We got haircuts this morning, exchanged some jeans for mr. k and ate at Wendy's, where a little boy (who looked to be about 13 mos. old) could. not. be. fed. fast. enough. to keep him from screaming in between every bite. He was quite fond of French fries. His mother came in "wearing" his little brother (about 4 months old) in a pouch on her chest, and leading the toddler and a girl of about four. I felt sorry for her. Having three kids under the age of four is not easy.
One of mr. k's strongest pet peeves is children making excessive noise in restaurants - even fast-food places. I don't know what was worse: the screaming kid or the carping about him. Sheesh.
After lunch, we went to get our feet done. Mr. k has been to the nail salon three times now, and he seems to enjoy it more each time. But, of course, who doesn't loved to be pampered? After he was finished, he sat up front to wait for me. Around 2:30, he got a phone call from someone in NJ, telling us about the earthquake. We knew nothing about it, even though many people in this area felt the shaking, we were seated in vibrating massage chairs when it happened, so we didn't feel a thing related to the quake. Then the girls in the salon turned on the television, and we heard all about it. After we left the salon, I drove to the pharmacy to pick up some meds and I had orders from mr. k to buy an emergency weather radio, in preparation for the hurricane that is rapidly advancing on the US. Shortly after I entered the store, my call phone rang. It was our younger daughter, who had been trying to reach us and got no answer on either phone. The TV reporters had said cell phones were not operating well, due to the jammed circuits after the quake. She was on her way to our house, thinking we were "dead." I put her mind at rest, and she drove to the store and talked to her Dad, who was sitting in the car.
I needed to go to the grocery store (badly) but after all the excitement, I was pooped out so we came home. I've been thinking of the excessive heat of this spring and summer, storms that have caused our trees to fall, an earthquake today and a hurricane on the way. What more can happen? I'm almost afraid to ask!!
It is not what we do, but also what we do not do, for which we are accountable.
Moliere, actor and playwright (1622-1673)
We call them 'sins of omission.' Are you guilty of a sin of omission? Not telling the full truth...failing to say anything at all, when an explanation is necessary...
Some examples: If a person hits a parked car and fails to leave a note with contact information, it is a sin of omission. When a guy takes a girl home to meet his parents and doesn't tell them that she is of another religious faith (and he knows it is important to them) it is a sin of omission.
Okay kiddies....it's time for confession (truly good for the soul.) What sins have you omitted?
In our area of NC, we are at twelve straight days (maybe more) with temperatures above 90*. "This is August weather, Mother Nature, and we don't appreciate being this hot this early in the year, especially when we haven't had rain in at least 10 days. "
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I'm working this weekend, so I might not get around to see all of you.
Question: Do you trust your computer if it tells you that you have a virus? I clicked on a favorite web-site (Jeff Kay's) a few minutes ago and got a page that said I had five viruses and that I should click something on that page in order to get rid of them. I have read that sometimes tracking sites will mimic computer security in order to get you to click on something that doesn't remove anything - but ads a virus to your hard-drive. How can you tell when they are legitimate? (This one purported to be Windows Defender)
My mice (mouses - meeces - mouse x two???) are not working properly. Last week I got a new computer; my first laptop. I had been using a cordless mouse on my other computer and it worked fine. I bought it because it had back buttons and smooth scrolling - to which I've become somewhat addicted. I hate using the built-in mouse on a laptop, so I transferred the cordless mouse to that. The quandary is this: in Internet Explorer, the back buttons don't work, but they do in Firefox. I use FF most of the time, so that isn't too much of a problem, but I can't understand why it won't work in IE. Incidentally, even the "back" arrow on the computer doesn't work well in IE; I have to click it 3-4 times before it responds.
The other quandary is: On mr. kenju's old computer, he had a corded mouse with back buttons and smooth scrolling. It has a round port on it. The round port won't work on my old computer (something happened to it when that computer got fried a year or so ago.) So we have to use a mouse with a USB port on it, or use an adapter. I bought an adapter this week and put it on the mouse and plugged it into the old computer. The back buttons won't work on it either - and I have no idea why.
