Random musings of a middle aged knitter.
Wednesday, December 24, 2008
Friday, December 19, 2008
Almost unstoppable!
Mr. CP declared it so! The day provided 14 inches of snow on which to test the unstoppability. The truck passed the test! He is much more pleased than with the prior vehicle. Score one for Dodge! It is the little things in life!
...and I finally made it to the post office!
Saturday, December 06, 2008
Wolle nervana!
Ulm, DE 2008/12/06
It is the Weihnachtsmarkt here in Ulm, but of greater interest to a knitter like me is the price of yarn at the Woole stores. Sock reinforcement yarn- USA $3.50, DE-.5 Euro!!!! Sock yarn: 6 Euros--$12-13 at home for the same stuff. I could live here...decent prices on yarn, good beer, and without study, my terrible, but adequate to engage in commerce, German is serving me well.
You know how we love bargains!!! ...and one of the bargains here is sock yarn! Interestingly though, no size "0" needles--and you would think that here people would need very tightly knit socks--as it is cold, and they spend a lot of time outside (you have to walk everywhere from the parkhaus in the sleet). But I have two more cities to look!!!
Ulm, the first stop on the great sock yarn acquisition mission of 2008!!!
P.S- Nice museum of bread (honest) and the tallest church spire in Europe too!!
Sunday, November 30, 2008
Return to normal...
They have all left. Some sooner than others. M1 and J. left this morning. It is quiet--nice. Nothing is moving! Mr. Cat may come out of hiding soon. I must vacuum and put a few things back where they belong.
Always glad to see them come. Equally glad to have my house back after a few days. The deer are probably glad it is quiet too. J. found them quite annoying--he needed them to leave "his" territory!!
Now, On the the laundry, and the next adventures!
Always glad to see them come. Equally glad to have my house back after a few days. The deer are probably glad it is quiet too. J. found them quite annoying--he needed them to leave "his" territory!!
Now, On the the laundry, and the next adventures!
Friday, November 28, 2008
Thanksgiving gone to the dogs!
A. and J., grand puppies, with emphasis on "puppy" joined the fray for the big Turkey ingestion! Egged on by Z., we had pandemonium for much of the day, with litter mate like pack wrestling. WWF has nothing on these two! High maintenance, but cute as can be, they stole the show from the turkey--which was luscious, yummy, and worthy of a Rockwell painting (and I don't even like Turkey!)
As for black Friday, there is no interest. We all decided that there was nothing that we needed, wanted, couldn't live without, were willing to fight crowds for, or was such a deal that it could not be resisted. Sorry retailers. Maybe if you did not start your holiday hype in July, we would care more about a "Christmas Holiday Shopping Season". We are doing lots of "home and hand made" gifts anyway. Besides, the Internet is a wonderful place, where you can get almost anything without leaving home!
And there is pecan pie left--:)!
As for black Friday, there is no interest. We all decided that there was nothing that we needed, wanted, couldn't live without, were willing to fight crowds for, or was such a deal that it could not be resisted. Sorry retailers. Maybe if you did not start your holiday hype in July, we would care more about a "Christmas Holiday Shopping Season". We are doing lots of "home and hand made" gifts anyway. Besides, the Internet is a wonderful place, where you can get almost anything without leaving home!
And there is pecan pie left--:)!
Wednesday, November 12, 2008
Waiting Rooms
M1 had some surgery yesterday, and I was her "person". They will not let you have surgery without a "person"--hopefully a "responsible" one.
Once we checked in, we were taken upstairs to the surgery waiting room. The purpose of the waiting room was to have a place to wait--and if you are a knitter you already know this--they are a knitters dream come true! Absolutely nothing to do for hours, but sit and wait--allowing you to indulge in guilt-free knitting.
I had my "stuff"--a large bag with several projects from which to choose, and so that I would not be bored. Once they took M1 back to get ready, I added a bag of her "stuff"--which is where I think the responsible part came in. So, I had lots of time to work on my Christmas socks while we waited for them to actually take her to the surgery. Then, I was escorted back to the waiting room, pager in pocket, to wait some more.
