The climate has changed drastically since I was a child. In those days we'd have many summer days in the 80's with only a few in the 90's. Now there are many, many days in the 90's and this is a week full of them, with no respite till Monday.
I'm very lucky to have central air in the house which allows me comfort and escape from the heat but it means I'm closed up inside just like when it's mid winter in Canada. Don't get me wrong, I'm thankful for the air conditioning but just miss the fresh outdoor air.
When I'm out running the roads in my air conditioned car, it's like being hit by a blast furnace when I get out. I don't think human beings were meant to live in temperatures as high as this even though there are countries around the world where it's even hotter.
Sometime in the next few days I have to cut the grass but it will have to be just before dark, maybe 8 P.M., so I can take advantage of the cooler time of day. In early morning the dew is still on the ground which makes it flatten out under the lawnmower wheels.
Wouldn't it be nice if all we had to worry about was being forced to spend a lot of time in an air conditioned house? Sometimes I have to give myself a shake and remember that there are real troubles in the world. Too much heat can addle the brain.
Wednesday, August 01, 2007
Tuesday, July 31, 2007
End of Life
My son-in-law is being sent home from the hospital tomorrow but not because he's recovered. His cancer has reached the stage where there isn't anything more that medical science can do for him so he is going to spend his final days in his own home.
Two years ago David was a powerfully built man of 46 who helped out in any way possible during my husband's illness and death. We had barely begun the healing process of losing my husband when David was diagnosed with kidney cancer. He had the kidney removed and enjoyed a full year of good health until the next diagnosis...the cancer had spread to other parts of his body. It was something that had been feared all along but we had begun to believe he'd be one of the lucky ones because he was doing so well.
It's a known fact that once cancer has spread beyond the primary spot it is difficult to stop and this time was no exception. Despite filling his body with massive doses of deadly drugs the cancer continued to grow.
David has spent almost 2 weeks in the hospital and his condition has failed greatly. The cancer is relentless. But tomorrow he comes home and will be nursed by his loving family until he passes away. He'll be surrounded by the people he loves and also his beloved dogs. Believe it or not, this is the best way we could ever hope for to leave this world.
A hospital bed has already been set up in preparation for his return, professional nursing care is in place, and his family is ready for him.
My daughter asked the doctor how it will all end and was told that David's organs will begin to shut down and his breathing will become erratic until it finally stops. This isn't new to us because we nursed my husband right up to his death and that's what happened then.
Death never seems to come when we are ready for it but when our days are done and it's time to leave this life we should all be as fortunate as David. He'll be in his own home, with his family and dogs, and free of pain.
Two years ago David was a powerfully built man of 46 who helped out in any way possible during my husband's illness and death. We had barely begun the healing process of losing my husband when David was diagnosed with kidney cancer. He had the kidney removed and enjoyed a full year of good health until the next diagnosis...the cancer had spread to other parts of his body. It was something that had been feared all along but we had begun to believe he'd be one of the lucky ones because he was doing so well.
It's a known fact that once cancer has spread beyond the primary spot it is difficult to stop and this time was no exception. Despite filling his body with massive doses of deadly drugs the cancer continued to grow.
David has spent almost 2 weeks in the hospital and his condition has failed greatly. The cancer is relentless. But tomorrow he comes home and will be nursed by his loving family until he passes away. He'll be surrounded by the people he loves and also his beloved dogs. Believe it or not, this is the best way we could ever hope for to leave this world.
A hospital bed has already been set up in preparation for his return, professional nursing care is in place, and his family is ready for him.
My daughter asked the doctor how it will all end and was told that David's organs will begin to shut down and his breathing will become erratic until it finally stops. This isn't new to us because we nursed my husband right up to his death and that's what happened then.
Death never seems to come when we are ready for it but when our days are done and it's time to leave this life we should all be as fortunate as David. He'll be in his own home, with his family and dogs, and free of pain.
Monday, July 30, 2007
Early Morning Riser
Dawn is one of the most beautiful times of the day. It's an awakening time. A touch of light begins to grow in the morning sky notifying the birds that it's time for them to sing.
I love this time of day. The traffic noise in the distance becomes a little louder as more cars hit the road taking their passengers to work. It's nice to know I'm retired and don't have to join that morning rush. I have only two urgencies...first the bathroom and then the coffee pot.
My house is quiet and everything is as neat as I left it the night before. That's one of the benefits of living alone. I start the coffee and then turn on the computer because I can't enjoy my morning without reading my e-mail before I do any actual work.
I turned the air conditioning off last night and opened the bedroom window, allowing the outside air to cool the room and I slept like a baby. It's still lovely and cool outside now so I also have the patio doors open to bring fresh air into the house as I type. My view out the patio doors is of the deck, bejewelled with mounds of flowers and canopied with the lush greenery of surrounding trees. The morning sun is trying valiantly to penetrate the dense foliage but isn't quite strong enough yet. It's so peaceful.
Too soon the sun will rise in full force and emit enough heat to cause me to close up the house once more and resort to air conditioning. But right now the air temperature and the slow pace of an early morning is a joy to behold.
