Shhhhhhhh!!!!!!!!

It's late at night.  The house is quite.  Most of the lights are off.  I creep into the office and as silently as possible sit down at my computer. Zorro joins me hopping into his makeshift bed nestling under his blanket.

I sneak the catalog out from under the pile of papers I had placed in the middle of the computer desk and smile.  Yep, there on page 64 is an AD and a bright, beautiful thing it is to behold.  The ad takes up the whole page the headline reading "Your Choice...starting at JUST 9.99." I start to drool.  A very pretty young woman with blond hair is luring me in with her gorgeous smile.  

(Back story.)

This afternoon there was a new catalog in the mail.  It is all about women's wear. Thumbing through the pages I saw the ad and immediately, hurriedly, went to the office and buried the catalog under the a-fore mentioned pile of papers. There was no way I was going to let Frankie and Muse see the ad, or the whole catalog for that matter.

For the rest of the day I could barely contain myself until the girls announced they are heading off to bed.  I patiently watch the news while I hear water running, teeth brushing and finally the toilet stop running for the last time. Then...I wait just a bit longer...I walk through our abode, checking the doors are locked and the lights are off. Zorro is softly pitter-pattering after me.  He thinks we are going to bed. Ha!

Finally!

Yes, finally I'm sitting in front of the computer and extracting the catalog. The beautiful girl on the shiny page is still smiling at me.  I again read the ad, I can't believe my eyes, it is telling me if I purchase three or more of this 'lounge' wear I can have them for the mere price of NINE DOLLARS AND NINETY NINE CENTS each.  In reality this 'lounge' wear is what I would call a Muu-Muu and is exactly what I've been looking for.  They are beautiful, colorful, bright prints. They slip over the head, have a side pocket and a nice full skirt.  I sooo want some of these.

I look around the room, yes, everything and everybody is quite.  It seems every stroke I take on the keyboard is extra loud.  Shhhh, A, D, F, Q, R and W.  I find the website; I look around the room again.  I find the item number and I'm instructed to type in the product color number.  Oh, and I do, I type in six of them. Pink, Lavender, Aqua, Berry, Black and Hunter.  Click.  There are six items in my 'basket'.  I'm asked if I want to continue to shop or check out.

I know I'm on borrowed time and could be discovered any minute so I opt to check out. I'm thanked for my order; I can expect an e-mail that my order is received. I will be told when I can expect my shipment and delivery. Whew! Another 'click' and the website is gone.  I made it!

I turn off the computer, and hide the catalog at the very bottom of the catalog pile and turn off the light.  Boy, I'm pleased as punch and tickled pink! Ohhhhhhh!  Won't Frankie and Muse be ever so surprised when THIS package comes to the door?  I can hardly wait...who's got the last laugh now?

Remember Muu-Muus?

I love catalogs...all kinds of catalogs...most everything I purchase comes from catalogs.  Oh, I order from the companies on-line, but my favorite thing about going to my mailbox is knowing there will be a catalog inside.

Lately I've noticed several of them are selling Muu-Muus.  Do YOU remember Muu-Muus? Dang! Some of them are really pretty. There are paisleys, floral's, prints and bright patterns.  Some have pockets, some zip-up while others have buttons; but the kind I like the most are simple with a scoop neck and are full and flowing across the bottom.  You simply throw them over your head in the morning and you're good to go.

The other day I was sitting in my favorite spot, going through catalogs and turning down corners of pages that had (what I thought) were some pretty adorable Muu-Muus.

Enter Frankie:

Frankie: (Flopping on the sofa beside me.)  "So, what's ya' doin'?"
Me: (Hurrying to turn the page.) "Nothing, just looking through catalogs."
Frankie: (Picking up a discarded catalog.)  "It appears to me you're contemplating a purchase or two, what's with the turned down corners."
Me:  (In my head).)  "Crap...dang it."
Frankie:  "What's this?  100 percent cotton.  Perfect summer attire. Cool.  Easy care.  Floral patterns in bright cheerful colors."

Frankie draws in a deep breath, and out comes a burst of laughter.

Again, I think "crap".

