Thoughts from the local weekly newspaper (in honor of Sunshine Week)
1. If you're going to run for public office I don't suppose you have to be so clean you squeak, but I personally would think twice about electing a pardoned felon. I want law abiding people in those places of power. Of course, I thought that people wouldn't want someone who liked to talk about grabbing pussy or shooting people down in the middle of the street, or advocated violence or racism, but that was pre-2016. Now I don't know anymore.
2. If a county is a rural community, and it has 500 businesses that are agricultural based, why would you want to get rid of the agriculture teacher in the school system?
3. Clean Valley Days are good ideas and it is a shame that so much trash ends up along the road. I've noticed it has worsened since the county reopened the landfill and stopped hauling its trash elsewhere. People and business owners who are hauling trash should cover their vehicles so things don't blow out into the street right-of-way.
4. I am pleased to see that the middle schools, anyway, still put out a yearbook. I thought those treasures had become a thing of the past. I have mine from 7th-12th grade, and because my husband was four years ahead of me in school, we have a combined accumulation of 12 years worth of annuals because he has his from 7th-12th grade, too, and there's no overlap.
5. We have a team in the Recreation League nicknamed The Ballers. Um. Who came up with that? They won the league tournament for something, although the cutline beneath the photo doesn't say what. Basketball, maybe?
6. Lots in the high-growth part of the county are going for $75,000 and up. Whew. That's more than we paid to build our home back in the day.
7. Document shredding is April 13. I always mean to do that but I forget, and the one time I didn't forget I arrived too late and refused to sit in my car in line for hours.
8. We have had a spat of breaking and entering lately. Better lock things up.
9. Apparently "procuring drugs as a prisoner" is a different charge from possessing drugs wherever.
10. Warm weather means its auction time again. I see a few advertisements for area auctions of estates and farms going out of business. I like to go to auctions but (a) the pollen count right now would have me wheezing and (b) I seem to always sit behind someone who smokes a cigarette. So I don't go. I don't need anymore "stuff" anyhow.
11. I only found 10 things to write about in the local weekly, and I'm not going back through it, so we'll just have to make up stuff for these last three entries.
12. Do you have stink bugs where you live? The things are such a nuisance. It took me a while to figure out that the brown streaks on my curtains were stink bug poops or pukes or something.
13. The birds are migrating back. I've seen a robin. Spring can't be far away.
----------------------------
Thursday Thirteen is played by lots of people; there is a list here if you want to read other Thursday Thirteens and/or play along. I've been playing for a while and this is my 595th time to do a list of 13 on a Thursday. Or so sayth the Blogger counter, anyway.
Thursday, March 14, 2019
Tuesday, March 12, 2019
Spread a Little Sunshine
This week is known as Sunshine Week in the journalism world. It's when newspapers and other media spread light on open government. Without open government, we have no democracy.
One of the best tools for folks who are interested in what their government is doing, whether federal, state, or locally, is the Freedom of Information Act.
Known as FOIA, this varies from state to state and the federal government also has its own rules. The federal government's rules are not very good - they can, if they want, take years to respond to a FOIA request. Follow the link here for a FAQ about federal FOIA laws. The website describes FOIA as "the law that keeps citizens in the know about their government." If you're interested in what the federal government is doing and can't find the information you seek on various agency websites, you may need to file a FOIA request to get your answer.
Virginia, the state where I live, has a FOIA law that is a bit stricter than the governments. For one thing, localities and state agencies have to respond within a given amount of time. Virginia has a Freedom of Information Advisory Council that citizens and government employees can use when questions arise. The state's Freedom of Information Act is also posted on this website, in its entirety.
As a long-time news writer, I have had to utilize FOIA on a few occasions. Mostly I have had to invoke it to force local governments to stop meeting in secret. Your local town council or Board of Supervisors or whatever it is called in your locality can only meet in "closed session" for certain things. If they talk about other things during these closed sessions, they are in violation of the Freedom of Information Act, and if someone takes them to court about it, they can be fined for talking about things behind closed doors. I've never taken a locality to court but I have threatened to do so a time or two.
Since I have long been a fan of open information, I find closed doors and secret meetings especially loathsome. In my opinion, governments discuss many things behind closed doors that could be addressed publicly with a little forethought and imagination. For example, it is okay to talk in closed session about a company wanting to buy property and move to the community. In my opinion, this only needs to be discussed once in closed session. After that, they should designate the company as "Project X" and the location, if it must be withheld for whatever reason, could be called "Location Y" and then afterwards, in open session, they can discuss Project X at Location Y in public. But most localities do not do this. Actually I've never seen a single one of the many I have covered do this, but hopefully it happens somewhere.
I have also used FOIA to request information about something the government was doing. Sometimes as a reporter one simply acquires a "gut" feeling that something is amiss, and occasionally one needs to ask for supporting documents. For the first 20 years of my career, I did not have to resort to FOIA requests because I had a good relationship with county administrators, town managers, town council members, and supervisors. Some of them did not like me but they could not fault my reporting. I was what now would be referred to as an old-school news writer. I kept my opinions to myself and simply wrote the facts about what happened. I explained things as best I could so that the public could understand what was happening with their tax dollars. I considered it an honor to educate and inform and I wasn't there to make my own opinions known.
This openness with elected officials and public employees changed when President George W Bush took office, especially with federal agencies. Where I once could go talk to forest service people and obtain information and stories, I suddenly found I had to go through an information officer. This wall crept into local governments soon thereafter, so that many communities now have an (unnecessary) information person that the news media must go through. No longer can they get the information directly from the person the people actually elected, or the county administrator the people are paying for. I have heard many reasons for this - to keep county officials from being bothered, or to keep them safe, or whatever - but mostly it is to keep people from knowing what is happening and to ensure the government gets its own "spin" on the issue.
I wonder, if the person you elect isn't willing to talk to you, then why would you vote for that person again?
After 35 years of watching various government entities, I have found that elected officials frequently forget they are elected, until it's time to be re-elected. They have their pet projects and the things they want to accomplish, and they don't want the citizens to know what they are doing because they know someone will object. Objections can become loud, noisy, boisterous, and stressful, so doing things in secret makes sense if you aren't into democracy. Democracy is loud, noisy, boisterous, and stressful, when it is successful.
Most citizens pay little attention to their local government, and this is where they need to pay attention the most, because this affects them greatly. Newspaper coverage has declined significantly in recent years and many local community papers have folded, or have been bought up by larger conglomerates. These larger companies then fire the seasoned reporter to replace him or her with someone not long out of school who has no historical community knowledge and no understanding of what is actually going on around them. If the reporter lasts three years then that person will be a seasoned and valuable member who can contribute. However, in this day and age I don't think many reporters last that long. When old reporters leave newspapers, or when newspapers die, the community no longer knows what its local representatives are doing. They don't know if their tax dollars are being spent wisely or foolishly.
This is giving rise to "community journalists" - or people like myself who once were journalists who attend meetings and who then sound the alarm wherever they can when things look weird or off or iffy.
