My only big accomplishment for the day was paying bills. Yay. But at least I got most of them paid. I still have a couple that I am doing today. I don't know why paying bills is so traumatic for me. Oh, yes I do. I would rather use any money that we have for fun things - like food, and travel and such. Where would mom and I travel? That is a darn fine question.
I took a walk downtown. The library got in a book that I put on hold. A friend suggested I read Water for Elephants. I have seen the movie and vaguely recall enjoying it. She said the book was, of course, better. And so far, she is right. Anyway, I walked downtown, also went to the Smith Opera House, the bank and to Madia's Market. I figured it was easier to get things there, which was sort of on the way home, than to get home and head back out to Wegman's, or even walk to Wegman's on the way home. Madia's did not have an awesome selection of produce. Not a surprise really - but I did get some brussel sprouts which turned out to be fresh and happy. And corn - which was actually better than the picked over corn I usually end up with from Wegman's. Might just have to swing by there today (Friday) and get more corn when I head out for food shopping.
My epiphany-let isn't really all that earth shattering. When I was getting the rest of the edible chicken separated from the non-edible bits the other day, the chicken was still hot. Not fun on the fingers. Other times, I take the chicken out of the fridge and it is really cold. Also not fun on the fingers. So, here is the epiphany - when I take the chicken out of the fridge a few minutes before I start to work on it, it becomes warm enough that my fingers are not numbed quickly! Yay!
Does anyone think I ought to feel guilty about recycling old New Yorkers and other magazines? And does anyone want mom's old huge electric typewriter? If not, it is getting recycled. You must come and pick it up - I ain't shipping that sucker anywhere!
Drove to Ithaca last night and had a pleasant evening with a nice woman! Yippee! She suggested a new-ish place down there. We sat outside and watched the sun set and the stars rise. It was awesome! (Little in-joke there...)
Friday, May 31, 2013
Thursday, May 30, 2013
Lots of random memories
One of the reasons I enjoy sorting, sometimes, is the memories that are stimulated. Last night, I sorted through a shoebox full of four different things - check supplies from a few defunct accounts, address pieces of paper, business cards and fortune cookie fortunes. Yes, I save most all (yes most all) of my fortune cookie fortunes. When I run across one or a pile of them - since they are scattered through my belongings - I like to read a few of them and see what they say. I like the fortunes that are fortunes and not the ones that are silly statements. And I like to learn Chinese from the ones that have "learn Chinese" on the back. Ni hao, bai cai! (That means hello cabbage, I think.)
But the fortune cookies were the smallest part of the treasure trove I went through last night. Half of the contents were the checking supplies - I did not shred the checks. Somehow I can't get paranoid about checks from accounts that are defunct falling into the wrong hands! The evildoers at the recycling plant can have fun with those. In terms of mass, that was the largest part of the contents of the box - and they all went into the recycling bin. Yay.
The last two bits were the most interesting - the business cards and the address slips of paper. Lots of people turned up who I had not heard of or thought of for varying amounts of time. Old friends, old crushes, old acquaintances and lots of people I did not remember at all. Many of them went into the recycling bin as well. A few were retained so that maybe one day, I might try and google them to see if they are easily found. If not, oh well. If so, they might be worth an email to say hello. I figure if they are important in my life, they will be there (here), if not, not.
I also found a bunch of business cards of mine. And of friends. I think I have four from my friend Ellen in Seattle. Seven or so of mine from different stages of my life. Love it. Overall, a very positive sorting experience. Yay!
My brother and his kids left yesterday, vowing to return one day. Perhaps in three months (after the summer). Eeek!
The Smith beckoned again yesterday. David and I did more sorting and labeling and testing and such. We worked on sound - testing the various microphones and equipment that had accumulated in the storage closet over the years. Then we went to Wal-mart - ick - and got containers - plastic containers. I love containers. We stored some of the stuff we uncovered and were not brave enough to let go. Good fun and so rewarding. The closet looks pretty good for now. Yay!
