Face Blindness... & Saturday Saturday Saturday!
What a beautiful day today is weather wise. So much to do. Took my friend, "A" shopping at garage sales today. She got 30 dollars worth of baby clothes for her litany of grandchildren and great grand children. In return she treated me to spinach quiche at the Ram's Horn. So now I don't have to do lunch or be concerned about protein for breakfast either. Neat. I am finding my glucose levels are lower when I focus on proteins. Just have to watch the fats in the proteins. Carbs are easy. They are everywhere. Today's was in cereal early on, and in the fruit cup that came with the quiche. I left the toast.
Got home. Left car outside and started on clearing off the offensive non straight shelves that take up too much room in the one car garage. Cat is mad because the car is not in there so he has no chance to even think about jumping to the gaping hole in the garage ceiling. Too bad, kitty.
Audrey is going to come by later to claim shelves. I will let her help me dismantle them and dust them off from the drywall dust that accumulated on them I decided that I need to change clothes to do that anyway. But all the stuff is off and sitting on the garage floor waiting for me to figure out other ways of storing it in the garage. I am thinking that maybe now I will have room for the garden cart that is in the basement. That will give me more room in the laundry room. AND give me a place for the garden stuff that I really do need to have in a more convenient place to the outside.
These things must be done slowly and with much thoughtful planning. The gaping hole scenario gives me the opportunity.
While in the restaurant I was approached by an attractive thin lady with short hair. I decided that I would do my face blindness speech right away to save time. Unfortunately this was one person who did not believe me. Makes me sad because it turned out to be N. the sister of a friend of mine. Unfortunately I feel that I have offended N. previously, and would like tomake it up, but I guess it is not to be. So I thought it best to put a link here for faceblindness since it is a little known condition. If interested, check here. http://vision.about.com/od/sportsvision/p/Face_Blindness.htm
You can also google the words face blind and get a slew of references on the web. I have taken the test online which is tedious, at least for a face blind person, and came out in the 80th percentile. If you score in the fifties you are moderately face blind. I guess 90 to 100 percent would be where that lady that was on TV would score. She had to ask her hubby what he would be wearing when they met for lunch. I am not that "bad" at least. Its just people I don't see all of the time, or people who show up where I don't expect them to that cause problems for my recognition abilities.
I feel bad about N. but then I started to realize that my life is pretty full anyway. While I would like to see N. once in a while, would I or she for that matter really have time. Well, at least if I see her in the next month or so I will recognize her. She did remind me that her sister P. is having her 65th birthday next month and I have to get her a cute card. But I am still sad that I have this condition. Sad for what it has cost me all of my life, and sad for what it does now. But Our God is Able to take care of this need. After all, He made me. He knows how to make me work.
Saturday, May 31, 2008
Thursday, May 29, 2008
Large Gaping Hole in Ceiling
Large Gaping Hole in the Ceiling
Well, the ceiling in the garage was still sagging yesterday, although it did not fall down as my worst case scenario imagined it. I pointed it out to the condo board, and asked Rick if he had liability insurance. Rick is a good strong man and a plumber besides. He offered to repair the ceiling and after poking a hole large enough to get his finger into found soggy insulation and upon making the hole larger, found quite a bit of water still there. No mold.
I told him I would pay for the drywall, but he wants to do it all with a couple of his friends. I have seen them. They look like they can handle it. There will be two large pieces that need to be put in and right now there is about a three by four foot hole in the ceiling to allow air in to dry it out. They will start work next week.
Meanwhile Toast is banned from the garage unless accompanied by a responsible adult who can grab him should he even attempt to jump the four to five feet to the ceiling. He is very tempted because Rick has a little dog up there and Toast can hear it barking through the now open and exposed floorboards. OH, well. Kitty has a box in that basement and he knows how to use it.
This is the second time in my life that I have gotten to look up into the workings of a ceiling exposed because of water.
Tuesday, May 27, 2008
Neighbors
NEIGHBORS
What do neighbors, Rabbits and a nicely made up bed have in common?
All are part of my day. Lets start with the bed. Mine needs to be made. Cathy came today and did help me turn the mattress but because of other unplanned things, I didn't get it made up afterwards. And I am oh so tired.
The agenda today had on it. My eye doctor appointment which turned up no change in my vision. I decided I would get a haircut, if I had time. Or rather if Reflections and Kim had time. My appointment at noon gave me just enough time to come home and eat. I had a nice turkey Rueben sandwich, and made the reservations for the restaurant for the L'Anse Creuse group for tomorrow, and then took off for the hairdresser. I was gone all of a half of one hour. When I returned it was raining inside my garage.
My neighbor in the carriage unit over the garages had forgotten he was soaking dishes in his laundry tub and turned on the washer, causing the tub to eventually overflow. He was able to right the situation. So said his pregnant fiance´, but the water was still coming down into the garage, running down my kitchen door, and dripping into of all things the cat's litter box. Little did I know that it had dripped over the edge of the garage floor and unto the cement blocks comprising the basement wall. The furnace man who came later in the day discovered the furnace awash with small puddles.
I was originally going to clean the garage today, but decided to wait because my back was hurting this morning. Well, needless to say the garage got cleaned and quite well. My car sat outside for quite a while and now all is put back into place and things seem well. But am I ever tired.
I had just slipped off my shoes and socks, after all was done, when my neighbor across the street came over to tell me that there was a mother and infant rabbit sitting on the sidewalk outside my living room window. I invited her in to view the charming scene. The Mama rabbit looked as tired as I felt, as she nursed this little bunny and licked it off much like a mother cat does.
My nature loving neighbor informed me that something had gotten to her mourning dove as she had found lots of feathers outside her front door. I had a few outside mine too. I suspect the two or three feral cats, that are fed by the folk in the next complex. Nature is tough. I bet the cats are a reason why the mother rabbit only had one baby left and was not in her nest. Her nest is under the arborvitae, and that is where I found the feathers. Sometimes life is cruel. But then these are the same rabbits that eat my tulip bulbs. I plant extra so I can be sure to get blooms.
My hair is cut in a wedge. I am not sure if I like it, but I had no time to deal with it, and I plan to go to bed early tonight, if I ever get the bed made, so tomorrow will hopefully be different.
They are making violent noises on Bones, so I may not watch it after all.
What do neighbors, Rabbits and a nicely made up bed have in common?
All are part of my day. Lets start with the bed. Mine needs to be made. Cathy came today and did help me turn the mattress but because of other unplanned things, I didn't get it made up afterwards. And I am oh so tired.
The agenda today had on it. My eye doctor appointment which turned up no change in my vision. I decided I would get a haircut, if I had time. Or rather if Reflections and Kim had time. My appointment at noon gave me just enough time to come home and eat. I had a nice turkey Rueben sandwich, and made the reservations for the restaurant for the L'Anse Creuse group for tomorrow, and then took off for the hairdresser. I was gone all of a half of one hour. When I returned it was raining inside my garage.
My neighbor in the carriage unit over the garages had forgotten he was soaking dishes in his laundry tub and turned on the washer, causing the tub to eventually overflow. He was able to right the situation. So said his pregnant fiance´, but the water was still coming down into the garage, running down my kitchen door, and dripping into of all things the cat's litter box. Little did I know that it had dripped over the edge of the garage floor and unto the cement blocks comprising the basement wall. The furnace man who came later in the day discovered the furnace awash with small puddles.
I was originally going to clean the garage today, but decided to wait because my back was hurting this morning. Well, needless to say the garage got cleaned and quite well. My car sat outside for quite a while and now all is put back into place and things seem well. But am I ever tired.
