It is that time of year when we reflect on our lives and give thanks for all the wonderful things that we have been given. In our reflection, we should consider not only all the trials and tribulations that we have encountered, but also all the joys and blessings.
Turns out, I am not all that thankful. Don't get me wrong, my life has not been horrible over the last year. Although there has been much stress and strain in our day to day lives, there have been joys and blessings sprinkled in abundance. I have eaten great food, played in the sun, relaxed in the shade, and enjoyed the company of fantastic friends and family. I have a roof over my head, clothes that keep me warm and plenty to eat. My family has had pretty good health and there have been no rides in the back of an ambulance to local emergency facilities. I am surrounded by warm and loving people. Yet, I am not particularly thankful.
Sounds pretty horrible, doesn't it? But the definition of thankful is "feeling pleased and relieved." I am just not feeling it. What I am feeling is a bit frustrated. Somewhat grumpy and a little angry. Unhappy with my current status. Maybe a bit selfish. And a touch of a headache.
I still give thanks to God every morning and every evening for the gifts in my life. I know that I am so fortunate to have so much when others have so little. I just don't feel all that pleased and relieved. And I worry, is that wrong? Does that make me ungrateful, spoiled and unappreciative?
Imagine my surprise when I heard the words today during bible study that I don't have to feel thankful to give thanks. That it is by grace that I give thanks. And that grace is enough. Maybe I feel a touch relieved now. With this enlightenment, I found the answer to some of my questions. No, I am not ungrateful. I am actually very grateful for all the wonders and gifts in my life. Being grateful means feeling appreciation. I feel appreciation for all that has happened to me in the past year (yes, even some of the crappy stuff). Appreciation is recognition and enjoyment of the good qualities of someone or something. I fully enjoy the good qualities of the people that surround me and continue to be amazed that these people are in my life at all. Maybe I don't always understand the full worth of something that has happened, but I do know that each event that has occurred is part of a bigger picture, the width and breadth of which I may not ever be able to see from my limited perspective.
Thank heavens my limited perspective doesn't define the world. I fear it would be a rather small and empty place if it were so. I give thanks for what I have experienced, the good and the bad, all of which have helped me grow as an individual. I have learned not only how to be a stronger person, but more importantly, how to accept my weakness and dependence that plays a part in the lives of others. I give thanks for the people in my lives, those that have helped me, supported me, annoyed me and provoked me. Without them I cannot hope to strive to be the person I was meant to be.
I am grateful that I heard those words on a DVD at bible study today. They remind me that I am human and don't have to have superhero powers, look a certain way, act a certain way or feel a particular way. That it is okay to feel frustrated, grumpy, angry, unhappy and a bit selfish. I think I better understand the words of Paul in 2Corinthians 12:9 when God's answer to his prayers is "My grace is all you need, for my power is greatest when you are weak."
Last week I was given a Gratitude (blessings) Journal. I thought this was to be a place that I was going to record all the wonderful things that had happened each day in my life to help me feel thankful for all of God's works. I thought it was to help me recognize everyday blessings so that I didn't walk around angry and grumpy like a spoiled child. However, turns out this gift was something greater. With my morning Epiphany, I now know what to do with it. It is not just a place for recording all the terrific things in my life that ought to make me feel thankful, but rather it is a time and a place to jot down feelings and contemplate a deeper appreciation for the world around me. Even the part of it that isn't so great and makes me feel crappy. Thank you Beth.
I may not feel relieved and pleased, but what I have is gratitude, appreciation and grace. And that is enough.
Thursday, December 11, 2014
Friday, December 5, 2014
Do I judge?
I was asked recently if I judge others by their appearances. With all the turmoil in our country lately stemming from cases of racial bias and violence, this has become a pretty hot button topic. To many, it is the equivalent of asking a person if they are prejudiced. The question may have been phrased innocently and not meant to threaten, yet in the midst of a group of people, it is a question that can make a person uncomfortable.
Yet I answered honestly. Yes. I do often judge others by their appearances. Matter of fact, probably most of the time. I can't help it. And yes, it does sometimes cloud my judgement.
The other person responded that they did not judge others by appearance.
Really? Truly? Seriously? I find that hard to believe. Why?
Because when I see a man with a bowl haircut and a beard, wearing dark clothing, I assume he is Amish. Especially if I see him with a horse and buggy.
Because when I meet a woman wearing a low cut top that exposes her neck line down to her navel, a short skirt that doesn't cover her bottom and skyscraper heels saying "Hey babe." To all the guys who pass, I don't think, hey, she must be a kindergarten teacher.
Because when I see a young woman in the grocery store wearing yoga pants and a baggy hoodie, I figure she must be either a college student or mom of young kids.
Because when I pass a young man on the street wearing baggie jeans that hang below his butt, bandanna tied around his head and a baseball cap sitting sideways, my first thought is not, there goes a Boy Scout.
Because when I meet an older person walking around with small children, I draw the conclusion that they are a grandparent.
Because when I am out and I find people are watching me instead of minding their own business, I get nervous and keep a diligent watch on my purse.
Does that make me prejudiced? You bet. And could this be a problem? Yes, it could. Not only could, but is a problem. My judgement clouds how I respond to a person I have only just met. I am not as likely to be friendly to someone who I think could be a thug as I am to someone I perceive as a grandparent. I may be more reserved with an Amish man than I would with someone I think is a young mom. Most of these reactions are garnered from experience that my life has given me. Some of it has been taught to me by society. And a few are just quirks that are a part of my personality. If you think I am alone, you have only to turn on TV to watch programs like Style by Jury, Diva on a Dime, or Making First Impressions. All these shows focus on how a person's appearance and behavior affect persons they encounter.
Unfortunately, my conclusions can be (and sometimes are) incorrect. Very incorrect. I try to keep this in mind when I interact with people on a day to day basis. I try not to jump to conclusions. I try to remember that just because TV portrays bad guys as dressing and walking one way, does not mean that all the men I see that dress and walk "that way" are bad guys. I make an effort to remember that everyone in a uniform is not the ultimate good guy, even if they are on CSI. I also try to keep in mind that despite the fact that the only people with gang affiliation wore bandannas on their head where I grew up, not everyone I meet wearing a bandanna is a gang member. It is hard. Like most people, I struggle, and many times fail.
The elderly gentleman with the small kids....turns out they were his own children, not his grandkids. Thank goodness I kept my yap shut.
I am thankful that I am not in law enforcement, or another position of authority, where my judgement could cost innocent people their lives. When faced with a juvenile with what appears to be a gun, I am not sure if I would see a kid playing with a toy, or a disturbed youth who might be wishing to harm others. The number of school shootings between 1999 and 2013 the young ages of the shooters involved is frightening. (See article from the Denver Post from 12/13/2013 for brief overview HERE). I cannot always tell the difference between a bunch of college guys horsing around and a bunch of guys returning from a riot involving looting and vandalism. I don't know if people are staring at me because I would make a great mugging target or because I have toilet paper sticking to the bottom of my shoe and my skirt is caught in my pantyhose. Do I err on the side of caution or do I look at my fellow men with love and respect and trust?
I do both. I judge according to my prejudices and try to remember at the same time what motivates my judgement. I try to treat others as I would like to be treated. And I pray that those in law enforcement and security and the military do a better job than I do.
I try to be aware that my actions and appearances to affect how others react to me, whether it right or wrong. Lawyers have long known if they clean their clients up and dress them in suits, a jury will look at them more favorably, no matter what crime they may have committed. I have read at least two accounts recently of police repeatedly picking up innocent men mistaken for criminals they were looking for (Eric Frein Look-Alike, When you Fit the Description). Injuries and unreasonable detention resulted. Poor judgement? Prejudice? Keyed up tensions? Jaded experience? Yes, yes, yes and yes. Hopefully we have begun to open the dialogue that will help prevent this in the future, or at the very least, change how this happens.
So next time someone asks you if you judge others based on appearance, think about your personal prejudices. Mine may differ from yours. Or they may be more like yours than you care to admit. Ask yourself how we changes these perceptions and what we can do to change perceptions as a society. Join the dialogue instead of denying the issues. Issues of a society affect us all as individuals.
And just in case you were wondering, the woman with the skyscraper heels with questionable wardrobe and behavior, is a kindergarten teacher. She just made some bad choices when she decided to attend a bachelorette party. Thank heavens her friends dragged her home before she found trouble with someone who misread her signals.
Yet I answered honestly. Yes. I do often judge others by their appearances. Matter of fact, probably most of the time. I can't help it. And yes, it does sometimes cloud my judgement.
The other person responded that they did not judge others by appearance.
Really? Truly? Seriously? I find that hard to believe. Why?
Because when I see a man with a bowl haircut and a beard, wearing dark clothing, I assume he is Amish. Especially if I see him with a horse and buggy.
Because when I meet a woman wearing a low cut top that exposes her neck line down to her navel, a short skirt that doesn't cover her bottom and skyscraper heels saying "Hey babe." To all the guys who pass, I don't think, hey, she must be a kindergarten teacher.
Because when I see a young woman in the grocery store wearing yoga pants and a baggy hoodie, I figure she must be either a college student or mom of young kids.
Because when I pass a young man on the street wearing baggie jeans that hang below his butt, bandanna tied around his head and a baseball cap sitting sideways, my first thought is not, there goes a Boy Scout.
Because when I meet an older person walking around with small children, I draw the conclusion that they are a grandparent.
Because when I am out and I find people are watching me instead of minding their own business, I get nervous and keep a diligent watch on my purse.
Does that make me prejudiced? You bet. And could this be a problem? Yes, it could. Not only could, but is a problem. My judgement clouds how I respond to a person I have only just met. I am not as likely to be friendly to someone who I think could be a thug as I am to someone I perceive as a grandparent. I may be more reserved with an Amish man than I would with someone I think is a young mom. Most of these reactions are garnered from experience that my life has given me. Some of it has been taught to me by society. And a few are just quirks that are a part of my personality. If you think I am alone, you have only to turn on TV to watch programs like Style by Jury, Diva on a Dime, or Making First Impressions. All these shows focus on how a person's appearance and behavior affect persons they encounter.
Unfortunately, my conclusions can be (and sometimes are) incorrect. Very incorrect. I try to keep this in mind when I interact with people on a day to day basis. I try not to jump to conclusions. I try to remember that just because TV portrays bad guys as dressing and walking one way, does not mean that all the men I see that dress and walk "that way" are bad guys. I make an effort to remember that everyone in a uniform is not the ultimate good guy, even if they are on CSI. I also try to keep in mind that despite the fact that the only people with gang affiliation wore bandannas on their head where I grew up, not everyone I meet wearing a bandanna is a gang member. It is hard. Like most people, I struggle, and many times fail.
