Eat Carbs, Lose Weight
By Denise Austin with Amy Campbell
Copyright 2005
I bought this and read it last fall and forgot to mention it.
It is a good book with exercises and a nice diet plan if you're not lactose and glucose intolerant (which I am). Also if you like to cook and try new recipes (I do not).
The exercises are good and I have always liked Austin's perky attitude about life. I will look this book over again for that reason. Unfortunately there are many items in the menu that I cannot (or do not) eat. When a diet is like that I generally can't stick with it.
This is much more sensible than many other diet books, I have to say. I wish I could follow it better.
Monday, January 07, 2008
Sunday, January 06, 2008
My Husband's Hands, Redux
It occurred to me that the essay I wrote yesterday about my husband's hands might make a nice poem.
Here is my effort at that:
My Husband's Hands
These large hands, worn with calluses
rough and scratchy,these hands I love.
A working man's hands, my husband's hands.
Scarred with cuts from barbed wire fence.
Smashed with hammers, trapped between tractor parts,aching with splinters from fence posts.
The nails are bruised, cut short because long nails
do not belong on the hands of a farmer.
Farmer and fireman.
His hands soothe calves and save lives.
His fingers touch so lightly
that it seems a feather passed by.
His gentle hands take a pulse and feel brows,
and grip a shovel with the strength of Hercules.
His strong hands built our home nail by nail
and planted trees now fully grown.
His hands take me places I never dreamed
when they touch and caress and love.
***
What do you think?
Here is my effort at that:
My Husband's Hands
These large hands, worn with calluses
rough and scratchy,these hands I love.
A working man's hands, my husband's hands.
Scarred with cuts from barbed wire fence.
Smashed with hammers, trapped between tractor parts,aching with splinters from fence posts.
The nails are bruised, cut short because long nails
do not belong on the hands of a farmer.
Farmer and fireman.
His hands soothe calves and save lives.
His fingers touch so lightly
that it seems a feather passed by.
His gentle hands take a pulse and feel brows,
and grip a shovel with the strength of Hercules.
His strong hands built our home nail by nail
and planted trees now fully grown.
His hands take me places I never dreamed
when they touch and caress and love.
***
What do you think?
Saturday, January 05, 2008
My Husband's Hands
These hands belong to my husband. They are very large and quite worn.
His hands are twice the size of mine. He requires gloves larger than XL - which are hard to find. I bought him three pair for Christmas and had to return them all because they were too small.
These are working man's hands. They are scarred, scraped, bruised, dry, and rough. They have dirt ground into them that doesn't come off with a shower. They have grit in them, and often splinters. The nails are generally bruised because he's hit his finger with a hammer or smashed it against something.
These hands also caress and are so gentle you wonder if you're being touched by a feather. They grip tightly in love and wonder. They give great massages and are the first part of a hug.
We hold hands every night while we watch TV. We hold hands in the mall and when we're on vacation.
My husband's hands are a wonder to me. They built our house, nail by nail. They work the farm and touch the soil. They mow grass and plant trees. They care for the cattle and build fence. They fix tractors.
They also help the sick when he's at work running emergency calls, because he is an EMT. These hands put out fires, save people's lives, rescue cats from trees and pull dogs from sewers.
These hands are a miracle. So is he.
Friday, January 04, 2008
The Sparrow
I’ve never seen a sparrow
fall from the sky
but I’ve seen them perch
shivering in early April rains,
feet grasping frail branches.
Do sparrows fear the air?
Do their hearts rise in tiny,
feathered throats as the ground
rises to great them?
fall from the sky
but I’ve seen them perch
shivering in early April rains,
feet grasping frail branches.
Do sparrows fear the air?
Do their hearts rise in tiny,
feathered throats as the ground
rises to great them?
Thursday, January 03, 2008
Thursday Thirteen
This is Thursday, a listing day
when thirteen is the number to play
To write 13 events or things
or maybe 13 songs to sing
But alas, my thinker's done
Tired from thinking the whole day gone
So here I am with no 13 list
no song or prayer or number kissed
Instead in couplets I write down words
knowing that this is quite absurd
But now I'm done, and I can tell
my lines really number ... twelve.
when thirteen is the number to play
To write 13 events or things
or maybe 13 songs to sing
But alas, my thinker's done
Tired from thinking the whole day gone
So here I am with no 13 list
no song or prayer or number kissed
Instead in couplets I write down words
knowing that this is quite absurd
But now I'm done, and I can tell
my lines really number ... twelve.
Tuesday, January 01, 2008
2008 - Goals
Here, in no particular order, are a few things I'd like to do in the upcoming year:
Take a photography class. This could be a non-credit course or personalized instruction from someone who's more professional than I. Even though I am, by definition, a professional photographer because I get paid for my work, I think a refresher course, particularly one which focuses specifically on digital cameras, could be of benefit.
Lose weight. This is periennal and I failed at it last year. I will cross my fingers and close my lips.
Exercise. So long as the injuries stay away, I successfully exercise for at least a half hour on most days. I kept this up last year in spite of the pain. I am happy about that.
Organize. I think I am disorganized with my time. I get a lot done but there is more to do.
De-clutter. The older I get, the less stuff I want around me. Where does it all come from?
Plan and take a nice vacation. My husband and I will celebrate our 25th wedding anniversary this year. I would like to go somewhere with him.
Reevaluate. I will turn 45 this year. It seems like a good year to decide if I'm doing what I want to do with my career and if I am not, make a change. If I am, then I need to accept that and move on with it.
Now, let's see how that all works out in the next 365 days.
Take a photography class. This could be a non-credit course or personalized instruction from someone who's more professional than I. Even though I am, by definition, a professional photographer because I get paid for my work, I think a refresher course, particularly one which focuses specifically on digital cameras, could be of benefit.
Lose weight. This is periennal and I failed at it last year. I will cross my fingers and close my lips.
Exercise. So long as the injuries stay away, I successfully exercise for at least a half hour on most days. I kept this up last year in spite of the pain. I am happy about that.
Organize. I think I am disorganized with my time. I get a lot done but there is more to do.