Anyone have any ideas? Should I just buy another cordless mouse for the old computer (even though mr. kenju doesn't want one?) or is there a way to solve the problem?
A slice of life unfolded before my eyes today (one I'd rather not be privy to) as I was driving to and from my errands. On the way down, I saw a dead deer lying in the grass beside the road, and about ten feet away was a turkey buzzard or some sort of vulture. I wondered what he was waiting for, since the buffet was served and the food was getting cold.
On the way home, the deer was still there and five more buzzards had gathered; all of them standing at least six feet away from the deer. The first one must have sounded a clarion call to his buddies. I decided that the birds were intimidated by the passing traffic, which was too close and too quick for them to feel safe. When will the banquet begin?
(I hope that the carcass will be gone by the next time I have to travel that route.)
Assuredly, many of us would say "I'll neverdo that again!" about some things we've done; either because they were embarrassing, or painful or just plain wrong.
I had some shopping to do today; I had a coupon for a large container of the coffee we drink for less than half the usual cost and I couldn't let that go to waste. So I went to Target and made a short stop into Ross Dress for Less (where I passed on a black purse with silver studs and now I'm regretting that).
After Ross, I had to go to the bank for mr. kenju, who needed cash. I left the shopping center and decided to take the road beside the nearest high school to get to the street where the bank is. What a huge mistake that was! I didn't notice that it was noon, and it seems like every kid in that school has a car and goes off campus for lunch. I got stuck trying to make a right turn at the same point where the school parking lot empties onto the road - and it was pure hell. There were at least 20 other poor souls stuck behind me, who were also regretting that they had taken that road. I suspect that all of them are also saying....."I'll never do that again!"
So tell me.......what have you done that made you say...."I'll never do that again?"
BTW: this is post number 1402. I can't believe I wrote the whole thing....LOL
How sad is it that I can't come up with ten names of the people I speak with often on the telephone?
We recently got rid of both our land-lines and went totally cellular. The plan allows each of us to name ten people who we talk to the most, and those calls will be free all the time. The ten people have to be on some other cellular carrier than ours, and therein lies the rub. Most of the people I call (or call me) are already on our carrier. So, I can only come up with eight people, and some of them are people I barely ever speak with.
The telephone has taken a backseat around here since email was established. Not with mr. kenju, mind you, he is the king of gentleman phone talkers and can stay on it for hours at a time (not every day, but frequently.) I choose email for almost every communication these days, unless it is an emergency or I need a quick answer. Email is user-friendly, I think, in that the person you send it to can choose when it is convenient to answer (or if they want to answer) and of course, they can always return the communication on the phone, if that is their choice. My younger daughter, who is undoubtedly the reason the word "Crackberry" was coined, hates it when I email her instead of calling. But since she is never far from her phones (yes, two of them) I figure an email is the best way to go. But for some odd reason, when I email her with a time-sensitive message - she doesn't get it until it is too late. Go figure.
Anyway, do you want to be on my list of ten? LOL All appliers seriously considered.
When others asked the truth of me, I was convinced it was not the truth they wanted, but an illusion they could bear to live with.
Anais Nin, writer (1903-1977)
Part One: I've noticed lately, when I look in the mirror, I see 'an illusion I can bear to live with.' And then someone takes a photo of me and the painful truth is there before my eyes. Why is it so hard (when looking in a mirror) to see what is really there? And why does a photo capture the 'real' me, when I can't see it in the mirror?
Have you seen the site that depicts photos of people who shop at that big-box store "mart of Wal?" Only the oddest need show up, of course. I'm curious if any of those people ever just happen to see their photos and if so, do they wonder what in the world they were thinking to go out dressed (or undressed) like that?? Do they see themselves as other see them? Or are they just as blind as most of us?
Are you often surprised at your photos?
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The first rose of summer...so pristine...before the bugs and beetles take over. I have no idea what the rose has to do with the quote, but I like them both!