The elderly gentleman with the small kids....turns out they were his own children, not his grandkids. Thank goodness I kept my yap shut.
I am thankful that I am not in law enforcement, or another position of authority, where my judgement could cost innocent people their lives. When faced with a juvenile with what appears to be a gun, I am not sure if I would see a kid playing with a toy, or a disturbed youth who might be wishing to harm others. The number of school shootings between 1999 and 2013 the young ages of the shooters involved is frightening. (See article from the Denver Post from 12/13/2013 for brief overview HERE). I cannot always tell the difference between a bunch of college guys horsing around and a bunch of guys returning from a riot involving looting and vandalism. I don't know if people are staring at me because I would make a great mugging target or because I have toilet paper sticking to the bottom of my shoe and my skirt is caught in my pantyhose. Do I err on the side of caution or do I look at my fellow men with love and respect and trust?
I do both. I judge according to my prejudices and try to remember at the same time what motivates my judgement. I try to treat others as I would like to be treated. And I pray that those in law enforcement and security and the military do a better job than I do.
I try to be aware that my actions and appearances to affect how others react to me, whether it right or wrong. Lawyers have long known if they clean their clients up and dress them in suits, a jury will look at them more favorably, no matter what crime they may have committed. I have read at least two accounts recently of police repeatedly picking up innocent men mistaken for criminals they were looking for (Eric Frein Look-Alike, When you Fit the Description). Injuries and unreasonable detention resulted. Poor judgement? Prejudice? Keyed up tensions? Jaded experience? Yes, yes, yes and yes. Hopefully we have begun to open the dialogue that will help prevent this in the future, or at the very least, change how this happens.
So next time someone asks you if you judge others based on appearance, think about your personal prejudices. Mine may differ from yours. Or they may be more like yours than you care to admit. Ask yourself how we changes these perceptions and what we can do to change perceptions as a society. Join the dialogue instead of denying the issues. Issues of a society affect us all as individuals.
And just in case you were wondering, the woman with the skyscraper heels with questionable wardrobe and behavior, is a kindergarten teacher. She just made some bad choices when she decided to attend a bachelorette party. Thank heavens her friends dragged her home before she found trouble with someone who misread her signals.
Thursday, November 20, 2014
I got it all together and other myths!
Yesterday I had someone tell me I sure had it all together.
I turned around. They were talking about me, right? Oh, my, if they only knew.....
I am the same someone who ordered the wrong tires for the car. I wanted all weather tires with good winter ratings, and that is what I thought I picked. I read the description carefully. The place never called me for an appointment, so I called them. Thank heavens, cause that is when I learned that the tires I ordered were WINTER ONLY tires. Seriously? Who the heck orders tires for one season? I didn't even know such a monster existed! Thankfully they had not processed my order and received the tires and I was able to cancel the order and get the whole thing straightened out.
Last week was the week I nearly killed my nephew and left his lifeless body under the purse selection in the store. We were having some difficulty with sizes and trying on pants. This after making the poor decision to have dinner at McD's during dinner hour on a Friday. Only took 15 minutes of my muttering to get around the building and get a parking space. So much for planning and patience.
I did figure out what to make for lunch when my friends came over last Saturday. I decided early Saturday morning we were going to have Black Forest Sausage. I wanted to have something nice as we had not seen each other in person for some time. Thank heavens for a fabulous cookbook and a crock pot as I had also made a commitment to help set up the saint fair at church that morning. Nothing like last minute.
Monday I brought my daughter home from school not feeling too well. NOTHING got done that day. Heck, I could not even remember if I was supposed to do stuff....
Tuesday I remembered that I forgot to send my daughter to school with a note that I was picking her up from band practice. I remembered the note when I pulled in the school drive - this after a mad dash to the school at the last minute because I forgot that I was supposed to pick her up. Thankfully the teacher has more savvy than I do. She walked the kids out and I was able to retrieve my daughter so that we could make her violin lesson on time. From school we drove to violin lesson, and when we arrived, I realized that I forgot to put the music books in the car. I told my daughter that morning not to worry, as I would grab them when I came to pick her up. So I dropped her off at lesson and drove home to get them. We had arrived early for lesson, so I was not too late when I arrived back with the books. My daughter and her teacher started lesson without me and did not wind up needing the books after all, so it really worked out okay. Then we drove home to have dinner with my nephews and I had to make biscuits before we could eat because dinner was supposed to be chicken and dumplings - except that I forgot to add the dumplings.
Wednesday I took the car in to get the new tires put on (I firmly believe this is the only reason it did not snow in our area). I dropped off some books off at the library and picked up some groceries. The coat with the broken zipper is still in the back seat as I did not remember to stop at the tailor to see if I could get a new one put on. Wednesday evening I taught religious education class and we attended a Thanksgiving Mass. Unfortunately many of my students had less than stellar behavior. When we returned to class I re-enacted the scene of Jesus in the temple throwing out the money changers. Okay, I did not tables to overturn, but when the dismissal bell rang, the students remained riveted to their seats until we had finished our "discussion." I am guessing that this another patience fail on my part.
Today my schedule is pretty clear and I managed to arrive at bible study on time. I was dressed and showered and everything. Not that I remembered to bring the money to pay for the workbook. Now back at home I am doing some of the stuff that I forgot to do on Monday (remember when I brought my daughter home not feeling well?) and wouldn't you know it - that darned coat with the broken zipper is still in the back seat.
Tomorrow is Friday, right? That is when I have on my schedule that my daughter has a band lesson at school, oh wait, the schedule changed, that is today. I remember seeing her take her instrument out the door when we went to catch the bus.... so who has their act together?
And did I invite my folks for dinner tonight? I think that means I am supposed to figure out what I am making for dinner. Hmmmmm. I believe I have a dinner meeting tonight too.
I turned around. They were talking about me, right? Oh, my, if they only knew.....
I am the same someone who ordered the wrong tires for the car. I wanted all weather tires with good winter ratings, and that is what I thought I picked. I read the description carefully. The place never called me for an appointment, so I called them. Thank heavens, cause that is when I learned that the tires I ordered were WINTER ONLY tires. Seriously? Who the heck orders tires for one season? I didn't even know such a monster existed! Thankfully they had not processed my order and received the tires and I was able to cancel the order and get the whole thing straightened out.
Last week was the week I nearly killed my nephew and left his lifeless body under the purse selection in the store. We were having some difficulty with sizes and trying on pants. This after making the poor decision to have dinner at McD's during dinner hour on a Friday. Only took 15 minutes of my muttering to get around the building and get a parking space. So much for planning and patience.
I did figure out what to make for lunch when my friends came over last Saturday. I decided early Saturday morning we were going to have Black Forest Sausage. I wanted to have something nice as we had not seen each other in person for some time. Thank heavens for a fabulous cookbook and a crock pot as I had also made a commitment to help set up the saint fair at church that morning. Nothing like last minute.
Monday I brought my daughter home from school not feeling too well. NOTHING got done that day. Heck, I could not even remember if I was supposed to do stuff....
Tuesday I remembered that I forgot to send my daughter to school with a note that I was picking her up from band practice. I remembered the note when I pulled in the school drive - this after a mad dash to the school at the last minute because I forgot that I was supposed to pick her up. Thankfully the teacher has more savvy than I do. She walked the kids out and I was able to retrieve my daughter so that we could make her violin lesson on time. From school we drove to violin lesson, and when we arrived, I realized that I forgot to put the music books in the car. I told my daughter that morning not to worry, as I would grab them when I came to pick her up. So I dropped her off at lesson and drove home to get them. We had arrived early for lesson, so I was not too late when I arrived back with the books. My daughter and her teacher started lesson without me and did not wind up needing the books after all, so it really worked out okay. Then we drove home to have dinner with my nephews and I had to make biscuits before we could eat because dinner was supposed to be chicken and dumplings - except that I forgot to add the dumplings.
Wednesday I took the car in to get the new tires put on (I firmly believe this is the only reason it did not snow in our area). I dropped off some books off at the library and picked up some groceries. The coat with the broken zipper is still in the back seat as I did not remember to stop at the tailor to see if I could get a new one put on. Wednesday evening I taught religious education class and we attended a Thanksgiving Mass. Unfortunately many of my students had less than stellar behavior. When we returned to class I re-enacted the scene of Jesus in the temple throwing out the money changers. Okay, I did not tables to overturn, but when the dismissal bell rang, the students remained riveted to their seats until we had finished our "discussion." I am guessing that this another patience fail on my part.
Today my schedule is pretty clear and I managed to arrive at bible study on time. I was dressed and showered and everything. Not that I remembered to bring the money to pay for the workbook. Now back at home I am doing some of the stuff that I forgot to do on Monday (remember when I brought my daughter home not feeling well?) and wouldn't you know it - that darned coat with the broken zipper is still in the back seat.
Tomorrow is Friday, right? That is when I have on my schedule that my daughter has a band lesson at school, oh wait, the schedule changed, that is today. I remember seeing her take her instrument out the door when we went to catch the bus.... so who has their act together?
And did I invite my folks for dinner tonight? I think that means I am supposed to figure out what I am making for dinner. Hmmmmm. I believe I have a dinner meeting tonight too.
Tuesday, November 18, 2014
Am I fat, should I love my bump and other things that make me go - HUH?
I confess to being a news scanner. I don't regularly watch the news, read the paper or listen to the radio. But I do check my Twitter account, Surf my news feeds and spy on my friends on Facebook. For me this is not a bad thing. It does not mean that I am socially inept or uninformed about current events. If anything, it helps keep me level headed and out of jail. These are two pluses that I am sure my family and friends greatly appreciate.
But I have to admit, some of what I see in my scans makes me go Huh? Like the article titled - Do you know Obesity when You see it? Most Doctor's Don't. Okay, got my interest, so I read the article. Seems that most folks (including Doctors and Nurses) are getting heavier. Doctors and nurses are not identifying their patients as being overweight, mostly because they don't identify themselves as being overweight and don't see their patients as any different than themselves. (This is a summary) Okay, I get that. The article pointed out many good things, but noted that doctors do not tell their patients that they are overweight and that their problems could be caused by being overweight. Now they lost me. Just about everyone I know has had the doctor point out their weight, whether it was part of the problem or not. Perhaps we are a minority.
So I moved on and spied an article about How to Dress Your Bump. And another one about Bonding with your Bump. Say what? I know, the article was about bonding with an unborn baby, but I just can't figure out why we would identify a baby as a "Bump." A bump is something you get when you have chicken pox or acne. I don't recall ever referring to my over-sized middle section when I was pregnant as a bump. More like a double wide trailer that had gotten loose from its park, but never a bump. And why would I be concerned with dressing a bump. How about dressing me? All of me? Baby wasn't born yet and certainly had no need for clothes yet... Okay, so maybe I am a little out of the loop.