The hospital was very efficient about periodic updates (unaware that a knitter was not at all concerned about how long this would take, and would not leave her rows to be a pest to the lady who seemed to be orchestrating the "waiters".) They regularly paged me about where we were in the process. I tired of the socks, pulled out a dish cloth, finished that, and returned to the socks before they summoned me to the recovery room. In the waiting room, (as well as others) I was the "knitting lady". Apparently, not that many people KIP in hospitals, as at times, I even had an audience.
As it turns out, there are not that many people who are good at waiting--or at least did not plan for the waiting. As a whole, they are a restless bunch.
There was cell phone addicted lap top man, dismayed that his mother had scheduled this for a Tuesday (he told several people on the phone that Tuesday was not a good day for him!---never mind that the mother was having the kind of surgery that seemed to required a visit by the priest--who spent more time with her than laptop boy. There was the lady who took off her shoes, curled up in the chair and tried her best to get engaged with the readers digest---but somehow just couldn't resist calling everyone she knew in between articles to help pass the time (because she certainly did not have anything of importance to say).
There were the groups---several. A brother, wife, and daughter for a knee replacement. A lady who was with her dad, but needed to be home by 2 for the cable guy. A bunch (about 6) who seemed to wander in and out, visiting some relative 2 at a time, they whole time chatting about how out of it she was (duh!) and the revenue the post office was trying to generate (?). There was the advanced directive couple, who apparently had enough time in the waiting area to contemplate their own fates, and summoned hospital personnel to help them fill out and get theirs witnessed.
There were the slouchy pants teen and is younger red-haired brother (about 12) who seemed never to have seen a hot water dispenser before, or was conducting some strange type of experiment with hot water and a paper cup out of boredom. Slouchy pants boy was only interested in the cookies--although complained that they did not have any really good ones (Lorna Doones and Cinnamon Grahams) a fact that did not seem to stop him from conspicuous consumption of the "icky" ones.
The waiting room had a coffee station--which was also irresistible to any hospital personnel walking past---so there was s steady stream of badged people dropping in to get a cup of something. I am sure that the in-house consumption far exceeded that consumed by the "waiters".
There were the matching mother and daughter waiting for someone---they spent their time leafing through the magazines.
The theme with all the waiters is that they had nothing to do --except to bother the lady at the desk--about stuff like --is there any news? (duh! You all have pagers too!) or will you keep this bag of stuff while I go to the cafeteria? Or other queries that the lady never seemed to have an answer for.
Since the whole point was to wait for the person having the surgery, I am amazed that these people seemed completely unprepared to wait. No one brought any type of amusement with them. Certainly the teens must have hand-held game things that are portable--or I pods, or (gasp) homework! No one brought a book. Only lap top boy brought work--but he was not so much interested in working as complaining that his mothers scheduling was preventing this---except that if he had stopped complaining about her, he probably could have gotten some work done in between the priests visits. There were the older people--some with adult children, who seemed to need something to pass the time, as it seemed to hang heavy for them. But no one seemed to have planned for the wait!
The winner/loser of the day was waffle man's daughter. She did not have to wait, as because he had taken two bites of waffle, they cancelled his surgery. She was also the loser, as she would have to do this all over again once he was rescheduled---except that next time she will have to hide all the waffles too!!
I don't know how the lady at the desk copes with this everyday---maybe they share some of the drugs from the surgery rooms with her--as she was surprisingly happy!!
Once we checked in, we were taken upstairs to the surgery waiting room. The purpose of the waiting room was to have a place to wait--and if you are a knitter you already know this--they are a knitters dream come true! Absolutely nothing to do for hours, but sit and wait--allowing you to indulge in guilt-free knitting.
I had my "stuff"--a large bag with several projects from which to choose, and so that I would not be bored. Once they took M1 back to get ready, I added a bag of her "stuff"--which is where I think the responsible part came in. So, I had lots of time to work on my Christmas socks while we waited for them to actually take her to the surgery. Then, I was escorted back to the waiting room, pager in pocket, to wait some more.
The hospital was very efficient about periodic updates (unaware that a knitter was not at all concerned about how long this would take, and would not leave her rows to be a pest to the lady who seemed to be orchestrating the "waiters".) They regularly paged me about where we were in the process. I tired of the socks, pulled out a dish cloth, finished that, and returned to the socks before they summoned me to the recovery room. In the waiting room, (as well as others) I was the "knitting lady". Apparently, not that many people KIP in hospitals, as at times, I even had an audience.