It is up to us, the electorate, to watch what our elected officials are doing. Go spread a little sunshine and attend a school board meeting or a town council meeting.
You may be surprised at what you learn.
Known as FOIA, this varies from state to state and the federal government also has its own rules. The federal government's rules are not very good - they can, if they want, take years to respond to a FOIA request. Follow the link here for a FAQ about federal FOIA laws. The website describes FOIA as "the law that keeps citizens in the know about their government." If you're interested in what the federal government is doing and can't find the information you seek on various agency websites, you may need to file a FOIA request to get your answer.
Virginia, the state where I live, has a FOIA law that is a bit stricter than the governments. For one thing, localities and state agencies have to respond within a given amount of time. Virginia has a Freedom of Information Advisory Council that citizens and government employees can use when questions arise. The state's Freedom of Information Act is also posted on this website, in its entirety.
As a long-time news writer, I have had to utilize FOIA on a few occasions. Mostly I have had to invoke it to force local governments to stop meeting in secret. Your local town council or Board of Supervisors or whatever it is called in your locality can only meet in "closed session" for certain things. If they talk about other things during these closed sessions, they are in violation of the Freedom of Information Act, and if someone takes them to court about it, they can be fined for talking about things behind closed doors. I've never taken a locality to court but I have threatened to do so a time or two.
Since I have long been a fan of open information, I find closed doors and secret meetings especially loathsome. In my opinion, governments discuss many things behind closed doors that could be addressed publicly with a little forethought and imagination. For example, it is okay to talk in closed session about a company wanting to buy property and move to the community. In my opinion, this only needs to be discussed once in closed session. After that, they should designate the company as "Project X" and the location, if it must be withheld for whatever reason, could be called "Location Y" and then afterwards, in open session, they can discuss Project X at Location Y in public. But most localities do not do this. Actually I've never seen a single one of the many I have covered do this, but hopefully it happens somewhere.
I have also used FOIA to request information about something the government was doing. Sometimes as a reporter one simply acquires a "gut" feeling that something is amiss, and occasionally one needs to ask for supporting documents. For the first 20 years of my career, I did not have to resort to FOIA requests because I had a good relationship with county administrators, town managers, town council members, and supervisors. Some of them did not like me but they could not fault my reporting. I was what now would be referred to as an old-school news writer. I kept my opinions to myself and simply wrote the facts about what happened. I explained things as best I could so that the public could understand what was happening with their tax dollars. I considered it an honor to educate and inform and I wasn't there to make my own opinions known.
This openness with elected officials and public employees changed when President George W Bush took office, especially with federal agencies. Where I once could go talk to forest service people and obtain information and stories, I suddenly found I had to go through an information officer. This wall crept into local governments soon thereafter, so that many communities now have an (unnecessary) information person that the news media must go through. No longer can they get the information directly from the person the people actually elected, or the county administrator the people are paying for. I have heard many reasons for this - to keep county officials from being bothered, or to keep them safe, or whatever - but mostly it is to keep people from knowing what is happening and to ensure the government gets its own "spin" on the issue.
I wonder, if the person you elect isn't willing to talk to you, then why would you vote for that person again?
After 35 years of watching various government entities, I have found that elected officials frequently forget they are elected, until it's time to be re-elected. They have their pet projects and the things they want to accomplish, and they don't want the citizens to know what they are doing because they know someone will object. Objections can become loud, noisy, boisterous, and stressful, so doing things in secret makes sense if you aren't into democracy. Democracy is loud, noisy, boisterous, and stressful, when it is successful.
Most citizens pay little attention to their local government, and this is where they need to pay attention the most, because this affects them greatly. Newspaper coverage has declined significantly in recent years and many local community papers have folded, or have been bought up by larger conglomerates. These larger companies then fire the seasoned reporter to replace him or her with someone not long out of school who has no historical community knowledge and no understanding of what is actually going on around them. If the reporter lasts three years then that person will be a seasoned and valuable member who can contribute. However, in this day and age I don't think many reporters last that long. When old reporters leave newspapers, or when newspapers die, the community no longer knows what its local representatives are doing. They don't know if their tax dollars are being spent wisely or foolishly.
This is giving rise to "community journalists" - or people like myself who once were journalists who attend meetings and who then sound the alarm wherever they can when things look weird or off or iffy.
It is up to us, the electorate, to watch what our elected officials are doing. Go spread a little sunshine and attend a school board meeting or a town council meeting.
You may be surprised at what you learn.
Monday, March 11, 2019
Two Friends Out For A Stroll
 |
| A little walk along the fence row. |
 |
| They really do come up quite close to the house. |
Sunday, March 10, 2019
Sunday Stealing
Sunday Stealing: Songs by Queen
1. Bohemian Rhapsody - What matters to you more than anything in the world?
A. My husband.
2. Don’t Stop Me Now - What makes you feel unstoppable?
A. Being right.
3. Another One Bites The Dust - What one thing would you wipe off the face of the earth?
A. War.
4. Under Pressure - How stressed are you currently?
A. Pretty stressed.
5. We Will Rock You - What was the last concert you went to?
A. Tommy Emanuel, a guitar player, at a local concert venue.
6. Somebody To Love - Are you looking for somebody to love?
A. No, I have somebody to love. I wouldn't mind having a few more friends. I love the ones I have but I wish I had someone simply to go shopping with sometimes.
7. We Are The Champions - What achievement are you most proud of?
A. Being married for 35 years is quite an achievement. I am also proud of the writing I have done.
8. Radio GaGa - What do you think of today’s popular music?
A. Not much. I don't listen to it anymore.
9. I Want To Break Free - If you could move to any part of the world, where would you want to live?
A. I am fine where I am although if something were to happen to my husband I might move to a patio home in a college town.
10. Love Of My Life - Have you ever had your heart broken?
A. Who hasn't?
11. Killer Queen - What is your favourite thing about yourself?
A. I'm pretty smart. Not a stable genuis, though. Just intelligent.
12. The Show Must Go On - What is something you will never give up?
A. Love.
13. Crazy Little Thing Called Love - Name some of your favourite musicians.
A. Sheryl Crow, Melissa Etheridge, The Pretenders, Pat Benetar, Linda Rondstadt, Stevie Nicks, Nancy Wilson (Heart).
14. Who Wants To Live Forever - If you could be immortal, would you?
A. Not unless it would at a certain age. I don't want to continue to grow old and become a withered up blob. Now if a vampire had bit me when I was in my mid-30s that might have been OK.
15. Fat Bottomed Girls - What are some traits you look for in a partner?
A. Intelligence and loyalty.
16. I Want It All - If you could have anything in the world, what would it be?
A. Self confidence.
1. Bohemian Rhapsody - What matters to you more than anything in the world?
A. My husband.
2. Don’t Stop Me Now - What makes you feel unstoppable?
A. Being right.
3. Another One Bites The Dust - What one thing would you wipe off the face of the earth?
A. War.
4. Under Pressure - How stressed are you currently?
A. Pretty stressed.
5. We Will Rock You - What was the last concert you went to?
A. Tommy Emanuel, a guitar player, at a local concert venue.
6. Somebody To Love - Are you looking for somebody to love?
A. No, I have somebody to love. I wouldn't mind having a few more friends. I love the ones I have but I wish I had someone simply to go shopping with sometimes.