Frankie, (After she's finally able to breathe again):  "Mooooooo, Mooooooos!!!!! You're thinking about buying Moooooooo, Moooooooos?"
Me:  "Matter of fact yes. Let's not make a big deal out of this."
Frankie:  "You kidding me, of course I'm going to make a big deal out of this...now, if we lived in Hawaii I could see you wanting to buy "Muu-Muus.  But that's ridiculous for where we actually live."
Me:  "Why?  Don't you think I'm just a tad too old to be running around in shorts during the summer, what with my skin all crape-papery and saggy?  I want to still be cool, but just not so...so...revealing.
I think Muu-Muus just might be a perfect fashion statement."

Frankie is trying hard to maintain composure while I begin to show her some of the options I've been considering. I point out they are not all that expensive ranging from about $15 to $29 and if I bought let's say six of them even at thirty bucks a piece I would be saving quite a bit of money; compared to buying six sets of longer length shorts and matching tops.  Frankie was neither impressed nor accepting.  I was beginning to think I was not going to win this battle.

Frankie:  "Think about this...what happens if it's a windy day and you want to work outside?"
Me: "I'll hold the Muu-Muu down so it won't blow up or squish the bottom between my knees."
Frankie:  "And, when you bend over, are folks going to see your...'er...underwear?
Me:  "I think they'll be long enough that won't be a problem...and, my undies are clean and paid for, 'whoever' won't be lookin' at holes and stuff."

Frankie shakes her head in disbelief.  I think she's wishing Muse was around, little does she know that Muse and I are on pretty good terms at the moment and I THINK there's a good chance that Muse would side with me.  Frankie turns another page, and there smack dab in the upper left hand corner is another colorful clothing ad.  This time it's not Muu-Muus, but...

Pedal Pushers!!!!!!

Frankie puts the catalog as close to my nose as she can and announces, "See this, see this...I would rather you buy Pedal Pushers than Muu-Muus, They'll cover up all those spots you don't want the world to see. They'll be cool, too.  I like Pedal Pushers, buy those."

I hate Pedal Pushers, I'm short, really, really short, I don't have the body for Pedal Pushers.

So, the battle raged for quite some time.  Frankie animate she does not like Muu-Muus and that eventually I would not wear them while I was just as animate I would never, never buy Pedal Pushers and that yes I would wear Muu-Muus.  It was a stalemate.  Frankie slunk off pouting.

I, on the other hand returned to my catalogs.

Enter Muse:

Muse:  (Flopping on the sofa beside me.)  "So, what's ya' doin'?"
Me:  (Hurrying to turn the page.)  "Nothing, just looking through catalogs."

...
....
.....
......

Muse:  Baaaaaaaaa, haaaaaaaaaa, haaaaaaaaaaa!

Sigh.

Hang in there Muse.

For the last couple of days I've been driving Muse nuts.  She knew there was something rattling around in my brain and the only way to rid myself of this was to put it to paper.

Here's the thing.  I was humming, la, la, la-ing and singing part of a ditty (at least I thought it was a ditty) around the place until both Frankie and Muse wanted to throttle me.  It went something like this "....I could while away the hours, decorating all the flowers....If I only had a brain."  Why, oh why could I not rid myself of this?  I kind of thought it might be a song from "The Wizard of Oz" and something "Scarecrow" might have sung but, let's face what I was singing made absolutely no sense at all, we don't decorate flowers. We can decorate 'with' flowers and that's about it.

Finally this morning I decided I was going to try to solve this mystery. After a little research I discovered...boy was I wrong, sort of.  I discovered the song I was 'ditty-ing' is titled "Brain" and is indeed from "The Wizard of Oz" and "Scarecrow" did sing it.  The music to the song was composed by Harold Arlen, and the lyrics were written by E.Y. Harburg.  And, this is how the line of the song goes.

"I could while away the hours conferrin' with the flowers; consultin' with the rain."  Whew, I never would have come up with that....but it sure makes a lot more sense than what I was singing.  No wonder Muse and Frankie were about to cause me bodily harm.

Now I'm at peace with that and I can move on. Which I have and if you'll indulge me I'm going to take you back in time.