Perhaps I should read some of the other "trending news." Hmmm, lets see, how about plane crash? Not very big article. Actor accused of sexual assault. Interesting, but no real facts or findings. Why you should Never wash your jeans - OK YUCK! Gonna pass on that one. NFL player arrested for trying to pay for goods with Bubble Gum. Seriously? How about this one - Using Your Hands to Soothe Your Brain - now that sounds interesting. But skip the first paragraph where they talk about folding and ironing clothes as having calming powers. Just thinking about those activities brings on the stress. And if they are so calming, why are there households all over America full of clean laundry sitting in laundry baskets, just waiting to be folded and ironed - instead of worn wrinkled and tossed back into the hamper?
Among the articles I find one titled Child Homelessness on the Rise in the US. An attention grabbing headline with a detailed, informed story about the many issues that contribute to the problem and the perception of homelessness. It also supports the headline with facts and figures about the number of children that are homeless compared to the number a year ago. Okay, I have found an article that further investigation fails to debunk. It is not aiming for scare tactics, sensationalism or selling something. I feel touched and like looking for a solution. How on earth did it get in the news feed?
One of the things about news surfing that I like is that I can look deeper in the articles presented on news feeds and social media. I looked into a few recent articles circulating, Like the one about the Florida man arrested for Feeding the Homeless. Some of the facts to the story were omitted. Perhaps an oversight? And some exaggerated. He was issued citations for not complying with outdoor feeding practices put in place, not for feeding the homeless, as the news story suggests. While some can argue that those are charges and constitute being arrested, so are tickets issues for moving violations, but most of us don't tell people we were arrested for speeding. Should we be worried about restricting the feeding of the homeless? You bet ya. But both sides of the issue are not really addressed, like food safety issues, availability of hand washing and restroom facilities and use of public facilities. A lot of people get fired up about the issue and rant. So what are the rules in your community? I don't see groups in my area feeding the homeless in the public parks where we take our children to play. Is it because the neighbors don't like to "see the problem" or are there other considerations? Hmmm, now that is food for thought.
I do feel sorry for the whales being slaughtered near Denmark, but I would have been just as outraged if the story had identified the animals correctly as whales (not dolphins) and still feel something should be done about ending the practice - even if the pilot whales in question are not considered endangered. The story would have been just as good with more solid facts and figures and less sensationalism. Maybe even better if the author could have offered a feel for local culture, some interviews with people from the area as well as potential solutions. The story is true, but lacks a quality of reporting that cuts to the underlying issues.
I have an opinion about common core math. I could care less about celebrities and professional sports players, but recognize that they are role models and merit some pubic attention. I admit that I laughed at the funny video of the baby laughing her head off while sitting on the couch with a box of tissues, even though this wasn't "news." I am alarmed at the violence and crime that seems prevalent in Mexico. I worry about ISIS. However, I have to say, that I worry about Ebola about as much as I did during the 2001 and 2012 outbreaks in Uganda and the Republic of the Congo, perhaps because I am aware that we had doctors and nurses coming and going from those countries at that time, no different than we do now. Current headlines that hurl accusations and spread panic do nothing to create valid public policy. I know that our state is in financial trouble and recognize that the programs they are looking to cut are less than a percent of the spending and will do little to alleviate the financial crisis. My head is not in the sand, though it could be argued that it belongs there.
If you ask me why I don't watch the news, I will tell you that I don't think exposure to violence via video is educating me on the world problems. Instead I fear that it may inure me to harsh conditions that exist in our world today. And I certainly don't want to become inundated to such deprivation and violence until I accept it as being commonplace. The acceptance is what I fear the most. And I have decided that I prefer to see my news not through the lens of the media, but through a filter that allows me to navigate and explore the truths behind the articles.
If you ask me why I like Facebook, I will tell you it is because my family and friends find it creepy when I am standing outside their living room windows looking in.
But I have to admit, some of what I see in my scans makes me go Huh? Like the article titled - Do you know Obesity when You see it? Most Doctor's Don't. Okay, got my interest, so I read the article. Seems that most folks (including Doctors and Nurses) are getting heavier. Doctors and nurses are not identifying their patients as being overweight, mostly because they don't identify themselves as being overweight and don't see their patients as any different than themselves. (This is a summary) Okay, I get that. The article pointed out many good things, but noted that doctors do not tell their patients that they are overweight and that their problems could be caused by being overweight. Now they lost me. Just about everyone I know has had the doctor point out their weight, whether it was part of the problem or not. Perhaps we are a minority.
So I moved on and spied an article about How to Dress Your Bump. And another one about Bonding with your Bump. Say what? I know, the article was about bonding with an unborn baby, but I just can't figure out why we would identify a baby as a "Bump." A bump is something you get when you have chicken pox or acne. I don't recall ever referring to my over-sized middle section when I was pregnant as a bump. More like a double wide trailer that had gotten loose from its park, but never a bump. And why would I be concerned with dressing a bump. How about dressing me? All of me? Baby wasn't born yet and certainly had no need for clothes yet... Okay, so maybe I am a little out of the loop.
Perhaps I should read some of the other "trending news." Hmmm, lets see, how about plane crash? Not very big article. Actor accused of sexual assault. Interesting, but no real facts or findings. Why you should Never wash your jeans - OK YUCK! Gonna pass on that one. NFL player arrested for trying to pay for goods with Bubble Gum. Seriously? How about this one - Using Your Hands to Soothe Your Brain - now that sounds interesting. But skip the first paragraph where they talk about folding and ironing clothes as having calming powers. Just thinking about those activities brings on the stress. And if they are so calming, why are there households all over America full of clean laundry sitting in laundry baskets, just waiting to be folded and ironed - instead of worn wrinkled and tossed back into the hamper?
Among the articles I find one titled Child Homelessness on the Rise in the US. An attention grabbing headline with a detailed, informed story about the many issues that contribute to the problem and the perception of homelessness. It also supports the headline with facts and figures about the number of children that are homeless compared to the number a year ago. Okay, I have found an article that further investigation fails to debunk. It is not aiming for scare tactics, sensationalism or selling something. I feel touched and like looking for a solution. How on earth did it get in the news feed?
One of the things about news surfing that I like is that I can look deeper in the articles presented on news feeds and social media. I looked into a few recent articles circulating, Like the one about the Florida man arrested for Feeding the Homeless. Some of the facts to the story were omitted. Perhaps an oversight? And some exaggerated. He was issued citations for not complying with outdoor feeding practices put in place, not for feeding the homeless, as the news story suggests. While some can argue that those are charges and constitute being arrested, so are tickets issues for moving violations, but most of us don't tell people we were arrested for speeding. Should we be worried about restricting the feeding of the homeless? You bet ya. But both sides of the issue are not really addressed, like food safety issues, availability of hand washing and restroom facilities and use of public facilities. A lot of people get fired up about the issue and rant. So what are the rules in your community? I don't see groups in my area feeding the homeless in the public parks where we take our children to play. Is it because the neighbors don't like to "see the problem" or are there other considerations? Hmmm, now that is food for thought.
I do feel sorry for the whales being slaughtered near Denmark, but I would have been just as outraged if the story had identified the animals correctly as whales (not dolphins) and still feel something should be done about ending the practice - even if the pilot whales in question are not considered endangered. The story would have been just as good with more solid facts and figures and less sensationalism. Maybe even better if the author could have offered a feel for local culture, some interviews with people from the area as well as potential solutions. The story is true, but lacks a quality of reporting that cuts to the underlying issues.
I have an opinion about common core math. I could care less about celebrities and professional sports players, but recognize that they are role models and merit some pubic attention. I admit that I laughed at the funny video of the baby laughing her head off while sitting on the couch with a box of tissues, even though this wasn't "news." I am alarmed at the violence and crime that seems prevalent in Mexico. I worry about ISIS. However, I have to say, that I worry about Ebola about as much as I did during the 2001 and 2012 outbreaks in Uganda and the Republic of the Congo, perhaps because I am aware that we had doctors and nurses coming and going from those countries at that time, no different than we do now. Current headlines that hurl accusations and spread panic do nothing to create valid public policy. I know that our state is in financial trouble and recognize that the programs they are looking to cut are less than a percent of the spending and will do little to alleviate the financial crisis. My head is not in the sand, though it could be argued that it belongs there.
If you ask me why I don't watch the news, I will tell you that I don't think exposure to violence via video is educating me on the world problems. Instead I fear that it may inure me to harsh conditions that exist in our world today. And I certainly don't want to become inundated to such deprivation and violence until I accept it as being commonplace. The acceptance is what I fear the most. And I have decided that I prefer to see my news not through the lens of the media, but through a filter that allows me to navigate and explore the truths behind the articles.
If you ask me why I like Facebook, I will tell you it is because my family and friends find it creepy when I am standing outside their living room windows looking in.
Thursday, November 13, 2014
When the sales calls come a-ringing
It seems my phone number has become popular again with loads of sales people offering to do everything for me, from tiling my bathroom and maintaining my yard to fixing my credit card debt and getting me a better deal on my cable bill...even though I don't currently have cable or a bill. With all the enticing offers, what is a poor gal to do?
I know, I know, quit my grousing and put my phone list on the National Do Not Call Registry. The National Do Not Call Registry gives you a choice about whether to receive telemarketing calls at home. Most telemarketers should not call your number once it has been on the registry for 31 days. If they do, you can file a complaint at this Website. You can register your home or mobile phone for free. Heck, you can register up to three numbers at a time! 72 hours later, you should receive notification that your number was added to the registry. Just that easy.
Sure thing, I can do that, AGAIN. As I have several times before. And that will protect me from telemarketer calls. Well, a lot of them, anyway. Unless they are from non-for-profit organizations. Or a company I have done business with (you know, like bought something from). Or a company that is owned by a company that I have done business with. Or a political organization. The last is the worst - they hijack your phone with automated calls that do not hang up after you do. I dare you, try to make a call after you hang up on one of these calls - my experience is that the message will still be playing! Boy, good thing I have another phone in case of emergency.
But you may note in the above paragraph I said AGAIN. Yes, I have registered my phone number before. But evidently I did business with a company that owns a whole bunch of other companies, and I have to tell each of these companies to stop calling me before I can register a complaint. Quite frankly, I don't have the patience to wait through the entire automated message for most of them to tell them to stop calling. And for rest - I don't have a great deal of time to fill out complaint forms.
