VOTING TUESDAY

Today is a significant day. It's election day, November 5, 2024, and it's the anniversary of the "Flood of '85," a major event for my community wherein a large portion of many small towns were wiped out by a natural disaster of magnificent proportions on that long-ago election day.

Today is also the day I let it all go, I hope. I hope I write this out here and never think of it again. I hope I am wrong about so many things.

My mother never voted. She's been dead for 24 years, and of all the things I know about her, this one bothers me the most. It bothered me the day she told me she had never voted - and in thinking back, I realized I'd never once gone with her to the polls or seen her show much interest in politics - and it bothers me still, on this day when I have voted to save the life of my nieces (one by marriage), my great niece, and young women unknown to me, should any of them find themselves in need of gynecological care that some states are denying women. I voted to ensure that young women I love do not have fewer rights than I did at their age. I voted to ensure that they could get or keep credit cards, purchase and own property, and not become property.

I have always voted. I have never missed an election, except the one in 1985 when everything flooded, and I couldn't get to the polls. Fortunately, that wasn't a big election year. I know for some folks who suffered from flooding earlier in October, voting might be difficult today. I hope that those people are doing better and that those who want to vote have been able to do that. I hope they get to do the one thing that every citizen of this nation should do.

My mother never voted because she didn't want to serve on a jury, she said. At one time, the jury pools were pulled from the voter rolls, although they've long stopped doing this. But that was her reason. She didn't do her civic duty because she didn't want to do her other civic duty as a citizen of this nation.

I consider serving on a jury to be an honor, and an obligation as part of my role of living in the United States. I've been called a few times but always sent home - journalists aren't people lawyers want on juries. They generally look for people who don't know how to think. I know this because I worked for lawyers once upon a time, too.

My love of country and desire to pay it forward comes from . . . I'm not sure where. Books, maybe? My teachers? My education? It surely did not come from my mother, who never voted.

The other day, someone made fun of me because I am afraid. Because as a woman, I have always been afraid, and I have often been mocked for that by men who do not understand what it is to be a woman in a nation that makes women second class citizens even now, even when we still have some rights but do not have them in the U.S. Constitution. There is no equality for women written into the laws of this land. There are band-aids and coverlets, but there is no law that says men and women are equal in the eyes of the law.

I have been abused by men. Before I met my husband, I was abused by many men. I won't go into the details of that, but suffice it to say, I have no reason to trust anyone who is male, except for my husband, who has proven to me time and again that he is trustworthy. But even he has that male privilege thing going on.

Even he doesn't really understand my fears.

My recent fears have been because I have been personally threatened by people in my community. As a news writer for 40 years, I am fairly well known here, though hopefully not so much now since I'm not writing for newspapers anymore. For 35 years I wrote without fear of repercussions because I believed strongly in the law and in the power of the Fourth Estate. I believed in revealing truth to power, that democracy dies in darkness, that shedding the light on what government officials were doing was the right and honorable thing to do.

And then 2016 came and it all went to hell. Suddenly the media was the "the enemy of the people." Two years ago, I made my first call to the local sheriff's office to report a threat to my life. I've made several calls to the local sheriff's office since.

Some people may laugh about this. Who is going to hurt me, the person making fun of me said. Give me names. I gave no names because I could hear the ridicule in his voice. I ended the conversation.

But we have a candidate running for the presidency, the most honorable office of this land, who just days ago said this:

"The former president, speaking at a rally here about the efforts the Secret Service has taken to protect him after two apparent assassination attempts against him, began pointing out the panes of ballistic glass surrounding him at the outdoor venue.

“All we really have over here is the fake news, right? And to get me somebody would have to shoot through the fake news,” [he] said. “And I don’t mind that so much.”

He doesn't mind if the "fake news" media are shot. He basically invited someone to go out and do that. He is a former president, after all. People follow his directions. They fight like hell for him.

While I know there are some who say, "Oh, they're talking about the mainstream media as 'the enemy of the people,' not people like you who write for little publications," not everybody thinks that way.

There are people who think any media is now "the enemy of the people."

And that's why I have had death threats. And why other media people I know have had death threats. They've escalated mightily since 2016.

