From Sunday Stealing (Join in the Meme Fun at the link, or read more answers from other players.)
The Last Night Meme
1. Did anyone call you last night?
A. My husband did. He was on duty at the firehouse (he is a battalion chief for the fire department).
2. How late were you on the computer last night?
A. Later than I should have been.
3. What did you have to eat last night?
A. I had a chicken thigh, a half-piece of Naan Flatbread, and some dried apricots.
4. Did you watch any good TV shows or movies last night?
A. No. I seldom watch TV. I read a book.
5. Did any news items stand out to you last night?
A. I didn't watch the news.
6. Did you go out last night?
A. Nope. The only time I went out the door was to retrieve the mail.
7. What was the weather like last night?
A. Very cold. We had a little skiff of snow Friday night, and some of it was hanging around still.
8. What was the last thing you said last night?
A. Good night, sweetheart.
9. What time did you go to bed last night?
A. I was in bed by 9 p.m., but I was reading until much later.
Sunday, January 19, 2014
Saturday, January 18, 2014
Books: Runaway
Runaway
By Alice Munro
Copyright 2004
335 pages
This was my book club's book of choice for January. Alice Munro in 2013 received the Nobel Prize in Literature for her stories.
I confess I have not yet finished the book. I read the first three short stories. I usually don't review a book until I have read it all, but I don't expect to finish this any time soon.
The stories are about women who are, well, runaways. They are running from their lives, their husbands, their parents. They are portrayed as rather weak and ineffective people in some of these stories, as well as manipulative and easily manipulated.
The writing is very literary in nature, and I normally enjoy this, but I found these stories depressing. Perhaps it is simply the time of year or the place I am in my life, but I am in the mood for a little more light-hearted reading these days. Life is tough enough without the things I read reminding me of that fact.
I also was a little appalled when I realized that much of my fiction writing is similar to this in tone. I think I need to change my style and find my genre. I always thought I wanted to be a literary writer, but I think now I would rather just be a good writer.
Munro has written numerous books, none of which I have read. I would pick up her other work without question, because I can tell from the clarity of the writing that she is, without a doubt, a great literary writer. And I probably will finish this book at some point. Just not right now.
By Alice Munro
Copyright 2004
335 pages
This was my book club's book of choice for January. Alice Munro in 2013 received the Nobel Prize in Literature for her stories.
I confess I have not yet finished the book. I read the first three short stories. I usually don't review a book until I have read it all, but I don't expect to finish this any time soon.
The stories are about women who are, well, runaways. They are running from their lives, their husbands, their parents. They are portrayed as rather weak and ineffective people in some of these stories, as well as manipulative and easily manipulated.
The writing is very literary in nature, and I normally enjoy this, but I found these stories depressing. Perhaps it is simply the time of year or the place I am in my life, but I am in the mood for a little more light-hearted reading these days. Life is tough enough without the things I read reminding me of that fact.
I also was a little appalled when I realized that much of my fiction writing is similar to this in tone. I think I need to change my style and find my genre. I always thought I wanted to be a literary writer, but I think now I would rather just be a good writer.
Munro has written numerous books, none of which I have read. I would pick up her other work without question, because I can tell from the clarity of the writing that she is, without a doubt, a great literary writer. And I probably will finish this book at some point. Just not right now.
All Part of the Process
Saturday 9: Best Song Ever (Find a list of other Saturday 9 players at the preceding link.)
Unfamiliar with this week's song? Hear it here. (This is their official video and it begins with a skit; music starts at 2:25.)
1) Dancing all night to the best song ever would be good for the cardiovascular system. When is the last time you exercised?
A. I did my physical therapy exercises yesterday. I haven't been able to exercise well for six months, though, because of a health problem.
2) The girl in this song is the daughter of a dentist. "Dentophobia" is fear of dentists. How do you feel about going to the dentist?
A. I actually like going to the dentist. I love having my teeth cleaned and feeling good and smooth. Not so happy about having cavities filled or things like that, but it's all part of the process.
3) One Direction performed this on Good Morning, America. Do you watch morning TV? If so, which show?
A. No, I don't. If the weather forecast is dire I might turn on the local news station to see what is expected, but mostly I just go online and look at the news. I do read the daily paper every morning.
4) Listening to upbeat pop songs like this one makes Sam feel young. When is the last time you participated in an activity commonly connected to childen (like swinging on a swing, drinking chocolate milk, playing a board game, etc.)?
A. Um. Does Words with Friends count? Or video games? Or maybe eating Smarties candy? Because I have done all of those in the past week.
5) One of the boys, Louis Tomlinson, was an actor before joining the band. How many different professions have you tried? What were they?
A. Oh dear. I have been a babysitter, secretary, a machinery parts manager, a legal secretary, a paralegal, a news paper reporter, a freelance writer, farmhand, landlord, events coordinator, and an adjunct instructor at the local community college. I have also been a professional student. I love to learn and I love to write.
6) The fans that have made One Direction millionaires are also the target audience for series like The Hunger Games, Harry Potter and Wimpy Kid. Do you read Young Adult literature?
A. I do. I read all of the Harry Potter books, and I like Tamara Pierce's young adult books. I have The Hunger Games here to read but haven't gotten around to it. I also like to read books based on TV shows, like Buffy the Vampire Slayer or Star Trek: Voyager books. I like fantasy but not horror. Some of the recent vampire stuff is a little horrific and thus not for me.
7) If this is the "best song ever," what song do you consider the worst? Tell us which song just sets your teeth on edge.
A. I am not a fan of most bluegrass or country and western music, so probably something along those lines. I can't think of a title at the moment.
8) One Direction performed at the Royal Variety Show for Queen Elizabeth. If you found yourself presented to Her Majesty, what would you say?
A. Greetings, Your Most Gracious Royal Highness? I honestly have no idea. I'd have to check the etiquette books to be sure I did it properly. I suppose I would have to learn to curtsy, too.
9) Right now, is your life moving in the right direction or are you feeling a bit aimless?
A. I'm pretty stuck until my health improves or I at least have a definitive diagnosis as to the problem. Which hopefully will be soon.
1) Dancing all night to the best song ever would be good for the cardiovascular system. When is the last time you exercised?
A. I did my physical therapy exercises yesterday. I haven't been able to exercise well for six months, though, because of a health problem.
2) The girl in this song is the daughter of a dentist. "Dentophobia" is fear of dentists. How do you feel about going to the dentist?
A. I actually like going to the dentist. I love having my teeth cleaned and feeling good and smooth. Not so happy about having cavities filled or things like that, but it's all part of the process.
3) One Direction performed this on Good Morning, America. Do you watch morning TV? If so, which show?
