Normally I love the comedy of Russell Peters but once in a while I hear one of his x-rated skits and become less of a fan. The "F" word doesn't shock me, it just makes me wonder why someone would repeat it over and over just to get a laugh...and why do the idiots in the audience roar with laughter when they hear it? It sort of reminds me of 8 or 9 year old boys who are titillated by the word and use it among themselves to pretend they're worldly grownups. They sound silly. When Russell Peters uses it constantly in a skit it seems terribly unworthy of his true talent.
I guess I'm getting old because the "F" word has become only a nonword with no value in the English language. Over use reveals lack of language skills and is an embarrassment when heard, especially by one of my one time favorite comedians, Russell Peters. So sad to lose you, Russell.
Saturday, June 30, 2012
Mary & Don's House
I visited Mary and Don's house last fall before going to Florida and loved the location. They hadn't actually moved any furniture in at the time but I was very impressed with the work the previous owner had done on the house, gutting it and installing new windows, kitchen, bath, and flooring. This left nothing much for them to do except some finishing touches and building the addition which should begin soon. They also have what looks like a new and huge workshop on the almost 3 acres of land. They got it for a song but it will be much improved by them, too.
Faye and I drove out on Thursday and it was apparent that Mary and Don have been working hard clearing out brush and planting flower and shrub gardens around the house. Big planters overflowing with lush annuals are on the big 2 tier deck and this place looks like a home that is loved and cared for now. Don has already put up the posts that will create a coral for his horse, too. He's a little slow getting things done right now because he was quite ill over the winter and hasn't fully recovered. He has what is known as polymyalgia, an illness that attacks the muscles...it took a while for it to be diagnosed but he's doing better these days. It brought on a mild heart attack in the winter, too, so he's recovering amazingly well.
This home is something that both Don and Mary have wanted for a long time and it would be a shame if illness caused them to have to leave it behind. I'm pretty sure that they'll be fine, though, and have many years in their retirement paradise.
We visited Don's son's family who live close by and they have a slew of animals...horses, cats, and dogs. It's too bad that I'm allergic to cats because one of the kittens was so adorable I almost took a chance to pet it but didn't want to end up with an asthma attack.
Mary, Faye, and I went to the Windsor casino...Faye and I lost but Mary won. She is so damned lucky!! We had a big lunch in the casino restaurant so didn't want much for dinner in the evening. We drank a lot of wine instead. Nice evening. We spent a lot of our spare time during our visit sitting out on the deck and gabbing. It's beautiful countryside and I do envy them that they've found this equally beautiful spot to live in. They are both happier than they've been in a long time because they had a crazy old lady neighbor at their old house who hounded them unmercifully. Now they're living in a sweet spot with huge farmland on every side and with nice neighbors who don't live too close to bother them. Don calls it heaven and I'm sure Mary agrees.
Faye and I left this morning but took the slow route home instead of the major highway. It was a pleasant drive and, of course, we yakked all the way. I love little getaways like this especially when they're spent with some of my most favorite people in the world.
Faye and I drove out on Thursday and it was apparent that Mary and Don have been working hard clearing out brush and planting flower and shrub gardens around the house. Big planters overflowing with lush annuals are on the big 2 tier deck and this place looks like a home that is loved and cared for now. Don has already put up the posts that will create a coral for his horse, too. He's a little slow getting things done right now because he was quite ill over the winter and hasn't fully recovered. He has what is known as polymyalgia, an illness that attacks the muscles...it took a while for it to be diagnosed but he's doing better these days. It brought on a mild heart attack in the winter, too, so he's recovering amazingly well.
This home is something that both Don and Mary have wanted for a long time and it would be a shame if illness caused them to have to leave it behind. I'm pretty sure that they'll be fine, though, and have many years in their retirement paradise.
We visited Don's son's family who live close by and they have a slew of animals...horses, cats, and dogs. It's too bad that I'm allergic to cats because one of the kittens was so adorable I almost took a chance to pet it but didn't want to end up with an asthma attack.
Mary, Faye, and I went to the Windsor casino...Faye and I lost but Mary won. She is so damned lucky!! We had a big lunch in the casino restaurant so didn't want much for dinner in the evening. We drank a lot of wine instead. Nice evening. We spent a lot of our spare time during our visit sitting out on the deck and gabbing. It's beautiful countryside and I do envy them that they've found this equally beautiful spot to live in. They are both happier than they've been in a long time because they had a crazy old lady neighbor at their old house who hounded them unmercifully. Now they're living in a sweet spot with huge farmland on every side and with nice neighbors who don't live too close to bother them. Don calls it heaven and I'm sure Mary agrees.
Faye and I left this morning but took the slow route home instead of the major highway. It was a pleasant drive and, of course, we yakked all the way. I love little getaways like this especially when they're spent with some of my most favorite people in the world.
Tuesday, June 26, 2012
Another Skin Cancer Spot Removed
I see the dermatologist twice a year because of this damn skin I'm cursed with and today I got sprayed and also had a piece on my forehead cut out. It's very near my hair line so I've been told not to wash my hair for a week. A week! I haven't gone more than 2 days (once in a blue moon it's 3 days) without washing my hair since I was a teenager. In the 50's, the air was cleaner and we didn't use hairspray so our hair stayed cleaner longer.
There's a chance that the spot removed wasn't skin cancer but keratosis (I'm not sure I spelled that right), small spots of thickened skin that appear on old people. Sorry about that, young ones! I picked at it when I first noticed it and made it worse but the dermatologist said it looked suspicious enough to warrant removing it to be on the safe side. I trust her expertise and will find out exactly what it was when I go back to her in 2 weeks to have the stitches out.
I was warned that I'll probably end up with a black eye and a headache from the surgery. So far I have the headache and have taken a Tylenol...I rarely have headaches and rarely take anything for pain but the headache is bad enough now and would be awfully uncomfortable if it happened to get worse.
I asked the dermatologist if this skin problem was ever going to ease off and she said probably not, that we'd just have to catch any eruptions early to keep it in check. Once the sun damage is done in our youth, we have to deal with the outcome in our old age. I still see young people, especially in Florida and probably on vacation, with horribly sunburnt skin and it makes me sick. I stop myself from going up and warning them what sun damage like this can do to their skin in later years but I realize they'd just think I was a crazy old lady so I hold my tongue. No-one could have told me all those years ago, either.
Faye and I are going out to stay with Mary for a couple of days and I warned her I'll have dirty hair and have to sleep on my back. Sleeping on my back means much louder snoring and poor Faye will be sharing a room with me. We'll be going to the casino on Friday but I'm not too worried about my appearance there. No-one looks at you in the casino because their attention is locked on their machines.
Oh well, this too shall pass. And some other worry will take it's place. That's life.
There's a chance that the spot removed wasn't skin cancer but keratosis (I'm not sure I spelled that right), small spots of thickened skin that appear on old people. Sorry about that, young ones! I picked at it when I first noticed it and made it worse but the dermatologist said it looked suspicious enough to warrant removing it to be on the safe side. I trust her expertise and will find out exactly what it was when I go back to her in 2 weeks to have the stitches out.
I was warned that I'll probably end up with a black eye and a headache from the surgery. So far I have the headache and have taken a Tylenol...I rarely have headaches and rarely take anything for pain but the headache is bad enough now and would be awfully uncomfortable if it happened to get worse.
I asked the dermatologist if this skin problem was ever going to ease off and she said probably not, that we'd just have to catch any eruptions early to keep it in check. Once the sun damage is done in our youth, we have to deal with the outcome in our old age. I still see young people, especially in Florida and probably on vacation, with horribly sunburnt skin and it makes me sick. I stop myself from going up and warning them what sun damage like this can do to their skin in later years but I realize they'd just think I was a crazy old lady so I hold my tongue. No-one could have told me all those years ago, either.
Faye and I are going out to stay with Mary for a couple of days and I warned her I'll have dirty hair and have to sleep on my back. Sleeping on my back means much louder snoring and poor Faye will be sharing a room with me. We'll be going to the casino on Friday but I'm not too worried about my appearance there. No-one looks at you in the casino because their attention is locked on their machines.
