Saturday 9: Valentine (1993)
Unfamiliar with this week's tune? Hear it here.
This song was specially chosen for the Saturday 9 closest to Valentine's Day.
1) This is a love song written by Willie Nelson for his young son. Have you sent any Valentines this year to someone you love who isn't a romantic partner?
A. No. I sent Valentine greetings via text to friends and family.
2) Today that little boy, Lukas, is a singer/songwriter who wrote eight of the songs for the 2018 A Star Is Born soundtrack. Have you seen the Bradley Cooper/Lady Gaga big screen romance?
A. No.
3) On Valentine's Day in 1876, Alexander Graham Bell patented the first telephone. Who did you most recently speak to on the phone?
A. My father.
4) Penicillin was also introduced on Valentine's Day (in 1929). When you get a shot, do you look away when the needle touches your skin?
A. Yes.
5) According to legend, a gift of red roses signifies love and romance. When did you last purchase flowers or plants? Did you buy them for yourself, or someone else?
A. I bought some fake flowers for the house some time back.
6) This week's artist, Willie Nelson, can trace his family tree back to the Revolutionary War. Captain John Nelson served with the Minutemen back in 1776. If you could go back in time to witness any great moment in American history, which would you choose?
A. I'd go back to 1770, when my county was formed.
7) Before he became a musical success, Willie was a door-to-door salesman, peddling first Bibles, then vacuum cleaners. INC magazine tells us that the traits of successful salespeople include resilience and good listening skills. Do you think you'd make a good sales person?
A. It would depend on whether or not I believed in what I was selling. I think being a freelancer is a form of being a sales person, and I used to be good at that.
8) In 1993, when this song came out, Saved by the Bell aired its series finale. Crazy Sam likes to tease her brother because he once admitted to her that he has seen all 86 episodes of this teen sitcom. Is there a show that you believe you've seen every episode?
A. Several. I've seen every episode of The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel, Game of Thrones, Downton Abbey, Band of Brothers, Six Feet Under, The Big Bang Theory, Andy Griffith, Star Trek, Xena: Warrior Princess, Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Babylon 5, and who knows what else, like Gilligan's Island, MASH, etc.
9) Random question -- We're having milkshakes! What's your favorite flavor?
A. Chocolate.
___________
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, February 16, 2019
Thursday, February 14, 2019
Thursday 13
These are things I remember having but have misplaced, lost, or don't know what happened to.
1. Two Christmas trees. I am not sure how you lose large trees, but we've managed to misplace two of them. I think my husband hauled them off to Goodwill, or one of them went to a newly-wedded firefighter, but I am not certain.
2. A black plastic poodle dog bank that I used to have as a child. It might be in the attic. I haven't seen it for years.
3. A flute. I used to play the flute and I once had a flute. The case was broken on it and it was in need of some repair work. It too may be in the attic, but again, I haven't seen it in years.
4. An entire set of den furniture, including sofa, chair, tables. This was a heavy pine set we bought when we first married. I think we gave it away, again to a newly-wedded firefighter, but I am not certain of that. We could have sold it. I know we sold our old bedroom suite.
5. A book called Alfred Hitchcock's Haunted Houses or something like that. I think the book actually went into the trash after the dog chewed on it when I still lived with my parents. It had great scary children's stories in it.
6. Another book called Miss Osborne the Mop. Great children's book. I suppose it went to a library sale.
7. A box of items from my curio cabinet that I boxed up after Christmas when we were installing the floors. One of the boxes of items has gone missing and I have no idea where it went.
8. My Xena: Warrior Princess collection. At one time I had dolls from the show, trading cards, all sorts of items. The trading cards I think are in my husband's office, but I don't know where the other items went. Maybe they are down in the "storage shed" which means they have probably been eaten by some critter by now.
9. My husband's clarinet. I imagine it is with the flute. Maybe they are playing a duet.
10. The kitchen scissors. I had a really great pair of kitchen scissors that vanished. I guess the scissors turned themselves upside down and walked away.
11. Kitchen knives. These disappear with terrible regularity. I think they are used for screwdrivers.
12. My Children's Bible. My aunt gave me this when I was around 8 or 9, and I read it all the way through. But I don't know what happened to it.
13. About 100 Little Golden Books. These were probably at my parents' house and thrown out after their house burned down, but I am not sure. I loved Little Golden Books and read them over and over again.
Happy Valentine's Day, too!
----------------------------
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 591st time to do a list of 13 on a Thursday. Or so sayth the Blogger counter, anyway.
1. Two Christmas trees. I am not sure how you lose large trees, but we've managed to misplace two of them. I think my husband hauled them off to Goodwill, or one of them went to a newly-wedded firefighter, but I am not certain.
2. A black plastic poodle dog bank that I used to have as a child. It might be in the attic. I haven't seen it for years.
3. A flute. I used to play the flute and I once had a flute. The case was broken on it and it was in need of some repair work. It too may be in the attic, but again, I haven't seen it in years.
4. An entire set of den furniture, including sofa, chair, tables. This was a heavy pine set we bought when we first married. I think we gave it away, again to a newly-wedded firefighter, but I am not certain of that. We could have sold it. I know we sold our old bedroom suite.
5. A book called Alfred Hitchcock's Haunted Houses or something like that. I think the book actually went into the trash after the dog chewed on it when I still lived with my parents. It had great scary children's stories in it.
6. Another book called Miss Osborne the Mop. Great children's book. I suppose it went to a library sale.
7. A box of items from my curio cabinet that I boxed up after Christmas when we were installing the floors. One of the boxes of items has gone missing and I have no idea where it went.
8. My Xena: Warrior Princess collection. At one time I had dolls from the show, trading cards, all sorts of items. The trading cards I think are in my husband's office, but I don't know where the other items went. Maybe they are down in the "storage shed" which means they have probably been eaten by some critter by now.
9. My husband's clarinet. I imagine it is with the flute. Maybe they are playing a duet.
10. The kitchen scissors. I had a really great pair of kitchen scissors that vanished. I guess the scissors turned themselves upside down and walked away.
11. Kitchen knives. These disappear with terrible regularity. I think they are used for screwdrivers.
12. My Children's Bible. My aunt gave me this when I was around 8 or 9, and I read it all the way through. But I don't know what happened to it.
13. About 100 Little Golden Books. These were probably at my parents' house and thrown out after their house burned down, but I am not sure. I loved Little Golden Books and read them over and over again.
Happy Valentine's Day, too!
----------------------------
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 591st time to do a list of 13 on a Thursday. Or so sayth the Blogger counter, anyway.
Tuesday, February 12, 2019
The Writing on the Wall?
Many people I know who are in their mid-50s are "retiring." They're leaving jobs they've held for long periods of time, sometimes decades, to do something else.
Some are leaving to take care of grandchildren. Some, like me, have health issues. Some want to travel and live life before time takes its toll on their knees and hips.
I wonder, though, if deep down we don't see the writing on the wall. We're not going to have the longevity of our forefathers. The health care is not going to be there, and what is there will be unaffordable, unless there are great changes in that industry.
Social Security may not be available when I hit the age to draw it. I still have a ways to go to get there, so it's not a stretch for that to be a concern. My husband now expects to die working, even if that means he's 80 years old. He likes to work but I'd like for him to not be working at 80.
The folks I know who are ending careers do not seem to me to be overly wealthy. Usually what I see are women stepping down, with husbands still on the job. Maybe they have enough saved to cushion the blow, or maybe these women are moving into other work arenas that I know nothing of.
Still, it's an unsteady future those of us who are at the low-end of the Baby Boomer generation, and Generation X, face. (I missed the Generation X label by a year and I identify more with that generation than the Baby Boomer one.)