De-clutter. The older I get, the less stuff I want around me. Where does it all come from?
Plan and take a nice vacation. My husband and I will celebrate our 25th wedding anniversary this year. I would like to go somewhere with him.
Reevaluate. I will turn 45 this year. It seems like a good year to decide if I'm doing what I want to do with my career and if I am not, make a change. If I am, then I need to accept that and move on with it.
Now, let's see how that all works out in the next 365 days.
Monday, December 31, 2007
Looking Ahead
So what does 2008 hold?
I want this year to be the year of embraced change - a new president of the country to replace the tired and mean one we have now, a new media that focuses on real issues and not fake celebrity news, universal health care for all so that this broken system can mend and doctors can become healers again, not moneychangers.
A girl can dream.
And I hope that in 2008 I dream a lot. I hope for many good nights of sleep, for songs, for sunshine with rain because we surely need the water, for rainbows and snow and green grass. Not necessarily all in one day, but wouldn't it be a cool day if it did all happen?
I pray that in 2008 that the suicide rate drops, that cars burn less fuel, that the poor raise their head and look up - I am pretty sure the reflection from that vast number of eyes would catch someone's attention. Maybe someone would move a mountain and make things better.
I believe it can be done.
For 2008 I wish good things for everyone, even folks I don't know, and those who have been unkind to me. I wish for open minds, for hugging hearts, and for cherished thoughts. I wish for joy and peace, and a new day each and every day. I want to jump up to the embrace of the light.
Let 2008 be the best New Year ever. Let freedom ring and democracy become true. May each and every soul know love.
May the New Year be blessed.
I want this year to be the year of embraced change - a new president of the country to replace the tired and mean one we have now, a new media that focuses on real issues and not fake celebrity news, universal health care for all so that this broken system can mend and doctors can become healers again, not moneychangers.
A girl can dream.
And I hope that in 2008 I dream a lot. I hope for many good nights of sleep, for songs, for sunshine with rain because we surely need the water, for rainbows and snow and green grass. Not necessarily all in one day, but wouldn't it be a cool day if it did all happen?
I pray that in 2008 that the suicide rate drops, that cars burn less fuel, that the poor raise their head and look up - I am pretty sure the reflection from that vast number of eyes would catch someone's attention. Maybe someone would move a mountain and make things better.
I believe it can be done.
For 2008 I wish good things for everyone, even folks I don't know, and those who have been unkind to me. I wish for open minds, for hugging hearts, and for cherished thoughts. I wish for joy and peace, and a new day each and every day. I want to jump up to the embrace of the light.
Let 2008 be the best New Year ever. Let freedom ring and democracy become true. May each and every soul know love.
May the New Year be blessed.
Sunday, December 30, 2007
The Fat Moon
I took this picture one morning last week. I think it was Christmas Eve but am not certain.
Friday, December 28, 2007
Looking Back at 2007
Before I launch into what I am hoping will happen next year, I thought I'd look back at what happened in 2007.
About this time a year ago, I wrote a blog entry about what I hoped might happen this year. How did I do with those plans?
1. We completed the renovations on the old house my mother left me. I say "we" but this was my husband's project. I was merely moral support.
2. I obtained one new client this past year.
3. I wrote no fiction. Or very little, anyway.
4. I did not return to college.
5. I stopped biting my nails! I'm not sure they look any better, because I keep them cut very short, and they are frail and brittle, but ... they are not bitten!
6. I set no career goals. At least, none that I remember.
7. The bathroom was repainted. This, again, was a husband chore.
8. I planted a larger garden. Not much larger, but bigger than the previous year.
9. My husband's website, Septic Tank Advisor, still languishes and is in need of content. It does have a couple of new pages but nothing to brag about.
10. I did not build a website for myself.
Those are things I thought about last year as I looked forward. Now I want to see what I actually accomplished.
Health
I did not lose weight. This has been a big disappointment. I also developed a heel spur, which interfered greatly with my exercise. To my credit, I did not let this stop my exercise routine. I continued to find ways to exercise during the hour I alot myself in the mornings. I was afraid I would break the habit. But I did not and I am still exercising every morning, almost every day, for at least 50 minutes.
Later in the year I developed a problem with my neck and back, but thankfully this is better. So I am hoping for better health in 2008, which would include continued exercise and weight loss.
My problem here? Chocolate - which I once did without for 10 years and am sorry I started eating again - and a 3 p.m. slump that sends me on a rampage almost daily in search of some kind of pick-me-up.
The Rest of My Life
Since I didn't write the great American novel, I wondered what I did with my time. This is what I did:
1. I wrote about 315 blog entries.
2. I read or listened to these books: Sacred Sins, Chopping Spree, The Gift, Agnes and the Hitman, Destiny, Rhapsody, Prophecy, Drop Dead Beautiful, Mad Dash, Sam's Letters to Jennifer, The Mists of Avalon, Revenge of the Middle-Aged Woman, A Walk Through the Fire, Armageddon's Children, Listen to the Silence, Whiskey Sour, Can't Wait to Get to Heaven, Pieces of My Sister's Life, Daughter of the Forest, How I Write, Lean Mean Thirteen, Low Country, Family Acts, Cheap Diamonds, Sheer Abandon, The Wizard's Daughter, Harry Potter & the Half Blood Prince, Harry Potter & the Deathly Hallows, The Dangerous Hour, The Shadow of the Wind, Shem Creek, The Secret, Magic Hour, The Quilter's Homecoming, Creatively Self-Employed,The Passions of Chelsea Kane, Trickster's Queen, Full Bloom, Trickster's Choice, Queen of Broken Hearts, Summer Reading, The Great Far Away, Kurt Vonnegut Audio Collection, Rococo, Tara Road, Milk Glass Moon, Extremely Loud & Incredibly Close, Still Water Saints, The Same Sweet Girls, A Year of Wonders, Jonathan Strange & Mr. Norrell, and The Sugar Addict's Total Recovery Program.
I am a little surprised by the list. I counted 54 books. Is that right? I had no idea I read so much. That must be at least 220 hours just in reading (3 hours a book). Of course, many of those are audio books, heard in the car, so I am doing double duty there. And I read fast. But still. I wonder if I should read less....