Oh well, this too shall pass. And some other worry will take it's place. That's life.
Monday, June 25, 2012
Benefits of Old Age
I seem to keep accumulating the benefits of old age and what started out as sort of an embarrassment has now become an "okay, I'll take it!".
There's no question that I couldn't remain in my house if I didn't have great neighbors that I know I can run to in any emergency. Isabel and Steve watch over my house in the winter when I'm lolling in Florida. John carts away any trash the garbage truck won't touch. Lisa and Anna keep an eye on my well-being and their father cuts my grass. Wilf snowblows the sidewalk in winter and Steve clears the driveway so he can park in my driveway...making my house look occupied.
We got a new neighbor last month, a young lady who bought the house on her own but who has parents who come over and do her gardening and repairs. Well, her father came to my door last evening to introduce himself and offered to cut my grass when he cuts his daughter's. I barely hesitated before accepting his kind offer.
I'm settling into old age comfortably, gradually more willing to accept help when offered. I'm not sure if this is a good thing or if I'm being selfish, trying to stay in a home I can't fully take care of by myself any more. But I am grateful for the kindness of my neighbors!
There's no question that I couldn't remain in my house if I didn't have great neighbors that I know I can run to in any emergency. Isabel and Steve watch over my house in the winter when I'm lolling in Florida. John carts away any trash the garbage truck won't touch. Lisa and Anna keep an eye on my well-being and their father cuts my grass. Wilf snowblows the sidewalk in winter and Steve clears the driveway so he can park in my driveway...making my house look occupied.
We got a new neighbor last month, a young lady who bought the house on her own but who has parents who come over and do her gardening and repairs. Well, her father came to my door last evening to introduce himself and offered to cut my grass when he cuts his daughter's. I barely hesitated before accepting his kind offer.
I'm settling into old age comfortably, gradually more willing to accept help when offered. I'm not sure if this is a good thing or if I'm being selfish, trying to stay in a home I can't fully take care of by myself any more. But I am grateful for the kindness of my neighbors!
Sunday, June 24, 2012
Trash in the Mail
Yesterday I noticed something sticking out of the mailbox and innocently picked it up. There is no mail here on Saturday so it hadn't come with regular mail. I just about threw up my lunch when I looked at the photo on the front of this sort of postcard (maybe twice the size of a postcard) because, in living color, I was assaulted with a picture of an 8 week aborted fetus.
I was angry enough to check out who had put this in my mailbox and discovered a few websites that had taken responsibility...all sort of ambiguous but definitely from the Right to Life fanatics.
How they had the nerve to place a photo like this at unsuspecting citizen's homes is an absolute shame. I wondered how images like this would affect a child or a grieving woman who had miscarried. It was sent for shock value but the senders didn't care who it shocked or what the effect would be. In their narrow minded fanaticism they were simply trying to prove a point, that a fetus was a potential person, and they believed abortion under any circumstances was wrong.
My personal opinion is that it is a shame for any child to be aborted but we have to weigh that against the right of a woman over her own body. It can't be easy for any woman to choose abortion and she'll probably suffer a degree of shame all of her life but we can't take away her right to choose whether or not to carry a baby to term.
For the "right to lifers", they have no right in the world to leave such offensive material in anyone's mailbox. They have no right to assault passers-by with vivid images of aborted fetuses, either. What they are doing is terrorizing private citizens who might or might not agree with their beliefs.
I was angry enough to check out who had put this in my mailbox and discovered a few websites that had taken responsibility...all sort of ambiguous but definitely from the Right to Life fanatics.
How they had the nerve to place a photo like this at unsuspecting citizen's homes is an absolute shame. I wondered how images like this would affect a child or a grieving woman who had miscarried. It was sent for shock value but the senders didn't care who it shocked or what the effect would be. In their narrow minded fanaticism they were simply trying to prove a point, that a fetus was a potential person, and they believed abortion under any circumstances was wrong.
My personal opinion is that it is a shame for any child to be aborted but we have to weigh that against the right of a woman over her own body. It can't be easy for any woman to choose abortion and she'll probably suffer a degree of shame all of her life but we can't take away her right to choose whether or not to carry a baby to term.
For the "right to lifers", they have no right in the world to leave such offensive material in anyone's mailbox. They have no right to assault passers-by with vivid images of aborted fetuses, either. What they are doing is terrorizing private citizens who might or might not agree with their beliefs.
Friday, June 22, 2012
Teen Weddings
I'm really surprised at how T.V. networks have begun to glorify teen weddings. I think it started with the gypsies who marry their daughters off at 16 or 17 into a life of housework and baby raising. Yesterday I watched a couple of Canadian teen marriages on T.V. and felt nothing but pity for those kids because they have no idea what they've gotten themselves into.
I was 17 and completely in love when I got married. I knew I wasn't ready but it all seemed so romantic to be legally connected to the boy (he was 20) I was so in love with. It wasn't romantic but it was stifling. While my contemporaries were out having fun and getting a good education, I was home with babies while my poor husband worked himself to the bone trying to provide for us. We were deeply in love but we weren't mature enough to handle the tough times we had to go through. That is why no-one should marry until they're 30!
My husband and I weathered the storms and raised 3 wonderful little girls. Money was always an issue because there never was enough to pay the bills let alone go out and have fun on a Saturday night. You might think this wasn't very important but it was to me. When we finally bought a house, money was even tighter but I knew this was a major investment in our lives and had matured enough to be able to put up with very little social life.
As I watched those teenage weddings yesterday and saw their smiling, immature and head in the clouds faces, it was sad to imagine how quickly the smiles would fade when reality set in. What you want when you're 17 is not what you need when you're 27 or 37 and these kids will find that out sooner or later. I wondered if they don't see marriage as the life commitment that it should be but see a divorce in the future as a normal possibility. This wouldn't matter too much if there were no children involved but, when they are, divorce isn't so easy for anyone.
I guess I'm a romantic, but I look upon marriage as a sacred commitment. It shouldn't be taken lightly or at too young an age because you need those life experiences to grow on and to aid you in choosing a partner you can happily grow old with. There are obviously many teenage marriages that did succeed but they'd be a minority. Marriage is a difficult adjustment for an adult to make but immaturity can make it impossible.
Maybe losing personal freedom in my youth makes me more appreciative of the freedom I now have in my old age. It's something I'll treasure and enjoy to the fullest every day I'm granted.
The teens and twenties should be saved for learning about life and not settling down. We used to call it "sowing wild oats" and that's not a bad thing. It's not wise to forfeit your youthful freedom before you've reached maturity because it's likely something you will regret. Sad, but true.
I was 17 and completely in love when I got married. I knew I wasn't ready but it all seemed so romantic to be legally connected to the boy (he was 20) I was so in love with. It wasn't romantic but it was stifling. While my contemporaries were out having fun and getting a good education, I was home with babies while my poor husband worked himself to the bone trying to provide for us. We were deeply in love but we weren't mature enough to handle the tough times we had to go through. That is why no-one should marry until they're 30!
My husband and I weathered the storms and raised 3 wonderful little girls. Money was always an issue because there never was enough to pay the bills let alone go out and have fun on a Saturday night. You might think this wasn't very important but it was to me. When we finally bought a house, money was even tighter but I knew this was a major investment in our lives and had matured enough to be able to put up with very little social life.
As I watched those teenage weddings yesterday and saw their smiling, immature and head in the clouds faces, it was sad to imagine how quickly the smiles would fade when reality set in. What you want when you're 17 is not what you need when you're 27 or 37 and these kids will find that out sooner or later. I wondered if they don't see marriage as the life commitment that it should be but see a divorce in the future as a normal possibility. This wouldn't matter too much if there were no children involved but, when they are, divorce isn't so easy for anyone.