I love this time of day. The traffic noise in the distance becomes a little louder as more cars hit the road taking their passengers to work. It's nice to know I'm retired and don't have to join that morning rush. I have only two urgencies...first the bathroom and then the coffee pot.
My house is quiet and everything is as neat as I left it the night before. That's one of the benefits of living alone. I start the coffee and then turn on the computer because I can't enjoy my morning without reading my e-mail before I do any actual work.
I turned the air conditioning off last night and opened the bedroom window, allowing the outside air to cool the room and I slept like a baby. It's still lovely and cool outside now so I also have the patio doors open to bring fresh air into the house as I type. My view out the patio doors is of the deck, bejewelled with mounds of flowers and canopied with the lush greenery of surrounding trees. The morning sun is trying valiantly to penetrate the dense foliage but isn't quite strong enough yet. It's so peaceful.
Too soon the sun will rise in full force and emit enough heat to cause me to close up the house once more and resort to air conditioning. But right now the air temperature and the slow pace of an early morning is a joy to behold.
Sunday, July 29, 2007
We were the Show at the Mall Today
I always find something to write about when I go to the mall on Sunday to have coffee with my sister but today I think we were the show.
Shelley, my youngest, met us there and it was a nice reunion between her and my sister because they haven't seen each other in two years. We're a close family and my sister is like another mother to my kids.
Shelley's family is still in Argentina but they're keeping in touch by cell phone (can that be as expensive as I think??) and she received a call from them while we were at the mall. Today is her youngest daughter's fifteenth birthday so the three of us gathered close to the phone and sang "Happy Birthday" to her. I don't care how much noise there is in the food court at the mall you still can't sing Happy Birthday quietly enough to go unnoticed.
Sharon's husband, Jim, also came over to join us so he could see Shelley and the four of us sat there for quite a while yakking and laughing. There's something very satisfying about even a little family get-together like this one.
Shelley, my youngest, met us there and it was a nice reunion between her and my sister because they haven't seen each other in two years. We're a close family and my sister is like another mother to my kids.
Shelley's family is still in Argentina but they're keeping in touch by cell phone (can that be as expensive as I think??) and she received a call from them while we were at the mall. Today is her youngest daughter's fifteenth birthday so the three of us gathered close to the phone and sang "Happy Birthday" to her. I don't care how much noise there is in the food court at the mall you still can't sing Happy Birthday quietly enough to go unnoticed.
Sharon's husband, Jim, also came over to join us so he could see Shelley and the four of us sat there for quite a while yakking and laughing. There's something very satisfying about even a little family get-together like this one.
Dinner With the Girls
I had a lovely late evening dinner last night with my three daughters and oldest granddaughter. We seldom have the opportunity to do this because of distance, commitments, or the addition of other family members so it was pretty special for me.
I love to watch the interaction between my three girls because they enjoy each other so much. The love between them is palpable and I'm so thankful they have such a strong relationship.
The attention right now is on Kim, the oldest, because her husband is very ill but there are many facets to our lives and the conversation wasn't always sad. It was apparent that Aeron, my granddaughter was enjoying herself immensely. She's 17 and often the butt of their jokes but they shower a lot of love on her at the same time. It's somewhat like a rite of passage and she's slowly being initiated into their club, to become a full member when she reaches full adulthood.
I sat thinking back to the days when they were conceived and thought how the love of one man and one woman created this picture before me. The only females missing were my youngest daughter's two girls. One day we plan to have a "girls" day and go to Niagara-on-the-Lake so if you are there and see 3 lovely ladies, 3 gorgeous teenage girls, and 1 darned proud old lady, that's us.
I love to watch the interaction between my three girls because they enjoy each other so much. The love between them is palpable and I'm so thankful they have such a strong relationship.
The attention right now is on Kim, the oldest, because her husband is very ill but there are many facets to our lives and the conversation wasn't always sad. It was apparent that Aeron, my granddaughter was enjoying herself immensely. She's 17 and often the butt of their jokes but they shower a lot of love on her at the same time. It's somewhat like a rite of passage and she's slowly being initiated into their club, to become a full member when she reaches full adulthood.
I sat thinking back to the days when they were conceived and thought how the love of one man and one woman created this picture before me. The only females missing were my youngest daughter's two girls. One day we plan to have a "girls" day and go to Niagara-on-the-Lake so if you are there and see 3 lovely ladies, 3 gorgeous teenage girls, and 1 darned proud old lady, that's us.
Saturday, July 28, 2007
My Stories
I began writing a story a few years ago about life after death and I'll be darned if I can find it. I've said before that I'm not a religious person but I believe strongly that we were not put on this earth to exist only for a day or even 100 years. Eternity is not fiction.
Since I couldn't find my old drafts I decided to begin from scratch and it's interesting (at least to me) that the drive to write such a story coincides with the terminal illness of two people close to me. My friend passed away two days ago and my son-in-law has very little time left.
Occasionally I write a story that makes me very proud of it's quality but I'm not getting the same satisfaction with this new one. There's a lot of improvement to be made but this is a blog and not a story being presented to a publisher so I'll continue writing it in my own way, good or not, because it is cathartic.
