stillness.
There is a reverence in silence. It cuts us off from the manic activity of our brains and jolts us with a powerful sense of awe. It also serves as fertile ground for creative thinking. In the quiet, we can actually hear that inner voice we have all read about. Ideas pop into your head - answers to question you didn't even realize you were asking.
I read this little haiku-like poem by Dr. Sun Wolf:
unplug iPod
music stops abruptly
cricket song instead
Nice. Maybe I will try to sleep tonight without the sound machine. Who knows what wondrous dreams may find their way into my night. I think Stephanie Meyers got her idea for the Twilight series from a dream. Perhaps I can conjure up a dream for the next bestseller. It's worth a try.
Yesterday I had the dreaded task of setting up new phone/internet/TV service for the new house. You know how it goes...blah,blah,blah,PRESS 1...blahblahblah, PRESS 3...blah,blah,blah, PRESS 7. On and on and on until you are absolutely certain that there are no humans left on the planet. We have been overtaken by Automatons. AND - when you finally get to speak to a person...they put you on hold, where you have to listen to more automated voices giving you all the information about fabulous offers that you are not interested in. At least that was my experience yesterday. The thing is - that when you are on hold - you still have to be listening in case the voice changes to that elusive live person that you have clawed your way through the automated maze to find. So - while I was waiting/listening on hold, yesterday, Marilyn was asking me questions, and I was checking my email - and suddenly I realized that I was suffering from "input overload."
We are constantly infused with noise...at least, I am. I cannot chew unless the TV is on...I sleep with a "sound machine"...I feel restless without the continual whirrrrr of the ceiling fan circulating air. When the electricity went off recently, I sat up straight and wondered, "What was that?" Oh yes...silence.
My son recently went on a hike up Mt. Hood (I think that was the one) and he said that the thing he noticed when he stopped to rest - after huffing and puffing - was the silence. The absolute stillness.
There is a reverence in silence. It cuts us off from the manic activity of our brains and jolts us with a powerful sense of awe. It also serves as fertile ground for creative thinking. In the quiet, we can actually hear that inner voice we have all read about. Ideas pop into your head - answers to question you didn't even realize you were asking.
I read this little haiku-like poem by Dr. Sun Wolf:
unplug iPod
music stops abruptly
cricket song instead
Nice. Maybe I will try to sleep tonight without the sound machine. Who knows what wondrous dreams may find their way into my night. I think Stephanie Meyers got her idea for the Twilight series from a dream. Perhaps I can conjure up a dream for the next bestseller. It's worth a try.
Monday, July 19, 2010
I CAN SEE IT NOW....
"Writers must read and read some more, so that your bloodstream is charged by the alcohol of fiction and you come, at last, to feel and see and believe in the visions that fill your head." Hallie and Whit Burnett
I have always loved to read. Always. This Sunday, I read an article in the paper about Marguerite Henry's novel, Misty of Chincoteague. Instantly I was catapulted back to my childhood and my dog-eared, beloved copy of that book. I read it over and over...imagining the wild ponies on that island. I carried a desire to go and see for myself for many years, until someone told me they had huge mosquitoes big enough to carry you off...so I crossed that adventure off my list.
But - the story had such an impact on me. I read Henry's other books, too, like Stormy, Justin Morgan Had a Horse, and King of the Wind. The illustrator, Wesley Dennis, came to my elementary school for an assembly and sold packets of his illustrations on tables in the gym. I kept that packet on top of the old upright piano in our house forever. Actually, I guess my parents threw it out when they moved to a new house after I was in college. The town of Warrenton, where I grew up, was in the middle of horse country...almost everyone either had horses or rode horses. I even took riding lessons for a while - keeping the visions of Misty in my head. I soon discovered, however, that horses are really big - and when you fall off, it hurts! So - that ended my equestrian dreams.
Henry's books had the ideal effect on the reader. At least, on THIS reader. I could see that horse in my mind...I could picture that island...I could smell the sea spray and watch the wild ponies swim...visions so clear and believable. Her written words created a world I could know - without ever being there.