A hate group on social media found out I was concerned about threats to the local supervisors back in the summer. For that, I got put on a "list" to be given to God knows who. And then there's just the fact that I've been writing about the local government for years, though I think this blog has put me more in harm's way than news writing ever did. On this blog, I think people can see more of who I really am. And they see that I am a strong woman - I've had to be, to survive - and nobody likes a strong woman.

A few years ago, some men went before the local government and asked the county leaders to recognize their "militia." This was a loosely organized group of people who wanted to be soldiers without being in the military, I guess. The leaders here said no, we don't need that, we have a sheriff's office and the state police. However, leaders in an adjoining county said, "yes."

I am 99% certain we have people here locally in a militia; I think it has since combined with the adjoining county but I'm not 100% sure of that. I haven't looked into it because I don't want to be associated with any such thing.

I have watched as a certain candidate recently used the colors of black and gold at one of his revivalist rallies in Michigan. Do you know who else uses black and gold? The Proud Boys. You know who they are? They're a white supremacist hate group. They led the January 6, 2021 insurrection at the U.S. Capitol Building in Washington, D.C.

If a certain candidate wins or loses, I have no doubt that he will call upon his "militias" to do damage. Either they will go after state government officials, or they will go after federal ones, but I am expecting these people to be ordered to do damage, one way or the other, by taking down the "swamp" or by taking out the "others."

It seems likely they will also go after people on "lists" created by hate groups on social media.

Maybe they will go after bloggers who have not been happy with the former guy. Maybe they will go after anyone who has ever said anything disloyal to the former guy.

Maybe it's all in my imagination, and nothing at all will happen.

Thirty-nine years ago, I did not vote because of a flood. My mother never voted. I think young woman stand to lose their rights if a certain candidate wins this election. I think I stand a chance to sustain grave injury, if not to my physical person, then to my psyche. 

I'm not sure how this all ties in together, to be honest. But here it is. I wanted to lay it all out there before this day is done.

My mother never voted. I missed one vote because of a flood. My life has been threatened. I voted to save the lives of young women.

Does any of that matter? Should it?

What is one life, anyway? What are a few lives?

There are billions of people, after all. Everyone is expendable (see Covid response).

I voted like my life depends on it.

Because I think it does.

Dona Nobis Pacem

 

I am joining in with other bloggers to write about peace today. I have done this before, although some years I forget. I started in 2007, but since 2020 I have blogged about peace annually.

This year, Blog4Peace is the day before election day in the USA. The theme is "hold the light" but I cannot write on that theme. Not right now.

Instead, I am going with "let the peace begin inside of me." Because I do not feel peaceful about much of anything.

I am fearful and afraid. I race in and out of the grocery store as if I were on fire, running from the visions of the scowling, angry faces of the members of my community. Oh, of course they are not all looking like they are going to eat me; most of them, in fact, smile if I smile and are polite and say, "excuse me," if they cut in front of me.

But the atmosphere feels tense and I feel exposed and seen. I feel like they are going to accost me, though for what, I have no idea.

Being hidden and unseen, or feeling afraid and fearful, are not the ways to bring about peace within oneself; nor are they ways to bring peace to a world that is sorely in need of it.

How can I, an older woman, overweight, out of shape, and afraid of my own shadow, be able to make a difference - in anything? What can someone like me do to bring about peace? I can hold no meetings with great worldly leaders. I cannot even manage peace in my own relationships, particularly not with the men in my life.

But I can slow down in the grocery store, and smile at the people who glance my way. It is not my concern what they think of me - those are their thoughts, not mine. My only concern is what I think of them. I must choose to see them as I see myself and acknowledge that they too are lonely and afraid, even if they don't show it.

Maybe I can bring peace one single, slow step at a time.

Let it begin with me.

Sunday Stealing

1. Name some local events, parades or festivals – either in your hometown or state.

A. We have several local festivals, one in Fincastle in September and one in Buchanan in the first weekend in October. We have Christmas parades in both towns, too. Buchanan has a carnival and a July 4 parade. We also have a farmers' market during the growing season, and there are music events in Daleville over the summer.