3. I wrote 337 articles for various local newspapers, all of which published. I had 93 photos published in the same newspapers. I wrote 7 articles for a magazine, of which all but one published, and 12 book reviews (which I think all published but don't hold me to that). Obviously most of my efforts go into the newspaper work. I really enjoy writing for the newspaper but I do wonder if this is the best place to exert all of this effort.
I spent very little time on marketing myself, or looking for better writing markets. I think this is a place I am lacking, because it could bring in new work. So this is an area to focus on.
However, I am so busy doing all of this other writing that I don't really have time to focus on anything else. I think I've hit on the problem - I need to give something up. Maybe that's reading, or maybe it's something else, but it looks like something needs to go if I am to make way for other things.
On the other hand, perhaps I'm perfectly happy with things as they are?
There are 8,760 hours in a year. I estimate that I spent 220 hours (at least) reading books; let's add another 40 hours reading magazines. I probably spent another 320 hours writing/reading blog entries. I spent about 1,070 hours writing articles. I spent probably 300 hours answering e-mails.
That's 1,950 hours accounted for. Obviously I am not working 8 hours a day. But, a regular work week uses up about 2,080 hours and that's with coworkers, etc., which I don't have, so I am not far off a regular 40-hour work week.
If I slept 8 hours a night, that's another 2,920. Add another 1,095 for meals.
Now, if my math is right, we're up to 5,965 hours of the year gone, leaving the remaining 2,795 hours, or 53 hours a week, for things like cleaning the house, doing the laundry, kissing my husband, gardening, and grocery shopping. Also for doing my bookkeeping, filing, and all the other things that go along with running a business from home but what isn't writing.
Now that I have this information, what will I do with it? What will this do for me in 2008?
About this time a year ago, I wrote a blog entry about what I hoped might happen this year. How did I do with those plans?
1. We completed the renovations on the old house my mother left me. I say "we" but this was my husband's project. I was merely moral support.
2. I obtained one new client this past year.
3. I wrote no fiction. Or very little, anyway.
4. I did not return to college.
5. I stopped biting my nails! I'm not sure they look any better, because I keep them cut very short, and they are frail and brittle, but ... they are not bitten!
6. I set no career goals. At least, none that I remember.
7. The bathroom was repainted. This, again, was a husband chore.
8. I planted a larger garden. Not much larger, but bigger than the previous year.
9. My husband's website, Septic Tank Advisor, still languishes and is in need of content. It does have a couple of new pages but nothing to brag about.
10. I did not build a website for myself.
Those are things I thought about last year as I looked forward. Now I want to see what I actually accomplished.
Health
I did not lose weight. This has been a big disappointment. I also developed a heel spur, which interfered greatly with my exercise. To my credit, I did not let this stop my exercise routine. I continued to find ways to exercise during the hour I alot myself in the mornings. I was afraid I would break the habit. But I did not and I am still exercising every morning, almost every day, for at least 50 minutes.
Later in the year I developed a problem with my neck and back, but thankfully this is better. So I am hoping for better health in 2008, which would include continued exercise and weight loss.
My problem here? Chocolate - which I once did without for 10 years and am sorry I started eating again - and a 3 p.m. slump that sends me on a rampage almost daily in search of some kind of pick-me-up.
The Rest of My Life
Since I didn't write the great American novel, I wondered what I did with my time. This is what I did:
1. I wrote about 315 blog entries.
2. I read or listened to these books: Sacred Sins, Chopping Spree, The Gift, Agnes and the Hitman, Destiny, Rhapsody, Prophecy, Drop Dead Beautiful, Mad Dash, Sam's Letters to Jennifer, The Mists of Avalon, Revenge of the Middle-Aged Woman, A Walk Through the Fire, Armageddon's Children, Listen to the Silence, Whiskey Sour, Can't Wait to Get to Heaven, Pieces of My Sister's Life, Daughter of the Forest, How I Write, Lean Mean Thirteen, Low Country, Family Acts, Cheap Diamonds, Sheer Abandon, The Wizard's Daughter, Harry Potter & the Half Blood Prince, Harry Potter & the Deathly Hallows, The Dangerous Hour, The Shadow of the Wind, Shem Creek, The Secret, Magic Hour, The Quilter's Homecoming, Creatively Self-Employed,The Passions of Chelsea Kane, Trickster's Queen, Full Bloom, Trickster's Choice, Queen of Broken Hearts, Summer Reading, The Great Far Away, Kurt Vonnegut Audio Collection, Rococo, Tara Road, Milk Glass Moon, Extremely Loud & Incredibly Close, Still Water Saints, The Same Sweet Girls, A Year of Wonders, Jonathan Strange & Mr. Norrell, and The Sugar Addict's Total Recovery Program.
I am a little surprised by the list. I counted 54 books. Is that right? I had no idea I read so much. That must be at least 220 hours just in reading (3 hours a book). Of course, many of those are audio books, heard in the car, so I am doing double duty there. And I read fast. But still. I wonder if I should read less....
3. I wrote 337 articles for various local newspapers, all of which published. I had 93 photos published in the same newspapers. I wrote 7 articles for a magazine, of which all but one published, and 12 book reviews (which I think all published but don't hold me to that). Obviously most of my efforts go into the newspaper work. I really enjoy writing for the newspaper but I do wonder if this is the best place to exert all of this effort.
I spent very little time on marketing myself, or looking for better writing markets. I think this is a place I am lacking, because it could bring in new work. So this is an area to focus on.
However, I am so busy doing all of this other writing that I don't really have time to focus on anything else. I think I've hit on the problem - I need to give something up. Maybe that's reading, or maybe it's something else, but it looks like something needs to go if I am to make way for other things.
On the other hand, perhaps I'm perfectly happy with things as they are?
There are 8,760 hours in a year. I estimate that I spent 220 hours (at least) reading books; let's add another 40 hours reading magazines. I probably spent another 320 hours writing/reading blog entries. I spent about 1,070 hours writing articles. I spent probably 300 hours answering e-mails.