Life after death should be a concern to all of us because we're all going to pass out of this human life one day. You don't have to be a church goer to have beliefs and hopes for the hereafter and I have my own theories. I believe we go on to another dimension of life but one where there is no evil. I definitely don't want to come back to this earth where there is so much cruelty and unfairness. I want peace and that's the way I see life after death.
On my husband's burial niche there is a brass plaque that reads, "Gone Sailing". That was his passion and I've always hoped that, in his afterlife, he gets to do all the things that made him happy.
I'm a big fan of "being happy" because it includes all the good in life. We're here such a relatively short time so I hope the real payoff comes during eternity. Just imagine...an eternity of happiness, peace, and goodness. I hope my friend is there now.
Since I couldn't find my old drafts I decided to begin from scratch and it's interesting (at least to me) that the drive to write such a story coincides with the terminal illness of two people close to me. My friend passed away two days ago and my son-in-law has very little time left.
Occasionally I write a story that makes me very proud of it's quality but I'm not getting the same satisfaction with this new one. There's a lot of improvement to be made but this is a blog and not a story being presented to a publisher so I'll continue writing it in my own way, good or not, because it is cathartic.
Life after death should be a concern to all of us because we're all going to pass out of this human life one day. You don't have to be a church goer to have beliefs and hopes for the hereafter and I have my own theories. I believe we go on to another dimension of life but one where there is no evil. I definitely don't want to come back to this earth where there is so much cruelty and unfairness. I want peace and that's the way I see life after death.
On my husband's burial niche there is a brass plaque that reads, "Gone Sailing". That was his passion and I've always hoped that, in his afterlife, he gets to do all the things that made him happy.
I'm a big fan of "being happy" because it includes all the good in life. We're here such a relatively short time so I hope the real payoff comes during eternity. Just imagine...an eternity of happiness, peace, and goodness. I hope my friend is there now.
Friday, July 27, 2007
The Trouble With Computers
I recently bought a new computer, got high speed AOL, a whole new welcome page, and have been struggling ever since to find stuff I had with my slow speed AOL 9.0. No-one told me I could still use AOL 9.0 with high speed but my youngest daughter, Shelley, has fixed it all up for me. Now I'm a real happy camper. She also got my camera program into the new computer (something I hadn't been able to do) by going a different route. I barely know one route and certainly have no idea how to even imagine another one.
Now it's such a pleasure to go online and it all looks familiar to me. I need that. Changes throw me for a loop and I have terrible difficulty learning something new on the computer. That's when I realize I both love and hate the damn things. Once I learn the new thing, though, I always wonder what my problem had been because now it has begun to make sense to me.
A while back I was trying to figure out how to put a second picture on my Ebay listing and couldn't understand the directions that Ebay was giving me so I contacted them. They sent me step by step instructions that I'm sure a newborn could have followed...but not me. I raved to anyone within earshot that it shouldn't be this difficult to do something so simple and why couldn't people give plainer instructions, etc., etc., etc., whine, whine, whine!
I sat at the computer one day and decided I wouldn't leave it till I'd mastered adding a second picture to the Ebay listing. I worked dilligently for hours, cursing, crying, and totally frustrated with my inability to understand. Suddenly that proverbial light bulb came on and I understood what they'd all tried to tell me. It was so simple and it had been me being too stubborn to follow the instructions without questioning them. I think the secret to using the computer is to stop using human logic and use mechanical logic instead.
The camera program that Shelley installed is slightly different from the one I've been using so now there'll be a bit more cursing and crying until I get it figured out. I'm just happy to have it, though.
I told Shelley that I'll have to dismantle the whole darned thing when I go to Florida in October because AOL won't let me keep the high speed equipment until I return home in April. I have to mail it all back to AOL or they'll charge me for all the months I'm gone.
She said to let them know what my new plans are for April (going to cable for my internet because I hate the thought of all that dismantling) and they might let me keep their equipment here instead of returning it. Once I return all this *&%$# I will never go back to AOL but, if they're agreeable, I'll stay with them.
The moral here is...be polite but firm. I don't think AOL likes to lose customers but there's no way I want to face the tangle of a hundred wires under my computer twice a year.
Now it's such a pleasure to go online and it all looks familiar to me. I need that. Changes throw me for a loop and I have terrible difficulty learning something new on the computer. That's when I realize I both love and hate the damn things. Once I learn the new thing, though, I always wonder what my problem had been because now it has begun to make sense to me.
A while back I was trying to figure out how to put a second picture on my Ebay listing and couldn't understand the directions that Ebay was giving me so I contacted them. They sent me step by step instructions that I'm sure a newborn could have followed...but not me. I raved to anyone within earshot that it shouldn't be this difficult to do something so simple and why couldn't people give plainer instructions, etc., etc., etc., whine, whine, whine!
I sat at the computer one day and decided I wouldn't leave it till I'd mastered adding a second picture to the Ebay listing. I worked dilligently for hours, cursing, crying, and totally frustrated with my inability to understand. Suddenly that proverbial light bulb came on and I understood what they'd all tried to tell me. It was so simple and it had been me being too stubborn to follow the instructions without questioning them. I think the secret to using the computer is to stop using human logic and use mechanical logic instead.