2. Life update – what’s happened recently, moving house, family wedding, vacation, new pet, visited with a friend, and so on.

A. I go to the grocery store, come home, and put the groceries away. No one has moved, we've had no weddings, no one has died, no new pets, I haven't seen any friends except at the aforementioned grocery store. I am trying to lay low and keep my mouth shut and am not being successful at that.

3. Do you have any family traditions this month?

A. No.

4. The holidays are about two months away. Do you begin shopping or creating now or wait until December?

A. I began Christmas shopping in August.

5. What is your favorite November memory?

A. My mother once made a pumpkin pie that did not set up properly. We called it "pumpkin pudding." It was good all the same, although I think she was unhappy about it.

6. Now that the weather is getting cooler do you prefer staying indoors or going outdoors? What do you do?

A. I am indoors most of the year because of my allergies to everything outside. In the spring, it's the pollen. In the fall, it's the mold. In the winter, it's the cold that makes my asthma act up. 

7. Describe your favorite local restaurant.

A. I don't have a favorite local restaurant, although the Daleville Tap House serves a very good salad. They grow their own greens in a hydroponic garden, so they are always fresh.

8. Thanksgiving or Friendsgiving?

A. I do not know what this means.

9. If you could take any class, what would you select?

A. I would return to my English literature classes.

10. To celebrate November would you rather enjoy pumpkin pie or sweet potato?

A. I am not a fan of either one.

11. How do you handle setbacks and failures?

A. Not very well.

12. If everything in your house had to be one color, which color would you choose?

A. Most everything in my house is one color, some variation of earth tones. The walls are off white or almond. I'll go with that one.

13. Who or what would you haunt if you were a ghost?

A. If I were a ghost, I would like to haunt the White House. But I think the laws of being a ghost imply that ghosts haunt things they are familiar with, like homes or pieces of furniture, so I am not sure that is possible.

14. Have you ever worn clothing with the labels still attached?

A. Not intentionally.

15. What's something weird that you recommend everyone try at least once?

A. Apologizing and/or asking for forgiveness. Apparently, that's an old-fashioned notion, to say, "I'm sorry" and mean it. Manners are now weird.

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I encourage you to visit other participants in Sunday Stealing posts and leave a comment. Cheers to all us thieves who love memes, however we come by them.

Saturday 9: Back to December

Saturday 9: Back to December (2010)

Unfamiliar with this week's song? Hear it here.

1) Taylor Swift sings that when her mind wanders, it usually returns to a specific day in December. How about you? Do you often daydream? Or do you focus on what's happening in the moment?

A. I daydream all the time, I'm afraid. Of course, I also focus on what's happening when I should or need to, but I am alone a lot, and the stories in my head simply make the time go faster.

2) She's looking back on December. We're going with a different take: As we enter November, what are you looking forward to this month?

A. Well, there's Thanksgiving, but it has never been one of my favorite holidays. There is also Christmas shopping, which I've already started, and possibly the chance to see some people I've not seen in a while. We'll see. Oh, I have a doctor's appointment in the middle of the month. Yippee!

3) The lyrics recount a casual conversation between two former sweethearts. They talk about their families, their careers and the weather. Are you good at making small talk?

A. I do not consider myself good at making small talk. That doesn't mean I can't do it, it just means it's not something I particularly care to do. I would rather ask someone what they think about a cloud or when was the last time they looked at the night sky, instead of talking about the weather or some celebrity personality.

4) This song was rumored to be about her breakup with Taylor Lautner, the actor best known for playing a werewolf in the popular Twilight series. In acknowledgement of the Halloween season: Did you ever trick or treat as a werewolf, vampire, witch, ghost or other scary creature?

A. I have been a witch on Halloween. Some might say I am that every day.

5) Taylor is currently involved with Travis Kelce of the Kansas City Chiefs, and naturally this is his busy time of year. How's your football team (NFL or NCAA) doing this season?

A. I do not have a football team, but my husband roots for the University of Virginia and based on his commentary, they are not doing all that well.

6) Taylor loves chicken tenders and says she'd eat them every day, if calories weren't a consideration. If you were to enjoy tenders right now, what dipping sauce would you prefer --sweet/sour, barbecue or honey mustard?