As kids, during summer break we spent a lot of time outside, playing sports like mush-ball, badminton and touch football. Sometimes on rainy days we would spend hours playing card games on the patio. We would also spend afternoons walking around our yards collecting clover, daisy and dandelion flowers then sitting on the warm grass making flower chains, tying stem to stem to see just how long we could make the chain until it finally broke.  These were wonderful times; we would talk and laugh while competing to see who could collect the most flowers with the longest stems in order to have the longest chains. Dandelion flowers were difficult, their stems were thicker and their sap tended to stain our hands, but regardless of the flower choice they all became easier to tie as the sun warmed and slightly wilted the stems.

I'm wondering now if the ditty in my mind had something to do with the memory of flower chains, or it was the other way around.  I guess it really doesn't matter because today... I'm going to "while away the hours conferrin' with the flowers, and when the rain returns this weekend I'm going to spend some time 'consultin' it as well.

I wonder...

...how come I can have such intelligent conversations in my head, then talk like an idiot in public?

I posed that question to Frankie this morning.

This all started while I'm brushing through my new hair style (a buzz cut) and conversing with my brain about something (I can't remember what) when I said to myself  "Wow, I'm actually using 50 cent words, and using them in the right context."

Myself, responded, "Why yes you are and this has been a very stimulating conversation, thank you."

I felt pretty proud of myself that's how I happened to ask Frankie the question above.

Frankie gave me that look that shouted "IDIOT" and I could tell she didn't really want to voice her opinion, but silly me...I insisted.

She pointed out that I don't really converse very well in public, and that when it comes to being a 'listener' or a 'talker' I am and always have been a listener.  Listeners (according to her) have words, all kinds of wonderful words in their heads, but getting them to come out their mouths is like trying to navigate the Amazon river in an inner tube without so much as a paddle.  She pointed out there are rapids, rocks, tree roots, poisonous snakes and creatures with nasty teeth to maneuver around...and rather than fall out of the tube and getting eaten alive trying to search for the wonderful words, it is better and safer to listen to those of other people.  Listening is good.

I was stunned at her wisdom and how well she knows me.  She is absolutely right.  Oh, I can put words on paper, and I can talk to myself at great length (frequently out loud) like learned people with degrees up the yin-yang can do with ease.  Sadly, while in actual conversation I tend do 'putter and stutter around'.  Oh, I know the exact word I want to use, but have to pause mid-sentence in an attempt to draw it from the dark closet of my brain to tip of my tongue. Meanwhile the person I'm talking to has already drawn it from theirs and has finished my sentence for me.

I have to wonder; this listening/talking business am I blessed or am I cursed?  I would like to ask Frankie...but maybe some questions are best left unasked.

It's that time of year.

No, not that time we get the warm and fuzzy feeling of the holidays with Figgie Puddings, eggnog and candles all a glow.  I'm talking the dreaded gathering last of year's paperwork in anticipation of getting my income taxes done.  Man...I hate this boring job.  I know, I know, I probably make too much of this considering I am such a 'neat freak' when it comes to keeping paperwork.  But, I think the IRS say, we should keep paperwork for at least seven years; so I do. Shoot, I've still got the first Income Tax Report I even made out.  Actually, my dad did all the work; I simply signed the bottom of the form.

I'm a real 'stickler' when it comes to my taxes...mostly because of all the horror stories I've heard over the years of what the IRS can do to a person if they don't like what you've reported, or if they think you've happened to cheat.  I have friends who've been audited several times, things have always worked out for them, still it would scare the pants off me if I were informed the IRS was going to audit me. Thank goodness I do keep pretty good records, so if I do get audited I can back up what I reported. Trust me, if I made a mistake it would be by accident and not on purpose.  You know the song "Whatever Lola Wants, Lola Gets" that's how I feel about the IRS "Whatever the IRS wants, the IRS is gonna' get."

Once I'm happy with my paperwork to go with my return I then delve into all the receipts etc. I've accumulated over the past year, I throw away some of them and file the others.  Then I go to the back of each file and dispose of the oldest year in the file and shred those papers to bits. Boy, does my paper-shredder get a good workout that day.