That's 1,950 hours accounted for. Obviously I am not working 8 hours a day. But, a regular work week uses up about 2,080 hours and that's with coworkers, etc., which I don't have, so I am not far off a regular 40-hour work week.
If I slept 8 hours a night, that's another 2,920. Add another 1,095 for meals.
Now, if my math is right, we're up to 5,965 hours of the year gone, leaving the remaining 2,795 hours, or 53 hours a week, for things like cleaning the house, doing the laundry, kissing my husband, gardening, and grocery shopping. Also for doing my bookkeeping, filing, and all the other things that go along with running a business from home but what isn't writing.
Now that I have this information, what will I do with it? What will this do for me in 2008?
Thursday, December 27, 2007
Thursday Thirteen
While I was in the city today:
1. Boy, I thought, I sure hope I don't get this stuff my husband has, because he is still quite sick. I don't have time to be sick.
2. The traffic was not as bad as I expected.
3. Why isn't the file cabinet I want on sale? Everything else is! I wondered. I bought it anyway because I needed it.
4. Overheard while stuck in a return merchandise line at KMart:
Child: "I want a pony."
Lady: "You can't have a pony."
"But I want a pony now!"
Lady: "Santa's wallet is empty now, you can't have a pony."
Child: "I don't want a pony when Santa comes next year, I WANT IT NOW!"
5. I marveled at the ease with which I returned things to the new Sportsman's Warehouse. No line, no waiting, no questions. At least at the time today when I was there.
6. I looked longingly at Books-A-Million as I drove by, but alas, I didn't have time to stop.
7. In Fresh Market, I discovered on my second trip ever into the store that all they carry is food. I couldn't find any filters for the coffee maker there anywhere.
8. I did find rice crackers, which I have never had but which are gluten free, along with some non-alcoholic sparkling something or another for New Year's.
9. I also found a tiny little 82 percent cacao chocolate bar, which cost $1.99. I bought it anyway but I haven't yet eaten it.
10. My other purchases consisted of coat hangers for the new clothes my husband received (his clothes are heavy and require something sturdy) and a chicken for dinner. Neither came from Fresh Market. I could have bought the chicken there but I didn't have any way to ensure it wouldn't spoil before I could get home.
11. The new Art Museum, which I am sure will be filled with lots of delightful things to view, looks to me like a spaceship that has crash landed in the heart of downtown.
12. I thought the weather was quite warm for December 27 in the Mid-Atlantic. Isn't it supposed to be snowing or something this time of the year?
13. As I begin to turn into my driveway, the nut behind me nearly rear ends me. I drive 100+ miles and *this* is where I am terrified?
1. Boy, I thought, I sure hope I don't get this stuff my husband has, because he is still quite sick. I don't have time to be sick.
2. The traffic was not as bad as I expected.
3. Why isn't the file cabinet I want on sale? Everything else is! I wondered. I bought it anyway because I needed it.
4. Overheard while stuck in a return merchandise line at KMart:
Child: "I want a pony."
Lady: "You can't have a pony."
"But I want a pony now!"
Lady: "Santa's wallet is empty now, you can't have a pony."
Child: "I don't want a pony when Santa comes next year, I WANT IT NOW!"
5. I marveled at the ease with which I returned things to the new Sportsman's Warehouse. No line, no waiting, no questions. At least at the time today when I was there.
6. I looked longingly at Books-A-Million as I drove by, but alas, I didn't have time to stop.
7. In Fresh Market, I discovered on my second trip ever into the store that all they carry is food. I couldn't find any filters for the coffee maker there anywhere.
8. I did find rice crackers, which I have never had but which are gluten free, along with some non-alcoholic sparkling something or another for New Year's.
9. I also found a tiny little 82 percent cacao chocolate bar, which cost $1.99. I bought it anyway but I haven't yet eaten it.
10. My other purchases consisted of coat hangers for the new clothes my husband received (his clothes are heavy and require something sturdy) and a chicken for dinner. Neither came from Fresh Market. I could have bought the chicken there but I didn't have any way to ensure it wouldn't spoil before I could get home.
11. The new Art Museum, which I am sure will be filled with lots of delightful things to view, looks to me like a spaceship that has crash landed in the heart of downtown.
12. I thought the weather was quite warm for December 27 in the Mid-Atlantic. Isn't it supposed to be snowing or something this time of the year?
13. As I begin to turn into my driveway, the nut behind me nearly rear ends me. I drive 100+ miles and *this* is where I am terrified?
Wednesday, December 26, 2007
Christmas 2007
Over and done, all that madness and build-up and fun and smiles. The packages are unwrapped, the food eaten.
Oh, the excitement! The anticipation. The quivering of joy!
Christmas Eve brought a touch of foreboding as my husband came home from work. "I don't feel well," he announced. I plied him with Zicam, vitamins, over-the-counter symptom relievers and Tylenol, to no avail. This morning he lies in the bed with a fever, which he developed Christmas morning.
I am trying to nurse him and stay away from him at the same time. I actually slept on the couch last night and left him the bed, though I got up several times to check on him. I am highly susceptible to things and an illness puts me under a long time. My immune system is not the best, and he is not the greatest at covering his mouth when he sneezes or otherwise keeping his germs to himself. I love him but I do not love his virus!
Aside from this bit of misfortune, we had a nice holiday. Christmas Eve was blessed with a visit from my great aunt, who is 87, my aunt (who brought my great aunt from the assisted living facility), my cousin, his wife, and their baby. Such a busy child! She was a sight to behold.
The rest of the day was relatively quiet. I tried to keep the husband full of liquids and resting, which is a little difficult at the moment because we have a sick calf in the barn. Someone has to feed it and that means it needs to be lifted up and forced to stand several times a day. Unfortunately I haven't the strength to lift it so this is not a job I can do.
As for presents, I received an ipod nano from my husband, my first ever music player like this. I spent some time putting my CDs on it, and it now has 165 songs I can listen to. From my other relatives I received clothing, wooden spoons as a result of my unfortunate incident with peanut brittle, and towels.