A. I would go with either the sweet/sour or the honey mustard. BBQ is hard on my stomach.

7) Thinking of food ... Taylor Swift recently donated $5 million to Feeding America with the funds earmarked for those affected by Hurricanes Helene and Milton. Does it make you feel good to do good? If yes, what is something you've done recently to help others? (It may give other Sat-9ers ideas for something they can do.)

A. I like to do good, of course. What have I done lately? I've donated to political causes by writing postcards to get out the vote, sent money to my alma mater, gave money to the victims of Hurricane Helene in southwestern Virginia, bought a food box for the poor at the grocery store, let someone who only had a few items go ahead of me in line at the store, paid for the meal of the person behind me at a fast food drive-thru, checked on a friend. I have another friend I text every night as a wellness check. Sometimes doing good is simply holding the door, smiling at someone who looks sad, saying "thank you," or offering to help even if the offer is rejected.

8) Back in 2010, when this week's song was a hit, the iPod Nano was also popular. Did you have an iPod?

A. I still have an iPod. I don't use it much but that might change soon. I am seriously considering disconnecting Alexa and going back to the iPod for my music. It's either that or buying a new radio.

9) Random question: Did you more recently run the dishwasher or the clothes washer?

A. I most recently ran the dishwasher, but they both get a workout throughout the week. And guess what, I repaired my own dishwasher earlier this week. The upper rack had a part break, so I ordered it online, it arrived, I watched a video, I took the thing apart, put it back together, and reinstalled the rack. All by myself, so my husband who has been busy with a septic tank installation wouldn't have to do it when he came in late in the evening. And also because I absolutely hate to handwash the dishes.

_______________

I encourage you to visit the posts of other participants in Saturday 9 and leave a comment. Because there are no rules, it is your choice. Saturday 9 players hate rules. We love memes, however. 

Thursday Thirteen

It's a Halloween Thirteen!

Here are 13 scary story ideas for the day!

1. The Unmarked Letter

A letter arrived with no return address. Inside was a single sentence: “I know where you’ll be tonight.” She laughed it off—until she saw her own handwriting on the page.

2. The Mirror’s Reflection

Every night, his reflection smiled back at him…until one evening, it didn’t. Instead, it mouthed words he couldn’t hear, pressing a hand against the glass as if begging for release.

3. Whispers in the Walls

New to the house, she started hearing whispers late at night. “Get out,” the voices urged. One night, she saw a shadow dart across her room, only to realize the whispers sounded eerily like her own.

4. The Forgotten Room

When they opened the old storage door in their new home, they found a fully furnished, dusty bedroom. Everything was neatly arranged as if waiting for someone to return—except for the footprints leading to the bed.

5. Nightly Visitor

For weeks, he felt a presence lingering over him while he slept. One night, he woke to see the shadow hovering, murmuring his name with a voice that sounded strangely familiar.

6. The Broken Clock

Every night at 3:15, the broken clock in her kitchen chimed once. She dismissed it until she checked the date on the clock's calendar: it marked the exact day her grandmother had died.

7. A Call from Nowhere

Her phone rang with no caller ID. When she picked up, she heard her own voice, older, weaker, saying, “Don’t go into the basement.” The line went dead, but the warning lingered.

8. The Locked Door

A locked door stood at the end of the hallway, forgotten by everyone but her. Curiosity won out one night, and she turned the key, only to find herself staring at her own empty house . . . from decades before.

9. The Photo Album

She found an old family album filled with strangers’ faces—but there she was in the background of every photo, staring directly at the camera, decades before she was even born.

10. Flickering Lights

Every evening, the lights would flicker once at exactly 9:00. When the electrician checked, he said the circuit was fine. Later, she found an old letter stating that a child had died at 9 p.m. each day for a month.

11. The Midnight Song

A soft lullaby echoed through the house at midnight every night. She brushed it off, thinking it was an old music box. One night, she found the box broken and rusted—but the song still played.

12. Footsteps on the Ceiling

He heard footsteps above him in his apartment, rhythmic and constant, even though no one lived there. One night, they stopped right above his bed, accompanied by a whisper: “I’ve been here all along.”