I love when I get paperwork that states "This is a permanent record, do not destroy."  How simple is that?  You get it, you store it and you can forget about it.  I would probably do that with every slip of paper I get, were it not for the fact by now I would have storage boxes up around my earlobes. However, it's interesting to compare record against record over the seven year time span.  For instance how much my utility bills, insurances and property taxes have gone up over the years, sometimes it pretty shocking.  How come these figures never go down?  Wouldn't it be wonderful if they did?

Anyway, I think I'm about ready to start putting last year's figures onto the worksheets I've made for myself, shoot, I might even get my 'gumption' going and get my taxes done way ahead of the April deadline.  Or, maybe not.

Yep, it's that time of year, stupid, boring paperwork.
 

Silly

Silly...goofy, nonsensical, wacky, zany, funny.  That kind of describes my family.  Yesterday afternoon was a good example.

As I've mentioned in past blogs, my apartment faces a golf course and I love it.  Every day is a new adventure.  I already have my favorite golf cart, and my favorite threesome of golfers.  I'm not sure I will ever decide to learn how to play, but one of my daughters bought me a used 'putter' and a bag of slightly dinged golf balls...just in case I might want to explore and use the putting green.

I've not used either the putter or the balls until yesterday.

After lunch, my grandson, grand-daughter and I were sitting on my patio and the subject of golf came up.  My grand-daughter eventually brought out my putter and the golf balls, along with some of my small plastic storage containers.  She decided we were going to play golf on my patio.  My grandson had to leave while the course was being set up, but my grand-daughter was already trying to hit a ball into one of the 'cups'.  Obviously we were going to have to set up some kind of rules. They were quite simple.  'If the ball went into a cup and stayed, you got one point.  If the ball went in but rolled out you got half a point.

It turned out that the three or four original cups were not enough so my grand-daughter brought out several more.  Then, we decided we would have 'par' for each cup (one-two-or three).  Thus began the play.  She skunked me royal.  We discovered my patio slab slopes which sent some of our balls rolling to spots that made making a shot impossible...and that happened to me A LOT.  I tended to 'slice' to the right.

We laughed and giggled, then my grand-daughter thought her mom might like to play, too and she gave her a call to come early to pick her up and to play a round of golf with us.  Before long she arrived with another of my grandsons.  More laughter and giggles ensued.

Now, the golf course has been a landing place for geese all winter, and a gaggle of them appeared while we were playing.  My daughter for quite some time has wanted a goose to simply roam their property, and with the geese so close by the conversation naturally became that of how we could capture one of the golf course geese. I suggested a grocery paper bag.  This was followed by a round of laughter.  Next, my daughter suggested a pillow case which we all thought was a terrific idea; plus
I have a lot of them and could certainly spare one if a goose came close.

Of course the geese were quite far away, and the only folks allowed on the course are 'actual' golfers we started thinking of ways to lure the geese closer to my patio.  Well, it turns out my daughter has a secret talent.  She can honk like a goose.  No kidding, this girl can honk like nobody's business.  We got hysterical!  She honked and honked till her throat hurt.  But did those geese come closer?  Nope. They would turn their heads and look, but I think they suspected we had a nefarious agenda and moved farther away.

This silly golf game continued until it was time they had to head home, and we never did bag a goose.  However, we decide this was not time wasted, was a lot of fun and something to do again, soon.

Who knew a single used putter and a dozen or so slightly dinged golf balls could provide so much entertainment. Even better it's nice to be part of a silly family willing to play golf on a patio, honking like a goose, and trying to entice one into pillowcase all at the same time.

Hot Doggies

My grandson came today, and since it was reasonably nice outside...except for the wind...we walked to the local Sonic Drive-in.  I don't know whether you remember or not but last week I went there with my visiting granddaughter and I had their delicious cheeseburger and fries.

Then I think I mentioned I saw there were hot dogs on the menu and said I was going to try them especially since I've not had a hot dog I'm guessing in at least twenty years.  So, today was the day. There are several different kinds on the menu and I had a hard time deciding which one I wanted, as a result I ordered two from the several.