A. No, I don't. If the weather forecast is dire I might turn on the local news station to see what is expected, but mostly I just go online and look at the news. I do read the daily paper every morning.
4) Listening to upbeat pop songs like this one makes Sam feel young. When is the last time you participated in an activity commonly connected to childen (like swinging on a swing, drinking chocolate milk, playing a board game, etc.)?
A. Um. Does Words with Friends count? Or video games? Or maybe eating Smarties candy? Because I have done all of those in the past week.
5) One of the boys, Louis Tomlinson, was an actor before joining the band. How many different professions have you tried? What were they?
A. Oh dear. I have been a babysitter, secretary, a machinery parts manager, a legal secretary, a paralegal, a news paper reporter, a freelance writer, farmhand, landlord, events coordinator, and an adjunct instructor at the local community college. I have also been a professional student. I love to learn and I love to write.
6) The fans that have made One Direction millionaires are also the target audience for series like The Hunger Games, Harry Potter and Wimpy Kid. Do you read Young Adult literature?
A. I do. I read all of the Harry Potter books, and I like Tamara Pierce's young adult books. I have The Hunger Games here to read but haven't gotten around to it. I also like to read books based on TV shows, like Buffy the Vampire Slayer or Star Trek: Voyager books. I like fantasy but not horror. Some of the recent vampire stuff is a little horrific and thus not for me.
7) If this is the "best song ever," what song do you consider the worst? Tell us which song just sets your teeth on edge.
A. I am not a fan of most bluegrass or country and western music, so probably something along those lines. I can't think of a title at the moment.
8) One Direction performed at the Royal Variety Show for Queen Elizabeth. If you found yourself presented to Her Majesty, what would you say?
A. Greetings, Your Most Gracious Royal Highness? I honestly have no idea. I'd have to check the etiquette books to be sure I did it properly. I suppose I would have to learn to curtsy, too.
9) Right now, is your life moving in the right direction or are you feeling a bit aimless?
A. I'm pretty stuck until my health improves or I at least have a definitive diagnosis as to the problem. Which hopefully will be soon.
Friday, January 17, 2014
30 Years of Service
My husband and I went to the Roanoke City Service Awards Dinner in Roanoke Wednesday night. The event honors city employees who have been employed in five-year increments.
It was held at the Holiday Inn behind WDBJ7. I used to call it the Airport Holiday Inn but I don't know if that is the official name. We could smell the garlic from the kitchen far out into the parking lot.
From left: Deputy Chief Jeff Beckner and Roanoke Fire-EMS Chief David Hoback.
Fire Marshall Daniel Rakes, and the crowd gathering for the meal.
My husband, who was off duty and thus not in uniform, greeted a number of other fire-ems personnel during the event.
A little food porn. The salad, I think, was the only thing *not* smothered in garlic.
I did not eat the chicken because I could smell the garlic on it, and I have ulcers so thought it might be best to leave it, but the beans, carrots, and 'taters were good (though I think also full of garlic).
Roanoke City Mayor David Bowers was master of ceremony. Employees who had served 25 years or more received some kind of recognition.
My husband, Battalion Chief James Firebaugh, listened while the mayor recited highlights of his career. James joined the fire service in February 1983.
The mayor gave him a nice little plaque to commemorate his service.
My husband is a humble man, an everyday hero who has risked his life several times to save someone else. He is a hard worker and good provider who loves deeply. He cares about the land we live on and the people we engage. I am very proud of him.
It was held at the Holiday Inn behind WDBJ7. I used to call it the Airport Holiday Inn but I don't know if that is the official name. We could smell the garlic from the kitchen far out into the parking lot.
From left: Deputy Chief Jeff Beckner and Roanoke Fire-EMS Chief David Hoback.
Fire Marshall Daniel Rakes, and the crowd gathering for the meal.
My husband, who was off duty and thus not in uniform, greeted a number of other fire-ems personnel during the event.
A little food porn. The salad, I think, was the only thing *not* smothered in garlic.
I did not eat the chicken because I could smell the garlic on it, and I have ulcers so thought it might be best to leave it, but the beans, carrots, and 'taters were good (though I think also full of garlic).
Roanoke City Mayor David Bowers was master of ceremony. Employees who had served 25 years or more received some kind of recognition.
My husband, Battalion Chief James Firebaugh, listened while the mayor recited highlights of his career. James joined the fire service in February 1983.
The mayor gave him a nice little plaque to commemorate his service.
My husband is a humble man, an everyday hero who has risked his life several times to save someone else. He is a hard worker and good provider who loves deeply. He cares about the land we live on and the people we engage. I am very proud of him.
Thursday, January 16, 2014
Thursday Thirteen
Here are thirteen websites that offer free reading. I have checked all of these out this morning and listed only those that you can dive right into without signing up for something. I suppose if you have a browser on your e-reader you can access all of these in some fashion, as most can be read in the browser. Some might be difficult on small screens, though.
1. Project Gutenberg - Among the first and probably the best well-known sites for free books. It has download formats for most of the popular e-readers.
2. Page By Page - Books and other resources available for reading at your computer.
3. Classic Reader - this has a place for a member sign-up but I am not sure why. These books are available for reading at your computer.
4. Bibliomania - This site also has free study guides for some classics
5. The Online Literature Library - More classics online.
6. Fiction.US - More classics online.
7. By Gosh - This site titles itself as being for children and offering children's literature, but Heart of Darkness and The Art of War do not seem like kid's lit to me. Anyway, you can find lots of poetry and other things here, too.
8. International Children's Digital Library - This site is worth visiting just to look at the pictures in some of the books. The book pages appear to have been scanned or photographed in some, if not all, instances.
9. The Complete Works of Shakespeare - If you feel a little lost or haven't read much Shakespeare, here's the space for you.
10. Plays Online - Bills itself as for play readers and writers.
11. Public Bookshelf - This site says it is for romance readers.
12. Bored - this site has literature, cookbooks, music and game books, etc.
13. Just English - A link that lists all of these sites and many others.
Thursday Thirteen is played by lots of people; there is a list here. I've been playing for a while and this is my 328th time to do a list of 13 on a Thursday.
1. Project Gutenberg - Among the first and probably the best well-known sites for free books. It has download formats for most of the popular e-readers.
2. Page By Page - Books and other resources available for reading at your computer.
3. Classic Reader - this has a place for a member sign-up but I am not sure why. These books are available for reading at your computer.
4. Bibliomania - This site also has free study guides for some classics
5. The Online Literature Library - More classics online.
6. Fiction.US - More classics online.
7. By Gosh - This site titles itself as being for children and offering children's literature, but Heart of Darkness and The Art of War do not seem like kid's lit to me. Anyway, you can find lots of poetry and other things here, too.