7. We Are The Champions - What achievement are you most proud of?
A. Being married for 35 years is quite an achievement. I am also proud of the writing I have done.
8. Radio GaGa - What do you think of today’s popular music?
A. Not much. I don't listen to it anymore.
9. I Want To Break Free - If you could move to any part of the world, where would you want to live?
A. I am fine where I am although if something were to happen to my husband I might move to a patio home in a college town.
10. Love Of My Life - Have you ever had your heart broken?
A. Who hasn't?
11. Killer Queen - What is your favourite thing about yourself?
A. I'm pretty smart. Not a stable genuis, though. Just intelligent.
12. The Show Must Go On - What is something you will never give up?
A. Love.
13. Crazy Little Thing Called Love - Name some of your favourite musicians.
A. Sheryl Crow, Melissa Etheridge, The Pretenders, Pat Benetar, Linda Rondstadt, Stevie Nicks, Nancy Wilson (Heart).
14. Who Wants To Live Forever - If you could be immortal, would you?
A. Not unless it would at a certain age. I don't want to continue to grow old and become a withered up blob. Now if a vampire had bit me when I was in my mid-30s that might have been OK.
15. Fat Bottomed Girls - What are some traits you look for in a partner?
A. Intelligence and loyalty.
16. I Want It All - If you could have anything in the world, what would it be?
A. Self confidence.
Saturday, March 09, 2019
Saturday 9: Up On the Roof
Saturday 9: Up on the Roof (1979)
Unfamiliar with this week's tune? Hear it here.
1) James Taylor sings that, when the world gets him down, he goes up on the roof to find peace. When you're "feeling tired and beat," what do you do to cheer yourself up?
A. Call a friend or my husband, take a walk, read, or just go to bed.
2) He sings that, at night, the stars put on a show for free. Are you economizing, or sticking to a budget?
A. We have always stuck to a budget and been frugal.
3) In addition to recording this song for his album, Flag, James Taylor surprised the song's composer, and his good friend. Carole King by performing it the night she received her Kennedy Center Honor (see link above). Tell us about a good turn a friend has done for you recently.
A. Being asked to help with the county's 250th anniversary celebration was good for my morale and ego.
4) James Taylor and Carole King have been good friends for decades, but they have never been romantically involved. Do you have platonic friends of the opposite sex?
A. Yes, I do.
5) James was born in the Boston hospital where his father worked as a resident physician. Are there any doctors or nurses in your family?
A. My aunts. One is retired; the other works in a hospital in Texas.
6) When James was young, his family moved to Chapel Hill, NC. James has vivid memories of how beautiful the area was in all four seasons. What's your favorite time of year?
A. Spring and Fall are tied for first place.
7) In 1979, when this recording was popular, ESPN launched. Do you often watch that cable sports channel?
A. No.
8) Also in 1979, the Voyager spacecraft sent photos back to earth that revealed Jupiter's rings. Without looking it up, can you name all the planets in our solar system?
A. Earth, Mars, Venus, Neptune, Uranus, Jupiter, Mercury and poor little down-graded Pluto. (That's not the proper order for them, just how I remembered them.) And then there's that new thing they discovered, Ultima Thule, I think they call it.
9) Random question: Our Saturday 9 Wizards give you a choice -- you can be 20 years old and gorgeous, 30 years old and brilliant, or 40 years old and rich. Which do you choose?
A. 40 years old and rich.
___________
I encourage you to visit other participants in Saturday 9 posts and leave a comment. Because there are no rules, it is your choice. Saturday 9 players hate rules. We love memes, however. (#275)
Unfamiliar with this week's tune? Hear it here.
1) James Taylor sings that, when the world gets him down, he goes up on the roof to find peace. When you're "feeling tired and beat," what do you do to cheer yourself up?
A. Call a friend or my husband, take a walk, read, or just go to bed.
2) He sings that, at night, the stars put on a show for free. Are you economizing, or sticking to a budget?
A. We have always stuck to a budget and been frugal.
3) In addition to recording this song for his album, Flag, James Taylor surprised the song's composer, and his good friend. Carole King by performing it the night she received her Kennedy Center Honor (see link above). Tell us about a good turn a friend has done for you recently.
A. Being asked to help with the county's 250th anniversary celebration was good for my morale and ego.
4) James Taylor and Carole King have been good friends for decades, but they have never been romantically involved. Do you have platonic friends of the opposite sex?
A. Yes, I do.
5) James was born in the Boston hospital where his father worked as a resident physician. Are there any doctors or nurses in your family?
A. My aunts. One is retired; the other works in a hospital in Texas.
6) When James was young, his family moved to Chapel Hill, NC. James has vivid memories of how beautiful the area was in all four seasons. What's your favorite time of year?
A. Spring and Fall are tied for first place.
7) In 1979, when this recording was popular, ESPN launched. Do you often watch that cable sports channel?
A. No.
8) Also in 1979, the Voyager spacecraft sent photos back to earth that revealed Jupiter's rings. Without looking it up, can you name all the planets in our solar system?
A. Earth, Mars, Venus, Neptune, Uranus, Jupiter, Mercury and poor little down-graded Pluto. (That's not the proper order for them, just how I remembered them.) And then there's that new thing they discovered, Ultima Thule, I think they call it.
9) Random question: Our Saturday 9 Wizards give you a choice -- you can be 20 years old and gorgeous, 30 years old and brilliant, or 40 years old and rich. Which do you choose?
A. 40 years old and rich.
___________
I encourage you to visit other participants in Saturday 9 posts and leave a comment. Because there are no rules, it is your choice. Saturday 9 players hate rules. We love memes, however. (#275)
Thursday, March 07, 2019
Thursday Thirteen
Since it is National Women's History Month, I'm going to list 13 of my teachers/professors who influenced me. Most are still alive, but they are part of MY history. They were all influential in some way. Some of them are influencing me still.
In no particular order:
1. Tina Weiner. Tina was my high school math teacher for Algebra 1, II, and Trig and now she is my friend. I don't remember anything she taught me, even though I was a straight-A student, which is probably a crime, but I don't do (x+y)-(z-t)=Q very often. We are in touch frequently and I value our relationship more than she will ever know.
2. Jeanne Larsen. Jeanne has a new book coming out called What Penelope Chooses, a book of poems that won the 2017 Cider Press Book Award. (Go preorder the book at the link.) Jeanne was my professor at Hollins College (now Hollins University) and she taught me a great deal not only about writing, but about myself. She influenced me in ways still undetermined and even now influences me simply by continuing to write and be productive and with lively and interesting Facebook posts.