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Part Two: Having said I would not watch the Oprah interviewing Rielle Hunter - I did. My opinion has not changed....she is in denial, and an obvious airhead. In her search for her "authentic self" (whatever that means) and her quest to live "the truth", she pursued and had an affair with a married man, lied about it, got pregnant, allowed suggestive photos to be taken of her (with her baby), tried to explain them away, and now says she doesn't think she hurt Elizabeth Edwards - and that Oprah would have to ask Elizabeth.
She doesn't feel that she wronged Elizabeth, because, in her words....."I didn't make a commitment to Elizabeth." No, of course, she didn't - but John did - and renewed his vows with her while knowing his mistress was pregnant with his child. In my opinion, the fact that she participated in helping John go against his commitment to Elizabeth is wrongdoing and very hurtful to Elizabeth and all the children. And it doesn't matter how Rielle explains that - it IS wrong (with a capital W). But apparently, it is "an illusion she can live with."
Don't get me wrong.....John is to blame as well. He has a lot of wrongdoing to answer for and any woman who gets involved with him is just asking for trouble. Rielle refused to answer Oprah's question as to whether she has an ongoing relationship with John now. It's ludicrous not to, and the look on Oprah's face as she asked "why not?" was priceless. Another "illusion."
The only reason I have any interest in this is because I met (and was hired by)Andrew Young and I was in the Edwards home twice during the time he was in the Senate. I never met him (or Elizabeth), and now that I know what he is capable of - I'm very glad of that. John, I am sorry that I ever supported your quest for the presidency, and that, is NO illusion!
"It is impossible to defeat an ignorant man in argument."
William G. McAdoo, lawyer and politician (1863-1941)
So, what happens when two ignorant men get into an argument?Do they agree to disagree?
I wish I'd had this quote when my old friend quit emailing me several weeks ago because I didn't welcome his diatribes on Obama and the current administration. Of course, he'd turn it back around on me, I'm sure.....LOL
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Why is it that a 12 ounce can of beer lasts longer than a 12 ounce bottle of beer?
Why is it that men won't listen to a suggestion from you until they have proven beyond a shadow of a doubt their original idea doesn't work?
Why is it so hard to type when you have a cat with two paws pulling on your wrist, hoping to get petted?
Why is it that just after you start the dishwasher, you discover another spoon or plate hiding in another room? Ditto for dirty clothing when you've started the washer.
Martin Luther King, Jr., civil-rights leader (1929-1968)
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Writing once before about losing an email buddy because of politics, I told you how he simply couldn't manage not to send stuff that is derogatory of the current administration. I asked him more than once to stop sending anything that was divisive or nasty, and he quit sending anything at all. I tried to coax him back with jokes and fun emails I had received, but he stayed away for a while.
About six weeks ago, his wife sent an email saying he was in the hospital for back surgery and asked me to pray for him. I was happy to do so, and she sent updating email every few days. He came back home, and the next night he had a heart attack and went back to the hospital for more surgery.
When he recovered from that, he started emailing me again. At first, it was jokes and funny stories and then he began to creep back to old habits; sending negative comments and passing on the email he had received from his conservative Republican friends. They didn't mince words about Obama and most made me cringe at best and were racist at worst.
A few days ago, he sent one that I deleted as fast as I could, without answering. The next day, he sent one saying he had no regrets sending the previous one and wouldn't "take it back". I replied simply....."Did I ask you to (take it back)?" and Saturday, I received this email from him:
"You said in an earlier email that you did not want any emails regarding any of the people you support. This one surely didn't support any of them. In the future, I will stop sending any emails on any subject. Too bad that our friendship is at an end."
And here is my reply:
Yes, it is. I could agree to disagree if you didn't want to rub it in my face - but you seem not to be able to do anything but that. It's really too bad.
I seldom, if ever, sent you anything negative about people you support. It's just common courtesy.
I have friends who can't stand Obama, but they are nice enough not to bring it up to me, and I appreciate that. I don't send them anything that I receive that's negative about Republicans (which I hardly ever get because apparently Democrats have more to do than sit around making up stuff to send in email.)
Mainly, I don't want to think about all the negative stuff in the world. There is so much of it on TV, in newspapers and on the web. I don't want to be a part of the group that spreads hate and racism, no matter who the president is.