That is how I want to write. That is what I strive for. It isn't about using big words, or writing long descriptive passages...it is about simply telling a story and making it real.
Oh course, now that I am older, I realize that Marguerite Henry knew it was best to leave out the part about the blood-sucking mosquitoes. A wise choice.
I have always loved to read. Always. This Sunday, I read an article in the paper about Marguerite Henry's novel, Misty of Chincoteague. Instantly I was catapulted back to my childhood and my dog-eared, beloved copy of that book. I read it over and over...imagining the wild ponies on that island. I carried a desire to go and see for myself for many years, until someone told me they had huge mosquitoes big enough to carry you off...so I crossed that adventure off my list.
But - the story had such an impact on me. I read Henry's other books, too, like Stormy, Justin Morgan Had a Horse, and King of the Wind. The illustrator, Wesley Dennis, came to my elementary school for an assembly and sold packets of his illustrations on tables in the gym. I kept that packet on top of the old upright piano in our house forever. Actually, I guess my parents threw it out when they moved to a new house after I was in college. The town of Warrenton, where I grew up, was in the middle of horse country...almost everyone either had horses or rode horses. I even took riding lessons for a while - keeping the visions of Misty in my head. I soon discovered, however, that horses are really big - and when you fall off, it hurts! So - that ended my equestrian dreams.
Henry's books had the ideal effect on the reader. At least, on THIS reader. I could see that horse in my mind...I could picture that island...I could smell the sea spray and watch the wild ponies swim...visions so clear and believable. Her written words created a world I could know - without ever being there.
That is how I want to write. That is what I strive for. It isn't about using big words, or writing long descriptive passages...it is about simply telling a story and making it real.
Oh course, now that I am older, I realize that Marguerite Henry knew it was best to leave out the part about the blood-sucking mosquitoes. A wise choice.
Sunday, July 18, 2010
PARDON ME, MY ACCENT IS SHOWING!
"Being a Southern person and a blonde...it's not a good combination. Immediately when people meet you, they think of you as not being smart." Reese Witherspoon
I must admit that I have been giving this subject a little bit of thought, since I am getting ready to move north...or "up nawth" as I suppose I might say. My accent is natural...but my blonde hair is not - still the effect is the same. When Jimmy Carter was elected President, there was an elevated interest in southern speech. I remember those books that you could find by the cash register of all the Stuckey's, Denny's and Cracker Barrel Restaurants on "How To Speak Southern" and "More How to Speak Southern". I'm not sure how many volumes of this drival were actually published, but I remember watching people pick them up and laugh - and read them aloud to their companions. I assume these people were not from the South - because they really weren't that funny. To me, they should have been entitled, "How to Sound Ignorant."
Accents matter. I know this. The late, ( and much missed) Erma Bombeck said, "I will buy any creme, cosmetic, or elixir from a woman with a European accent." Perhaps she was referring to someone like the Gabor sisters who peddled glamour and beauty with shameless disregard for intelligence. Now we have Penelope Cruz as the spokeswoman for hair color..or "kol-ler" as she says.
I find that I am lulled into strange fascination when I hear a British accent - perhaps this is what accounts for my obsession with Masterpiece Theater. I am not alone in this - just notice those ads about buying gold coins....or purchasing a Lexus...the spokesperson always has a somewhat snooty English accent. I guess it is supposed to give the buyer a sense of security in the purchase.
And - to be fair - it probably wouldn't be as effective if Jeff Foxworthy tried to sell gold.
Still, I am proud to be from the South (as long as that is not synonomous with being a right-wing wingnut)...and I find the accent musical. So, I will choose not to worry about it and hope that the people I will meet in Pennsylvania will forgive an occasional "y'all".