I guess I'm a romantic, but I look upon marriage as a sacred commitment. It shouldn't be taken lightly or at too young an age because you need those life experiences to grow on and to aid you in choosing a partner you can happily grow old with. There are obviously many teenage marriages that did succeed but they'd be a minority. Marriage is a difficult adjustment for an adult to make but immaturity can make it impossible.
Maybe losing personal freedom in my youth makes me more appreciative of the freedom I now have in my old age. It's something I'll treasure and enjoy to the fullest every day I'm granted.
The teens and twenties should be saved for learning about life and not settling down. We used to call it "sowing wild oats" and that's not a bad thing. It's not wise to forfeit your youthful freedom before you've reached maturity because it's likely something you will regret. Sad, but true.
Thursday, June 21, 2012
Big Butt
I remember when it was almost mandatory for a woman to have a small butt but times have changed and now some women even have surgery to make their butts bigger. People are so strange.
I inherited what we refer to as the Kirby butt. Even when I was not much more than 100 pounds, I had what I thought at the time was a bigger than normal behind and it really bothered me as it grew right along with the rest of me as I gained weight over the years. Just about the time I stopped giving a hoot about whether or not people judged me by my backside, big butts came into favor. Tiny little muscular butts are now prized only if they reside on men.
I'm still in the mode where I don't care at all about the size of my behind but now I'm wondering about today's woman who exercises and diets and whose behind will shrink right along with the rest of her. Maybe that's why butt enlargement surgery is becoming popular. People are really strange!
I inherited what we refer to as the Kirby butt. Even when I was not much more than 100 pounds, I had what I thought at the time was a bigger than normal behind and it really bothered me as it grew right along with the rest of me as I gained weight over the years. Just about the time I stopped giving a hoot about whether or not people judged me by my backside, big butts came into favor. Tiny little muscular butts are now prized only if they reside on men.
I'm still in the mode where I don't care at all about the size of my behind but now I'm wondering about today's woman who exercises and diets and whose behind will shrink right along with the rest of her. Maybe that's why butt enlargement surgery is becoming popular. People are really strange!
Wednesday, June 20, 2012
Brothers
It was fun to watch the interaction between these two brothers who look nothing alike and whose personalities are equally different. Nolan is the busy boy and Nash, so gentle and quiet, follows him around just wanting to be near him in play. Nolan pays very little attention to Nash but he does tolerate him well...maybe because Nash isn't a grabber.
The cardboard box that a baby car seat came in is still here and they loved climbing inside. I have lots of toys at my house and all were bought at yard sales so very little money has been spent to entertain them. It isn't greatgrandmaternal (could this be a word??) pride that makes me say they are such good little boys to take care of because it's the truth. The only thing that tires me out is occasionally having to pick up "baby Huey".
It's been a time of thankfulness to the fates that I'm still here to enjoy these little boys. Their greatgrandfather missed out on one of the greatest joys in life by not living long enough to see them. I often think how much he could have taught them, just as he taught his children and his grandchildren.
One of my wishes is that this blog will survive long after I'm gone and these little boys will be able to read it and know how very much I love them. I sure would have loved to read my own ancestors' thoughts no matter how trivial because I am blood of their blood. I hope Nash and Nolan feel this way when they're older.
Tuesday, June 19, 2012
Black Hair
I read an article in the newspaper this morning that more black women are going back to their natural hairstyles and foregoing straightening. Now, I've often wondered why they didn't always do this, anyway. I suppose they straightened it to emulate caucasian hair but pride in their race and heritage is more prevalent these days.
I've noticed in past years the number of black ladies who dealt with often unattractive kinky hair by cutting it very short and that looks nice but the pictures in the newspaper of longer, cuter styles also work well, too. To be honest, I prefer the natural look by far to the often straw-like look of straightened hair. Women, no matter what their race or age, are much better off being as natural as possible. Senior women with dyed black hair do not look younger because the dark hair accentuates their wrinkled little faces!
This is just another example of natural being best.
I've noticed in past years the number of black ladies who dealt with often unattractive kinky hair by cutting it very short and that looks nice but the pictures in the newspaper of longer, cuter styles also work well, too. To be honest, I prefer the natural look by far to the often straw-like look of straightened hair. Women, no matter what their race or age, are much better off being as natural as possible. Senior women with dyed black hair do not look younger because the dark hair accentuates their wrinkled little faces!
This is just another example of natural being best.
Monday, June 18, 2012
Boys Commit Suicide
It broke my heart to hear this morning that two 16 year old boys in my city committed suicide. It's not known yet just why these very young boys felt so hopeless that death seemed their only salvation. It really doesn't matter why they did what they did, but that their lives felt more horrible to them than the prospect of death.
I know that feeling because I've been there and the total despair felt is unbelievably painful. I remember thinking that I didn't want to survive one more second living with that pain. There was no room in my mind for understanding that there is light at the end of the tunnel and that things had to get better one day. When you're in that awful state of mind you cannot think rationally because the emotional pain overwhelms you.
It's such a terrible waste for those boys to have taken their lives. They were only 16 with years of joy and happiness ahead of them if only they could have gotten beyond this moment. There had to have been signs of their misery if only someone had been able to help them pass through the bad times to get to better ones. Totally depressed people can't do it on their own and need the guidance of either a professional or someone they trust.
When I hear of someone committing suicide, I remember again those horrible hopeless and unhappy days when I reached out for help and was heard. I wish someone had heard these boys before they gave up on life.
I know that feeling because I've been there and the total despair felt is unbelievably painful. I remember thinking that I didn't want to survive one more second living with that pain. There was no room in my mind for understanding that there is light at the end of the tunnel and that things had to get better one day. When you're in that awful state of mind you cannot think rationally because the emotional pain overwhelms you.
It's such a terrible waste for those boys to have taken their lives. They were only 16 with years of joy and happiness ahead of them if only they could have gotten beyond this moment. There had to have been signs of their misery if only someone had been able to help them pass through the bad times to get to better ones. Totally depressed people can't do it on their own and need the guidance of either a professional or someone they trust.
When I hear of someone committing suicide, I remember again those horrible hopeless and unhappy days when I reached out for help and was heard. I wish someone had heard these boys before they gave up on life.
Sunday, June 17, 2012
Successful Immigrant
We hear so many nasty stories of people who immigrate into Canada and abuse the welfare system paid for by the hard working Canadians but this isn't one of those stories.
Last week I was selling my goods at a Salvation Army yard sale and, as usual, met a lot of interesting and very nice people. It's been my experience in life that about 99.9% of the people you meet are very nice and the other .1% are the tiny minority that unfairly make us think that mankind is a scourge on the earth.
One of my customers was a lovely lady who had come alone to Canada from Africa in 1989 as a 21 year old woman who spoke no English. She studied and took advantage of all the programs available to immigrants aimed at helping them settle into their new country. I'm not sure if she said she was a registered nurse or a nursing assistant but she now specializes in foot care at various clinics in the city. She said that Canada is the most wonderful country in the world and you can make anything you want of yourself here if you work hard. I was so impressed by this lady who is the epitome of what we want our immigrants to be.
She made us laugh when she added that she'd gone back to her birth country and dragged her boyfriend back here to Canada, married him and produced 2 sons. Her sons have a mother to be proud of, too, because she was awfully brave to come half way across the world on her own in order to make a better life for herself and her offspring.
She also added that she sends money home regularly to her mother who takes in homeless children and who is providing the basics of life for 7 of them right now. We never really know or appreciate how good we have it in Canada until we hear stories like this, do we? Life in Africa (she didn't say which country) is like nothing we native Canadians have ever experienced.
Something I've enjoyed very much is the freedom we senior women have to converse with strangers, even men, because there is no misunderstanding of our intentions. I wasn't nearly so chatty in my younger years but age has given me confidence and I love the chances I get to meet interesting people and learn a bit about them. By opening up like this, I've expanded my world and that's a good thing.
Last week I was selling my goods at a Salvation Army yard sale and, as usual, met a lot of interesting and very nice people. It's been my experience in life that about 99.9% of the people you meet are very nice and the other .1% are the tiny minority that unfairly make us think that mankind is a scourge on the earth.