So why do I answer the phone? At home I am too cheap for caller ID. On my cell phone, many places, like the school where my kid goes, the doctor's office, come up as "unknown". And really don't want to miss a call from the school to tell me that my kid has cracked her head on the playground. Or the doctor's office to verify an appointment change. Yes, I know, with most telemarketing calls there is a pause between the time you pick up the call and the time that the caller picks up the line on their end. But the same is true for a lot of my friends calling me on their cell phones. I used to just hang up when I heard the pause, but that really made some of my friends mad, so I have started using a new strategy. One that keeps my friends and family happy and that has proven to be fun and sometimes effective. What do I do? Well it depends on on how I feel at the moment.
1st scenario
Caller: Hello, is Tina there?
Me: I am sorry, who is this?
Caller: I am (insert name) with (insert company) and we would like to offer you....
Me: Do you always address complete strangers by their first name? I find this rude and offensive. I also think that you should consider identifying yourself first. It is also rude to demand information from someone you just called and don't know. Until you can modify your business practices to more formal and acceptable means, do not call this number again.
2nd scenario
Caller: Hello, may I speak to Tina?
Me: I am sorry, she passed away. Did you know her?
Caller:
3rd scenario
Caller: Hello, may I speak to Tina?
Me: Who?
Caller: Tina (mangles last name)
Me: Who?
Caller: Is there a head of the household there I can talk to?
Me: Who?
4th scenario
Caller: Hello, may I speak to Mrs. (mangled last name)
Me: She just left with the police, can I take a message?
Caller: Is there a better time we can call?
Me: Sure, about 10-15 years.
5th scenario
Caller: Hello, I am (insert fictional name) with (insert company name). May I speak to (mangled last name)
Me: HELLO?
Caller: Hello, I ....
Me: HELLO? HELLO? ANYONE THERE?
Caller: Hello, I
Me: HELLO! HELLO, IS THERE ANYONE THERE? DID YOU JUST BUTT DIAL ME? HEEELLOOOOO.
Caller:
Occasionally I will get a creative telemarketer, and then I have to modify my strategy, but that can be fun too. I have asked telemarketers if they want to put siding
just my apartment or the entire complex, what my current credit rating is that they can improve it, the name of their cat/dog/grandmother and even if I can sell them something.
So what do I recommend? Add your phone number/numbers to the Do Not Call Registry to cut back on the number of marketers that can reach you, and enjoy the rest!
Special service announcement: The FTC does not allow private companies or other such third parties to register consumers for the National Do Not Call Registry. Websites or phone solicitations that claim they can or will register a consumer’s name or phone number on the National Do Not Call Registry — especially those that charge a fee — are almost certainly a scam. Consumers may register directly, or through some state governments, but never through private companies. For consumers, the National Do Not Call Registry is a free service of the federal government.
I know, I know, quit my grousing and put my phone list on the National Do Not Call Registry. The National Do Not Call Registry gives you a choice about whether to receive telemarketing calls at home. Most telemarketers should not call your number once it has been on the registry for 31 days. If they do, you can file a complaint at this Website. You can register your home or mobile phone for free. Heck, you can register up to three numbers at a time! 72 hours later, you should receive notification that your number was added to the registry. Just that easy.
Sure thing, I can do that, AGAIN. As I have several times before. And that will protect me from telemarketer calls. Well, a lot of them, anyway. Unless they are from non-for-profit organizations. Or a company I have done business with (you know, like bought something from). Or a company that is owned by a company that I have done business with. Or a political organization. The last is the worst - they hijack your phone with automated calls that do not hang up after you do. I dare you, try to make a call after you hang up on one of these calls - my experience is that the message will still be playing! Boy, good thing I have another phone in case of emergency.But you may note in the above paragraph I said AGAIN. Yes, I have registered my phone number before. But evidently I did business with a company that owns a whole bunch of other companies, and I have to tell each of these companies to stop calling me before I can register a complaint. Quite frankly, I don't have the patience to wait through the entire automated message for most of them to tell them to stop calling. And for rest - I don't have a great deal of time to fill out complaint forms.
So why do I answer the phone? At home I am too cheap for caller ID. On my cell phone, many places, like the school where my kid goes, the doctor's office, come up as "unknown". And really don't want to miss a call from the school to tell me that my kid has cracked her head on the playground. Or the doctor's office to verify an appointment change. Yes, I know, with most telemarketing calls there is a pause between the time you pick up the call and the time that the caller picks up the line on their end. But the same is true for a lot of my friends calling me on their cell phones. I used to just hang up when I heard the pause, but that really made some of my friends mad, so I have started using a new strategy. One that keeps my friends and family happy and that has proven to be fun and sometimes effective. What do I do? Well it depends on on how I feel at the moment.
1st scenario
Caller: Hello, is Tina there?
Me: I am sorry, who is this?
Caller: I am (insert name) with (insert company) and we would like to offer you....
Me: Do you always address complete strangers by their first name? I find this rude and offensive. I also think that you should consider identifying yourself first. It is also rude to demand information from someone you just called and don't know. Until you can modify your business practices to more formal and acceptable means, do not call this number again.
2nd scenario
Caller: Hello, may I speak to Tina?
Me: I am sorry, she passed away. Did you know her?
Caller:
3rd scenario
Caller: Hello, may I speak to Tina?
Me: Who?
Caller: Tina (mangles last name)
Me: Who?
Caller: Is there a head of the household there I can talk to?
Me: Who?
4th scenario
Caller: Hello, may I speak to Mrs. (mangled last name)
Me: She just left with the police, can I take a message?
Caller: Is there a better time we can call?
Me: Sure, about 10-15 years.
5th scenario
Caller: Hello, I am (insert fictional name) with (insert company name). May I speak to (mangled last name)
Me: HELLO?
Caller: Hello, I ....
Me: HELLO? HELLO? ANYONE THERE?
Caller: Hello, I
Me: HELLO! HELLO, IS THERE ANYONE THERE? DID YOU JUST BUTT DIAL ME? HEEELLOOOOO.
Caller:
Occasionally I will get a creative telemarketer, and then I have to modify my strategy, but that can be fun too. I have asked telemarketers if they want to put siding
just my apartment or the entire complex, what my current credit rating is that they can improve it, the name of their cat/dog/grandmother and even if I can sell them something.
So what do I recommend? Add your phone number/numbers to the Do Not Call Registry to cut back on the number of marketers that can reach you, and enjoy the rest!
Special service announcement: The FTC does not allow private companies or other such third parties to register consumers for the National Do Not Call Registry. Websites or phone solicitations that claim they can or will register a consumer’s name or phone number on the National Do Not Call Registry — especially those that charge a fee — are almost certainly a scam. Consumers may register directly, or through some state governments, but never through private companies. For consumers, the National Do Not Call Registry is a free service of the federal government.
Monday, October 20, 2014
About the noise
Dear Neighbors,
Some of us don't need to get up at 4am. Or 4:30am. Really, We don't. Our day starts a little later than that, say around 7am. Or at least we would like it to start around that time. We go to bed early enough to wake up refreshed with our alarm each morning, but somehow it just doesn't work out that way.
Take this morning. You were evidently sharing a ride to work this morning, but when your ride got there, you were not ready to go, so they blew the horn. And blew the horn. And blew the horn. Gotta admit, that is a pretty effective alarm clock. More effective than the dog, who barks for 20 minutes after he goes out to do his business while shower is running in his household. I know, dogs bark and I get that. And there are mice that run alongside the fence and the garage and he likes to chase them and bark at them. Every morning. But I was finally sleeping through this morning ritual. The horn was new. And unwelcome.
Especially after last night's firework display. Apparently the show truck down the street with the loud muffler and smokestacks that shoot fire won a car show or something, because at 11:30pm, they woke me up putting off a firework display and revving their engines in celebration of something. It was short lived, but I was awake and struggled to go back to sleep. And I did, for awhile.
Bu then there was the slamming of a car door and an argument. I don't even have the window's open! Haven't for some time. Someone works nights and gets home at 2am, has a cigarette and talks loudly on the cell phone. Sometimes they play the music in their car with the door open before going in and heading off to bed. This time it is a slamming door and an argument over the phone that I can hear through closed windows. I admit, I don't just close the windows due to the noise, we also have a broken skunk in the area whose scent is stuck in the on position and seems to have a fondness for taking a pass down our block. I actually woke up gagging one night. Too bad the passes can't be timed for around 2am ish....
It was once suggested that I move to the country, where I could enjoy peace and quiet to my heart's delight. But I am not a farmer and not entirely sure what we would do for work. I have always been a city kid and a heavy sleeper, but lately it has been to little avail. And I live in the suburbs for crying out loud! I would never dream of mowing my lawn at 5:30am, or working on the roof at 6am, or revving my motorcycle for fifteen minutes on the corner before the sun dared to shine. Heck, what am I talking about? I can't even get some decent sleep lately, let alone dream.
Perhaps you don't realize how much your voice carries. You might talk quieter if you knew just how much of your intimate conversation I could repeat, word for word. Honestly. Maybe you are angry and getting even with the neighbors down the block who decided to have their trees taken out last Saturday and Sunday starting at 6am each morning on your precious days off when you get to sleep in. Maybe you never considered bonding with your dog in the morning for a few fulfilling minutes and letting him back in the house before you shower. And I get that it is not every day you have something worth celebrating.
As I struggle through this Monday morning with my coffee in hand all I ask is that you think about others as your go through your daily routine. And please try to keep it down tomorrow morning. I don't have a particularly good sense of humor in the morning.
Some of us don't need to get up at 4am. Or 4:30am. Really, We don't. Our day starts a little later than that, say around 7am. Or at least we would like it to start around that time. We go to bed early enough to wake up refreshed with our alarm each morning, but somehow it just doesn't work out that way.
Take this morning. You were evidently sharing a ride to work this morning, but when your ride got there, you were not ready to go, so they blew the horn. And blew the horn. And blew the horn. Gotta admit, that is a pretty effective alarm clock. More effective than the dog, who barks for 20 minutes after he goes out to do his business while shower is running in his household. I know, dogs bark and I get that. And there are mice that run alongside the fence and the garage and he likes to chase them and bark at them. Every morning. But I was finally sleeping through this morning ritual. The horn was new. And unwelcome.
Especially after last night's firework display. Apparently the show truck down the street with the loud muffler and smokestacks that shoot fire won a car show or something, because at 11:30pm, they woke me up putting off a firework display and revving their engines in celebration of something. It was short lived, but I was awake and struggled to go back to sleep. And I did, for awhile.
Bu then there was the slamming of a car door and an argument. I don't even have the window's open! Haven't for some time. Someone works nights and gets home at 2am, has a cigarette and talks loudly on the cell phone. Sometimes they play the music in their car with the door open before going in and heading off to bed. This time it is a slamming door and an argument over the phone that I can hear through closed windows. I admit, I don't just close the windows due to the noise, we also have a broken skunk in the area whose scent is stuck in the on position and seems to have a fondness for taking a pass down our block. I actually woke up gagging one night. Too bad the passes can't be timed for around 2am ish....