3. Dee Sheffer. Dee was my English teacher in 10th grade in high school. I still see her occasionally when I am out and about, but not often. She greatly influenced my work and was very encouraging of my writing abilities at a time when I was pretty much one of those broken teenagers that need support. Hey, it happens. We're friends on Facebook and seem to share similar political philosophies.
4. Amanda Cockrell. Amanda is another of my Hollins professors who influenced me and my writing. I had Amanda for masters' courses - several of them. She taught me about the trickster stories and reminded me that children's literature has multiple layers and many levels of philosophy upon which to ponder if one is so inclined. Amanda's a Facebook friend now and I enjoy her posts, too.
5. Mrs. Mildred Wright. She was my second grade teacher. She was very stern but she taught me to read with inflection and recognized that I have the ability to be a leader long before I ever thought about such a thing. (She'd send me over to watch the 1st grade class, back when a teacher could leave an hour early and a second grader could be sent over to read a book about dinosaurs to the class until the bell rang.)
6. Mrs. Fairfax. She was my third grade teacher, and she taught me how to ignore race even though I don't think she intended to do that. One of my strongest memories involves an angry father who went to the parent-teachers meeting to find out I had a black teacher when I'd told him there were no black teachers in the school. I never saw her color; she was my teacher and a person. (My father said I lied to him, but to me it was not a lie.)
7 & 8. Nancy Dahlstrom. Nancy was another Hollins professor whom I held in high esteem. She taught art. I took two classes from her, a drawing course over the summer and a "creative imagination" class that she co-taught with Cathy Hankla, another Hollins professor and published writer whom I admire. (Sure wish I'd aged as well as Cathy has!) The class combined writing and art. Both women taught me to see beyond the norm, to see the space in between, and to believe in myself.
9. Jeanne Kiker. Mrs. Kiker taught 7th grade English and I thought the world of her. She ran the school newspaper at that time and made me editor of it, something that probably foretold my future except I wasn't paying attention then. She was always very kind.
10. Mrs. Lanning. Mrs. Lanning taught me in the fourth grade and while frankly I have a lot of bad memories about that year, the thing that stands out is that this is where I learned that hugs are okay. In fact, Mrs. Lanning asked specifically for my parents to come to a parent-teacher conference and it wasn't my grades they discussed, but the fact that I was withdrawn and it had taken her six months to be able to hug me. I don't suppose teachers hug their students today but I am forever grateful for her patience in drawing me out of my shell.
11. Dr. Connie Shotts. She was my senior English teacher in high school and nominated for the English award, which I won. She did not stay at Lord Botetourt long and insisted we call her "Dr. Shotts" because she had a Ph.D. However, she had us read all of the classics and this was an advanced placement course that also counted as a college level English class, so she gave me a solid background in multiple areas that has stood the test of time. Because of her, I can understand references to old books in new works, and that is of great value because one can miss out on a lot if those sorts of things slide by without a thought.
12. Miss All. Miss All taught geometry in high school, and while it was not my best subject (even though I still received mostly As), I did find Mrs. All to be a very wonderful teacher. She probably doesn't remember it, but she gave me a book that greatly influenced me called Alas Babylon, by Pat Frank. That book still ranks as one of my all-time favorites and its message is still valid today, if a little dated.
13. Marilyn Moriarty. Professor Moriarty taught me a semester at Hollins, and was the first professor ever (actually the only one, I think), who encouraged me to write sonnets. I don't write sonnets often now but she did give me a love of form poetry, such as villanelles and sestinas. They are hard to write but loads of fun, rather like working a poem puzzle. Every now and then I try my hand at one simply for fun.
There you go. Do you remember you teachers? Thank you to all of these women who have had such great influence over my life, both in personal and career growth. May you all be blessed.
----------------------------
Thursday Thirteen is played by lots of people; there is a list here if you want to read other Thursday Thirteens and/or play along. I've been playing for a while and this is my 594th time to do a list of 13 on a Thursday. Or so sayth the Blogger counter, anyway.
In no particular order:
 |
| Tina Weiner |
2. Jeanne Larsen. Jeanne has a new book coming out called What Penelope Chooses, a book of poems that won the 2017 Cider Press Book Award. (Go preorder the book at the link.) Jeanne was my professor at Hollins College (now Hollins University) and she taught me a great deal not only about writing, but about myself. She influenced me in ways still undetermined and even now influences me simply by continuing to write and be productive and with lively and interesting Facebook posts.
 |
| Dee Sheffer |
4. Amanda Cockrell. Amanda is another of my Hollins professors who influenced me and my writing. I had Amanda for masters' courses - several of them. She taught me about the trickster stories and reminded me that children's literature has multiple layers and many levels of philosophy upon which to ponder if one is so inclined. Amanda's a Facebook friend now and I enjoy her posts, too.
5. Mrs. Mildred Wright. She was my second grade teacher. She was very stern but she taught me to read with inflection and recognized that I have the ability to be a leader long before I ever thought about such a thing. (She'd send me over to watch the 1st grade class, back when a teacher could leave an hour early and a second grader could be sent over to read a book about dinosaurs to the class until the bell rang.)
6. Mrs. Fairfax. She was my third grade teacher, and she taught me how to ignore race even though I don't think she intended to do that. One of my strongest memories involves an angry father who went to the parent-teachers meeting to find out I had a black teacher when I'd told him there were no black teachers in the school. I never saw her color; she was my teacher and a person. (My father said I lied to him, but to me it was not a lie.)
7 & 8. Nancy Dahlstrom. Nancy was another Hollins professor whom I held in high esteem. She taught art. I took two classes from her, a drawing course over the summer and a "creative imagination" class that she co-taught with Cathy Hankla, another Hollins professor and published writer whom I admire. (Sure wish I'd aged as well as Cathy has!) The class combined writing and art. Both women taught me to see beyond the norm, to see the space in between, and to believe in myself.
9. Jeanne Kiker. Mrs. Kiker taught 7th grade English and I thought the world of her. She ran the school newspaper at that time and made me editor of it, something that probably foretold my future except I wasn't paying attention then. She was always very kind.
10. Mrs. Lanning. Mrs. Lanning taught me in the fourth grade and while frankly I have a lot of bad memories about that year, the thing that stands out is that this is where I learned that hugs are okay. In fact, Mrs. Lanning asked specifically for my parents to come to a parent-teacher conference and it wasn't my grades they discussed, but the fact that I was withdrawn and it had taken her six months to be able to hug me. I don't suppose teachers hug their students today but I am forever grateful for her patience in drawing me out of my shell.
11. Dr. Connie Shotts. She was my senior English teacher in high school and nominated for the English award, which I won. She did not stay at Lord Botetourt long and insisted we call her "Dr. Shotts" because she had a Ph.D. However, she had us read all of the classics and this was an advanced placement course that also counted as a college level English class, so she gave me a solid background in multiple areas that has stood the test of time. Because of her, I can understand references to old books in new works, and that is of great value because one can miss out on a lot if those sorts of things slide by without a thought.