As it turns out, there are not that many people who are good at waiting--or at least did not plan for the waiting. As a whole, they are a restless bunch.
There was cell phone addicted lap top man, dismayed that his mother had scheduled this for a Tuesday (he told several people on the phone that Tuesday was not a good day for him!---never mind that the mother was having the kind of surgery that seemed to required a visit by the priest--who spent more time with her than laptop boy. There was the lady who took off her shoes, curled up in the chair and tried her best to get engaged with the readers digest---but somehow just couldn't resist calling everyone she knew in between articles to help pass the time (because she certainly did not have anything of importance to say).
There were the groups---several. A brother, wife, and daughter for a knee replacement. A lady who was with her dad, but needed to be home by 2 for the cable guy. A bunch (about 6) who seemed to wander in and out, visiting some relative 2 at a time, they whole time chatting about how out of it she was (duh!) and the revenue the post office was trying to generate (?). There was the advanced directive couple, who apparently had enough time in the waiting area to contemplate their own fates, and summoned hospital personnel to help them fill out and get theirs witnessed.
There were the slouchy pants teen and is younger red-haired brother (about 12) who seemed never to have seen a hot water dispenser before, or was conducting some strange type of experiment with hot water and a paper cup out of boredom. Slouchy pants boy was only interested in the cookies--although complained that they did not have any really good ones (Lorna Doones and Cinnamon Grahams) a fact that did not seem to stop him from conspicuous consumption of the "icky" ones.
The waiting room had a coffee station--which was also irresistible to any hospital personnel walking past---so there was s steady stream of badged people dropping in to get a cup of something. I am sure that the in-house consumption far exceeded that consumed by the "waiters".
There were the matching mother and daughter waiting for someone---they spent their time leafing through the magazines.
The theme with all the waiters is that they had nothing to do --except to bother the lady at the desk--about stuff like --is there any news? (duh! You all have pagers too!) or will you keep this bag of stuff while I go to the cafeteria? Or other queries that the lady never seemed to have an answer for.
Since the whole point was to wait for the person having the surgery, I am amazed that these people seemed completely unprepared to wait. No one brought any type of amusement with them. Certainly the teens must have hand-held game things that are portable--or I pods, or (gasp) homework! No one brought a book. Only lap top boy brought work--but he was not so much interested in working as complaining that his mothers scheduling was preventing this---except that if he had stopped complaining about her, he probably could have gotten some work done in between the priests visits. There were the older people--some with adult children, who seemed to need something to pass the time, as it seemed to hang heavy for them. But no one seemed to have planned for the wait!
The winner/loser of the day was waffle man's daughter. She did not have to wait, as because he had taken two bites of waffle, they cancelled his surgery. She was also the loser, as she would have to do this all over again once he was rescheduled---except that next time she will have to hide all the waffles too!!
I don't know how the lady at the desk copes with this everyday---maybe they share some of the drugs from the surgery rooms with her--as she was surprisingly happy!!
Monday, November 03, 2008
Radon no more
Today we "mitigated" our radon. It may not make a difference, but why take a chance.
So now I have less carcinogen in my house, and a flying saucer on the outside!!! Not exactly a home improvement that your friends will be impressed to see, but useful none the less. Ready for resale too!!
So now I have less carcinogen in my house, and a flying saucer on the outside!!! Not exactly a home improvement that your friends will be impressed to see, but useful none the less. Ready for resale too!!
Wednesday, September 17, 2008
A number between 1 and 100...
Number: a concept of quantity.
I have a new number! I have a new decade. My birthday ushers in more of "the best years" of my life. Never mind that each decade has successively been the best. My number now is 60.
I remember my mother at 60. She was "mature". I am also "mature", but not as old as I seem to remember her being at the time. She dyed her hair to hide the gray, to look "younger". I feel no need to. She enjoyed her life, and I plan to continue to. My kids probably think I am "old"--and I don't care! What you see is what you get.