I had just slipped off my shoes and socks, after all was done, when my neighbor across the street came over to tell me that there was a mother and infant rabbit sitting on the sidewalk outside my living room window. I invited her in to view the charming scene. The Mama rabbit looked as tired as I felt, as she nursed this little bunny and licked it off much like a mother cat does.
My nature loving neighbor informed me that something had gotten to her mourning dove as she had found lots of feathers outside her front door. I had a few outside mine too. I suspect the two or three feral cats, that are fed by the folk in the next complex. Nature is tough. I bet the cats are a reason why the mother rabbit only had one baby left and was not in her nest. Her nest is under the arborvitae, and that is where I found the feathers. Sometimes life is cruel. But then these are the same rabbits that eat my tulip bulbs. I plant extra so I can be sure to get blooms.
My hair is cut in a wedge. I am not sure if I like it, but I had no time to deal with it, and I plan to go to bed early tonight, if I ever get the bed made, so tomorrow will hopefully be different.
They are making violent noises on Bones, so I may not watch it after all.
Sunday, May 25, 2008
Jordan's Party May 24th, 2008
Jordan's Party May 24th, 2008
Saturday was beautiful. Everybody had a great time. Total Album is on "Aunt Mary's photo page", check links in other column. I ate too much junk, so am being very very good today. Have to have cholesterol tests etc next week so if I want a good report, I have to eat right. Jordan looked great. David stole the show, but all had a great time. The Wings and Tigers even won their game that night. What a day!
Saturday was beautiful. Everybody had a great time. Total Album is on "Aunt Mary's photo page", check links in other column. I ate too much junk, so am being very very good today. Have to have cholesterol tests etc next week so if I want a good report, I have to eat right. Jordan looked great. David stole the show, but all had a great time. The Wings and Tigers even won their game that night. What a day!
Jordan's Party, Woody's Car
Jordan's Party, Woody's Car
Woody surprised and delighted us by bringing his beautiful antique '57 Chevy Convertible to the party. All of us who remembered that year, and those who didn't really enjoyed the beauty of this immaculately restored vehicle from the past, before gasoline was even 30 cents a gallon!. Thanks Woody!
Woody surprised and delighted us by bringing his beautiful antique '57 Chevy Convertible to the party. All of us who remembered that year, and those who didn't really enjoyed the beauty of this immaculately restored vehicle from the past, before gasoline was even 30 cents a gallon!. Thanks Woody!
Saturday, May 24, 2008
What's Buried in the Back Yard?
What's Buried in the Back Yard?
"You never truly leave an old home; you just move into a new one. Since memories of your old life will always be with you, leave something behind to tie you physically to your onetime home. You could, for instance, bury something in the back yard. The family can get together and choose an item that best commemorates the time spent there."
The above quote, from the Detroit News today in an article on moving and organizing your move, was for me a rather humorous conclusion to what otherwise was a very well thought out writing on organizing the task of moving into small pieces. A good strategy for any enormous task.
It brought to mind the things we left buried in our family home in Port Huron Township, when we sold it in 1972. Besides several carcasses of pet cats, there was at least one white canary, and possibly other animals which I am too young, or too old to properly remember. Then there were the consecutive four to five foot holes my Dad, with me helping, dug in the field beyond the old playhouse. We used these holes to bury the family garbage which was previously piled in the back for a season, until there was enough to merit burying. Everyone did that in those days out in the country. It was referred to as the "garbage pile" and was always beyond the house far enough so as to not create too great a smell. I think we added yard waste and possibly a little dirt or sawdust to dry things out a little. Must have. Otherwise, the flies would have been a health hazard.
When Patricia and I visited the house sometime in the late seventies, the "new" owners proudly showed us what they had done in remodeling, and we were delighted to see where they had painted, knocked out walls, put a bedroom in the basement and turned the old grocery store our Dad had built into a garage. These were things we had thought about from time to time while living there but never had the energy or funds to accomplish. It was great to see the new life given our old home and the wonderful family that was enjoying it as a result. So many of my friends go back to their old homesteads to find the building in disrepair, or even torn down. I can proudly say that only one place of all the places I have lived in for any length of time is no longer standing. Some are in worse shape but all are still being used. Well, I digress.
The family took us out into our old backyard which seemed smaller than we remembered it, but then we were larger than we were as children and the trees and plants and rock garden were different, trees, bigger, rock garden different somehow. The playhouse that formed the back of our yard, had been torn down. Beyond where it had stood was a cornfield.
At one point in the cornfield the corn was at least a foot taller than the rest of the field. The owner said they always wondered about that. I quickly said the words "compost pile?" and they concurred. I think it was reassuring to them as the only other explanation could have been nuclear waste or something worse. We laughed over that. Composting was something we did without realizing it back then. I don't think I had heard the term until sometime in the seventies when organic gardening became popular. I wonder how many other such gardens sprout up over old garbage dumps, or outhouse sites and folk wonder why the ground there is so fertile. Things buried in the earth..
Since I had become a fan in the past two years of the questionable moral series known as "Desperate Housewives" I thought about how many of these wives have secrets buried in their backyards. Bodies of people, not house pets. I wonder what kind of memories they leave behind in the ground when they move? There is a kind of gallows humor here. I wonder about the house in Chicago where a serial killer buried his victims. Or anywhere for that matter. There are old Indian graveyards near New Baltimore that were protected for years. There are the farms that have their own private graves in back. Wonder how many bodies there are buried here and there that no-one knows about? I am sure some have been moved as local cemeteries were established, but what about the ones that nobody knew about? We used to find arrowheads on our township property because according to the abstract it was once Indian territory. My nephew has found old broken china pieces when putting in a way of dealing with drainage around his house. Interesting things are in the ground all around us.
I can't imagine burying a box in my condo yard when I move. First of all, it is not allowed. I suppose when I leave the only memories I will leave behind will be my tulip bulbs and Chloe's ashes which are in the roots of the arborvitae on the corner where she liked to play.
"You never truly leave an old home; you just move into a new one. Since memories of your old life will always be with you, leave something behind to tie you physically to your onetime home. You could, for instance, bury something in the back yard. The family can get together and choose an item that best commemorates the time spent there."
The above quote, from the Detroit News today in an article on moving and organizing your move, was for me a rather humorous conclusion to what otherwise was a very well thought out writing on organizing the task of moving into small pieces. A good strategy for any enormous task.
It brought to mind the things we left buried in our family home in Port Huron Township, when we sold it in 1972. Besides several carcasses of pet cats, there was at least one white canary, and possibly other animals which I am too young, or too old to properly remember. Then there were the consecutive four to five foot holes my Dad, with me helping, dug in the field beyond the old playhouse. We used these holes to bury the family garbage which was previously piled in the back for a season, until there was enough to merit burying. Everyone did that in those days out in the country. It was referred to as the "garbage pile" and was always beyond the house far enough so as to not create too great a smell. I think we added yard waste and possibly a little dirt or sawdust to dry things out a little. Must have. Otherwise, the flies would have been a health hazard.
When Patricia and I visited the house sometime in the late seventies, the "new" owners proudly showed us what they had done in remodeling, and we were delighted to see where they had painted, knocked out walls, put a bedroom in the basement and turned the old grocery store our Dad had built into a garage. These were things we had thought about from time to time while living there but never had the energy or funds to accomplish. It was great to see the new life given our old home and the wonderful family that was enjoying it as a result. So many of my friends go back to their old homesteads to find the building in disrepair, or even torn down. I can proudly say that only one place of all the places I have lived in for any length of time is no longer standing. Some are in worse shape but all are still being used. Well, I digress.