12. Miss All. Miss All taught geometry in high school, and while it was not my best subject (even though I still received mostly As), I did find Mrs. All to be a very wonderful teacher. She probably doesn't remember it, but she gave me a book that greatly influenced me called Alas Babylon, by Pat Frank. That book still ranks as one of my all-time favorites and its message is still valid today, if a little dated.
13. Marilyn Moriarty. Professor Moriarty taught me a semester at Hollins, and was the first professor ever (actually the only one, I think), who encouraged me to write sonnets. I don't write sonnets often now but she did give me a love of form poetry, such as villanelles and sestinas. They are hard to write but loads of fun, rather like working a poem puzzle. Every now and then I try my hand at one simply for fun.
There you go. Do you remember you teachers? Thank you to all of these women who have had such great influence over my life, both in personal and career growth. May you all be blessed.
----------------------------
Thursday Thirteen is played by lots of people; there is a list here if you want to read other Thursday Thirteens and/or play along. I've been playing for a while and this is my 594th time to do a list of 13 on a Thursday. Or so sayth the Blogger counter, anyway.
Tuesday, March 05, 2019
Missing Grandma
Today I am missing my grandmother. I am not sure why, exactly, except that I would like to talk to her. I have things to tell her.
My grandmother always had time for me. It made no difference when I called her or dropped by. She stopped whatever she was doing and spoke with me. She was a great fount of common sense knowledge learned by life's never-ending lessons. I valued that. I still do, although as one of the older generation myself now perhaps I don't listen as well as I should to my elders. (Yes, I still have elders. I'm not that old.)
Grandma had a fourth grade education, I think it was, but she read a lot. A set of World Book Encyclopedias was one of her proudest possessions. I could sit and read them if I was careful. I could not have food or drink in my hands when I did so. I am not sure how many children actually sat and read encyclopedias, but I did. I suppose few do that today, what with all the answers online.
She also had other books that I read, like Five Little Peppers and How They Grew, and the Little House on the Prairie books. I also found Nancy Drew books at Grandma's house (I think they belonged to my aunt).
My grandmother made chocolate pudding for us when we were children, the real kind with the skin on it. It was a treat, not an everyday purchase you could make at the market like it is now (Hello, Jello Pudding in my refrigerator). Sometimes she would let us have a Little Debbie Oatmeal Cookie, but those were only for special times. They were actually called "Granddaddy cookies" because my grandfather carried one in his lunch each day. I had to be in tears and bleeding to earn a Granddaddy cookie.
She spoiled us, my brother and me, but not too much. She was, after all, also raising two boys who were not that different in age than I was at the time (one is actually a year younger than I).
My mother died before my grandmother did. I have often wondered how she felt, losing her first child like that. My mother was only 56 when she passed away. How young that seems to me now as I approach that age. How young did it seem to my grandmother, I wonder? She would have been 77 when my mother passed away. Seventy-seven no longer seems so old to me, either. Does 56 seem young to someone who is in their 70s? Anyway, I can't imagine how painful it must have been to see her daughter die of pancreatic cancer at such a young age. I'm not sure I was there enough for her when that happened, but of course I was also grieving the loss of my mother. Knowing my grandmother, she understood that. She was good that way.
On my grandmother's deathbed she saw my mother. She told me she was talking to her. But she never told me what she said.
This is not a special date or anything with regards to my grandmother, though the slight greenish tinge to the grass reminds me of her. I remember how much she looked forward to spring. She'd always wait for the robins to appear, and point them out to me when they gathered on the lawn. "Warm weather will be here soon," she would say. Even now I look for that first robin that indicates spring is on its way. I have yet to see one this year.
Later, she'd tend to her peonies, which always had magnificent blooms. She had them in rows on each side of the back yard. The bees loved them. She gave us jars for lightning bug, and long pieces of thread for tying to June bugs (neither of which would be considered politically correct these days, but that was the time I grew up in).
Grandmas can be very special people. I know not everyone has a good grandmother, and that's unfortunate. I hope those people have other special women in their lives who have held them up and helped them out somewhere a long the line.
*A little tribute to a wonderful woman in my life, in honor of March being National Women's History Month.*
My grandmother always had time for me. It made no difference when I called her or dropped by. She stopped whatever she was doing and spoke with me. She was a great fount of common sense knowledge learned by life's never-ending lessons. I valued that. I still do, although as one of the older generation myself now perhaps I don't listen as well as I should to my elders. (Yes, I still have elders. I'm not that old.)
Grandma had a fourth grade education, I think it was, but she read a lot. A set of World Book Encyclopedias was one of her proudest possessions. I could sit and read them if I was careful. I could not have food or drink in my hands when I did so. I am not sure how many children actually sat and read encyclopedias, but I did. I suppose few do that today, what with all the answers online.
She also had other books that I read, like Five Little Peppers and How They Grew, and the Little House on the Prairie books. I also found Nancy Drew books at Grandma's house (I think they belonged to my aunt).
My grandmother made chocolate pudding for us when we were children, the real kind with the skin on it. It was a treat, not an everyday purchase you could make at the market like it is now (Hello, Jello Pudding in my refrigerator). Sometimes she would let us have a Little Debbie Oatmeal Cookie, but those were only for special times. They were actually called "Granddaddy cookies" because my grandfather carried one in his lunch each day. I had to be in tears and bleeding to earn a Granddaddy cookie.
She spoiled us, my brother and me, but not too much. She was, after all, also raising two boys who were not that different in age than I was at the time (one is actually a year younger than I).
My mother died before my grandmother did. I have often wondered how she felt, losing her first child like that. My mother was only 56 when she passed away. How young that seems to me now as I approach that age. How young did it seem to my grandmother, I wonder? She would have been 77 when my mother passed away. Seventy-seven no longer seems so old to me, either. Does 56 seem young to someone who is in their 70s? Anyway, I can't imagine how painful it must have been to see her daughter die of pancreatic cancer at such a young age. I'm not sure I was there enough for her when that happened, but of course I was also grieving the loss of my mother. Knowing my grandmother, she understood that. She was good that way.
On my grandmother's deathbed she saw my mother. She told me she was talking to her. But she never told me what she said.
This is not a special date or anything with regards to my grandmother, though the slight greenish tinge to the grass reminds me of her. I remember how much she looked forward to spring. She'd always wait for the robins to appear, and point them out to me when they gathered on the lawn. "Warm weather will be here soon," she would say. Even now I look for that first robin that indicates spring is on its way. I have yet to see one this year.
Later, she'd tend to her peonies, which always had magnificent blooms. She had them in rows on each side of the back yard. The bees loved them. She gave us jars for lightning bug, and long pieces of thread for tying to June bugs (neither of which would be considered politically correct these days, but that was the time I grew up in).
Grandmas can be very special people. I know not everyone has a good grandmother, and that's unfortunate. I hope those people have other special women in their lives who have held them up and helped them out somewhere a long the line.
