Good morning! That's what Sheila said to me at 5 a.m. this morning. She was awake and decided I should be too. Maybe she wanted to tell me that it was raining and she couldn't go out to play. Anyway...whomp!...these giant feet landed smack dab in the middle of my stomach and a happy face looked at me.
"Off," I said, trying to ignore her.
She got off and started licking my elbow. I covered up with a blanket.
Then she did what she has learned is the thing that will get me up, no matter the hour. She got Kimba to bark. Sheila won't bark herself in the house, but she'll torment Kimba until Kimba barks and that bark is enough to wake the dead, much less someone who is feigning sleep to get a few more minutes in "bed."
I ignored the barking until it stopped, then for a few more minutes, and then I did get up--because by now, of course, I was wide awake, but was hoping that Sheila wouldn't realize that it was Kimba's barking that woke me up.
She gets Kimba to bark when she (Sheila) is hungry. comes 4:30 and she's determined that NOW is time for dinner (it's not), so she starts batting Kimba on the head until Kimba starts to bark. Again, I refuse to reward her by getting up to feed them and shut the two of them up, but the barking cuts right through me and I usually end up feeding them earlier than usual.
I really need to get ear plugs.
Thursday, April 28, 2005
National Geographics
I recently wrote a journal entry about my theory on National Geographics.
Last night I got one bookcase moved back into the family room, spending a great deal of time trying to figure out where I wanted to put it, how it looked (I've never had the luxury to spend time trying to figure out how something LOOKS.
I still despaired of getting all the junk into the family room and still maintain this nice clean look. I told Walt that maybe if we could clear some stuff out of that low closet you see there on the right, I could pack up some of the more unsightly "stuff" and store it there.
That's when he offered that maybe it was time to discard some of the National Geographics which are stacked in 3 large boxes in this closet. He pointed out that we have a 30 year accumulation of National Geographics. At this point, it is unlikely that we will ever look at the first 29 years or so again, so what's the point in keeping them? Now that National Geographic can be purchased on CD, the actual magazines in your hand have lost whatever value they might once have had.
So I'm hungrily eyeing the closet and hoping it will be the real solution to my "stuff" problem!
Last night I got one bookcase moved back into the family room, spending a great deal of time trying to figure out where I wanted to put it, how it looked (I've never had the luxury to spend time trying to figure out how something LOOKS.
I still despaired of getting all the junk into the family room and still maintain this nice clean look. I told Walt that maybe if we could clear some stuff out of that low closet you see there on the right, I could pack up some of the more unsightly "stuff" and store it there.
That's when he offered that maybe it was time to discard some of the National Geographics which are stacked in 3 large boxes in this closet. He pointed out that we have a 30 year accumulation of National Geographics. At this point, it is unlikely that we will ever look at the first 29 years or so again, so what's the point in keeping them? Now that National Geographic can be purchased on CD, the actual magazines in your hand have lost whatever value they might once have had.
So I'm hungrily eyeing the closet and hoping it will be the real solution to my "stuff" problem!
Tuesday, April 26, 2005
Check those receipts
I put off grocery shopping until the last possible minute, but I finally had to shop a couple of days ago. I knew that it was going to be an expensive trip so wasn't surprised when the total was $166 (a bit better because we had a 5% gift coupon, so the final was only $158.24. I really didn't think twice about it.
But this morning Walt was looking at the tag and asked me what I'd bought for $46.08.
Huh? I know I didn't buy any one thing that was that expensive...I definitely would have remembered that. Especially in the "meat and deli" category.
I called the grocery store this morning and she asked if I'd purchased garlic, which I admitted I had. Turns out that "4608" is the code for garlic and apparently the clerk had keyed in the number as an amount, not a code. She said to bring in the tag and they'd give me a refund.
Believe me, I will be looking at grocery tags a little more closely from now on!
But this morning Walt was looking at the tag and asked me what I'd bought for $46.08.
Huh? I know I didn't buy any one thing that was that expensive...I definitely would have remembered that. Especially in the "meat and deli" category.
I called the grocery store this morning and she asked if I'd purchased garlic, which I admitted I had. Turns out that "4608" is the code for garlic and apparently the clerk had keyed in the number as an amount, not a code. She said to bring in the tag and they'd give me a refund.
Believe me, I will be looking at grocery tags a little more closely from now on!
Busy days
I've been neglecting the blog. It was a busy weekend, getting the furniture in and starting to move back the junk. I find I spend a lot of time just sitting here looking at the bare walls and the clean flat surfaces and the beautiful floor and marveling at how wonderful it looks.
Then I walk into the living room and see all the junk that has to go somewhere and just moan. It all looks so GOOD now--but yet, I can't throw all that stuff away. What to do...what to do...?
My DVR also got installed yesterday and I am so loving it. I woke up at 4 a.m. this morning and watched The Daily Show, the end of The Medium, which I'd fallen asleep during, and Jay Leno's Headlines segment. Very nice. I also have 3 episodes of Whose Line Is It Anyway to watch when I have the time.
It didn't take long to get ME hooked on this new toy!
Then I walk into the living room and see all the junk that has to go somewhere and just moan. It all looks so GOOD now--but yet, I can't throw all that stuff away. What to do...what to do...?
My DVR also got installed yesterday and I am so loving it. I woke up at 4 a.m. this morning and watched The Daily Show, the end of The Medium, which I'd fallen asleep during, and Jay Leno's Headlines segment. Very nice. I also have 3 episodes of Whose Line Is It Anyway to watch when I have the time.
It didn't take long to get ME hooked on this new toy!
Saturday, April 23, 2005
What Time Is It?
I came across an interesting clock by bludot.com (the link takes you to a brief film about the project). It comes under the category "get a life." Apparently people have taken photos of numbers, everything from 12:00 to 11:59 in one minute increments...They are house addresses, receipts, hand-written things, body shapes, clock faces, and one and on and on. It can sit on your desktop and every minute you have a number with a new look to look at. Yeah, it's silly, but also kind of fun. Apparently you can also run the clock from the internet as a screen saver.
