Saturday 9: Don't Sleep in the Subway (1967)
Unfamiliar with this week's tune? Hear it here.
1) Subways can be bright and noisy. Do you need it dark and quiet before you can fall asleep?
A. I can fall asleep in front of the TV in the recliner, but in the bedroom I need it dark, and I sleep with an air purifier on high for white noise. Otherwise I hear the refrigerator or the dishwasher and wake up.
2) In this song, Petula encourages her lover to talk it out instead of walking out. Do you usually remain reasonable during a disagreement?
A. It depends on the disagreement and the person with whom I am disagreeing.
3) Petula was a child star in England during WWII. Her BBC broadcasts were very popular with the British troops, who nicknamed her The Singing Sweetheart. Soldiers pasted her photo onto their tanks for luck as they went into battle. Do you have any little rituals or good luck charms that calm/comfort you when you're afraid?
A. I ask my husband to sing "Soft Kitty" to me when I am in a lot of pain. It's about the only thing he can sing that is almost in tune. Otherwise, no.
4) Now 84, she recently told London's Daily Mail that she's surprised and thrilled to have found love again with a new man. Do you believe you'll ever be too old for romance?
A. I don't think you're ever to old to love someone.
5) Her family is far flung. She lives in London, her middle daughter is in Paris, her son is in Los Angeles and her oldest daughter lives in New York with Petula's two grandchildren. Who is your nearest friend or relative? Which one is farthest away?
A. My nearest friend is four miles away; my nearest family member is six miles away. My father's family, including my 97-year-old grandmother, live out in California. (I am in Virginia. Opposite sides of the U.S., if you're geographically challenged.)
6) In 1967, when this song was popular, Rolling Stone published its first issue. John Lennon was on the cover. Publisher Jann Wenner reports that, either individually or as a group, the members of The Beatles have appeared on the most Rolling Stone covers. What's the first Beatle song that comes to mind?
A. Something in the Way She Moves.
7) In 1967, Star Trek was in its second season on NBC. Who is your favorite Star Trek character?
A. Original series: Captain James T. Kirk (played by William Shatner). But my very favorite in the Star Trek world is Captain Kathryn Janeway (played by Kate Mulgrew) from Star Trek: Voyager.
8) RANDOM QUESTION: When you slip into jeans or slacks, which foot do you put in first?
A. Right.
9) As you considered #8, did you mime pulling on your pants?
A. No. I'm right-handed; that side is always taken care of first.
_____________
I encourage you to visit other participants in Saturday 9 posts and leave a comment. Because there are no rules, it is your choice. Saturday 9 players hate rules. We love memes, however.
Saturday, April 22, 2017
Friday, April 21, 2017
The Return of the Pansies
I did not purchase pansies to plant this year. I have them, nevertheless. They came up first in February, then died during a cold snap in March.
And here they are again. Oddly, they have sprang up in my flower bed in a nice row even though they were planted in a whisky barrel last year.
And here they are again. Oddly, they have sprang up in my flower bed in a nice row even though they were planted in a whisky barrel last year.
Thursday, April 20, 2017
Thursday Thirteen
1. When it is 7:27 on a Thursday morning and I have no Thursday 13 prepared, it's time for my brain to think.
2. However, my brain tends not to work so well in the mornings anymore.
3. That is why I am playing the "brain games" at Lumosity. They are supposed to challenge you and increase your gray matter. Practice must help because my overall score has risen by over 300 points since I began playing in October. (It has dropped in the last month, but I had the respiratory thing and suspect that contributed to a decline.)
4. Did you know physical exercise can make you think better? If you get up and move around, your long-term memory, reasoning, attention, problem-solving, and other intelligence tasks improve. Really!
5. The reason humanity has survived is because of our brains, not our brawn. Our brain is a survival organ that evolved as humans had to solve problems related to survival in terrible environments. Without it, you wouldn't be around long enough to procreate and pass on your genetic material. "We were not the strongest on the planet but we developed the strongest brains, the key to our survival. … The strongest brains survive, not the strongest bodies. … " - The Week
6. Every brain is wired differently. It is wrong to assume all brains are the same, that all children can learn at the same rate, that we all think the same way. Brains are affected by every action and life event - it literally rewires the individual brain when something happens.