It was once suggested that I move to the country, where I could enjoy peace and quiet to my heart's delight. But I am not a farmer and not entirely sure what we would do for work. I have always been a city kid and a heavy sleeper, but lately it has been to little avail. And I live in the suburbs for crying out loud! I would never dream of mowing my lawn at 5:30am, or working on the roof at 6am, or revving my motorcycle for fifteen minutes on the corner before the sun dared to shine. Heck, what am I talking about? I can't even get some decent sleep lately, let alone dream.
Perhaps you don't realize how much your voice carries. You might talk quieter if you knew just how much of your intimate conversation I could repeat, word for word. Honestly. Maybe you are angry and getting even with the neighbors down the block who decided to have their trees taken out last Saturday and Sunday starting at 6am each morning on your precious days off when you get to sleep in. Maybe you never considered bonding with your dog in the morning for a few fulfilling minutes and letting him back in the house before you shower. And I get that it is not every day you have something worth celebrating.
As I struggle through this Monday morning with my coffee in hand all I ask is that you think about others as your go through your daily routine. And please try to keep it down tomorrow morning. I don't have a particularly good sense of humor in the morning.
Friday, October 10, 2014
The Dishwasher! Oh how I love thee....
I love my dishwasher. It is such a great invention! Dishes go in and magically come out clean - well, most of the time. It uses less water than I do. It takes less of my time and energy, and can work even when I am in bed or not home. And usually there is not a sink full of dirty dishes!
It is not just the dirty dishes filling in the sink that make me nuts, I can't stand strainers and dishes waiting to be put away. It's like some kind of glaring beacon that shines out every time I enter the kitchen that says "YOU STILL HAVE ONE MORE THING TO DO!"
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| And look how tidy everything looks! |
Everyone who knows me knows that I am big on tidy!
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| All the untidy is inside, see? |
When there were seven people living in my house, I gave thanks to God two to three times a day for such a modern marvel in my own home. On holidays and birthdays, I often gave thanks four times a day - that was how often the dishwasher was running! Without this blessing (which was one of those innovative Birthday-Anniversary gifts from my family,) I would have nothing more than raisin like nubs at the end of my hands. As I mentioned before, my dishwasher is far more efficient than I am with water and soap usage. It doesn't get distracted by the phone or the doorbell or shiny objects out the window. Should I mention that it often does a better job than I do? I dislike scalding hot water that is needed to get scum off plates and silverware, I have to pee every time I turn on the water and my sink only has one basin, making the whole rinse thing a royal pain in the butt! If I ever win the publishers clearing house and remodel the kitchen, I will have a dual basin sink, if only to admire the maid cleaning the pots that just won't fit in the dishwasher after all the dishes from the meal have been loaded in!
Personally I would rather have a dishwasher than a stove. Fear not, no one would starve, there are dishwasher recipes out there that practically renders the stove obsolete. Don't believe me, take a look at Dishwasher Recipes. And that is just for starters. There are images, cookbooks and articles galore on the joys of cooking in your dishwasher!
The only thing standing in the way of ousting the stove out of our kitchen is the fact that the dishwasher is usually full. Just no room in there for food. Sometimes it is full of dirty dishes awaiting the press of a button, and sometimes it is full of clean dishes eagerly looking forward to their much anticipated journey home to the cabinets. Although I cannot stand a strainer full of clean dishes, I am pretty good at ignoring the little green light that tells me "All is clean inside, okay to unload." It is just a little green light, unobtrusive and quiet.
I have made everything about emptying the dishwasher easy as it can be. The cabinets where the dishes get put away is directly above the dishwasher. The silverware drawer is in easy arms reach of the modern marvel. You hardly have to move at all to unload. Yet there the dishes sit in the quiet darkness of stainless steel, dry and expectant.
Quite frankly, I would rather clean all the bathrooms in the house three times a week. Mow my grass in a rainstorm. Carry heavy loads of laundry up and down the stairs every day of the week. Reorganize all the closets in my house (okay, most of them). Put a new roof on the house and paint the siding. Anything but empty the dishwasher.
You might ask "What is the big deal with unloading a load of dishes and putting them away?" Now that there are only three of us living here, it doesn't even need to be done all that often, maybe one every day or two. The set up is simple, right? Not tired out from having to scrub the scum off all of them, I should have the energy to empty it, right?
Maybe I like the thought that someone else could perform this task just as well as I can. Anyone can empty the dishwasher. Maybe I am a procrastinator.
Personally I would rather have a dishwasher than a stove. Fear not, no one would starve, there are dishwasher recipes out there that practically renders the stove obsolete. Don't believe me, take a look at Dishwasher Recipes. And that is just for starters. There are images, cookbooks and articles galore on the joys of cooking in your dishwasher!
The only thing standing in the way of ousting the stove out of our kitchen is the fact that the dishwasher is usually full. Just no room in there for food. Sometimes it is full of dirty dishes awaiting the press of a button, and sometimes it is full of clean dishes eagerly looking forward to their much anticipated journey home to the cabinets. Although I cannot stand a strainer full of clean dishes, I am pretty good at ignoring the little green light that tells me "All is clean inside, okay to unload." It is just a little green light, unobtrusive and quiet.
I have made everything about emptying the dishwasher easy as it can be. The cabinets where the dishes get put away is directly above the dishwasher. The silverware drawer is in easy arms reach of the modern marvel. You hardly have to move at all to unload. Yet there the dishes sit in the quiet darkness of stainless steel, dry and expectant.
Quite frankly, I would rather clean all the bathrooms in the house three times a week. Mow my grass in a rainstorm. Carry heavy loads of laundry up and down the stairs every day of the week. Reorganize all the closets in my house (okay, most of them). Put a new roof on the house and paint the siding. Anything but empty the dishwasher.
You might ask "What is the big deal with unloading a load of dishes and putting them away?" Now that there are only three of us living here, it doesn't even need to be done all that often, maybe one every day or two. The set up is simple, right? Not tired out from having to scrub the scum off all of them, I should have the energy to empty it, right?
Maybe I like the thought that someone else could perform this task just as well as I can. Anyone can empty the dishwasher. Maybe I am a procrastinator.
Maybe I just like that little green light.
Friday, October 3, 2014
Feast of the Guardian Angels
Yesterday was the Feast of the Guardian Angels. Considering how much work those angels do in our family, I supposed we should have had a celebration for them.
In this household, they get a pretty good workout! Just look at some of the crisis they have handled in the past two years.
I decided to look up ways to celebrate the Feast of the Guardian Angels (I know, a day late) and found a cute web site geared toward families with kids that had all kinds of craft projects (and I mean ones you can actually do with kids and have the results come out looking like the pictures), cookies (these looked do-able too) and activities you could do with your children to celebrate. I thought this was pretty neat. We could read books, do crafts, bake or sing....well okay, maybe not sing. My daughter discourages my singing. I think we will celebrate today (better late than never) by baking cookies. Perhaps our guardian angels would like that. They sure could use a break. I imagine that they celebrate too.
In this household, they get a pretty good workout! Just look at some of the crisis they have handled in the past two years.
There was a guardian angel with my husband when he dropped a heavy crate on his head and was not wearing his hard hat. The angel probably gave him more sympathy than I did.
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| Ouch! |
And I definitely think there was one watching over my daughter when she fell off her swing set and had a bad, scary landing.
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| Can you believe an hour later she was hopping around the ER? |
Hey look, another ER visit, this time with dad. Hmmm, starting to see a trend.
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| Dad |
Same hospital, different family member. I recognize the doctors. I know where to find the good free coffee here. Incidentally, they don't provide alcohol for family members. Or calming drugs.
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| Brother |
We can't even take a vacation without action. Fortunately we were spared the tornados and made it out before the flash flooding. We were blessed that the flooding stopped before it swamped our camper.
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| That's a lot of flashing lights. |
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| Our Camper is the one on the right. |
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| Instant swimming pool. |
Then there was this. Really, not as bad as it looked, and no one was hurt.
I met a wasp on vacation. No ER this time, YAY!
I might have been upset if I knew there was a tornado in the vicinity. Again, angels watching out for us.
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| And this was just coming home from gathering at relatives house! |
After seeing all these photos, I am reminded just how blessed our family is.
I think ours might be out having a drink or two.
Friday, September 26, 2014
Distractions
Last night I suddenly thought about a good friend who I have not seen in awhile. We had previously communicated about two weeks ago via a short text, but never got together to truly catch up. Our schedules are full and time is fleeting. After our communication, I spent the next three days telling myself that I needed to take a look at my calendar and come up with a date that might work for us meet up. By day four, I had totally forgotten about my resolve and did yard work. I remained blissfully forgetful until last night when I found myself suddenly thinking about my friend. I wanted to call her, right then, but it was on the late side and I know her day starts early, so I thought "I am going to write her a good, old fashioned letter."
As I thought about writing her a letter, I envisioned her smiling face in my head. Not to worry, it wasn't like a disembodied head floating around - that would have been kinda creepy -her head was atop her body and everything, unlike the Mary statue on my front porch that met with an accident and has her head sitting next to her on the ground. In my vision, my friend was wearing an amazing dress that I have seen her in once before. She has great taste in clothes and dresses fabulously. Complete with this dress was a terrific pair of heels.
I just love heels! I used to wear heels all the time, but alas, I cannot wear them anymore on account of a drop foot and collapsed arch. It is not a pretty sight when I try. The effect looks like a car pulling an over-sized trailer with flat tires on the entire right side. That doesn't stop me from longing for heels. I mean really, they go with just about everything from jeans and slacks to skirts and dresses. Have you ever opened a magazine and saw a model wearing a great dress and a pair of sneakers? Yeah, me neither, unless you count the ads for athletic shoes. And heels can be obtained for a great price. Stop at any thrift store and the shelves are lined with them, often brand new and shiny! I especially have a fondness for vintage looking
heels - something about them is classy and polished, and when I wore them, I felt classy and polished. Not to mention taller.
When you are 5'3", you can use all the height you can get. Believe me, the extra two inches that I gained with my heels did a lot for my ego as well as my ability to reach items on taller shelves. You just can't get the same results from a pair of flats. Although I have to admit, you can get a lot of satisfaction from a pair of hiking shoes or boots. No, they don't pair well with a dress or skirt, but there is something freeing about wandering down a dirt trail and knowing that your shoes will provide the support and grip that you need to explore.
Since I don't walk as well as I once did, I don't explore nearly as far in nature as I used to, but I still explore. My lesser range has not dampened my love for the outdoors and all thing natural. I love seeing a waterfall, climbing the cliffs for a better view and following a meandering creek. Having some mobility issues has made this a bit of a challenge at times. Folks don't understand that persons of limited abilities might still enjoy great outdoors and all the wonders of nature. And it seems beyond the comprehension of many individuals that you can still enjoy creation without hiking the twenty miles of rugged terrain up to the top of Mount What a View.