And you can personalize it on your desktop. I had taken pictures of some addresses in San Francisco when I was participating in a group on Fotolog and I'd never used them, so I cropped them to be 150x150 pixels and then substituted my numbers for the numbers that came built in. Silly, yeah, but it's kind of fun.
And you can personalize it on your desktop. I had taken pictures of some addresses in San Francisco when I was participating in a group on Fotolog and I'd never used them, so I cropped them to be 150x150 pixels and then substituted my numbers for the numbers that came built in. Silly, yeah, but it's kind of fun.
Friday, April 22, 2005
Clip job
It's really bad when you let your dog's nails get so long that you're embarrassed to take her in to have them clipped! Kimba's nails have become the canine equivalent of some of those old Chinese men you see who have never cut their fingernails. I look at them every day and think that I need to take them somewhere, but know that seeing how long they are will result in a lecture on how I need to clip them more often, so I just continue to let them grow.
This is the same mindset that kept me away from a dentist for 22 years. The more I needed one, the more embarrassed I was to admit that I did need one!
But watching Kimba slipping about on the new floor, I finally had to DO SOMETHING and found the doggie nail clippers that Peggy bought when she was here and clipped them. I haven't used the clippers because I heard that you can cut too short and hurt the dog by cutting the quick--and you can't see the quick on black nails. But her nails are SO long that I can cut them to be short enough to need clipping and come nowhere near the quick.
So she now has "long" nails, but she doesn't look like an old Chinese man who hasn't cut his nails in years. She looks like a dog who is about ready to need her nails clipped. And she is able to walk across the new floor a lot better now.
And now I can take her in to have her nails clipped and not worry about getting a lecture for waiting so long.
This is the same mindset that kept me away from a dentist for 22 years. The more I needed one, the more embarrassed I was to admit that I did need one!
But watching Kimba slipping about on the new floor, I finally had to DO SOMETHING and found the doggie nail clippers that Peggy bought when she was here and clipped them. I haven't used the clippers because I heard that you can cut too short and hurt the dog by cutting the quick--and you can't see the quick on black nails. But her nails are SO long that I can cut them to be short enough to need clipping and come nowhere near the quick.
So she now has "long" nails, but she doesn't look like an old Chinese man who hasn't cut his nails in years. She looks like a dog who is about ready to need her nails clipped. And she is able to walk across the new floor a lot better now.
And now I can take her in to have her nails clipped and not worry about getting a lecture for waiting so long.
Thursday, April 21, 2005
Squared Circles
Must. find. circles.
Flickr has "groups." Lots and lots of groups where people share all photos of a certain topic. You discover that when you start sharing in groups, you begin to look at EVERYTHING around you as a possible photo op.
Interesting stairs. Unusual bricks. Pretty flowers. Cute animals. The list is endless. Think of a topic, and someone has created a group for it.
The most addictive is "Squared Circles."
The idea of "squared circles" is that you find an object that is perfectly round, photograph it, and then crop it into a perfect square.
The possibilities are endless. In St. Louis I photographed my waffle. I've been photographing round things for weeks. It's become an obsession.
One of the other people who posts to the group has posted 932 squared circles. I've only posted 42. I have a long way to go.
Where's something round......?
Flickr has "groups." Lots and lots of groups where people share all photos of a certain topic. You discover that when you start sharing in groups, you begin to look at EVERYTHING around you as a possible photo op.
Interesting stairs. Unusual bricks. Pretty flowers. Cute animals. The list is endless. Think of a topic, and someone has created a group for it.
The most addictive is "Squared Circles."
The idea of "squared circles" is that you find an object that is perfectly round, photograph it, and then crop it into a perfect square.
The possibilities are endless. In St. Louis I photographed my waffle. I've been photographing round things for weeks. It's become an obsession.
One of the other people who posts to the group has posted 932 squared circles. I've only posted 42. I have a long way to go.
Where's something round......?
Home Depot
I'm starting to feel like a regular at Home Depot. Next thing you know I'll be wearing a tool belt.
Today I went and bought two rugs for the kitchen (one under the sink and the dishwasher, the other under the stove, to catch at least SOME of the stuff I'm undoubtedly going to be spilling). I also bought an electric broom/vacuum, since my new first class vacuum cleaner will not work on the Pergo (the directions say it might damage it). And I bought felt tips and "sliders" for the furniture.
I also looked at area rugs (didn't like most of them, so I may be checking elsewhere when we decide what we want) and just kind of wandered around wide-eyed getting all sorts of big ideas for the things we'll do around here when we get rich.
Today I went and bought two rugs for the kitchen (one under the sink and the dishwasher, the other under the stove, to catch at least SOME of the stuff I'm undoubtedly going to be spilling). I also bought an electric broom/vacuum, since my new first class vacuum cleaner will not work on the Pergo (the directions say it might damage it). And I bought felt tips and "sliders" for the furniture.
I also looked at area rugs (didn't like most of them, so I may be checking elsewhere when we decide what we want) and just kind of wandered around wide-eyed getting all sorts of big ideas for the things we'll do around here when we get rich.
Wednesday, April 20, 2005
The Gay Agenda
I have been following two other blogs. One is FullerBrantner.com, about little Audrey, the baby that Matt and Brian adopted at birth. The other is ProsperFahey.com, the story of young Nathan, a new to me blog, but also the son of a gay couple.
It just tickles me to watch these new dads dealing with late night feedings, first smiles, diapers, learning to crawl, and The Wiggles. ProsperFahey.com today talked about going with some friends to see The Wiggles, and they posted a movie showing their adventures. My very favorite part was when the camera panned across three Dads, each with a child on his shoulders, all bouncing and singing "quack, quack quack."
These are the "evil people" that the new Pope is warning you about.