7. We are not meant to multi-task. You may be able to walk and talk and chew gum at the same time, but higher level tasks should be performed one by one. Today, workplaces and schools encourage doing multiple things at once and the rate of error increases with every activity added. "Research shows your error rate goes up 50 percent and it takes you twice as long to do things. When you're always online you're always distracted. So the always online organization is the always unproductive organization." - The Week
8. Our attention span only lasts about 10 minutes. Then we need to reboot.
9. Sleeping helps your brain work better. Lack of sleep means you're literally losing your mind. Sleep loss inhibits thinking in all measurable ways. It makes you less attentive, worsens your memory, sours your mood, and impedes your logical reasoning ability.
10. Brains need naps. Most people find the 3 p.m. hour to be difficult and eat a power bar or something, but what you really need is a nap. About 12 hours after the midpoint of your sleep, your brain wants a rest. That's why it makes no sense to schedule a 3 p.m. meeting. (Or surgery. Must remember that next time. Wait until morning if you can.)
11. Stress lowers brain function. Brains today still are on saber-tooth tiger time - reflecting on dangers that lasted about 30 seconds. Brains aren't designed for long-term stress like dealing with a bad boss, marriage, or inappropriately raised children. Stress literally makes your brain smaller. It damages memory and executive function and impairs motor skills. Stress disrupts your immune system. The longer you're stressed, the sicker you get. It disrupts sleep. It causes depression. (See how that cycle kicks in there?)
12. Vision is the best of our senses. We remember pictures better than anything else. Information we hear vanishes: we only remember about 10 percent of that. Throw in a power point picture and we remember 65 percent of the info. Reading is also inefficient because our brain sees words as tiny pictures. (I guess now I need to take drawing lessons.)
13. Male and female brains are different. Neither is better, they're just different. Sex-based differences are best noted in psychiatric disorders. Men are afflicted by schizophrenia more than women. Women are more likely to become depressed than men. Males have more antisocial behavior. Females have more anxiety. Most alcoholics and drug addicts are male. Most people who have anorexia are female. These differences are a product of complex interactions between nature and nurture.
Information taken from The Week: 12 Things We Know About the Brain.
_______
Thursday Thirteen is played by lots of people; there is a list here if you want to read other Thursday Thirteens and/or play along. I've been playing for a while and this is my 496th time to do a list of 13 on a Thursday.
2. However, my brain tends not to work so well in the mornings anymore.
 |
| My Lumosity scores. I am in the 90th percentile for my age group. |
4. Did you know physical exercise can make you think better? If you get up and move around, your long-term memory, reasoning, attention, problem-solving, and other intelligence tasks improve. Really!
 |
| Let's get physical! |
5. The reason humanity has survived is because of our brains, not our brawn. Our brain is a survival organ that evolved as humans had to solve problems related to survival in terrible environments. Without it, you wouldn't be around long enough to procreate and pass on your genetic material. "We were not the strongest on the planet but we developed the strongest brains, the key to our survival. … The strongest brains survive, not the strongest bodies. … " - The Week
6. Every brain is wired differently. It is wrong to assume all brains are the same, that all children can learn at the same rate, that we all think the same way. Brains are affected by every action and life event - it literally rewires the individual brain when something happens.
 |
| Turn off your phone if you want to learn a song. |
8. Our attention span only lasts about 10 minutes. Then we need to reboot.
 |
| How'd you sleep last night? |
10. Brains need naps. Most people find the 3 p.m. hour to be difficult and eat a power bar or something, but what you really need is a nap. About 12 hours after the midpoint of your sleep, your brain wants a rest. That's why it makes no sense to schedule a 3 p.m. meeting. (Or surgery. Must remember that next time. Wait until morning if you can.)
11. Stress lowers brain function. Brains today still are on saber-tooth tiger time - reflecting on dangers that lasted about 30 seconds. Brains aren't designed for long-term stress like dealing with a bad boss, marriage, or inappropriately raised children. Stress literally makes your brain smaller. It damages memory and executive function and impairs motor skills. Stress disrupts your immune system. The longer you're stressed, the sicker you get. It disrupts sleep. It causes depression. (See how that cycle kicks in there?)
 |
| This is my eye! |
13. Male and female brains are different. Neither is better, they're just different. Sex-based differences are best noted in psychiatric disorders. Men are afflicted by schizophrenia more than women. Women are more likely to become depressed than men. Males have more antisocial behavior. Females have more anxiety. Most alcoholics and drug addicts are male. Most people who have anorexia are female. These differences are a product of complex interactions between nature and nurture.