One was a New York hot dog while the other was a Chicago hot dog.  They were both AMAZING. However, if I'm forced to pick a favorite I would have to say it was the Chicago.  It had tomatoes, it had onions, it had relish, it had mustard, and a wonderful wedge of dill pickle that I swear, but can't confirm, had a sprinkling of cinnamon on it.  Oh my goodness...yum, yum, yum.  Don't get me wrong the New York dog was every bit as good, loaded with relish, mustard, sauerkraut and onion.  I ate every single bite, except for the mustard I got all over my sweatshirt and chin, and the sauerkraut and bits of onion that slipped out of the bun and onto the ground.  Oh, I ordered some fries, too and I'm starting to think they are even better than the ones I've been touting for years from another popular fast food eating establishment.

I was too full for dessert, but their menu states they have a variety of no less than 29 real ice cream shakes and my grandson settled for the Oreo Cheesecake shake.  I think I next time I might try two more hot dogs and most definitely one of their shakes.

Does it sound like I'm hooked?  I confess I am.  Going there took me back to the days when my daughter and I used to stop by our favorite California place to eat when I was lucky enough to have a few extra bucks to spare.  Actually, I can't wait to take her to Sonic; I hope it brings back some special memories for her, too.

Knives, and forks, and spoons, oh my!

I was watching the news Friday morning, and close to the end of the 7 O'clock hour the channel I most like to watch always has a trivia question that I find enjoyable and sometimes even educational.
The question on this particular day was something like..."What household item is most frequently lost (for good-not misplaced) and how many over the course of a year?"  I had no clue!

According to this particular survey, the item is the simple fork, and not just one but three.  Now normally I would have scoffed at this answer, and figured this survey was nuts.  However I'm a believer because over the course of a year I not only lose forks, but spoons and knives as well.

I'm not kidding.  With the ease that I've killed many, many vacuum cleaners over the years, I've also managed to lose all sorts of flatware. I've actually replaced complete sets of flatware TWICE. When the second set got down to three teaspoons, two forks, four knives and a few serving spoons I contemplated buying a third set but knew that would call attention to the fact the flatware had once again disappeared and knew that would not go over well.

My savior came unexpectedly when a new store opened just down the mall from the grocery store I frequented every week.  Of course I had to check out this new mercantile.  I was fascinated because the name indicated that every item in the store...not matter what it was...was one low price.  Talk about being intrigued.  I leisurely hummm-de-dummmed myself up and down the aisles.  Oh, this was truly a marvelous store.  Eventually I happened to saunter down the Kitchen Gadget Aisle. (Insert heavenly music here!)  What did I chance upon, but packets of flatware...each packet held either two teaspoons, two forks or two knives.  Oh, they weren't fancy or anything like that...but they were cheap and I bought many of each!

I gradually inserted them into my flatware drawer, and nobody seemed to notice the pattern from the old set was different from the cheap stuff I had recently bought.  I'm telling you it was amazing.  Not only could I (and did I) deceive my family I discovered a new talent...magic...I could bend not only spoons but forks as well.  Yep, a well placed thumb in just the right spot and I could bend the bowl of a spoon 'clean over' backward until it rested against the back of the handle.  Daaaaa, daaaaaa and roll the drums, please!

To this day I still continue to lose spoons, forks and knives.  So I cannot past up (ever) an opportunity to visit a 'one price for everything store' my first stop is always the Kitchen Gadget Aisle. This year I think I'm going to have to replace teaspoons,  I've noticed several of mine have disappeared just since September when I moved into my new 'pad'.

It was nice to find out on Friday that I am not the only one to lose flatware, however, what I'd like to know is, where the heck do those dang things go?

A bit of this, a bit of that.

I forgot to mention yesterday that I discovered hot dogs on the Sonic Drive-in restaurant's menu.  I can't remember the last time I had a hot dog.  It has been years for sure.  When is the last time you had one?  You better believe one of these times I'm going to by some of them when we pay Sonic's another visit.

This morning I got such a kick out of my seagulls, Sea More and Ebb Tide.  They seem to be getting kind of cozy, and I'm wondering if they've become a couple and if babies might be coming along this year.  The eagles at Decorah are putting the finishing touches on the nesting bowl and I would not be surprised if one of these mornings I find her nestled in prepared to lay the first egg.