It just tickles me to watch these new dads dealing with late night feedings, first smiles, diapers, learning to crawl, and The Wiggles. ProsperFahey.com today talked about going with some friends to see The Wiggles, and they posted a movie showing their adventures. My very favorite part was when the camera panned across three Dads, each with a child on his shoulders, all bouncing and singing "quack, quack quack."
These are the "evil people" that the new Pope is warning you about.
A drop of water
I unloaded the dishwasher and was getting ready to zap myself a burrito when I looked on the floor and saw it: a drop of water. There was a drop of water on my new floor. Water, the toxic substance to Pergo.
I grabbed the nearest dry rag and wiped it up immediately.
I also swept the floor. Twice. I saw that there was still sawdust in some spots, so swept it up. Then saw I'd missed some other spots so swept it again...and feel somewhat guilty that I had seen a few Sheila hairs on the floor in the front hall, but haven't swept them up yet.
Mark this day. A month from now I will be a lot less conscientious about all this.
I grabbed the nearest dry rag and wiped it up immediately.
I also swept the floor. Twice. I saw that there was still sawdust in some spots, so swept it up. Then saw I'd missed some other spots so swept it again...and feel somewhat guilty that I had seen a few Sheila hairs on the floor in the front hall, but haven't swept them up yet.
Mark this day. A month from now I will be a lot less conscientious about all this.
April 20, 1999
Today is the anniversary of Paul's death. He has been dead six years today and it hardly seems possible that he's been gone that long.
It is sad to say that each year gets easier. Life goes on and today I was so involved with my excitement about the floor that until the report of the anniversary of Columbine showed in television, I had almost forgotten.
I hadn't really forgotten, of course. But I'm not feeling morose and weepy, as I have in some years. I suppose that's a healthy thing.
But I miss him very much.
It is sad to say that each year gets easier. Life goes on and today I was so involved with my excitement about the floor that until the report of the anniversary of Columbine showed in television, I had almost forgotten.
I hadn't really forgotten, of course. But I'm not feeling morose and weepy, as I have in some years. I suppose that's a healthy thing.
But I miss him very much.
Now the fun starts
Well, now that I know how the "blog this" feataure works, I can post photos with blog entries. I went and made a slide show, which is very boring, but shows the floor from every possible angle.
Now the fun begins. I am wondering how long it's going to take before I screw up, spill water, have horrible stains, "forget" to mop up the dust, watch dust bunnies full of dog hair collect, etc.
But for today, it's new, it's beautiful, it's clean, and I love it.
Now the fun begins. I am wondering how long it's going to take before I screw up, spill water, have horrible stains, "forget" to mop up the dust, watch dust bunnies full of dog hair collect, etc.
But for today, it's new, it's beautiful, it's clean, and I love it.
Tuesday, April 19, 2005
Rats
it's Ratzinger.
Oh well, the day can't be perfect. I hope this is not an evil omen for my floor.
Don't look for ANY progress in the catholic church in my lifetime.
Oh well, the day can't be perfect. I hope this is not an evil omen for my floor.
Don't look for ANY progress in the catholic church in my lifetime.
They're Here! They're Here!
Or maybe I should have named this "The Russians Are Coming, The Russians Are Coming."
Actually The Russians have landed. A crew of very nice Russian young men is, as I sit here waiting to hear who the new Pope is, sawing and hammering away and my new floor is starting to take shape.
Now if only the new pope is not Cardinal Ratzinger, it will be a good day all around.
Actually The Russians have landed. A crew of very nice Russian young men is, as I sit here waiting to hear who the new Pope is, sawing and hammering away and my new floor is starting to take shape.
Now if only the new pope is not Cardinal Ratzinger, it will be a good day all around.
Monday Night Football
I better add a post here so I can push that graphic down below all the writing on the right.
Have you heard the big news? Next year, Monday night football is moving from ABC to ESPN. You know what that means, don't you?
NO MORE POSTPONING OF JEOPARDY!!!
It's not that I don't like football, but it needs to stay where it belongs: on the weekends. When it interferes with my life, especially with watching Jeopardy, well, then that is just too much.
I've been enjoying this "Ultimate Tournament of Champions" on Jeopardy but it sure is going to make it dull when they go back to "regular Jeopardy," after all these weeks of watching the best of the best. There are some of those returning champions who are pretty darn good and it will be interesting to see how Ken Jennings does against the finalists.
So let's see if this is now long enough to push the cartoon down far enough on the page...
***
Close enough. :)
Have you heard the big news? Next year, Monday night football is moving from ABC to ESPN. You know what that means, don't you?
NO MORE POSTPONING OF JEOPARDY!!!
It's not that I don't like football, but it needs to stay where it belongs: on the weekends. When it interferes with my life, especially with watching Jeopardy, well, then that is just too much.
I've been enjoying this "Ultimate Tournament of Champions" on Jeopardy but it sure is going to make it dull when they go back to "regular Jeopardy," after all these weeks of watching the best of the best. There are some of those returning champions who are pretty darn good and it will be interesting to see how Ken Jennings does against the finalists.
So let's see if this is now long enough to push the cartoon down far enough on the page...
***
Close enough. :)
Monday, April 18, 2005
Oh my aching body
I have absolutely no excuse for moaning and groaning whatsoever. Walt has been working like a fiend all day. I've done what I could (in between trips to the computer, that is). Since I can't kneel, I was scrubbing the floor sitting on my butt or one side and scooting along through the newly washed tiles.
The floor is clean, but there is much still to be done--mostly cleaning off counters in the kitchen (probably could go without doing that, but I suspect it will be better if I do).
Even tho I feel like a piker compared to what Walt has done, my body is still aching.
And there are miles to go before I sleep.
The floor is clean, but there is much still to be done--mostly cleaning off counters in the kitchen (probably could go without doing that, but I suspect it will be better if I do).
Even tho I feel like a piker compared to what Walt has done, my body is still aching.
And there are miles to go before I sleep.