I am taking a wait and see what happens attitude about this administration, just as I did about Bush 's until it was obvious that he was a blustering puppet. I would hope you would do the same.
I regret that we can't overlook our differences and be friends on another level."
Isn't it sad? We have known each other since I was 15 and he was a few years older. All those nice memories down the drain because of a difference of opinion. I never tried to get him to change or even consider my side; all I did was ask him (yet again) to stop sending those emails. Isn't it sad?!
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You have my gratitude and appreciation for all the nice comments yesterday, about my birth mother's death.
From Old French Tervagant. The term originates after an imaginary deity that Christians in medieval Europe erroneously believed was worshiped by Muslims. It was represented in morality plays as a violent, overbearing personage. Over time the term became generalized to apply to any brawling person, and eventually only to women.
USAGE:
"[Mrs. Lincoln], the wife of one of our most beloved presidents, has been characterized as a sharp-tongued termagant who made her husband's life miserable."
Larry Eskridge; The Tragedy of Mary Lincoln; The Daily Ledger (Canton, Illinois); May 16, 2009.
I think mr. kenju would agree with this definition and I know who he'd be likely to hang it on.
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About two weeks ago, he got a haircut which looked okay right after, but the next day, our daughter said...."Daddy, when are you going to get a haircut?" His curly hair grows very fast in the summer anyway, and add to that the stimulus of his daily vitamins, he often "looks like some guy named Luigi who just landed off the boat." Today was chosen for the next haircut, and I voiced the opinion that I should go in with him and tell the stylist to cut it shorter this time. He didn't want me to say that (he'd feel like a ten year old boy and I'd come very close to being the definition above), so I let him off in front of the shop and parked close by to read my current novel. So far - so good - but we'll see what tomorrow brings. Of course, the stylist didn't take the blame for not cutting his hair short enough. She blamed it all on summer heat and vitamins.
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While I was parked there, I noticed an older woman sitting in the back seat of the car parked nose-to-nose with mine. After we had been there for about ten minutes, she got out of the car and started walking around rather aimlessly. She did that for 2-3 minutes, then she got into the front seat of the car, then out again immediately and walked around some more. She stopped behind the car 2 spaces down and appeared to be studying the license plate (or maybe a bumper sticker). When the man who owned that car came back, she engaged him in conversation and it was soon obvious that he wanted to leave. I couldn't hear any of what they were saying, but she was smiling and animated. As soon as he left, she got back into the car for a mere minute and back out again to walk in the parking lot. She didn't go far, but I was worried about her getting into the path of cars. As mr. kenju returned to our car, she got in the back seat of her car again and shut the door. I wondered if I should ask her if everything was okay - but I said nothing and drove off. What would you have done? Do you think I should have asked her if she was waiting for someone or tried to find out where her driver was?
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Last week, after I complained about the slow-as-molasses machine that is my computer, I got advice from some of you helpful people. Most of it had already been done, but then I realized that it had been a while since I upgraded my adware program. So I downloaded an upgrade and ran the program. It took over an hour, but it found a Trojan - to be specific - Trojan.WOW.mo (whatever that means). Since I got rid of that, the computer has run a little better, but not much. When my BIL was here, I told him of our possible thoughts of adding memory. He advised against it in a computer that is rapidly approaching six years old. We have another computer that isn't used very often, so I may switch to that one. The problem is that there are many files on this one that would need to be transferred to the other one, and I am sort of clueless on how to do that. Plus I wonder if we transfer all the files, wouldn't that make the other computer have overloaded memory too?
On Friday, mr. kenju went out with a friend about 8:30 am. They usually go to breakfast and sit around and chew the fat for a few hours. I was busy cleaning the house, so I wasn't paying attention to the time - until I realized it was 12:30 pm and I hadn't seen or heard tell of him. I called his cell phone but (as usual) it wasn't turned on. I left a scathing message; knowing he wouldn't hear it anyway (it's a new phone, and he's clueless.)