8. International Children's Digital Library - This site is worth visiting just to look at the pictures in some of the books. The book pages appear to have been scanned or photographed in some, if not all, instances.
9. The Complete Works of Shakespeare - If you feel a little lost or haven't read much Shakespeare, here's the space for you.
10. Plays Online - Bills itself as for play readers and writers.
11. Public Bookshelf - This site says it is for romance readers.
12. Bored - this site has literature, cookbooks, music and game books, etc.
13. Just English - A link that lists all of these sites and many others.
Thursday Thirteen is played by lots of people; there is a list here. I've been playing for a while and this is my 328th time to do a list of 13 on a Thursday.
Wednesday, January 15, 2014
Creepy Fog
Saturday after the rains, I watched this creepy fog wash over the woods. It slipped in quite ghost-like, and seemed otherworldly in the way it washed over the trees.
As I watched it, I felt chills run up my spine. The fog seemed to have tendrils, long arms that wanted to reach out and grab whatever was in its path. Like all good heroines in horror flicks, I simply stood there, watching and wondering if the fog would come and take me too.
Even as I thought those thoughts, the fog quickly receded, as if some great magician had stood down by the road and said, "Away with Thee!"
Tuesday, January 14, 2014
What Do You Use?
I am curious about how people find other's blogs and keep up with them. I apparently am not doing it in a way that makes sense - I have blogs listed in my bookmarks and get to them that way. It's become cumbersome and the only way to check for updates is to visit each blog individually. I need a less limited system.
I have attempted to use AOL's new Reader but have had limited success with it (mostly I forget about it).
So, I was wondering what other PC users do to keep up with all the things they want to read? Google Reader is gone, isn't it, replaced with Google +, which I despise? If you used that, what did you replace it with if you don't like G+? Is there something anyone uses that sits right on the desktop, perhaps?
Also, I wonder what services bloggers are using to promote their blogs - something like networked blogs, blog lovin', or some other thing of which I am unaware.
Any recommendations?
I have attempted to use AOL's new Reader but have had limited success with it (mostly I forget about it).
So, I was wondering what other PC users do to keep up with all the things they want to read? Google Reader is gone, isn't it, replaced with Google +, which I despise? If you used that, what did you replace it with if you don't like G+? Is there something anyone uses that sits right on the desktop, perhaps?
Also, I wonder what services bloggers are using to promote their blogs - something like networked blogs, blog lovin', or some other thing of which I am unaware.
Any recommendations?
Monday, January 13, 2014
Saturday Spectacular
Our weather has been very changeable - below zero temperatures last Tuesday, then warm in the 50s on Saturday. We had rain for much of the day on Saturday, but after it ended, Mother Nature gave us a spectacular show:
Not long after, as the sun went behind the mountains, the sky turned into fire!
Not long after, as the sun went behind the mountains, the sky turned into fire!
Sunday, January 12, 2014
Leaps of Logic
From Sunday Stealing
The Fast Dozen Meme
1. What is the last book that you passed on to someone else to read?
A. I passed along a couple of writing books: The Tao of Writing and The Forest for the Trees, to my friend Deb at the Greener Pastures blog.
2. The one song you secretly or not so secretly want to sing at karaoke?
A. I don't do karaoke, but if I did, then any early Linda Rondstat song would suffice.
3. If you had to pick a new name for yourself, what would it be?
A. Susan Pumpernickel.
4. What do you wish your administrator or boss would notice?
A. I don't have a job, I am a freelancer. I wish my editor(s) would notice how loyal and trustworthy I am (and that I am not paid near enough). I care greatly about the work I produce. Too much so, I suppose.
5. What is your biggest pet peeve?
A. When stuff doesn't work like it is supposed to, including computers, browsers, software, cars, appliances, and husbands.
6. What holds you back in pursuing your biggest dream?
A. Fear and low self esteem.
7. Why do you think you are a lovable person?
A. Technically every human being is deserving of love. I, apparently, am not very loveable though I am not sure why not. I think I am too intellectual and not touchy-feely enough. Maybe one day I will figure it out, but by then I will probably be too old and wrinkly for it to matter.
8. If every day had an extra hour in it, what would you do with it?
A. I would take a walk with my husband.
9. The last song you turned up in your car or house was?
A. Baby, You Can Sleep While I Drive, by Melissa Etheridge
10. What is a secret talent you may have?
A. I give good advice when asked. I am able to make connections and leaps of logic that elude others sometimes. I can stand at the edge of a forest and leap all the way to other side, without ever having to meet up with the spiders in the Mirkwood.
11. Your favorite thing to do outside when it's not too cold out in the winter?
A. Take a walk.
12. How do you respond if someone asks you an inappropriate or nosy question?
A. You mean like the ones I find sometimes in these memes? I either don't answer or ask politely, "Why do you need to know?"
The Fast Dozen Meme
1. What is the last book that you passed on to someone else to read?
A. I passed along a couple of writing books: The Tao of Writing and The Forest for the Trees, to my friend Deb at the Greener Pastures blog.
2. The one song you secretly or not so secretly want to sing at karaoke?
A. I don't do karaoke, but if I did, then any early Linda Rondstat song would suffice.
3. If you had to pick a new name for yourself, what would it be?
A. Susan Pumpernickel.
4. What do you wish your administrator or boss would notice?
A. I don't have a job, I am a freelancer. I wish my editor(s) would notice how loyal and trustworthy I am (and that I am not paid near enough). I care greatly about the work I produce. Too much so, I suppose.
5. What is your biggest pet peeve?
A. When stuff doesn't work like it is supposed to, including computers, browsers, software, cars, appliances, and husbands.
6. What holds you back in pursuing your biggest dream?
A. Fear and low self esteem.
7. Why do you think you are a lovable person?
A. Technically every human being is deserving of love. I, apparently, am not very loveable though I am not sure why not. I think I am too intellectual and not touchy-feely enough. Maybe one day I will figure it out, but by then I will probably be too old and wrinkly for it to matter.
8. If every day had an extra hour in it, what would you do with it?
A. I would take a walk with my husband.
9. The last song you turned up in your car or house was?
A. Baby, You Can Sleep While I Drive, by Melissa Etheridge
10. What is a secret talent you may have?
A. I give good advice when asked. I am able to make connections and leaps of logic that elude others sometimes. I can stand at the edge of a forest and leap all the way to other side, without ever having to meet up with the spiders in the Mirkwood.
11. Your favorite thing to do outside when it's not too cold out in the winter?
A. Take a walk.
12. How do you respond if someone asks you an inappropriate or nosy question?
A. You mean like the ones I find sometimes in these memes? I either don't answer or ask politely, "Why do you need to know?"