Last night I saw Rise of the Planet of the Apes and though it was a pretty terrible movie, I am glad I saw it. Now I know how the Planet of the Apes became possible. Other than that, ick. I don't know why but very little about the movie appealed. I am not a big fan of Franco. I liked the lead woman but there seemed to be little chemistry between the two actors. The whole movie felt disjointed and choppy.
But the fortune cookies were the smallest part of the treasure trove I went through last night. Half of the contents were the checking supplies - I did not shred the checks. Somehow I can't get paranoid about checks from accounts that are defunct falling into the wrong hands! The evildoers at the recycling plant can have fun with those. In terms of mass, that was the largest part of the contents of the box - and they all went into the recycling bin. Yay.
The last two bits were the most interesting - the business cards and the address slips of paper. Lots of people turned up who I had not heard of or thought of for varying amounts of time. Old friends, old crushes, old acquaintances and lots of people I did not remember at all. Many of them went into the recycling bin as well. A few were retained so that maybe one day, I might try and google them to see if they are easily found. If not, oh well. If so, they might be worth an email to say hello. I figure if they are important in my life, they will be there (here), if not, not.
I also found a bunch of business cards of mine. And of friends. I think I have four from my friend Ellen in Seattle. Seven or so of mine from different stages of my life. Love it. Overall, a very positive sorting experience. Yay!
My brother and his kids left yesterday, vowing to return one day. Perhaps in three months (after the summer). Eeek!
The Smith beckoned again yesterday. David and I did more sorting and labeling and testing and such. We worked on sound - testing the various microphones and equipment that had accumulated in the storage closet over the years. Then we went to Wal-mart - ick - and got containers - plastic containers. I love containers. We stored some of the stuff we uncovered and were not brave enough to let go. Good fun and so rewarding. The closet looks pretty good for now. Yay!
Last night I saw Rise of the Planet of the Apes and though it was a pretty terrible movie, I am glad I saw it. Now I know how the Planet of the Apes became possible. Other than that, ick. I don't know why but very little about the movie appealed. I am not a big fan of Franco. I liked the lead woman but there seemed to be little chemistry between the two actors. The whole movie felt disjointed and choppy.
Wednesday, May 29, 2013
Tax is taxing
The day turned out to be a rainy one, here in lovely Geneva, NY. Not what had originally been forecast. But Karl wanted to go on his adventure anyway. Before time, though, we got a call from the Nursing place saying that they couldn't come at their scheduled time. What? Karl set that up a month ago, at least. I had spoken with someone at the service and Karl had also spoken on the phone in depth with someone and at 9:30 in the morning they discovered that they couldn't make their 10 am appointment? Karl told them that was unacceptable. They eventually came to a compromise of 3 in the afternoon - which gave Karl time to do his adventure.
When the whole group, Karl, three kids and mom, headed off to Wagner's Vineyard for lunch, I had the house to myself! What did I do? Walked naked to the bathroom! Yay! Then I went to the bank. Fully clothed by the way. And that was about all. Didn't really take advantage of, but did wallow a bit in, the silence and solitude!
The visit from the VPN (whatever that stands for) was ok. At first she had the wrong idea that we were looking for services from her - which we weren't. When she finally got the idea, she did a walk-through of the house with me and gave us some good suggestions. These were for when mom gets a little further down the slope into the abyss. I think I need to find a good carpenter!
As we were touring, I got a call from The Smith asking me to come in for a bit - which I did - to do some neatening and sorting. More today, actually, but got what I needed to get done yesterday. Yay!
Dinner was all me last night - we had chicken, corn on the cob, orange glop (sweet potato) and green beans. I think everyone enjoyed some parts of the meal. Well, I enjoyed the whole thing. As did mom. And Karl. I guess it was the kids who only enjoyed parts. Orange glop disappeared into Jenna's maw as quickly as it was put in front of her.