A recent story from marketwatch.com says Gen X "may already be financially worse off than other generations in a number of ways."
The article lists credit card debt, loads of spending on non-essentials (like eating out), and lack of savings for retirement as problems for Gen X.
Additionally, having children with financial demands (even if they are adults) plus caring for aging parents (Baby Boomers) is also crunching the financial stability of this generation.
All of this makes me wonder if the people I see retiring, including myself, aren't realizing that the retirement you see on TV where you go play tennis and golf are simply dreams that will never materialize.
Perhaps stepping out of the workforce pre-retirement age is a way to spit in the face of the establishment, that free market that wants everyone enslaved to a corporation until you're 75 years old.
Or maybe we're all just tired.
Some are leaving to take care of grandchildren. Some, like me, have health issues. Some want to travel and live life before time takes its toll on their knees and hips.
I wonder, though, if deep down we don't see the writing on the wall. We're not going to have the longevity of our forefathers. The health care is not going to be there, and what is there will be unaffordable, unless there are great changes in that industry.
Social Security may not be available when I hit the age to draw it. I still have a ways to go to get there, so it's not a stretch for that to be a concern. My husband now expects to die working, even if that means he's 80 years old. He likes to work but I'd like for him to not be working at 80.
The folks I know who are ending careers do not seem to me to be overly wealthy. Usually what I see are women stepping down, with husbands still on the job. Maybe they have enough saved to cushion the blow, or maybe these women are moving into other work arenas that I know nothing of.
Still, it's an unsteady future those of us who are at the low-end of the Baby Boomer generation, and Generation X, face. (I missed the Generation X label by a year and I identify more with that generation than the Baby Boomer one.)
A recent story from marketwatch.com says Gen X "may already be financially worse off than other generations in a number of ways."
The article lists credit card debt, loads of spending on non-essentials (like eating out), and lack of savings for retirement as problems for Gen X.
“While Generation X continues to struggle with saving and spending, millennials — although not without their own unique financial challenges — seem better positioned for retirement than their closest predecessors. Median retirement savings for Gen X is only $35,000, the same median amount as millennials, despite Gen Xers being much closer to retirement,” according to a study of 3,000 Americans by Allianz Life.
Additionally, having children with financial demands (even if they are adults) plus caring for aging parents (Baby Boomers) is also crunching the financial stability of this generation.
All of this makes me wonder if the people I see retiring, including myself, aren't realizing that the retirement you see on TV where you go play tennis and golf are simply dreams that will never materialize.
Perhaps stepping out of the workforce pre-retirement age is a way to spit in the face of the establishment, that free market that wants everyone enslaved to a corporation until you're 75 years old.
Or maybe we're all just tired.
Monday, February 11, 2019
Sunday, February 10, 2019
Sunday Stealing
Sunday Stealing
1. Which book do you irrationally cringe away from reading, despite seeing only positive reviews?
A. Anything in the horror genre.
2. If you could bring three characters to life for a social event (afternoon tea, a night of clubbing, perhaps a world cruise), who would they be and what would the event be?
A. Winnie the Pooh, Jo March, and Stephanie Plum. I believe we'd have tea with lots of honey for Pooh.
3. You are told you can't die until you read the most boring novel on the planet. While this immortality is great for awhile, eventually you realise it's past time to die. Which book would you expect to get you a nice grave?
A. War and Peace. (I don't really know.)
4. Which book have you pretended, or at least hinted, that you've read, when in fact you've been nowhere near it?
A. Catch 22.
5. As an addition to the last question, has there been a book that you really thought you had read, only to realise when you read a review about it/go to 'reread' it that you haven't? Which book?
A. My Life, by Bill Clinton. I must have thumbed through it but I apparently didn't read it.
6. You've been appointed Book Advisor to a VIP (who's not a big reader). What's the first book you'd recommend and why?
A. What is she a VIP of? That matters. However, I think I'd recommend On Becoming A Writer, by Dorothea Brande, to almost anyone, because it has a lot of lessons in it about self-awareness and understanding the world around you. Everyone needs to know how to write decently, regardless of career choice.
7. A good fairy comes and grants you one wish: you will have perfect reading comprehension in the foreign language of your choice. Which language do you go with?
A. Italian.
8. A mischievous fairy comes and says that you must choose one book that you will reread once a year for the rest of your life (you can read other books as well). Which book would you pick?
A. Lord of the Rings.
9. What's one bookish thing you 'discovered' from book blogging (maybe a new genre, or author, or new appreciation for cover art-anything)?
A. I discovered that I really don't care for highbrow and overblown literary fiction. I'm supposed to like it but I really don't.
10. That good fairy is back for one final visit. Now, she's granting you your dream library! Describe it. Is everything leatherbound? Is it full of first edition hardcovers? Pristine trade paperbacks? Perhaps a few favourite authors have inscribed their works? Go ahead-let your imagination run free.
A. It would be full of hardbacks with some kind of dust covers, all in acid-free paper. It would have lots of nonfiction books, old and new, as well as every top 10 novel ever written, except for porn or horror genres.
__________
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. (#270)
1. Which book do you irrationally cringe away from reading, despite seeing only positive reviews?
A. Anything in the horror genre.
2. If you could bring three characters to life for a social event (afternoon tea, a night of clubbing, perhaps a world cruise), who would they be and what would the event be?
A. Winnie the Pooh, Jo March, and Stephanie Plum. I believe we'd have tea with lots of honey for Pooh.
3. You are told you can't die until you read the most boring novel on the planet. While this immortality is great for awhile, eventually you realise it's past time to die. Which book would you expect to get you a nice grave?
A. War and Peace. (I don't really know.)
4. Which book have you pretended, or at least hinted, that you've read, when in fact you've been nowhere near it?
A. Catch 22.
5. As an addition to the last question, has there been a book that you really thought you had read, only to realise when you read a review about it/go to 'reread' it that you haven't? Which book?
A. My Life, by Bill Clinton. I must have thumbed through it but I apparently didn't read it.
6. You've been appointed Book Advisor to a VIP (who's not a big reader). What's the first book you'd recommend and why?
A. What is she a VIP of? That matters. However, I think I'd recommend On Becoming A Writer, by Dorothea Brande, to almost anyone, because it has a lot of lessons in it about self-awareness and understanding the world around you. Everyone needs to know how to write decently, regardless of career choice.
7. A good fairy comes and grants you one wish: you will have perfect reading comprehension in the foreign language of your choice. Which language do you go with?
A. Italian.
8. A mischievous fairy comes and says that you must choose one book that you will reread once a year for the rest of your life (you can read other books as well). Which book would you pick?
A. Lord of the Rings.
9. What's one bookish thing you 'discovered' from book blogging (maybe a new genre, or author, or new appreciation for cover art-anything)?
A. I discovered that I really don't care for highbrow and overblown literary fiction. I'm supposed to like it but I really don't.
10. That good fairy is back for one final visit. Now, she's granting you your dream library! Describe it. Is everything leatherbound? Is it full of first edition hardcovers? Pristine trade paperbacks? Perhaps a few favourite authors have inscribed their works? Go ahead-let your imagination run free.
A. It would be full of hardbacks with some kind of dust covers, all in acid-free paper. It would have lots of nonfiction books, old and new, as well as every top 10 novel ever written, except for porn or horror genres.
__________
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. (#270)
Saturday, February 09, 2019
Saturday 9: Waiting for a Star to Fall
Saturday 9: Waiting for a Star to Fall (1988)
Unfamiliar with this week's tune? Hear it here.
1) "Waiting for a Star to Fall" was literally inspired by a falling star. The singing/songwriting duo of Boy Meets Girl was at a big, outdoor concert and could have sworn they saw a falling star in the night sky. Have you ever seen a falling star?