My brother gave me DVD of the first season of the Mod Squad, which when I was a child was must-see TV. A little bittersweet because he is one of only two people who would know such a thing, and I didn't see him this year even though he only lives six miles away. I did see his children in a Christmas play Sunday night.
We had a nice visit with the in-laws, and a good meal of meatballs and fried shrimp. The nephews, who are 13 and 16, almost 14 and 17, and both polite young men who are a credit to their parents. They showed me how to use the ipod.
But now the holiday is over - and it's all done until next year!
I hope the day was wonderful for everyone.
Oh, the excitement! The anticipation. The quivering of joy!
Christmas Eve brought a touch of foreboding as my husband came home from work. "I don't feel well," he announced. I plied him with Zicam, vitamins, over-the-counter symptom relievers and Tylenol, to no avail. This morning he lies in the bed with a fever, which he developed Christmas morning.
I am trying to nurse him and stay away from him at the same time. I actually slept on the couch last night and left him the bed, though I got up several times to check on him. I am highly susceptible to things and an illness puts me under a long time. My immune system is not the best, and he is not the greatest at covering his mouth when he sneezes or otherwise keeping his germs to himself. I love him but I do not love his virus!
Aside from this bit of misfortune, we had a nice holiday. Christmas Eve was blessed with a visit from my great aunt, who is 87, my aunt (who brought my great aunt from the assisted living facility), my cousin, his wife, and their baby. Such a busy child! She was a sight to behold.
The rest of the day was relatively quiet. I tried to keep the husband full of liquids and resting, which is a little difficult at the moment because we have a sick calf in the barn. Someone has to feed it and that means it needs to be lifted up and forced to stand several times a day. Unfortunately I haven't the strength to lift it so this is not a job I can do.
As for presents, I received an ipod nano from my husband, my first ever music player like this. I spent some time putting my CDs on it, and it now has 165 songs I can listen to. From my other relatives I received clothing, wooden spoons as a result of my unfortunate incident with peanut brittle, and towels.
My brother gave me DVD of the first season of the Mod Squad, which when I was a child was must-see TV. A little bittersweet because he is one of only two people who would know such a thing, and I didn't see him this year even though he only lives six miles away. I did see his children in a Christmas play Sunday night.
We had a nice visit with the in-laws, and a good meal of meatballs and fried shrimp. The nephews, who are 13 and 16, almost 14 and 17, and both polite young men who are a credit to their parents. They showed me how to use the ipod.
But now the holiday is over - and it's all done until next year!
I hope the day was wonderful for everyone.
Tuesday, December 25, 2007
Monday, December 24, 2007
The Wife Before Christmas
Rhett, over at Roanoke Firefighters blog, sent out a challenge for a poem about firefighters or a related topic.
So I wrote this:
The Wife Before Christmas
The night before Christmas, a dear holy hour
I sit with a brandy in front of the fire.
Alone with our child tucked asleep down the hall
and the man that I love has gone out on a call.
He's a fireman, you see, and when sirens blast
He rushes to help, to bring hope to you fast.
Through smoke, in the ice, in hard driving rain,
He offers assistance and helps folks in pain.
No though for himself, he offers a hand,
No matter the season or what we had planned.
I just let him go, see him off with a kiss
and try not to worry about what he will miss -
Baby's first step, or her eyes all alight
When she sees what Ol' Santa leaves her tonight.
I pray for his safety, that he comes back to me
That he not be in danger is my nightly plea.
He's my whole life, I give him all that I can.
He's one of the finest - he's a fireman.
Okay, so not great poetry. Also not entirely true in my circumstance, as we have no children. But if we *had* children, it would be like that. As it is I usually just expect something to go wrong and him not be here - you know, things like toilets overflowing or furnaces not working, or three feet of snow.
He is home with me this Christmas Eve, and tomorrow, too. Not so next year, when he pulls Christmas Eve duty. I have spent a number of Christmas Eves or Christmas Day's without him.
Being a firefighter's wife means you always say "I love you" and you don't fight because there's no way to know what will happen in the next moment. I can't count the number of times we've been saying "good night" over the phone only to have the alarm bells ring. He dashes off to a fire and then calls me back later, even it is 3 a.m., to let me know he is okay.
He is a public servant. He saves lives. I am very proud of him.
So I wrote this:
The Wife Before Christmas
The night before Christmas, a dear holy hour
I sit with a brandy in front of the fire.
Alone with our child tucked asleep down the hall
and the man that I love has gone out on a call.
He's a fireman, you see, and when sirens blast
He rushes to help, to bring hope to you fast.
Through smoke, in the ice, in hard driving rain,
He offers assistance and helps folks in pain.
No though for himself, he offers a hand,
No matter the season or what we had planned.
I just let him go, see him off with a kiss
and try not to worry about what he will miss -
Baby's first step, or her eyes all alight
When she sees what Ol' Santa leaves her tonight.
I pray for his safety, that he comes back to me
That he not be in danger is my nightly plea.
He's my whole life, I give him all that I can.
He's one of the finest - he's a fireman.
Okay, so not great poetry. Also not entirely true in my circumstance, as we have no children. But if we *had* children, it would be like that. As it is I usually just expect something to go wrong and him not be here - you know, things like toilets overflowing or furnaces not working, or three feet of snow.
He is home with me this Christmas Eve, and tomorrow, too. Not so next year, when he pulls Christmas Eve duty. I have spent a number of Christmas Eves or Christmas Day's without him.
Being a firefighter's wife means you always say "I love you" and you don't fight because there's no way to know what will happen in the next moment. I can't count the number of times we've been saying "good night" over the phone only to have the alarm bells ring. He dashes off to a fire and then calls me back later, even it is 3 a.m., to let me know he is okay.
He is a public servant. He saves lives. I am very proud of him.
Sunday, December 23, 2007
My Holiday Traditions
I swiped this meme from June over at Spatter because, well, I need something to write about and it is holiday time.
So here goes:
1. Wrapping or gift bags? I do both. My husband, I confess, is the better wrapper of the two of us. I always crinkle the paper or just don't cut it straight. Gift bags are easy - but then, again, they are easy.