*A little tribute to a wonderful woman in my life, in honor of March being National Women's History Month.*
Sunday, March 03, 2019
Sunday Stealing
*PLEASE NOTE: IF THERE IS A WEIRD PICTURE CAPTCHA THING COMING UP TO ENTER COMMENTS ON MY BLOG, LET ME KNOW. I HAVE SEEN IT SUDDENLY APPEAR ON OTHER BLOGS AND IT IS EXTREMELY IRRITATING AND IF IT IS ON MINE I WANT TO REMOVE IT.*
Sunday Stealing
1. I wish I had enough money to ________.
A. allow my husband to retire tomorrow.
2. If you had to enter a competition for the "Most Uselessly Unique Talent," what would your talent be?
A. I can roll my tongue.
3. When it might hurt their feelings, how do you feel about telling your friends the truth?
A. I try to do it gently. Mostly I don't do it at all unless they're in grave danger. Some things are simply better left unsaid.
4. Peanut or plain?
A. Plain.
5. Is there someone you would like to take your place in life for one day? Who and why?
A. No.
6. Who was your favorite teacher and why?
A. I had several favorite teachers, so I can't pick just one.
7. What do you think is the ugliest thing or event on Earth?
A. Capitalism.
8. What is your least favorite of your personality traits or quirks?
A. I can be a bit snarky.
9. I wish I could see ________ because _________.
A. the year 2525 because I want to know what has happened.
10. Tell us your favorite children's story.
A. Heidi.
11. Explain how to play your favorite game.
A. I don't have a favorite game.
12. What do you keep in the trunk of your car?
A. An emergency kit, a clothes basket, and a cooler. The latter two are for storing groceries so they don't slide all over the trunk of the car.
13. Tell us about your favorite way to get lost in a simple activity — running, chopping vegetables, folding laundry, whatever. What’s it like when you’re in "the zone"?
A. Writing, reading, or playing the guitar. Coloring sometimes.
14. What’s your dream tourist destination — either a place you’ve been and loved, or a place you’d love to visit? What about it speaks to you?
A. New Zealand, it just looks lovely, plus Hobbits.
15. What parts of nature do you like best?
A. The green kinds.
16. What kind of program do you enjoy most on TV--detective shows, comedies, game shows--and why?
A. I like fantasy dramas, like Game of Thrones.
17. Do you know any professional athletes?
A. I don't think so.
18. What will the next must-have technological innovation be? Jetpacks? Hoverboards? Wind-powered calculators?
A. Smart cars, I suppose. I don't want one personally.
19. Have you ever been the victim of a crime?
A. Yes.
20. What if you woke up tomorrow with the ability to understand animals. What do you think you’d hear from them?
A. "Boy, look at the idiot human being there in that house. She stays cooped up in there all the time while we're out here frolicking and eating grass."
21. What is something that makes you melancholy?
A. Long winter days.
__________
I encourage you to visit other participants in Sunday Stealing posts and leave a comment. Cheers to all us thieves who love memes, however we come by them.
Sunday Stealing
1. I wish I had enough money to ________.
A. allow my husband to retire tomorrow.
2. If you had to enter a competition for the "Most Uselessly Unique Talent," what would your talent be?
A. I can roll my tongue.
3. When it might hurt their feelings, how do you feel about telling your friends the truth?
A. I try to do it gently. Mostly I don't do it at all unless they're in grave danger. Some things are simply better left unsaid.
4. Peanut or plain?
A. Plain.
5. Is there someone you would like to take your place in life for one day? Who and why?
A. No.
6. Who was your favorite teacher and why?
A. I had several favorite teachers, so I can't pick just one.
7. What do you think is the ugliest thing or event on Earth?
A. Capitalism.
8. What is your least favorite of your personality traits or quirks?
A. I can be a bit snarky.
9. I wish I could see ________ because _________.
A. the year 2525 because I want to know what has happened.
10. Tell us your favorite children's story.
A. Heidi.
11. Explain how to play your favorite game.
A. I don't have a favorite game.
12. What do you keep in the trunk of your car?
A. An emergency kit, a clothes basket, and a cooler. The latter two are for storing groceries so they don't slide all over the trunk of the car.
13. Tell us about your favorite way to get lost in a simple activity — running, chopping vegetables, folding laundry, whatever. What’s it like when you’re in "the zone"?
A. Writing, reading, or playing the guitar. Coloring sometimes.
14. What’s your dream tourist destination — either a place you’ve been and loved, or a place you’d love to visit? What about it speaks to you?
A. New Zealand, it just looks lovely, plus Hobbits.
15. What parts of nature do you like best?
A. The green kinds.
16. What kind of program do you enjoy most on TV--detective shows, comedies, game shows--and why?
A. I like fantasy dramas, like Game of Thrones.
17. Do you know any professional athletes?
A. I don't think so.
18. What will the next must-have technological innovation be? Jetpacks? Hoverboards? Wind-powered calculators?
A. Smart cars, I suppose. I don't want one personally.
19. Have you ever been the victim of a crime?
A. Yes.
20. What if you woke up tomorrow with the ability to understand animals. What do you think you’d hear from them?
A. "Boy, look at the idiot human being there in that house. She stays cooped up in there all the time while we're out here frolicking and eating grass."
21. What is something that makes you melancholy?
A. Long winter days.
__________
I encourage you to visit other participants in Sunday Stealing posts and leave a comment. Cheers to all us thieves who love memes, however we come by them.
Saturday, March 02, 2019
Saturday 9: Come Saturday Morning
Saturday 9: Come Saturday Morning (1969)
Unfamiliar with this week's tune? Hear it here.
1) What are your plans for this Saturday morning?
A. I have a meeting. I have been asked to head up the committe creating a magazine for the county's 250th anniversary next year.
2) In this song, a man sings of going away for the day with a friend. Where did you go on your last day trip?
A. Um. I haven't been on a trip in ages. Does the grocery store count?
3) The lyrics say, "we will remember long after Saturday's gone." What's something you've done recently that you predict you'll remember for a long time to come?
A. Remodeling the house and putting in hardwood flooring.
4) This song was the Oscar-nominated theme from the movie The Sterile Cuckoo. What's the first movie song that pops into your head?
A. Do, a deer, a female deer, ra, a drop of golden sun. Me, a name, I call myself, fa, a long long way to run. So, a needle pulling thread! La! A note to follow so! Te, a drink with jam and bread! And that will bring us back to do!
5) In the movie, Liza Minnelli played Mary Ann Adams, an eccentric girl everyone called "Pookie." Have you ever been known by a memorable nickname? Who gave it to you?
A. I have a nickname that my family uses (given to me by my father) but if I print it here I will have to find you and poke your eyes out.
6) Today's group began their career as The Grads. Recording artist/producer Herb Alpert liked their sound but hated their name. Alpert picked "sandpiper" at random out of the dictionary. Do you still have and use a bound dictionary? Or do you rely on the internet for word searches and spelling?