A. Many times. My husband and I like to go out and look at the stars during specific times when the meteor showers are high, like when the Geminids or Perseids are visible.
2) They offered this song to Whitney Houston, who declined to record it. Whitney did have hits with two other songs they wrote: "I Wanna Dance with Somebody" and "How Will I Know?" What's your favorite Whitney song?
A. I Will Always Love You.
3) Boy Meets Girl were George and Shannon, a husband-and-wife team originally from Seattle, WA. In 2016, Seattle was named America's most "bike-friendly city." Do you own a bike?
A. No. I did when I was a kid, but I haven't had one since I was a teenager.
4) George and Shannon met for the first time at a wedding. She was a guest, he was in the band. Think of the last wedding present you bought. Was it from the bride and groom's registry?
A. No. My bride and groom eloped and so they don't have a registry. I bought them something that I thought they might find special. I haven't given it to them yet so I can't say what it is.
5) In 1988, when this song was popular, 98% of American homes had a TV set. Today, that figure has dipped to 96%, presumably because Millennials are watching more content online. What's the last video you watched online?
A. This song that I'm answering these questions about. But before that I was watching guitar players.
6) In 1988 saw the introduction of one of the most memorable slogans of all time: "Just Do It." Without looking it up, do you know what brand "Just Do It" promotes?
A. Nike.
7) In 1988, Sonny Bono went from entertainer to Republican politician when he was elected Mayor of Palm Springs. Have you ever met the mayor of your town?
A. I know all the important people in my community because I was a government reporter. I know the mayors of all three towns, the supervisors of the county, the county administrator, the circuit court judges, the House of Delegates state representative, etc. I met several governors of the state.
8) Michael Douglas took home the Oscar in 1988 for his portrayal of Gordon Gekko in the movie Wall Street. The American Film Institute named Gekko one of the "top movie villains of all time." Do you think bad guys are as interesting as good guys?
A. I think they are interesting but I don't identify with them.
9) Random question: Have you ever seen a photo of yourself naked? (Baby pictures don't count.)
A. Not as an adult, no. If one exists it is without my knowledge and consent.
___________
I encourage you to visit other participants in Saturday 9 posts and leave a comment. Because there are no rules, it is your choice. Saturday 9 players hate rules. We love memes, however.
Unfamiliar with this week's tune? Hear it here.
1) "Waiting for a Star to Fall" was literally inspired by a falling star. The singing/songwriting duo of Boy Meets Girl was at a big, outdoor concert and could have sworn they saw a falling star in the night sky. Have you ever seen a falling star?
A. Many times. My husband and I like to go out and look at the stars during specific times when the meteor showers are high, like when the Geminids or Perseids are visible.
2) They offered this song to Whitney Houston, who declined to record it. Whitney did have hits with two other songs they wrote: "I Wanna Dance with Somebody" and "How Will I Know?" What's your favorite Whitney song?
A. I Will Always Love You.
3) Boy Meets Girl were George and Shannon, a husband-and-wife team originally from Seattle, WA. In 2016, Seattle was named America's most "bike-friendly city." Do you own a bike?
A. No. I did when I was a kid, but I haven't had one since I was a teenager.
4) George and Shannon met for the first time at a wedding. She was a guest, he was in the band. Think of the last wedding present you bought. Was it from the bride and groom's registry?
A. No. My bride and groom eloped and so they don't have a registry. I bought them something that I thought they might find special. I haven't given it to them yet so I can't say what it is.
5) In 1988, when this song was popular, 98% of American homes had a TV set. Today, that figure has dipped to 96%, presumably because Millennials are watching more content online. What's the last video you watched online?
A. This song that I'm answering these questions about. But before that I was watching guitar players.
6) In 1988 saw the introduction of one of the most memorable slogans of all time: "Just Do It." Without looking it up, do you know what brand "Just Do It" promotes?
A. Nike.
7) In 1988, Sonny Bono went from entertainer to Republican politician when he was elected Mayor of Palm Springs. Have you ever met the mayor of your town?
A. I know all the important people in my community because I was a government reporter. I know the mayors of all three towns, the supervisors of the county, the county administrator, the circuit court judges, the House of Delegates state representative, etc. I met several governors of the state.
8) Michael Douglas took home the Oscar in 1988 for his portrayal of Gordon Gekko in the movie Wall Street. The American Film Institute named Gekko one of the "top movie villains of all time." Do you think bad guys are as interesting as good guys?
A. I think they are interesting but I don't identify with them.
9) Random question: Have you ever seen a photo of yourself naked? (Baby pictures don't count.)
A. Not as an adult, no. If one exists it is without my knowledge and consent.
___________
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, February 08, 2019
If I Responded on Facebook
I try not to respond to political posts on Facebook. Mostly I don't post on Facebook at all unless it is something that appears relatively harmless, although in 20 years I imagine people who post kitten pictures today will be apologizing for that.
At any rate, one post this morning riled me. It was about my local county and how irresponsible the spending is, yada yada. I've covered this county government for 30 years and still go to the supervisors meetings sometimes. I read.
We are not a poorly run, over-spending county. I started to write a response and then decided to move it here. But this is not just about my county. This is about living in society and being a citizen and paying taxes, and understanding that everything affects everything else. It is also about stupidity, which seems in vogue but which is going to destroy us.
Since 2009, the amount of money that Botetourt County receives from the state and federal governments has decreased. The difference comes from county citizens as local taxes: the politicians we have in the state and federal government want to place the burden back on localities.
We are building a new school. We offered incentives to new companies (corporate welfare). Because of this, the county's debt service has increased.
However, Botetourt remains one of the most fiscally sound counties in the area. You can't have it both ways. You can't have low taxes and build a new school. You can't have parks & rec programs, libraries, historic parks at Greenfield, commit $2 million to the new YMCA, and not have debt service increase.
Local taxes will remain flat this year, based on what I'm seeing. Nobody's taxes are going up locally (though you might be paying federal dollars because of that smoke-and-mirrors federal "tax cut" that so many people fell for).
Sure there are some things that could be cut from the local budget - but they are miniscule as far as funding goes and won't affect taxes. Much of it is state-mandated and can't be touched.
More than half of the budget goes to the schools. They need what they need. I want an educated population, well-rounded and learned, to take care of me and the rest of the world when I'm old.
We are having to pay for emergency services now; that used to be volunteer only. We need to increase pay for deputies. County buildings need upkeep and updating.
Austerity only works when you want stupidity to rule the world. That's what we have now at the federal level. I don't see it working out very well.
I consider paying taxes an honor and a privilege. Why do people think they should live here for free? If you think that, then stop driving on public roads, don't use public facilities, go rent because your deed is recorded in a public courthouse, don't call for the rescue squad when you have a heart attack, don't call the fire department if your house is burning down, don't visit the Smithsonian, use a National Park, call the Social Security Office if your payment is late, or do anything else that is a government service paid for by your taxes.
It is all related. President Obama was right when he stood here in Roanoke and said no one does it on their own. You don't. You just think you do, and I think you're an idiot for thinking that.
So there.
At any rate, one post this morning riled me. It was about my local county and how irresponsible the spending is, yada yada. I've covered this county government for 30 years and still go to the supervisors meetings sometimes. I read.
We are not a poorly run, over-spending county. I started to write a response and then decided to move it here. But this is not just about my county. This is about living in society and being a citizen and paying taxes, and understanding that everything affects everything else. It is also about stupidity, which seems in vogue but which is going to destroy us.
Since 2009, the amount of money that Botetourt County receives from the state and federal governments has decreased. The difference comes from county citizens as local taxes: the politicians we have in the state and federal government want to place the burden back on localities.