One of my customers was a lovely lady who had come alone to Canada from Africa in 1989 as a 21 year old woman who spoke no English. She studied and took advantage of all the programs available to immigrants aimed at helping them settle into their new country. I'm not sure if she said she was a registered nurse or a nursing assistant but she now specializes in foot care at various clinics in the city. She said that Canada is the most wonderful country in the world and you can make anything you want of yourself here if you work hard. I was so impressed by this lady who is the epitome of what we want our immigrants to be.
She made us laugh when she added that she'd gone back to her birth country and dragged her boyfriend back here to Canada, married him and produced 2 sons. Her sons have a mother to be proud of, too, because she was awfully brave to come half way across the world on her own in order to make a better life for herself and her offspring.
She also added that she sends money home regularly to her mother who takes in homeless children and who is providing the basics of life for 7 of them right now. We never really know or appreciate how good we have it in Canada until we hear stories like this, do we? Life in Africa (she didn't say which country) is like nothing we native Canadians have ever experienced.
Something I've enjoyed very much is the freedom we senior women have to converse with strangers, even men, because there is no misunderstanding of our intentions. I wasn't nearly so chatty in my younger years but age has given me confidence and I love the chances I get to meet interesting people and learn a bit about them. By opening up like this, I've expanded my world and that's a good thing.
Saturday, June 16, 2012
Mulch is Nice
"Seniors for Seniors" charges me about $20 per hour plus tax and I consider that well worth the cost if I don't have to lug heavy bags of mulch to do the job myself. I'm hoping it won't need to be done again (after topping it up this year) for a couple of years. Nick (from S for S) was here 2 hours, worked kind of slow but, after all, he is a senior, too.
I'm really happy with the way it looks and I'm hoping the small hosta in the sort of bare spot fills out nicely this summer. I've always planted impatiens or portulaca in that garden to fill in but I now prefer the mulch instead because it has such a nice, neat appearance.
I still need to do some trimming in the back yard but the bulk of work is mostly done and the annuals (what's left after the damn squirrels got into them!!) are filling out beautifully. I remember when I thought squirrels were cute but that's before they moved into my house uninvited. They're nothing but rats with bushy tails and they cause more damage to houses and gardens than I ever could have imagined. They're out of my house now but I guess there's no way to keep them out of the garden. Sometimes I wish Dennis was back with his slingshot!
Friday, June 15, 2012
Daredevil or Whackadoodle?
I'm a nervous wreck after just watching the 20 all time daredevil stunts on T.V. This was the prelude to Nik Wallenda's tightrope walk across Niagara Falls but, even though I'm worried about him, at least he will be tethered to the rope and there's little danger of him actually falling to his death. At least I hope not.
Mountain climbers, rock climbers, deep sea divers, motorcycle jumpers...I have no idea how they can take such unbelievable chances with their lives. Whatever it is that makes them different from most of us, I simply can't identify with it. Children often do dangerous things but that's mainly from their ignorance of potentially harmful outcomes. Adults who make their living performing death defying stunts absolutely confound me.
I seldom, maybe never, take chances of any kind because I'm scared to death of being incapacitated. I do remember taking silly chances when I was a teenager (stupidity), and a few when I was in my twenties or thirties (total stupidity because I realized by then that I was truly endangering myself). It doesn't make sense to me to take a chance with your wellbeing so I guess that makes me a wuss. Don't care!! I am what I am.
I'm going to be glued to the T.V. this evening to watch Wallenda and I'll be hoping he makes it safely. Unfortunately, the water and the winds will cause his rope to move an undetermined amount so I'm not sure he'll succeed. I am ever so happy that he reluctantly agreed to be tethered to it because, if I knew he was going to be up there with nothing to save him, I couldn't have watched. Donna said it would be more exciting if he wasn't tethered but maybe she's more of a daredevil than I am. I guess everybody is.
Don't get me wrong. I admire people who eagerly go to the edge and beyond but I don't understand them. It's possible that their "fear" response is hampered and if it wasn't for their extreme skills they would have died a long time ago. Nik Wallenda comes from a family tradition of tightrope walking so he's inherited a great talent to go along with what must have been a lifetime of training. I hope he steps off that rope at the end of his stunt, smiling and thrilled with his accomplishment...but I'll never understand why in the world he wanted to do it in the first place.
Note: Well, he made it...and I'm emotionally drained from the experience. I fortified myself with a hefty gin and tonic but my hands were sweaty from nerves as I watched him. We could hear him carrying on conversations as he plodded along and it about drove me crazy wishing he'd shut up and concentrate on the walk. Near the end, we heard him thanking Jesus so we know his faith also gave him strength and courage. His face was so calm the whole time and, heaven help us, he actually ran the last few feet and that's when I almost lost it. Nik Wallenda performed the next to impossible tonight and, if nothing else, he proved that man's abilities soar much higher than most of us ever thought they could. What a man! What a talent!
Mountain climbers, rock climbers, deep sea divers, motorcycle jumpers...I have no idea how they can take such unbelievable chances with their lives. Whatever it is that makes them different from most of us, I simply can't identify with it. Children often do dangerous things but that's mainly from their ignorance of potentially harmful outcomes. Adults who make their living performing death defying stunts absolutely confound me.
I seldom, maybe never, take chances of any kind because I'm scared to death of being incapacitated. I do remember taking silly chances when I was a teenager (stupidity), and a few when I was in my twenties or thirties (total stupidity because I realized by then that I was truly endangering myself). It doesn't make sense to me to take a chance with your wellbeing so I guess that makes me a wuss. Don't care!! I am what I am.
I'm going to be glued to the T.V. this evening to watch Wallenda and I'll be hoping he makes it safely. Unfortunately, the water and the winds will cause his rope to move an undetermined amount so I'm not sure he'll succeed. I am ever so happy that he reluctantly agreed to be tethered to it because, if I knew he was going to be up there with nothing to save him, I couldn't have watched. Donna said it would be more exciting if he wasn't tethered but maybe she's more of a daredevil than I am. I guess everybody is.
Don't get me wrong. I admire people who eagerly go to the edge and beyond but I don't understand them. It's possible that their "fear" response is hampered and if it wasn't for their extreme skills they would have died a long time ago. Nik Wallenda comes from a family tradition of tightrope walking so he's inherited a great talent to go along with what must have been a lifetime of training. I hope he steps off that rope at the end of his stunt, smiling and thrilled with his accomplishment...but I'll never understand why in the world he wanted to do it in the first place.
Note: Well, he made it...and I'm emotionally drained from the experience. I fortified myself with a hefty gin and tonic but my hands were sweaty from nerves as I watched him. We could hear him carrying on conversations as he plodded along and it about drove me crazy wishing he'd shut up and concentrate on the walk. Near the end, we heard him thanking Jesus so we know his faith also gave him strength and courage. His face was so calm the whole time and, heaven help us, he actually ran the last few feet and that's when I almost lost it. Nik Wallenda performed the next to impossible tonight and, if nothing else, he proved that man's abilities soar much higher than most of us ever thought they could. What a man! What a talent!
Thursday, June 14, 2012
Feeling Not Too Bad
One thing about doing a bit of hard physical labor is that you're guaranteed a good night's sleep and that's what I had last night. My poor muscles are still a tiny bit sore but not nearly as bad as I'd thought they'd be. I'm ready to go back out there this morning and tackle a bit more weeding and bush trimming.
I'm not ashamed to say that I hate doing physical labor because I happen to be just a tad lazy. It's one thing to spend hours Swedish weaving but it's a whole other ball game to be slugging it out in the garden. Occasional weeding and trimming isn't the problem, it's the huge preparatory work in the spring and fall that I don't look forward to at all. As long as I'm in my house, I guess I'll just have to find a way to deal with it, though. My plans for living in an apartment do include potted plants on the balcony and, in a way, I'm looking forward to that.