When he got home, he said "What's the big deal? Don't be such an alarmist." And I said..."With your medical history (stroke) and Stan's recent dizzy spells, I imagined you both lying upside down in a ditch somewhere. It's a good thing your kids didn't know you were "missing" for four hours or they would have called the police."
He explained that they went to breakfast, and then Stan, who is in charge of the building for the Masonic chapter to which he belongs, had to go to there and wait for a guy to give him a quote for new gutters. Stan's wife is in Europe visiting family, so he has no leash on him for several weeks. I think I finally convinced mr. kenju that he was being very inconsiderate by not calling, since when he left here a few minutes ago (with another friend), he made a big show of turning on his phone.
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My zest for cleaning up around here hasn't abated this morning (Sat.), so in a few hours I will tackle the kitchen, including mopping the floor. I wish I had a new mop, but I keep forgetting to buy one. Do any of you use the new Sw*ffer mops? I don't want to buy one unless I know they are worth the money.
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***The ivy that grows close to the pool is running (yes, running) out over the concrete walkway, so it has to be trimmed before we close the pool for the winter. I like looking at the ivy, but I think I should have thought a bit more about maintenance when I planted it 27 years ago. It has overtaken nearly everything in its path. See the bridge and steps on the right in the photo? Until last month, the ivy had completely overgrown the two steps and up the posts on the bridge railings. Keeping it trimmed is hard on my back, but it's a little easier this time of year when the temperatures are a bit lower. Cutting it is next on my to do list, and since the temps are hovering around 70 right now, I think I should get off this infernal machine and go trim the ivy. Don't you?
Update: I trimmed it (as you can see, above.) Oh, my achin' back! There is very little room between the ivy and the edge of the pool. I trimmed eight inches off and in some areas, a little more than that. Now we'll be able to cover the pool without overlapping ivy as well. That is, assuming we close it before the ivy has a chance to cover the walkway again, which should only take 4-5 days.....LOL
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You may have read about my recent computer troubles. Among other things, I need more memory. I don't know if it is prudent to add memory to a computer that is already pushing six years old, but we may do that. One thing that has been bothering me for a week or two is that getting a comment window open is taking much longer than it ever did before. I click on 'comment' and I have to wait (in some instances) 10-15 seconds before the window opens (and that's too long for computers on cable fast access.) It doesn't sound like much time, but when you have over 150 feeds in your blog reader, it takes a long time! I prefer blogs that have comments all on one page (not opening in a separate window), but somehow y'all didn't ask me when you were deciding on your blog settings. Why not??? On the plus side, Blogger has made it possible for me to comment on blogs I could not previously comment on. Maybe my constant fussing about it led them to fix the problem. Hush! It could happen.
My gardenia bush, just after it started blooming. I counted over 50 blooms at one time a few days after this. The smell on the deck is overwhelmingly good!
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Some time ago, I signed up for email prompts from Plinky.com, which gives suggestions for the content of a blog post. I have not used any of their prompts yet. Here is the latest crop; feel free to steal any of these if they spark something in your memory or imagination:
1. If your life were made into a movie, what genre would it be? Explain.
2. What would a road trip companion learn about you when traveling with you for the first time? We all have habits and behaviors that we hide most of the time, but they're bound to come out on a road trip. List yours.
3. What songs bring a tear to your eye? Explain why they bring on the waterworks.
4. Do you have a good-luck charm? What's your lucky item?
5. What's the best venue for a summer concert? Explain why music sounds better here?
6. How do you get around? Explain why this is your chosen method of transportation.
If you use any of them, please let me know so I can be sure to read!
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When the announcements came out last year about the changeover to all digital TV in February (later changed to June), I was among the first to request the coupons from the government so I could buy the digital converters for 2 of our TVs. We have cable on the 2 main ones, but I needed one for my office and for a bedroom. As soon as the coupons arrived, I noted that they were going to expire soon, so I marched over to a local electronics store and bought two of them. I did note that the warranties would expire on the boxes before I had a need to use them, but I was trapped - if I wanted to save half the cost by using the coupons.