After dinner, I had my regular night out downtown. It was raining quite a bit and not as toasty as it could have been, so I drove down. Red Dove was pretty empty! Eeek! Good for me, but not good for the staff. Had a nice time chatting with the bartender. Sadly, I am not going to be going back for a while. There have been some shake-ups there. Manager stepping down, staff leaving, and most irksome, raising prices of their beer by adding tax. I knew the tax was there before, but it was invisible. A $4 beer was $4. Now, a $4 beer is $4.30. How is that good for the bartender? And why make people deal with change? Just short sighted and silly. If they want to raise their prices, just add $.25 or $.50 to everything - there would still be change, but it would be quarters only and the bartender could still get tipped easily. Whatever. There are other places for me to visit.
When the whole group, Karl, three kids and mom, headed off to Wagner's Vineyard for lunch, I had the house to myself! What did I do? Walked naked to the bathroom! Yay! Then I went to the bank. Fully clothed by the way. And that was about all. Didn't really take advantage of, but did wallow a bit in, the silence and solitude!
The visit from the VPN (whatever that stands for) was ok. At first she had the wrong idea that we were looking for services from her - which we weren't. When she finally got the idea, she did a walk-through of the house with me and gave us some good suggestions. These were for when mom gets a little further down the slope into the abyss. I think I need to find a good carpenter!
As we were touring, I got a call from The Smith asking me to come in for a bit - which I did - to do some neatening and sorting. More today, actually, but got what I needed to get done yesterday. Yay!
Dinner was all me last night - we had chicken, corn on the cob, orange glop (sweet potato) and green beans. I think everyone enjoyed some parts of the meal. Well, I enjoyed the whole thing. As did mom. And Karl. I guess it was the kids who only enjoyed parts. Orange glop disappeared into Jenna's maw as quickly as it was put in front of her.
After dinner, I had my regular night out downtown. It was raining quite a bit and not as toasty as it could have been, so I drove down. Red Dove was pretty empty! Eeek! Good for me, but not good for the staff. Had a nice time chatting with the bartender. Sadly, I am not going to be going back for a while. There have been some shake-ups there. Manager stepping down, staff leaving, and most irksome, raising prices of their beer by adding tax. I knew the tax was there before, but it was invisible. A $4 beer was $4. Now, a $4 beer is $4.30. How is that good for the bartender? And why make people deal with change? Just short sighted and silly. If they want to raise their prices, just add $.25 or $.50 to everything - there would still be change, but it would be quarters only and the bartender could still get tipped easily. Whatever. There are other places for me to visit.
Tuesday, May 28, 2013
And then there were four?
I was wrong about the ages of my brother's kids - they are 4, 3 and 1. True, the oldest is almost 5, but not quite yet. And he manages them so well! I guess he got enough practice from the first three that these three are easy.
In three minutes, seemingly, with two people, my tasklets all got accomplished. This is one reason it is good to have a partner in life. Not that Karl, my brother, is my partner, but I am just saying. We moved a chair into the basement, a foam mattress thingie into the attic and I got up the motivation to go fix a fence - not as hard as it sounds. And it isn't really fixed. More like I put a figurative band-aid on the problem. Sadly, Karl laughed at me when I said that my plan was to clean up the habitable areas of the house first before taking on the basement and the attic and the garage/barn structure. Oh well. I will keep plugging along. A little bit at time and before one knows it, icky and huge tasks are completed! Speaking of which, anyone think I ought to keep electric typewriters or should I let them go to the recyclers?
Well, dinner was interesting. My brother cooked, which meant that I didn't. Yay! Not that I mind cooking, but anything I don't have to do, is fine by me. The kids are all at different stages of eating habits and tendencies. Karl handles them so well! Then, Jacob let slip that Candace is pregnant again. That will make four babies and counting. That's all I am going to say. (Thankfully, I think mom has forgotten already...)
I don't mind chaos. Really, I don't. And I don't mind craziness. Disruption of routine, fine. All in moderation as I know that this too shall pass. Last night for a little but I just felt really intolerant. But I breathed through it.
Mom hasn't let on as to whether or not she is enjoying all of the stimulation. When she has a better audience than I am, she exaggerates her infirmity. I know that she is not as firm on her pins as she once was, but she is not as incapable as she likes to make people think. Sigh. She did become exhausted, that much is sure.