The camera program that Shelley installed is slightly different from the one I've been using so now there'll be a bit more cursing and crying until I get it figured out. I'm just happy to have it, though.
I told Shelley that I'll have to dismantle the whole darned thing when I go to Florida in October because AOL won't let me keep the high speed equipment until I return home in April. I have to mail it all back to AOL or they'll charge me for all the months I'm gone.
She said to let them know what my new plans are for April (going to cable for my internet because I hate the thought of all that dismantling) and they might let me keep their equipment here instead of returning it. Once I return all this *&%$# I will never go back to AOL but, if they're agreeable, I'll stay with them.
The moral here is...be polite but firm. I don't think AOL likes to lose customers but there's no way I want to face the tangle of a hundred wires under my computer twice a year.
Thursday, July 26, 2007
Doctor's Report
There's a good reason why I hate to see the doctor. He's a sweetheart and will send me for the usual tests because I have high cholesterol but I hate doing it because something else too often shows up.
I got a phone call today about my recent blood tests. I knew as soon as I heard the nurse's voice that I wasn't going to be happy. She said my doctor wants me to come back in because he's not thrilled with the results from the blood tests.
"Why???!", I asked.
"Well, your sugar count is slightly elevated and the cholesterol count isn't as low as he'd like. Your tryglicerides are also too high".
Not having a clue what tryglicerides are (not even sure I'm spelling it correctly), I just wanted to know if it meant I'd have to take more medication. I detest taking any medication whatsoever and only begrudgingly accepted the fact that I needed to take Lipitor to control my cholesterol just a few years ago.
"No", she said, "He'll probably just have you see a dietician and control it with diet". "Diet" is not a nice word to hear, either.
Lately I find myself saying, "It could be worse" an awful lot. But, to tell the truth, it really could be worse, couldn't it?
I got a phone call today about my recent blood tests. I knew as soon as I heard the nurse's voice that I wasn't going to be happy. She said my doctor wants me to come back in because he's not thrilled with the results from the blood tests.
"Why???!", I asked.
"Well, your sugar count is slightly elevated and the cholesterol count isn't as low as he'd like. Your tryglicerides are also too high".
Not having a clue what tryglicerides are (not even sure I'm spelling it correctly), I just wanted to know if it meant I'd have to take more medication. I detest taking any medication whatsoever and only begrudgingly accepted the fact that I needed to take Lipitor to control my cholesterol just a few years ago.
"No", she said, "He'll probably just have you see a dietician and control it with diet". "Diet" is not a nice word to hear, either.
Lately I find myself saying, "It could be worse" an awful lot. But, to tell the truth, it really could be worse, couldn't it?
I Got a Parking Ticket
I consider myself an above average intelligent person but sometimes I do awfully stupid things.
Yesterday I parked at a meter, read it carefully before putting in my money but chose to ignore the tape wrapped around the base of it that stated "no parking between 4 P.M. and 6 P.M. because of rush hour traffic. It was 5 P.M. and there wasn't much traffic so I foolishly thought it would be okay to park there anyway. How dumb can one be? It cost me a $50 fine.
I've noticed that I tend to translate events into what I want them to be and not what they actually are. Is it just me or do other people do that, too? A few years ago my sister-in-law, Faye, and I were travelling back from New Brunswick on Hwy 16 West. At one point we noticed the road signs showed we were on Hwy 16 East. Did we stop and find out how we'd gone wrong? No! We laughed about how the stupid department of transportation had erected the wrong signs and we continued on our way...until we spotted the next one and decided it was possible it was us who might be wrong.
It's the same with the way we look at people. We want to take them at face value and it's shocking when we find out they weren't the kind of people we thought they were. Too often we ignore the signs until we're forced to take a closer look.
Anyway, I'll pay the parking fine and accept the fact that I'm not perfect, and even a little stupid at times.
Yesterday I parked at a meter, read it carefully before putting in my money but chose to ignore the tape wrapped around the base of it that stated "no parking between 4 P.M. and 6 P.M. because of rush hour traffic. It was 5 P.M. and there wasn't much traffic so I foolishly thought it would be okay to park there anyway. How dumb can one be? It cost me a $50 fine.
I've noticed that I tend to translate events into what I want them to be and not what they actually are. Is it just me or do other people do that, too? A few years ago my sister-in-law, Faye, and I were travelling back from New Brunswick on Hwy 16 West. At one point we noticed the road signs showed we were on Hwy 16 East. Did we stop and find out how we'd gone wrong? No! We laughed about how the stupid department of transportation had erected the wrong signs and we continued on our way...until we spotted the next one and decided it was possible it was us who might be wrong.
It's the same with the way we look at people. We want to take them at face value and it's shocking when we find out they weren't the kind of people we thought they were. Too often we ignore the signs until we're forced to take a closer look.
Anyway, I'll pay the parking fine and accept the fact that I'm not perfect, and even a little stupid at times.
