It’s important to get rid of your mental noise once in a while, and you don’t need a balcony or a pier to do that. We’re all so busy, it’s hard to remember to take time out for quiet. Fortunately, it takes very little forethought to take an adult “time out.” For instance, try this some Saturday morning.
“Dumbfounded” by Matt Rothschild
Before I even started reading this memoir, I had to chuckle over the Author’s Note. Matt wrote:
“I’m not going to feed you that same old baloney about how memory is imperfect…The truth is that while everything in this book happened, it didn’t always happen the way I say it did. Sometimes I changed names or descriptions of people and places. Big deal. Sometimes I altered chronology…made people look foolish when they weren’t so foolish, made people look good when they were fools…–I know you’ll love this one–said things happened in one place when they really happened somewhere else. Okay, so maybe that is a big deal…Some of this stuff is damn funny and some of it’s tragic. Just don’t take the window dressing too literally.”
DO NOT Keep a Diary
About a week ago, I sent an email out to several friends asking them to share a favorite childhood memory with me. Many of the those who replied were the same people who have been telling me they can’t write.
If you’ve been reading my blog for a while, you know I strongly feel everyone should be writing something –anything– so that the only thing one leaves behind isn’t just ashes. What would be the point of your being here if that’s all you leave?
Don’t even think about keeping a diary. Because you probably won’t.
The Saga Of The Squirrels
It was 7:00 a.m. I sat on the porch sipping tea when it happened. First, I heard the loud flutter of wings swooping to the ground, and then I saw the landing, It was a hawk gunning for two squirrels, who minutes before were running around the trunk of a tree, playing and squealing at each other.
“Auditions” by Barbara Walters
Even before you read one word of Barbara’s book, you understand what a remarkable life she has led. Printed inside the front and back covers are the names of all the people she has interviewed–the famous and the infamous.
Things My Mother Told Me
My mother would say to me,”Don’t spray cologne on your neck.”
Here’s her rationale. The skin under your chin, the “front” of your neck, is thin, delicate skin. It is one of the first places where people show their age. Since the first ingredient in cologne is alcohol, this is NOT a good thing to spray on your neck year after year after year. Her advice–spritz a little to the “back” of your neck, your wrists and the inside of your elbows.
6 Ways To Beat The Cost Of Groceries
- Don’t throw those leftover veggies in the garbage. Save them in a large container in the freezer. Keep adding to it. Leftover beef and chicken can be collected in the same container. Chop meat into cubes before adding. When the container is full, dump it into a pot of broth (chicken, beef or vegetable). Better still use some low-sodium bouillon cubes. It’s such a healthy meal, you don’t have to feel guilty about serving it with a big loaf of Italian or French bread.
Happiness Is A Walk In The Rain - Spontaneity
Last Saturday afternoon, as I was getting ready to walk home from my friend Bev’s house, the clouds shuddered and an unexpected shower of rain began pelting the windows. It sounded good to me. It sounded like bad timing to Bev.
2008 Beijing Olympics Opening Ceremony
08/08/08 A propitious day in China, believed to bring prosperity, and to China’s utter delight, an opportunity to perform for the world–The Olympic Opening Ceremony.
Write a Memoir - Share a Memory
Every once in a while, I feel the necessity to encourage people to write and record a memory or two. I often suggest this to friends and I receive a variety of responses:
“I’m not a writer.”
“Nothing interesting has happened in my life.”
“No one would be interested in reading anything I could write.”
“I’m uncomfortable revealing incidents from my life.”
“I don’t have the time.”
“I wouldn’t know what to write about.”
10 Ways To Stretch Your Dollar
These are things I have been doing to ease the pain of high gas prices, high food prices and the devaluation of the dollar.
Text Messaging Is Bad, I Think, Maybe
I don’t text message. What I mean is, I don’t send them and I don’t receive them because I don’t use a cell phone. I don’t own one, I don’t want one, and I hope I never have to rely on one. That said, I do understand why people feel they need to have one.
Remembering George Carlin
I loved George Carlin. Even when I didn’t agree with what he was saying, he could make me double over and laugh my head off. A lot of things he pointed out tickled my funny bone.
Politics especially got his juices flowing. Some of his famous political one liners include:
“In America, anyone can become president. That’s the problem.”