My plans for today include a bit of yard work this morning and then driving over to Indigo to find the tea that Donna has turned me on to. In my research I've also found out that there is a mug called an infuser which has a separate section on the bottom to hold tea leaves and not allow them to get into your tea. I plan to buy an infuser and some of that lovely blueberry tea (or similar) that Donna brings over. Then I plan to take it easy for the rest of the day, drinking the tea.
Life is good...and if it isn't, there's usually something you can do to make it good.
I'm not ashamed to say that I hate doing physical labor because I happen to be just a tad lazy. It's one thing to spend hours Swedish weaving but it's a whole other ball game to be slugging it out in the garden. Occasional weeding and trimming isn't the problem, it's the huge preparatory work in the spring and fall that I don't look forward to at all. As long as I'm in my house, I guess I'll just have to find a way to deal with it, though. My plans for living in an apartment do include potted plants on the balcony and, in a way, I'm looking forward to that.
My plans for today include a bit of yard work this morning and then driving over to Indigo to find the tea that Donna has turned me on to. In my research I've also found out that there is a mug called an infuser which has a separate section on the bottom to hold tea leaves and not allow them to get into your tea. I plan to buy an infuser and some of that lovely blueberry tea (or similar) that Donna brings over. Then I plan to take it easy for the rest of the day, drinking the tea.
Life is good...and if it isn't, there's usually something you can do to make it good.
Wednesday, June 13, 2012
Spent
We use that expression, "spent", when we darned well have a reservoir of energy left to tap but this morning I exhausted every last iota of energy I had. I was, indeed, spent.
I've waited for a nice coolish, dry morning to attack my front garden where intense weeding and trimming was needed before setting down mulch. There was very little weeding done last summer because of the skin cancer on my lip which left me fearful to be out in the sun. The fact that my front garden wasn't totally over-run with weeds is testament to how well it's been regularly weeded over previous years. But the stars aligned and the weather was perfect to do the job this morning so out I went.
My plan was to weed the largest part, spread newspapers in small sections and then spread mulch there. I'd move along as I finished each area. Well, my first problem was that the mulch bags were too heavy for me to lift so I managed to put one in the recycling box and drag it with great difficulty close to where it would be needed. Dragging wasn't too hard on the driveway but it was wicked hard to do on the grass and that's when my strength began to wane.
There was no way I could lift the bags to spread the mulch so I got out a pot in order to fill it and then spread the small amount I could actually carry. It worked well but took forever. Each potful had to be carried up to the back of the flower bed which is uneven and decorated with large rocks. I've been worried all along about twisting my knees but that didn't happen today, thank heavens. After a couple of hours and many, many trips with my little pot, I realized that this wasn't going to work so I gave in and phoned "Seniors for Seniors" to hire some help. They can't come today, of course, but maybe tomorrow.
With the mulch problem out of the way, I decided to trim back some bushes in the garden and also my crazy shaped weeping tree. I pretty well got it done before my strength was totally "spent" and I felt there was just enough left to get me up the stairs, into the house, and onto the couch. And I really was spent in energy and brain function! As I sat on the sofa, breathing hard and wondering if I just might die, it occurred to me that I'm an old gal now and it was awfully stupid of me to try to do all this work by myself. I hope I'm not stupid enough to try it again next year but there are no promises.
Cindy phoned and was mad at me for doing it because she'd already said that she and Don would do it for me but I hate to wait and I hate to put my problems on them. I'm hoping that "Seniors for Seniors" will work out well for me and I can hire them for odd jobs in the future, too.
Note: Don't handle red mulch with your bare hands. I had a heck of a time trying to clean my fingernails when I was done.
Update: A gentleman named Nick is going to come here on Saturday morning. I hope we don't have high winds between now and then because I've already laid out some newspapers in the garden and I don't want them to blow away.
I've waited for a nice coolish, dry morning to attack my front garden where intense weeding and trimming was needed before setting down mulch. There was very little weeding done last summer because of the skin cancer on my lip which left me fearful to be out in the sun. The fact that my front garden wasn't totally over-run with weeds is testament to how well it's been regularly weeded over previous years. But the stars aligned and the weather was perfect to do the job this morning so out I went.
My plan was to weed the largest part, spread newspapers in small sections and then spread mulch there. I'd move along as I finished each area. Well, my first problem was that the mulch bags were too heavy for me to lift so I managed to put one in the recycling box and drag it with great difficulty close to where it would be needed. Dragging wasn't too hard on the driveway but it was wicked hard to do on the grass and that's when my strength began to wane.
There was no way I could lift the bags to spread the mulch so I got out a pot in order to fill it and then spread the small amount I could actually carry. It worked well but took forever. Each potful had to be carried up to the back of the flower bed which is uneven and decorated with large rocks. I've been worried all along about twisting my knees but that didn't happen today, thank heavens. After a couple of hours and many, many trips with my little pot, I realized that this wasn't going to work so I gave in and phoned "Seniors for Seniors" to hire some help. They can't come today, of course, but maybe tomorrow.
With the mulch problem out of the way, I decided to trim back some bushes in the garden and also my crazy shaped weeping tree. I pretty well got it done before my strength was totally "spent" and I felt there was just enough left to get me up the stairs, into the house, and onto the couch. And I really was spent in energy and brain function! As I sat on the sofa, breathing hard and wondering if I just might die, it occurred to me that I'm an old gal now and it was awfully stupid of me to try to do all this work by myself. I hope I'm not stupid enough to try it again next year but there are no promises.
Cindy phoned and was mad at me for doing it because she'd already said that she and Don would do it for me but I hate to wait and I hate to put my problems on them. I'm hoping that "Seniors for Seniors" will work out well for me and I can hire them for odd jobs in the future, too.
Note: Don't handle red mulch with your bare hands. I had a heck of a time trying to clean my fingernails when I was done.
Update: A gentleman named Nick is going to come here on Saturday morning. I hope we don't have high winds between now and then because I've already laid out some newspapers in the garden and I don't want them to blow away.
Tuesday, June 12, 2012
I'm Only a GG
This morning I went over to Nick's house to watch the boys while he was on a conference call. It's only for an hour, just long enough so that I don't get tired of the boys and they don't get tired of me.
As I was leaving for home, Nick brought the boys to the front door to give me kisses and hugs goodbye. Nolan said, "Bye, GG.". Nick said, "Bye, Gramma."
Nolan, aghast at what he thought a big mistake by his father, said, "No, Daddy, she's a GG, not a Gramma!". I heard Nick trying to explain to Nolan that I was Nolan's GG but I was Daddy's Gramma but Nolan would have no part of it. In his mind, you are one thing and I, apparently, can only be a GG. He, in turn, is the center of the universe.
I often wonder what young people think of us oldsters and if they think we've always been wrinkled and frail. Do they understand that once upon a time we were agile, strong, and beautiful creatures just like them? Probably not. Maybe it's best they don't dwell too much on the toll time takes on a body.
As I was leaving for home, Nick brought the boys to the front door to give me kisses and hugs goodbye. Nolan said, "Bye, GG.". Nick said, "Bye, Gramma."
Nolan, aghast at what he thought a big mistake by his father, said, "No, Daddy, she's a GG, not a Gramma!". I heard Nick trying to explain to Nolan that I was Nolan's GG but I was Daddy's Gramma but Nolan would have no part of it. In his mind, you are one thing and I, apparently, can only be a GG. He, in turn, is the center of the universe.
I often wonder what young people think of us oldsters and if they think we've always been wrinkled and frail. Do they understand that once upon a time we were agile, strong, and beautiful creatures just like them? Probably not. Maybe it's best they don't dwell too much on the toll time takes on a body.
Sunday, June 10, 2012
Poverty
There's a lot of talk lately about children living in poverty and how horrible it is. Well, I and many of my family and friends were terribly impoverished in our childhood and I've seldom heard any of them say they suffered much from it at all. There are different kinds of poverty and that's what well-to-do people just can't understand. They seem to equate lack of monetary means as the equivalent of living a life of hell and that just isn't necessarily so.