Saturday, January 11, 2014
Extra Eyes Watching
1) In this song, our hero offers to take his girl down to the river to catch a catfish dinner. What is your favorite seafood?
A. I love shrimp. Alas, I have developed an allergy to it, one which began not long after they began shrimping again after the oil spill in the gulf. I personally think I reacting not to the shrimp but to the toxins in the shrimp from the pollution, but how in the heck would you test that theory?
2) Luke Bryan went to Georgia State University, home of the Panthers. What was your school mascot?
 | |||
| Pleasants Hall at Hollins University. |
3) Have you ever tried acupuncture?
 |
| Acupuncture needle in my head. |
4) Just last night, Crazy Sam threw away a jar of Miracle Whip because it expired in September 2013. Is your refrigerator neat and organized? Or is it a disaster area, like Sam's?
A. We bought a new refrigerator six months ago, so mine is in fairly good shape. I threw out a lot of out-dated items then. However, it is very easy to let something slip by you like that.
5) Which is more important to you -- saving time or saving money?
A. I like to save both. However, you can never get back the time you have lost. That is becoming clear to me as I age.
6) Sam's next door neighbor is named Jim. He's retired, smokes a pipe and drives a red Corolla. Tell us about one of your neighbors.
A. One of my neighbors works at Kroger, which is generally the only place I see her. I went to school with her son, who is a year or two younger than I am. Her husband is retired; he was a rock mason and he built our chimney when we built our home in 1987. They live in one of the houses that my husband's grandfather built, rented, and eventually sold. Their house is adjacent to one of our cattle pastures, and sometimes they call me if they see something amiss. It is nice to have extra eyes watching the place and the animals.
7) What's the most recent magazine you flipped through?
A. Writer's Digest.
8) Could your vehicle use a trip to the car wash right now?
A. Yes, it could. We just came in and we were driving in the rain. My driveway, which is about 1/4 of a mile long, is gravel. The thing always needs a bath.
9) Did you hit the snooze button this morning?
A. I woke up before the alarm went off, actually, and did something I seldom do: I turned on the TV. I wanted to see the weather forecast.
Friday, January 10, 2014
Thursday, January 09, 2014
Thursday Thirteen
1. This morning I saw a star shining low in the west that I had not noticed before. It brought to mind a time when I was young and I watched a bright light zoom across the sky, change directions, seemingly move forward and back, and then vanish.
2. UFOs are not uncommon and in the 1970s there were whispers that one of the more rural localities had a secret government installation where testing on various aircraft were performed. I never did know if it was true.
3. In the 1990s, we learned that the Greenbrier Hotel, which is about an hour's drive or so away, held a secret bunker from which the government had planned to operate in the event of an attack on Washington D.C. I have often wondered if that big secret and the aforementioned secret might have been connected.
4. Another local legend is the Beale Treasure. Supposedly in 1817 a band of Virginians left St. Louis in search of treasures in the west, and returned with boxes overflowing with gold and silver. These were buried in our neck of the woods and ciphers with clues left with a fellow in Lynchburg. My husband's many-great grandfather reportedly rode into town with saddlebags full of gold about that time and bought a bunch of land. There has been some speculation that perhaps he was a member of the Beale Treasure group.
5. Another legend says that there is a bunch of silver coins buried in southwestern Virginia, probably Danville. The money was the treasury of the Confederate States that went missing when the Union soldiers took Richmond.
6. Another local legend tells of a thief who escaped the jail in Fincastle and hid his money up in the mountains in an abandoned mine in the Stone Coal Gap area.
7. My grandfather saw ghosts on his family's farm here in the county when he was younger. He said he saw a bloodied man running across the field toward his house. The man vanished into mist.
8. I saw ghosts in the middle of the afternoon once - there were several Native Americans standing in a field along the side of a road and a bedraggled white man was walking toward them. Shook me up good.
9. We aren't supposed to have cougars in this area anymore - they were supposedly all killed out - but legends persist of sightings. I saw a black panther once myself and they aren't supposed to be in this area, either. One night when I was very young, we heard panthers screaming. They sound like a woman in distress. I remember clinging to my mother while we all stood outside and listened. The Virginia Department of Game and Inland Fisheries has denied their existence for years, but I note on their website now that they list unconfirmed sightings.
10. Another time I was sitting in a supervisors meeting in a neighboring county and a Confederate soldier suddenly walked down the aisle, saluted, and turned and walked away. He was a ghost, too. It was a late meeting - around 10 p.m. - and we were in the county courthouse, which had been burned and hacked up a bit during the Civil War.
11. My father once showed me pictures that a relative in West Virginia drew of aliens that visited her house. They were humanoid but had strange eyes. The pictures were drawn long before Area 51 came about - like in the 1880s or something.
12. Another local legend is the Mad Gasser of Botetourt County. In 1933, someone apparently snuck into people's homes in the area and set off a sick-smelling gas that sickened people. My great-aunt remembered the attacks, one of which occurred near the aforementioned farm where my grandfather saw a ghost. She was quoted in a book that was written about the incident.
13. So what are your local legends and stories? Have you seen a ghost? A UFO? Ever been spooked?
Thursday Thirteen is played by lots of people; there is a list here. I've been playing for a while and this is my 327th time to do a list of 13 on a Thursday.
2. UFOs are not uncommon and in the 1970s there were whispers that one of the more rural localities had a secret government installation where testing on various aircraft were performed. I never did know if it was true.
3. In the 1990s, we learned that the Greenbrier Hotel, which is about an hour's drive or so away, held a secret bunker from which the government had planned to operate in the event of an attack on Washington D.C. I have often wondered if that big secret and the aforementioned secret might have been connected.
4. Another local legend is the Beale Treasure. Supposedly in 1817 a band of Virginians left St. Louis in search of treasures in the west, and returned with boxes overflowing with gold and silver. These were buried in our neck of the woods and ciphers with clues left with a fellow in Lynchburg. My husband's many-great grandfather reportedly rode into town with saddlebags full of gold about that time and bought a bunch of land. There has been some speculation that perhaps he was a member of the Beale Treasure group.
5. Another legend says that there is a bunch of silver coins buried in southwestern Virginia, probably Danville. The money was the treasury of the Confederate States that went missing when the Union soldiers took Richmond.
6. Another local legend tells of a thief who escaped the jail in Fincastle and hid his money up in the mountains in an abandoned mine in the Stone Coal Gap area.
7. My grandfather saw ghosts on his family's farm here in the county when he was younger. He said he saw a bloodied man running across the field toward his house. The man vanished into mist.
8. I saw ghosts in the middle of the afternoon once - there were several Native Americans standing in a field along the side of a road and a bedraggled white man was walking toward them. Shook me up good.