There are many good things about being 60, not the least of which is to enjoy being 60! Many of my ancestors did not have this many years--victims of cancer, infections, violence. My passion for genealogy has intensified of late---I appreciate "history" as I acquire more of my own, and feel the need to document it, sorry that I did not acquire more of "my" history when those ancestors were here to just tell me about it--easier than the quest I now undertake. An yet, there were many many ancestors who lived well into the late 90's and a few to 100 in a time when it was much less likely to do so....so my goal, perhaps will be genetically enhanced!
I have had 60 good years. I plan to have at least 36-40 more. I have much left to do--some things formally on "the list", others yet to be determined. A little over half done, so to speak. Some will be my decisions, within my control. Others I am dependant upon others for---and hope it works out the way I would like!
Z. is currently obsessed with the "50's"--and I think he is secretly excited that he knows an "expert" on the decade of his interest, although he finds the concepts of "before TV", "party lines", and "before there were expressways" are hard to imagine.--I think he thinks the "50's" were a long time ago---to me seems like just yesterday that I practiced "duck and cover" under my desk at Washington Elementary, confident that the piece of 1/2 inch plywood over my head would protect me from the Russian invasion!--just a few years younger than he is now....
One of the very good things about being 60 is that History is not nearly as daunting as it seemed at 16! I now have command of the complexities of history, and the interaction of events--many of which I have witnessed! I know a lot--knowledge acquired formally and informally in contexts over time. I have a confidence that is lacking before 30--not that I wasn't confident at the time---but it is different now--a peaceful confidence, knowing who you are, what is important, and what you want. Knowing that there are natural cycles, knowing that whatever it is, this too will pass, you will get through it, and life will go on to be enjoyed! Knowing what is important, and what is not.
I remember a few birthdays--some memories enhanced by pictures made before color images were possible. My first roller skates--very grown up! Metal, ball bearings, dangerous, with a real skate key to hang around my neck! A ticket to "freedom" of motion!--Age 4 (what were my parents thinking?) Age 16, the drivers license! Confidence on the outside, fear inside!! 21--much ado about nothing, feeling slightly disappointed that on that day, as I was not any more of an "adult" than I had been the day before! 22, experiencing morning sickness for the first time (although I thought it was bad chicken!) Age: 31--3.9 children, station wagon, 4 bedroom colonial in a new subdivision, member of the PTA, my identity firmly centered in being "mom", although I had other slightly impressive credentials that seemed not to matter. 40--asking how I got here so fast? 50-secure in who I was, ready to wear red hats with purple dresses---and now 60. It is a more welcomed number than 30, 40....each decade unique, important, with challenges overcome, endured, or conquered...but not to be redone, as I life is on fast forward. There is no rewind!
I wish I could do a better job of conveying what it means to have lived this life. I watch "the four"--living their lives! I wish they could sort through it, discover what is really important, embrace who they are, be comfortable in their "self", but I know they do not yet have the years. Getting to the things that really matter--which is most likely not what they think these things are. We each have to learn this for ourselves, in our own time, from our own experience. The lucky ones, like me, have no regrets! I hope they don't.
Life is what happens when you are busy doing other things---an interesting concept, but not very useful to the young! So at the magic number of 60--my wisdom and advice is to "live"--not as in "live it up", "live in the moment", "live on the edge". I mean "live"--enjoy each moment, experience, opportunity, relationship. Accomplish the really important things--and don't let day-to-day living get in the way of creating a life! A life that you love, with people you love. Have no regrets.
"Live long and prosper"--I plan to continue to!
I have a new number! I have a new decade. My birthday ushers in more of "the best years" of my life. Never mind that each decade has successively been the best. My number now is 60.
I remember my mother at 60. She was "mature". I am also "mature", but not as old as I seem to remember her being at the time. She dyed her hair to hide the gray, to look "younger". I feel no need to. She enjoyed her life, and I plan to continue to. My kids probably think I am "old"--and I don't care! What you see is what you get.
There are many good things about being 60, not the least of which is to enjoy being 60! Many of my ancestors did not have this many years--victims of cancer, infections, violence. My passion for genealogy has intensified of late---I appreciate "history" as I acquire more of my own, and feel the need to document it, sorry that I did not acquire more of "my" history when those ancestors were here to just tell me about it--easier than the quest I now undertake. An yet, there were many many ancestors who lived well into the late 90's and a few to 100 in a time when it was much less likely to do so....so my goal, perhaps will be genetically enhanced!