The family took us out into our old backyard which seemed smaller than we remembered it, but then we were larger than we were as children and the trees and plants and rock garden were different, trees, bigger, rock garden different somehow. The playhouse that formed the back of our yard, had been torn down. Beyond where it had stood was a cornfield.
At one point in the cornfield the corn was at least a foot taller than the rest of the field. The owner said they always wondered about that. I quickly said the words "compost pile?" and they concurred. I think it was reassuring to them as the only other explanation could have been nuclear waste or something worse. We laughed over that. Composting was something we did without realizing it back then. I don't think I had heard the term until sometime in the seventies when organic gardening became popular. I wonder how many other such gardens sprout up over old garbage dumps, or outhouse sites and folk wonder why the ground there is so fertile. Things buried in the earth..
Since I had become a fan in the past two years of the questionable moral series known as "Desperate Housewives" I thought about how many of these wives have secrets buried in their backyards. Bodies of people, not house pets. I wonder what kind of memories they leave behind in the ground when they move? There is a kind of gallows humor here. I wonder about the house in Chicago where a serial killer buried his victims. Or anywhere for that matter. There are old Indian graveyards near New Baltimore that were protected for years. There are the farms that have their own private graves in back. Wonder how many bodies there are buried here and there that no-one knows about? I am sure some have been moved as local cemeteries were established, but what about the ones that nobody knew about? We used to find arrowheads on our township property because according to the abstract it was once Indian territory. My nephew has found old broken china pieces when putting in a way of dealing with drainage around his house. Interesting things are in the ground all around us.
I can't imagine burying a box in my condo yard when I move. First of all, it is not allowed. I suppose when I leave the only memories I will leave behind will be my tulip bulbs and Chloe's ashes which are in the roots of the arborvitae on the corner where she liked to play.
Thursday, May 22, 2008
Great Article on Being Single
GREAT ARTICLE ON BEING SINGLE
I just finished reading one of the most clear articles for older singles and those who know older singles that I have ever read. In two pages Lisa Harper accurately looks at Scripture about singleness, marriage, and husbands and God. She does a great job of reading the verses in context, dispelling myths, and putting singles and I suppose marrieds more at ease. I copy the URL for it here and have saved the PDF on my hard drive should anyone want a copy. Email me at Mzeeb@aol.com if you have any trouble linking this link.
http://www.christianitytoday.com/singles/newsletter/2008/mind0521.html
And NO this is not the Lisa Harper that we in Michigan know as a pastor's wife. This is a fortyish Lisa Harper who writes books and has a column at Today's Christian Woman Magazine.
And for me one of those special younger than me people who have said things that make sense. For this I am grateful.
I just finished reading one of the most clear articles for older singles and those who know older singles that I have ever read. In two pages Lisa Harper accurately looks at Scripture about singleness, marriage, and husbands and God. She does a great job of reading the verses in context, dispelling myths, and putting singles and I suppose marrieds more at ease. I copy the URL for it here and have saved the PDF on my hard drive should anyone want a copy. Email me at Mzeeb@aol.com if you have any trouble linking this link.
http://www.christianitytoday.com/singles/newsletter/2008/mind0521.html
And NO this is not the Lisa Harper that we in Michigan know as a pastor's wife. This is a fortyish Lisa Harper who writes books and has a column at Today's Christian Woman Magazine.
And for me one of those special younger than me people who have said things that make sense. For this I am grateful.
Wednesday, May 21, 2008
Pasting Paper Beads that look Great
Paper Beads that look Great
I said I would clue you in on my experience last evening making jewelry out of simple things such as colorful paper and white (Elmer's) glue. I was eager to learn the process since for years I have enjoyed wearing a necklace I bought at a bazaar. It was made out of church bulletin covers and made by a church secretary who used the left over covers to make her craft. I think I paid $3.00 for it, but the necklace has lasted a long time and as you can tell from the photo below, the necklaces thus made are really attractive.
Pictured are necklaces made by our instructor M.H. a former art teacher and talented artist herself. Below next to the necklaces are some of the simple supplies needed to make this creative craft.
Besides Elmer's glue, scissors, string, waxed paper and wooden skewers, you will need a ruler and colorful paper (We used gift wrap) and you will need to purchase a needle and some beads at a craft store, like Michael's or JoAnn's, to compliment your creation.
First you turn the paper over and measure one inch marks from one side at the top of the blank paper. Then, being careful to not turn the paper, you measure one half inch in from the same side, but at the bottom of the paper. It helps if your piece of paper is square. I used the natural square (about 12" x 12") of the wrapping paper. After you have marked one half inch in at the bottom, then continue from there making marks one inch from your original half inch mark on the bottom.
Then very carefully draw a straight line diagonally from the top inch mark to the bottom one half inch mark. Then draw from the bottom half inch mark to the top inch mark, complete a triangle. Continue this until you have a group of long triangles clear across the paper. You will have about 12 triangles with their base at the top of the paper and a similar number with the base at the bottom of the paper.
Cut out your first triangle and starting with the one inch base roll the strip around the skewer being careful to keep the ever shrinking width even as you roll. You will end up with a tapered bead, with the point of the triangle at the outside.
Slide the bead off the skewer, and apply glue to the open edges of paper thus sealing the bead. This is a little messy so have a cloth or something handy to wipe your hand on before starting the next bead.
Put the sticky bead on waxed paper to dry. Elmers will dry clear.
When all beads are done, figure out what color bead you want to put between the paper beads, and string them. Tie the ends. If you have between 18 and 23 beads you will have a necklace that will fit easily over your head.
M.H. sprayed glaze on hers which gave them a royal sheen. You can tell from the photos that there are many possibilities for this fun and inexpensive jewelry. M.H. even bought ear ring hardware and made half inch beads for wire ear rings. I can hardly wait to try that, although I will have to find a paper I really like before I go that far with it. I am just learning right now.
I found a lot of web sites that tell about this craft. I liked this one because it gave a history of this craft and related some of the comradie that I felt doing this with a group. Have fun!
http://www.tappi.org/paperu/art_class/paperBeads.htm
I said I would clue you in on my experience last evening making jewelry out of simple things such as colorful paper and white (Elmer's) glue. I was eager to learn the process since for years I have enjoyed wearing a necklace I bought at a bazaar. It was made out of church bulletin covers and made by a church secretary who used the left over covers to make her craft. I think I paid $3.00 for it, but the necklace has lasted a long time and as you can tell from the photo below, the necklaces thus made are really attractive.
Pictured are necklaces made by our instructor M.H. a former art teacher and talented artist herself. Below next to the necklaces are some of the simple supplies needed to make this creative craft.
Besides Elmer's glue, scissors, string, waxed paper and wooden skewers, you will need a ruler and colorful paper (We used gift wrap) and you will need to purchase a needle and some beads at a craft store, like Michael's or JoAnn's, to compliment your creation.
First you turn the paper over and measure one inch marks from one side at the top of the blank paper. Then, being careful to not turn the paper, you measure one half inch in from the same side, but at the bottom of the paper. It helps if your piece of paper is square. I used the natural square (about 12" x 12") of the wrapping paper. After you have marked one half inch in at the bottom, then continue from there making marks one inch from your original half inch mark on the bottom.
Then very carefully draw a straight line diagonally from the top inch mark to the bottom one half inch mark. Then draw from the bottom half inch mark to the top inch mark, complete a triangle. Continue this until you have a group of long triangles clear across the paper. You will have about 12 triangles with their base at the top of the paper and a similar number with the base at the bottom of the paper.
Cut out your first triangle and starting with the one inch base roll the strip around the skewer being careful to keep the ever shrinking width even as you roll. You will end up with a tapered bead, with the point of the triangle at the outside.