The fateful day came, and I attempted to hook up the converter box on my office TV, which is a Sylvania we've had since the early 70's (which still got perfect reception with rabbit ears - until the changeover.) I hooked it up according to the user manual, which contains diagrams and instructions that must have been assembled by a person in a foreign country - or an electronics geek - for whom clear English is not a high priority.
I know I had it hooked up properly (my grandson confirmed it) but even he couldn't get it to work - and he can usually work any kind of electronic unit, be it a video game, TV, VCR, DVR, computer, cell phone - or what have you. I put it down to the fact that the TV was just too old. So on we went to the bedroom and my daughter's TV. That TV is no more than 6-7 years old, so I was sure it would work fine. No such luck.
So now, it seems I am stuck with two digital converter boxes which are out of warranty and will not work - at least on my two TVs. What would you do?
My blog friend Carol at Weary Hag sent this canvass quite a while back, and I forgot all about it. Carol, I hope it isn't too late!
1. While typing - do you prefer classic or italics?
I use both, depending on how I feel at the moment, or what emphasis I might want to place on a group of words.
2. While reading - do you prefer classic or italics? Classic!
3. Worst experience while blogging? [i.e. page froze, lost data, caught using dated or false info, typos - what made you gasp - even a li'l]
When my computer freezes up as I am trying to leave a comment! Very frustrating. Also, I have lost whole posts before I got used to the vagaries of Blogger, and learned to click save after every sentence!
4. Best experience while blogging? [i.e. new friendship/relationship formed, wrote a post that was just short of genius, learned new com tech skill, etc]
I like the written interaction with people from all over the world, but I like meeting fellow bloggers even more. I have met at least 10, and they are all very nice people!
5. Let's assume you're an avid blogger - someone at an intimate dinner or party suggests that blogging is for idiots. In what way do you beat the dog meat out of them - [read: handle the situation] - if at all?
I would simply say that I have four- to five years experience as a blogger, and my thinking about it is that most bloggers are anything but idiotic! Many are very intelligent; at least the ones I have come to know and love.
6. Do you pass your blog URL out to people like sneeze molecules or do you generally keep it to yourself and your own group of mutual blog buddies?
I have passed it out, but not indiscriminately. If someone shows genuine interest, I will tell them how to find me.
7. Do you share your blog with family [children/spouse/siblings/parents] or do you deliberately keep it from them?
My parents are long gone, but they would have liked and been proud of my blog, I think. I have no siblings. My children all know how to get to it, but I don’t think they read it much. They seem to have decided that maybe not all bloggers are axe murderers, so they don't need to keep a check on me!
8. This is for those who only use a fabricated name when blogging: Do you ever wish you could tell people just exactly who you really are or are you content to remain anonymous to the masses?
Even though I blog under an alias (which is a mixture of some of the letters in my names), I have not kept my identity secret. Only the people who run into my blog accidentally are in the dark. But if they read for a while, they will discover who I am.
9. This is for those who use their true name when blogging: Do you ever wish you had remained anonymous or are you pleased as punch to get your real self out there?
Yes; there are many times when I wish I had remained totally anonymous, and that my family didn’t know about the blog. I am somewhat limited in what I can say, although it really isn’t much of a problem for me. I tell nearly everything, eventually (according to mr. kenju!)
10. Of these - which is your favorite genre to read in the blogging community: [choose ONLY one]
a) how-to & advice, b) brief topics covered with a comedic edge, c) personal adventures or experiences, d) photos with captions, e) up-to-the-minute newsy type stories told with blogger's perspective or spin
Option C would be my number one choice, although I do like photos. Heck, I like all those choices!!
11. From one to ten, when reading a blog post ... do spelling & grammar really count? (not the occasional typo). One: they don't count in the least .............. Ten: stop reading midstream and move on.
I’d say nine. I really hate to see bad spelling and grammar; especially when it is apparent that the blogger really doesn’t know how to spell (not just typos, of which I am guilty), but I wouldn’t stop reading a post because of it. I might not revisit that blog, however.
12. Have you been approached to write a book or magazine article or to contribute to an existing publication in any way, solely based upon your blog? (and I don't mean by smokinbettylou or tedthetool)
I wrote a blog post which I later (2 years) submitted to our newspaper. They printed it, and I was asked to submit further writings, and even got a little fan mail, but I never did. I have not been asked to write a book or magazine article….and I doubt I ever would.