Sunday, April 17, 2005
Early A.M., St.Louis
It's our last day in St. Louis. I haven't tried to keep up the blog because the damn computer is so slow it drives me nuts--also it's a dial-up connection. But there is no e-mail, Walt is asleep, and even tomorrow's journal entry is posted, so I thought I'd add something here.
It's been a fun, if whirlwind, weekend. I've eaten much too much, but enjoyed the camaraderie. It's funny being back in the bosom of Gilbert's family. He will be dead 19 years this July. Rachel, his great niece was just 2 when he died and she is about to graduate from college. I keep thinking about what a beautful person (physically and every other way) she has grown into, what an intelligent woman, and what a talented director. I wish he were here to see her.
But I guess is family is the one gift he left behind. It was pure serendipity that Susie happened to come to San Franisco the month before he died and we formed a close friendship which became very, very close as we grieved his death together over the coming year(s). I smiled when Rachel gave Walt a hug last night and called him "Uncle Walt." This trip has cost us a bundle, but I wouldn't have missed it for the world.
The sad thing is that Rachel's father couldn't be bothered to be here. He has thrown away a beautiful jewel with his lack of interest in his daughter and the loss is his.
I'm not looking forward to the flight home--I always get fatalistic about flying--but it will be nice to be home again and THE FLOOR GETS PUT IN ON TUESDAY!!!!!
It's been a fun, if whirlwind, weekend. I've eaten much too much, but enjoyed the camaraderie. It's funny being back in the bosom of Gilbert's family. He will be dead 19 years this July. Rachel, his great niece was just 2 when he died and she is about to graduate from college. I keep thinking about what a beautful person (physically and every other way) she has grown into, what an intelligent woman, and what a talented director. I wish he were here to see her.
But I guess is family is the one gift he left behind. It was pure serendipity that Susie happened to come to San Franisco the month before he died and we formed a close friendship which became very, very close as we grieved his death together over the coming year(s). I smiled when Rachel gave Walt a hug last night and called him "Uncle Walt." This trip has cost us a bundle, but I wouldn't have missed it for the world.
The sad thing is that Rachel's father couldn't be bothered to be here. He has thrown away a beautiful jewel with his lack of interest in his daughter and the loss is his.
I'm not looking forward to the flight home--I always get fatalistic about flying--but it will be nice to be home again and THE FLOOR GETS PUT IN ON TUESDAY!!!!!
Wednesday, April 13, 2005
Buff
"That's not even a ton," Walt said when I told him I'd moved all the Pergo flooring into the family room by myself.
Harumph. OK. It's not a ton, but it IS nearly 900 lbs and I'm feeling damn proud of myself!
Harumph. OK. It's not a ton, but it IS nearly 900 lbs and I'm feeling damn proud of myself!
Tuesday, April 12, 2005
It's Done! It's Done! It's Done!
I'm going to wait to write about the whole family room remodel in Funny the World until after the floor is down, but the painting is all done, except for a second coat of the dark blue paint. I'm just delighted with it. It looks better than I hoped. And Scott managed to get it finished in only a day and a half....or a day and a couple of hours.
Here's a blurry photo of Kimba, but it gives you an idea of how the colors look together.
The only problem with getting this lovely new paint job in the family room is now the hall looks like crap. Of course! And I'm already eyeing the cabinets in the guest bathroom and wondering what color I can paint them....
(And to think all of this started because 3 two-week old puppies pooped on the rug)
Here's a blurry photo of Kimba, but it gives you an idea of how the colors look together.
The only problem with getting this lovely new paint job in the family room is now the hall looks like crap. Of course! And I'm already eyeing the cabinets in the guest bathroom and wondering what color I can paint them....
(And to think all of this started because 3 two-week old puppies pooped on the rug)
Monday, April 11, 2005
"Old"
Scott, who is doing our painting, went to school with Ned, so I think of him as a kid, because he was in school with our kids.
As he was doing the prep work for the paint job today, he told me that he had seen my review of Rocky Horror Show, and that he had let his daughter go to it.
"How old is your daughter?" I asked.
"14," he said.
This "kid" who went to school with my kid is the father of a 14 year old.
I feel very old.
But then I have a daughter about to turn 39, so I guess that's not surprising.
As he was doing the prep work for the paint job today, he told me that he had seen my review of Rocky Horror Show, and that he had let his daughter go to it.
"How old is your daughter?" I asked.
"14," he said.
This "kid" who went to school with my kid is the father of a 14 year old.
I feel very old.
But then I have a daughter about to turn 39, so I guess that's not surprising.
YAY!!!
1 p.m. today, April 11, work has finally started on the redecoration of the family room. Scott is removing baseboards and light fixtures and will either start painting the ceiling today or tomorrow. Very exciting stuff!
Gonna be a long week...
There is a reason why I have spent so many years sleeping in a recliner. The reason is that lying in most beds kills my back. Hotels are particularly horrible. For some reason, the bed in the guest bedroom didn't hurt my back and I slept there for some months in the early months of Sheila's being with us. But the magic is gone. I spent a horrible night last night, tossing and turning, waking several times and then woke up at 5 with stabbing pains in my back and could barely hobble downstairs. In the past, when I've had this trouble, a session in the recliner, which is apparently tilted at the right angle, helped immeasureably. But of course the recliner is in pieces in the living room and the only chair available is this straight back office chair. I feel like I haven't slept at all.
Sunday, April 10, 2005
Sharing the dog's bed
I may have to move to the dog's bed tonight.
When Sheila first came here, she slept in my bed. I loved having her cuddle up next to me at night and then wake me up in the morning. But when the first batch of puppies arrived and I had to feed them every 2 hours around the clock, I started sleeping in the downstairs recliner at night again and I just never went back upstairs. The puppies are gone, but I'm still sleeping downstairs, and Sheila is still sleeping UPstairs.
But today we will be moving the TV and the recliners into the living room, which means there will be no recliner for me to sleep in and I'm going to have to ask Sheila if she minds me sharing her bed again.