For most of my youth, I lived in a tiny 2 room apartment that shared a bathroom with 3 other families. I slept in one bed with my mother and sister, too, and my grandparents slept on the sofabed. But, and this is important...the little apartment was clean and we all ate 3 decent meals per day. Our clothes were all washed by hand and ironed. No, it wasn't perfect and there were drawbacks that you see in any family no matter what their income happens to be but I never felt poor.
Some of my family also come from what you'd call poverty but they gained their happiness in childhood from having many siblings to play with. Their bond was strong in childhood and remains strong in adulthood. All of them used their intelligence and tenacity to prosper in life, too, and they can claim at least one millionaire among them.
We all came from the working poor so that could have made a difference. There is a pride among the working poor that is missing from welfare recipients. Having a parent or parents who work hard every day even if the paycheck is small gives you hope that you can maybe do better with your own life. If a family stays on welfare for generations, it seems to make them lazy and unwilling to assert themselves.
There is no shame in being one of the working poor because circumstances affect everyone but I do wish that our government would make sure that by working, even for minimum wage, people would be better off than if they just sat on their butts and collected welfare. There are some programs in effect but not nearly enough.
Every time I hear on the news about how horrible it is for a child brought up in poverty, I know the speaker has never experienced it themselves. "Poor" is often a frame of mind and not always low income reality.
For most of my youth, I lived in a tiny 2 room apartment that shared a bathroom with 3 other families. I slept in one bed with my mother and sister, too, and my grandparents slept on the sofabed. But, and this is important...the little apartment was clean and we all ate 3 decent meals per day. Our clothes were all washed by hand and ironed. No, it wasn't perfect and there were drawbacks that you see in any family no matter what their income happens to be but I never felt poor.
Some of my family also come from what you'd call poverty but they gained their happiness in childhood from having many siblings to play with. Their bond was strong in childhood and remains strong in adulthood. All of them used their intelligence and tenacity to prosper in life, too, and they can claim at least one millionaire among them.
We all came from the working poor so that could have made a difference. There is a pride among the working poor that is missing from welfare recipients. Having a parent or parents who work hard every day even if the paycheck is small gives you hope that you can maybe do better with your own life. If a family stays on welfare for generations, it seems to make them lazy and unwilling to assert themselves.
There is no shame in being one of the working poor because circumstances affect everyone but I do wish that our government would make sure that by working, even for minimum wage, people would be better off than if they just sat on their butts and collected welfare. There are some programs in effect but not nearly enough.
Every time I hear on the news about how horrible it is for a child brought up in poverty, I know the speaker has never experienced it themselves. "Poor" is often a frame of mind and not always low income reality.
Saturday, June 09, 2012
Salvation Army Yard Sale
It was a dark and stormy morning for a yard sale but at least my rented tables were inside the building. Cindy and Don arrived about 6:45 A.M. to help load up some merchandise in their vehicle and Kim arrived about 15 minutes later. She drove with me and all 4 of us unloaded the 2 cars and carted everything inside. I'm not sure I could handle these sales without help and I do feel kind of guilty for dragging my poor family into my ventures. They say they like it but I hear a lot of moans and groans when I mention the early departure times.
Don is new to these sales and was lots of help setting up and good enough to hang around with us all morning when I'm sure he would have been happier somewhere else. He's seeming more like a son-in-law every day.
Sales started out slowly and I began to just hope to make enough to cover the table rental...$30...but I was really pleased to see sales pick up and give me about a $120 profit for the morning which I think was better than I'd ever had before. Donna came and stayed with us for a while and then Faye and Wayne showed up. Wayne is visiting for the week and it was so good to see him after such a long time. I'll be having dinner at Faye's tomorrow night and getting to see him again, hopefully for a nice long chat.
One of the tables I rented was for household goods that I just wanted to get rid of so anything not sold was left there as a donation. That made it a lot easier than repacking it and taking it to the Salvation Army store I usually do. I'm looking forward to the next yard sale there in September. Two sales a year will suit me just fine.
I managed an afternoon nap before going over to Kim's for a birthday dinner for Nick. He was 28 on June 7th but it seems like just yesterday he was my sweet baby grandson #1. He's now my sweet manly grandson #1. Nolan and Nash kept us entertained as usual. They are so precious. We're a lucky family to have so many loving and loved members.
It finally got a little too hectic and noisy for me so I headed home to my quiet abode and settled in to an evening of T.V. and computer time. I cherish my alone time just as long as I don't have it all the time. It's nice to have a good mixture of social activity and solitude, at least that's how I like it.
All in all, I had a terrific day. I got to spend a lot of time with some of the people I love most and then I also got to meet some really interesting people at the yard sale, too. My dinner was cooked for me by Kim and then I got to hang out with Nick, Natasha, Nolan, Nash, and Matt, too. And when I began to yearn for my quiet house, I could just say my goodbyes and leave. Being an elder has some darned nice advantages.
Don is new to these sales and was lots of help setting up and good enough to hang around with us all morning when I'm sure he would have been happier somewhere else. He's seeming more like a son-in-law every day.
Sales started out slowly and I began to just hope to make enough to cover the table rental...$30...but I was really pleased to see sales pick up and give me about a $120 profit for the morning which I think was better than I'd ever had before. Donna came and stayed with us for a while and then Faye and Wayne showed up. Wayne is visiting for the week and it was so good to see him after such a long time. I'll be having dinner at Faye's tomorrow night and getting to see him again, hopefully for a nice long chat.
One of the tables I rented was for household goods that I just wanted to get rid of so anything not sold was left there as a donation. That made it a lot easier than repacking it and taking it to the Salvation Army store I usually do. I'm looking forward to the next yard sale there in September. Two sales a year will suit me just fine.
I managed an afternoon nap before going over to Kim's for a birthday dinner for Nick. He was 28 on June 7th but it seems like just yesterday he was my sweet baby grandson #1. He's now my sweet manly grandson #1. Nolan and Nash kept us entertained as usual. They are so precious. We're a lucky family to have so many loving and loved members.
It finally got a little too hectic and noisy for me so I headed home to my quiet abode and settled in to an evening of T.V. and computer time. I cherish my alone time just as long as I don't have it all the time. It's nice to have a good mixture of social activity and solitude, at least that's how I like it.
All in all, I had a terrific day. I got to spend a lot of time with some of the people I love most and then I also got to meet some really interesting people at the yard sale, too. My dinner was cooked for me by Kim and then I got to hang out with Nick, Natasha, Nolan, Nash, and Matt, too. And when I began to yearn for my quiet house, I could just say my goodbyes and leave. Being an elder has some darned nice advantages.
Friday, June 08, 2012
A Long Distance Telephone Plan and "65"
My sister-in-law, Marilee, lives in Newfoundland but she came to Florida this winter and learned how to play "65". This card game was the game of the winter for us and we played it at least 3 nights a week at the park. Marilee loved the game just as much as the rest of us and tonight invited 5 of her friends to a nice dinner with cards afterwards.
I'd just settled down to a quiet evening of playing games on the computer (not near as much fun as playing with a bunch of buddies in Florida) when the phone rang. It was Marilee asking me to help remind her how to play "65". She had her friends,Paulette, Linda, Shirley, Ellen, and Sheila patiently waiting while Marilee called long distance to Ontario for instructions. I'm assuming she has a generous long distance plan on her phone.
I explained as best I could long distance, all the while wishing I was there with them because they sounded like they were having a great time. We got through 3 cards, then 4 when I felt they understood it well enough for me to leave them on their own. It isn't a difficult game but I'm not sure how many healthy drinks were being consumed around the table. The bunch in Florida never drink during a game because we can manage to screw it up royally without ever touching a drop.
Thanks to the beauty of a long distance telephone plan, Marilee is free to call me again if they get into trouble. I would really love to be there with them, though!
I'd just settled down to a quiet evening of playing games on the computer (not near as much fun as playing with a bunch of buddies in Florida) when the phone rang. It was Marilee asking me to help remind her how to play "65". She had her friends,Paulette, Linda, Shirley, Ellen, and Sheila patiently waiting while Marilee called long distance to Ontario for instructions. I'm assuming she has a generous long distance plan on her phone.