We went to see Star Trek: Into Darkness. It was a sort of remake of the television Original Series episode where Khan is introduced. I enjoyed the movie, all things considered. Not loved it, like my brother, but enjoyed it. I didn't like the costumes at all. Is that too picky? I am not thrilled with any of the characters/actors except Spock and Uhura - so happy they are in a relationship! And it it no way explores difficult social issues in a serious way like the original series and to a lesser extent the other series did. Still, not too bad. Glad I saw it on a big screen. I could tell that they did a good bit for 3d versions of the film but I don't think we lost too much by seeing it in 2d. One thing that irks me is the gratuitous use of aliens in the movie. Who is the little critter who is a coworker of Scotty's? Who is the cyborg on the bridge? What kind of alien was the one we glimpse in the detention area? And others. The Klingons looked pretty scary and they had bat'leths. Does anyone know if the Klingon in the movie is the same as it has always been? (I think it was...)
In three minutes, seemingly, with two people, my tasklets all got accomplished. This is one reason it is good to have a partner in life. Not that Karl, my brother, is my partner, but I am just saying. We moved a chair into the basement, a foam mattress thingie into the attic and I got up the motivation to go fix a fence - not as hard as it sounds. And it isn't really fixed. More like I put a figurative band-aid on the problem. Sadly, Karl laughed at me when I said that my plan was to clean up the habitable areas of the house first before taking on the basement and the attic and the garage/barn structure. Oh well. I will keep plugging along. A little bit at time and before one knows it, icky and huge tasks are completed! Speaking of which, anyone think I ought to keep electric typewriters or should I let them go to the recyclers?
Well, dinner was interesting. My brother cooked, which meant that I didn't. Yay! Not that I mind cooking, but anything I don't have to do, is fine by me. The kids are all at different stages of eating habits and tendencies. Karl handles them so well! Then, Jacob let slip that Candace is pregnant again. That will make four babies and counting. That's all I am going to say. (Thankfully, I think mom has forgotten already...)
I don't mind chaos. Really, I don't. And I don't mind craziness. Disruption of routine, fine. All in moderation as I know that this too shall pass. Last night for a little but I just felt really intolerant. But I breathed through it.
Mom hasn't let on as to whether or not she is enjoying all of the stimulation. When she has a better audience than I am, she exaggerates her infirmity. I know that she is not as firm on her pins as she once was, but she is not as incapable as she likes to make people think. Sigh. She did become exhausted, that much is sure.
We went to see Star Trek: Into Darkness. It was a sort of remake of the television Original Series episode where Khan is introduced. I enjoyed the movie, all things considered. Not loved it, like my brother, but enjoyed it. I didn't like the costumes at all. Is that too picky? I am not thrilled with any of the characters/actors except Spock and Uhura - so happy they are in a relationship! And it it no way explores difficult social issues in a serious way like the original series and to a lesser extent the other series did. Still, not too bad. Glad I saw it on a big screen. I could tell that they did a good bit for 3d versions of the film but I don't think we lost too much by seeing it in 2d. One thing that irks me is the gratuitous use of aliens in the movie. Who is the little critter who is a coworker of Scotty's? Who is the cyborg on the bridge? What kind of alien was the one we glimpse in the detention area? And others. The Klingons looked pretty scary and they had bat'leths. Does anyone know if the Klingon in the movie is the same as it has always been? (I think it was...)
Monday, May 27, 2013
Blog blog blog blog blog
Buffalo buffalo buffalo Buffalo buffalo. Apparently that is a valid sentence. Yay! Blog blog blog blog blog isn't. Though Blog blog might be a correct sentence fragment.
Some of you may be surprised to hear that I actually do have friends. One of them, a good one even, is interested in astrology and offered to do my chart. Little did I know that I would get 600 pages of information! Eeeek! I have started to read through it. I find it interesting and stimulating. Interesting when I find good things, stimulating when I find not so good things. I am curious, though, what happens when two different parts contradict each other. One part will say that I am not a good critical, logical thinker and then a few paragraphs later it will say that I am too logical and critical a thinker. Maybe they cancel each other out. Maybe I just don't think at all...