I'm having a bit of a plumbing problem with the bathroom sink.  I called maintenance Wednesday morning to come take a look.  Of course the whole time the guy messed around with the sink it would not leak.  I was told to give them a call if it happened again. (Of course) it happened last night while I was getting ready for bed and brushing my teeth, and again this morning while I was getting dressed.
I called them, now we'll see how long it takes for them to return.  I'm not going to hold my breath. However, I did take a few pictures this morning to prove there is a leak and that I am not responsible for it.

I don't think I've told you I have given myself a Buzz Cut-Do.  Yep, the hairs in the back and along sides are so short I can scarcely grab it between my thumb and forefinger.  I bought myself an electric trimmer to make my trimming job easier, I just have to get brave enough to use it.  And, I have to hope the buzzing sound does not send Zorro into a nervous bowl of jello.

Tomorrow is basketball game time.  My granddaughter informed me on Wednesday she is going to have two games back to back, so it's going to be a busy morning.  Last week her team lost, but they played a very respectable game I was amazed because some of her 'mates' are pretty small, but dang if they didn't make baskets, a few of which were 'nothing but net'.

Well, guess that's about all the 'bits' I have for today.  Now I just have to hope I can actually post this to Facebook, I've not been so lucky the last few days.

What was it that Tennessee Ernie Ford used to say, "If God's willin' and the creek don't rise" I'll be back a-writin' soon.  Have a good weekend everybody.  

I swear...

...I heard a robin singing this morning.  I didn't see it, but I'm sure he/she was letting me know that spring is definitely on the way.  Oh happy day.

I've had white, purple and yellow crocus blooming for a couple of weeks now, and this week with the temperatures pushing 60 the heads of my daffodil buds have begun to bend over getting ready to open.  In addition one of my potted primroses is blooming as well.  Even some of the tulips have begun to get brave enough to push through the soil.

Yesterday afternoon, as my granddaughter and I were walking home from lunch, at the local Sonics Drive-in, she discovered another sign of spring, a pussy-willow tree covered with soft grey kittens.  It was so, so pretty.  She even plucked one and stuck it into her jacket pocket. The sky was a different shade of blue as well, heralding the promise of warmer weather and soon visual proof of chartreuse buds on all the deciduous trees.  Can you tell I'm a very happy camper?

Backing up a bit, as I was speaking of Sonics Drive-in, eating there was a first for both of us.  I was not sure what to expect, and (silly me) I tried to walk in to be seated.  Giggle, giggle.  You don't go in to sit! So, we ordered from the outdoor menu in the seating area and enjoyed our lunch out there. Unfortunately we will be limited on our visits there because of weather and temperature, but we do intend to return often...probably most frequently in summer.  We were delightfully surprised at the quality of the food.  Oh, my gosh, my burger was deee-licious.  The ingredients actually overflowed the edge of the bun, and it was so juicy it ran out of the bun, onto my hand and down my wrist.

The visit to Sonics took me w-a-a-a-y back to my teenage years when we would go across the street from our high school to the local drive-in for a plate of french fries with gravy.  We didn't do that very often because we didn't have the money.  Although, one spring day we might pass on taking the school bus home, pull together all the money we had then head across the street to share a plate of fries; then leisurely walk down the hill to home.  Ahhh, fun times, fun times.

And now I will come full circle and back to the beginning of this blog.  I swear I heard a robin sing this morning...spring IS coming.  Oh, happy, happy day.

Human nature.

I've found human nature to be both funny (Ha Ha) and funny (Peculiar).  For instance this week I got to thinking about early morning phone calls. Human nature being what it is you just know when you phone rings at 4:30 in the morning you are going to be getting bad news.  When is the last time you got good news at 4:30 AM? That's human nature in a very peculiar way. 

Early in the week a very dear friend called me to tell me about how her husband had taken a bad fall. We talked at great length and when we were through, I promised myself I would call her back in a few days to see how things were going.  Shamefully, all week I thought about calling her and even walk right past the phone with some other 'important' thing to do first, telling myself as soon as the 'important' thing was done I would pick up the phone and call her.

That simply didn't happen.