I must admit that I have been giving this subject a little bit of thought, since I am getting ready to move north...or "up nawth" as I suppose I might say. My accent is natural...but my blonde hair is not - still the effect is the same. When Jimmy Carter was elected President, there was an elevated interest in southern speech. I remember those books that you could find by the cash register of all the Stuckey's, Denny's and Cracker Barrel Restaurants on "How To Speak Southern" and "More How to Speak Southern". I'm not sure how many volumes of this drival were actually published, but I remember watching people pick them up and laugh - and read them aloud to their companions. I assume these people were not from the South - because they really weren't that funny. To me, they should have been entitled, "How to Sound Ignorant."
Accents matter. I know this. The late, ( and much missed) Erma Bombeck said, "I will buy any creme, cosmetic, or elixir from a woman with a European accent." Perhaps she was referring to someone like the Gabor sisters who peddled glamour and beauty with shameless disregard for intelligence. Now we have Penelope Cruz as the spokeswoman for hair color..or "kol-ler" as she says.
I find that I am lulled into strange fascination when I hear a British accent - perhaps this is what accounts for my obsession with Masterpiece Theater. I am not alone in this - just notice those ads about buying gold coins....or purchasing a Lexus...the spokesperson always has a somewhat snooty English accent. I guess it is supposed to give the buyer a sense of security in the purchase.
And - to be fair - it probably wouldn't be as effective if Jeff Foxworthy tried to sell gold.
Still, I am proud to be from the South (as long as that is not synonomous with being a right-wing wingnut)...and I find the accent musical. So, I will choose not to worry about it and hope that the people I will meet in Pennsylvania will forgive an occasional "y'all".
Saturday, July 17, 2010
BACK TO SCHOOL
"The human mind is like an umbrella. It functions best when it is open." Max Gropius
I stumbled upon this little quote today and it resonated inside me like a chinese gong. Lately, I have been complaining about the fact that the world seems to have become just plain mean. I don't know when we stopped having good manners...listening to each other with respect, even though we had different opinions. There is this blanket of nastiness that covers our country - and the sad thing is that we have lost the ability to learn from one another. No one is listening anymore. It seems we hide out in a safe place...with a safe group of people who think exactly like we do so that we can feel like we are right and everyone else is wrong.
Cowardly, actually. And - arrogant. I am weary of hearing arguments. No one is convincing anyone to change their minds. If you listen to one TV station - you get the "Progressive" arguments. If you change the channel - you get the "Conservative" arguments. And there is always plenty of time on both channels devoted to putting each other down...to pointing fingers, blaming and even name-calling. Sounds like a bad day on the kindergarten playground.
It isn't just politics...it is religion, and race...it's anything that can be made controversial. I wish we could return to that place of common ground. That place where it wasn't necessary to point out what makes us different because we would be too busy noticing all the things that make us the same.
I think maintaining an open mind is a barometer for intelligence and compassion. And it is certainly necessary for creative imaginings. In kindergarten we were taught not to be mean, and we were also encouraged to share and learn from others. And we sat side by side while we colored and had lunch and rolled out our rest mats. We were taught to be gentlemen and ladies and tea parties were kind affairs where everyone was invited. Such simple concepts that, if practiced, would make a big difference in our country today.
I remember reading a book a few years ago entitled, All I Need To Know I Learned In Kindergarten by Robert Fulghum. At the time I thought it was cute...a little like something out of Reader's Digest. Now I think it should be required reading for all adults. We need a reminder of the days when the world was a nicer place. And when functioning with an open mind was considered normal and decent behavior.
I stumbled upon this little quote today and it resonated inside me like a chinese gong. Lately, I have been complaining about the fact that the world seems to have become just plain mean. I don't know when we stopped having good manners...listening to each other with respect, even though we had different opinions. There is this blanket of nastiness that covers our country - and the sad thing is that we have lost the ability to learn from one another. No one is listening anymore. It seems we hide out in a safe place...with a safe group of people who think exactly like we do so that we can feel like we are right and everyone else is wrong.
Cowardly, actually. And - arrogant. I am weary of hearing arguments. No one is convincing anyone to change their minds. If you listen to one TV station - you get the "Progressive" arguments. If you change the channel - you get the "Conservative" arguments. And there is always plenty of time on both channels devoted to putting each other down...to pointing fingers, blaming and even name-calling. Sounds like a bad day on the kindergarten playground.