Take the ranger we encountered during our summer vacation this year. We were looking for some short hikes and places that we could visit to enjoy the wonders of the national forest in southern Illinois. After perusing the literature and scouring some guides available at the facility, we stopped to chat with the ranger who offered us assistance. When we asked what she recommended, she named off several great sights that were off the beaten path. Well off the beaten path. Way off our accessibility radar. When I nodded slowly she paused. I explained that while we were excited, these suggested hikes were beyond our present abilities and we were looking for something a little lower on the difficulty level.
She looked at us like we had six heads. Apiece.
She was less helpful after this. Maybe she though we were just being lazy or were in a tremendous hurry. I was flattered that she viewed us a robust and hearty individuals, but was disappointed that her knowledge of activities was limited to backpacking and ten mile trails that went uphill, both ways. Perhaps she had not noticed that we were a group that consisted of a ten year old, a seventy-something year old woman, a man in his mid-forties and a woman about mid forties who came in walking with a gait that went "Hobbldy-hoy!" We left soon after. I assure you, we did find all kinds of stuff to do that did not require a ten mile hike to enjoy, much of which was not mentioned in the guides aside from a brief notation of location. I am still thinking I need to write a book to rectify this oversight.
So where was I? Hmm, can't really remember, but I do see that it looks like the grass needs cutting. Think I will dig out my hiking shoes and do some yard work today.
 |
| Okay, I don't have fancy stationary. |
As I thought about writing her a letter, I envisioned her smiling face in my head. Not to worry, it wasn't like a disembodied head floating around - that would have been kinda creepy -her head was atop her body and everything, unlike the Mary statue on my front porch that met with an accident and has her head sitting next to her on the ground. In my vision, my friend was wearing an amazing dress that I have seen her in once before. She has great taste in clothes and dresses fabulously. Complete with this dress was a terrific pair of heels.
I just love heels! I used to wear heels all the time, but alas, I cannot wear them anymore on account of a drop foot and collapsed arch. It is not a pretty sight when I try. The effect looks like a car pulling an over-sized trailer with flat tires on the entire right side. That doesn't stop me from longing for heels. I mean really, they go with just about everything from jeans and slacks to skirts and dresses. Have you ever opened a magazine and saw a model wearing a great dress and a pair of sneakers? Yeah, me neither, unless you count the ads for athletic shoes. And heels can be obtained for a great price. Stop at any thrift store and the shelves are lined with them, often brand new and shiny! I especially have a fondness for vintage looking
 |
| My favorite pair of heels! |
When you are 5'3", you can use all the height you can get. Believe me, the extra two inches that I gained with my heels did a lot for my ego as well as my ability to reach items on taller shelves. You just can't get the same results from a pair of flats. Although I have to admit, you can get a lot of satisfaction from a pair of hiking shoes or boots. No, they don't pair well with a dress or skirt, but there is something freeing about wandering down a dirt trail and knowing that your shoes will provide the support and grip that you need to explore.
 |
| My trusty hiking shoes |
Take the ranger we encountered during our summer vacation this year. We were looking for some short hikes and places that we could visit to enjoy the wonders of the national forest in southern Illinois. After perusing the literature and scouring some guides available at the facility, we stopped to chat with the ranger who offered us assistance. When we asked what she recommended, she named off several great sights that were off the beaten path. Well off the beaten path. Way off our accessibility radar. When I nodded slowly she paused. I explained that while we were excited, these suggested hikes were beyond our present abilities and we were looking for something a little lower on the difficulty level.
She looked at us like we had six heads. Apiece.
She was less helpful after this. Maybe she though we were just being lazy or were in a tremendous hurry. I was flattered that she viewed us a robust and hearty individuals, but was disappointed that her knowledge of activities was limited to backpacking and ten mile trails that went uphill, both ways. Perhaps she had not noticed that we were a group that consisted of a ten year old, a seventy-something year old woman, a man in his mid-forties and a woman about mid forties who came in walking with a gait that went "Hobbldy-hoy!" We left soon after. I assure you, we did find all kinds of stuff to do that did not require a ten mile hike to enjoy, much of which was not mentioned in the guides aside from a brief notation of location. I am still thinking I need to write a book to rectify this oversight.
So where was I? Hmm, can't really remember, but I do see that it looks like the grass needs cutting. Think I will dig out my hiking shoes and do some yard work today.
 |
| Works like a champ these days. |
Tuesday, September 16, 2014
Dollar Dates....
Last weekend my husband and I enjoyed a wonderful anniversary weekend. We celebrated a whole bunch of years together. Pretty much just the two of us, no kid, no alarm clock, no chores to get done, no agenda.
There is no shame in being poor, but sometimes it kinda sucks. Especially those times when you want to do something real romantic, like a weekend beach get-away, or a moonlit dinner cruise, or heck, maybe just dinner and a movie. All those options become a moot point when finances dictate some of the most humdrum aspects of your life. Like groceries and gasoline. My husband and I have our priorities in the right place and definitely value groceries that will provide us with dinner for the next two weeks over seeing the next super-hero movie or eating at the swank restaurant that has a dress code requirement. Besides, the car needs new tires next month.
So what is a couple to do? I say do not despair! Even if you don't live near a lovely beach or near a scenic national park, there are creative solutions to this problem. I call them dollar dates! Most of them can be done with just a few gallons of gas and a few dollars in your pocket. They generally don't need much advance prep work and can even be done with kids in tow. But a word warning, these dates require a little bit of creativity, a good sense of humor and a willingness to break away from the stereo types of dates. If you are ready to get creative - read on!
And no money.
There is no shame in being poor, but sometimes it kinda sucks. Especially those times when you want to do something real romantic, like a weekend beach get-away, or a moonlit dinner cruise, or heck, maybe just dinner and a movie. All those options become a moot point when finances dictate some of the most humdrum aspects of your life. Like groceries and gasoline. My husband and I have our priorities in the right place and definitely value groceries that will provide us with dinner for the next two weeks over seeing the next super-hero movie or eating at the swank restaurant that has a dress code requirement. Besides, the car needs new tires next month.
So what is a couple to do? I say do not despair! Even if you don't live near a lovely beach or near a scenic national park, there are creative solutions to this problem. I call them dollar dates! Most of them can be done with just a few gallons of gas and a few dollars in your pocket. They generally don't need much advance prep work and can even be done with kids in tow. But a word warning, these dates require a little bit of creativity, a good sense of humor and a willingness to break away from the stereo types of dates. If you are ready to get creative - read on!
- Picnic at the park. Requirements - decent weather. Bag to put food stuff in. Maybe a blanket. Even if the kids are just having a few hours with grandparents, you can slip away, sit down and relax. Want to make it even more exciting, pick a park that you have never visited or that has a view. Pack food that you would not pack if your kids were going, like fancy cheese. Or in our case, flaming hot potato chips.
- Mall coffee! Sounds weird, but can be a whole lot of fun. Don't even need good weather if you go to an indoor mall. You will need a few dollars for a cup of coffee and a bench or table to sit an talk and people watch. My husband and I once spent part of an afternoon talking and laughing over people's choice in footwear.
- Free concerts in the park. Nothing says romantic like a free concert in the park. You can just sit and listen and be together. Oaklee's Family Guide can be a great resource to find these hidden free gems (you don't have to have kids in tow to enjoy), but just about any internet surf can help you uncover free concerts. Too cold for the park - look to local park districts - they often have free concert events.
- Take a tour! Often an internet search will yield a free tour going on in your area. It may be a garden walk, a theater tour or a winery. Not seeing any of these, create your own. There are historic districts to walk through, scenic river byways and even churches that are open to courteous visitors. Tours can be taken on foot, on bike or even from the comfort of your car (well not church tours, they frown on bikes or cars in their facilities).
- Check out the community calendar! Events often abound just a short distance away. Is there a fall festival in town? How about a historic rendezvous at the forest preserve. Without the kids, you might get a chance to watch a demonstration of basket weaving or ask questions about raising goats! Imagine, just you and your spouse enjoying the art fair and no one gets bored. Or perhaps checking out a car show without having to worry that someone will touch all the cars!
- Like to treasure hunt? How about Geocaching? Our forest preserve district offers a Geocaching Passport to collect stickers and a Trackable Geocoin. There are also apps are available for smart phones as well as websites with directions if this catches your fancy. You may need to fuel your vehicle for the excursion, but pack snacks and drinks and you could be off to explore the world.
- Seek and find that elusive restaurant you have a gift card for. Too expensive for dinner even with a gift card? Just stop for dessert and coffee. Mid afternoons are great times to do this. Restaurants tend to be less busy and servers more relaxed.
- What's going on at the library? Libraries often have programs free of charge. Sometimes they are free movies. Sometimes live performances or musical concerts.
Hopefully now your imagination is fired up. Just think about what you as a couple like to do. Not sure what that is anymore, try experimenting, maybe you will find a new interest together.
What did we do with our romantic weekend? We toured the local historic movie theater. Really neat to see the backstage and learn a little history. Tour included the theater facility as well as a behind the scenes peep at the bowling alley located in the same building. Later that afternoon we went and saw a band concert in a cool forest preserve that we had never visited before. If we had wanted to spend a few bucks, they sold wine and food too! Concert was great. Location was pretty. We were relaxed.
Then we stayed in an area hotel - for free! Last Christmas at the office holiday party we had won two bottles of South African wine. Not being wine drinkers, we swapped with friends who won a free night at the Holiday Inn...down the block from their house! Everyone was happy. After sleeping in and eating the free hotel breakfast, we wandered over to the local Ikea, trying out all the couches, and opening all the drawers before we sat down and had a free cup of coffee in their cafe. (You can get one too - just stop at the Kiosk in the lobby and sign up for a free Ikea card!). Later we went exploring (kinda like Geocaching) to find a restaurant. We had a gift card begging to be used and the restaurant was not exactly close to home. Half the adventure was trying to find the place. Especially when we took a wrong turn into a neighborhood and our GPS keep telling us to make a u-turn. Despite the recalculating and u-turns, we only used about a quarter tank of gas all weekend. It may not have been margaritas on a beach, but it was fun, relaxing and an affordable way to spend time together.
And where was our darling daughter? Can you say sleep-over? On Friday night she attended a birthday party sleep-over. When one of my best friends heard that we were trying to plan an overnight for Saturday, she jumped in and offered to pick up our daughter from the sleepover and keep her until Sunday afternoon. It just happens that her daughter and my daughter are best buddies. All around happiness. I am more than happy to return the favor in the future and take her kids so they can also enjoy some well deserved couple time.