“Fighting for peace is like screwing for virginity.”
Things I Hate
Since I wrote all about things that I love last week, it seems only fair that I write about a few things I hated in the 80’s and still hate in 2008.
Things I Love
Years ago, and I’m talking back in the early 80’s, I made two lists. One was titled “Things I Love” and the other was “Things I Hate.” Why would I do that? I have no idea. Maybe just because I love to make lists. I’m a list-maker, okay?
Anyway, I came across these lists a few days ago and I read the “love list” to see if I had changed much over the years.
Italian Beef Casserole
I have been a cooking fool today. You can always tell when I’ve been cooking up a storm–my kitchen is a mess. But the results are usually excellent. Here’s what’s been cookin’.
Italian Beef Casserole
10% Ethanol Added To Your Gas - Lovely
Have you noticed whether your gas station is putting ethanol in their gas? Have you noticed that your gas mileage has decreased?
Patience and Perseverance
I’ve been recuperating from surgery and, believe me, it takes a lot of perseverance. I long to be 100% better, but recovery comes in small doses. It’s so gradual I can hardly recognize any change from day to day. I wish I could manufacture a little more patience. I admit I’m not known for a high patience quotient. I got to wondering how other people manage to persevere.
Party Lines - The Good Old Days
When I was a young, precocious, probably not so well-behaved youngster, I often stayed with my grandmother while my mother and father worked. Every chance I got, when my grandmother wasn’t looking, I’d pick up the telephone and listen for voices. Back in the 50’s, most people had party lines, a telephone line that was shared between two or three people. I didn’t know it at the time, but it must have had something to do with the scarcity of phone lines. I loved that party line.
Year of the Ox
As I mentioned last week, I am currently writing astrology articles for Lifescript.com. If you were born in a Year of the Ox, or if you want to find out if you were, take a look.
Year of the Rat & Aura Colors
I have recently become the Resident Expert on Astrology at LifeScript.com. So, instead of finding my usual post here, I will direct you to my latest articles at LifeScript. If you are interested in Chinese Astology, you might enjoy reading about predictions for the Year of the Rat.
Or you may be interested in Aura Colors . Take the Aura Color Test.
My Mother
It’s May, and Mother’s Day is right around the corner. This is the time of year I especially miss my mother. I’ve mentioned several times in this blog that I regret not asking her more questions about herself. But every year when May rolls around, I realize I do actually know a lot about her, if not everything.
For instance, I didn’t know it then, but I see it clearly now in retrospect, she was a feminist before that word even existed.
Hospitals–Do They Help Or Hinder Recuperation?
For quite some time, I have been putting off cervical neck surgery. Unfortunately, disk degeneration goes on hiatus for no man. Finally, one is forced to accept the truth–it’s time to face the music and have surgery.
Too bad the surgery requires a stay in the hospital afterwards, because things ain’t like they were “in the old days.”
QVC, Amazon.com–What Could Be Easier?
Have you noticed it’s getting easier and easier to spend money?
Last week, I received a tiny booklet in the mail from QVC, which contained my very own personal membership number. To tell you the truth I wasn’t surprised, since a few weeks before I had somehow lost my mind while watching their programming. I bought three sterling silver rings, a bracelet, and some lovely food containers–all in one night.
Laughter, Laugh, Laughing, Giggle
Darn it…I missed Belly Laugh Day on January 24th. I bet you did, too. What a pity, because researchers are finding more and more evidence that laughter contains some pretty awesome benefits for our bodies and minds.
There’s a lot of research to prove the claims, but really now, haven’t you always known that laughing makes you feel good?
Reminisce - The 50’s
The other day, I described to a friend of mine (much younger than I) the one and only time I could remember an entire movie theater audience jumping out of their seats to dance in the aisles. It was a crazy, spontaneous phenomena. One minute everyone was in their seats, the next they were dancing wildly wherever they could find an open spot.
That was in 1955. The movie was Blackboard Jungle. The song that roused everyone from their seats was Rock Around The Clock performed by Bill Haley and the Comets.
Shake It Up, Baby
I am always surprised when someone tells me “back in the day,” they followed a local band from club to club whenever word got around that their favorite band would be appearing. I lived in Pennsylvania at the time, and the band we were crazy about was The Greaseband. We traveled all over to see them and dance to their music.