It isn't just politics...it is religion, and race...it's anything that can be made controversial. I wish we could return to that place of common ground. That place where it wasn't necessary to point out what makes us different because we would be too busy noticing all the things that make us the same.
I think maintaining an open mind is a barometer for intelligence and compassion. And it is certainly necessary for creative imaginings. In kindergarten we were taught not to be mean, and we were also encouraged to share and learn from others. And we sat side by side while we colored and had lunch and rolled out our rest mats. We were taught to be gentlemen and ladies and tea parties were kind affairs where everyone was invited. Such simple concepts that, if practiced, would make a big difference in our country today.
I remember reading a book a few years ago entitled, All I Need To Know I Learned In Kindergarten by Robert Fulghum. At the time I thought it was cute...a little like something out of Reader's Digest. Now I think it should be required reading for all adults. We need a reminder of the days when the world was a nicer place. And when functioning with an open mind was considered normal and decent behavior.
Friday, July 16, 2010
IT'S THE LITTLE THINGS THAT GET YOU!
"Writing is easy: All you do is sit staring at a blank sheet of paper until drops of blood form on your forehead." Gene Fowler "There's nothing to writing. All you do is sit down at the typewriter and open a vein." Red Smith
I know...there are two quotes, but I couldn't choose between them because they express what it feels like for me today. Only I have not been staring at blank paper...but at the blank computer screen. My mind is not blank, however. I think that is the problem. My mind is filled with all the irritating minutia that can choke the life out of the imagination. At least, that is what it does for me.
There is that overused concept of writing what you know...writing from your own experience. If I were to do that today...I would write reams of paper about dealing with my health insurance company over acquiring a new wheelchair. My insurance covers the cost of a new wheelchair...just not the kind of wheelchair that anyone who really NEEDS a wheelchair would use. This situation is filled with drama, tension, and a little bit of dark humor...but it does not make a great springboard for fabulous writing. Great bitching material, however.
I could write about paying the bills - another task for today and another sparkling topic that falls flat - even though most of my readers can identify with the fact that it is a completely joyless experience. Good old Ross Perot said, "Once you pay the bills, money is the most over rated thing in the world." There is a little bit of truth to that - but I am sure Ross Perot had someone else pay his bills, so I don't believe he was truly speaking from personal experience.
Then there is laundry, and decisions about dinner, and sorting the mail..etc.etc.etc. Just everyday stuff that fills my brain like knots made of Silly String, choking creativity and the clock keeps ticking away the hours and minutes...and I have nothing "blog-worthy" to show for it! I have no idea how people actually Tweet! What do they say???
So - this is my life today....just ordinary...just normal....but, hey! I filled up the blank page with words - so that has to count for something!!!
I know...there are two quotes, but I couldn't choose between them because they express what it feels like for me today. Only I have not been staring at blank paper...but at the blank computer screen. My mind is not blank, however. I think that is the problem. My mind is filled with all the irritating minutia that can choke the life out of the imagination. At least, that is what it does for me.
There is that overused concept of writing what you know...writing from your own experience. If I were to do that today...I would write reams of paper about dealing with my health insurance company over acquiring a new wheelchair. My insurance covers the cost of a new wheelchair...just not the kind of wheelchair that anyone who really NEEDS a wheelchair would use. This situation is filled with drama, tension, and a little bit of dark humor...but it does not make a great springboard for fabulous writing. Great bitching material, however.
I could write about paying the bills - another task for today and another sparkling topic that falls flat - even though most of my readers can identify with the fact that it is a completely joyless experience. Good old Ross Perot said, "Once you pay the bills, money is the most over rated thing in the world." There is a little bit of truth to that - but I am sure Ross Perot had someone else pay his bills, so I don't believe he was truly speaking from personal experience.