We are building a new school. We offered incentives to new companies (corporate welfare). Because of this, the county's debt service has increased.
However, Botetourt remains one of the most fiscally sound counties in the area. You can't have it both ways. You can't have low taxes and build a new school. You can't have parks & rec programs, libraries, historic parks at Greenfield, commit $2 million to the new YMCA, and not have debt service increase.
Local taxes will remain flat this year, based on what I'm seeing. Nobody's taxes are going up locally (though you might be paying federal dollars because of that smoke-and-mirrors federal "tax cut" that so many people fell for).
Sure there are some things that could be cut from the local budget - but they are miniscule as far as funding goes and won't affect taxes. Much of it is state-mandated and can't be touched.
More than half of the budget goes to the schools. They need what they need. I want an educated population, well-rounded and learned, to take care of me and the rest of the world when I'm old.
We are having to pay for emergency services now; that used to be volunteer only. We need to increase pay for deputies. County buildings need upkeep and updating.
Austerity only works when you want stupidity to rule the world. That's what we have now at the federal level. I don't see it working out very well.
I consider paying taxes an honor and a privilege. Why do people think they should live here for free? If you think that, then stop driving on public roads, don't use public facilities, go rent because your deed is recorded in a public courthouse, don't call for the rescue squad when you have a heart attack, don't call the fire department if your house is burning down, don't visit the Smithsonian, use a National Park, call the Social Security Office if your payment is late, or do anything else that is a government service paid for by your taxes.
It is all related. President Obama was right when he stood here in Roanoke and said no one does it on their own. You don't. You just think you do, and I think you're an idiot for thinking that.
So there.
Thursday, February 07, 2019
Thursday Thirteen #590
Brain dead today from an upper respiratory infection.
Here are 13 things to be happy about, from the book, 14,000 things to be happy about, by Barbara Ann Kipfer
1. Climbing to a lookout point that offers a sweeping panorama of the countryside.
2. Garden benches.
3. An early evening under the covers.
4. Having the newspaper delivered. (These days I'm happy we have a newspaper at all.)
5. Mamma Mia! (Song? Movie? Either works.)
6. Archeological sites.
7. Trying on something that is too big. (Been a while since I managed that one.)
8. Daisy Hill Puppy Farm, where Snoopy was born. (I don't approve of puppy mills, however.)
9. A ring around the moon.
10. Perfect timing.
11. Getting an early start. (I would have settled for getting out of bed on time this morning, I think.)
12. Heinz 57 ketchup. (Yep. It's got to be Heinz.)
13. Amazon's Alexa. (I don't know if that's in the book, but Alexa makes me happy. So there.)
----------------------------
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 590th time to do a list of 13 on a Thursday. Or so sayth the Blogger counter, anyway.
Here are 13 things to be happy about, from the book, 14,000 things to be happy about, by Barbara Ann Kipfer
1. Climbing to a lookout point that offers a sweeping panorama of the countryside.
2. Garden benches.
3. An early evening under the covers.
4. Having the newspaper delivered. (These days I'm happy we have a newspaper at all.)
5. Mamma Mia! (Song? Movie? Either works.)
6. Archeological sites.
7. Trying on something that is too big. (Been a while since I managed that one.)
8. Daisy Hill Puppy Farm, where Snoopy was born. (I don't approve of puppy mills, however.)
9. A ring around the moon.
10. Perfect timing.
11. Getting an early start. (I would have settled for getting out of bed on time this morning, I think.)
12. Heinz 57 ketchup. (Yep. It's got to be Heinz.)
13. Amazon's Alexa. (I don't know if that's in the book, but Alexa makes me happy. So there.)
----------------------------
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 590th time to do a list of 13 on a Thursday. Or so sayth the Blogger counter, anyway.
Wednesday, February 06, 2019
I'm No Fun Anymore
Not that I ever really was the most exciting person in the room, mind you. I've always been a bit of a Debbie Downer.
Smart, though, and sarcastic. Frequently witty and often silly. Serious, studious, and stubborn, maybe. But fun?
Not an adjective people use to describe me. Nor is it a word I use to describe myself.
My idea of "fun" is a good hour with a video game or a book. Or sitting at a political meeting watching politicians make fools of themselves.
Slap happy stuff, that.
I also have a propensity toward depression and that creates a glass-half-full outlook that doesn't lend itself to happy thinking. Expect the worst and be glad if you don't get it, that's my motto.
And yet . . . I make my friends laugh. I don't make an effort at it, I'm just myself with them, and they find me hilarious. Anyone who knows me well finds me amusing, quick with a comeback, sometimes even able to remember a joke.
I can make the most mundane incident of the day sound like the funniest thing to happen to somebody ever. I make fun of myself a great deal, too.
Other people are off limits. I don't make fun of other folks, because I know how that can hurt if you hit a wrong button. I have lots of buttons and some people are very good at hitting them. Those people, I suspect, think I am never fun.
Those people don't know me very well because they've never taken the time to know me. I don't fit into their idea of who I should be, and so they don't accept me for who I actually am. All they know how to do is hit my buttons and/or be critical.
Their loss.
Because while I might not make a living as a stand-up comic, I'm actually not a bad person to know. Took me 55 years to figure that out, but hey, better late than never.
Smart, though, and sarcastic. Frequently witty and often silly. Serious, studious, and stubborn, maybe. But fun?
Not an adjective people use to describe me. Nor is it a word I use to describe myself.
My idea of "fun" is a good hour with a video game or a book. Or sitting at a political meeting watching politicians make fools of themselves.
Slap happy stuff, that.
I also have a propensity toward depression and that creates a glass-half-full outlook that doesn't lend itself to happy thinking. Expect the worst and be glad if you don't get it, that's my motto.
And yet . . . I make my friends laugh. I don't make an effort at it, I'm just myself with them, and they find me hilarious. Anyone who knows me well finds me amusing, quick with a comeback, sometimes even able to remember a joke.
I can make the most mundane incident of the day sound like the funniest thing to happen to somebody ever. I make fun of myself a great deal, too.
Other people are off limits. I don't make fun of other folks, because I know how that can hurt if you hit a wrong button. I have lots of buttons and some people are very good at hitting them. Those people, I suspect, think I am never fun.
Those people don't know me very well because they've never taken the time to know me. I don't fit into their idea of who I should be, and so they don't accept me for who I actually am. All they know how to do is hit my buttons and/or be critical.
Their loss.
Because while I might not make a living as a stand-up comic, I'm actually not a bad person to know. Took me 55 years to figure that out, but hey, better late than never.
Sunday, February 03, 2019
Sunday Stealing
Sunday Stealing
Part 2 of something. Surely I did Part 1, but I can't find it link back to.
16) What is your favorite wild animal?
A. I consider the deer to be my spirit animal and totem.
17) Name 3 of your favorite childhood shows:
A. Isis, Bugs Bunny, and Batman. (I was also partial to Dark Shadows though I wasn't supposed to be watching it.)
18) If you could live as a character in a movie, who would it be?
A. I would be an elf extra in Lord of the Rings.
19) Favorite vegetable?
A. Oh hell, I don't know. Potato?
20) Favorite fruit?
A. Sigh. Um. Fruit. Fruit. Watermelon.
21) If you had a dragon what would you name it?
A. Antigone.
22) What do you put on hotdogs?
A. Catsup and relish. No onions, no chili, nothing else.
23) Do you play online games?
A. Yes.
24) What's your favorite way to get inspired?
A. Take a walk or read a book.
25) Do you have a middle name?
A. Yes.
26) If you had to order from a kid's menu, what would you get?
A. A junior cheeseburger.
27) Do you speak any other languages?