I highly recommend dollar dates. Sometimes the less spent, the more fun!
Friday, September 5, 2014
Flat Lander Beware!
This past Labor Day, we celebrated the holiday with our relatives at a family barbecue. We enjoyed both good food and good company and spent our time catching up with events in our lives, looking at vacation photos and swapping stories about our summer vacations. Our hosts, had pictures and stories of their vacation in the Smoky Mountains. A number of years back we had taken the same trip with our then infant daughter. When comparing stories of the two trips, there were a lot of differences.
The book had a great introduction. It noted that the best way to "break into" the Smokie's back country was to take day hikes. The book was well laid out. Directions to trail heads were clear. Hikes were divided into day hikes and overnight trips. There were trail descriptions of what you could expect to see, simple maps showing the hiking trail, and best of all, each hike had a rating level that included Scenery, Difficulty, Trail Conditions, Solitude, suitability for Children, Distance and approximate time it would take to Hike. Exactly what we needed to plan a hike or two that we could enjoy.
First, we tossed out any idea of an overnight hike. I liked to camp, but only if it involved a camper with heating, air conditioning and a potty. Sorry, just not a roughing it type of gal. Besides, who would carry all my gear? Remember we had an infant, so we were already carrying her in one of those great baby backpacks. Thankfully she was breast fed, so there were not bottles or formula to haul along with her. Having decided that Day Hikes were the way to go, we picked out a few with low difficulty ratings and relatively short distances. We knew that a short distance in our native flat lands and a short distance in the mountains were two totally different experiences, even for those in great physical condition.
Feeling confident that we had done our homework thoroughly we embarked on our vacation and looked forward to hiking during our trip. For our first hike (if memory serves me right), we picked the hike which had a low difficulty rating (two star), a short distance (3 miles) and was rated for children (four stars!) - Sutton Ridge Overlook. Scenery was highly rated, and it was noted as a moderate hike to a great view, with a hiking time of only 1 hour 45 minutes round trip. Both us being in good shape and having done flat distances of triple this mileage, we estimated that would should be able to hike in about a five hour window, including a picnic. We took plenty of food, water and diapers, as well as sunscreen, hats, insect repellent, lightweight rain gear and a small first aid kit. We just weren't taking any chances, and we hadn't even gotten to the part of the trip that included hurricane winds and flooding!
We started out merrily enough. The weather was mild, the sun was shining and the trail was well shaded. The solitude rating was accurate, definitely quiet, we were only passed by one or two other hikers who gave cheery encouragement, telling us how great the vistas were ahead. The trail had begun to climb, but was not too steep or difficult. Our baby was happy. Well of course she was happy. She was used to being toted around in a backpack and spending close time with her parents. And she didn't walk yet.
In retrospect, I often wondered if guide book writer had kids. He noted that trail as ideal for families or anyone who wanted to get a rewarding leg stretcher. I can't imagine taking this hike today with kids who drink all their water in the first twenty minutes then have to pee (but don't want to do it in the woods) and discover that they are starving since they haven't eaten in weeks. I have often wondered how parents who have read this book cope with the serious stress of youthful legs that can't take another step after walking for about an hour and insist that they just want to lay down and die or be carried. Perhaps if my daughter had been older, I would have been more wise to the descriptions touted in this book.
After about two hours of hiking (stopping only to feed baby, change a diaper and take a pee in the woods), we still had not achieved any vistas. I wanted to eat, lie down or be carried. I was pretty sure my last meal had been several days earlier. We were munching on snacks and looking over a trail map to see if maybe we had gotten lost on our uphill ascent and perhaps mistakenly taken another trail when one of the hikers that had passed us earlier stopped to chat. He was on his return trip to the parking lot. He assured us that we were on the right trail, but still had a little ways to go yet, we were about half way... SERIOUSLY? As the gentleman waved good bye, we looked at one another. Were we that out of shape? My husband estimated that our fellow hiker was about thousand years old, but perhaps he had gotten his stamina from crossing the country with the first settlers. We forged ahead on a trail that was steadily getting steeper. I was questioning the moderate description of this hike. Our baby, fed and content, fell asleep. If only I could do the same.
Forty five minutes later, we came across a vista. Which was a good thing, since hiking uphill was not going to be an option much longer. It was not "THE" vista we had been aiming for, but there was a place to sit down and eat lunch and enjoy a view. Our daughter woke up, shared our lunch and played with us. We relaxed.
After regaining enough strength to stand again, I searched around in vain for an elevator. I also wished that there was at least a port-a-potty as I was starting to think that I had peed in poison ivy earlier. (It turned out to be just unfortunate mosquito bites.) We both agreed that we were ready to return to the truck, this vista was good enough for us.
So we stowed our trash in our backpack, hoisted the baby up and began our downhill decent. After I skidded down a particularly slippery part of the path and twisted my ankle, we decided that it would be best if my husband carried our daughter.
I broke out a wrap from the first aid pack, tightened the laces on my faithful hiking shoes that thankfully gave me good ankle support and stoically hobbled along. As the day advanced, I now began to question whether taking a trail known for its solitude was really such a good idea. If the crowds we encountered were any indication of how often the trail was traversed, who knew how long it would be before someone found our wasted bodies lying in the middle of the trail. My daughter, unaware of my morose mood, happily babbled from her perch on daddy's chest.
When we finally made it back to our truck (our total hike time was about 5 1/2 hours, not far from our estimated hiking time), we tossed the guide book, went to dinner and decided to stick to the nature trails and overlooks accessible via a short walk from the parking lot. Despite having done a lot of walking prior to our trip to work up to hiking in the mountains, we just weren't ready for yet another excursion.
Listening to my relatives, it sounded like they too had discovered that the Smoky Mountains are much steeper than they appear. I believe their excellent physical condition (and possibly the fact that they were not hauling around a five month old baby) saved them from becoming another set of bones found along the trail as warning to unwary tourists.
I have decided that I might write a book to help families like mine discover the outdoors. It will include all the best trails that can be hiked in thirty minutes or less and have complete descriptions of port-a-potty conditions and distance of these facilities from the trail. I will include maps to local area restaurants, scenic overlooks that can be accessed by car as well as estimated time it takes for toddlers an young children to become bored and have a meltdown. I will only include well traveled paths where they will encounter countless other individuals who might be able to get assistance when they are about to expire along the way. I think I will title the book Nature Trails.
- They enjoyed scenic vistas along the Blue Ridge Parkway. I still refer to this stretch of road as the White Knuckle Parkway. Apparently this road is more enjoyable when there are no hurricane force winds and driving rain. Who knew?
- They loved touring the house and grounds of the Biltmore Estate, but unlike us, they did not get a 50% off discount on ticket prices due to the wine cellars and half of the estate property being underwater. They also visited Asheville, NC, which we did not on account of the road being closed and the river running through the middle of town.
- They went horseback riding. We had an infant. No way!
The book had a great introduction. It noted that the best way to "break into" the Smokie's back country was to take day hikes. The book was well laid out. Directions to trail heads were clear. Hikes were divided into day hikes and overnight trips. There were trail descriptions of what you could expect to see, simple maps showing the hiking trail, and best of all, each hike had a rating level that included Scenery, Difficulty, Trail Conditions, Solitude, suitability for Children, Distance and approximate time it would take to Hike. Exactly what we needed to plan a hike or two that we could enjoy.
First, we tossed out any idea of an overnight hike. I liked to camp, but only if it involved a camper with heating, air conditioning and a potty. Sorry, just not a roughing it type of gal. Besides, who would carry all my gear? Remember we had an infant, so we were already carrying her in one of those great baby backpacks. Thankfully she was breast fed, so there were not bottles or formula to haul along with her. Having decided that Day Hikes were the way to go, we picked out a few with low difficulty ratings and relatively short distances. We knew that a short distance in our native flat lands and a short distance in the mountains were two totally different experiences, even for those in great physical condition.
Feeling confident that we had done our homework thoroughly we embarked on our vacation and looked forward to hiking during our trip. For our first hike (if memory serves me right), we picked the hike which had a low difficulty rating (two star), a short distance (3 miles) and was rated for children (four stars!) - Sutton Ridge Overlook. Scenery was highly rated, and it was noted as a moderate hike to a great view, with a hiking time of only 1 hour 45 minutes round trip. Both us being in good shape and having done flat distances of triple this mileage, we estimated that would should be able to hike in about a five hour window, including a picnic. We took plenty of food, water and diapers, as well as sunscreen, hats, insect repellent, lightweight rain gear and a small first aid kit. We just weren't taking any chances, and we hadn't even gotten to the part of the trip that included hurricane winds and flooding!
We started out merrily enough. The weather was mild, the sun was shining and the trail was well shaded. The solitude rating was accurate, definitely quiet, we were only passed by one or two other hikers who gave cheery encouragement, telling us how great the vistas were ahead. The trail had begun to climb, but was not too steep or difficult. Our baby was happy. Well of course she was happy. She was used to being toted around in a backpack and spending close time with her parents. And she didn't walk yet.In retrospect, I often wondered if guide book writer had kids. He noted that trail as ideal for families or anyone who wanted to get a rewarding leg stretcher. I can't imagine taking this hike today with kids who drink all their water in the first twenty minutes then have to pee (but don't want to do it in the woods) and discover that they are starving since they haven't eaten in weeks. I have often wondered how parents who have read this book cope with the serious stress of youthful legs that can't take another step after walking for about an hour and insist that they just want to lay down and die or be carried. Perhaps if my daughter had been older, I would have been more wise to the descriptions touted in this book.
After about two hours of hiking (stopping only to feed baby, change a diaper and take a pee in the woods), we still had not achieved any vistas. I wanted to eat, lie down or be carried. I was pretty sure my last meal had been several days earlier. We were munching on snacks and looking over a trail map to see if maybe we had gotten lost on our uphill ascent and perhaps mistakenly taken another trail when one of the hikers that had passed us earlier stopped to chat. He was on his return trip to the parking lot. He assured us that we were on the right trail, but still had a little ways to go yet, we were about half way... SERIOUSLY? As the gentleman waved good bye, we looked at one another. Were we that out of shape? My husband estimated that our fellow hiker was about thousand years old, but perhaps he had gotten his stamina from crossing the country with the first settlers. We forged ahead on a trail that was steadily getting steeper. I was questioning the moderate description of this hike. Our baby, fed and content, fell asleep. If only I could do the same.
Forty five minutes later, we came across a vista. Which was a good thing, since hiking uphill was not going to be an option much longer. It was not "THE" vista we had been aiming for, but there was a place to sit down and eat lunch and enjoy a view. Our daughter woke up, shared our lunch and played with us. We relaxed.