Then there is laundry, and decisions about dinner, and sorting the mail..etc.etc.etc. Just everyday stuff that fills my brain like knots made of Silly String, choking creativity and the clock keeps ticking away the hours and minutes...and I have nothing "blog-worthy" to show for it! I have no idea how people actually Tweet! What do they say???
So - this is my life today....just ordinary...just normal....but, hey! I filled up the blank page with words - so that has to count for something!!!
Wednesday, July 14, 2010
A CHANGE OF VENUE
Forgive me for a little diversion from my usual topic of writing. I have just returned from Pennsylvania - soon to be my new home. I spent several hours, taking pictures of every room - every closet - every little space so that I could begin to tell the movers where to put the furniture.
I have been spoiled, living in Chesterfield. While I enjoy the "feel" of country living here - I am only 10 minutes away from EVERYTHING. It is quite different where we are moving. I am only 5 miles from the grocery store...and only 6 miles from CVS pharmacy....and only 15 miles from a mall....and 19 miles from Target...etc.etc.etc. - BUT none of these places are close to each other! I have been used to running out for milk - or groceries every day...but now I will actually have to PLAN. OH NO!!!
So - I have about four weeks until the move...lots and lots to do....but I will try to keep up the blog during all of the activity.
Friday, July 9, 2010
MINI-VACATION
A quick note to let you know that I will be away for a few days. Going to Pennsylvania to check out the new house and the area. It would be nice to know where the grocery store is!!!!! I will write again next week. Have a great weekend!
Thursday, July 8, 2010
GOING POSTAL
The difference between e-mail and regular mail is that computers handle e-mail and computers never decide to come to work one day and shoot all the other computers." James Cascio
I am sure that you heard the news about raising the price of stamps, yet again, in January. I feel a lot of nostalgia for the struggling postal system. My Dad was the last presidentially-appointed postmaster. He served in Warrenton, where I grew up. I can still remember people knocking on our door and asking him if he knew where so and so lived. He probably did, since at that time, Warrenton was not as populated as it is now.
As a society, we have become completely reliant on technology. I type so much on the computer, that my handwriting is truly illegible...and the worse part about it is that I don't really care! In my mind, I romanticize handwriting...I must own 50 empty journals (and probably 20 more that have a few pages with actual ink on them.) And I am not going even count all the fabulous pens that are gathering dust on my desk. I have the best intentions...I start off with a marvelous and neat first journal entry - several pages long, but within days, I have succumb to producing a boring, messy, scribbled paragraph that compels me to simply give up.
The same is true of letter writing. I have some terrific stationary...in a Rubbermaid container...in the closet. In other words - it is never going to happen. I am never going to sit at a lovely desk, with a hand-crafted fountain pen, and express my heart to any of my friends or loved ones. Alas, they are lucky if they get an IM from me!
Writing is old fashioned...and yet - I think we are missing something valuable. We miss the time it takes to really connect with someone. All that time we would spend forming the words with a pen on paper...thinking about what we want to say...thinking about the recipient. We would actually be placing more value on the person...really letting them know we care.
I don't remember the last time I received a hand-written letter. Do you? Maybe I was a child. Who knows. Oh well...perhaps I will pull out one of those journals...or fish around in my closet for a box of stationary. The nightly news reported that the Queen spends $458,000 on stationary! Can you believe it???? I think she must be solely responsible for the fact that the postal system still exists!
I am sure that you heard the news about raising the price of stamps, yet again, in January. I feel a lot of nostalgia for the struggling postal system. My Dad was the last presidentially-appointed postmaster. He served in Warrenton, where I grew up. I can still remember people knocking on our door and asking him if he knew where so and so lived. He probably did, since at that time, Warrenton was not as populated as it is now.
As a society, we have become completely reliant on technology. I type so much on the computer, that my handwriting is truly illegible...and the worse part about it is that I don't really care! In my mind, I romanticize handwriting...I must own 50 empty journals (and probably 20 more that have a few pages with actual ink on them.) And I am not going even count all the fabulous pens that are gathering dust on my desk. I have the best intentions...I start off with a marvelous and neat first journal entry - several pages long, but within days, I have succumb to producing a boring, messy, scribbled paragraph that compels me to simply give up.