Slide the bead off the skewer, and apply glue to the open edges of paper thus sealing the bead. This is a little messy so have a cloth or something handy to wipe your hand on before starting the next bead.
Put the sticky bead on waxed paper to dry. Elmers will dry clear.
When all beads are done, figure out what color bead you want to put between the paper beads, and string them. Tie the ends. If you have between 18 and 23 beads you will have a necklace that will fit easily over your head.
M.H. sprayed glaze on hers which gave them a royal sheen. You can tell from the photos that there are many possibilities for this fun and inexpensive jewelry. M.H. even bought ear ring hardware and made half inch beads for wire ear rings. I can hardly wait to try that, although I will have to find a paper I really like before I go that far with it. I am just learning right now.
I found a lot of web sites that tell about this craft. I liked this one because it gave a history of this craft and related some of the comradie that I felt doing this with a group. Have fun!
http://www.tappi.org/paperu/art_class/paperBeads.htm
Breakfast Blogging 'bout Books!
Breakfast Blogging 'bout Books!
This will have to be short and sweet. This morning I got a note from an old friend G. C. Hmmm. Just realized when she got married a few years ago she did NOT have to change her monogram!! G. complimented me on being funny, and wondered if I had ever thought about writing a book? Well, having been in the book business as a librarian for more than thirty years, forty if you count post retirement, and early jobs as a clerk, various places, I know the fragility of success in being an author. I also have had friends in journalism, who are much aware of the same thing. So unless this blog gets overwhelming readership, and not just the counts because I have now made it my home page, no books from me shall be forthcoming. I have made a policy of counting the cost against the result before entering a large venture. Especially when time is a commodity we all have the same amount of, it is not nearly enough to do everything I may whim to do. But aside from these lofty goals, I am too lazy to put forth a lot of effort into something that would prove costly, and futile.
I do love to write, however. I have done journals since I was in high school and learned that Thoreau, Luther, and many, many others whose work I admired had done them. The majority of these have been for my own amazement, and really are a tool for managing life. When I can write down my thoughts about sundry items, it keeps me from becoming an absolute bore to my friends whom I see day to day. It also keeps me on top of my writing skills, and with my private journals, helps me work through the issues of life that even confront single people with no children or grandchildren about which to be concerned.
We singles have other issues. Aloneness is a big one. In this regard I imagine we give some comfort to those who have never been alone and suddenly find themselves in that position. Why DIDN'T I marry? is another. Money, health, what to do if I need to go to the doctor. I have often leaned as all must from time to time on Philippians 4:19 "And my God will supply all your needs according to His riches in glory in Christ Jesus." NASB http://www.biblegateway.com/ This versein context is hooked to the fact that the Philippian believers had been contributing to help out their brethren in another part of Asia, but it has proven to be true in my life.
I think most recently of the need I had when I experience Salmonella poisoning to have someone stay with me and I was able to help out a friend who needed money and was capable of staying with me for six hours. It was a great comfort. I dismissed her after I was finally able to keep down the chicken soup and jello she fed me. Then there was the time when M. , another single friend, was able to drive me to the doctors when I had a concussion a few years ago. Poor thing, her car broke at the doctor's office and the doctor happened to be seeing a patient who offered to drive me to the hospital for a CAT scan. On the doctor's recommendation I went with this lady, who turned out to be the mother of a former student of mine. She even offered me her phone number in case I needed a ride home, too. But independent me decided to call a cab, and that cabbie was a single lady who was looking for a church, and mine happened to be near where she lived. So it went full circle there. And the concussion proved to not be too limiting. I was back to driving in a week.
Well, I digress, and breakfast is eaten, and coffee aka wakeupjuice is being consumed and I must soon depart for the upper regions of my house where the computer does NOT live, to get ready to go to the ladies prayer meeting. After the meeting I hope to hit Curves. I did that last week and it worked out quite well. I only came downstairs for breakfast and coffee, and to clean up the dirt from my clean carpet from the plant I knocked over last night after I got home from Delta Kappa Gamma.
Books. Writing Books.
What I have seen is that many are written few are sold. Less are read. A lot of effort and money goes into publishing. Those that are published mostly have a short life, if any? I have a friend who as a labor of love published a book about her mother that is delightful reading. It is packed with photos, both color and b & w, which makes it more costly to print. As a labor of love, she has been buying and giving the book away to family and friends who are interested. It is a great tribute to her mother, and a good commentary on life in the last century especially in Michigan and other areas in which she lived. A copy resides in our church library, and even there has had limited readership.
Unfortunately people in this video age are NOT reading! This makes this former educator sad. Reading is a great resource, and it is lately becoming less utilized than it was before public education made it available to the masses. It is scary because people who do not investigate issues are prisoners of those whom they hear, and if they are not selective in whom they hear, they can easily be blown about and influenced in their thinking by which ever wind is blowing the strongest.
Well, I was long and eloquent, and my coffee is almost done, and I must depart for the warmer regions of the office upstairs and the place where clothes are put out, and mirrors of all sorts await me. Plus pills, always the pills. I forgot to take my diabetic pills last night and was shocked until I remembered that I had forgotten, when I took my reading prior to breakfast. 134. 134 without pills is pretty good for this diabetic, but my doctor will think differently. Hopefully the day will be better. At some point I will have to tell you about my DKG meeting last night and making beautiful one inch beads out of ugly gift wrap. What fun!
This will have to be short and sweet. This morning I got a note from an old friend G. C. Hmmm. Just realized when she got married a few years ago she did NOT have to change her monogram!! G. complimented me on being funny, and wondered if I had ever thought about writing a book? Well, having been in the book business as a librarian for more than thirty years, forty if you count post retirement, and early jobs as a clerk, various places, I know the fragility of success in being an author. I also have had friends in journalism, who are much aware of the same thing. So unless this blog gets overwhelming readership, and not just the counts because I have now made it my home page, no books from me shall be forthcoming. I have made a policy of counting the cost against the result before entering a large venture. Especially when time is a commodity we all have the same amount of, it is not nearly enough to do everything I may whim to do. But aside from these lofty goals, I am too lazy to put forth a lot of effort into something that would prove costly, and futile.
I do love to write, however. I have done journals since I was in high school and learned that Thoreau, Luther, and many, many others whose work I admired had done them. The majority of these have been for my own amazement, and really are a tool for managing life. When I can write down my thoughts about sundry items, it keeps me from becoming an absolute bore to my friends whom I see day to day. It also keeps me on top of my writing skills, and with my private journals, helps me work through the issues of life that even confront single people with no children or grandchildren about which to be concerned.
We singles have other issues. Aloneness is a big one. In this regard I imagine we give some comfort to those who have never been alone and suddenly find themselves in that position. Why DIDN'T I marry? is another. Money, health, what to do if I need to go to the doctor. I have often leaned as all must from time to time on Philippians 4:19 "And my God will supply all your needs according to His riches in glory in Christ Jesus." NASB http://www.biblegateway.com/ This versein context is hooked to the fact that the Philippian believers had been contributing to help out their brethren in another part of Asia, but it has proven to be true in my life.
I think most recently of the need I had when I experience Salmonella poisoning to have someone stay with me and I was able to help out a friend who needed money and was capable of staying with me for six hours. It was a great comfort. I dismissed her after I was finally able to keep down the chicken soup and jello she fed me. Then there was the time when M. , another single friend, was able to drive me to the doctors when I had a concussion a few years ago. Poor thing, her car broke at the doctor's office and the doctor happened to be seeing a patient who offered to drive me to the hospital for a CAT scan. On the doctor's recommendation I went with this lady, who turned out to be the mother of a former student of mine. She even offered me her phone number in case I needed a ride home, too. But independent me decided to call a cab, and that cabbie was a single lady who was looking for a church, and mine happened to be near where she lived. So it went full circle there. And the concussion proved to not be too limiting. I was back to driving in a week.