When Sheila first came here, she slept in my bed. I loved having her cuddle up next to me at night and then wake me up in the morning. But when the first batch of puppies arrived and I had to feed them every 2 hours around the clock, I started sleeping in the downstairs recliner at night again and I just never went back upstairs. The puppies are gone, but I'm still sleeping downstairs, and Sheila is still sleeping UPstairs.But today we will be moving the TV and the recliners into the living room, which means there will be no recliner for me to sleep in and I'm going to have to ask Sheila if she minds me sharing her bed again.
Grey's Anatomy
I'm a sucker for medical shows and I finally caught "Grey's Anatomy" tonight--two shows back to back to get audience hooked.
It worked. Smart, well written show. I have enjoyed E.R., but already this has more depth, or at least it's easier to follow since it doesn't go at the rapid-fire pace of an emergency room. I think I'm going to like it a lot.
Now what do I do because it conflicts with "The L Word"? It's hard to be a slave to your television!
It worked. Smart, well written show. I have enjoyed E.R., but already this has more depth, or at least it's easier to follow since it doesn't go at the rapid-fire pace of an emergency room. I think I'm going to like it a lot.
Now what do I do because it conflicts with "The L Word"? It's hard to be a slave to your television!
Saturday, April 09, 2005
My personality disorder
You May Be a Bit Dependent ... |
 You're more than a little preoccupied with being abandoned. You need a lot of support in your life, at all times. It's difficult for you to survive on your own... And you don't reallly think you ever could. |
Friday, April 08, 2005
yawwwwn
I realized around 5 p.m. tonight that I was feeling sleepy--and that I had to get to a show that I was reviewing. So I sat down to take a nap. Didn't think I'd sleep long, but woke up when Wheel of Fortune was starting, which means I'd slept an hour and missed Jeopardy. Damn.
The show was wonderful, Once Upon a Mattress, but even with a nap under my belt and a wonderful show in front of me, I still found myself fighting sleep. At least I saw most of it. I haven't done that in a long time; must be the combination of giving blood and doing all that wall-washing this afternoon.
The show was wonderful, Once Upon a Mattress, but even with a nap under my belt and a wonderful show in front of me, I still found myself fighting sleep. At least I saw most of it. I haven't done that in a long time; must be the combination of giving blood and doing all that wall-washing this afternoon.
Pumping Iron, Part 2
Look at all that iron-rich blood!
Absolutely NO problem donating blood today. That ol' drop o'blood sank to the bottom of the little bottle without even a hint of hesitation.
Guess the iron supplements worked!
Absolutely NO problem donating blood today. That ol' drop o'blood sank to the bottom of the little bottle without even a hint of hesitation.
Guess the iron supplements worked!
Thursday, April 07, 2005
(Some) people are wonderful
With all the excitement about the impending (might even say looming) house remodel, I suddenly realized that we have a very serious problem.
My plan had been to ride herd on Sheila while Scott was here painting and then see if I could find someone to take her for a day or two while the installers are putting in the new floor.
Suddenly it hit me that we are going to St. Louis on Thursday and won't be back until Sunday. Scott will be painting at that time and there is no way that I can leave Sheila here. By the time we're home, the floor people will be due, so I really needed to put her somewhere for nearly a week. Ashley from the SPCA, who knows Sheila, has agreed to take her. "Just let me know when," she says. What a wonderful human being!
While she's sitting Kimba, my friend Jessica will come and feed Kimba, who can be left in my office with her bed and access to outside. She rarely moves during the day anyway, so once she gets used to a closed door, she'll be fine.
If it weren't for these wonderful, wonderful women, I don't know what I'd do. I am very grateful!
My plan had been to ride herd on Sheila while Scott was here painting and then see if I could find someone to take her for a day or two while the installers are putting in the new floor.
Suddenly it hit me that we are going to St. Louis on Thursday and won't be back until Sunday. Scott will be painting at that time and there is no way that I can leave Sheila here. By the time we're home, the floor people will be due, so I really needed to put her somewhere for nearly a week. Ashley from the SPCA, who knows Sheila, has agreed to take her. "Just let me know when," she says. What a wonderful human being!
While she's sitting Kimba, my friend Jessica will come and feed Kimba, who can be left in my office with her bed and access to outside. She rarely moves during the day anyway, so once she gets used to a closed door, she'll be fine.
If it weren't for these wonderful, wonderful women, I don't know what I'd do. I am very grateful!
Death and Beyond
At a time when we are all so focused on death, I stumbled across this photo album, photos of Highgate Cemetery in London. Someone recommended Highgate to me on our second trip to London and we went to scope it out. At the time it was being "renovated" (which means they were digging the graves out from under all the foliages). It was truly one of the high points of the trip. It's a cemetery like no other, especially the "old section" which seems to have no rhyme or reason. It's a fascinating place and the photos here capture a bit of the flavor. Anybody off to London, I highly recommend it as an out-of-the usual stop.
Wednesday, April 06, 2005
Pumping Iron
I attempted to donate blood 2 weeks ago. Our local Blood Source calls me in every 8 weeks. Whenever I give blood, they have to run a sample through a centrifuge, since there is never enough hemoglobin to make the drop sink to the bottom of that little liquid container. But I always just make it, and donating goes on as scheduled.
However, this time I didn't pass the centrifuge test, so they gave me a list of high-iron foods and made me another appointment in 2 more weeks, which will be Friday. I've been forcefeeding iron-rich foods and even bought an iron supplement. I'm hoping that sucker will sink instantly the the bottom of the container and they won't even have to run it through the centrifuge.
Otherwise I don't get my donuts afterwards!
However, this time I didn't pass the centrifuge test, so they gave me a list of high-iron foods and made me another appointment in 2 more weeks, which will be Friday. I've been forcefeeding iron-rich foods and even bought an iron supplement. I'm hoping that sucker will sink instantly the the bottom of the container and they won't even have to run it through the centrifuge.
Otherwise I don't get my donuts afterwards!