Tuesday, July 24, 2007
Banned Books
I just read a short list of books banned around the world and I thought how ridiculous it is to be so frightened of words and ideas.
I understand that blacks (I mean no disrespect in using this word. It's just that I can't keep up with the politically correct changes) don't like the fact that some of the books written years ago show them as subservient or illiterate but those stories represent the times in which they were written. To ban such books is to disregard the real lives some of their ancestors lived and that is most disrespectful.
The witches and sorcery in the Harry Potter series of books terrifies some religious people no matter that good always wins out over evil in those stories.
I don't think any book should be banned but maybe kept out of the hands of children too young to deal with them. Once a child reaches the ripe old age of 16, most of them have seen and heard more on the subject of sex, race, and brutality than anything they'll read in a good novel.
Banning books is archaic. If they're trash then we just won't read them. If they have enlightened thoughts then we'll make up our own minds to agree or disagree. To ban a book is to ban free thought and that's one freedom we should all fight to keep.
I understand that blacks (I mean no disrespect in using this word. It's just that I can't keep up with the politically correct changes) don't like the fact that some of the books written years ago show them as subservient or illiterate but those stories represent the times in which they were written. To ban such books is to disregard the real lives some of their ancestors lived and that is most disrespectful.
The witches and sorcery in the Harry Potter series of books terrifies some religious people no matter that good always wins out over evil in those stories.
I don't think any book should be banned but maybe kept out of the hands of children too young to deal with them. Once a child reaches the ripe old age of 16, most of them have seen and heard more on the subject of sex, race, and brutality than anything they'll read in a good novel.
Banning books is archaic. If they're trash then we just won't read them. If they have enlightened thoughts then we'll make up our own minds to agree or disagree. To ban a book is to ban free thought and that's one freedom we should all fight to keep.
Priorities in Life
Nothing does more to make you take stock of the priorities in your life than to have someone close to you near death. I first noticed this when my husband was ill. So many things begin to lose importance when you open your eyes to the impermanence of life.
People struggle throughout their lives to purchase toys, keep up with the "Jones's", lose weight, gain weight, wear just the right designer clothes. These things become absurd when we face the reality of death.
After a person dies, all of their treasures are dispersed to relatives or friends. Some, which might have been the owner's most beloved items, are sold. So many of the items we collect and treasure are only there from a shallow sense of acquisition lust. How do we convince ourselves that acquiring a ten thousand dollar vase to sit on a shelf is acceptable when there are people in this world living with no roof over their heads or clean water to drink? Maybe these are the priorities we're meant to learn in this life and maybe we'll have no peace until we do.
Today there are two people close to me who are being cared for in hospitals because they are terminally ill. Their basic priorities are to be kept comfortable and have their loved ones nearby. They have no interest in trinkets.
It's a good idea to stop once in a while and really think about the direction you want your life to take. Do you need what you think you need? Or has the media created a false need for you?
I know it's once again time for me to take stock of my own priorities.
People struggle throughout their lives to purchase toys, keep up with the "Jones's", lose weight, gain weight, wear just the right designer clothes. These things become absurd when we face the reality of death.
After a person dies, all of their treasures are dispersed to relatives or friends. Some, which might have been the owner's most beloved items, are sold. So many of the items we collect and treasure are only there from a shallow sense of acquisition lust. How do we convince ourselves that acquiring a ten thousand dollar vase to sit on a shelf is acceptable when there are people in this world living with no roof over their heads or clean water to drink? Maybe these are the priorities we're meant to learn in this life and maybe we'll have no peace until we do.
Today there are two people close to me who are being cared for in hospitals because they are terminally ill. Their basic priorities are to be kept comfortable and have their loved ones nearby. They have no interest in trinkets.
It's a good idea to stop once in a while and really think about the direction you want your life to take. Do you need what you think you need? Or has the media created a false need for you?
I know it's once again time for me to take stock of my own priorities.
Monday, July 23, 2007
Benefits of a Nap
I crawled out of bed at 4 A.M. this morning so by the time 4 P.M. rolled around I was ready for a nap. It's so nice to have nothing much to do, feel sleepy, and just let the drowsiness take you away.
I slept for an hour and a half, awakened only sporadically by some heavy duty snoring...coming from me, I'm sorry to say. I didn't care. There was no-one around to hear it and I needed the nap.
One of the reasons I fight napping is because I sleep too long. If I could power nap, say for half an hour, it wouldn't be so bad but I've been known to nap for up to three hours. It could have something to do with my poor sleep habits through the night. I think I become overtired from not enough nighttime sleep and drop into too deep a sleep during a nap. In any case, I really can get by quite well on about 5-6 hours sleep so napping is rarely necessary. Last night I only slept for 4 hours and that just wasn't enough to get me through the day.
In my younger days I could sleep till noon and still want more but I always felt as though I was wasting my day. I love being up at dawn and I really do get a lot more work done in a day now. They say people need less sleep as they age and I've found that to be true. We realize time is running out and we want to make the most of what's left to us.
I slept for an hour and a half, awakened only sporadically by some heavy duty snoring...coming from me, I'm sorry to say. I didn't care. There was no-one around to hear it and I needed the nap.