Well, I digress, and breakfast is eaten, and coffee aka wakeupjuice is being consumed and I must soon depart for the upper regions of my house where the computer does NOT live, to get ready to go to the ladies prayer meeting. After the meeting I hope to hit Curves. I did that last week and it worked out quite well. I only came downstairs for breakfast and coffee, and to clean up the dirt from my clean carpet from the plant I knocked over last night after I got home from Delta Kappa Gamma.
Books. Writing Books.
What I have seen is that many are written few are sold. Less are read. A lot of effort and money goes into publishing. Those that are published mostly have a short life, if any? I have a friend who as a labor of love published a book about her mother that is delightful reading. It is packed with photos, both color and b & w, which makes it more costly to print. As a labor of love, she has been buying and giving the book away to family and friends who are interested. It is a great tribute to her mother, and a good commentary on life in the last century especially in Michigan and other areas in which she lived. A copy resides in our church library, and even there has had limited readership.
Unfortunately people in this video age are NOT reading! This makes this former educator sad. Reading is a great resource, and it is lately becoming less utilized than it was before public education made it available to the masses. It is scary because people who do not investigate issues are prisoners of those whom they hear, and if they are not selective in whom they hear, they can easily be blown about and influenced in their thinking by which ever wind is blowing the strongest.
Well, I was long and eloquent, and my coffee is almost done, and I must depart for the warmer regions of the office upstairs and the place where clothes are put out, and mirrors of all sorts await me. Plus pills, always the pills. I forgot to take my diabetic pills last night and was shocked until I remembered that I had forgotten, when I took my reading prior to breakfast. 134. 134 without pills is pretty good for this diabetic, but my doctor will think differently. Hopefully the day will be better. At some point I will have to tell you about my DKG meeting last night and making beautiful one inch beads out of ugly gift wrap. What fun!
Monday, May 19, 2008
On Getting Older
On Getting Older Perspectives
Isaiah 46:4
"Even to your old age and gray hairs
I am he, I am he who will sustain you.
I have made you and I will carry you;
I will sustain you and I will rescue you."
What a marvelous promise. Saw this in a Ravi Zacharias newsletter. Thought about how it soothes the fears when you see folk around you getting older, when your own memory is not as sharp as it used to be, and you wonder if the end will be as good as the beginning. I will look this up for myself later on tonight. I am not writing this on the 19th but rather completely replacing the entry for that date. I think this blog needs something about being a senior citizen, and its challenges. As well as the article about singleness that I added earlier today... May 22, 2008.
Isaiah 46:4
"Even to your old age and gray hairs
I am he, I am he who will sustain you.
I have made you and I will carry you;
I will sustain you and I will rescue you."
What a marvelous promise. Saw this in a Ravi Zacharias newsletter. Thought about how it soothes the fears when you see folk around you getting older, when your own memory is not as sharp as it used to be, and you wonder if the end will be as good as the beginning. I will look this up for myself later on tonight. I am not writing this on the 19th but rather completely replacing the entry for that date. I think this blog needs something about being a senior citizen, and its challenges. As well as the article about singleness that I added earlier today... May 22, 2008.
Checking in
Figured I had better check in just in case someone is actually reading this and is concerned that I haven't written. I did get the bookcase done last night. Discovered it was six feet tall instead of five ft. Makes a big difference both in difficulty of putting it together and in how much it will hold. I am loading it carefully making sure most of the weight is on the bottom, until I can get the bracket in to hook it to the wall. I always recommend that to other people, and the manufacturers now recommend it as well. I managed to get almost all of the books on the shelves and have half of them in order.
I immediately found about six or seven that were either duplicates, or could be given away for other reasons. I also freed up at least one if not two racks. I still have to put the room back together and honestly thought that would get done today, since my afternoon plans got canceled. Wasn't to be. Maybe tomorrow.
Trouble is I stayed up way late last night and woke up this morning with heartburn, and a slight temp. Taking it easy today. Had my afternoon plans canceled so it worked out great for me. Like I said not much to say for today. but don't know if folk are reading this so thought I had better check in.
Cooked cod fish for dinner. First time I have cooked fish since the food poisoning. Will package it up and freeze it right away. Tasted good for dinner, and certainly great for protein. That Kroger at Nine Mile and Mack certainly has a great meat counter. Better than any other Kroger that I go to. Gas is now almost 4$ a gallon, so shopping is not as spontaneous as it used to be.
THE CARTOON BELOW ILLUSTRATES MY PRESENT MOOD!
I immediately found about six or seven that were either duplicates, or could be given away for other reasons. I also freed up at least one if not two racks. I still have to put the room back together and honestly thought that would get done today, since my afternoon plans got canceled. Wasn't to be. Maybe tomorrow.
Trouble is I stayed up way late last night and woke up this morning with heartburn, and a slight temp. Taking it easy today. Had my afternoon plans canceled so it worked out great for me. Like I said not much to say for today. but don't know if folk are reading this so thought I had better check in.
Cooked cod fish for dinner. First time I have cooked fish since the food poisoning. Will package it up and freeze it right away. Tasted good for dinner, and certainly great for protein. That Kroger at Nine Mile and Mack certainly has a great meat counter. Better than any other Kroger that I go to. Gas is now almost 4$ a gallon, so shopping is not as spontaneous as it used to be.
THE CARTOON BELOW ILLUSTRATES MY PRESENT MOOD!
Saturday, May 17, 2008
Saturday
Well, Audrey and I did have breakfast and they DID have the omelets with spinach and Swiss cheese. I am good for lunch now too. Audrey helped me get the shelves upstairs, reminding me that what goes up must come down. I assured her that unless I used an axe that a lot of the stuff upstairs was coming down with men paid to move stuff. Not me.
Using the work, rest, work principle, I am now resting, drinking diet Dr. Pepper and listening to the Berean Call radio broadcast about Oprah's new book club. Don't think there is anything new here for me, but it is more succinctly put together than what I have discerned or read previously.
http://www.thebereancall.org/radio/index.php
This link takes you to their list of programs. Today (Saturday) Oprah's New Earth program is at the top. If you click on "mp3" it will play for you. You don't have to download anything. At least I didn't.
This morning after all of the work I did yesterday I had one of the best blood glucose readings I have had in a long time! Summer is a good time to work, so I will try to do more physical work, and more exercise.
I did have to take two excedrin and some cough medicine to get to sleep last night though. I ached a lot and I was a little congested. But I am well rested and could have walked to the restaurant today had not I run into some password problems when I tried to get some email from my great niece Jessica who is on one of those teenage sites. What a hard site to work through, and I never did get the email. So Jessie if you read this and you don't have a real email address let your mom let me know that you got my message. I am never going back to that WAYN site again!!! I changed my AOL password, because they asked for it and they are not supposed to do that I don't think.
Well enough of that. What a beautiful day God has given us today in Michigan. It is just cool enough for a light jacket. My neighbors are out banging doors and riding bikes and doing other stuff in the street. Of course I wouldn't hear all of this if I didn't have my windows and door open. But it is glorious.
Well, back to resting and listening. Then upstairs to start the bookcase. This will be another all day job.
Well, I got upstairs. I started watching the Hockey Game and fell asleep!!! Not that the hockey game was boring, but I woke up feeling rather punk. Then a thunder storm started. Its sunny now and I feel a little better. Amazing how my head works like a storm detector. Had dinner. If cereal and milk is dinner. Plus a lot of cranberry juice.