Tuesday, April 05, 2005
I just don't understand
I don't understand malicious mischief.
I joined Fotolog several years ago. It was a nice, friendly place where people could share their photos and get to know other photographers. Then it got "hijacked." It started with Brasilians upset that the Fotolog had no structure converting Brasilian currency, and that the conversion rate was so favorable to the USA that it would cost them the equivalent of half a month's pay (or something like that) to join.
So they set out to ruin Fotolog. They would fill up guestbooks to the maximum with ridiculous messages, they posted terrible photos, rude photos, very bad quality photos, and they did everything they could possibly do to crash the system, which happened regularly. I finally got tired of dealing with it and moved my photos to dBase.
But then I discovered Flickr. I really like the structure--I like being able to be part of groups, to get involved in conversations with other photographers my own age.
Now a group has decided to "pee on Flickr." They are doing this by posting lots of yellow photos in various groups. It's not quite the disruptive influence that we saw on Fotolog, but there are people out there who are bound to make things unpleasant for those of us who just want to share our photos.
What in the world do they get out of it? The power of making thousands of people miserable? There's got to be a better way to do something meaningful in your life than to laugh at how much trouble you can cause.
I joined Fotolog several years ago. It was a nice, friendly place where people could share their photos and get to know other photographers. Then it got "hijacked." It started with Brasilians upset that the Fotolog had no structure converting Brasilian currency, and that the conversion rate was so favorable to the USA that it would cost them the equivalent of half a month's pay (or something like that) to join.
So they set out to ruin Fotolog. They would fill up guestbooks to the maximum with ridiculous messages, they posted terrible photos, rude photos, very bad quality photos, and they did everything they could possibly do to crash the system, which happened regularly. I finally got tired of dealing with it and moved my photos to dBase.
But then I discovered Flickr. I really like the structure--I like being able to be part of groups, to get involved in conversations with other photographers my own age.
Now a group has decided to "pee on Flickr." They are doing this by posting lots of yellow photos in various groups. It's not quite the disruptive influence that we saw on Fotolog, but there are people out there who are bound to make things unpleasant for those of us who just want to share our photos.
What in the world do they get out of it? The power of making thousands of people miserable? There's got to be a better way to do something meaningful in your life than to laugh at how much trouble you can cause.
For Olivia
OK--this is a test to see if you read this blog or not.
I've tried e-mailing you twice (including responding to your last e-mail) and both times the e-mail came back as a bad address. Again.
I've tried e-mailing you twice (including responding to your last e-mail) and both times the e-mail came back as a bad address. Again.
How to complicate your life
I live my life by one special principle: act first, think later.
This morning I hired a painter to paint our family room before the floor guys come to lay the floor on April 18. (This is the same guy who did the bathroom for us last year)
After I hired the painter, I realized that we will be out of town from the 14th to the 17th, which wouldn't normally be a problem because this guy is a sort of friend and I trust him with a key to the house, but there is that little matter of the dogs. Kimba would be OK to leave here with Scott coming and going, but Sheila? No way.
So now I'm trying to line up boarding for Sheila, but on the understanding that Scott might actually be FINISHED before we leave and boarding might not be necessary.
I'm sure no matter what I do/arrange, it's going to be wrong.
I also had plans to spend Saturday with Steve when he comes up for a recording session with Ned, but I've just let him know that I can't possibly fit that in too and that he'll have to schlep himself around the Bay Area without me.
This morning I hired a painter to paint our family room before the floor guys come to lay the floor on April 18. (This is the same guy who did the bathroom for us last year)
After I hired the painter, I realized that we will be out of town from the 14th to the 17th, which wouldn't normally be a problem because this guy is a sort of friend and I trust him with a key to the house, but there is that little matter of the dogs. Kimba would be OK to leave here with Scott coming and going, but Sheila? No way.
So now I'm trying to line up boarding for Sheila, but on the understanding that Scott might actually be FINISHED before we leave and boarding might not be necessary.
I'm sure no matter what I do/arrange, it's going to be wrong.
I also had plans to spend Saturday with Steve when he comes up for a recording session with Ned, but I've just let him know that I can't possibly fit that in too and that he'll have to schlep himself around the Bay Area without me.
Monday, April 04, 2005
Camilla
Someone sent me this joke:
Prince Charles was driving around Windsor when he accidentally ran over Queen Elizabeth's favorite dog, a Corgi, crushing it to a pulp. He got out of his Range Rover and sat down on the grass totally distraught. The whole world was already against him and now Mummy would go ballistic.
Suddenly he noticed a lamp half-buried in the ground. He dug it up,polished it and immediately a genie appeared. 'You have freed me from thousands of years of imprisonment,' said the genie. 'As a reward I shall grant you one wish.'
'Well,' said the Prince, 'I have all the material things I need, but let me show you this dog.'
They walk over to the splattered remains of the Corgi. 'Do you think you could bring this dog back to life for me?' the Prince asked.
The genie carefully looked at the remains and shook his head. 'This body is too far gone even for me to bring it back to life. Is there something else you would like ?'
The Prince thought for a minute, reached into his pocket and pulled out two photos. 'I was married to this beautiful woman called Diana,'said Prince Charles, showing the genie the first photo. 'But now I love this woman called Camilla,' and he showed the genie the second photo. 'You see Camilla isn't terribly lovely. Do you think you can make her as beautiful as Diana?'
The genie studied the two photographs and after a few minutes said thoughtfully, 'Let's have another look at that dog."
My problem is that I don't find Camilla all that unpleasant to look at. She is at least a pretty as Charles is handsome or his mother is beautiful. It's actually rather refreshing that someone "ordinary" is getting the spotlight. We should all be so "ugly." The woman has a rough row to hoe, with all the jokes about her appearance. I feel sorry for her--she doesn't deserve it.
Prince Charles was driving around Windsor when he accidentally ran over Queen Elizabeth's favorite dog, a Corgi, crushing it to a pulp. He got out of his Range Rover and sat down on the grass totally distraught. The whole world was already against him and now Mummy would go ballistic.