One of the reasons I fight napping is because I sleep too long. If I could power nap, say for half an hour, it wouldn't be so bad but I've been known to nap for up to three hours. It could have something to do with my poor sleep habits through the night. I think I become overtired from not enough nighttime sleep and drop into too deep a sleep during a nap. In any case, I really can get by quite well on about 5-6 hours sleep so napping is rarely necessary. Last night I only slept for 4 hours and that just wasn't enough to get me through the day.
In my younger days I could sleep till noon and still want more but I always felt as though I was wasting my day. I love being up at dawn and I really do get a lot more work done in a day now. They say people need less sleep as they age and I've found that to be true. We realize time is running out and we want to make the most of what's left to us.
Butt Cracks
Yesterday was coffee day at the mall with my sister as usual. As we sat drinking our coffee and chattering away I saw my sister's eyebrows rise out of sight into her bangs. She said, "Have a look at that!", and I turned around to see a very heavy young lady sitting sort of leaned over at her table and exposing more than just a butt crack. Her pants had slid down until they were almost underneath her and a very big, extremely exposed behind was there for all the world to see.
Sharon went to get up, saying, "I have to tell her. I'd want someone to tell me".
I tried to stop her, saying, "Don't do it...she doesn't care. She has to know how much of her behind is showing so you're wasting your time".
Sharon hesitated for a moment but decided she had to do her good deed for the day and went over to the butt crack lady and bent down to whisper in her ear. She was very polite and apologetic so no-one around them could have heard what she said.
I heard the butt crack lady say, "Oh!" and then start to laugh. She wasn't one bit embarrassed just as I'd predicted.
My sister came back and sat down, looked over at the lady and said, "She's pulled up her pants just a bit".
I said, "I told you so!".
Sharon went to get up, saying, "I have to tell her. I'd want someone to tell me".
I tried to stop her, saying, "Don't do it...she doesn't care. She has to know how much of her behind is showing so you're wasting your time".
Sharon hesitated for a moment but decided she had to do her good deed for the day and went over to the butt crack lady and bent down to whisper in her ear. She was very polite and apologetic so no-one around them could have heard what she said.
I heard the butt crack lady say, "Oh!" and then start to laugh. She wasn't one bit embarrassed just as I'd predicted.
My sister came back and sat down, looked over at the lady and said, "She's pulled up her pants just a bit".
I said, "I told you so!".
Sunday, July 22, 2007
Where Would We Be Without Family?
There are times in your life when nothing but strong family ties will help you survive. I can't even begin to imagine what those times would be like without a loving and caring family to lean on.
Treasure the good people in your life, whether they be blood relatives, in-laws, or good friends. When life throws you troubles that you can't bear alone, you'll know who will be there for you.
We need all the support we can get right now and the good people around us will be one of the main reasons we make it through the rough days to come.
Treasure the good people in your life, whether they be blood relatives, in-laws, or good friends. When life throws you troubles that you can't bear alone, you'll know who will be there for you.
We need all the support we can get right now and the good people around us will be one of the main reasons we make it through the rough days to come.
Saturday, July 21, 2007
Difficult Day
This was one of those days we hope never comes. My sister-in-law and I visited a friend in the hospital who is failing fast. She's been lucky enough to have a loving, supportive family and a devoted husband who stays by her side and makes sure she is well cared for. It's that bastard, cancer, which is causing her death.
Then I visited my son-in-law who is also very ill with cancer. He's been in the hospital for 2 days now and will stay until they are able to make him more comfortable. He reminded me a lot of my husband when he was sick because they both exhibited such futile anger over their circumstances. Both were strong, independant men completely unused to being helpless and that's what fueled their anger.
As for my friend, I accept that today may be the last chance I had to see her but for my son-in-law, I still have hope that he'll have many more days to enjoy.
We hope and we hope...and miracles do happen, don't they?
Then I visited my son-in-law who is also very ill with cancer. He's been in the hospital for 2 days now and will stay until they are able to make him more comfortable. He reminded me a lot of my husband when he was sick because they both exhibited such futile anger over their circumstances. Both were strong, independant men completely unused to being helpless and that's what fueled their anger.
As for my friend, I accept that today may be the last chance I had to see her but for my son-in-law, I still have hope that he'll have many more days to enjoy.
We hope and we hope...and miracles do happen, don't they?
Friday, July 20, 2007
To Sleep or not to Sleep
The last few nights have been warm so I've left the bedroom window wide open. I hate turning on the air conditioning but with the window open and the ceiling fan on it's very comfortable. The new problem on the block is that my drug dealing neighbor now has a big dog that goes outside when DDN's friends leave in the wee hours of the morning.
I'd just dropped off to sleep when I heard the damn dog barking. There was the usual noise of people talking, albeit quieter than normal, and cars driving away but that big dog has a big bark. I couldn't help but think about when I dogsat my daughter's yappy little dogs and wouldn't think of letting them out in the middle of the night because I didn't want to disturb the neighbors. DDN has no such compunctions.