Watching Overboard on TV, but I have seen it lots of times before, so I can do other stuff while it is on. Think I will try reading my book, then see if I can get the energy up to tackle those boards upstairs again. At least I got the boards organized, and know what I need to do to start, but not a job you want to tackle with a sinus headache. Storm is over, so headache should be gone soon.
BTW Red Wings lost!!! Now things are getting rough for them.
Using the work, rest, work principle, I am now resting, drinking diet Dr. Pepper and listening to the Berean Call radio broadcast about Oprah's new book club. Don't think there is anything new here for me, but it is more succinctly put together than what I have discerned or read previously.
http://www.thebereancall.org/radio/index.php
This link takes you to their list of programs. Today (Saturday) Oprah's New Earth program is at the top. If you click on "mp3" it will play for you. You don't have to download anything. At least I didn't.
This morning after all of the work I did yesterday I had one of the best blood glucose readings I have had in a long time! Summer is a good time to work, so I will try to do more physical work, and more exercise.
I did have to take two excedrin and some cough medicine to get to sleep last night though. I ached a lot and I was a little congested. But I am well rested and could have walked to the restaurant today had not I run into some password problems when I tried to get some email from my great niece Jessica who is on one of those teenage sites. What a hard site to work through, and I never did get the email. So Jessie if you read this and you don't have a real email address let your mom let me know that you got my message. I am never going back to that WAYN site again!!! I changed my AOL password, because they asked for it and they are not supposed to do that I don't think.
Well enough of that. What a beautiful day God has given us today in Michigan. It is just cool enough for a light jacket. My neighbors are out banging doors and riding bikes and doing other stuff in the street. Of course I wouldn't hear all of this if I didn't have my windows and door open. But it is glorious.
Well, back to resting and listening. Then upstairs to start the bookcase. This will be another all day job.
Well, I got upstairs. I started watching the Hockey Game and fell asleep!!! Not that the hockey game was boring, but I woke up feeling rather punk. Then a thunder storm started. Its sunny now and I feel a little better. Amazing how my head works like a storm detector. Had dinner. If cereal and milk is dinner. Plus a lot of cranberry juice.
Watching Overboard on TV, but I have seen it lots of times before, so I can do other stuff while it is on. Think I will try reading my book, then see if I can get the energy up to tackle those boards upstairs again. At least I got the boards organized, and know what I need to do to start, but not a job you want to tackle with a sinus headache. Storm is over, so headache should be gone soon.
BTW Red Wings lost!!! Now things are getting rough for them.
Friday, May 16, 2008
FRIDAY, Friday
I wasn't going to add anything today. All the work I did on the blog was to tidy things up a little, and check spelling here and there.
Most of the day I was on the carpet. That is I was cleaning the carpet in the dining room and the half of the living room that was not done last week.
I am getting better at using the new carpet machine, but was very careful not to over do it, as the work is heavy and I did not want to set my back off again. It took me off and on about four hours to complete the task, but while resting between work loads, I ate lunch, watched TV a little, read the mail, did some of my blog work aforementioned, and got two small loads of laundry done. I am convinced that any job can be done if you divide it up into manageable segments. I learned that from the flylady. http://www.flylady.com
When all was complete and I sat admiring the now clean carpet, I realized that the worst part of my old carpet was in the dining room. I started thinking that when money is available I want to put either hard wood or perga in the dining room and kitchen like so many of my neighbors have already done. The living room carpet is actually still good. Then, if and when I replace the carpet, I will have the dining room AND the kitchen as places where I can move the extra big furniture, besides the garage of course. Also I won't have to move the china cabinet except for when the dining room floor is done. It is Do able!!!! I am content with that.
Only carpet that did not get cleaned is the stairs. I am not sure How I will do that, but I will figure it out. I still have the shop vac, and it is a canister so I could put the solution on manually, and use the shop vac to draw it up. Unless of course I get the new carpet before I get totally disgusted with the stairway carpeting.
After the carpet job, I was still able to get to Curves for my workout... like carpet cleaning isn't enough? Well, Curves works on other areas and consistency is necessary to a good exercise program.
After Curves, I went to Meijers and bought a five foot bookcase (Sauder) to try to make things a little more logical in the office upstairs where I have all of the extra SCSAG library books that need to be checked against the catalog and added as we remove old books to make room for them. Too bad I can't catalog them on the same floor they live on, but such is the situation. At least my downstairs office area looks neat, and hopefully my upstairs one will someday be more functional as well.
Well, with the energy left, I must open the box so I can drag the wood upstairs to make the case. Hmmmm. It is safe in the garage. Maybe that is a job that will wait for Saturday morning.
Audrey is meeting me for breakfast around nine, I can drag the boards up while I am listening to kids radio from seven to nine.
Saw that the Pentecostal Evangel is going to have an article about Christians and blogging in their May 18th issue. I must get myself a copy on Sunday. In light of this news, I sent information about my blog, which I do not consider outstanding, to several more people.
Time to rest!
Most of the day I was on the carpet. That is I was cleaning the carpet in the dining room and the half of the living room that was not done last week.
I am getting better at using the new carpet machine, but was very careful not to over do it, as the work is heavy and I did not want to set my back off again. It took me off and on about four hours to complete the task, but while resting between work loads, I ate lunch, watched TV a little, read the mail, did some of my blog work aforementioned, and got two small loads of laundry done. I am convinced that any job can be done if you divide it up into manageable segments. I learned that from the flylady. http://www.flylady.com
When all was complete and I sat admiring the now clean carpet, I realized that the worst part of my old carpet was in the dining room. I started thinking that when money is available I want to put either hard wood or perga in the dining room and kitchen like so many of my neighbors have already done. The living room carpet is actually still good. Then, if and when I replace the carpet, I will have the dining room AND the kitchen as places where I can move the extra big furniture, besides the garage of course. Also I won't have to move the china cabinet except for when the dining room floor is done. It is Do able!!!! I am content with that.
Only carpet that did not get cleaned is the stairs. I am not sure How I will do that, but I will figure it out. I still have the shop vac, and it is a canister so I could put the solution on manually, and use the shop vac to draw it up. Unless of course I get the new carpet before I get totally disgusted with the stairway carpeting.
After the carpet job, I was still able to get to Curves for my workout... like carpet cleaning isn't enough? Well, Curves works on other areas and consistency is necessary to a good exercise program.
After Curves, I went to Meijers and bought a five foot bookcase (Sauder) to try to make things a little more logical in the office upstairs where I have all of the extra SCSAG library books that need to be checked against the catalog and added as we remove old books to make room for them. Too bad I can't catalog them on the same floor they live on, but such is the situation. At least my downstairs office area looks neat, and hopefully my upstairs one will someday be more functional as well.
Well, with the energy left, I must open the box so I can drag the wood upstairs to make the case. Hmmmm. It is safe in the garage. Maybe that is a job that will wait for Saturday morning.
Audrey is meeting me for breakfast around nine, I can drag the boards up while I am listening to kids radio from seven to nine.
Saw that the Pentecostal Evangel is going to have an article about Christians and blogging in their May 18th issue. I must get myself a copy on Sunday. In light of this news, I sent information about my blog, which I do not consider outstanding, to several more people.
Time to rest!
Thursday, May 15, 2008
EXCEDRIN
I COULD NOT FIND a photo of a bottle of pain relievers, and I did not have to drink coffee to increase the effect of the drug, but I am grateful that I had it, and that I could still benefit from it. In a couple of weeks I can't take aspirin for a week in preparation for my upcoming endoscopy. Thankfully they will let me take tylenol. Somehow, after an almost perfect day, I managed to get a backache, just as it was time to walk the garbage bags to the curb. My scrabble buddy Audrey, even offered to drive by and take them out for me. I was thrilled but declined. Figured if the excedrin did not work, I could get up really early in the morning and get the bags out, or just leave them for next week.