2. Real or artificial tree? We have an artificial tree. I am allergic to real ones. I used to become ill every year in December and never knew why until I married. Then I realized it was the tree. One year we went through trees. We started out with a pine, switched to a fir, and then bought an artificial tree. Regular readers might recall that we have actually misplaced a tree before.
3. When do you put up the tree? Anytime between December 1 and December 10. Usually on a Sunday evening.
4. When do you take the tree down? Anytime from the day after Christmas to January 2. This year it will probably come down on December 29 or 30.
5. Do you like eggnog? Not particularly. I don't drink milk products as a rule - lactose issues. But my husband's family *loves* boiled custard, which I had never heard of until I became family member.
6. Favorite gift received as a child? I received my first bike when I was five years old. It was blue and had training wheels. It had a Bat Girl doll riding on the seat.
7. Do you have a nativity scene? Yes. I have a hand-carved one and a few others.
8. Worst Christmas gift you ever received?
A hair-rolling set. This came from my grandmother in California, who I have met only twice and who knew nothing about me. In particular she did not know that I am not very capable when it comes to hair. I need a nice no-nonsense cut and always have.
9. Mail or email Christmas cards? I do both, but mostly mail. I sent out about 70 cards this year. I intend to cut back on the list every year but it is always hard for me to leave someone out.
10. Favorite Christmas Movie? I don't really have one. My favorite Christmas TV show is "Rudolph, the Red-Nosed Reindeer," the original version with Burl Ives as the Snowman. It is must-see TV for my husband and myself.
11. When do you start shopping for Christmas? Generally in September or October.
12. Favorite thing to eat at Christmas? Fudge, hands down.
13. Clear lights or colored on the tree? Always colored. Clear lights are so formal.
14. Favorite Christmas song? O Holy Night, particularly the Jim Neighbors version. Here it is on Youtube.
15. Travel at Christmas or stay home? I stay home. Christmas Eve is celebrated by family coming to me - an aunt, a cousin, and now the cousin's wife and child, my great aunt. The numbers have dwindled. This year I will be missing my grandmother. It will be the first time in 24 years she has not been to my home for the holiday. She passed away in June. Christmas Day, we go to my in-laws to spend the hours with them and my husband's sister's family.
16. Can you name all of Santa’s reindeer? Dasher, Dancer, Prancer, Vixen, Comet, Cupid, Donner, Blitzen, Rudolph, and Olive, the other reindeer. ;-) I think there is also one named Clyde.
17. Angel on the tree top or a star? At the moment it's an angel, though it has been a star. We have a star outside as a decoration.
18. Open the presents Christmas Eve or Christmas Morning? Christmas morning. When I was a child, my parents would let my brother and I open our gifts to one another.
19. Most annoying thing about this time of year? I must say, having Christmas carols blasting on the radio on November 22 annoyed me a lot. It takes away the specialness of the season. By the time you've heard some of those songs 100 times, you don't want to hear them again when it matters most!
20. Do you decorate your tree in any specific theme or color? Not really. I do have a lot of Santa Mouses and firefighter decorations on the tree, but it's not really a theme.
21. What do you leave for Santa? I don't leave anything for him; I just take him to bed....
22. Least favorite holiday song? I like almost all of them, but some of the "funny" ones can be rather grating (Grandma Got Runned Over by a Reindeer, etc).
23. Favorite ornament? A Santa Mouse that my parents purchased on their first Christmas. I do not have it, though.
24. Family tradition? Just being with my husband spending time with people I love.
25. Ever been to Midnight Mass? My area churches have a community service that I have attended. It is a lovely way to spend Christmas Eve.
26. Most memorable good deed you witnessed or participated in during the holidays? The Social Services Department does the angel tree and ensures a happy Christmas for about 4500 families in our area. I applaud them for that.
***
Anyone reading this is welcome to participate in this meme either by a post on a blog or as a comment here. For the bloggers, you're supposed to:
Link to the person that tagged you, and post the rules on your blog.
Share Christmas facts about yourself.
Tag seven random people at the end of your post, and include links to their blogs.
Let each person know that they have been tagged by leaving a comment on their blog.
I am not tagging anyone. But if you want to do the meme, please do!
So here goes:
1. Wrapping or gift bags? I do both. My husband, I confess, is the better wrapper of the two of us. I always crinkle the paper or just don't cut it straight. Gift bags are easy - but then, again, they are easy.
2. Real or artificial tree? We have an artificial tree. I am allergic to real ones. I used to become ill every year in December and never knew why until I married. Then I realized it was the tree. One year we went through trees. We started out with a pine, switched to a fir, and then bought an artificial tree. Regular readers might recall that we have actually misplaced a tree before.
3. When do you put up the tree? Anytime between December 1 and December 10. Usually on a Sunday evening.
4. When do you take the tree down? Anytime from the day after Christmas to January 2. This year it will probably come down on December 29 or 30.
5. Do you like eggnog? Not particularly. I don't drink milk products as a rule - lactose issues. But my husband's family *loves* boiled custard, which I had never heard of until I became family member.
6. Favorite gift received as a child? I received my first bike when I was five years old. It was blue and had training wheels. It had a Bat Girl doll riding on the seat.
7. Do you have a nativity scene? Yes. I have a hand-carved one and a few others.
8. Worst Christmas gift you ever received?
A hair-rolling set. This came from my grandmother in California, who I have met only twice and who knew nothing about me. In particular she did not know that I am not very capable when it comes to hair. I need a nice no-nonsense cut and always have.
9. Mail or email Christmas cards? I do both, but mostly mail. I sent out about 70 cards this year. I intend to cut back on the list every year but it is always hard for me to leave someone out.
10. Favorite Christmas Movie? I don't really have one. My favorite Christmas TV show is "Rudolph, the Red-Nosed Reindeer," the original version with Burl Ives as the Snowman. It is must-see TV for my husband and myself.