Luckily I was able to fall back to sleep quickly which is a real blessing for me. I'm beginning to think that the only quiet time on my street is during the winter when the house is closed up and I'm gone.
I'd just dropped off to sleep when I heard the damn dog barking. There was the usual noise of people talking, albeit quieter than normal, and cars driving away but that big dog has a big bark. I couldn't help but think about when I dogsat my daughter's yappy little dogs and wouldn't think of letting them out in the middle of the night because I didn't want to disturb the neighbors. DDN has no such compunctions.
Luckily I was able to fall back to sleep quickly which is a real blessing for me. I'm beginning to think that the only quiet time on my street is during the winter when the house is closed up and I'm gone.
Thursday, July 19, 2007
Where to Buy a Sari
I mentioned before that I was interested in purchasing one of those beautiful saris for the next special occasion. Well, they sell everything on Ebay so that's where I decided to look and lo, and behold, there is an unending supply of the most beautiful saris imaginable.
Some of the ones I looked at were hand embroidered on georgette fabric in colors that were a treat to the eye. The price was $50-60 including shipping from India so that's a bargain.
Now to decide on a color!!
Some of the ones I looked at were hand embroidered on georgette fabric in colors that were a treat to the eye. The price was $50-60 including shipping from India so that's a bargain.
Now to decide on a color!!
Taking Care of Business
One thing I've found difficult in widowhood is that I have to take care of everything with no-one (in the house) to fall back on for advice or to share in the responsibilities. Consequently, I find I'm often flying by the seat of my pants and hoping I've made the right decisions.
I picked up my car yesterday from the body shop and it looks excellent. I don't know how that man was able to match the paint on a 6 year old car but he did. When you consider how much sun the paint has been exposed to because I spend winters in Florida, it must have suffered at least some fading.
He found a lot of Bondo (not sure if that's how you describe it) at the top of the hood by the windshield and thought that spot might have been damaged by a rock at some time. His workmanship was beyond expectations and the hood looks like new.
Later in the afternoon I had a rental water heater installed. I wasn't sure how old the existing one was (found out it was 21 years old!!!) but worried it might rust out and ruin my new floors in the basement so decided to replace it.
I spent hours on the phone and internet trying to decide whether to rent or buy and whether to stay with gas or go back to electric. My good neighbor, among others, suggested it would be best to rent but offered to install one if I decided to buy. How lucky I am to have neighbors like this!
Anyway, I decided to rent and now believe it was the best choice by far that I could have made. Two young men arrived with the new gas water heater, installed it within an hour, removed the old one, and left no mess at all. One of the rather stupid reasons I had for considering changing to electric is that I'm afraid to light a gas one. I've never had to do it because my son-in-law does it for me before I return from Florida in the spring but he's seriously ill and we don't know what the future holds for him.
My dependency on others is a constant concern for me and I've tried to minimize it as much as possible but I lack the ability to do an awful lot of things. This makes me nervous and even a bit angry at times. Fortunately, there's a setting on the water heater for "vacation" which solves that particular problem. The pilot light remains lit but uses very little fuel and I just have to turn it back to "on" when I want full service.
I think my message today will be to other widows or single ladies on their own. You are capable of doing so much more than you ever imagined. Ask questions and make every effort to do for yourself before asking favors of others. Achieving success with your own efforts will boost your self confidence.
My husband was an extremely capable man who took care of most things around the house so I'm fairly new to having to deal with them now. I'm kind of proud of myself for what I've done so far. It's a pretty good feeling!
I picked up my car yesterday from the body shop and it looks excellent. I don't know how that man was able to match the paint on a 6 year old car but he did. When you consider how much sun the paint has been exposed to because I spend winters in Florida, it must have suffered at least some fading.
He found a lot of Bondo (not sure if that's how you describe it) at the top of the hood by the windshield and thought that spot might have been damaged by a rock at some time. His workmanship was beyond expectations and the hood looks like new.
Later in the afternoon I had a rental water heater installed. I wasn't sure how old the existing one was (found out it was 21 years old!!!) but worried it might rust out and ruin my new floors in the basement so decided to replace it.
I spent hours on the phone and internet trying to decide whether to rent or buy and whether to stay with gas or go back to electric. My good neighbor, among others, suggested it would be best to rent but offered to install one if I decided to buy. How lucky I am to have neighbors like this!
Anyway, I decided to rent and now believe it was the best choice by far that I could have made. Two young men arrived with the new gas water heater, installed it within an hour, removed the old one, and left no mess at all. One of the rather stupid reasons I had for considering changing to electric is that I'm afraid to light a gas one. I've never had to do it because my son-in-law does it for me before I return from Florida in the spring but he's seriously ill and we don't know what the future holds for him.
My dependency on others is a constant concern for me and I've tried to minimize it as much as possible but I lack the ability to do an awful lot of things. This makes me nervous and even a bit angry at times. Fortunately, there's a setting on the water heater for "vacation" which solves that particular problem. The pilot light remains lit but uses very little fuel and I just have to turn it back to "on" when I want full service.