Information taken from The Week: 12 Things We Know About the Brain.
_______
Thursday Thirteen is played by lots of people; there is a list here if you want to read other Thursday Thirteens and/or play along. I've been playing for a while and this is my 496th time to do a list of 13 on a Thursday.
Wednesday, April 19, 2017
Dogwood Blooms
Tuesday, April 18, 2017
Sporting Memory
I am into sports about as much as a potato might be, so when I saw a friend asking, "What's your favorite sports memory?" on Facebook, I skipped the question and moved on.
However, I started thinking about it. I actually have two athletic memories that mean something to me.
One took place in the fourth grade. Back then (you know, the Dark Ages), the schools tested students every half year or so. Teachers made you run the 500-yard dash, climb a rope, and perform athletic feats that generally were beyond me. If I was going to get a "B" in anything, it was gym. (I always received points for trying; I am persistent that way.) I stayed sick (no one knew I had asthma back then), and running was not easy for me.
In the fourth grade, though, Donna and I were to race the 500-yard dash together. Donna was my friend and I didn't want to disappoint her. Being one of those kids who tended to have to walk at least the last quarter of the run, that was a possibility.
When Mrs. Lanning blew the whistle so we could start the run, Donna was beside me, and she set a nice steady pace. I matched it. Together we ran the 500-yard dash, the whole thing, and we did it in one minute and 58 seconds. I remember the time specifically because I was never able to repeat it and the two-minute mark eluded me ever after.
What a joy that was, to actually run the entire way and do it in an acceptable time.
My other athletic memory involves baseball. I suppose it was really softball. I think this was in the fifth grade. The class had split into two groups for a ball game - I, of course, was always one of the last picked - and I was sent to the far outfield. I'm afraid I was one of those girls who would cover her head if the ball came in her direction and turn around for fear it was going to hit me in the nose. Should that happen, then I would be Marsha Brady with a busted nose all over again.
Usually I did not have a glove, but for some reason I managed to grab a glove when I went out to the field. I recall a beautiful spring day, like the one we have today, perhaps, with the sky azure and an occasional cloud drifting by. A light breeze blew the dandelions.
The pop fly came toward me out of nowhere. I could hear the groans from my teammates as they saw where the ball was headed. Bases were loaded and I was going to drop the thing and we were going to lose.
From somewhere deep inside me, the courage sprang into my throat. I took two steps forward and the ball went "plop" right into my glove. I felt the sting in my right hand and I covered the ball with my left to be sure I didn't drop it.
The thing I remember most was the admiration of the boys on the perfect catch. I didn't shy away and I caught it beautifully; it was the third out and we won the game. I was the heroine of the afternoon, queen for the moment. I never shone again in a team sport, but for one glorious afternoon, life was good.
I ran the race and I caught the ball.
What more could a little girl want?
However, I started thinking about it. I actually have two athletic memories that mean something to me.
One took place in the fourth grade. Back then (you know, the Dark Ages), the schools tested students every half year or so. Teachers made you run the 500-yard dash, climb a rope, and perform athletic feats that generally were beyond me. If I was going to get a "B" in anything, it was gym. (I always received points for trying; I am persistent that way.) I stayed sick (no one knew I had asthma back then), and running was not easy for me.
In the fourth grade, though, Donna and I were to race the 500-yard dash together. Donna was my friend and I didn't want to disappoint her. Being one of those kids who tended to have to walk at least the last quarter of the run, that was a possibility.
When Mrs. Lanning blew the whistle so we could start the run, Donna was beside me, and she set a nice steady pace. I matched it. Together we ran the 500-yard dash, the whole thing, and we did it in one minute and 58 seconds. I remember the time specifically because I was never able to repeat it and the two-minute mark eluded me ever after.
What a joy that was, to actually run the entire way and do it in an acceptable time.
My other athletic memory involves baseball. I suppose it was really softball. I think this was in the fifth grade. The class had split into two groups for a ball game - I, of course, was always one of the last picked - and I was sent to the far outfield. I'm afraid I was one of those girls who would cover her head if the ball came in her direction and turn around for fear it was going to hit me in the nose. Should that happen, then I would be Marsha Brady with a busted nose all over again.
Usually I did not have a glove, but for some reason I managed to grab a glove when I went out to the field. I recall a beautiful spring day, like the one we have today, perhaps, with the sky azure and an occasional cloud drifting by. A light breeze blew the dandelions.