13. The Haunted Journal

She found an empty journal in an antique store. Every night, new entries appeared, recounting events from her day that no one else could have known—until the last page read, “Tomorrow, they come for you.”

______________

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 881st time to do a list of 13 on a Thursday. Or so sayth the Blogger counter, anyway.

A Little Bit of Fall, Y'all

 

Sunday Stealing

1. What’s your guilty pleasure?

A. I'm not sure I have one. Something chocolate, I suppose.

2. Which meal is your favorite: breakfast, lunch, or dinner?

A. I like breakfast foods. I could eat breakfast for all three meals.

3. What do you do when you want to chill out after a long day?

A. Watch TV with my husband.

4. How would you spend your ideal weekend?

A. I would be away from home, someone would fix all the meals, and I'd read, listen to music, take a stroll with my husband, maybe visit a museum.

5. Do you listen to podcasts, or mostly just music? What’s your favorite podcast?

A. I mostly listen to music. I do not have a favorite podcast at the moment, although I listen to "Fresh Air" from NPR probably more than I do anything.

6. Do you prefer to go to the movies or watch movies at home?

A. It depends on the movie. Most movies I prefer to watch at home; occasionally there is an outlier that I want to see on the big screen.

7. What was your favorite TV show growing up?

A. I was into The Rookies, Emergency, and Charlie's Angels.

8. What’s your favorite TV show now?

A. I don't really have one at the moment. 

9. How would you spend your birthday if money was no object? 

A. I would take a private jet to Ireland and spend the day there, and fly home.

10. What’s your favorite season? What do you love most about it?

A. I am partial to spring. It's a new time, new little calves, new flowers on the trees. And it's such a relief to the dreary winters we have in Virginia.

11. Do you prefer camping or going to the beach?

A. You do know you can camp at the beach, right? When I was a child that was how we went. I prefer a motel wherever I am that is not home.

12. Which phone app do you think you use the most?

A. I use the Libby app on my phone the most.

13. Would you rather cook, order delivery, or go out to eat?

A. I would rather order delivery or go out to eat.

14. How do you drink your coffee?

A. I do not drink coffee.

15. If you could have any animal as a pet, what would you choose?

A. Just a dog would be great. I miss having a dog.

__________

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 9: Me and Bobby McGee

Saturday 9: Me and Bobby McGee (1971)

Unfamiliar with this week's song? Hear it here.

1) The song begins with Janis telling us about a trip from Baton Rouge to New Orleans. Have you ever visited Louisiana? If yes, where did you go?

A. I think I have been through Louisiana when my parents drove us to California in 1977, but I am not 100% certain of that.

2) She and her boyfriend Bobby hitch a ride with a truck driver and together the three of them sing "every song the driver knew." If you were to begin a singalong with strangers in a bar or at a party, what song would you confident everyone knows?

A. Sweet Caroline by Neil Diamond. They'd know the chorus, for sure.

3) Janis had a painful time in her Port Arthur, TX, high school. She was ostracized for her looks and her taste in music. If you could give advice to your high school self, what would you say?

A. Don't worry so much, it'll all work out in the end.

4) She credited the blues and Bessie Smith, specifically, for getting her through her tough adolescence. After she became famous and mentioned Bessie in interviews, Janis learned Ms. Smith had been buried in an unmarked grave back in 1937. Janis rectified the situation by paying for a proper tombstone for Smith in 1970. If money were no object, what's something you would like to do for someone else?

A. I just learned today that there is a thing not only in the USA, but all over the world, called Period Poverty, and it means that there are thousands and thousands, probably millions, of women in this world who can't afford the things they need for their monthly cycle. This means that they end up missing school, missing work, or missing out on life stuff. In some countries, women on their periods aren't allowed to cook, or they are forced into isolation for the duration of their period and have to go live in a little hut specifically for this. This would require loads of money for education and supplies, but good heavens, this needs to be addressed. I was privileged; I never worried about whether or not I could afford what I needed (and I had a hysterectomy at 29 so it wasn't a problem for me after that). It never even occurred to me until today that this was an issue, but of course it's an issue.