A. I have a Shorter Oxford Dictionary (two volumes) that I use. I also use a smaller Oxford Dictionary, an American Heritage Dictionary, and a Webster's Dictionary, along with Roget's Thesaurus and an Oxford American Writer's Thesaurus.
7) The biggest news story of 1969, the year this song was popular, was one of the biggest news stories of all time. On July 20, Neil Armstrong stepped foot on the moon. Other than the moon landing, what's the most consequential event that you've seen in your lifetime? How do you feel it changed America, and the world?
A. For America, that would have to be the 9/11 attacks on the World Trade Center and the Pentagon. It turned us into a crazed bunch of scared isolationist fascist idiots.
8) 1969 was a big year for music festivals, with Atlanta, Toronto and Woodstock all holding famous fests. Have you visited Georgia, Ontario or New York (state)?
A. I have been to Georgia and New York.
9) Random question -- According to some plant enthusiasts, house plants do better when they're spoken to. Do you talk to your plants?
A. I did when I had plants. However, due to mold issues I removed the house plants from the house. Now I talk to myself.
___________
I encourage you to visit other participants in Saturday 9 posts and leave a comment. Because there are no rules, it is your choice. Saturday 9 players hate rules. We love memes, however.
Unfamiliar with this week's tune? Hear it here.
1) What are your plans for this Saturday morning?
A. I have a meeting. I have been asked to head up the committe creating a magazine for the county's 250th anniversary next year.
2) In this song, a man sings of going away for the day with a friend. Where did you go on your last day trip?
A. Um. I haven't been on a trip in ages. Does the grocery store count?
3) The lyrics say, "we will remember long after Saturday's gone." What's something you've done recently that you predict you'll remember for a long time to come?
A. Remodeling the house and putting in hardwood flooring.
4) This song was the Oscar-nominated theme from the movie The Sterile Cuckoo. What's the first movie song that pops into your head?
A. Do, a deer, a female deer, ra, a drop of golden sun. Me, a name, I call myself, fa, a long long way to run. So, a needle pulling thread! La! A note to follow so! Te, a drink with jam and bread! And that will bring us back to do!
5) In the movie, Liza Minnelli played Mary Ann Adams, an eccentric girl everyone called "Pookie." Have you ever been known by a memorable nickname? Who gave it to you?
A. I have a nickname that my family uses (given to me by my father) but if I print it here I will have to find you and poke your eyes out.
6) Today's group began their career as The Grads. Recording artist/producer Herb Alpert liked their sound but hated their name. Alpert picked "sandpiper" at random out of the dictionary. Do you still have and use a bound dictionary? Or do you rely on the internet for word searches and spelling?
A. I have a Shorter Oxford Dictionary (two volumes) that I use. I also use a smaller Oxford Dictionary, an American Heritage Dictionary, and a Webster's Dictionary, along with Roget's Thesaurus and an Oxford American Writer's Thesaurus.
7) The biggest news story of 1969, the year this song was popular, was one of the biggest news stories of all time. On July 20, Neil Armstrong stepped foot on the moon. Other than the moon landing, what's the most consequential event that you've seen in your lifetime? How do you feel it changed America, and the world?
A. For America, that would have to be the 9/11 attacks on the World Trade Center and the Pentagon. It turned us into a crazed bunch of scared isolationist fascist idiots.
8) 1969 was a big year for music festivals, with Atlanta, Toronto and Woodstock all holding famous fests. Have you visited Georgia, Ontario or New York (state)?
A. I have been to Georgia and New York.
9) Random question -- According to some plant enthusiasts, house plants do better when they're spoken to. Do you talk to your plants?
A. I did when I had plants. However, due to mold issues I removed the house plants from the house. Now I talk to myself.
___________
I encourage you to visit other participants in Saturday 9 posts and leave a comment. Because there are no rules, it is your choice. Saturday 9 players hate rules. We love memes, however.
Thursday, February 28, 2019
Thursday Thirteen
These are random shots from around my community.
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Thursday Thirteen is played by lots of people; there is a list here if you want to read other Thursday Thirteens and/or play along. I've been playing for a while and this is my 593rd time to do a list of 13 on a Thursday. Or so sayth the Blogger counter, anyway.
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| This is a monument to the Painter Chapel, which a long time ago was a church in the Catawba area. I am descended from the Painters who donated the land for the church. |
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| This is the county courthouse. |
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| This is called the Douglass Building. It once was a salon/tavern/hotel. |
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| This is called the "Old Jail" and it was used as a library for a long time. It now houses the local chamber of commerce. |
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| This sign details the fire that burned down the courthouse in 1970. |
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| This is called the Godwin Cottage. |
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| This is a gazebo in the park in Fincastle. |
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| These are very old graves at the Presbyterian cemetery. |
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| This is a house in Fincastle and it has a name but I can't remember what it is right now. |
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| This is the former Fincastle Baptist Church. It is now a private residence. |
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| This is the town of Fincastle. The photo was taken from the Godwin Cemetery. |
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| This is the former Troutville High School building. It is now an auction house. |
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| This is a bank building in Troutville. |
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| This is the Bank of Fincastle building. |
----------------------------
Thursday Thirteen is played by lots of people; there is a list here if you want to read other Thursday Thirteens and/or play along. I've been playing for a while and this is my 593rd time to do a list of 13 on a Thursday. Or so sayth the Blogger counter, anyway.
Wednesday, February 27, 2019
Monday, February 25, 2019
Oops! The Tree Fell Down
My blue spruces, which I planted 30 years ago, have been dying a slow and terrible death for several years now, the result of the non-existent climate change that has brought us drought and then too much water.
The trees developed an incurable fungus. They were beautiful trees but now they are scraggly and ugly. I have been asking my husband to take them down before they fall down.
Last night in high winds, one of them fell.
The trees developed an incurable fungus. They were beautiful trees but now they are scraggly and ugly. I have been asking my husband to take them down before they fall down.
Last night in high winds, one of them fell.
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| Poor little blue spruce. |
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| This is its next door neighbor, still standing, but leaning now. |
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| I watched that ground rise up and fall with each gust of wind. I kept waiting for the tree to topple, but it remained upright. |
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| A little further down, this tree fell over and took out the fence. |
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| Lots of trees toppled in this latest high wind. |
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| This is one of the blue spruces before the fungus really took hold. They were lovely. |
Sunday, February 24, 2019
Sunday Stealing
Sunday Stealing
1. What is the most fun thing you have ever done?
A. I find it rather sad that I have to think about this. I don't do a lot of "fun" things. So I'm thinking. Oh! I don't know if it is the most fun thing but it is probably one of the most interesting and exhilerating. I went up in a hot air balloon and flew over Botetourt County. My husband was invited to go but he opted to stay with the follow/landing crew while I shot up in the air. Did you know that when you're up there, you can hear everything below you as if you were standing right beside the dog barking or the cattle mooing, so long as the heat isn't going "whoosh"? It was amazing. I won a writing award for an article I wrote about my adventure.