I have had 60 good years. I plan to have at least 36-40 more. I have much left to do--some things formally on "the list", others yet to be determined. A little over half done, so to speak. Some will be my decisions, within my control. Others I am dependant upon others for---and hope it works out the way I would like!
Z. is currently obsessed with the "50's"--and I think he is secretly excited that he knows an "expert" on the decade of his interest, although he finds the concepts of "before TV", "party lines", and "before there were expressways" are hard to imagine.--I think he thinks the "50's" were a long time ago---to me seems like just yesterday that I practiced "duck and cover" under my desk at Washington Elementary, confident that the piece of 1/2 inch plywood over my head would protect me from the Russian invasion!--just a few years younger than he is now....
One of the very good things about being 60 is that History is not nearly as daunting as it seemed at 16! I now have command of the complexities of history, and the interaction of events--many of which I have witnessed! I know a lot--knowledge acquired formally and informally in contexts over time. I have a confidence that is lacking before 30--not that I wasn't confident at the time---but it is different now--a peaceful confidence, knowing who you are, what is important, and what you want. Knowing that there are natural cycles, knowing that whatever it is, this too will pass, you will get through it, and life will go on to be enjoyed! Knowing what is important, and what is not.
I remember a few birthdays--some memories enhanced by pictures made before color images were possible. My first roller skates--very grown up! Metal, ball bearings, dangerous, with a real skate key to hang around my neck! A ticket to "freedom" of motion!--Age 4 (what were my parents thinking?) Age 16, the drivers license! Confidence on the outside, fear inside!! 21--much ado about nothing, feeling slightly disappointed that on that day, as I was not any more of an "adult" than I had been the day before! 22, experiencing morning sickness for the first time (although I thought it was bad chicken!) Age: 31--3.9 children, station wagon, 4 bedroom colonial in a new subdivision, member of the PTA, my identity firmly centered in being "mom", although I had other slightly impressive credentials that seemed not to matter. 40--asking how I got here so fast? 50-secure in who I was, ready to wear red hats with purple dresses---and now 60. It is a more welcomed number than 30, 40....each decade unique, important, with challenges overcome, endured, or conquered...but not to be redone, as I life is on fast forward. There is no rewind!
I wish I could do a better job of conveying what it means to have lived this life. I watch "the four"--living their lives! I wish they could sort through it, discover what is really important, embrace who they are, be comfortable in their "self", but I know they do not yet have the years. Getting to the things that really matter--which is most likely not what they think these things are. We each have to learn this for ourselves, in our own time, from our own experience. The lucky ones, like me, have no regrets! I hope they don't.
Life is what happens when you are busy doing other things---an interesting concept, but not very useful to the young! So at the magic number of 60--my wisdom and advice is to "live"--not as in "live it up", "live in the moment", "live on the edge". I mean "live"--enjoy each moment, experience, opportunity, relationship. Accomplish the really important things--and don't let day-to-day living get in the way of creating a life! A life that you love, with people you love. Have no regrets.
"Live long and prosper"--I plan to continue to!
Sunday, September 14, 2008
Checkin E-Bay for an Ark!!
Is is raining..and raining, raining, raining, raining. I don't remember ever getting this much rain in such a short time. We needed some rain--but not all at once. And the hurricane effect isn't even here yet!! And tornadoes---who gets tornados in September? At least the lake levels will go up!!
Saturday, August 23, 2008
Sale!
Apparently today is the day that major home improvement retailers decide that summer is over, and it is time for the American public to stock up on firewood and space heaters. Because they need floor space for those, the summer stuff "must go". Today I made a killing on throw pillows for my porch (water and mold resistant!), a thermometer (now 79 cents!), another squirrel for my almost cute rodent collection (97 cents) and an outrageous resin rooster for my garden--significantly marked down (I can see why) to about what it was worth in the first place!
Delighted as I am with my purchases, it is a little sad that on a sunny 93 degree day in August, all the major national retailer can think of is snow shovels and stacks of ice melter. I still want to enjoy summer--and then fall! I don't want to think about ceramic space heaters, ice scrapers for my car, or a snowblower!!! Maybe this is why they are not selling stuff. They are out of season with what people want!!