The pop fly came toward me out of nowhere. I could hear the groans from my teammates as they saw where the ball was headed. Bases were loaded and I was going to drop the thing and we were going to lose.
From somewhere deep inside me, the courage sprang into my throat. I took two steps forward and the ball went "plop" right into my glove. I felt the sting in my right hand and I covered the ball with my left to be sure I didn't drop it.
The thing I remember most was the admiration of the boys on the perfect catch. I didn't shy away and I caught it beautifully; it was the third out and we won the game. I was the heroine of the afternoon, queen for the moment. I never shone again in a team sport, but for one glorious afternoon, life was good.
I ran the race and I caught the ball.
What more could a little girl want?
Monday, April 17, 2017
The Baby Giraffe
Saturday brought a delivery of sorts in the form of a baby giraffe.
April the giraffe had her little one, a boy, on April 15, 2017. The baby weighed in at 129 pounds, 5'9" a day after his birth, according to reports I saw.
I just happened to tune in to the youtube live stream just in time to see little hooves stick out of mama April. I squealed.
Yes, I admit it. I squealed. That was around 7:40 a.m.
I watched for most of the entire time, along with 1.25 million other people. I did a few other things - answered email, ate my breakfast at my keyboard - but mostly I kept an eye on the progress of this birth.
How often does one have the opportunity to watch a giraffe begin born, after all? Even if it is via a satellite stream.
The labor took a few hours, with feet and legs dangling for an hour. Had this been a cow, we might have gone ahead and pulled it, to be sure of a live birth, but the vet kept sticking his thumb in front of the camera in a thumb's up sign, assuring us breathless viewers that all was well.
I sat in front of my computer shouting, "Come on April! Push! You can do it!" It was rather like the way my husband yells at sports teams.
The baby's head came out of April, and then the little giraffe's birth occurred rather quickly. Just before 10 a.m., he slid what seemed a very long way to the floor, landing in a motionless heap. I held my breath, watching, and then I saw it move. Whew.
Momma giraffe immediately commenced her ministrations, licking at the little body to clean it, warm it, and nurture it.
At about 10:35 a.m., little baby giraffe stood up. He wobbled unsteadily on those very long skinny legs. I gave another cheer.
Here are a few stills from the live stream that I have taken creative license with:
The feed is still up if you want to watch the little one grow. You can access it here. (If he has wandered into the corner where the cameras are, you won't see him. Back up the feed and you can see him if that happens.)
April the giraffe had her little one, a boy, on April 15, 2017. The baby weighed in at 129 pounds, 5'9" a day after his birth, according to reports I saw.
I just happened to tune in to the youtube live stream just in time to see little hooves stick out of mama April. I squealed.
Yes, I admit it. I squealed. That was around 7:40 a.m.
I watched for most of the entire time, along with 1.25 million other people. I did a few other things - answered email, ate my breakfast at my keyboard - but mostly I kept an eye on the progress of this birth.
How often does one have the opportunity to watch a giraffe begin born, after all? Even if it is via a satellite stream.
The labor took a few hours, with feet and legs dangling for an hour. Had this been a cow, we might have gone ahead and pulled it, to be sure of a live birth, but the vet kept sticking his thumb in front of the camera in a thumb's up sign, assuring us breathless viewers that all was well.
I sat in front of my computer shouting, "Come on April! Push! You can do it!" It was rather like the way my husband yells at sports teams.
The baby's head came out of April, and then the little giraffe's birth occurred rather quickly. Just before 10 a.m., he slid what seemed a very long way to the floor, landing in a motionless heap. I held my breath, watching, and then I saw it move. Whew.
Momma giraffe immediately commenced her ministrations, licking at the little body to clean it, warm it, and nurture it.
At about 10:35 a.m., little baby giraffe stood up. He wobbled unsteadily on those very long skinny legs. I gave another cheer.
Here are a few stills from the live stream that I have taken creative license with:
 |
| April helping the little one to its feet for the first time. Oliver, the baby's dad, is in the other cage. |
 |
| Mom and baby after a couple of hours. |
 |
| A little maternal kiss. |
The feed is still up if you want to watch the little one grow. You can access it here. (If he has wandered into the corner where the cameras are, you won't see him. Back up the feed and you can see him if that happens.)
