I was a weird kid

My parents had this groovy stereo - like the one pictured.  They were music lovers and had all manner of LP's - Herb Alpert, Marian Anderson, classical, musicals, etc.  I spent many hours laying on the carpet between the stereo and the wall, listening.  I can still smell it - the hot dust of the stereo and my dog next to me.

Once I had a dream that the neighbors' TV was visible through their roof furnace vent.  They were watching I Love Lucy.  I looked for that screen for many years after that.

I used to think women just "got" pregnant - like catching a cold.

My sister and I used to pretend we could speak a foreign language - we'd "talk" that way for hours. 

To this day, I swear a cat's eye marble squeaked at me when I was 5.

I used the think the turning signal, or the "cull-tinker" as we called it, was a homing device, letting us know we were rounding the corner for home.

In one rental house, we had this weird linen closet that started about 3 feet off the ground.  I used to climb up in there because I just liked the smell.

During one late-night trip to the bathroom in that house, I convinced my 5-year-old self that The Incredible Hulk was waiting down the hallway to jump me.  I yelled for my Mom, until she came stumbling from a sound sleep.  I couldn't admit the truth, so I told her I just thought it was nice to walk together.

When I would yell for my parents in the night I would start softly "mom?, mom?" and soon crescendo to "MOM!".  Somehow it seemed better to start quietly.

Shower Observations

Once in a while I have to put my contacts in before I shower.  That way I can see how much it needs cleaning.

I kinda like that burning feeling when your feet are cold and you jump into a hot shower.

I can slather kisses on my husband, but step on one of his hairs in the tub?  Ewwwww GROSS!

Why can't someone make a shampoo/soap bracket for the shower that actually holds the soap in place, no matter how thin it gets?

Minnesota has some serious hard water issues.  It's like bathing in chalk sometimes.

Why do I always think I hear the phone, the door, or someone calling me while the water is running?

When my hair is wet and towel dried I slightly resemble Larry from the 3 Stooges.  But without the bald spot.

Teen girls can drain a hot water tank in under 15 minutes.

Giant cheap bottles of shampoo from Costco do not fit on the average tub edge.

The difference between warm and scalding on our shower handle is about 1/150th of an inch.

Aren't you glad you used Dial?  Don't you wish everybody did?

News

First, the good news.
I have a new job!  I'm not the Volunteer Coordinator for the District One Hospital in Faribault MN.  Part time WITH benefits!  My job at the schools was slashed to almost nothing, but I'm keeping those hours too.

Now the whining.
In the meantime this neo-poverty is really taking it's toll.  My little family has kept its collective chin up through it all, but the strain is starting to really show.  We all thought this would be a temporary set back, but it's become our reality.

If I hear one more conservative say the poor have it good, or that we LIKE it this way, or that we somehow DESERVE this, I'm going to go postal.

9.11.01

The 10th anniversary of 9/11, and what have we learned?

Did we learn that violence and war beget more violence and war?  Or did we learn that peace and constructive assistance create more of the same.

Did we learn that our dependence on foreign oil creates dangerous partnerships?  Or did we challenge ourselves to pursue energy independence.

Did we learn that the extremely wealthy and powerful Americans are in bed with the Saudi royal family?  Or did we turn our backs on that inconvenient truth.

Did we learn not to swallow the "official" version of events hook, line, and sinker?  Or did we ask the tough questions and demand answers.

Did we realize we have just suffered what others countries have been dealing with for decades?  Or did we wallow in our grief to the point of jingoism.

Did we learn the lessons of shared community?  Or did we phone in death threats to anyone with an Arab name or wearing a Sikh head covering.

Did we learn that America is only one small nation on this giant planet?  Or did we continue with our "We're No.1!" chants.

What have we learned?

Songs to hate me by #7

I was oddly fascinated by the song and video in the 80's.  There was just something about that guy - I couldn't take me eyes off him.  Didn't know if I was attracted, repulsed, or whatever.  Maybe I just envied that hair and wardrobe.  Oh Baby shake that finger at me!

Cruel Vegetable Summer

Been a very weird summer for my garden.

Evidently we are experiencing blossom drop.   Our weird wet Spring which launched immediately into high heat and humidity means we have lush tomato bushes, but hardly any fruit.  And they fruit that DID show up is still inexplicably green.

Rabbits ate all my spinach, lettuce, and beet tops in June.  After we fixed the fence they just never recovered. I replanted in July but they were a bust.

The peas that were supposed to be climbing the corn never showed.  The squash plants grew lovely foliage but no fruit.

The beans are climbing but I have yet to see any pods.

The corn stalks commit suicide each week, and one of them just breaks off.

The onions however seem to be just fine.  So it'll be a Fall of French Onion Soup.  Good thing we don't really depend on the garden for survival.

Still hoping to get some raspberry and peach jam made.  Summer's not over yet, right?  RIGHT?!

Healing Me

So remember I said I needed to get healthy?  Here's what I did with your advice.

1. I've tried to eat as little white sugar as possible.

2. I've tried to eat a minimum of 5 servings of fruit and vegetable a day.  Four of those I get in my daily Green Monster fruit smoothie

3. I've been walking 30-60 minutes everyday.  Even today, when a sinus infection has me feeling like crud, I still walked over an hour to get my medication. 

The results have been slow, but they ARE there.  My clothes are loose and my knees don't ache like usual.

Just thought you'd like to know.

Put THIS in your blender and drink it:
GREEN MONSTER
In the blender put
1 banana
a handful of blueberries & strawberries or any other fruit you have handy. Frozen is fine.
a handful of fresh spinach - trust me you won't taste it.
a serving of vanilla whey protein powder
1/2 cup milk or soy milk or almond milk
4-5 ice cubes