My brother and his family are arrived last night at about two in the morning. There were up at 8 this morning. I don't know how my brother survives with 6 hours of sleep or less, a night. Goodness.
Nothing too exciting transpired yesterday. I did eventually make up beds for the visiting hordes. And cooked breakfast for dinner, as I often do on Sundays. This time it was bacon, waffles (frozen blueberry gluten free - surprisingly ok as long as you take them for what they are and not really waffles...) hash browns and eggs - over hard for mom, over easy for me. I like my yokes running around the plate peeping. (Ok, maybe not such a good image.)
Some of you may be surprised to hear that I actually do have friends. One of them, a good one even, is interested in astrology and offered to do my chart. Little did I know that I would get 600 pages of information! Eeeek! I have started to read through it. I find it interesting and stimulating. Interesting when I find good things, stimulating when I find not so good things. I am curious, though, what happens when two different parts contradict each other. One part will say that I am not a good critical, logical thinker and then a few paragraphs later it will say that I am too logical and critical a thinker. Maybe they cancel each other out. Maybe I just don't think at all...
My brother and his family are arrived last night at about two in the morning. There were up at 8 this morning. I don't know how my brother survives with 6 hours of sleep or less, a night. Goodness.
Nothing too exciting transpired yesterday. I did eventually make up beds for the visiting hordes. And cooked breakfast for dinner, as I often do on Sundays. This time it was bacon, waffles (frozen blueberry gluten free - surprisingly ok as long as you take them for what they are and not really waffles...) hash browns and eggs - over hard for mom, over easy for me. I like my yokes running around the plate peeping. (Ok, maybe not such a good image.)
Sunday, May 26, 2013
Misplaced my camera
Well, my mom's camera, actually, has been misplaced. After wearing it on my hip for most of the last year, I put it down somewhere and now I can't find it. Grrr. It will turn up. Unless mom put it somewhere, then it might be gone forever. We still haven't found her glasses. Probably won't find her glasses until we move out of this house. (Found the camera at least...)
I forgot one of the most exciting things that happened on Friday. I made a bit of caramel popcorn by melting some caramels in the microwave. Not perfect, but tasty anyway!
Now that Saturday is "in the can" Sunday has arrived in all of its splendor! My brother and his children arrive much later today - probably past midnight - so officially Monday, but who is counting. Before he gets here, I still have to make his bed. I am going to jump right on that. Oh, and I need to plan something for dinner tonight. Oops, I don't think I have any kid friendly food for breakfast on Monday. Hmm, something else to think about.
Saturday was again a not very productive day. It was chilly here in Geneva, NY so I did my best not to go out too much. I did get to the store, Wegman's, and bought some comestibles. And will go again today. I bought a cabbage and forgot to get more mayonnaise to enable me to make my version of coleslaw. It is coleslaw time of year. And I got more corn on the cob, which mom dutifully husked. Or shucked.
Later, I drove to Syracuse to meet a person from POF (Plenty of Fish) for a beer at Empire Brewing Company. I really don't like going out on Saturday nights - it is just so crowded. And this Saturday was no exception. Maybe I ought to change my mind, though. There were lots of pretty people wandering about.
I did manage to secure us two seats at the bar. After she arrived, rose between her teeth and a copy of 50 Shades of Grey III under her arm (as I had jokingly suggested), we had a lovely time chatting about this and that and the other thing. The time passed quickly, and suddenly it was pumpkin time for me. It really isn't that long a drive to and from Syracuse, in the greater scheme of things!
Unfortunately, the movie that I had put on for mom before I left malfunctioned - despite being washed. She said it quit on her soon after I left. Sigh. Technology - sometimes it can be frustrating. Not sure what to do about that movie. Probably toss it unless I can find a way to make it happy and work.
I just read an awesome little article - awesome because I agreed with it. I am, as some of you now, fairly liberal in my views of society and politics. Here is a link: http://www.glittersnipe.com/2012/07/04/dont-tread-on-me-either/
I forgot one of the most exciting things that happened on Friday. I made a bit of caramel popcorn by melting some caramels in the microwave. Not perfect, but tasty anyway!