I explained as best I could long distance, all the while wishing I was there with them because they sounded like they were having a great time. We got through 3 cards, then 4 when I felt they understood it well enough for me to leave them on their own. It isn't a difficult game but I'm not sure how many healthy drinks were being consumed around the table. The bunch in Florida never drink during a game because we can manage to screw it up royally without ever touching a drop.
Thanks to the beauty of a long distance telephone plan, Marilee is free to call me again if they get into trouble. I would really love to be there with them, though!
Thursday, June 07, 2012
Hidden Talents
I just watched an interesting spot on the news channel about a man who became a piano virtuoso after a severe blow to the head. He'd had no piano training in his life but did play the guitar so there was some musical ability prior to his injury. After his injury, he was drawn to sit at a friend's piano and immediately began playing as though he'd had classical training. Doctors believe the blow unleashed a "savant" ability in his brain but they really don't know anything for certain.
This is all part and parcel of my belief that, since we use only 10% of our brains, we are all potential geniuses or seers. We only need the knowledge on how to tap into these potentials hidden away in the other 90%.
I was thinking earlier that my interest in writing is hampered by my inability to follow through with anything requiring lengthy commitment. In other words, I tend to jump from one project to another in order to stave off boredom. To be a good writer you need to stick to it and I've chosen to scatter my interests. On another blog, I did stick to it for longer than usual and wrote a few chapters of a novel I'd carried in my head for a long time. I think I drifted away from it about 2 years ago and haven't returned. The story line is a good one but I felt my writing wasn't so I sort of gave up. I admire, but don't understand, how some writers can work on their novel for years before submitting it. I'm a lazy writer, preferring to write as I speak so blogging suits me fine.
Back to the pianist...he loves his new talent and hopes it won't disappear in time. His injury has caused continuing headaches but he feels that's a small price to pay for the pleasure he now receives from playing the piano. Wouldn't it be wonderful if all of us could find out just what talents lay buried in our brains?
This is all part and parcel of my belief that, since we use only 10% of our brains, we are all potential geniuses or seers. We only need the knowledge on how to tap into these potentials hidden away in the other 90%.
I was thinking earlier that my interest in writing is hampered by my inability to follow through with anything requiring lengthy commitment. In other words, I tend to jump from one project to another in order to stave off boredom. To be a good writer you need to stick to it and I've chosen to scatter my interests. On another blog, I did stick to it for longer than usual and wrote a few chapters of a novel I'd carried in my head for a long time. I think I drifted away from it about 2 years ago and haven't returned. The story line is a good one but I felt my writing wasn't so I sort of gave up. I admire, but don't understand, how some writers can work on their novel for years before submitting it. I'm a lazy writer, preferring to write as I speak so blogging suits me fine.
Back to the pianist...he loves his new talent and hopes it won't disappear in time. His injury has caused continuing headaches but he feels that's a small price to pay for the pleasure he now receives from playing the piano. Wouldn't it be wonderful if all of us could find out just what talents lay buried in our brains?
Wednesday, June 06, 2012
Being Accepted by Nash
Nash is 15 months old so he has no real memory of his GG. Since he doesn't take to strangers, I came home from wintering in Florida and I'm a stranger to him. He's gone from screaming and cringing when he first sees me to letting me touch him and occasionally cuddle a bit. This is progress and I can't wait for the day he runs to me when he sees me.
Children all behave so differently. Some are terrified of strangers and others are more curious which is easier to take. I feel so darned privileged when a youngster who doesn't know me will let me cuddle them. It's quite an honor, really, because it shows trust on their part.
Nash is a horse of a baby, sturdy as a rock and gentle as a lamb. He doesn't look as though he'd be afraid of anything but he sure doesn't like strangers in his little life. I'm proud to say that he doesn't consider me a stranger any more but I'm not a well loved GG just yet. I know I will be in time, though, because his nature is so very sweet.
Children all behave so differently. Some are terrified of strangers and others are more curious which is easier to take. I feel so darned privileged when a youngster who doesn't know me will let me cuddle them. It's quite an honor, really, because it shows trust on their part.
Nash is a horse of a baby, sturdy as a rock and gentle as a lamb. He doesn't look as though he'd be afraid of anything but he sure doesn't like strangers in his little life. I'm proud to say that he doesn't consider me a stranger any more but I'm not a well loved GG just yet. I know I will be in time, though, because his nature is so very sweet.
Tuesday, June 05, 2012
Queen Elizabeth
She may be a very nice old lady but Queen Elizabeth of England has no place in today's modern world. When we see the pageantry involved everywhere she visits, the outrageous cost to public funds just can't be justified. She has no power and no apparent use other than to parade in front of the public and slowly wave her hand. I often think she must be bored to tears.
What mystifies me is that she seems to be more popular with the Americans than she is with Canadians. I'm completely confused as to why anyone would line up for hours jammed in massive crowds to watch her ride by and wave. Again, she might be very nice but I just don't understand her popularity and the need for royalty in our world. I better understand the adoration of a world leader who actually does something useful for the people.
Queen Elizabeth visited my city when I was 11 years old and greeted us at the football stadium. We children were given the day off school and possibly bused (I forget) to the stadium where we cheered wildly and loudly as she stood on a stage and waved at us. I remember I lost my voice from yelling. I also remember that she meant nothing to me at the time and that I only yelled because it was fun to do. She was a pretty young woman then and hadn't been appointed "Queen" but we knew that one day she would be but also wondered why we needed one. That was 1951 and here she is, still waving, and maybe more popular than she was then. It's a strange world.
We need more heroes, people who have made a difference to the world and contributed something of importance. We don't need figureheads who wave at us as they stroll or drive by, no matter how nice they are.
What mystifies me is that she seems to be more popular with the Americans than she is with Canadians. I'm completely confused as to why anyone would line up for hours jammed in massive crowds to watch her ride by and wave. Again, she might be very nice but I just don't understand her popularity and the need for royalty in our world. I better understand the adoration of a world leader who actually does something useful for the people.
Queen Elizabeth visited my city when I was 11 years old and greeted us at the football stadium. We children were given the day off school and possibly bused (I forget) to the stadium where we cheered wildly and loudly as she stood on a stage and waved at us. I remember I lost my voice from yelling. I also remember that she meant nothing to me at the time and that I only yelled because it was fun to do. She was a pretty young woman then and hadn't been appointed "Queen" but we knew that one day she would be but also wondered why we needed one. That was 1951 and here she is, still waving, and maybe more popular than she was then. It's a strange world.
We need more heroes, people who have made a difference to the world and contributed something of importance. We don't need figureheads who wave at us as they stroll or drive by, no matter how nice they are.
Monday, June 04, 2012
Scam Letter
The following is a letter received by my sister last week. Anyone receiving such a letter is advised that this is a scam!!!
HERNANDEZ & SOCIALS SERVICES
Calle de Goya 86, 28009 Madrid Espana. Tel. +34 602 647 854 Fax: +34 911 820 141
Date: 25.05/2012
ATTORNEY: Alejandro Mendez Casillas
EMAIL: mcasillas@hernandezsocios.eu
PRIVATE MAIL: alejandrom.esq@gmail.com
(Your name & address)
Dear-----
My names are Alejandro Mendez Casillas and I work with Hernandez & Social Services,Spain. Actually I got your contact information through the Canadian public records while searching for a last name similar to my late client's a business magnate by name of Tomasz ((your name)), who lived in Spain for over a decade prior to his death, he died along with his nuclear family during the Tsunami catastrophe ((could be any catastrophe)), which occurred December 2004.