11. When do you start shopping for Christmas? Generally in September or October.
12. Favorite thing to eat at Christmas? Fudge, hands down.
13. Clear lights or colored on the tree? Always colored. Clear lights are so formal.
14. Favorite Christmas song? O Holy Night, particularly the Jim Neighbors version. Here it is on Youtube.
15. Travel at Christmas or stay home? I stay home. Christmas Eve is celebrated by family coming to me - an aunt, a cousin, and now the cousin's wife and child, my great aunt. The numbers have dwindled. This year I will be missing my grandmother. It will be the first time in 24 years she has not been to my home for the holiday. She passed away in June. Christmas Day, we go to my in-laws to spend the hours with them and my husband's sister's family.
16. Can you name all of Santa’s reindeer? Dasher, Dancer, Prancer, Vixen, Comet, Cupid, Donner, Blitzen, Rudolph, and Olive, the other reindeer. ;-) I think there is also one named Clyde.
17. Angel on the tree top or a star? At the moment it's an angel, though it has been a star. We have a star outside as a decoration.
18. Open the presents Christmas Eve or Christmas Morning? Christmas morning. When I was a child, my parents would let my brother and I open our gifts to one another.
19. Most annoying thing about this time of year? I must say, having Christmas carols blasting on the radio on November 22 annoyed me a lot. It takes away the specialness of the season. By the time you've heard some of those songs 100 times, you don't want to hear them again when it matters most!
20. Do you decorate your tree in any specific theme or color? Not really. I do have a lot of Santa Mouses and firefighter decorations on the tree, but it's not really a theme.
21. What do you leave for Santa? I don't leave anything for him; I just take him to bed....
22. Least favorite holiday song? I like almost all of them, but some of the "funny" ones can be rather grating (Grandma Got Runned Over by a Reindeer, etc).
23. Favorite ornament? A Santa Mouse that my parents purchased on their first Christmas. I do not have it, though.
24. Family tradition? Just being with my husband spending time with people I love.
25. Ever been to Midnight Mass? My area churches have a community service that I have attended. It is a lovely way to spend Christmas Eve.
26. Most memorable good deed you witnessed or participated in during the holidays? The Social Services Department does the angel tree and ensures a happy Christmas for about 4500 families in our area. I applaud them for that.
***
Anyone reading this is welcome to participate in this meme either by a post on a blog or as a comment here. For the bloggers, you're supposed to:
Link to the person that tagged you, and post the rules on your blog.
Share Christmas facts about yourself.
Tag seven random people at the end of your post, and include links to their blogs.
Let each person know that they have been tagged by leaving a comment on their blog.
I am not tagging anyone. But if you want to do the meme, please do!
Friday, December 21, 2007
Unexpected
We woke this morning to snow. This was not anticipated, at least by us. But we had not seen the weather forecast for 24 hours.
We received about 3 inches of white stuff.
Today I have another unexpected event. An old client of mine called needing assistance. I am giving it reluctantly, I confess, because today I was expecting to start a 10-day vacation, not work.
Unlike the gnome, I cannot simply drop out of site and appear only when it snows.
There are days when I wish I could.
We received about 3 inches of white stuff.
Today I have another unexpected event. An old client of mine called needing assistance. I am giving it reluctantly, I confess, because today I was expecting to start a 10-day vacation, not work.
Unlike the gnome, I cannot simply drop out of site and appear only when it snows.
There are days when I wish I could.
Wednesday, December 19, 2007
The Tin Man Syndrome
If you rest you'll rust.
That line came from a Denise Austin work out the other morning as I sweated to her Daily Work Out on Lifetime TV.
It gave me pause. Well, I didn't stop exercising but I did look up. Then I started thinking.
I don't want to rust. But I would like to rest occasionally.
I blame the Protestant Work Ethic. This bugaboo has its proponents because it means people work themselves mercilessly. Even in Social Studies at the secondary level, this work ethic is considered a good thing. It is called the Root of Democracy.
This work ethic has made the U.S. the most materially wealthy nation in the world. We're hardworking, prosperous...
We're tired, is what we are.
The New Yorker in 2005 noted that Americans work more and play less than most other nations. Our leisure time is non-existent. The French people work 28 percent less than we do. "Americans trade their productivity for more money, while Europeans trade it for more leisure," the author of this article writes.
He goes on to say this is a result of unions and collective agreements. Europeans had better bargainers. They may have less stuff, but they get to actually enjoy what they have.
In this article about the work ethic in the U.S., note that the Europeans are getting paid vacation. We can't even get time off to have babies, take care of our elderly relatives, deal with sickness... any of the stuff of life. We have to beg and borrow whatever time off we do receive, and then it's given to us begrudgingly.
And when we do finally take vacation, do we spend that entire two weeks away from the office? Nope. We check e-mail, call in, make business phone calls, turn our travel plans upside down to make some out-of-the-area conference.
The reality is, some of us are working hard for stuff. Bigger houses, or a second home, a nicer car, better sofa - whatever.
But it's also a reality that many of us are doing all of this work simply to keep a modest roof over our heads and to pay the necessary bills. I'm talking about utility bills, like electricity and heating, and food bills. There are an awful lot of people who are working two and three jobs just to keep food on the table.
I think millions of Americans can't afford to rest, not because they think they'll rust, but because they think they'll starve.
This is wrong.
I recently learned from the Commondreams article at that link that in 1948, the United Nations set forth a declaration called the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. I keep up with a lot of things, but I was completely unaware that such a document existed.
As that article points out, the United States violates this document. A lot. And we're in the process of dismantling it even more.
Of course, this document apparently has no legal strength. I suppose it's just a wish list.
I was most interested in Articles 23 and 24, which state: (1) Everyone has the right to work, to free choice of employment, to just and favourable conditions of work and to protection against unemployment. (2) Everyone, without any discrimination, has the right to equal pay for equal work. (3) Everyone who works has the right to just and favourable remuneration ensuring for himself and his family an existence worthy of human dignity, and supplemented, if necessary, by other means of social protection. (4) Everyone has the right to form and to join trade unions for the protection of his interests.
Article 24.
Everyone has the right to rest and leisure, including reasonable limitation of working hours and periodic holidays with pay.
Does working 60 hours a week fall under those rights? I don't think so.