Sunday, April 16, 2017
Sunday Stealing: The Place Questions
Sunday Stealing: The Place for Patrick Questions
1. If "happiness" was the global currency, what kind of work would make you a gazillionaire?
A. Writing, reading, looking outside and watching nature - introverted things.
2. Would you break the law to save someone you loved? And, if so, how far would you be willing to take it?
A. Yes, I would break the law to save someone (not necessarily even someone I love). I would take it all the way, I guess, to the point of my death.
3. Is it possible to really know the truth without questioning it first?
A. Is it possible to answer this question without thinking about it? Before one knows the truth, one must know one's definition of truth, yes? Faith and belief are not the same as truth - or are they? And are only facts truth, or is truth more than facts?
4. Do you remember that one time . . . oh, about 5 years ago or so . . . when you were really, really upset? Does it really matter now? If not now, then when?
A. I remember many times when I was really, really upset, and it mattered more at the time then it does now. Some of the "upsets" obtained results, some not.
5. Is it possible to know, without a doubt, what is good and what is evil?
A. No.
6. What would you do differently if you knew nobody would judge you?
A. Wear shorts.
7. Would you rather have less work to do, or more work you actually enjoy doing?
A. More work that I actually enjoy doing. I have not been able to work for some time due to health issues, and I think I would rather work - or do something - than not.
8. Would you rather be an anxious genius, or a tranquil fool?
A. I'm already an anxious genius. It's not all it's cracked up to be. However, I have no desire to be a fool. I wouldn't mind being a tranquil genius, though.
9. Are you more worried about doing things right, or doing the right things?
A. I worry about both in equal parts.
10. How old would you be if you didn’t know how old you are?
A. I'd be my present age in my mind and 18 in my body.
__________
I encourage you to visit other participants in Sunday Stealing posts and leave a comment. Cheers to all us thieves who love memes, however we come by them.
1. If "happiness" was the global currency, what kind of work would make you a gazillionaire?
A. Writing, reading, looking outside and watching nature - introverted things.
2. Would you break the law to save someone you loved? And, if so, how far would you be willing to take it?
A. Yes, I would break the law to save someone (not necessarily even someone I love). I would take it all the way, I guess, to the point of my death.
3. Is it possible to really know the truth without questioning it first?
A. Is it possible to answer this question without thinking about it? Before one knows the truth, one must know one's definition of truth, yes? Faith and belief are not the same as truth - or are they? And are only facts truth, or is truth more than facts?
4. Do you remember that one time . . . oh, about 5 years ago or so . . . when you were really, really upset? Does it really matter now? If not now, then when?
A. I remember many times when I was really, really upset, and it mattered more at the time then it does now. Some of the "upsets" obtained results, some not.
5. Is it possible to know, without a doubt, what is good and what is evil?
A. No.
6. What would you do differently if you knew nobody would judge you?
A. Wear shorts.
7. Would you rather have less work to do, or more work you actually enjoy doing?
A. More work that I actually enjoy doing. I have not been able to work for some time due to health issues, and I think I would rather work - or do something - than not.
8. Would you rather be an anxious genius, or a tranquil fool?
A. I'm already an anxious genius. It's not all it's cracked up to be. However, I have no desire to be a fool. I wouldn't mind being a tranquil genius, though.
9. Are you more worried about doing things right, or doing the right things?
A. I worry about both in equal parts.
10. How old would you be if you didn’t know how old you are?
A. I'd be my present age in my mind and 18 in my body.
__________
I encourage you to visit other participants in Sunday Stealing posts and leave a comment. Cheers to all us thieves who love memes, however we come by them.
Saturday, April 15, 2017
Saturday 9: Bunny Hops
Saturday 9: This Is the Way the Bunny Hops
Unfamiliar with this week's tune? Hear it here.
1) Why do you suppose there are so many songs about Santa Claus, yet very few about the Easter Bunny?
A. Because the Easter bunny doesn't go HO HO HO. He goes HOP HOP HOP.
2) This song was written by The Kiboomers, two early education teachers who are passionate about the power of music to help kids learn. Tell us about a teacher who had an impact on your life.