Prior to my explaining further, I must first make an apology for this unsolicited mail to you. I am conscious that this is certainly not a predictable way of approach to foster a relationship of trust but because of the circumstances and urgency surrounding this claim. Before the catastrophe; He deposited One Trunk Box/Diplomatic Personal Treasure, containing the sum of $9.4M 9NINE MILLION, FOUR HUNDRED THOUSAND US DOLLARS) with a Safe Security Company here in Spain, because of security and personal reasons he did not disclose the exact content of deposited diplomatic box to the SAFE HOUSE. As the attorney to late Tomasz ----, the security company has mandated me to present a member of his family (heir/inheritor) to make Claims or the vault will be confiscated and taken to the Bureau of Diplomatic Security as unclaimed.
After exhaustive efforts of search for a direct family member to my late client which came to no avail, I was given an ultimatum to look for some relative to come for the claim or have the Vault liquidated and made unserviceable in accordance with existing laws. Against this backdrop, my suggestion to you is that I will like you to stand as the next of kin. I know you may not be anyway related to my late client but having a common surname with him and the modality I have in place I can guarantee that if you follow my instruction (The rule of laws) and capitalizing of some judicial loop holes the vault will be release to us.
Mind you that this transaction is 100% risk free; there is no atom of risk connected to this business as I have worked out all modalities to complete the operation effectively. Once the consignment (vault) is released to you, we shall divide the content in the ratio of 50% for you, 50% for me as our benefit. ($4.7 Million each) Kindly indicate your responses to this mail either via email address above, you can also call or send me a fax for further clarification.
Please be kind to get back to me if you are not willing to collaborate with me so that I can further my search for another partner.
Kind regards,
Barrister: Alejandro Casillas
Private Email: casalejandro.esq@gmail.com
Now, we are all greedy little devils and the letter did sound a little promising in the first half but then came the info that the sender was trying to con the recipient of the letter into committing a crime with him. At this point, I felt there might actually be such an account but it certainly didn't belong to anyone related to my sister (the recipient) so I told my sister and her husband not to send any money to this person because a request for some was sure to follow. I went online and simply keyed in the name on the letterhead and came up with dozens of such letters sent across Canada for the last couple of years. This was a major scam and, unfortunately, some of the people who received the letter sent both money and personal information to Spain.
A rule of thumb to go by is to never, ever send money or personal info without consulting your own lawyer first. I guess that even before consulting your lawyer, just go online and do some of your own research. Unethical people with always try to dupe the unwary and play on the greed that is in all of us. We can only be forewarned and forearmed against them.
HERNANDEZ & SOCIALS SERVICES
Calle de Goya 86, 28009 Madrid Espana. Tel. +34 602 647 854 Fax: +34 911 820 141
Date: 25.05/2012
ATTORNEY: Alejandro Mendez Casillas
EMAIL: mcasillas@hernandezsocios.eu
PRIVATE MAIL: alejandrom.esq@gmail.com
(Your name & address)
Dear-----
My names are Alejandro Mendez Casillas and I work with Hernandez & Social Services,Spain. Actually I got your contact information through the Canadian public records while searching for a last name similar to my late client's a business magnate by name of Tomasz ((your name)), who lived in Spain for over a decade prior to his death, he died along with his nuclear family during the Tsunami catastrophe ((could be any catastrophe)), which occurred December 2004.
Prior to my explaining further, I must first make an apology for this unsolicited mail to you. I am conscious that this is certainly not a predictable way of approach to foster a relationship of trust but because of the circumstances and urgency surrounding this claim. Before the catastrophe; He deposited One Trunk Box/Diplomatic Personal Treasure, containing the sum of $9.4M 9NINE MILLION, FOUR HUNDRED THOUSAND US DOLLARS) with a Safe Security Company here in Spain, because of security and personal reasons he did not disclose the exact content of deposited diplomatic box to the SAFE HOUSE. As the attorney to late Tomasz ----, the security company has mandated me to present a member of his family (heir/inheritor) to make Claims or the vault will be confiscated and taken to the Bureau of Diplomatic Security as unclaimed.
After exhaustive efforts of search for a direct family member to my late client which came to no avail, I was given an ultimatum to look for some relative to come for the claim or have the Vault liquidated and made unserviceable in accordance with existing laws. Against this backdrop, my suggestion to you is that I will like you to stand as the next of kin. I know you may not be anyway related to my late client but having a common surname with him and the modality I have in place I can guarantee that if you follow my instruction (The rule of laws) and capitalizing of some judicial loop holes the vault will be release to us.
Mind you that this transaction is 100% risk free; there is no atom of risk connected to this business as I have worked out all modalities to complete the operation effectively. Once the consignment (vault) is released to you, we shall divide the content in the ratio of 50% for you, 50% for me as our benefit. ($4.7 Million each) Kindly indicate your responses to this mail either via email address above, you can also call or send me a fax for further clarification.
Please be kind to get back to me if you are not willing to collaborate with me so that I can further my search for another partner.
Kind regards,
Barrister: Alejandro Casillas
Private Email: casalejandro.esq@gmail.com
Now, we are all greedy little devils and the letter did sound a little promising in the first half but then came the info that the sender was trying to con the recipient of the letter into committing a crime with him. At this point, I felt there might actually be such an account but it certainly didn't belong to anyone related to my sister (the recipient) so I told my sister and her husband not to send any money to this person because a request for some was sure to follow. I went online and simply keyed in the name on the letterhead and came up with dozens of such letters sent across Canada for the last couple of years. This was a major scam and, unfortunately, some of the people who received the letter sent both money and personal information to Spain.
A rule of thumb to go by is to never, ever send money or personal info without consulting your own lawyer first. I guess that even before consulting your lawyer, just go online and do some of your own research. Unethical people with always try to dupe the unwary and play on the greed that is in all of us. We can only be forewarned and forearmed against them.
Sunday, June 03, 2012
Mean Comments
There's a little bit of the "bitch" in all of us but Mary and I got talking last night about how some people will make the cruellest comments right to your face. When that happens to me, I wonder what it is in that person that they have the compulsion to openly say the nasty things they are thinking. Most of us might think nasty things but most of us have the sense to not say them out loud, especially to the person they're directed at.
It's usually said where no-one else can hear it and judge them so it's cowardly, too. When someone speaks to you in such a way, you're usually so surprised that you don't have a good comeback but those words will fester in you forever. Someone made a comment to me maybe 40 years ago about a couple of pounds I'd put on and it was so biting that I've never forgotten it. It was said by someone who mattered very little to me, too, so words can hurt even if tossed at you by a person you don't think much of.
There are people in this world who get a kick out of bullying in that way so we can't really escape them. Ann Landers used to have a perfect comeback for people who asked inappropriate questions. She'd say, "Why would you ask me something like that?". If nothing else, we could use the same comeback when accosted by mean comments.
"Why would you say something like that?" would put the mean person on the defensive and I bet they'd be scrambling for an answer to make themselves look like something other than the fool they are.
It's usually said where no-one else can hear it and judge them so it's cowardly, too. When someone speaks to you in such a way, you're usually so surprised that you don't have a good comeback but those words will fester in you forever. Someone made a comment to me maybe 40 years ago about a couple of pounds I'd put on and it was so biting that I've never forgotten it. It was said by someone who mattered very little to me, too, so words can hurt even if tossed at you by a person you don't think much of.
There are people in this world who get a kick out of bullying in that way so we can't really escape them. Ann Landers used to have a perfect comeback for people who asked inappropriate questions. She'd say, "Why would you ask me something like that?". If nothing else, we could use the same comeback when accosted by mean comments.
"Why would you say something like that?" would put the mean person on the defensive and I bet they'd be scrambling for an answer to make themselves look like something other than the fool they are.
Friday, June 01, 2012
Getting Religion
I'm wondering if it might be wise for me to join a church. Yesterday I went to the casino and lost all my money. This morning I heard the squirrels running around in the attic so I know they haven't been evicted yet. A couple of hours ago I put a load of laundry in the washer and, when I went down to see if it was done, discovered my laundryroom flooded. I'm still sane but I wonder for how long. Maybe getting religion could save me.
About still being sane...I'm more numb to be honest.
About still being sane...I'm more numb to be honest.
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