Suddenly he noticed a lamp half-buried in the ground. He dug it up,polished it and immediately a genie appeared. 'You have freed me from thousands of years of imprisonment,' said the genie. 'As a reward I shall grant you one wish.'
'Well,' said the Prince, 'I have all the material things I need, but let me show you this dog.'
They walk over to the splattered remains of the Corgi. 'Do you think you could bring this dog back to life for me?' the Prince asked.
The genie carefully looked at the remains and shook his head. 'This body is too far gone even for me to bring it back to life. Is there something else you would like ?'
The Prince thought for a minute, reached into his pocket and pulled out two photos. 'I was married to this beautiful woman called Diana,'said Prince Charles, showing the genie the first photo. 'But now I love this woman called Camilla,' and he showed the genie the second photo. 'You see Camilla isn't terribly lovely. Do you think you can make her as beautiful as Diana?'
The genie studied the two photographs and after a few minutes said thoughtfully, 'Let's have another look at that dog."
My problem is that I don't find Camilla all that unpleasant to look at. She is at least a pretty as Charles is handsome or his mother is beautiful. It's actually rather refreshing that someone "ordinary" is getting the spotlight. We should all be so "ugly." The woman has a rough row to hoe, with all the jokes about her appearance. I feel sorry for her--she doesn't deserve it.
Turkey
We have a friend who is always telling her husband the obvious thing. A classic remark she made was on a Thanksgiving, when he was bringing the bird to the dining room table. "Don't drop the turkey, Henry" she is said to have said, like that wouldn't have occurred to him already.
I'm afraid that was the only thought going through my head when watching them move the body of Pope John Paul II to the Vatican. "Don't drop the turkey, Henry."
God may now smite me again.
I'm afraid that was the only thought going through my head when watching them move the body of Pope John Paul II to the Vatican. "Don't drop the turkey, Henry."
God may now smite me again.
Addictions
I come from a long line of alcoholics. There were probably some drug addicts in there too, but alcohol was my family's drug of choice--seveeral aunts and uncles, my father, and I wondered about Paul and David too, but they died before we found out.
My drug of choice is food (obviously) but I basically have an addictive personality and can easily get addicted to anything. I get fixated on something and that's the ball game. I'm addicted. It would be nice if my addictions were to healthy, constructive things, but that's rarely the case.
At the moment, my new addiction is Flickr. It's one thing to upload photos to a web site, but Flickr also has "groups" that people join and then share their photos with that group. At present, I have joined about 100 groups, including things like gargoyles, old photos, San Francisco, dogs, "celebration of the wrinkled," train travel, cupcakes, etc. Each one has sent me searching through my photo archives to find things to add to the mix, so in the past couple of months,
I have uploaded nearly 1000 photos and have now pretty much done it for photos I've already taken, and have already started looking around me with new eyes--where is there a circle I can take? Where can I find interesting numbers? Where are there "yellow" things? Can I find interesting bricks?
You get the idea. I haven't had a good excuse to go "photographing" lately and maybe this will get me out with my camera.
But I fully realize that this has become my latest addiction!
My drug of choice is food (obviously) but I basically have an addictive personality and can easily get addicted to anything. I get fixated on something and that's the ball game. I'm addicted. It would be nice if my addictions were to healthy, constructive things, but that's rarely the case.
At the moment, my new addiction is Flickr. It's one thing to upload photos to a web site, but Flickr also has "groups" that people join and then share their photos with that group. At present, I have joined about 100 groups, including things like gargoyles, old photos, San Francisco, dogs, "celebration of the wrinkled," train travel, cupcakes, etc. Each one has sent me searching through my photo archives to find things to add to the mix, so in the past couple of months,
I have uploaded nearly 1000 photos and have now pretty much done it for photos I've already taken, and have already started looking around me with new eyes--where is there a circle I can take? Where can I find interesting numbers? Where are there "yellow" things? Can I find interesting bricks?
You get the idea. I haven't had a good excuse to go "photographing" lately and maybe this will get me out with my camera.
But I fully realize that this has become my latest addiction!
Sunday, April 03, 2005
groan
It's a good thing that we set clocks forward today; that means I slept until 6 a.m. instead of getting up at 5 (after going to bed at 1). Good for me!
I'm a bit sore today from schlepping books from one end of the house to another. I'm so pathetic. It only takes 3 trips before my lower back is hurting so much I have to sit down and rest it for a bit before making 3 more trips. But now the furniture is all empty and hopefully Ned will stop by today to help move the two big pieces into the living room so I can start washing walls in preparation for PAINTING.
Checking out some background information on the pope, and came across this entry. None of this, of course, will come out during the mourning period, or beyond. But it's nice to have a balance of the very bad things that have come out of the Vatican in the past 27 years as well as all this saintly stuff that is being presented on television.
I'd forgotten, for example, that no Catholic hospital can pass out birth control information or perform tubal ligation. I'd forgotten that safe sex education in countries where AIDS is rampant is forbidden. I'd forgotten that Cardinal Law, who permitted pedophiles under his rule to be shifted from parish to parish was given a place of honor, where he lives at the Vatican. I'd forgotten how many times he said that gay people are "evil" or "intrinsically disordered."
The man was not without many, many faults, shortcomings, and short-sightedness. It will be interesting to see whether his replacement is like-minded or if his replacement actually lived in the 20th century.
I'm a bit sore today from schlepping books from one end of the house to another. I'm so pathetic. It only takes 3 trips before my lower back is hurting so much I have to sit down and rest it for a bit before making 3 more trips. But now the furniture is all empty and hopefully Ned will stop by today to help move the two big pieces into the living room so I can start washing walls in preparation for PAINTING.
Checking out some background information on the pope, and came across this entry. None of this, of course, will come out during the mourning period, or beyond. But it's nice to have a balance of the very bad things that have come out of the Vatican in the past 27 years as well as all this saintly stuff that is being presented on television.