A. Yo hablo muy poco Española.
28) Do you use Twitter?
A. I have an account but I don't use it much.
29) Do you go onto YouTube?
A. Sometimes. I like to watch videos of guitar players.
Check out this version of Nancy Wilson and Heart playing Crazy on You. That chick can play that guitar. Probably the most underrated female guitar player ever. And she does it in high heels.
30) Do you play Angry Birds?
A. No, I never have.
__________
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.
Part 2 of something. Surely I did Part 1, but I can't find it link back to.
16) What is your favorite wild animal?
A. I consider the deer to be my spirit animal and totem.
17) Name 3 of your favorite childhood shows:
A. Isis, Bugs Bunny, and Batman. (I was also partial to Dark Shadows though I wasn't supposed to be watching it.)
18) If you could live as a character in a movie, who would it be?
A. I would be an elf extra in Lord of the Rings.
19) Favorite vegetable?
A. Oh hell, I don't know. Potato?
20) Favorite fruit?
A. Sigh. Um. Fruit. Fruit. Watermelon.
21) If you had a dragon what would you name it?
A. Antigone.
22) What do you put on hotdogs?
A. Catsup and relish. No onions, no chili, nothing else.
23) Do you play online games?
A. Yes.
24) What's your favorite way to get inspired?
A. Take a walk or read a book.
25) Do you have a middle name?
A. Yes.
26) If you had to order from a kid's menu, what would you get?
A. A junior cheeseburger.
27) Do you speak any other languages?
A. Yo hablo muy poco Española.
28) Do you use Twitter?
A. I have an account but I don't use it much.
29) Do you go onto YouTube?
A. Sometimes. I like to watch videos of guitar players.
Check out this version of Nancy Wilson and Heart playing Crazy on You. That chick can play that guitar. Probably the most underrated female guitar player ever. And she does it in high heels.
30) Do you play Angry Birds?
A. No, I never have.
__________
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, February 02, 2019
Saturday 9: Backfield
Saturday 9: Backfield in Motion (1969)
Unfamiliar with this week's tune? Hear it here.
1) This week's Saturday 9 has a football theme because there's a big game Sunday. Will you be watching?
A. No, I don't think so.
2) The Super Bowl is the second-largest day for food consumption in the US, second only to Thanksgiving. What's on your menu this weekend?
A. Nothing special, I'm afraid. I'm ill so maybe chicken soup.
3) Super Bowl Sunday is the #1 day for consuming guacamole. When did you most recently eat something with avocado in it?
A. I have no idea.
4) The Pro Football Hall of Fame is in Canton, OH. Have you ever visited Canton, or any other city in Ohio?
A. No, I have not.
5) This song mentions different moves that football players -- and, it seems, girlfriends -- can make that will result in penalties. What's the last rule you broke? What were the consequences?
A. If only I weren't such a good girl, I could have a great answer to this. But I am a good girl. The only time I've ever had a traffic violation was around 1993, when a car stopped in front of me and I rear-ended it. Anything else goes back to when I was a teenager, and that doesn't really count after all these years.
6) In 1969, the year this song was popular, the Colts lost to the New York Jets in Super Bowl III. The game is famous because of all the hype leading up to it, including Joe Namath "guaranteeing" his underdog Jets would win. Tell us about a time when you felt like an underdog.
A. Speed of lightning, roar of thunder! Fighting all who steal and plunder! Underdog! Underdog! Underdog! Ok, now that's out of the way. The last time I felt like an underdog would have been at Christmas.
7) This week's featured duo, Mel and Tim, are cousins from Mississippi. Tell us about one of your cousins.
A. My husband's cousin lives across the street from us (which is really like, a 1/2 mile away). He is a captain in the fire department but on a different shift than my husband. He's a very nice fellow who offers to help my husband on the farm and is good about checking on my mother-in-law occasionally, too.
8) The song is about a man who catches his girl cheating and he just won't put up with it. In romance, do you find it easy to forgive and forget?
A. I've been married for 35 years. You don't do that without forgiving and forgetting.
9) Random question: You've collected a box of gently-used items to donate to a second hand store. What would it be most likely to contain: clothes, housewares, or books/video/music?
A. Clothes.
___________
I encourage you to visit other participants in Saturday 9 posts and leave a comment. Because there are no rules, it is your choice. Saturday 9 players hate rules. We love memes, however.
Unfamiliar with this week's tune? Hear it here.
1) This week's Saturday 9 has a football theme because there's a big game Sunday. Will you be watching?
A. No, I don't think so.
2) The Super Bowl is the second-largest day for food consumption in the US, second only to Thanksgiving. What's on your menu this weekend?
A. Nothing special, I'm afraid. I'm ill so maybe chicken soup.
3) Super Bowl Sunday is the #1 day for consuming guacamole. When did you most recently eat something with avocado in it?
A. I have no idea.
4) The Pro Football Hall of Fame is in Canton, OH. Have you ever visited Canton, or any other city in Ohio?
A. No, I have not.
5) This song mentions different moves that football players -- and, it seems, girlfriends -- can make that will result in penalties. What's the last rule you broke? What were the consequences?
A. If only I weren't such a good girl, I could have a great answer to this. But I am a good girl. The only time I've ever had a traffic violation was around 1993, when a car stopped in front of me and I rear-ended it. Anything else goes back to when I was a teenager, and that doesn't really count after all these years.
6) In 1969, the year this song was popular, the Colts lost to the New York Jets in Super Bowl III. The game is famous because of all the hype leading up to it, including Joe Namath "guaranteeing" his underdog Jets would win. Tell us about a time when you felt like an underdog.
A. Speed of lightning, roar of thunder! Fighting all who steal and plunder! Underdog! Underdog! Underdog! Ok, now that's out of the way. The last time I felt like an underdog would have been at Christmas.
7) This week's featured duo, Mel and Tim, are cousins from Mississippi. Tell us about one of your cousins.
A. My husband's cousin lives across the street from us (which is really like, a 1/2 mile away). He is a captain in the fire department but on a different shift than my husband. He's a very nice fellow who offers to help my husband on the farm and is good about checking on my mother-in-law occasionally, too.
8) The song is about a man who catches his girl cheating and he just won't put up with it. In romance, do you find it easy to forgive and forget?
A. I've been married for 35 years. You don't do that without forgiving and forgetting.
9) Random question: You've collected a box of gently-used items to donate to a second hand store. What would it be most likely to contain: clothes, housewares, or books/video/music?
A. Clothes.
___________
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, February 01, 2019
Farewell, Uncle
Yesterday evening I learned the horrifying news that my uncle, his wife, and my cousin died in a house fire at their home in Ogden, Kansas.
This is an old photo taken when my mother passed away in 2000. That may have been the last time I saw Uncle Butch. He is the one on the far right. I don't recall seeing him at my grandmother's funeral in 2007. I suspect this is the only picture of the four brothers as adults in existence. They weren't much on get-togethers.
I don't know that I ever met Uncle Butch's wife. His son, whom we called Buddy, had a rare disease that required a lot of treatment. He was never able to work and lived with his father and stepmother. I hadn't seen Buddy in years.
Uncle Butch served in the U.S. Army and retired from service. I am not sure why he chose to live in Kansas. I think he ran a video store there until video went out of style; then I am not sure what he did. He was about 70 years old.
According to news reports, the fire started in the wee hours of the morning, around 3:40 a.m., and rescue efforts were hampered by 5 degree temperatures.
Four people perished in the fire. I do not know who the fourth person was; I have been told two things - that it was a renter and that it was a homeless person my uncle had let into his home because of the low temperatures. I don't know which is correct. I do know it was not my other cousin, Uncle Butch's daughter.