At Your Own Risk
Last Wednesday, March 19th, I took part in a Telephone Conference sponsored by the Breast Cancer Fund. They had just released their latest report showing the connection between the Environment and Breast Cancer. One of the points I found most troubling was the undeniable fact that early exposure to toxic chemicals increases one’s risk of contracting cancer as an adult.
The Breast Cancer Website not only lists its findings, but it also lists Federal and State Recommendations to put into place in an effort to make our environment cleaner and safer. Although there are some strong advocates in Congress; Rep. Louise Slaughter, Sen. Orrin Hatch, Rep. Nancy Pelosi and Sen. Hillary Clinton, to name a few, it should come as no great shock that the amount of time it takes Congress to enact laws, especially those having to do with the environment, could take years.
Therefore, I suggest starting at the ground level–in your own home.
Keltic Dreams, Corned Beef & Cabbage, And How To Catch A Leprechaun
Every year, when St. Patrick’s Day approaches, I think about cooking up some corned beef and cabbage. Nine times out of ten, I pull out a big pot and spend the rest of the day smelling the aroma of Ireland. The dish is easy to make, but oh so time-consuming.
I think what really put me in the mood this year was an email I received this past week about the popularity of Irish Dance at a school in the Bronx. The New York Times wrote about the music teacher and posted one of the most heartwarming videos I’ve seen in a long, long time. I’m so used to seeing bad news that the sight of these inner city kids kicking up their heels gave me goose bumps, it really did. Go here to see the video — Keltic Dreams.
First the Soapbox, Then Mom’s Italian Wedding Soup Recipe
Okay, I’m on my soapbox again, encouraging you to write something this week about yourself. If you do, I can almost guarantee one of your children or your grandchildren will thank you someday. You are living in their “good old days.”
I can’t tell you how many times I could kick myself for not asking my mother more questions about her life. Now it’s too late. The only things I have of hers, in her own handwriting, are a few recipes she gave me over the years. At least when I see her handwriting on the page, it helps me to remember other small things about her. I’m going to share one of her recipes with you at the end of this post.
This Blog Awarded E for Excellence
Can you believe it? My blog has been awarded the E for Excellence by Catherine from The Political Voices of Women.
Along with the award comes the opportunity to award the big “E” to ten of my favorite blogs. Here goes.
Classic Cars
I saw three classic cars this past week! And they weren’t sitting on display at a car exhibition. They were actually on the road with someone behind the wheel driving them. The sight of each one made my heart sing.
The first one I saw was unmistakable, a Chevy BelAir.
Why More Americans Are Working Past Age 55
That was the title of a recent article in Charles Schwab’s investment magazine, which the company sends out to its investors. They could’ve changed the age to 62 or 65. The answer would be the same, but it took them more than 200 words to say medical insurance costs are outrageously high even if you’re old enough to be covered by Medicare.
And the article also noted:
“Many older workers saw their retirement portfolios balloon during the late 1990s bull market and opted to retire early. However the bursting of the technology-fueled bubble and the resulting bear market between 2000 and 2002 dramatically devalued those new retirees’ portfolios. Subsequently, some Americans who had taken early retirement found they had to return to work.”
There was no mention of the fact that even with the new drug plans, retirees still can’t afford to buy all the drugs they need.
And think about this–many senior citizens didn’t save a dime while they were younger. So, the answer to the question, why are they still working? They have to!
A Short, But Incredible, Friendship
These pictures were taken near the coast of Canada’s Hudson Bay. A polar bear sees sled dogs.
Arthritis Of The Eye
Can you believe there is such a thing as Arthritis of the Eye? Well, there is and I’ve got it.
The eye’s version of arthritis is call Uveitis. Some doctors believe it follows an infection of some type, but if you suffer from arthritis, it almost certainly is related. And it’s hard to diagnose. This is the fourth time I’ve experienced an outbreak, but it wasn’t until the third episode that it was finally diagnosed.
…This can be confounding to the patient and the doctor when the infection has long passed at the time of presentation with arthritis or eye inflammation…
Surprisingly, it even has political overtones–who would’ve thought!
Hatha Yoga Or A Pedicure
I got it into my head that I should try yoga. Pretty much, the only things I know about yoga are, it’s a form of relaxation, it helps with flexibility, it’s good for one’s balance and it doesn’t require me to bounce around too much.