9. We aren't supposed to have cougars in this area anymore - they were supposedly all killed out - but legends persist of sightings. I saw a black panther once myself and they aren't supposed to be in this area, either. One night when I was very young, we heard panthers screaming. They sound like a woman in distress. I remember clinging to my mother while we all stood outside and listened. The Virginia Department of Game and Inland Fisheries has denied their existence for years, but I note on their website now that they list unconfirmed sightings.
10. Another time I was sitting in a supervisors meeting in a neighboring county and a Confederate soldier suddenly walked down the aisle, saluted, and turned and walked away. He was a ghost, too. It was a late meeting - around 10 p.m. - and we were in the county courthouse, which had been burned and hacked up a bit during the Civil War.
11. My father once showed me pictures that a relative in West Virginia drew of aliens that visited her house. They were humanoid but had strange eyes. The pictures were drawn long before Area 51 came about - like in the 1880s or something.
12. Another local legend is the Mad Gasser of Botetourt County. In 1933, someone apparently snuck into people's homes in the area and set off a sick-smelling gas that sickened people. My great-aunt remembered the attacks, one of which occurred near the aforementioned farm where my grandfather saw a ghost. She was quoted in a book that was written about the incident.
13. So what are your local legends and stories? Have you seen a ghost? A UFO? Ever been spooked?
Thursday Thirteen is played by lots of people; there is a list here. I've been playing for a while and this is my 327th time to do a list of 13 on a Thursday.
Wednesday, January 08, 2014
What's Up With IE?
I don't know what is going on with blogger, but now I can't even edit or write a post in Internet Explorer 11. Blogger is the only site I am having issues with, so there is some disconnect. And the problem with my blog extends to every version of IE I have viewed the blog on with my computers at home. It works fine on other browsers.
So what happens? I try to post and I get this error message:
ERROR: Possible problem with your *gwt.xml nodule file. The compile time user.agent value (ie9) does not match the runtime user.agreement value (ie10). Expect more errors.
For a while, I was able to hit "OK" and then go on and post, but now I can't even enter the editor section of blogger. I am using Firefox to create this post.
There is a list of other people with this problem on a google group:
https://groups.google.com/forum/#!topic/public-data-labs/l3BTq_wyDtw
and in other forums.
I have attempted whatever fixes have been suggested but nothing has worked. I feel like I've been trapped in the perpetual war between Google and Microsoft.
If you happen to be a computer genius and have any ideas as to how I might fix this, please share. I am an old school girl and have always used Internet Explorer, though obviously I have and do use other browsers. I just prefer IE. It's all in what you're used to, I suppose.
So what happens? I try to post and I get this error message:
ERROR: Possible problem with your *gwt.xml nodule file. The compile time user.agent value (ie9) does not match the runtime user.agreement value (ie10). Expect more errors.
For a while, I was able to hit "OK" and then go on and post, but now I can't even enter the editor section of blogger. I am using Firefox to create this post.
There is a list of other people with this problem on a google group:
https://groups.google.com/forum/#!topic/public-data-labs/l3BTq_wyDtw
and in other forums.
I have attempted whatever fixes have been suggested but nothing has worked. I feel like I've been trapped in the perpetual war between Google and Microsoft.
If you happen to be a computer genius and have any ideas as to how I might fix this, please share. I am an old school girl and have always used Internet Explorer, though obviously I have and do use other browsers. I just prefer IE. It's all in what you're used to, I suppose.
Tuesday, January 07, 2014
Baby, It's Cold Outside
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| Cold! Photo taken around 7 p.m. 1/6/2014 |
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| Colder! Photo taken around 10 p.m. on 1/06/2014 |
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| Coldest! Photo taken at 6:30 a.m. 1/07/2014 |
Monday, January 06, 2014
Spoiled View 1-4-2014
Photos taken Saturday, January 4, 2014, at 9:05 a.m. The hill hides the stacks from the local cement plant.
Sunday, January 05, 2014
Smart, Procrastinator, Introverted
From Sunday Stealing
The Generic Meme
1. What did you want to be when you were little?
A. A writer, a geologist, a teacher, an archeologist, and a newspaper reporter.
2. Would you prefer to have a large group of friends, or a small group of friends? Why?
A. A small group of friends. I prefer this because I like intimacy in my relationships, and find that difficult in large circles.
3. What is your fashion “style”? Or what type of clothes do you wear on a daily basis?
A. I don't have a fashion style. I wear whatever fits, although I suppose my clothes tend to be on the conservative style. Right now I wear a lot of clothes by Alfred Dunner, mostly because they fit better than anything else. When I have lost the weight I intend to lose, that will change. Then I will wear things that make me look like an eclectic, fun-loving artist.
4. If you could live anywhere where would you live?
A. I like where I live now, although I wouldn't mind a little larger home.
5. What is your biggest hope for the next year?
A. To be healthy and feel better.
6. When you pass by reflective surfaces do you check yourself out?
A. Not usually.
7. Favorite genre of movie as well as TV show?
A. Fantasy.
8. Top favorite books? (limit of 5)
A. Lord of the Rings (trilogy), by J. R. R. Tolkien, Wuthering Heights, by Emily Bronte, The Golden Compass (trilogy), by Phillip Pullman, If You Want to Write, by Brenda Ueland, Alas, Babylon, by Pat Frank, and as an extra, A Canticle for Liebowitz, by Walter M. Miller, Jr.
9. Have you ever taken a cooking class?
A. No, but I certainly need to.
10. What three words would you use to describe yourself?
A. Smart, procrastinator, introverted.
11. Favorite animal?
A. The deer is my spirit animal.
12. What is your dream job?
A. To have written and published, and to be resting on my laurels.
13. If you could go back in history to any moment that you did not live, what would it be and why?
A. I would like to meet Joan of Arc, who lived in the 1400s. I have always been fascinated by her story and would like to know what it was about her that allowed her to lead an army before she was 18 years old.
14. If you could have any superpower, what would it be? Why?
A. I would like to be able to tell the very distant future. I have a keen interest in knowing how humanity is going to turn out. Will we create a utopia, or a dystopia?
15. What is your favorite movie?
A. The Lord of the Rings trilogy (yes, all 9+ hours of it).
16. What is your best childhood memory?
A. My grandmother walking with my brother, my two uncles, and me all the way to Salem, which at the time had a thriving downtown with a dime store. It was a walk of over a mile, I guess. Maybe two? We would go to Newberry's and make small purchases, such as models, paddle balls, or balsam wood airplanes, and go to Brooks Byrd Pharmacy for a snow cone. Along the way we stop at my great-great aunt Pearl's house for a drink of water or lemonade. (Aunt Pearl was my great-grandfather's sister, and she lived to be 107; she lived by herself until she was 105. She died in 2007.)