One of the comics in today's paper was about delighting in every day things. One of my comments on retirement was that I actually was home when the garbage was picked up. In fact, on Friday mornings I delight to have the garbage truck under my second floor window be my alarm clock.
Well, two hours after taking the pills, I felt well enough to finish collecting trash and got it out. I am happy, and although I don't look as bad as the lady in the picture, I look forward to a restful night, with no emergency early morning trips out to the curb.
Tomorrow I have free all day. Tonight, I shall dream of ways to fill it!!
One of the comics in today's paper was about delighting in every day things. One of my comments on retirement was that I actually was home when the garbage was picked up. In fact, on Friday mornings I delight to have the garbage truck under my second floor window be my alarm clock.
Well, two hours after taking the pills, I felt well enough to finish collecting trash and got it out. I am happy, and although I don't look as bad as the lady in the picture, I look forward to a restful night, with no emergency early morning trips out to the curb.
Tomorrow I have free all day. Tonight, I shall dream of ways to fill it!!
Rams Horn
Thursday morning breakfast with some of my friends from church and other places is always an enjoyable time. Today we talked about such silly things as whether our ear rings hang equally straight on both ears, whether birthmarks move as you get older, the particulars of the family who recently lost a loved one. We shared wedding photos, and tales of grandchildren, and even old songs we remember. Its a fun and enjoyable time. Life, shared by folks who have lived it, loved it and enjoy sharing it again and again.
Tuesday, May 13, 2008
Death of a friend
I just came back from the funeral home. A friend my own age had died of congestive heart failure shortly after moving back to Michigan from California. He had written an email last year about the excitement of evacuating with his daughter's family from an area around San Diego during the horrible fires they had had there. It really brought that type of tragedy to life for us.
Sometime in February this year he told his wife he wanted to move back to Michigan.
They had just gotten settled into an apartment when the heart gave out. He was just a couple of years older than me. That and my upcoming exam for Barrets Esophagus plus my age make me realize how much as Christians we need to cling to that Hope the only Jesus can give.
I thought of the old hymn, not sung much any more because it seems archaic. But the words give hope in a case like today.
Its by Fanny Crosby the blind hymn writer of many of our old hymns. Link below goes to a site that plays the melody.
http://www.opc.org/hymn.html?hymn_id=651
Some day the silver cord will break,
And I no more as now shall sing;
But oh, the joy when I shall wake
Within the palace of the King!
And I shall see Him face to face,
And tell the story—saved by grace;
And I shall see Him face to face,
And tell the story—saved by grace.
Some day my earthly house will fall,
I cannot tell how soon 'twill be;
But this I know—my All in All
Has now a place in heav'n for me.
Some day, when fades the golden sun
Beneath the rosy tinted west,
My blessed Lord will say, "Well done!"
And I shall enter into rest.
Some day: till then I'll watch and wait,
My lamp all trimmed and burning bright,
That when my Saviour ope's the gates,
My soul to him may take its flight.
On my way home from the funeral home, I started singing what I could remember of the hymn, plus another by her... Face to Face
Unique too that the writer was blind, so when she got to heaven she really did see for the first time, and we shall see too as we never have before, I think perhaps the thought of those two old hymns will be a comfort to those who remember them.
Click on the link below to go to a site that will not only play the hymn, Face to Face, but also give you a little history of the writer.
http://www.cyberhymnal.org/htm/f/a/faceface.htm
Sometime in February this year he told his wife he wanted to move back to Michigan.
They had just gotten settled into an apartment when the heart gave out. He was just a couple of years older than me. That and my upcoming exam for Barrets Esophagus plus my age make me realize how much as Christians we need to cling to that Hope the only Jesus can give.
I thought of the old hymn, not sung much any more because it seems archaic. But the words give hope in a case like today.
Its by Fanny Crosby the blind hymn writer of many of our old hymns. Link below goes to a site that plays the melody.
http://www.opc.org/hymn.html?hymn_id=651
Some day the silver cord will break,
And I no more as now shall sing;
But oh, the joy when I shall wake
Within the palace of the King!
And I shall see Him face to face,
And tell the story—saved by grace;
And I shall see Him face to face,
And tell the story—saved by grace.
Some day my earthly house will fall,
I cannot tell how soon 'twill be;
But this I know—my All in All
Has now a place in heav'n for me.
Some day, when fades the golden sun
Beneath the rosy tinted west,
My blessed Lord will say, "Well done!"
And I shall enter into rest.
Some day: till then I'll watch and wait,
My lamp all trimmed and burning bright,
That when my Saviour ope's the gates,
My soul to him may take its flight.
On my way home from the funeral home, I started singing what I could remember of the hymn, plus another by her... Face to Face
Unique too that the writer was blind, so when she got to heaven she really did see for the first time, and we shall see too as we never have before, I think perhaps the thought of those two old hymns will be a comfort to those who remember them.
Click on the link below to go to a site that will not only play the hymn, Face to Face, but also give you a little history of the writer.
http://www.cyberhymnal.org/htm/f/a/faceface.htm
Lo Jack or ONSTAR?
http://www.myfoxcolorado.com/myfox/pages/News/Detail?contentId=6516254&version=1&locale=EN-US&layoutCode=TSTY&pageId=3.2.1
Read an article on my Google Malibu alerts. Told about two kids who stole a Malibu from a dealership in Pueblo Colorado. When an inventory showed a vehicle missing the owner called police who activated a nationwide LoJack search and they found the vehicle and the kids just as they were trying to jump start a Ford Mustang in a parking lot. Mustang was not equipped with LoJack. My question... Isn't Onstar supposed to be available on all new Malibu's? Apparently it is even too expensive for even the dealers to have it activated. But LoJack is cheaper, and also apparently more effective. Granted. The redeeming quality of OnStar is that it contacts local emergency services should you be in an accident or have a medical emergency. It will onlock your vehicle if you lock yourself out, and it may even make your car slow down if it is involved in a chase. Not sure on that one. And according to an episode on the sit com, REBA, it can sound alarms, lock doors and otherwise cause havoc.
Read an article on my Google Malibu alerts. Told about two kids who stole a Malibu from a dealership in Pueblo Colorado. When an inventory showed a vehicle missing the owner called police who activated a nationwide LoJack search and they found the vehicle and the kids just as they were trying to jump start a Ford Mustang in a parking lot. Mustang was not equipped with LoJack. My question... Isn't Onstar supposed to be available on all new Malibu's? Apparently it is even too expensive for even the dealers to have it activated. But LoJack is cheaper, and also apparently more effective. Granted. The redeeming quality of OnStar is that it contacts local emergency services should you be in an accident or have a medical emergency. It will onlock your vehicle if you lock yourself out, and it may even make your car slow down if it is involved in a chase. Not sure on that one. And according to an episode on the sit com, REBA, it can sound alarms, lock doors and otherwise cause havoc.
Wednesday, May 7, 2008
One mile walk
This morning I did my walk to the restaurant. I got my paper, but NOT my spinach and cheese omelet. They were out of spinach. I shall have to cook my own vegetables. It was great because this was the first time I was able to walk it without experiencing leg, knee, or hip pain. A major victory for this 63 year old. Got back in time to dress for my meeting, and shopping afterwards. Did it all before the rains came. Great day.
Pat says she is reading blog, but has not added anything yet. I will put Gloria on the list too, once I know what I am doing.