I had one problem with the yoga class; it’s held at my local hospital for the 55+ gang on Tuesday evenings and, as it happened, I had an appointment to get a pedicure last Tuesday. Pretty much, what I know about pedicures is it’s a form of relaxation, your feet and legs receive a massage and it, too, requires no bouncing.
Hmm. What to choose, what to choose…
Elvis
If you’ve been following my blog, you know I swept in and out of Memphis, TN with two friends for a three day weekend last month. We packed in a lot of sightseeing and activities, but we didn’t have time to visit the King’s house–Elvis, that is.
I happened to mention that fact to one of my younger co-workers shortly after I returned. And she said to me, “You call that guy who died on his toilet from a drug overdose a king?”
How To Buy A Car In 2008
It doesn’t happen that often, but when it’s time for me to buy a new car, I cringe. Last Saturday, I thought I had myself talked into visiting some car dealerships to test drive a few cars. But when Saturday rolled around, I couldn’t make myself go. My insides seized up, my head began to pound and I think I actually had a panic attack. I couldn’t leave the house.
By Monday, after giving it some serious thought over the weekend, I decided there must be a better way. Maybe if I didn’t have to deal face to face with a salesman, I might be able to hold on to my sanity.
“Bucket List” “Done That List” “No Guts List”
Recently, I’ve seen coming attractions on TV about a new movie starring Jack Nicholson and Morgan Freeman called The Bucket List. From the few snipets I’ve caught, it appears their list contains things they’ve both dreamt about doing before they kick the bucket.
I have a list like that, too, although I never thought to name mine the bucket list. And happily, my list spawned a Done That List.
New Year’s Resolutions and Non-Resolutions
I don’t do it anymore–make New Year’s Resolutions, that is. After 60+ years, I know better.
Evidently, I’m in good company. Mark Twain wasn’t too keen on New Year’s Resolutions, either.
…Mark Twain has written of New Year’s Resolutions, “Now is the accepted time to make your regular annual good resolutions. Next week you can begin paving hell with them as usual. Yesterday, everybody smoked his last cigar, took his last drink, and swore his last oath. Today, we are a pious and exemplary community. Thirty days from now, we shall have cast our reformation to the winds and gone to cutting our ancient shortcomings considerably shorter than ever.” read full post here
But there is one thing I do each year. I pull out the books I’ve been journaling in for over thirty years, and I reread some of my favorite sayings collected over the years.
Some of them mean something totally different to me now then they did twenty or thirty years ago when I first wrote them. Take for instance this one by Eleanor Roosevelt, No one can make you feel inferior without your consent.
Memphis, Tennessee & Tunica, Mississippi
Did you know Memphis is situated in the southwest corner of Tennessee and that it shares its borderline with Mississippi and Arkansas? Well, it seemed to my friends and me that we should, at the very least, have lunch in one of these two bordering states. We decided to drive over the bridge into Mississippi. What a surprise we had in store!
Memphis, Tennessee - The Birth of the Blues
If you’re looking to hear the blues, Memphis is the town.
Looking to savor the sweet taste of BBQ? Memphis is a good choice.
I recently got it into my head that I’d like to do both. I emailed a co-worker to see if there was any mutual interest. This is how the emailed exchange went.
Do you want to go to Memphis? [Me]
Are you serious? [Co-worker]
Yes. [Me]
What brought this on? [Co-worker]
$100 roundtrip offer being made by Northwest Airlines. [Me]
Let’s do it. [Co-worker]
December - The Perfect Month to Reminisce
Candy Cigarettes
I like to write “remember when” essays, and yesterday I got to thinking about penny candy and how wonderful it felt to buy a handful of candy with a few copper pennies. One of my favorites was candy cigarettes: all sugar, shaped like a real cigarette with one tip painted red.
It was my intention to go on the web and find a picture of the candy to attach to this post. Imagine my surprise to find that candy cigarettes are a very controversial topic. Who knew?
Santa’s Secret Village
With Christmas right around the corner, you’ll want to go to this site and share some quality time with your child or grandchild. It’s an amazing place to play. These are just some of the things you will find at Santa’s Secret Village.
- The kids can write a letter to Santa and he’ll write back.
- Create a pers