17. What is your favorite part about blogging?
A. The freedom to express what I want when I want, along with the community that I have found online. I've made some real-life friends through blogging, people I otherwise would not have met. It has really opened up my horizons in many ways.
18. What is your favorite quote?
A. Don't tell me the moon is shining; show me the glint of light on broken glass. ~Anton Chekhov
19. What song do you feel like describes your life the best? Why?
A. Part of me wants to say it's the Hee Haw song that goes "Blue despair, and agony on me, deep dark depression, excessive misery. If it weren't for bad luck, I'd have no luck at all, blue despair and agony on me" but things really aren't that bad, they just seem that way sometimes. So I will go with Unwritten, by Natasha Bedingfield, because my ending is unplanned and I'm a writer and always seeking and searching. "Today is where your book begins, the rest is still unwritten."
20. Would you describe yourself as shy or outgoing?
A. I'm an introvert, and that is often perceived as shy. I don't think I am shy, though. Just quiet.
The Generic Meme
1. What did you want to be when you were little?
A. A writer, a geologist, a teacher, an archeologist, and a newspaper reporter.
2. Would you prefer to have a large group of friends, or a small group of friends? Why?
A. A small group of friends. I prefer this because I like intimacy in my relationships, and find that difficult in large circles.
3. What is your fashion “style”? Or what type of clothes do you wear on a daily basis?
A. I don't have a fashion style. I wear whatever fits, although I suppose my clothes tend to be on the conservative style. Right now I wear a lot of clothes by Alfred Dunner, mostly because they fit better than anything else. When I have lost the weight I intend to lose, that will change. Then I will wear things that make me look like an eclectic, fun-loving artist.
4. If you could live anywhere where would you live?
A. I like where I live now, although I wouldn't mind a little larger home.
5. What is your biggest hope for the next year?
A. To be healthy and feel better.
6. When you pass by reflective surfaces do you check yourself out?
A. Not usually.
7. Favorite genre of movie as well as TV show?
A. Fantasy.
8. Top favorite books? (limit of 5)
A. Lord of the Rings (trilogy), by J. R. R. Tolkien, Wuthering Heights, by Emily Bronte, The Golden Compass (trilogy), by Phillip Pullman, If You Want to Write, by Brenda Ueland, Alas, Babylon, by Pat Frank, and as an extra, A Canticle for Liebowitz, by Walter M. Miller, Jr.
9. Have you ever taken a cooking class?
A. No, but I certainly need to.
10. What three words would you use to describe yourself?
A. Smart, procrastinator, introverted.
11. Favorite animal?
A. The deer is my spirit animal.
12. What is your dream job?
A. To have written and published, and to be resting on my laurels.
13. If you could go back in history to any moment that you did not live, what would it be and why?
A. I would like to meet Joan of Arc, who lived in the 1400s. I have always been fascinated by her story and would like to know what it was about her that allowed her to lead an army before she was 18 years old.
14. If you could have any superpower, what would it be? Why?
A. I would like to be able to tell the very distant future. I have a keen interest in knowing how humanity is going to turn out. Will we create a utopia, or a dystopia?
15. What is your favorite movie?
A. The Lord of the Rings trilogy (yes, all 9+ hours of it).
16. What is your best childhood memory?
A. My grandmother walking with my brother, my two uncles, and me all the way to Salem, which at the time had a thriving downtown with a dime store. It was a walk of over a mile, I guess. Maybe two? We would go to Newberry's and make small purchases, such as models, paddle balls, or balsam wood airplanes, and go to Brooks Byrd Pharmacy for a snow cone. Along the way we stop at my great-great aunt Pearl's house for a drink of water or lemonade. (Aunt Pearl was my great-grandfather's sister, and she lived to be 107; she lived by herself until she was 105. She died in 2007.)
17. What is your favorite part about blogging?
A. The freedom to express what I want when I want, along with the community that I have found online. I've made some real-life friends through blogging, people I otherwise would not have met. It has really opened up my horizons in many ways.
18. What is your favorite quote?
A. Don't tell me the moon is shining; show me the glint of light on broken glass. ~Anton Chekhov
19. What song do you feel like describes your life the best? Why?
A. Part of me wants to say it's the Hee Haw song that goes "Blue despair, and agony on me, deep dark depression, excessive misery. If it weren't for bad luck, I'd have no luck at all, blue despair and agony on me" but things really aren't that bad, they just seem that way sometimes. So I will go with Unwritten, by Natasha Bedingfield, because my ending is unplanned and I'm a writer and always seeking and searching. "Today is where your book begins, the rest is still unwritten."
20. Would you describe yourself as shy or outgoing?
A. I'm an introvert, and that is often perceived as shy. I don't think I am shy, though. Just quiet.
Saturday, January 04, 2014
Gray It Will Stay
Saturday 9: Believe
1) In 1998, Cher became the oldest woman to top the Billboard Hot 100 with "Believe." She was 52 at the time. At what age do you think you did hit/will hit your prime?
A. I hope this age. Shouldn't you aim to be your best at every age?
2) Cher is as well known for her outrageous outfits as for her singing. What's the latest piece of clothing you added to your wardrobe?
A. My aunt gave me a brown sweater and a black blouse for Christmas, which I received on December 30. But my husband gave me a string of pearls on Christmas Day to celebrate our 30 years of marriage. I love them.
3) Cher credits her unique looks to her diverse ethnicity. Her father was Armenian and her mom is English/German/Cherokee. From where did your ancestors come?
A. Scotland and Ireland. I can trace the line back to before the American Revolution, and have a Revolutionary War fighter in my lineage.
4) When she was a little girl, Cher produced and starred in a schoolyard production of Oklahoma. Were you involved in drama or theater in school?
A. No. I played in the band and in middle school I was editor of the school paper, but I was never involved in the theater that I can recall.
5) Cher is open about her plastic surgery, speaking freely about having had her breasts 'done', her nose bobbed and her teeth straightened. If you could change one physical feature about yourself, which would it be? And what would you never change, under any circumstances?
A. I am trying to lose weight, does that count? If I could change anything, it would be that. It might be nice to have less gray in my hair, too, but I am sensitive to hair coloring so gray it will stay. I have always been complemented on my skin so I suppose that is what I would not change.
6) There's a stubborn rumor, often denied, that Cher had a rib removed so that she could maintain her long and lean silhouette. What's the most outrageous thing anyone has said of you?
A. Someone I love once accused me of being a thief, which I never was and am not and never will be. The person never apologized and it is a hard thing to forgive.