Fire and/or smoke inhalation is a bad way to go. My uncle had Parkinson's disease so he may not have been able to get out regardless. If smoke overtook everyone as they were sleeping, perhaps they had painless deaths. I shall hope so, anyway.
There is a story about the fire here and another here. If there is an obituary I will post it; I think at the moment there is confusion over the funeral and who will be taking care of what, since Uncle Butch's daughter is, unfortunately, incarcerated on drug trafficking charges. I doubt she will be much help.
Updated:
Here are the obituaries from the funeral home:
Roger Duane Harris, Sr, died on January 31 at his home in Ogden, Ks. Roger was born in Roanoke, Virginia and is preceded in death by his parents, Claude and Melba Harris, and his older sister, Glenda Bruffey. He retired from the Army with honors after 20 years of service, including time in Vietnam, making his home in Ogden. Roger is survived by his daughter, Anita Jo Albino, sister Carolyn Hunt, and brothers Melvin Lee Harris, Claude Harris, Jr., and Gerald Thomas Harris as well as many loving friends in the Ft Riley and Ogden area.
Roger Duane Harris, Jr, died on January 31 at his home in Ogden, KS. Roger was born in Roanoke, Virginia and is survived by his mother, Dottie Prince and sister Anita Jo Albino as well as several aunts and uncles. Roger, often known as Buddy to friends and family, perished on the same day as his father, Roger Harris, Sr. He will be fondly remembered by many friends in the Ogden area, including special friends Angie Reffner, her children Melissa, John, Steven, Shyllyn, and Jennifer, Angie’s grand-children Krystyne, Viktor, and Emerie, special friends Harvey and Michelle Naffei, and countless other children he has watched grow up over the years. A memorial service will be held at St. Patrick's Catholic Church in Ogden, KS on Thursday, February 7, 2019 at 10:30 am with a luncheon to follow.
Rae Elaine LaPorte Harris, 72, died on January 31 in a fire at her home in Ogden, KS. Rae Elaine was born July 5, 1946, in Utica, NY, and was preceded in death by her father, Raymond LaPorte, and her brother, John LaPorte. Rae Elaine graduated from Indian River High School in Philadelphia, NY, and attended SUNY Oswego. After college she became the secretary to the fashion editor of Family Circle magazine in NYC. She then worked as a secretary at Fort Drum, NY, Aberdeen Proving Grounds, MD, and Fort Riley, KS. She changed careers again to become a cross-country tractor-trailer driver, and then she started her own video rental business in Ogden. She loved to sing and was a member of the Junction City Troubadours. Rae Elaine is survived by her step-daughter Anita Jo Albino of Ogden, KS, her mother Mary Jean LaPorte and sister Linda LaPorte Gross, both of Simpsonville, SC, her brother Dan LaPorte of Sabillasville, MD, and her nephews Michael Gross of Carson, CA, and Steven Gross and Raymond James Gross of Simpsonville, SC. Rae Elaine was a friend to everyone she met and will be missed by all.
A memorial service will be held at St. Patrick's Catholic Church in Ogden, Ks on Thursday, February 7, 2019, at 10:30 am with a luncheon to follow.
Memorial contributions may be made to the St. Patrick's Catholic Church or to the Riley County Firefighters Association in care of the Yorgensen-Meloan-Londeen Funeral Home 1616 Poyntz Avenue, Manhattan, Kansas 66502.
This is an old photo taken when my mother passed away in 2000. That may have been the last time I saw Uncle Butch. He is the one on the far right. I don't recall seeing him at my grandmother's funeral in 2007. I suspect this is the only picture of the four brothers as adults in existence. They weren't much on get-togethers.
I don't know that I ever met Uncle Butch's wife. His son, whom we called Buddy, had a rare disease that required a lot of treatment. He was never able to work and lived with his father and stepmother. I hadn't seen Buddy in years.
Uncle Butch served in the U.S. Army and retired from service. I am not sure why he chose to live in Kansas. I think he ran a video store there until video went out of style; then I am not sure what he did. He was about 70 years old.
According to news reports, the fire started in the wee hours of the morning, around 3:40 a.m., and rescue efforts were hampered by 5 degree temperatures.
Four people perished in the fire. I do not know who the fourth person was; I have been told two things - that it was a renter and that it was a homeless person my uncle had let into his home because of the low temperatures. I don't know which is correct. I do know it was not my other cousin, Uncle Butch's daughter.
Fire and/or smoke inhalation is a bad way to go. My uncle had Parkinson's disease so he may not have been able to get out regardless. If smoke overtook everyone as they were sleeping, perhaps they had painless deaths. I shall hope so, anyway.
There is a story about the fire here and another here. If there is an obituary I will post it; I think at the moment there is confusion over the funeral and who will be taking care of what, since Uncle Butch's daughter is, unfortunately, incarcerated on drug trafficking charges. I doubt she will be much help.
Updated:
Here are the obituaries from the funeral home:
Roger Duane Harris, Sr, died on January 31 at his home in Ogden, Ks. Roger was born in Roanoke, Virginia and is preceded in death by his parents, Claude and Melba Harris, and his older sister, Glenda Bruffey. He retired from the Army with honors after 20 years of service, including time in Vietnam, making his home in Ogden. Roger is survived by his daughter, Anita Jo Albino, sister Carolyn Hunt, and brothers Melvin Lee Harris, Claude Harris, Jr., and Gerald Thomas Harris as well as many loving friends in the Ft Riley and Ogden area.
Roger Duane Harris, Jr, died on January 31 at his home in Ogden, KS. Roger was born in Roanoke, Virginia and is survived by his mother, Dottie Prince and sister Anita Jo Albino as well as several aunts and uncles. Roger, often known as Buddy to friends and family, perished on the same day as his father, Roger Harris, Sr. He will be fondly remembered by many friends in the Ogden area, including special friends Angie Reffner, her children Melissa, John, Steven, Shyllyn, and Jennifer, Angie’s grand-children Krystyne, Viktor, and Emerie, special friends Harvey and Michelle Naffei, and countless other children he has watched grow up over the years. A memorial service will be held at St. Patrick's Catholic Church in Ogden, KS on Thursday, February 7, 2019 at 10:30 am with a luncheon to follow.
Rae Elaine LaPorte Harris, 72, died on January 31 in a fire at her home in Ogden, KS. Rae Elaine was born July 5, 1946, in Utica, NY, and was preceded in death by her father, Raymond LaPorte, and her brother, John LaPorte. Rae Elaine graduated from Indian River High School in Philadelphia, NY, and attended SUNY Oswego. After college she became the secretary to the fashion editor of Family Circle magazine in NYC. She then worked as a secretary at Fort Drum, NY, Aberdeen Proving Grounds, MD, and Fort Riley, KS. She changed careers again to become a cross-country tractor-trailer driver, and then she started her own video rental business in Ogden. She loved to sing and was a member of the Junction City Troubadours. Rae Elaine is survived by her step-daughter Anita Jo Albino of Ogden, KS, her mother Mary Jean LaPorte and sister Linda LaPorte Gross, both of Simpsonville, SC, her brother Dan LaPorte of Sabillasville, MD, and her nephews Michael Gross of Carson, CA, and Steven Gross and Raymond James Gross of Simpsonville, SC. Rae Elaine was a friend to everyone she met and will be missed by all.
A memorial service will be held at St. Patrick's Catholic Church in Ogden, Ks on Thursday, February 7, 2019, at 10:30 am with a luncheon to follow.
Memorial contributions may be made to the St. Patrick's Catholic Church or to the Riley County Firefighters Association in care of the Yorgensen-Meloan-Londeen Funeral Home 1616 Poyntz Avenue, Manhattan, Kansas 66502.