5) Because of her party girl persona, people were surprised that Janis had a domestic side and enjoyed talking recipes. Thinking of cooking, what dish would you whip up for our Saturday 9 potluck?

A. Um. I'd bring chicken from the grocery store, a bottle of Dr. Pepper, and a bag of chips.

6) "Me and Bobby McGee" was written by the late Kris Kristofferson. Kris' life before hitting it big was varied, including time in Oxford as a Rhodes Scholar where he focused on English literature, and serving as a helicopter pilot in the US Army. Which career path do you think you'd enjoy more: academia or the Army?

A. I am definitely an academic. 

7) In 1971, when this song was popular, the US Mint introduced the Eisenhower Silver Dollar. Think of the last thing you bought at a store. Did you pay with cash, plastic, or your phone?

A. I paid with plastic. I still haven't worked out how to do things like that on my phone. I'm not sure I want to.

8) England's Princess Anne turned 21 in 1971 and in honor of the occasion, she had an official portrait taken by fashion photographer Norman Parkinson. Who took the most recent photo of you?

A. A friend took a picture of me when I received my volunteer service award on October 13. My husband tried to take pictures too, but he is not a photographer by any stretch of the imagination, bless his heart.

Hubby took this. I cropped it and straightened it.

9) Random question -- There's a knock at your door. Who do you expect it is?

A. It is probably UPS with an Amazon package.

_______________

I encourage you to visit the posts of other participants in Saturday 9 and leave a comment. Because there are no rules, it is your choice. Saturday 9 players hate rules. We love memes, however. 

Thursday Thirteen #880

Here are 13 great things about Botetourt County, VA, where I live:

1. Nestled in the Blue Ridge Mountains, Botetourt County offers stunning landscapes and picturesque views. One can enjoy miles of hiking trails, including parts of the Appalachian Trail and the Andy Lane Trail. The James River is perfect for kayaking, fishing, and other water activities and the Blue Ridge Parkway, known as "America's Favorite Drive," offers breathtaking views and connects to many local attractions.

2. Historic Towns: Explore the charm of Fincastle, Buchanan, and Troutville, each with its own unique history and character. The Lewis and Clark expedition started in Fincastle and Clark wed a local girl, Judith Hancock, back in the day (1800s).  Buchanan is a great spot for finding antiques and local art. We also have historic communities such as Eagle Rock and Blue Ridge that are not incorporated towns but have intriguing histories of their own. And we mustn't forget the historic Greenfield, now an industrial park but once a part of a large plantation owned by Revolutionary War hero Colonel William Preston.

3. Botetourt County Historical Society & Museum offers an opportunity to dive into the rich history of the area. The Fincastle Library has an excellent genealogy room that is a must-visit for anyone researching their ancestors from this area.

4. We have local festivals, artisan fairs, and outdoor concerts. Last weekend, for example, we had Open Studios, where artists invited the public into their workspaces to show off their paintings, photography, and woodworking skills.

5. The Botetourt Farmers Market offers up fresh, local produce and handmade goods from April until late October.

6. The TransAmerica Bicycle Trail (we call it Route 76) is a popular route for cyclists passing through the county.

7. The Botetourt Sports Complex is a hub for local sports and community events and is a major draw for many out-of-town ball games and competitions.

8. Much of the county is part of the George Washington & Jefferson National Forests, which offers plenty of opportunities for fishing, hunting, and bird or animal watching. Outdoor sports enthusiasts should feel right at home here.

9. The Botetourt Golf & Swim Club is a great place for golf and relaxation and is open to the general public (along with memberships). The county has another golf course located at Ashley Plantation Golf Course, too, giving golfers plenty of challenge at either location.

10. We have a new brewery opening up in Buchanan! It joins three wineries: Blue Ridge Vineyard, Stoney Brook Vineyards, and Virginia Mountain Vineyards as another spot to enjoy local scenery and chill.

11. The local YMCA in Daleville serves as a community hub. You can pick up or drop off library books there and they have a children's area that is specifically designed to work with disabled youth. They also have a "stay and play" drop-in daycare. 