7) When she was a kid, Cher practiced her autograph. Do you have a clear, legible signature? Or is it more of a scrawl?
A. If anyone can read my signature, they practice witchcraft. I can't even read my own handwriting very well anymore.
8) Cher asks, "Do you believe in life after love?" Crazy Sam's question is easier and less profound: Do you believe in luck?
A. Yes, I believe in luck. Some people have it, some don't. I don't. I think opportunities (or luck) can be found in many places, and some people see them and others don't. Sometimes luck finds you. Sometimes you create your own luck. Sometimes luck just happens.
9) Did you make any resolutions for 2014?
A. Not exactly. I listed some goals/dreams/ideas on Thursday Thirteen. Mostly I just want to get a health care concern under control. But to do that I need to find a doctor who can figure out what the problem is, and to do that I think I'm going to have to get out of this valley.
A. I hope this age. Shouldn't you aim to be your best at every age?
2) Cher is as well known for her outrageous outfits as for her singing. What's the latest piece of clothing you added to your wardrobe?
A. My aunt gave me a brown sweater and a black blouse for Christmas, which I received on December 30. But my husband gave me a string of pearls on Christmas Day to celebrate our 30 years of marriage. I love them.
3) Cher credits her unique looks to her diverse ethnicity. Her father was Armenian and her mom is English/German/Cherokee. From where did your ancestors come?
A. Scotland and Ireland. I can trace the line back to before the American Revolution, and have a Revolutionary War fighter in my lineage.
4) When she was a little girl, Cher produced and starred in a schoolyard production of Oklahoma. Were you involved in drama or theater in school?
A. No. I played in the band and in middle school I was editor of the school paper, but I was never involved in the theater that I can recall.
5) Cher is open about her plastic surgery, speaking freely about having had her breasts 'done', her nose bobbed and her teeth straightened. If you could change one physical feature about yourself, which would it be? And what would you never change, under any circumstances?
A. I am trying to lose weight, does that count? If I could change anything, it would be that. It might be nice to have less gray in my hair, too, but I am sensitive to hair coloring so gray it will stay. I have always been complemented on my skin so I suppose that is what I would not change.
6) There's a stubborn rumor, often denied, that Cher had a rib removed so that she could maintain her long and lean silhouette. What's the most outrageous thing anyone has said of you?
A. Someone I love once accused me of being a thief, which I never was and am not and never will be. The person never apologized and it is a hard thing to forgive.
7) When she was a kid, Cher practiced her autograph. Do you have a clear, legible signature? Or is it more of a scrawl?
A. If anyone can read my signature, they practice witchcraft. I can't even read my own handwriting very well anymore.
8) Cher asks, "Do you believe in life after love?" Crazy Sam's question is easier and less profound: Do you believe in luck?
A. Yes, I believe in luck. Some people have it, some don't. I don't. I think opportunities (or luck) can be found in many places, and some people see them and others don't. Sometimes luck finds you. Sometimes you create your own luck. Sometimes luck just happens.
9) Did you make any resolutions for 2014?
A. Not exactly. I listed some goals/dreams/ideas on Thursday Thirteen. Mostly I just want to get a health care concern under control. But to do that I need to find a doctor who can figure out what the problem is, and to do that I think I'm going to have to get out of this valley.
Friday, January 03, 2014
Books: Warren Buffett Speaks
Warren Buffett Speaks: Wit and Wisdom from the World's Greatest Investor
By Janet Lowe
Audioook
3 hours
Copyright 1998 or thereabouts
Warren Buffett's company, Berkshire Hathaway, purchased my local daily paper, The Roanoke Times, back in June. That was the only reason I had interest in listening to this audiobook, which I found in my local library.
I do not know much about Warren Buffett other than he's rich and thinks his secretary pays too much in taxes, since she pays more of a percentage of her share than he does on his billions. And this book did not really help me learn much more. What I did learn was not flattering.
Perhaps I thought Buffett was a do-gooder, but based on this tape alone, he's just another capitalist in love with watching his bank numbers increase. He is lauded in this tape because he drives an old car and doesn't live in a fancy home, but just because one eschews the trappings of wealth doesn't mean that one has good morals. Based on the quotes in this collection, Buffett's morals are those which benefit only himself, and he declines to use whatever influence he may have to make changes that would truly be helpful to society at large.
I was not impressed with him as a person. He may be a great investor and rich, but the quotes on this tape did not make him sound like someone I would like or care to spend time with. According to Wikipedia (which actually has more information on him than this tape), he has pledged to give his fortune up -- when he dies. Now if he'd give it up while he was still living, then he'd be doing something.
Buffett has some newspaper experience in his history; he was a paperboy and a grandfather or somebody like that was a news editor. This explained to me why he was buying the newspapers - once that gets in your blood, you're kind of stuck with it. It's an undying love affair of sorts that never eases.
I had hoped that when BH Media bought The Roanoke Times the paper would improve but that has not proven to be the case. In this tape, Buffett talks about acquiring businesses and then making them "leaner" and that seems to be what has happened to The Times, which is just a slim shadow of it former self. Newly implemented changes to the paper's website have only made things worse.
I suppose if you are in love with money, or making money, then Warren Buffett is someone you might admire. But if your idols tend to be more along the lines of those who actually do things for others, care about others, and who make a difference in the lives of other people, then look elsewhere.
By Janet Lowe
Audioook
3 hours
Copyright 1998 or thereabouts
Warren Buffett's company, Berkshire Hathaway, purchased my local daily paper, The Roanoke Times, back in June. That was the only reason I had interest in listening to this audiobook, which I found in my local library.
I do not know much about Warren Buffett other than he's rich and thinks his secretary pays too much in taxes, since she pays more of a percentage of her share than he does on his billions. And this book did not really help me learn much more. What I did learn was not flattering.
Perhaps I thought Buffett was a do-gooder, but based on this tape alone, he's just another capitalist in love with watching his bank numbers increase. He is lauded in this tape because he drives an old car and doesn't live in a fancy home, but just because one eschews the trappings of wealth doesn't mean that one has good morals. Based on the quotes in this collection, Buffett's morals are those which benefit only himself, and he declines to use whatever influence he may have to make changes that would truly be helpful to society at large.
I was not impressed with him as a person. He may be a great investor and rich, but the quotes on this tape did not make him sound like someone I would like or care to spend time with. According to Wikipedia (which actually has more information on him than this tape), he has pledged to give his fortune up -- when he dies. Now if he'd give it up while he was still living, then he'd be doing something.
Buffett has some newspaper experience in his history; he was a paperboy and a grandfather or somebody like that was a news editor. This explained to me why he was buying the newspapers - once that gets in your blood, you're kind of stuck with it. It's an undying love affair of sorts that never eases.