Last night, just as dusk was setting in I finally picked up the phone and let 'speed dial' ring up her number.  Of course just about everyone has caller I-D, so she knew it was me.  Since I seldom call her because of her busy schedule, and on the few times I have it has always been during the day she thought it odd I was calling.  And human nature being what it is; the first thing she wondered and then asked me was "Who died?" 

Now, I thought that was human nature's 'funny peculiar' way for her to react, but I'm sure had she called me I would have immediately thought she was going to deliver some sort of bad news to me.  

Human nature is indeed a peculiar thing.

I meekly had to tell her she had been on my mind all week, but my human nature had acted naturally and allowed me to procrastinate all week before (actually, physically, putting out effort) picking up the phone and calling.  Shame, shame on me.  However, if we were all being honest, I think we would have to confess we are all procrastinators, not just when it comes to returning phone calls but about a lot of other things in our lives as well.  

Perhaps procrastination is the mother of human nature.  If we can think of a way to get out of doing what we should 'human nature' will probably provide us a way.  I wish I could tell you I am going to change my ways but I know that's not going to happen, damn you human nature...damn you.  

So, pick up that phone, call somebody and (for heaven's sake) don't wait until they are wondering "Who died?"

There arose such a clatter...

...yesterday afternoon it scared the wits out of Frankie, Zorro and CC.

Not long ago I discovered I needed more bookcases, so I went to the Internet and found two that would perfectly fit my needs.  They arrived late Monday evening.  Of course I got very excited, and immediately set about constructing the smaller of the two.  Frankie went into a snit, she hates when I go into my 'construction mode'.

Did I care?  No.  Soon the living room floor was covered with slats of fake black wood grain finished particle board.  Oh, and a plastic bag filled with various hardware.  I was in heaven.  My tool box by my side I began to assemble first one side and top of the case, and then the bottom and the last side. I was surprised how quickly it went. I nailed the cardboard back into place and added the shelves.

Frankie had to admit this project went well, and although she would not get herself off the sofa to help me move it, at least she was not pouting anymore.  I could hardly wait for morning to bring in my flatware (not silver) chest to put on one of the shelves.

Next morning, Frankie stayed away most of the day, and while my granddaughter dusted furniture, swept, and washed the floors I tackled the second, five shelf bookcase.  One of the sides had cracked during shipping and I briefly considered packing the thing up and sending it from whence it came.  But the carton it came in was pretty much destroyed so, I got my super/tacky glue and let it set up for a while.

I figured the glue patch job would be, (as my husband used to say) "Close enough for who it's for." And, I proceeded with my construction.

Frankly, I was glad Frankie was not here, as she would have had a 'snit' times two.  Anyhoo, by the time I was ready to attach the cracked side the glue had set and I was ready to attach it to the rest of the bookcase.  My granddaughter helped me set it upright and we walked it
to its permanent home. (I do intend to buy some finishing nails and permanently attach the shelves to the sides for extra strength.)

You know that old saying that "Pride goeth before a fall", well...here it comes.  Yesterday afternoon, I was ready to put things on my new bookcases shelves.  The first being my flatware (not silver) chest.  I bippity bopped myself down to my garage, withdrew the chest from it moving container and bippity bopped myself back to my apartment.  I was soooooooooooo, excited.  I ripped the paper I had wrapped it in loose, picked the box up by the side handles and gave a shake.  However in my haste I neglected to notice the box was---------------up-----------side-----------down.

Oh--------my--------word--------there arose such a--------------clatter! Knives, forks, spoons and serving pieces splattered across the dining area floor!  It was a clatter splatter...splatter clatter.

Frankie jumped to her feet!  Zorro ran and hid!  And, I've no idea what happened to CC!

I worried that one of my neighbors might have called 911, but I'm pleased to report they did not.

Now you can picture me sitting on the floor putting all that flatware (not silver) back into the chest.

Frankie, of course is tsk, tsking me all the while.  Zorro finally got brave enough to come sniff about to see all is well, but CC is still nowhere around.

I finally get the chest back in order and I tell everybody this time the box is upside right and walk over to the bookcase to put the chest on a shelf.  Picture the blood draining from my face.

The
chest
would
not
fit.