12. We have a few archeological sites in the county, especially in the northern end, but their location is mostly secret to keep vandals away.

13. Good schools keep our youth active and involved in learning. Botetourt County Public Schools is a highly rated public school district. It has about 4,500 students in grades PK, K-12 with a student-teacher ratio of 13 to 1. According to state test scores, 76% of students are at least proficient in math and 82% in reading.

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Thursday Thirteen is played by lots of people; there is a list here if you want to read other Thursday Thirteens and/or play along. I've been playing for a while, and this is my 880th time to do a list of 13 on a Thursday. Or so sayth the Blogger counter, anyway.

Nothing But Blue Sky

I am trying hard to be more positive about everything, from the upcoming election to my personal life to local folks with whom I must deal with frequently.

My cashiers know me on sight at the grocery store. I am always polite to them. I smile and I compliment them on something. I say, "Thank you." I tell people I pass in the aisle that I like their jacket or their shoes. 

You never know what people are going through, and compliments are easy to offer up. But so few do it.

I am not by nature a positive person. I lean toward pessimism and depression. I look inward and overthink everything.

Stuff bothers me that other people seem to ignore. Maybe it bothers them, and no one speaks about it. People so seldom talk about anything other than surface discussion these days. Just, "Hi, how are you?" and then the answer is, "Fine," and then you ask back and they say fine, too. You might ask about the family and get the same answer. Fine.

Everyone's fine.

I don't think everyone is fine, really, because if they were, it would not feel so angry when I go out in public. I see so many scowls on the faces of unhappy people that it's a little scary.

The woman that cuts my hair for me talked about this yesterday as she snipped away. "Everyone seems to angry and mad," she said. "Such short fuses."

What's to blame? I'm not sure. Social media, probably. Bad news on TV. Worry about the future. We're an aging area, lots of older folks, and we all have aches and pains. 

Maybe we're just all old and cranky.

Hence my desire to smile and be positive. I smile even if I have a mask on, because I hope it reaches my eyes. (I still wear a mask sometimes if I hear someone sneezing or coughing in the store. I don't want their germs.)

Who knows when a small compliment will help? I like your purse. Your hair looks great. Thank you for working today and doing a great job at checking me out.

Maybe it helps.

Can't hurt, can it?

Something Is Eating My Correlle Dishes

I am not sure when I noticed that the edges of my plates were beginning to look odd, but it has been within the last year. It has only worsened as time has gone by.

These are Correlle plates that we purchased in 2010. I hadn't realized the things were 14 years old until I went back to my blog and looked at when we bought them.

At any rate, it appears the dishwasher cleaner is to blame. From the Corning Museum of Glass:

"As of 2019, Corelle became a part of Instant Brands. According to the company, Corelleware can become weakened by repeated exposure to the abrasive detergents used in automatic dishwashers. Over time the glass may become rough or chipped along the edges. Previously, Corelle was made and sold by World Kitchen. When we contacted World Kitchen to ask about breakage in Corelle dishes, they recommended consumers use a less abrasive detergent."

I use Finish in my dishwasher. I do not plan to change detergents.

But maybe Santa needs to bring me a different kind of lightweight everyday plate.

The Hunter's Moon

 

While I was watching for the comet Friday night, which I could see with my naked eye but could never get a decent photo of, I realized the moon was rising behind me.

I whirled the tripod around to catch this shot of the nearly full Hunter's Moon as it came up behind the trees.

I have been trying to capture this shot for years. And here it is.

Sunday Stealing

1. What’s the best birthday party you’ve ever had?

A. My husband threw me a surprise birthday party the year I turned 50. He rented out a room at the local pizza joint and went into my phone and just invited everyone he could reach in my contacts. It made for an interesting mix of people. Good thing everyone liked pizza.

2. Where is your favorite place you’ve ever visited?

A. My favorite place is home. My favorite place to visit is unknown. 

3. How do you like to spend your free time? 

A. I like to play music, play video games, spend time with my husband, not necessarily in that order.

4. What’s one of your favorite bands?

A. The Eagles. I'm listening to them right now.

5. What is the cutest animal you’ve ever seen in person?

A. Baby calves are cute.

6. How would you describe your style?

A. It's just me style. I don't really have a style, although I suppose some people would say I dress rather conservatively.