The same is true of letter writing. I have some terrific stationary...in a Rubbermaid container...in the closet. In other words - it is never going to happen. I am never going to sit at a lovely desk, with a hand-crafted fountain pen, and express my heart to any of my friends or loved ones. Alas, they are lucky if they get an IM from me!
Writing is old fashioned...and yet - I think we are missing something valuable. We miss the time it takes to really connect with someone. All that time we would spend forming the words with a pen on paper...thinking about what we want to say...thinking about the recipient. We would actually be placing more value on the person...really letting them know we care.
I don't remember the last time I received a hand-written letter. Do you? Maybe I was a child. Who knows. Oh well...perhaps I will pull out one of those journals...or fish around in my closet for a box of stationary. The nightly news reported that the Queen spends $458,000 on stationary! Can you believe it???? I think she must be solely responsible for the fact that the postal system still exists!
Wednesday, July 7, 2010
PERFECTIONISM: PUBLIC ENEMY #1
"If one of the characters in my first draft wants to say, "Well, so what, Mr. Poopy Pants?" you let her. No one is going to see it." Anne Lamott
One of the recommendations about writing that I have fully embraced is what writer Anne Lamott refers to as the "shitty first draft." It is that wonderful free zone when I just write without editing...just write to get the bare bones of the story out and on the page so that I can look at it later and see what works and what doesn't.
It is not ALWAYS easy for me to do this...but I am getting better at it. I have been a perfectionist from birth, I think. When I sang - it had to be the best...when I did public speaking - it had to be the best....even when I started doing art - I studied and studied and read every book and tried to make what I was creating be the best example of the technique I was learning. At some point I realized that even though I could do these things well (not necessarily great) - I was not enjoying any of them. And of lot of my life was tied up in simply trying too hard.
With age comes wisdom...at least someone wise once said that. It think it is true. All the things that I thought were so important in my youth have slipped away unnoticed somewhere - and what is left is the ability to find an appreciated awareness in each moment. Bringing this to my writing is what creates the joy. I write because I want to...and maybe, after several drafts of a story, I can produce something that someone else will enjoy reading.
Until then, Mr. Poopy Pants, shitty first drafts are reasons for celebration!
One of the recommendations about writing that I have fully embraced is what writer Anne Lamott refers to as the "shitty first draft." It is that wonderful free zone when I just write without editing...just write to get the bare bones of the story out and on the page so that I can look at it later and see what works and what doesn't.
It is not ALWAYS easy for me to do this...but I am getting better at it. I have been a perfectionist from birth, I think. When I sang - it had to be the best...when I did public speaking - it had to be the best....even when I started doing art - I studied and studied and read every book and tried to make what I was creating be the best example of the technique I was learning. At some point I realized that even though I could do these things well (not necessarily great) - I was not enjoying any of them. And of lot of my life was tied up in simply trying too hard.
With age comes wisdom...at least someone wise once said that. It think it is true. All the things that I thought were so important in my youth have slipped away unnoticed somewhere - and what is left is the ability to find an appreciated awareness in each moment. Bringing this to my writing is what creates the joy. I write because I want to...and maybe, after several drafts of a story, I can produce something that someone else will enjoy reading.
Until then, Mr. Poopy Pants, shitty first drafts are reasons for celebration!
Tuesday, July 6, 2010
FINDING PRIME REAL ESTATE BETWEEN THE COVERS OF A BOOK
"You know you've read a good book when you turn the last page and feel a little as if you have lost a friend." Paul Sweeney
I absolutely love to read. I keep several books going at a time - and it is wonderfully convenient now that I have a Kindle. It is a rare experience, however, to find a book that haunts me long after it is over. When you go into a bookstore - you pass rack after rack of reduced books...books that were once best-sellers and are now available at bargain basement prices. I was in Barnes and Noble the other day, and I was amazed by how many of them I had read...and couldn't really remember. They had been interesting enough when I was reading them...I kept turning the pages...but they didn't stay with me.