I am not a fan of capitalism. I think it is demeaning system, a way of having slave labor and calling it something else, like factory worker. It creates class distinctions and allows too much privilege for those who by virtue of birth or luck are able to manipulate the system to their benefit. I have long noticed that folks who play by the rules, which seems to be many people, are the ones left without heat because they can no longer pay the bills.
I think there are better ways to do things, ways that are fairer and more humane. Ways in which to get the job done that are fair to everyone concerned. However, until our society en masse decides this, I don't see a change coming.
I am not saying we should not work, or that people should just receive a handout so they can sit around and watch TV. I am saying that I would like to see justice in the workplace, some fairness and equity in the way salaries and vacations are dispensed. I would like to see people love their life, not hate it. Living should be a joy, not a grind, but our work ethic has made life a drudgery.
Rest or rust?
Why should that be our only choice?
That line came from a Denise Austin work out the other morning as I sweated to her Daily Work Out on Lifetime TV.
It gave me pause. Well, I didn't stop exercising but I did look up. Then I started thinking.
I don't want to rust. But I would like to rest occasionally.
I blame the Protestant Work Ethic. This bugaboo has its proponents because it means people work themselves mercilessly. Even in Social Studies at the secondary level, this work ethic is considered a good thing. It is called the Root of Democracy.
This work ethic has made the U.S. the most materially wealthy nation in the world. We're hardworking, prosperous...
We're tired, is what we are.
The New Yorker in 2005 noted that Americans work more and play less than most other nations. Our leisure time is non-existent. The French people work 28 percent less than we do. "Americans trade their productivity for more money, while Europeans trade it for more leisure," the author of this article writes.
He goes on to say this is a result of unions and collective agreements. Europeans had better bargainers. They may have less stuff, but they get to actually enjoy what they have.
In this article about the work ethic in the U.S., note that the Europeans are getting paid vacation. We can't even get time off to have babies, take care of our elderly relatives, deal with sickness... any of the stuff of life. We have to beg and borrow whatever time off we do receive, and then it's given to us begrudgingly.
And when we do finally take vacation, do we spend that entire two weeks away from the office? Nope. We check e-mail, call in, make business phone calls, turn our travel plans upside down to make some out-of-the-area conference.
The reality is, some of us are working hard for stuff. Bigger houses, or a second home, a nicer car, better sofa - whatever.
But it's also a reality that many of us are doing all of this work simply to keep a modest roof over our heads and to pay the necessary bills. I'm talking about utility bills, like electricity and heating, and food bills. There are an awful lot of people who are working two and three jobs just to keep food on the table.
I think millions of Americans can't afford to rest, not because they think they'll rust, but because they think they'll starve.
This is wrong.
I recently learned from the Commondreams article at that link that in 1948, the United Nations set forth a declaration called the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. I keep up with a lot of things, but I was completely unaware that such a document existed.
As that article points out, the United States violates this document. A lot. And we're in the process of dismantling it even more.
Of course, this document apparently has no legal strength. I suppose it's just a wish list.
I was most interested in Articles 23 and 24, which state: (1) Everyone has the right to work, to free choice of employment, to just and favourable conditions of work and to protection against unemployment. (2) Everyone, without any discrimination, has the right to equal pay for equal work. (3) Everyone who works has the right to just and favourable remuneration ensuring for himself and his family an existence worthy of human dignity, and supplemented, if necessary, by other means of social protection. (4) Everyone has the right to form and to join trade unions for the protection of his interests.
Article 24.
Everyone has the right to rest and leisure, including reasonable limitation of working hours and periodic holidays with pay.
Does working 60 hours a week fall under those rights? I don't think so.
I am not a fan of capitalism. I think it is demeaning system, a way of having slave labor and calling it something else, like factory worker. It creates class distinctions and allows too much privilege for those who by virtue of birth or luck are able to manipulate the system to their benefit. I have long noticed that folks who play by the rules, which seems to be many people, are the ones left without heat because they can no longer pay the bills.
I think there are better ways to do things, ways that are fairer and more humane. Ways in which to get the job done that are fair to everyone concerned. However, until our society en masse decides this, I don't see a change coming.
I am not saying we should not work, or that people should just receive a handout so they can sit around and watch TV. I am saying that I would like to see justice in the workplace, some fairness and equity in the way salaries and vacations are dispensed. I would like to see people love their life, not hate it. Living should be a joy, not a grind, but our work ethic has made life a drudgery.
Rest or rust?
Why should that be our only choice?
Tuesday, December 18, 2007
Mangled Christmas Carols
I have a tendency not to sing the right words to certain songs. Here are few that I have twisted over the years...
Deck the Halls
"Deck the Halls with Melancholy," fa la la la, la la la...
Sleigh Ride
Just hear those sleigh bells ringalinging...
Somewhere later:
.... "when you see an alligator eating ... pumpkin pie."
Rudolph, the Red-Nosed Reindeer
Rudolph, the dead-eye cowboy, had a very shiny gun,
and if you ever saw it, then I guess you'd better run.
These are parody, that is, changing the words to the songs to suit yourself even though you know the proper phrasing.
When you sing the wrong thing because you're hearing it incorrectly, it's called a mondegreen. You might want to check out that link because it's rather interesting. There are some great examples.
Snopes has a listing of mondegreens of Christmas carols which you can access here. Fun!
What Christmas carols do you mangle? Come on, 'fess up.
Deck the Halls
"Deck the Halls with Melancholy," fa la la la, la la la...
Sleigh Ride
Just hear those sleigh bells ringalinging...
Somewhere later:
.... "when you see an alligator eating ... pumpkin pie."
Rudolph, the Red-Nosed Reindeer
Rudolph, the dead-eye cowboy, had a very shiny gun,
and if you ever saw it, then I guess you'd better run.
These are parody, that is, changing the words to the songs to suit yourself even though you know the proper phrasing.
When you sing the wrong thing because you're hearing it incorrectly, it's called a mondegreen. You might want to check out that link because it's rather interesting. There are some great examples.
Snopes has a listing of mondegreens of Christmas carols which you can access here. Fun!
What Christmas carols do you mangle? Come on, 'fess up.
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