2. Are you left-handed or right-handed?
A. I am right-handed.
3. What is the nicest thing someone has ever done for you?
A. My husband married me. Ha. My aunts stepped in and helped tremendously when my mother was ill and dying. My friend Teresa hauled me to physical therapy for a while when I was too sick to drive myself.
4. What is the biggest animal you’ve seen in the wild?
A. A bear. I have some pictures here somewhere.
5. What is the smallest animal you’ve seen in the wild?
A. What are we calling animals? Peepers? (Those are little tiny frogs that make a lot of noise in spring, for you city folk.) Or maybe the question is referring to a mammal? In that case, it would be a mouse or a chipmunk.
6. Do you ever have funny dreams at night?
A. Most of my dreams are nightmares or night terrors.
7. If you could make a law for your country, what would it be?
A. Every person running for the Office of President shall undergo four (4) physical and mental health examinations, one by the highest-ranking doctor in each section of the Armed Forces, with said results made public in their entirety. Additionally, every person running for the Office of President shall reveal all financial information about his or her self, including but not limited to tax returns, credit score, net worth, liabilities, assets, etc.
8. What would you do if you were invisible for a day?
A. I'm a woman over a certain age. I'm already invisible every day.
9. If you could be someone else for a day, who would you be?
A. I would be the Goddess Athena.
10. What would you like to change about yourself?
A. I'm fat. I'd like to be un-fat.
11. What is your daily routine?
A. I am awakened in the mornings by Alexa making a warbling noise. I say, "Alexa, shut up," without opening my eyes, but then I take some medication and put a heating pad on my belly, and she goes off again 15 minutes later. I rise, go to the little girl's room, put on my robe, put water in my tea kettle and set it to boil, turn on my computer and check my email, go back into the kitchen to make my tea, drink my tea while I am reading the morning news. Take a shower, dress, make the bed, do laundry, empty the dishwasher, work on writing jobs if I have them.
12. What would your perfect day be like?
A. A handsome man (might as well have something to look at) would swoop down in a helicopter and ferry me and my husband to the airport, where my private jet awaited (my husband can have a sexy jet pilot to look at). From there, we'd fly to New York for an evening on the town, with dinner at a luxurious restaurant and then a Broadway play.
13. How old were you when you learned to read?
A. I was two or three. I learned very young.
14. What is the most interesting thing you know?
A. I know lots of interesting things. But the most interesting thing I know is that I don't really know anything.
15. What makes you nervous?
A. Wind. I really dislike high wind.
16. What is your favourite flower?
A. I like irises and roses.
17. Have you ever ridden on a horse or any other animal?
A. Yes. When I was a child my mother had a horse and we had a pony. Unfortunately the pony bolted with me on it one time and I fell off and either broke or badly bruised a rib. After that I refused to ride again.
18. What time do you go to bed?
A. I usually go to bed at 10 p.m.
19. What time do you get up?
A. My first alarm goes off at 6:15 a.m. and my second alarm goes off at 6:30 a.m.
20. Do you know how to swim?
A. Yes. I haven't been swimming in a long time, though.
__________
I encourage you to visit other participants in Sunday Stealing posts and leave a comment. Cheers to all us thieves who love memes, however we come by them.
1. What is the most fun thing you have ever done?
A. I find it rather sad that I have to think about this. I don't do a lot of "fun" things. So I'm thinking. Oh! I don't know if it is the most fun thing but it is probably one of the most interesting and exhilerating. I went up in a hot air balloon and flew over Botetourt County. My husband was invited to go but he opted to stay with the follow/landing crew while I shot up in the air. Did you know that when you're up there, you can hear everything below you as if you were standing right beside the dog barking or the cattle mooing, so long as the heat isn't going "whoosh"? It was amazing. I won a writing award for an article I wrote about my adventure.
2. Are you left-handed or right-handed?
A. I am right-handed.
3. What is the nicest thing someone has ever done for you?
A. My husband married me. Ha. My aunts stepped in and helped tremendously when my mother was ill and dying. My friend Teresa hauled me to physical therapy for a while when I was too sick to drive myself.
4. What is the biggest animal you’ve seen in the wild?
A. A bear. I have some pictures here somewhere.
5. What is the smallest animal you’ve seen in the wild?
A. What are we calling animals? Peepers? (Those are little tiny frogs that make a lot of noise in spring, for you city folk.) Or maybe the question is referring to a mammal? In that case, it would be a mouse or a chipmunk.
6. Do you ever have funny dreams at night?
A. Most of my dreams are nightmares or night terrors.
7. If you could make a law for your country, what would it be?
A. Every person running for the Office of President shall undergo four (4) physical and mental health examinations, one by the highest-ranking doctor in each section of the Armed Forces, with said results made public in their entirety. Additionally, every person running for the Office of President shall reveal all financial information about his or her self, including but not limited to tax returns, credit score, net worth, liabilities, assets, etc.
8. What would you do if you were invisible for a day?
A. I'm a woman over a certain age. I'm already invisible every day.
9. If you could be someone else for a day, who would you be?
A. I would be the Goddess Athena.
10. What would you like to change about yourself?
A. I'm fat. I'd like to be un-fat.
11. What is your daily routine?
A. I am awakened in the mornings by Alexa making a warbling noise. I say, "Alexa, shut up," without opening my eyes, but then I take some medication and put a heating pad on my belly, and she goes off again 15 minutes later. I rise, go to the little girl's room, put on my robe, put water in my tea kettle and set it to boil, turn on my computer and check my email, go back into the kitchen to make my tea, drink my tea while I am reading the morning news. Take a shower, dress, make the bed, do laundry, empty the dishwasher, work on writing jobs if I have them.
12. What would your perfect day be like?
A. A handsome man (might as well have something to look at) would swoop down in a helicopter and ferry me and my husband to the airport, where my private jet awaited (my husband can have a sexy jet pilot to look at). From there, we'd fly to New York for an evening on the town, with dinner at a luxurious restaurant and then a Broadway play.
13. How old were you when you learned to read?
A. I was two or three. I learned very young.
14. What is the most interesting thing you know?
A. I know lots of interesting things. But the most interesting thing I know is that I don't really know anything.
15. What makes you nervous?
A. Wind. I really dislike high wind.
16. What is your favourite flower?
A. I like irises and roses.
17. Have you ever ridden on a horse or any other animal?
A. Yes. When I was a child my mother had a horse and we had a pony. Unfortunately the pony bolted with me on it one time and I fell off and either broke or badly bruised a rib. After that I refused to ride again.
18. What time do you go to bed?
A. I usually go to bed at 10 p.m.
19. What time do you get up?
A. My first alarm goes off at 6:15 a.m. and my second alarm goes off at 6:30 a.m.
20. Do you know how to swim?
A. Yes. I haven't been swimming in a long time, though.
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I encourage you to visit other participants in Sunday Stealing posts and leave a comment. Cheers to all us thieves who love memes, however we come by them.
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