There have been books that I carry inside me forever. Some that come to mind right now are: Sue Monk Kidd's The Secret Life Of Bees, Markus Zusak's, The Book Thief, Kathryn Stockett's, The Help, and Jodi Picoult's, My Sister's Keeper (the book is FAR BETTER than the movie.)
And, there is the ever-popular series format. The Harry Potter books certainly paved the way for readers and writers to remain attached to their favorite characters for quite awhile. Two other great series of books are the Pendragon Series by D. J. MacHale, and Percy Jackson and the Olympians by Rick Riordan. I could also include the Twilight Series here...but that has received enough publicity!
There is a huge difference between reading a book and writing one...besides the obvious. For a reader, no matter how engaging the book is, a reader will finish it and put it down - and find another book to read. For a writer, we may be living with our characters and their story for weeks, months and maybe years. So we better be sure it is a place we really want to be, since we will be taking up residence there for quite some time.
So, how about you? What books have you read lately that you had wished would never end?
I absolutely love to read. I keep several books going at a time - and it is wonderfully convenient now that I have a Kindle. It is a rare experience, however, to find a book that haunts me long after it is over. When you go into a bookstore - you pass rack after rack of reduced books...books that were once best-sellers and are now available at bargain basement prices. I was in Barnes and Noble the other day, and I was amazed by how many of them I had read...and couldn't really remember. They had been interesting enough when I was reading them...I kept turning the pages...but they didn't stay with me.
There have been books that I carry inside me forever. Some that come to mind right now are: Sue Monk Kidd's The Secret Life Of Bees, Markus Zusak's, The Book Thief, Kathryn Stockett's, The Help, and Jodi Picoult's, My Sister's Keeper (the book is FAR BETTER than the movie.)
And, there is the ever-popular series format. The Harry Potter books certainly paved the way for readers and writers to remain attached to their favorite characters for quite awhile. Two other great series of books are the Pendragon Series by D. J. MacHale, and Percy Jackson and the Olympians by Rick Riordan. I could also include the Twilight Series here...but that has received enough publicity!
There is a huge difference between reading a book and writing one...besides the obvious. For a reader, no matter how engaging the book is, a reader will finish it and put it down - and find another book to read. For a writer, we may be living with our characters and their story for weeks, months and maybe years. So we better be sure it is a place we really want to be, since we will be taking up residence there for quite some time.
So, how about you? What books have you read lately that you had wished would never end?
Monday, July 5, 2010
ARE GHOSTS MORE THAN JUST BUMPS IN THE NIGHT?
Okay - strange subject for me. But, see, one of the characters in my new novel is a ghost. I suppose we have been conditioned by countless movies and main-stream TV shows to accept the reality of ghosts for entertainment purposes. But, what about the real thing?
I have read several books about near-death experiences - and they aren't all the familiar "tunnel of light" stuff. There is actually a scientific foundation committed to the study of NDE's. It is aptly called, The Near Death Experience Research Foundation. They have thousands of documented cases of people who have detailed accounts of what life after death may hold for us. Interesting, at least. And there have always been psychics who claim to be able to communicate with dead loved ones - or even assist in solving crimes. The results, while not conclusive, are compelling enough to cause us to think about the possibilities.
There are two books I have seen recently that have different perspectives on the same subject. One is entitled, 23 Minutes in Hell, by Bill Wiese and the other is, 90 Minutes in Heaven by Don Piper. The obvious distinction here is the difference in time spent in each place! Also - it is fascinating to note that the Amazon rankings show that the book about Hell is far more popular than the one about Heaven! I guess we all have a curiousity about the dark side. Similar to the compulsion we feel to rubber-neck at the site of an accident.
Dr. Sandy Kalaora lives in Richmond, VA, and I have met her briefly. Her work is quite intriguing. Check out her website: RIP Ghost Hunters. The photos are amazing.
So - let me know what you think. Of course - I am writing fiction...but I can't help but be curious about reality. Part of being a writer means asking yourself the question: "What if.....?"
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