Of course, in January, when you need a snowblower, they will be sold out, and filling the place with patio furniture that you would have to wear a parka to use!!!
I think I may be on to something here.....anyone want to pay me to be a consultant to major retailers????????
Delighted as I am with my purchases, it is a little sad that on a sunny 93 degree day in August, all the major national retailer can think of is snow shovels and stacks of ice melter. I still want to enjoy summer--and then fall! I don't want to think about ceramic space heaters, ice scrapers for my car, or a snowblower!!! Maybe this is why they are not selling stuff. They are out of season with what people want!!
Of course, in January, when you need a snowblower, they will be sold out, and filling the place with patio furniture that you would have to wear a parka to use!!!
I think I may be on to something here.....anyone want to pay me to be a consultant to major retailers????????
Sunday, August 10, 2008
Signs of things to come...
It was downright cold today--60's and damp. Quite a shocking change from the 80's and 90's of recent weeks. Had to go get some socks! It is darker in the mornings, dark sooner at night, and air is a little "nippy" for August.
We seem to be on our way to the next season....so much for global warming!!
We seem to be on our way to the next season....so much for global warming!!
Monday, July 28, 2008
Stuff
We have a lot of it. Maybe too much! I am dealing with stuff this week--at work (easier) and in my garage (slightly more challenging). Turns out I am not nearly as emotionally attached to my work stuff as I am to my years of family stuff.
I have to get my stuff under control--am making great progress. Motivated by a pending office relocation at work, and being able to park my car in the garage this winter!!! Know I will reach my goals on both fronts....
Now my home office........that is for another time!!!
I have to get my stuff under control--am making great progress. Motivated by a pending office relocation at work, and being able to park my car in the garage this winter!!! Know I will reach my goals on both fronts....
Now my home office........that is for another time!!!
Saturday, July 12, 2008
The fix is worse that the problem
A recurrent theme this week it seems. First E and the "plague". Then the combination of updates and Internet security that messed everything up. Was on the phone with tech support for hours (honestly!). Now must reconfigure everything!!! At least I can access the Internet again!
On a brighter note, found some yarn in my stash to try out a new shawl pattern. Found a funky sundress on SALE! Both good.
Sadly, another death in the family....sadly, "less family", not sadly, the end of her personal torture of various natures....or at least Auntie L of the slippery pants thought that the afterlife would be so.....so this may not be the case of fix worse than problem, as dementia is a problem without fixes!
So, once again, a "funeralin' we will go"!!
On a brighter note, found some yarn in my stash to try out a new shawl pattern. Found a funky sundress on SALE! Both good.
Sadly, another death in the family....sadly, "less family", not sadly, the end of her personal torture of various natures....or at least Auntie L of the slippery pants thought that the afterlife would be so.....so this may not be the case of fix worse than problem, as dementia is a problem without fixes!
So, once again, a "funeralin' we will go"!!
Monday, June 23, 2008
Calm after the storm...
They have all departed...the four, plus one puppy. It is quiet, there is less stuff all over, and I have started to put order (my order) back into my life. I loved it! We had fun, built new memories, talked about old memories, they seemed to fight less (at least in my presence), and I think for the most part fun was had all around. And as great as it is for all to be here, the calm after the departure is nice too. Even though they are all self-sufficient adults, it is still demanding to be Mom to the 4!
D2 and M2 are engaged!! A pleasant surprise, and fitting in some small way that their announcement (finally) was made as Mr. CP and I celebrated 40 years together. I hope all that and more for them, as they begin their "officially committed" life together. And we get to be part of another wedding!!! Great fun!
It will take awhile until the sheets and towels are washed, folded, and put away. Tomorrow I will wash puppy nose prints off the french doors--which reminds me of Sammie, and how much a part of "us" she was when "the 4" were all at home. I will frame some of the pictures, sweep up the crumbs, de-sticky the bar, and try to get rid of the mosquitoes that everyone kept letting in. By Friday you will not see any traces of the chaos of the last three days---
and I will return to tending my gardens until they come again--in ones, twos, three's or more. That is why we bought a "party house"! It serves us well.