A. Practically every teacher I ever had made some impression. My first grade teacher made a negative impact on me, though. Her name was Mrs. Zircle, and she was mean. (I didn't know it at the time, but her husband passed away right before the beginning of the school year. So I have forgiven her.) She always sided with the boys, regardless of what was going on. For example, I never got to ride the little riding toys because the boys always pounced on them first and then wouldn't share. If you complained, she made you stand in the corner. When I made a bad grade in something (I think it was usually math), she made me cry. Actually I think she made most of the class cry because she would stand over your desk and tell everybody what a rotten student you were. I suspect it is, in part, why I am such a perfectionist and so eager to please. I hated being yelled at. She would also make you hold out your hand and she'd smack it with a ruler.
3) Legend has it that the Easter Bunny was introduced to America in the 1700s by German immigrants. These children waited for a magic creature who left colored eggs. Today's kids dye Easter eggs themselves. When did you most recently color eggs?
A. About 40 years ago.
4) The Easter Bunny is usually shown carrying a wicker basket filled with eggs, toys and candy. Is there any wicker in the room you're in right now?
A. No.
5) While marshmallow Peeps are manufactured all year around, they are most popular at Easter. Do you prefer the chicks or the bunnies?
A. I don't like Peeps at all.
6) A little time in the microwave can do ugly things to a Peep. Have you ever nuked a Peep?
A. No.
7) Would you prefer a hollow or a solid chocolate bunny?
A. Hollow would be fewer calories, I suppose. Unless of course it was a very big bunny.
8) A traditional American Easter dinner usually includes glazed ham or roast lamb. Which would you rather have as your main course?
A. I have never eaten lamb, so I will go with ham.
9) Easter is considered the season of rebirth. What makes you feel refreshed or rejuvenated?
Unfamiliar with this week's tune? Hear it here.
1) Why do you suppose there are so many songs about Santa Claus, yet very few about the Easter Bunny?
A. Because the Easter bunny doesn't go HO HO HO. He goes HOP HOP HOP.
2) This song was written by The Kiboomers, two early education teachers who are passionate about the power of music to help kids learn. Tell us about a teacher who had an impact on your life.
A. Practically every teacher I ever had made some impression. My first grade teacher made a negative impact on me, though. Her name was Mrs. Zircle, and she was mean. (I didn't know it at the time, but her husband passed away right before the beginning of the school year. So I have forgiven her.) She always sided with the boys, regardless of what was going on. For example, I never got to ride the little riding toys because the boys always pounced on them first and then wouldn't share. If you complained, she made you stand in the corner. When I made a bad grade in something (I think it was usually math), she made me cry. Actually I think she made most of the class cry because she would stand over your desk and tell everybody what a rotten student you were. I suspect it is, in part, why I am such a perfectionist and so eager to please. I hated being yelled at. She would also make you hold out your hand and she'd smack it with a ruler.
3) Legend has it that the Easter Bunny was introduced to America in the 1700s by German immigrants. These children waited for a magic creature who left colored eggs. Today's kids dye Easter eggs themselves. When did you most recently color eggs?
A. About 40 years ago.
4) The Easter Bunny is usually shown carrying a wicker basket filled with eggs, toys and candy. Is there any wicker in the room you're in right now?
A. No.
5) While marshmallow Peeps are manufactured all year around, they are most popular at Easter. Do you prefer the chicks or the bunnies?
A. I don't like Peeps at all.
6) A little time in the microwave can do ugly things to a Peep. Have you ever nuked a Peep?
A. No.
7) Would you prefer a hollow or a solid chocolate bunny?
A. Hollow would be fewer calories, I suppose. Unless of course it was a very big bunny.
8) A traditional American Easter dinner usually includes glazed ham or roast lamb. Which would you rather have as your main course?
A. I have never eaten lamb, so I will go with ham.
9) Easter is considered the season of rebirth. What makes you feel refreshed or rejuvenated?
A. A hot shower.
_____________
I encourage you to visit other participants in Saturday 9 posts and leave a comment. Because there are no rules, it is your choice. Saturday 9 players hate rules. We love memes, however.
I encourage you to visit other participants in Saturday 9 posts and leave a comment. Because there are no rules, it is your choice. Saturday 9 players hate rules. We love memes, however.
Friday, April 14, 2017
A Sad Story of Sewing
Try as I might, I am not capable of making lovely items from material, thread, yarn - or much of anything else. (I take beautiful pictures and write lovely words to make up for it, though. And I can color.)
These past eight months or so I have delved into these homemaking crafts, remembering with each attempt why the idea of Home Ec in high school never appealed to me. All thumbs, untidy, unable to do a straight stitch - that's me. I am the pig pen of sewing and home crafts.