I'd forgotten, for example, that no Catholic hospital can pass out birth control information or perform tubal ligation. I'd forgotten that safe sex education in countries where AIDS is rampant is forbidden. I'd forgotten that Cardinal Law, who permitted pedophiles under his rule to be shifted from parish to parish was given a place of honor, where he lives at the Vatican. I'd forgotten how many times he said that gay people are "evil" or "intrinsically disordered."
The man was not without many, many faults, shortcomings, and short-sightedness. It will be interesting to see whether his replacement is like-minded or if his replacement actually lived in the 20th century.
Saturday, April 02, 2005
Now THIS makes sense
In response to my comments about my lack of feeling at the Pope's passing, I received this: But you do feel something about his passing... you feel numb, disenfranchised and betrayed. Not that we WANT to remember this man negativly - but you know, I think if there is a god/dess out there, the pope will finally get to see the part of the light which he missed here on earth. And for that, I feel happiness. I too was raised Catholic and I can say, I still believe in many of the church's teachings but never where it comes to gays, lesbians, sexuality and procreation. As for other things that this pope did, he did try. But until a woman can hold rank in the Catholic Church and be equal, the poor men who run it will never truly understand the things that they preach.
I think she very accurately describes how I'm feeling today.
I think she very accurately describes how I'm feeling today.
Death Watch Ends
The Pope is dead.
Why do I feel nothing? I was raised Catholic. Why do I feel nothing?
There is a part of me which began to be very angry when NBC read the statement by Bill Clinton, speaking to what a great man Pope John II was and how his legacy was his fight for dignity and equality for all people.
This was a man who called homosexuality "evil."
I don't want to base my feeling, or non-feeling, on one issue, but how can you fight for dignity for "all people" when you point the finger of condemnation at one segment of the population and call them "evil."
One may point out that he was pointing to "homosexuality" and not "homosexuals," but that gets back to the "love the sinner, hate the sin" argument--and that implies that one segment of the population does not have the right to live as God made them.
The pinnacle (or nadir) of the John Paul II papacy has to be the notorious Halloween letter, issued in 1986, which declared gays and lesbians "disordered," "self-indulgent" individuals who "threaten the lives and well-being of a large number of people." So much for pastoral outreach.
This was also a man who directly or indirectly allowed a wave of pedophilia to live within the church.
And so I feel nothing. I want to feel something, but I feel nothing.
Why do I feel nothing? I was raised Catholic. Why do I feel nothing?
There is a part of me which began to be very angry when NBC read the statement by Bill Clinton, speaking to what a great man Pope John II was and how his legacy was his fight for dignity and equality for all people.
This was a man who called homosexuality "evil."
I don't want to base my feeling, or non-feeling, on one issue, but how can you fight for dignity for "all people" when you point the finger of condemnation at one segment of the population and call them "evil."
One may point out that he was pointing to "homosexuality" and not "homosexuals," but that gets back to the "love the sinner, hate the sin" argument--and that implies that one segment of the population does not have the right to live as God made them.
The pinnacle (or nadir) of the John Paul II papacy has to be the notorious Halloween letter, issued in 1986, which declared gays and lesbians "disordered," "self-indulgent" individuals who "threaten the lives and well-being of a large number of people." So much for pastoral outreach.
This was also a man who directly or indirectly allowed a wave of pedophilia to live within the church.
And so I feel nothing. I want to feel something, but I feel nothing.
Death Watch
They say deaths come in threes. Last week we had 24/7 reports on the imminent death of Terry Schiavo; now we are having 24/7 reports on the imminent death of Pope John Paul II. We're looking for volunteers to begin fading next week--the networks won't know what to do with themselves without a dying celebrity to stand watch over.
But when the Pope finally dies, maybe we can finally get back to the REAL important news of the day....
But when the Pope finally dies, maybe we can finally get back to the REAL important news of the day....
Friday, April 01, 2005
They're Gone
Last pictures of the puppies. The one of Hamlet in the cage tears my heart out--he looks scared.
---a bit later---
LOL...Some Mom I am. That's not even Hamlet, but one of his siblings. Owell...it's still a cute picture and still tears my heart out!
I think I'll pass
Wouldn't you love to know the story behind this ad:
Female lovebird, about 3 years old with cage. She's a prolific layer of sterile eggs. She bites, especially when she is laying, but she's
also somewhat affectionate when she's not. This is not a pet for children. She's always been in excellent health, and eats Roudybush food for a minimal mess. No guarantees, no returns.
It's the "no guarantees, no returns" that makes me wonder what this "somewhat affectionate" bird is really like!
Female lovebird, about 3 years old with cage. She's a prolific layer of sterile eggs. She bites, especially when she is laying, but she's
also somewhat affectionate when she's not. This is not a pet for children. She's always been in excellent health, and eats Roudybush food for a minimal mess. No guarantees, no returns.
It's the "no guarantees, no returns" that makes me wonder what this "somewhat affectionate" bird is really like!
It's a Miracle!
Even miracles go cheap these days. This miraculous object only has a starting bid of $7.77 and yet there are no takers. I guess we are getting jaded about holy personages taking up residence in common foods.
Music to my ears
I am one of those weird people who hate logging onto a web site and find that the designer has chosen my background music for me. I admit that have done that myself on occasion (when I found out how to do it and wanted to share a particular piece of music), but I didn't do it on the page that I expected people to read. I linked to the song Funny, for which my journal was named, but you only heard it when you hit the splash page, not the entry pages themselves (I eventually got sick of it myself!). Your taste in music may not be mine, and vice versa.
I just checked out a new journal, which actually looks quite nice, but I know I won't be back because to read it I have to either listen to the music or turn off my speakers and it's not worth the effort to do so. Just a little quirk of mine.
I just checked out a new journal, which actually looks quite nice, but I know I won't be back because to read it I have to either listen to the music or turn off my speakers and it's not worth the effort to do so. Just a little quirk of mine.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