Now that Saturday is "in the can" Sunday has arrived in all of its splendor! My brother and his children arrive much later today - probably past midnight - so officially Monday, but who is counting. Before he gets here, I still have to make his bed. I am going to jump right on that. Oh, and I need to plan something for dinner tonight. Oops, I don't think I have any kid friendly food for breakfast on Monday. Hmm, something else to think about.
Saturday was again a not very productive day. It was chilly here in Geneva, NY so I did my best not to go out too much. I did get to the store, Wegman's, and bought some comestibles. And will go again today. I bought a cabbage and forgot to get more mayonnaise to enable me to make my version of coleslaw. It is coleslaw time of year. And I got more corn on the cob, which mom dutifully husked. Or shucked.
Later, I drove to Syracuse to meet a person from POF (Plenty of Fish) for a beer at Empire Brewing Company. I really don't like going out on Saturday nights - it is just so crowded. And this Saturday was no exception. Maybe I ought to change my mind, though. There were lots of pretty people wandering about.
I did manage to secure us two seats at the bar. After she arrived, rose between her teeth and a copy of 50 Shades of Grey III under her arm (as I had jokingly suggested), we had a lovely time chatting about this and that and the other thing. The time passed quickly, and suddenly it was pumpkin time for me. It really isn't that long a drive to and from Syracuse, in the greater scheme of things!
Unfortunately, the movie that I had put on for mom before I left malfunctioned - despite being washed. She said it quit on her soon after I left. Sigh. Technology - sometimes it can be frustrating. Not sure what to do about that movie. Probably toss it unless I can find a way to make it happy and work.
I just read an awesome little article - awesome because I agreed with it. I am, as some of you now, fairly liberal in my views of society and politics. Here is a link: http://www.glittersnipe.com/2012/07/04/dont-tread-on-me-either/
Saturday, May 25, 2013
This is a blog. This is just a blog.
For those who don't know, this is a blog. Usually this particular blog is about my life and such. Hence the name. There are times when I write here just to hear myself out loud. Well, you know what I mean. Sometimes I whine just to hear myself whine. And then I can let it go. It's like when I hit my finger with a hammer - I like to howl and scream and generally carry on in a big way for a few seconds (or an hour) and then, amazingly, the pain seems less painful and I move on. I do sometimes exaggerate or make hyperbolic (there's that word again) statements. Just because I can. I do try to not prevaricate or obfuscate, but that does happen once in a while. Very infrequently - because I do, really, believe that honesty is the best and perhaps only policy to be followed in interpersonal communication. Except with my mom. But that is another story. I guess this is all to say: take what you read here with a grain of salt. If you feel compassionate or empathetic, great! If you want to fix me - probably not a good idea as I love me just the way I am. Now is perfect (kinda by definition).
Nothing much to write about the happenings of yesterday. I took the day off from doing anything too constructive besides writing. No, I am not working on a new book at this point. The writing I did yesterday was blogging, Daily Challenge and emails. Lots of POF and such emails.
I rented A Tale of Two Cities for mom to watch last night. I think she liked it, though it was too complicated for her, which is good information for me. I need to pick simpler things for her to watch. She really loves the nature videos I got for her - Planet Earth! I will need to watch them one day. One of the great things is that she doesn't really remember them, so she can watch them over and over again. Yay!
Maybe I will be more productive today. Maybe not. Only time will tell.
Nothing much to write about the happenings of yesterday. I took the day off from doing anything too constructive besides writing. No, I am not working on a new book at this point. The writing I did yesterday was blogging, Daily Challenge and emails. Lots of POF and such emails.
I rented A Tale of Two Cities for mom to watch last night. I think she liked it, though it was too complicated for her, which is good information for me. I need to pick simpler things for her to watch. She really loves the nature videos I got for her - Planet Earth! I will need to watch them one day. One of the great things is that she doesn't really remember them, so she can watch them over and over again. Yay!
Maybe I will be more productive today. Maybe not. Only time will tell.
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