Tuesday, May 6, 2008
Adding an entry
To add an entry you have to sign in. Apparently the sign in for folk other than me is your email address and your own email password. In experimenting with my sister in Colorado, we discovered that this does not always work. If you have an AOL screen name and password, you can add an entry. When you add an entry under a screen name, you can delete your own entries, but not anyone else's. Although the owner of the blog, in this case me, can delete any entry. So in case something unwanted appears, I can clean it up. I also receive a notice by email when an entry is added or changed.
Movies and books
Favorite Movies
A man for all seasons
When Harry Met Sally
War Games
Facing the Giants
Jeanette Oke's Love Comes Softly series
Saving Sarah Cain
Overboard (with Goldie Hawn)
What I am currently reading
A Reason for Hope, by Jane Goodall
How America lost her innocence, by Steve Gallagher (Done)
A Closer Walk (the Memoirs of Catherine Marshall)
A man for all seasons
When Harry Met Sally
War Games
Facing the Giants
Jeanette Oke's Love Comes Softly series
Saving Sarah Cain
Overboard (with Goldie Hawn)
What I am currently reading
A Reason for Hope, by Jane Goodall
How America lost her innocence, by Steve Gallagher (Done)
A Closer Walk (the Memoirs of Catherine Marshall)
Furniture repair
Busy day today. Cathy is coming to clean, so I have to get all "stuff" done by 1 PM. Audrey wanted me to send an e mail to her friend who is working in one of her overseas ministry stations and got caught in the Typhoon. Did that. Will go downstairs to watch news and Jeopardy while today's laundry cooks. (washes) Then Have to go upstairs to make bed and get bills ready to pay. Wonder what I will do while Cathy cleans.
I know I want her to look at the spring in my chair that I broke. I think we can drill a hole next to the broken eye hook, and maybe can get the spring re attached. This is the chair that has a frame of real maple, and past experience with drilling the futon that came with this set has redefined what is meant by hard wood like Maple. We had to spray water on the drill site of the sofa to keep it from catching fire when we drilled. That was for a bolt that broke years ago when a former roommate learned good news about her future in laws paying for her upcoming honeymoon trip to Europe. When Dave told her, she jumped up from the couch with such force that when she landed there was a resounding "ping", the source of which was not discovered until twenty years later when Cathy and I tried to reupholster it.
Couch was given to my niece, Jenny, but I kept the chair. Don't know where the Futon is today, but I still have the chair. I will just have to be careful how I sit on it.
I know I want her to look at the spring in my chair that I broke. I think we can drill a hole next to the broken eye hook, and maybe can get the spring re attached. This is the chair that has a frame of real maple, and past experience with drilling the futon that came with this set has redefined what is meant by hard wood like Maple. We had to spray water on the drill site of the sofa to keep it from catching fire when we drilled. That was for a bolt that broke years ago when a former roommate learned good news about her future in laws paying for her upcoming honeymoon trip to Europe. When Dave told her, she jumped up from the couch with such force that when she landed there was a resounding "ping", the source of which was not discovered until twenty years later when Cathy and I tried to reupholster it.Couch was given to my niece, Jenny, but I kept the chair. Don't know where the Futon is today, but I still have the chair. I will just have to be careful how I sit on it.
Monday, May 5, 2008
Going Public
Well, I am still at it. Thinking about making this public. At least to my sisters. Well, Pat did ask for it. So having re read my ramblings, I guess I will take the plunge. After which, I will go back to normal household chores, and start the newsletter for the Delta Kappa Gamma, which is waiting for my work. I need a break. My eyes are tired. I regret that I did not discover Firefox was the reason for my problem earlier in the day. Shucks. I still have to take my morning pills, and it is afternoon already. I still have to do the laundry that is downstairs.
So I guess like the old "Right or left at Oak Street" song, I have to decide whether to go upstairs for the pills, or downstairs for the laundry. And sometime I have to go outside to get to Curves. Such a life!! Oy Veh!
So I guess like the old "Right or left at Oak Street" song, I have to decide whether to go upstairs for the pills, or downstairs for the laundry. And sometime I have to go outside to get to Curves. Such a life!! Oy Veh!
Today
Apparently my problem in getting this blog to work again is that my version of Safari, the Mac Browser is outdated. Since I am too cheap to bring my computer up to date with the newest operating systems, Safari does not work on all things.
So thanks to Foster and his internet adviser program on WJR radio, I had downloaded the free and ever updating browser, FIREFOX, as an alternative. I am on Firefox, now, and it appears to be working.
Smiley face to illustrate this feeling of how I wasted so much time this morning trying to find out how to add things.
Well, now that I know how to do that, and having experimented with a number of different free blog spots, I am back at my original. So here it is for now. Over and out.
So thanks to Foster and his internet adviser program on WJR radio, I had downloaded the free and ever updating browser, FIREFOX, as an alternative. I am on Firefox, now, and it appears to be working.
Smiley face to illustrate this feeling of how I wasted so much time this morning trying to find out how to add things.
Well, now that I know how to do that, and having experimented with a number of different free blog spots, I am back at my original. So here it is for now. Over and out.
Late Entry
My sister in Colorado suggested that with my ability to write I start a blog. So I resurrected this old one. I realized that I neglected this so long that I forgot two important although sad very sad events. The first was the death of my niece Betsy, from cancer at the age of 35 or 36. She left her family who loved her. A daughter, husband, Mom and Dad, five sisters and brothers and spouses, Aunts, Uncles, nieces, nephews. It was a shock to us all and almost three years later is still a sadness for us all.
The second was that of my cousin Barbara.
Our Betsy was brave, brave beyond her years or experience. She managed her own care up to the last, and no doubt that memory will revisit those of us who experienced it with her for many years to come.
It is said that sorrow colors life, but we get to choose the color. There have been times lately that I fear I had chosen so many colors for each of the sorrows in my life, that they had blended together to form black.
Since Betsy, we have lost our beloved cousin, Barbara. Barbara was at the other end of the age spectrum, in her eighties. I shall write about her elsewhere someday, as she taught us how to enjoy life and travel without having to depend on others. Barbara was in hospice for about a year and taught me lots about hospice
To bring this up to date, I just attended the funeral for another octogenarian who was in hospice. I had encouraged her when she went in through a sharing of Barb's experience. Elsie's funeral was a victory celebration, but nevertheless sad.
I think my color palate has switched from black to some other color, but I don't know which. Since I originally wrote this I went through Paul R's death. I guess this is just part of the landscape of life, and it is something we have to deal with in a positive way. (See May 2007 entry on Death of a Friend) God knows He has given us every reason to be able to have joy in sorrow.
The second was that of my cousin Barbara.
Our Betsy was brave, brave beyond her years or experience. She managed her own care up to the last, and no doubt that memory will revisit those of us who experienced it with her for many years to come.
It is said that sorrow colors life, but we get to choose the color. There have been times lately that I fear I had chosen so many colors for each of the sorrows in my life, that they had blended together to form black.
Since Betsy, we have lost our beloved cousin, Barbara. Barbara was at the other end of the age spectrum, in her eighties. I shall write about her elsewhere someday, as she taught us how to enjoy life and travel without having to depend on others. Barbara was in hospice for about a year and taught me lots about hospice
To bring this up to date, I just attended the funeral for another octogenarian who was in hospice. I had encouraged her when she went in through a sharing of Barb's experience. Elsie's funeral was a victory celebration, but nevertheless sad.
I think my color palate has switched from black to some other color, but I don't know which. Since I originally wrote this I went through Paul R's death. I guess this is just part of the landscape of life, and it is something we have to deal with in a positive way. (See May 2007 entry on Death of a Friend) God knows He has given us every reason to be able to have joy in sorrow.
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