Back in the fall, I purchased two pair of stretch jeans. At the time of the purchase I knew the pants were too short when I tried them on, but my husband, who was with me, said, "Oh, they look great." Against my better judgment, we bought the britches.
Since I am allergic to most dyes, I have to wash dark jeans multiple times in white vinegar and/or baking soda. So both of these jeans went straight into the wash. I think it took 11 dips in vinegar before I stopped smelling the dye odor.
After that, I tried them on and yes, they were too short. I hate it when my pants do not break around my shoes. If you can see my shoe strings, my jeans are too short.
I wore them occasionally around the house but the too-short issue bugged me.
Here they are, all nicely hemmed.
And then I ripped the hem out. Yikes.
I used to do this in high school, an act that drove my mother crazy. She hated the raveled look at the bottom of my jeans, that I would sometimes end up walking on them, and the fact that I would do that to my clothes.
To compromise, I let her run a line of thread around the bottom of my jeans with the promise of carefully cutting off the raveled parts from time to time.
My mother was into sewing. She could take a piece of cloth and turn in into a pair of pants or a blouse. Presto change-o. Her expertise did not pass into my genes, apparently.
Looking at my newly no-hemmed pants, I recalled how my mother sewed that line along the bottom to keep my jeans from unraveling all the way up to my knees.
I pulled out my "vintage" Brother sewing machine, circa 1989 or so.
I set out to do the second leg. I made it about a fourth of the way around and then the machine stopped.
As you can imagine, I opened that up and it looked like Frankenstein to me. I had a dim memory of how to check on things, but of course the manual for this machine is who-knows-where. So I yanked out the bobbin and poked around.
I found lots of broken little pieces of thread, which I cleared out. Then I tried to remember how to make the magic of pulling the thread from the bobbin back through happen.
After quite a few hesitations and many instances of broken thread, I finally made that work. But the machine itself simply sat and hummed.
So, with three-fourths of a pant leg to finish, I moved the needle by hand with the thing on the side that makes the needle manually go up and down, and finished the pants.
And what a relief that was!
These past eight months or so I have delved into these homemaking crafts, remembering with each attempt why the idea of Home Ec in high school never appealed to me. All thumbs, untidy, unable to do a straight stitch - that's me. I am the pig pen of sewing and home crafts.
Back in the fall, I purchased two pair of stretch jeans. At the time of the purchase I knew the pants were too short when I tried them on, but my husband, who was with me, said, "Oh, they look great." Against my better judgment, we bought the britches.
Since I am allergic to most dyes, I have to wash dark jeans multiple times in white vinegar and/or baking soda. So both of these jeans went straight into the wash. I think it took 11 dips in vinegar before I stopped smelling the dye odor.
After that, I tried them on and yes, they were too short. I hate it when my pants do not break around my shoes. If you can see my shoe strings, my jeans are too short.
I wore them occasionally around the house but the too-short issue bugged me.
Here they are, all nicely hemmed.
And then I ripped the hem out. Yikes.
I used to do this in high school, an act that drove my mother crazy. She hated the raveled look at the bottom of my jeans, that I would sometimes end up walking on them, and the fact that I would do that to my clothes.
To compromise, I let her run a line of thread around the bottom of my jeans with the promise of carefully cutting off the raveled parts from time to time.
My mother was into sewing. She could take a piece of cloth and turn in into a pair of pants or a blouse. Presto change-o. Her expertise did not pass into my genes, apparently.
Looking at my newly no-hemmed pants, I recalled how my mother sewed that line along the bottom to keep my jeans from unraveling all the way up to my knees.
I pulled out my "vintage" Brother sewing machine, circa 1989 or so.
I took it from its hidey-hole in the closet, letting it see the light of day for the first time in at least 10 years. It was already threaded and ready to go. I zipped one leg in and raced the thread around it.
It wasn't even, but it would keep the pants from raveling too much.
I set out to do the second leg. I made it about a fourth of the way around and then the machine stopped.
As you can imagine, I opened that up and it looked like Frankenstein to me. I had a dim memory of how to check on things, but of course the manual for this machine is who-knows-where. So I yanked out the bobbin and poked around.
I found lots of broken little pieces of thread, which I cleared out. Then I tried to remember how to make the magic of pulling the thread from the bobbin back through happen.
After quite a few hesitations and many instances of broken thread, I finally made that work. But the machine itself simply sat and hummed.
