"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!
Sunday, October 31, 2010
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!
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