D2 and M2 are engaged!! A pleasant surprise, and fitting in some small way that their announcement (finally) was made as Mr. CP and I celebrated 40 years together. I hope all that and more for them, as they begin their "officially committed" life together. And we get to be part of another wedding!!! Great fun!
It will take awhile until the sheets and towels are washed, folded, and put away. Tomorrow I will wash puppy nose prints off the french doors--which reminds me of Sammie, and how much a part of "us" she was when "the 4" were all at home. I will frame some of the pictures, sweep up the crumbs, de-sticky the bar, and try to get rid of the mosquitoes that everyone kept letting in. By Friday you will not see any traces of the chaos of the last three days---
and I will return to tending my gardens until they come again--in ones, twos, three's or more. That is why we bought a "party house"! It serves us well.
Sunday, June 22, 2008
40 Years
Is a long time for anything. I have been married to the same person for 40 years.
My maternal grandmother did not even live 4o years!
My parents were not married for 40 years before my dad died.
I have not lived in the same town for 40 years.
We have owned three cats during the 40 years (or rather they have owned us!)
40 years is a long time--
a lot as happened
three states
four kids
one dog
multiple houses
multiple jobs
eight couches
each of our parents dying
each of our kids growing up into an independant person (all different, all great)
One constant--we are in this together!
Mostly for better, although a few times things were a little worse, before they got better.
The secret to a long marriage? Compromise, realistic expectations, similar backgrounds, values and goals...and TWO people who are willing to stick it out. Or maybe inertia---but doesn't matter,
if you can be married to the same person for 40 years, you can be married to that person forever...
My maternal grandmother did not even live 4o years!
My parents were not married for 40 years before my dad died.
I have not lived in the same town for 40 years.
We have owned three cats during the 40 years (or rather they have owned us!)
40 years is a long time--
a lot as happened
three states
four kids
one dog
multiple houses
multiple jobs
eight couches
each of our parents dying
each of our kids growing up into an independant person (all different, all great)
One constant--we are in this together!
Mostly for better, although a few times things were a little worse, before they got better.
The secret to a long marriage? Compromise, realistic expectations, similar backgrounds, values and goals...and TWO people who are willing to stick it out. Or maybe inertia---but doesn't matter,
if you can be married to the same person for 40 years, you can be married to that person forever...
Tuesday, June 10, 2008
"Family" with chicken!
I just returned from "O-hi-a", where I had great fun at the "reunion" of 100 or so people to whom I am more or less related. It came with the full complement of children, dogs, games, crying babies, sulking teenagers, a hedgehog (honest), food, more food (!), somewhat successful attempts at photographing large groups of related individuals, etc.
There was chicken too--"family chicken"--lots of it! (You would have to be from my family to understand!!)
There was chicken too--"family chicken"--lots of it! (You would have to be from my family to understand!!)
Monday, June 09, 2008
2 copies of public records...16 cents,
800 miles, 3 nights hotel, 5 tanks of gas: expensive.....finally knowing your great-grandmothers name...priceless.
Only those "into" genealogy would understand!
Only those "into" genealogy would understand!
Saturday, May 31, 2008
Turning over a new leaf
There is nothing worth watching on television. I have decided that there are several books I want to read, so will be spending my time with a reading lamp. Only problem is that it is hard to knit and read at the same time. But two of the books are about knitting....almost as good!
Thursday, May 29, 2008
Long of Tooth
Today, MR. CP had his "crowns" lengthened. Turns out that just as we are arriving at the age of "long of tooth", his persistent tooth grinding has left him a little short! of tooth. In the interests of preserving his teeth (so as not to have to resort to artificial teeth) we have embarked on step one of the adventure of "remaking" his teeth.
I will spare you the gory details--but lasers were involved, stitches, and recovery. His teeth are "bigger". All the better for the dentist to fashion new teeth with!!
We are doing our part to stimulate the economy--one dental bill at a time!
I will spare you the gory details--but lasers were involved, stitches, and recovery. His teeth are "bigger". All the better for the dentist to fashion new teeth with!!
We are doing our part to stimulate the economy--one dental bill at a time!
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