13. Do you prefer the read & comment type of post or the interactive style (like this one)?
Either one is fine with me; but as you can see, I took quite a while to answer this one. Read and leave a short comment is more my style.
14. Which applies to you most often? a) I read and comment, b) I read and move along ...
I comment 90% of the time.
15. Are you involved in any other networking venues or is blogging your one and only? [i.e. FB, YT, MSpace, LiveJournal, Classmates, photo hosting sites, etc.] No need to name them unless you want to
I am on Facebook and I once started a My Space page, but gave it up almost immediately. I didn’t like the people it was attracting (creepy). Classmates bothers the heck out of me. I keep telling them not to send me so much email, but they still do. I never joined there, but I am listed.
Every night when I get in bed, I can't help but think....."I've done this before, zillions of times, exactly like this; ad infinitum." And then I wonder how many other people are getting into bed at that very moment and if they are thinking..."I've done this before, exactly like this."
Every time I see a dead possum in the road, I wonder how many other possums are lying dead that that very moment all across the land. Then I wonder how there can be so many of them left, since so many get killed every night.
Sometimes when I am stopped for a red light, I wonder how many other cars are stopped for red lights at that very moment, all across the world, and are those drivers wondering too?
Sometimes when I am floating in the pool on a sunny day, I wonder how many people are doing that too, and whether the people on the plane that just passed over head could see me, and if they wanted to be floating in a pool too.
Sometimes when I am petting my cats or when they are lying on my lap, I wonder how many others are doing that very thing at that moment - and how many are petting dogs - and I wonder if they know how lucky they are.
Do you ever have thoughts like these? Or am I just weird?
John, of John Abuzz, gave me a Kreativ Blogger award, and I am grateful for it. Coming from another creative person, it is very appreciated. The award is also a meme, but the rules are simple. If you accept it, you are supposed to list seven of your favorite things and nominate seven blogs that deserve this award. And of course copy the award to your site and link back to this post or my blog. I told John I wouldn't nominate anyone this time around, since I have already done this one - but - I am pleased to mention seven things that tickle my fancy! And here they are:
1. My family and friends, of course - and may they both prosper and increase! (Blog friends are included in that!) 2. Fresh flowers, in abundance or by the single stem. Nothing pleases me more than to be in a room or garden full of flowers! 3. A frosty cold beer at the end of the day is a boon for whatever has ailed me and sends me off to serene slumbers. 4. Travel to faraway places. I love broadening my horizons and seeing new places; reveling in history and other cultures.
5. Security pleases me. I love the feeling that tells me everything is well and even if something bad happens I have the resources to take care of it. 6. Using my creativity pleases me no end. I love creating anything; be it art, music, good food or serenity for others. 7. Photographs on the computer; especially those from places I will most probably never see. If you know where to look, the computer is the doorway to any place you can imagine - even outer space. I'd be lost without mine.
Thanks again, John.
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An old friend of mine had an Arb*nne Facial Spa party today at her home. Arb*nne products range from skin care to practically anything you can imagine for the body. I knew when I accepted the invitation (and told the hostess) that I would not buy anything, and if that was okay with her, I would come. Another friend and I drove together, about 20 miles from here. She served a buffet lunch, and as she is legendary as a good cook, I was looking forward to the spread. I was not disappointed; devilled eggs, ham and rolls, orzo salad with mint and pine nuts, chicken salad, and various desserts, including a fruit tart were all wonderful. I helped her make sangria, and she also served iced tea.
I enjoyed seeing some old friends and coworkers, but I have to say that the woman who put on the party seemed more interested in getting people to sell the products than she did selling any herself. We heard much too much (IMO) about becoming a salesperson, and not as much about the products themselves. I already have some of those products. My daughter gave them to me for Christmas two years ago. They are really good - when I remember to use them - but they are so expensive that I would not buy them for myself. The saleswoman talked about how you could get 80% off the cost of the products if only you would agree to give an in-home party. I had better sense than to agree to that!! How do you handle stuff like that? Do you go and buy things you may not want? Or do you not buy (and feel guilty?) Or do you stay at home?