I think my message today will be to other widows or single ladies on their own. You are capable of doing so much more than you ever imagined. Ask questions and make every effort to do for yourself before asking favors of others. Achieving success with your own efforts will boost your self confidence.
My husband was an extremely capable man who took care of most things around the house so I'm fairly new to having to deal with them now. I'm kind of proud of myself for what I've done so far. It's a pretty good feeling!
Wednesday, July 18, 2007
The Virginity Ring
Some young girls are wearing a ring on their finger to express their promise to remain virgins until marriage. School officials in England have banned it. They forbid any jewellery with religious symbols because they might be intimidating to other religions. Officials have made an exception in the case of Muslims and Sikhs and also allow crusifixes but they have taken offense with the virginity ring.
My way of thinking is that a great deal of the world's problems stem from indiscriminate sex so the girls who choose to abstain from it until marriage are hurting no-one but their disappointed boyfriends.
I personally don't disapprove of sex outside of marriage but I worry terribly about girls in their early teens engaging in it. They are so young and impressionable and the rampant sexual content of movies, T.V. shows, and song lyrics are convincing them it's the thing to do.
The virginity ring might not keep them virgins until marriage but it might keep them from sharing their bodies until they're old enough to make wise choices.
School officials, whether here or in England, are making rules that are laughable because they use "political correctness" as their guide instead of common sense.
Remember the little 6 year old boy who was tossed out of school in the States because he kissed a classmate on the cheek? And what about allowing Sikhs to bring their religious knives to school? A girl was also expelled for bringing Midol for her menstrual cramps. No drugs allowed, right? Apparently they thought Midol was as corruptive as Heroin.
Our children live in a world where they have to pass through metal detectors at the school entrance. In some schools there are armed guards monitoring the hallways. And now, in England, a young lady is considered a dangerous influence on her fellow pupils because she wears a virginity ring.
Where is the logic?
My way of thinking is that a great deal of the world's problems stem from indiscriminate sex so the girls who choose to abstain from it until marriage are hurting no-one but their disappointed boyfriends.
I personally don't disapprove of sex outside of marriage but I worry terribly about girls in their early teens engaging in it. They are so young and impressionable and the rampant sexual content of movies, T.V. shows, and song lyrics are convincing them it's the thing to do.
The virginity ring might not keep them virgins until marriage but it might keep them from sharing their bodies until they're old enough to make wise choices.
School officials, whether here or in England, are making rules that are laughable because they use "political correctness" as their guide instead of common sense.
Remember the little 6 year old boy who was tossed out of school in the States because he kissed a classmate on the cheek? And what about allowing Sikhs to bring their religious knives to school? A girl was also expelled for bringing Midol for her menstrual cramps. No drugs allowed, right? Apparently they thought Midol was as corruptive as Heroin.
Our children live in a world where they have to pass through metal detectors at the school entrance. In some schools there are armed guards monitoring the hallways. And now, in England, a young lady is considered a dangerous influence on her fellow pupils because she wears a virginity ring.
Where is the logic?
Tuesday, July 17, 2007
What Bird Poop Does to Your Car
Some gigantic bird dropped a load of poop on the hood of my car last winter and I was foolish enough to let it sit there for possibly a week. I'm always in a rush when I get in the car and usually carrying a pile of stuff when I exit it so that's my excuse for not cleaning the mess off sooner.
When I finally cleaned it up I saw that it had eaten away through the clear coat and into the paint. I was horrified at the power of the poop.
My son-in-law was going to paint the car for me but he's become too ill so I went to a local body shop and arranged for them to do the work today. My negligence in cleaning away a hunk of bird poop is going to cost me $200.
Something interesting I found out at the body shop was that my car, purchased when it was 1 year old, had previously been repainted. No-one repaints a year old car unless it's been in an accident but we were never told that at the time of purchase. Apparently it's the law to reveal these things. I guess we were lucky that we haven't had any mechanical problems with the car since we bought it almost 5 years ago.
I plan to keep the car for 2 more years but now wonder what I have to reveal when I sell it. I guess just that I painted the hood and that it had been repainted once before but that I have no knowledge about why it was.
Anyway, I hope the body shop does a good job matching the color. The damage has been done and I learned an expensive lesson...clean up bird poop immediately!
When I finally cleaned it up I saw that it had eaten away through the clear coat and into the paint. I was horrified at the power of the poop.
My son-in-law was going to paint the car for me but he's become too ill so I went to a local body shop and arranged for them to do the work today. My negligence in cleaning away a hunk of bird poop is going to cost me $200.
Something interesting I found out at the body shop was that my car, purchased when it was 1 year old, had previously been repainted. No-one repaints a year old car unless it's been in an accident but we were never told that at the time of purchase. Apparently it's the law to reveal these things. I guess we were lucky that we haven't had any mechanical problems with the car since we bought it almost 5 years ago.
I plan to keep the car for 2 more years but now wonder what I have to reveal when I sell it. I guess just that I painted the hood and that it had been repainted once before but that I have no knowledge about why it was.
Anyway, I hope the body shop does a good job matching the color. The damage has been done and I learned an expensive lesson...clean up bird poop immediately!
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