7. If your wardrobe could only be one color, what would it be? 

A. Blue.

8. What was the first concert you ever went to?

A. I am not sure, but it may have been Loretta Lynn or somebody like that. The first one I went to that I wasn't supposed to go to was The Commodores.

9. What is the best book you’ve ever read?

A. I don't know. I like Annie of Avalon. I like Nancy Drew. I like Lord of the Rings. I like self-help books. Do I have to have a "best"? No, I don't have to have a best and so I don't have one.

10. What’s your favorite movie of all time?

A. Everyone knows it The Lord of the Rings trilogy. But I also like Under the Tuscan Sun, Steel Magnolias, Fried Green Tomatoes, The Replacements, and others.

11. What’s the stupidest movie or TV show you’ve ever seen?

A. It was some Adam Sandler flick.

12. If you could only have one food for the rest of your life, what would you choose?

A. A salad. That's not exactly a food but you can put a lot of stuff in a salad.

13. What are your biggest pet peeves?

A. Some of these repeated questions are heading in that direction today. I must be in a mood as I answer this. But not putting the grocery cart back ranks up there.

14. Are you more into brains or looks?

A. Brains.

15. Do you celebrate any holidays? What’s your favorite?

A. I celebrate a lot of holidays. I am partial to Halloween just because but it's not something I actually do much about.

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I encourage you to visit other participants in Sunday Stealing posts and leave a comment. Cheers to all us thieves who love memes, however we come by them.

Saturday 9: Autumn in New York

Saturday 9: Autumn in New York (1947)

Unfamiliar with this week's song? Hear it here.

1) In this song, Frank Sinatra sings that autumn in New York is inviting. How are you enjoying fall where you are?

A. The leaves are just starting to turn here in the lower areas; I can see color on the mountain ridges.

2) He tells us the "canyons of steel" (aka skyscrapers) make him feel like he's home. What's something you love about your neighborhood?

A. I love the mountains. They feel like home to me.

3) Frank Sinatra was self-conscious about the scar on his cheek. The doctor used forceps to deliver him and left a mark. Tell us about one of your scars.

A. I have a scar on my left thumb that I made while I was helping my grandfather chop up a mulberry tree that had fallen in his backyard. I missed the limb with the hatchet and hit my thumb. The thing bled like crazy and probably needed a stitch, but my grandmother simply held my thumb together and wrapped it up tightly in a bandage.

4) Frank was a creature of habit. Every time he visited Patsy's Italian Restaurant in New York he ordered the same dessert: lemon ricotta torte. Do you enjoy trying new dishes, or do you prefer to stick with your old favorites?

A. We tend to eat the same thing most of the time, mostly because I can't stand to cook, and we can't simply walk to a restaurant.

5) "Autumn in New York" was written by New Yorker Vernon Duke during a hot summer vacation in Westport, CT. Have you ever been homesick?

A. I have been homesick. I think I get a little homesick every time we take a vacation, even though my husband is right beside me. I like my house and my view.

6) In 1947, when this recording made the Top 30, Daniel and Patricia were the most popular baby names. Are there any Daniels or Patricias in your life?

A. I know a Patty from college. She is not exactly in my life, but she sends me an instant message about once a year. 

7) Elton John was born in 1947. When you think of Elton John, what's the first song that comes to mind?

A. Daniel.

8) Radio was America's most accessible form of entertainment in 1947 and a mystery, The Adventures of Ellery Queen, was one of the most popular shows. Do you enjoy mysteries?

A. I like cozy mysteries. I am not much on guts and gory mysteries. I could not reach Patricia Cornwell because I found her books too gruesome, for example. But I like Janet Evanovich's Stephanie Plum series because the blood and guts are not overly done. Same with Louise Penny's Three Pines books.

9) Random question: What were you most excited about when you woke up this morning?

A. My husband is going to make breakfast!

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I encourage you to visit the posts of other participants in Saturday 9 and leave a comment. Because there are no rules, it is your choice. Saturday 9 players hate rules. We love memes, however.