So, with three-fourths of a pant leg to finish, I moved the needle by hand with the thing on the side that makes the needle manually go up and down, and finished the pants.
And what a relief that was!
Thursday, April 13, 2017
Thursday Thirteen #495
Today I thought I'd show you my husband's NASCAR model collection. He put these together from about 1993 - 1996, so they're more than 20 years old.
My husband is a big Ford fan so most of these are Fords. There is a Richard Petty Pontiac and a Dale Earnhardt #3 Chevrolet in there somewhere, but I think the rest of them are Fords.
There are 37 of these model cars in this curio cabinet, along with other racing memorabilia (there are 25 more in another cabinet in another part of the house):
He was a big Bill Elliot fan, so he has a couple of shelves dedicated to Bill's cars. These are the #94 McDonald's cars that Elliott drove in the 1990s.
This car is a special edition "Batman Forever" #94 along with the Bill Elliott #9 Coors car.
This is Dale Jarrett's #88 car.
After Bill Elliott stopped driving the #9 car and went to #94, Mark Martin took over the #9 car.
This is the #16 driven by Ted Musgrave and the #75 driven by Rusty Wallace.
This is the #21 McDonald's Ford driven by Jimmy Spencer (1994), and the #2 Miller car driven by Rusty Wallace.
My husband had extra glass shelving made for the cabinet and some of the cars are in these thin shelves. They're a little hard to get to, but they make a colorful display.
This is the car that my husband loved best, Bill Elliott's red #9 Coors car that won him the name "Million Dollar Bill" in the 1980s.
A closer shot of some of the other cars that I am afraid to touch for fear they will fall apart.
This the Dale Jarrett #21 Citgo car.
I wanted to give you a close-up so you can see how detailed these things are.
The #10 Tide car belonged to Ricky Rudd and the #28 belonged to Davy Allison. Allison died young in helicopter crash in 1993.
Around 1996 the model cars became hard to find and more expensive to purchase as manufacturers moved to pre-made die-cast vehicles. Two of the model car manufacturers merged and they stopped putting out the different vehicle color changes for the drivers. So my husband stopped building model cars.
It was a good hobby for him for a while, though.
_______
Thursday Thirteen is played by lots of people; there is a list here if you want to read other Thursday Thirteens and/or play along. I've been playing for a while and this is my 495th time to do a list of 13 on a Thursday.
My husband is a big Ford fan so most of these are Fords. There is a Richard Petty Pontiac and a Dale Earnhardt #3 Chevrolet in there somewhere, but I think the rest of them are Fords.
There are 37 of these model cars in this curio cabinet, along with other racing memorabilia (there are 25 more in another cabinet in another part of the house):
He was a big Bill Elliot fan, so he has a couple of shelves dedicated to Bill's cars. These are the #94 McDonald's cars that Elliott drove in the 1990s.
This car is a special edition "Batman Forever" #94 along with the Bill Elliott #9 Coors car.
This is Dale Jarrett's #88 car.
After Bill Elliott stopped driving the #9 car and went to #94, Mark Martin took over the #9 car.
This is the #16 driven by Ted Musgrave and the #75 driven by Rusty Wallace.
This is the #21 McDonald's Ford driven by Jimmy Spencer (1994), and the #2 Miller car driven by Rusty Wallace.
My husband had extra glass shelving made for the cabinet and some of the cars are in these thin shelves. They're a little hard to get to, but they make a colorful display.
This is the car that my husband loved best, Bill Elliott's red #9 Coors car that won him the name "Million Dollar Bill" in the 1980s.
A closer shot of some of the other cars that I am afraid to touch for fear they will fall apart.
This the Dale Jarrett #21 Citgo car.
I wanted to give you a close-up so you can see how detailed these things are.
The #10 Tide car belonged to Ricky Rudd and the #28 belonged to Davy Allison. Allison died young in helicopter crash in 1993.
Around 1996 the model cars became hard to find and more expensive to purchase as manufacturers moved to pre-made die-cast vehicles. Two of the model car manufacturers merged and they stopped putting out the different vehicle color changes for the drivers. So my husband stopped building model cars.
It was a good hobby for him for a while, though.
_______
Thursday Thirteen is played by lots of people; there is a list here if you want to read other Thursday Thirteens and/or play along. I've been playing for a while and this is my 495th time to do a list of 13 on a Thursday.
Monday, April 10, 2017
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