I really enjoyed this post by a woman whom I think deserves more readers. Please read The Cataract Club and leave a comment for Oklhdan!
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What is it about drag queens that I find so fascinating? I recently watched 2 episodes of RuPaul's Drag Race and it is oddly captivating to me. It encompasses all the elements you find on other reality shows on TV; dancing, appearance/make-up, costuming, business sense, competition, etc. and of course, all the bitchiness of a Miss whatever pageant (if the truth be known). When you see some of these guys without makeup (they look so ordinary) and then see them in the contest, you realize that what they can do with make-up and costumes is utterly amazing! Some of them are enchantingly beautiful and so talented!
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Now for something entirely different....I just finished reading a book for children ages seven to twelve. The title is "The Tale of Despereaux" by Kate DiCamillo. This book won the John Newberry Medal, for the Most Distinguished Contribution to American Literature for Children. The subtitle is..."being the story of a mouse, a princess, some soup, and a spool of thread." DiCamillo may have written it for children 7-12, but I think you'd like this book even if you are 70!
Early on in the reading of it, I had decided to give a copy to my 13 year old granddaughter, who could definitely benefit from some of the lessons in the book. Then I reached the page where a father sells his daughter. Here's a quote:
"Can you imagine it? Can you imagine your father selling you for a tablecloth, a hen and a handful of cigarettes? Close your eyes, please, and consider it for just a moment. Done?"
That line made me cry; remembering how my grandchildren's father left them and went off to California with a new girlfriend, and didn't even look back. I decided that the book might bring up too many bad memories for this child. Could she benefit from it, no matter how much sadness it might conjure up? What do you think?
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Tomorrow (31st) my friend Tiff is having a birthday. Please go and tell her to have a happy, happy one. She's having a bad time right now: a horrendous case of poison ivy and her car broke down. I hope her birthday weekend will be fun for her, in spite of all the troubles.
Shoe shopping was on my menu today, for the first time since last fall. The sandals above are what I bought, after trying on 50+ pairs in three stores. My feet are getting more and more sensitive as I get older. I have to have a flexible polyurethane sole and a soft, absorbent (and non-slippery) foot bed, and Cl*rk's always seem to have just what I need, except a toe-ring. I was hoping for something in bronze or copper, but fake crocodile will have to do. I haven't had a pair of brown shoes in 25 years or more, but now that brown clothing is so common, I decided I needed something to go with all the brown clothes I have amassed in the last 3 years - all 4 pieces. LOL. Have you seen all the gladiator sandals in the stores? I don't like them one bit, especially on anyone my age. They look too much like bondage gear and I can't have that, as Jeff Kay would say. Besides, they look horrible with broken veins, razor nicks and swollen ankles.
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Last October, I gave my daughter a gift card to a local spa, hoping she would take the time to get a facial. She doesn't live here, but she's home often enough that she could schedule their services. As I suspected she might, she gave the card back to me and told me to use it. I think I will. That will teach her to give a card back to me, won't it?! I have been wanting a facial - but their web-site touts a foot massage that sounds heavenly. Have you ever had one? It is just as relaxing as if you had a full body massage. What do you think? Should I get the facial (which feels nice, but never changes the way I look) or soothe my tired and aching feet?
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My older grandson has to work on a family tree for one of his classes. Since mr. kenju has been doing our geneaology for about ten years, we gave him and his mom most of the info that we have amassed. My daughter called that night and said she had found a whole other branch of my mother's family - at least someone who had many of the same relatives as mom did. I started making a family tree on that site today (myheritage.com), but I haven't gotten far enough along with it to find any new people yet. It could be exciting! Mr. kenju found another whole branch of his family, and some of them live here in NC, in Wilmington. We met them a few years ago, and I think I wrote about it then. It's pretty heady stuff to get into when you find out you had a whole set of people in your family that you knew nothing about. Have you ever discovered something like that? I'd love to hear about it.