I had hoped that when BH Media bought The Roanoke Times the paper would improve but that has not proven to be the case. In this tape, Buffett talks about acquiring businesses and then making them "leaner" and that seems to be what has happened to The Times, which is just a slim shadow of it former self. Newly implemented changes to the paper's website have only made things worse.
I suppose if you are in love with money, or making money, then Warren Buffett is someone you might admire. But if your idols tend to be more along the lines of those who actually do things for others, care about others, and who make a difference in the lives of other people, then look elsewhere.
Thursday, January 02, 2014
Thursday Thirteen
Last year I did not make resolutions - at least, not in my blog. Today is the second day of the new year and I will not make resolutions here, either, but I will see if I can come up with 13 things that one may consider goals or resolutions or dreams of things to come.
1. Better health. It is no secret that I have been experiencing health issues since July. My hope is to sort out what is really wrong and deal with it appropriately.
2. Getting a tooth fixed. Last year I *nearly* had a root canal but the root canal specialist said nope, not yet. The tooth is sensitive but my dentist (a new one for me) said she would replace the filling before we went the root canal route. So I am expecting to get a new filling on that thing as soon as I feel up to it.
3. More writing. I would like to increase my writing output. It may not be writing for which I am paid, but I want to write more here in my blog, in my private journal, and in some other personal writing.
4. Eating better. I have been working on this one for six months, resulting in weight loss, and I plan to continue this. I think I am close to figuring it out. Mostly I need to eat more vegetables.
5. Drink more water. Just because I think it helps.
6. Learn to cook better. I can rock the stove on some things, but overall I do not consider myself a good cook. I would like to learn how to prepare vegetables so that they have better flavor, and learn how to come up with menus that are healthy. Unfortunately, I think this must be a self-taught thing as I am unaware of any cooking classes locally.
7. Buy quality. When I look around my house, I see a lot of, well, junk. It's useable junk but it's not quality. When we were younger and setting up housekeeping, we bought what we could afford. And that generally wasn't good quality. My desk, for example, is one of those do-it-yourself things. We have a very nice bedroom suit that we bought 20 years ago, but we have few pieces of art, for example. I would like to purchase nice local artwork to replace some of the generic pictures we have around the house. I would also like to purchase a nice oak china cabinet and some really good quality pots and pans.
8. Exercise more. This is on everyone's list, I know. My recent health issues have curtailed my exercising considerably, so if I can get that under control I should be able to return to a more industrious exercise program. I am seeing a physical therapist who is helping me recreate my exercise routines so that I am doing *something* even if it isn't cardio.
9. Be kind. I am generally kind, or at least I think I am, but there is always room for improvement. This is particularly true of those whom we love the most - we tend to not always be as kind to them as we might be to a stranger.
10. Love. I love many people, and would like to love more.
11. Taste the grapes before I buy them. I never have done this - my mother taught me it was wrong - but after this last inedible bunch I purchased earlier this week, I think a taste is necessary.
12. Practice patience, especially with myself. I am my own worst enemy, always expecting the best out of me even when I obviously am not up to running marathons or carrying groceries or spending six hours in a meeting.
13. Read more. Last year I only read 30 books, which I think is an all-time low for me. Much of that was due to being ill - I discovered I cannot take pain killers and still comprehend what I read - but even so, I would like to read more books than that. I usually manage around 50, and so that is my goal for 2014.
I hope everyone had a good new year and that the upcoming year is a great one for all.
Thursday Thirteen is played by lots of people; there is a list here. I've been playing for a while and this is my 326th time to do a list of 13 on a Thursday.
1. Better health. It is no secret that I have been experiencing health issues since July. My hope is to sort out what is really wrong and deal with it appropriately.
2. Getting a tooth fixed. Last year I *nearly* had a root canal but the root canal specialist said nope, not yet. The tooth is sensitive but my dentist (a new one for me) said she would replace the filling before we went the root canal route. So I am expecting to get a new filling on that thing as soon as I feel up to it.
3. More writing. I would like to increase my writing output. It may not be writing for which I am paid, but I want to write more here in my blog, in my private journal, and in some other personal writing.
4. Eating better. I have been working on this one for six months, resulting in weight loss, and I plan to continue this. I think I am close to figuring it out. Mostly I need to eat more vegetables.
5. Drink more water. Just because I think it helps.
6. Learn to cook better. I can rock the stove on some things, but overall I do not consider myself a good cook. I would like to learn how to prepare vegetables so that they have better flavor, and learn how to come up with menus that are healthy. Unfortunately, I think this must be a self-taught thing as I am unaware of any cooking classes locally.
7. Buy quality. When I look around my house, I see a lot of, well, junk. It's useable junk but it's not quality. When we were younger and setting up housekeeping, we bought what we could afford. And that generally wasn't good quality. My desk, for example, is one of those do-it-yourself things. We have a very nice bedroom suit that we bought 20 years ago, but we have few pieces of art, for example. I would like to purchase nice local artwork to replace some of the generic pictures we have around the house. I would also like to purchase a nice oak china cabinet and some really good quality pots and pans.
8. Exercise more. This is on everyone's list, I know. My recent health issues have curtailed my exercising considerably, so if I can get that under control I should be able to return to a more industrious exercise program. I am seeing a physical therapist who is helping me recreate my exercise routines so that I am doing *something* even if it isn't cardio.
9. Be kind. I am generally kind, or at least I think I am, but there is always room for improvement. This is particularly true of those whom we love the most - we tend to not always be as kind to them as we might be to a stranger.
10. Love. I love many people, and would like to love more.
11. Taste the grapes before I buy them. I never have done this - my mother taught me it was wrong - but after this last inedible bunch I purchased earlier this week, I think a taste is necessary.
12. Practice patience, especially with myself. I am my own worst enemy, always expecting the best out of me even when I obviously am not up to running marathons or carrying groceries or spending six hours in a meeting.
13. Read more. Last year I only read 30 books, which I think is an all-time low for me. Much of that was due to being ill - I discovered I cannot take pain killers and still comprehend what I read - but even so, I would like to read more books than that. I usually manage around 50, and so that is my goal for 2014.
I hope everyone had a good new year and that the upcoming year is a great one for all.
Thursday Thirteen is played by lots of people; there is a list here. I've been playing for a while and this is my 326th time to do a list of 13 on a Thursday.
Wednesday, January 01, 2014
Welcome 2014
H A P P Y N E W Y E A R!!!!
Happy New Year to all of my readers and blogging friends! I hope that this new year brings to you much joy and happiness. May it be a time of peace, tranquility, and good fortune for all. Welcome 2014 and all the promises a new year holds.
May all of our days be blessed.
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