Thursday, January 31, 2019
Thursday Thirteen
1. Today is the last day of the month of this new year. So now this is an old year, and we're heading down the stretch toward its end. Christmas is just 10 months and 25 days away (or something like that).
2. My sinuses and ears are bothering me; I'm off to the doctor. To be an old woman, I certainly get a lot of ear infections. I thought those were for kids!
3. Maybe since I'm like a kid in many ways, I should eat Trix. (Trix are for kids!)
4. Instead, I eat yogurt, or eggs, or sometimes a Luna bar for breakfast. I don't eat cereal because I don't drink milk. I probably shouldn't eat the yogurt, either, but it doesn't seem to bother me and I really want a healthy internal flora in my gut.
5. Leaky gut syndrome is not something I think a lot of physicians acknowledge, but I'm pretty sure have it, and have most of my life.
6. Other things I've had all of my life include allergies, a propensity toward the glass is half-empty view of life, and the notion that I am reincarnated.
7. The reincarnation thing goes back as far as my words, because when I first started to speak I began telling my mother how I lived in a big ol' castle and was killed and buried in Scotland. My mother was so horrified she made me stop telling the story. I don't remember it but she told me about it later.
8. Out
9. of
10. time
11. off
12. to
13. doctor
2. My sinuses and ears are bothering me; I'm off to the doctor. To be an old woman, I certainly get a lot of ear infections. I thought those were for kids!
3. Maybe since I'm like a kid in many ways, I should eat Trix. (Trix are for kids!)
4. Instead, I eat yogurt, or eggs, or sometimes a Luna bar for breakfast. I don't eat cereal because I don't drink milk. I probably shouldn't eat the yogurt, either, but it doesn't seem to bother me and I really want a healthy internal flora in my gut.
5. Leaky gut syndrome is not something I think a lot of physicians acknowledge, but I'm pretty sure have it, and have most of my life.
6. Other things I've had all of my life include allergies, a propensity toward the glass is half-empty view of life, and the notion that I am reincarnated.
7. The reincarnation thing goes back as far as my words, because when I first started to speak I began telling my mother how I lived in a big ol' castle and was killed and buried in Scotland. My mother was so horrified she made me stop telling the story. I don't remember it but she told me about it later.
8. Out
9. of
10. time
11. off
12. to
13. doctor
Wednesday, January 30, 2019
End in Sight
I'm sitting here with my home in total disarray. The bedroom is in the living room and parts of the living room are everywhere.
This is home renovation at its finest. Even here in my office, my most sacred space, I have piles of items around me, things that belong elsewhere. No free space has been spared of a drawer or box.
My house hasn't been this wrecked in years. I guess the last time would have been 2005, when we put down the carpet we are now ridding ourselves of in favor of hardwood flooring.
I have been trying to work on our taxes but it is very hard to think with all of this going on. This morning I went through dresser drawers in the living room, filling a nice big box for donations and another with trash. I threw away every pair of panty hose I own. I have no plans to ever put on a pair again. I always hated those things.
Anyway, the work continues. I'm still here. I know I am privileged to be able to do this, to update my home a bit. We're trying to make it easy for the next 20 years, because we both plan to die here. So we've put handrails in the showers, we're making the floor care easier, and I'm tossing out items whilst we are in the midst of this.
All is good. Just very, very tiring.
 |
| The bedroom is getting new flooring today. |
 |
| Bedroom drawers in the living room. |
 |
| Parts of the living room in the kitchen. |
This is home renovation at its finest. Even here in my office, my most sacred space, I have piles of items around me, things that belong elsewhere. No free space has been spared of a drawer or box.
 |
| Stuff in my office. Yikes! |
My house hasn't been this wrecked in years. I guess the last time would have been 2005, when we put down the carpet we are now ridding ourselves of in favor of hardwood flooring.
I have been trying to work on our taxes but it is very hard to think with all of this going on. This morning I went through dresser drawers in the living room, filling a nice big box for donations and another with trash. I threw away every pair of panty hose I own. I have no plans to ever put on a pair again. I always hated those things.
Anyway, the work continues. I'm still here. I know I am privileged to be able to do this, to update my home a bit. We're trying to make it easy for the next 20 years, because we both plan to die here. So we've put handrails in the showers, we're making the floor care easier, and I'm tossing out items whilst we are in the midst of this.
All is good. Just very, very tiring.
Tuesday, January 29, 2019
Flooring Update
The tile has been redone and is much better. It's smooth! My husband can push his chair back under the table without it getting hung up. He is happy.
They started tearing up the carpet in the living room and installing the engineered hardwood flooring yesterday.
Here are some photos:
It will look nice when it is done but it sure is a pain in the ass to do it. Whew.
They started tearing up the carpet in the living room and installing the engineered hardwood flooring yesterday.
Here are some photos:
 |
| Replaced tile. Notice the carpet on the lower right. |
 |
| Tile against the carpet. |
 |
| Ta da! Hardwood flooring! |
 |
| Hardwood flooring against the tile. |
 |
| Close up of tile against the hardwood. |
Monday, January 28, 2019
Remembering Challenger
Thirty-three years ago today, the space shuttle, Challenger, blasted off from its dock in Florida at Cape Canaveral.
Seventy-three seconds into its voyage, it exploded. All seven people on board died.
When this happened, I was 23 years old. I was driving down Interstate 581 on my way to my part-time job after taking a class at Virginia Western Community College. Since I was an avid fan of the space program, I always watched the launches and I remember being upset that I was missing this launch of Challenger, which was taking the first teacher into space. Since I couldn't see it on TV, I listened to the radio report of the event.
I nearly wrecked the car when I heard the horror in the radio announcer's voice as he cried, "It's breaking up, it's breaking up! Oh my God!"
I began crying, sobbing hard even as I trudged into the office. No one there was aware of the tragedy and I had to beg the attorney to turn on a TV so I could see news footage. I was appalled that no one else at my workplace seemed to share my horror and dismay, but I remember it as well as I do any other national tragedy.
This was the 25th mission for a space shuttle and I fear that by this time it had become "routine" in the minds of the public. We flew into space - big deal. We had stopped expecting catastrophe.
Nothing is routine about a space flight, though. It was, and still is, a big deal. I consider our efforts to take humanity off of earth and into the stars our greatest achievement and our loftiest of goals.
The two minutes of CNN footage of the shuttle blowing up is here; the news media missed the explosion and took too long to realize that something terrible had happened. I have hindsight on my side: I know when I see the smoke what exactly has happened. As the NASA spokesperson says, "obviously there was a major malfunction."
Whatever shrugs the space program had received up to this point disappeared quickly. This disaster was hard on the nation because Christa McAuliffe, the first teacher in space, was on board. Millions of children were watching when Challenger suddenly burst into a ball of smoke and flame.
I admire people who put their life on the line so that we might venture out into the great unknown. The space program, now defunded and derided by those who eschew knowledge and education in favor of fiscal prudence and safety, gave mankind many great innovations. It saddens me that we no longer aim for the stars. We only seem to see the dollar bills floating around at our feet. We no longer look up or to the future.
The space program fostered hopes and dreams. The work gave humanity a sense of common purpose as exploration and accomplishments took place time and time again. If we could go into space, we could do anything. Space exploration was a tremendous step forward and an example of what we could accomplish when we worked together.
It was a glorious time in our history, even when bad things such as the Challenger explosion occurred. We stood for something. We believed in science. We were civilized.
I salute all of those heroes who set off in search of something more than themselves. May we find that bravery once again in this country, which now seems to be a land of cowards, bullies, and bigots, not soul-searchers who would walk amongst the stars.
Seventy-three seconds into its voyage, it exploded. All seven people on board died.