It was an inch and a half to wide.  I could have and I wanted to scream, but didn't.  After having made such a clatter I knew a scream would not be helpful.  Frankie thought this was terribly amusing, which didn't help at all because I wanted to spit tacks, they at least would have been helpful to strengthen my cracked bookcase.

I eventually found a place for the flatware chest so I'm a happy camper even though my bookcase purchases didn't turn out exactly the way I intended. However, with all those empty shelves I think I just might visit some on-line book stores.  Wadjathink?

Don't worry...

...this is not going to be a sermon.

I like to study the Bible.  I've been doing it seriously for quite a while now, I've an excellent teacher, and we’ve been studying for about ten years.  I happen to have a four in one Bible and also an independent one and I use them all.

What I find fascinating is each one has the same books, the same chapters and the same verses. What I find even more fascinating is that each verse virtually says the same thing, but each Bible frequently uses different words to say that 'same thing.' 

Take for instance this morning the word MEDITATE was mentioned in the study.  What does it mean to meditate?  Hmmm!  I decided to see how my five versions of the Bible used this word in a particular verse. One actually used the word 'meditate', one said 'ponder', two used the word 'practice', while the last was a little wordy and stated 'put these abilities to work'.  Yet, when I read the complete verse they were all used in the proper context.  So, I guess the meaning justifies the end, or does the end justify the means?  I've not a clue.

What really surprises me is on some occasions all five versions of my Bibles will use the exact same word in a particular verse...and I have to wonder every single time why that particular word in that particular verse was so important they chose not to change it.  One instance would be the word 'overshadow' it is used exactly the same in that one verse in all five versions. Why is overshadow such an important word each Bible chose not to change it?

There are of course other instances where the words are exact, but mostly the versions will alter the words from time to time.  I'm not exactly sure what my point is, except that (perhaps, maybe, possibly, conceivably, perchance) all our religions are not that different since we all use the same book for the way we should live, love, laugh and be happy.

And that's my meditation for today.

Nostalgia

I have to confess I like living in the day.  This 24 hour span might be my best yet, I don't want to interfere with one single second.  However, sometimes I enjoy a few minutes of nostalgia as well.

Just a few moments ago my cat began to call for me.  In very distinct vocal clarity she calls out "Mama, mama" until I call out, "What, what, what do you want?" And she comes racing to where ever I am.  I had one other cat years ago who used to do the same thing.

Anyway, she called out while I'm at my computer and I respond.  CC came rushing in, jumped up on my paper cutter, walked across my "Big Book" dictionary and came to a stop on my keyboard.  I was about to check out a web-site, but she happened to press her foot on something and instead of the site I wanted, the one of my hometown came up on my monitor.

Whether my subconscious wanted me to be there all along I can't say for sure, but the scenes of my hometown web-site’s banner brought a lump to my throat.  There was Central Park, adorned in spring, trees abloom in pink.  In the background were buildings over 100 year old. Oh, how many times did I walk through that park, walk past those buildings.

There was the Inclined Plane, halfway up/down the hillside, and it brought to mind all the people and vehicles it moves daily, and how it took people from the valley up the hill during the time of floods.  I loved riding the Inclined Plane.

A panoramic view of the city, came next, I could see the building where I used to work, the church where we were allowed to take time off to attend Good Friday service.  I could see the defunct Steel Mill buildings, abandoned long ago.

Then there were things I didn't recognize at all, the "Mystery of Steel Exhibit" and the "Johnstown Flood National Museum", both new and enticing to visitors passing through, or native sons and daughters returning home for a vacation.  It pleases me that my hometown has its eyes on the future.  

I was brought back from my moment of nostalgia when my cat began to pace back and forth across the desk and I could no longer see the screen.  Silly cat. I gave her a good loving, and cats being what they are...she finally said, "Okay, I'm done." and she walked over to her favorite window sill and is watching birds, people and dogs saunter by. So, I guess it's time I get back to work. Thanks CC; Its been a while since I've been home.

Sorry,

I tried to post a blog today, it was pretty darn good too.  But when I tried to move it from Microsoft Word to the blog...after many, many tries...is went...POOF.  I've no idea where it ended up...and I was too angry by that time to go look for it.  Ding, darn, dirty dang.  Sorry.