When this happened, I was 23 years old. I was driving down Interstate 581 on my way to my part-time job after taking a class at Virginia Western Community College. Since I was an avid fan of the space program, I always watched the launches and I remember being upset that I was missing this launch of Challenger, which was taking the first teacher into space. Since I couldn't see it on TV, I listened to the radio report of the event.
I nearly wrecked the car when I heard the horror in the radio announcer's voice as he cried, "It's breaking up, it's breaking up! Oh my God!"
I began crying, sobbing hard even as I trudged into the office. No one there was aware of the tragedy and I had to beg the attorney to turn on a TV so I could see news footage. I was appalled that no one else at my workplace seemed to share my horror and dismay, but I remember it as well as I do any other national tragedy.
This was the 25th mission for a space shuttle and I fear that by this time it had become "routine" in the minds of the public. We flew into space - big deal. We had stopped expecting catastrophe.
Nothing is routine about a space flight, though. It was, and still is, a big deal. I consider our efforts to take humanity off of earth and into the stars our greatest achievement and our loftiest of goals.
The two minutes of CNN footage of the shuttle blowing up is here; the news media missed the explosion and took too long to realize that something terrible had happened. I have hindsight on my side: I know when I see the smoke what exactly has happened. As the NASA spokesperson says, "obviously there was a major malfunction."
Whatever shrugs the space program had received up to this point disappeared quickly. This disaster was hard on the nation because Christa McAuliffe, the first teacher in space, was on board. Millions of children were watching when Challenger suddenly burst into a ball of smoke and flame.
I admire people who put their life on the line so that we might venture out into the great unknown. The space program, now defunded and derided by those who eschew knowledge and education in favor of fiscal prudence and safety, gave mankind many great innovations. It saddens me that we no longer aim for the stars. We only seem to see the dollar bills floating around at our feet. We no longer look up or to the future.
The space program fostered hopes and dreams. The work gave humanity a sense of common purpose as exploration and accomplishments took place time and time again. If we could go into space, we could do anything. Space exploration was a tremendous step forward and an example of what we could accomplish when we worked together.
It was a glorious time in our history, even when bad things such as the Challenger explosion occurred. We stood for something. We believed in science. We were civilized.
I salute all of those heroes who set off in search of something more than themselves. May we find that bravery once again in this country, which now seems to be a land of cowards, bullies, and bigots, not soul-searchers who would walk amongst the stars.
Sunday, January 27, 2019
Sunday Stealing
Sunday Stealing
1. What are some small things that make your day better?
A. Hot tea, chocolate, a long hug with my husband, a check in the mail, phone calls from friends or family.
2. What shows are you into?
A. Right now I am into Supergirl and Victoria.
3. What TV channel doesn’t exist but really should?
A. A real Discovery science channel, not one that delves into swamp people or moonshiners or whatever, but offers up real science and explains it in a way that is enjoyable so that you're learning something important while being entertained.
4. Who has impressed you most with what they’ve accomplished?
A. My father. He has built up a multi-million dollar business from nothing.
5. What age do you wish you could permanently be?
A. Early 40s.
6. What TV show or movie do you refuse to watch?
A. I don't watch horror, porn, or things that show a lot of abuse or murder. So I don't watch CSI, Law & Order, or other shows like those.
7. What is something that is considered a luxury, but you don’t think you could live without?
A. My computer.
8. What’s your claim to fame?
A. I wrote for the newspaper and at one time everyone in my community knew my name. They didn't know my face, but they knew my name.
9. What’s something you like to do the old-fashioned way?
A. Talk on the phone. I prefer that to texting.
10. What’s your favorite genre of book or movie?
A. Fantasy.
11. How often do you people watch?
A. Every time I leave the house.
12. What have you only recently formed an opinion about?
A. The political savvy of Nancy Pelosi.
13. What are you interested in that most people haven’t heard of?
A. I Ching. Look it up.
14. What’s the farthest you’ve ever been from home?
A. Paris, France.
15. What is the most heartwarming thing you’ve ever seen?
A. The way my husband looks after his mother.
16. What is the most annoying question that people ask you?
A. When am I going back to work/when will I write a book/ when will I . . .
17. What could you give a 40-minute presentation on with absolutely no preparation?
A. How to write articles for newspapers and magazines.
18. If you were dictator of a small island nation, what crazy dictator stuff would you do?
A. I would give everyone free health care and education. I would have mandatory 40-hour work week (no overtime), all people would be equal regardless of gender, race, sexual preference, etc., football players would make $30,000 a year and firefighters and teachers would make $100,000 a year - there would be no pollution because of strict regulations on such things, the water would be clean, the government would probably be large because we'd need a lot of people to check the food, water, drugs, etc. for quality control. Movies would only cost $2.50 to see and popcorn would be $1.50 a bag.
19. What is something you think everyone should do at least once in their lives?
A. Travel to another country. It is eye-opening and necessary to get out of the bubble that most citizens of the U.S. live in.
__________
I encourage you to visit other participants in Sunday Stealing posts and leave a comment. Cheers to all us thieves who love memes, however we come by them.
1. What are some small things that make your day better?
A. Hot tea, chocolate, a long hug with my husband, a check in the mail, phone calls from friends or family.
2. What shows are you into?
A. Right now I am into Supergirl and Victoria.
3. What TV channel doesn’t exist but really should?
A. A real Discovery science channel, not one that delves into swamp people or moonshiners or whatever, but offers up real science and explains it in a way that is enjoyable so that you're learning something important while being entertained.
4. Who has impressed you most with what they’ve accomplished?
A. My father. He has built up a multi-million dollar business from nothing.
5. What age do you wish you could permanently be?
A. Early 40s.
6. What TV show or movie do you refuse to watch?
A. I don't watch horror, porn, or things that show a lot of abuse or murder. So I don't watch CSI, Law & Order, or other shows like those.
7. What is something that is considered a luxury, but you don’t think you could live without?
A. My computer.
8. What’s your claim to fame?
A. I wrote for the newspaper and at one time everyone in my community knew my name. They didn't know my face, but they knew my name.
9. What’s something you like to do the old-fashioned way?
A. Talk on the phone. I prefer that to texting.
10. What’s your favorite genre of book or movie?
A. Fantasy.
11. How often do you people watch?
A. Every time I leave the house.
12. What have you only recently formed an opinion about?
A. The political savvy of Nancy Pelosi.
13. What are you interested in that most people haven’t heard of?
A. I Ching. Look it up.
14. What’s the farthest you’ve ever been from home?
A. Paris, France.
15. What is the most heartwarming thing you’ve ever seen?
A. The way my husband looks after his mother.
16. What is the most annoying question that people ask you?
A. When am I going back to work/when will I write a book/ when will I . . .
17. What could you give a 40-minute presentation on with absolutely no preparation?
A. How to write articles for newspapers and magazines.
18. If you were dictator of a small island nation, what crazy dictator stuff would you do?
A. I would give everyone free health care and education. I would have mandatory 40-hour work week (no overtime), all people would be equal regardless of gender, race, sexual preference, etc., football players would make $30,000 a year and firefighters and teachers would make $100,000 a year - there would be no pollution because of strict regulations on such things, the water would be clean, the government would probably be large because we'd need a lot of people to check the food, water, drugs, etc. for quality control. Movies would only cost $2.50 to see and popcorn would be $1.50 a bag.
19. What is something you think everyone should do at least once in their lives?
A. Travel to another country. It is eye-opening and necessary to get out of the bubble that most citizens of the U.S. live in.
__________
I encourage you to visit other participants in Sunday Stealing posts and leave a comment. Cheers to all us thieves who love memes, however we come by them.
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