So we stowed our trash in our backpack, hoisted the baby up and began our downhill decent. After I skidded down a particularly slippery part of the path and twisted my ankle, we decided that it would be best if my husband carried our daughter.
I broke out a wrap from the first aid pack, tightened the laces on my faithful hiking shoes that thankfully gave me good ankle support and stoically hobbled along. As the day advanced, I now began to question whether taking a trail known for its solitude was really such a good idea. If the crowds we encountered were any indication of how often the trail was traversed, who knew how long it would be before someone found our wasted bodies lying in the middle of the trail. My daughter, unaware of my morose mood, happily babbled from her perch on daddy's chest.When we finally made it back to our truck (our total hike time was about 5 1/2 hours, not far from our estimated hiking time), we tossed the guide book, went to dinner and decided to stick to the nature trails and overlooks accessible via a short walk from the parking lot. Despite having done a lot of walking prior to our trip to work up to hiking in the mountains, we just weren't ready for yet another excursion.
Listening to my relatives, it sounded like they too had discovered that the Smoky Mountains are much steeper than they appear. I believe their excellent physical condition (and possibly the fact that they were not hauling around a five month old baby) saved them from becoming another set of bones found along the trail as warning to unwary tourists.
I have decided that I might write a book to help families like mine discover the outdoors. It will include all the best trails that can be hiked in thirty minutes or less and have complete descriptions of port-a-potty conditions and distance of these facilities from the trail. I will include maps to local area restaurants, scenic overlooks that can be accessed by car as well as estimated time it takes for toddlers an young children to become bored and have a meltdown. I will only include well traveled paths where they will encounter countless other individuals who might be able to get assistance when they are about to expire along the way. I think I will title the book Nature Trails.
Friday, August 22, 2014
Picture perfect work space
Remember that old saying "The grass is greener on the other side of the fence?" That's because someone spray painted the grass. Folks do that you know. I saw it on one of those home shows where they are fixing up a house to sell it. Boy am I glad I am not in the market to buy a house.
While the picture may look great, it doesn't tell the whole story. It left out the part about the tea being cold. I had to leave my work space to switch laundry and other tasks. By the time I returned, the tea had gone cold. I wanted hot tea. And that lovely snack is my lunch. I was going to heat up leftovers, but then became so engrossed in what I was doing I never got around to it. So crackers and cookie butter it is. Not to mention the fact that I am avoiding the kitchen right now as I spent the last three days reorganizing and purging the cabinets. All of them. I never do something half way. I needed a break from the kitchen, even if it meant sacrificing my lunch.
The bird not pictured has been busy throwing seeds outside her cage to tidy up the place. That is my feathered companion. She started this after I put her in her cage and closed the doors to keep her from picking at the paint on the window sill. She had been picking at the paint to get even with me for shooing her off my laptop where she found it entertaining to hit the delete button while I was trying to type. I believe she is calling me unpleasant names in parakeet language.
Hidden behind the couch is the yoga mat and stretchy bands for the exercise I had intended to do this week. Along with a lot of other stuff, like yarn for a crochet project and misc art supplies. I am very grateful that I don't have a couch with legs. They may be trend right now to help people make their spaces seem more open and airy, but then I would have no place to store the stuff I have back there. I can't put it behind the entertainment center, the masonite for my daughter's tap dancing is stored there. And no, my daughter doesn't take tap dance classes.
You also might notice that I am not seated at this work station. A crucial part of getting work done is the person doing the work. Not much of a work station if the worker is absent. Where was I? Before I took the picture, I was taking care of other stuff that had to get done. My brain was on hold and no matter how inviting my space might look, it was not providing any inspiration that leads to productivity, so I abandoned it to accomplish other tasks in the hope of jump starting my brain.
Also not pictured are co-workers. Someone with whom to collaborate and toss ideas around. I have my feathered companion, but as I mentioned before, she is currently calling me names and throwing seeds on the floor. The floor that I vacuumed this morning, I might add.
And the part of this work station that doesn't show the most is the lack of a pay check. I am diligent with my work (even if you cannot see me pictured), but at this time it provides no income. This is a definite downside, and one that should not be overlooked when considering this option for a work space.
Rest assured, later today my work station won't look this picture perfect. It will most likely have someone's dirty socks on it, not to mention the crumbs from my cracker and cookie butter lunch. Chances are, I will have abandoned the space and fled to another part of the house with my laptop to reduce interruptions.
So don't be jealous of my work station. A picture is a transitional moment in time. It doesn't always tell the true or complete story. Green grass is grown by spreading around a lot of manure. You probably won't see that pictured in a magazine.
Friday, August 15, 2014
How to tell if you are going downhill.
I love to ride my bike. I am not into racing nor am I a back trails kinda gal. You won't find some fancy and
expensive bike in my garage. I don't even own bike shorts. But I do
have a helmet, some worn out bike gloves and love to pedal. So I was thrilled when we had the
chance on our recent vacation to take our bikes out for a spin on The
Tunnel Hill State bike trail in southern Illinois. It is one of those wonderful Rails to
Trails projects that have cropped up everywhere, offering some of the
coolest scenery and nicest trails to be found on foot or bike.
The day was mild and sunny. We had a great breakfast and were all pumped up and full of energy. Armed with plenty of water and our helmets and bike
gloves, we joyfully embarked on our adventure along the shaded gravel trail. Quickly we were rewarded. Looming before us was the
Tunnel, built in 1929. Laughing, we zipped on in and sped on our way
making train noises. About half way through the tunnel I thought that
it might have been a good idea to have bike lights or a flashlight. It was kinda dark, even if you could see the light at the end of the tunnel.
 |
| View approaching the tunnel |
Undaunted, we whirred on through and
into the cool air of the narrow canyon that lay just beyond the
tunnel. Faster and faster we went, riding our bikes in high gear, feeling the wind in our faces and soaking in the sights. We crossed a towering rail bridge with
dizzying views. We passed
rock cliffs with trailing
vines. There were smaller bridges crossing creeks with water dancing merrily along. We saw beautiful flowers, quiet deer and colorful lizards. There
was plenty of shade and the trail was well tended. Being in the
middle of the week, we passed very few people. Being out in the
countryside, we encountered only one cross road. The rest was just
exhilarating, unbroken bike trail.
 |
| Trestle bridge |
I felt just like that woman in the
commercial on TV, riding her bike, face wreathed in smiles with her dark
hair streaming out behind her in the breeze. Except that I have short
brown hair and wear a helmet. Well, just imagine my short brown hair
flapping about under my helmet. Same thing. I was wearing a goofy
smile and pedaling easily in the highest set of gears.
Something that a person should keep
in mind: If you are pedaling easily in high gear and enjoying the
wind tousling your hair, you are probably going downhill.
It may not LOOK like downhill. The
grade might be so slight that the trail LOOKS level. But let me
assure you, you are going downhill. And that means after about 5 or
so miles when you decide that as a family you are ready to return to
your vehicle and go have lunch (this was, after all, just a short
bike trip), you will have to pedal uphill all the way back to your
vehicle. The entire 5 miles. And slight, unnoticeable grade though it
may be, it is still uphill. All the way.
At first, maintaining the high gear
seemed okay, but after awhile, lower gears were a bit easier. Perhaps essential is a better word.
I have to admit, there seemed to be
more sunny spots than I remembered. Perhaps it was because I was now
going at a slower pace. Also, there was not as much wind trying to
tousle my sweaty, short brown hair under my helmet. Which was too
bad, cause I seemed to have developed an itch right on the top of my
head.
 |
| On the home stretch! |
could not remember what that stupid woman in the commercial was trying to sell. Nor could I remember the fantastic railway bridge being so far away from the cool canyon that lead up to the tunnel. But after much gear shifting, I finally found myself plodding along toward the tunnel with the light at the other end. Such a welcome sight, that meant the truck was not much further. We had nearly reached our destination!
Then, as I started through the tunnel, I remembered that I had thought earlier it would have been a good idea
to have a bike light, or a flashlight. Since we embarked on our
journey, there had been little opportunity to obtain either. This was a
bike trail, located in the countryside, after all. There were descriptions of the canyon walls and
the deer and stuff earlier, remember? No stores. There had been a house along
the way that advertised water and soda, but since we carried our own water, there had been no need to stop.
About half-way through the tunnel, I
could not see walls or ground or ceiling, just the light at the other
end, which is quite disorientating, and I began to weave a little. Was it this
dark when I passed the other way? Thank heavens there is no other
traffic in the tunnel for me to weave into, but now I began to worry
and wobble a little more. What if I hit a rock and go careening off
my bike or crash into the wall right in the middle. I would then have
to walk like Igor to get out of the tunnel. (I have always commented
that I walk like Frankenstein due to a drop foot, but I believe my
gait is actually more like Igor the assistant.) Since we were only
going on a short bike ride and not a walk, I left my walk aid back at
the camper. If I crashed, I would have to grope about in the darkness and hope I
stumbled across my bike so that I could drag it out of the tunnel. I
had a brief vision of me, step drag, step drag, step drag, pulling
the mangled remains of my beloved bike behind my bloody and fatigued
body.
Fortunately there was no incident or accident as I approached the light at the end of the tunnel! The floor and walls and ceiling of
the tunnel materialized once more and I was back on the well
maintained (if not exactly level) gravel trail, slowly moving along
(I had long since given up enthusiastic pedaling) the home stretch to
our vehicle.
My daughter and I celebrated our
trip by dismounting our bikes onto rubber band legs that no longer
seemed to work properly and walked our bikes to the tailgate where we
waited for my husband to load them in the back. As we cooled in the
air-conditioned comfort of the truck, I asked her if she enjoyed the
trip, despite the uphill journey back. She nodded with a bright smile
on her face.
It was worth it! But next time I
will have a bike headlight.
Thursday, August 7, 2014
I need a Sign!
I have always said that signs are
important. A sign can tell us many things, like where we are and
where we are going. Signs are simple maps to help guide and direct
people. They can tell us things we want to know, introduce us to new
ideas and concepts, sell us on products, and steer us in one
direction or another. I love signs, much like I love clear and simple
directions when putting together new furniture. After all, what are
directions than a series of signs to accomplish a task. Leave out one
picture of instruction and you no longer have a couch, you have a set
of cushions artfully arranged on the floor.
And I can tell you I hate places
that don't have signs. Nothing like visiting a church on vacation,
having to answer the call of nature in the middle of mass, and not
knowing where to go. Not as if there were a lot of people I could ask
directions during the service. Instead I was forced to wander up and
down the corridors in search of the facilities. I found them, but
only because someone had left the door open. There was not sign
indicating what was behind that wooden door. And yep, I was getting
desperate enough to start opening doors and start looking in.
Wouldn't that have been embarrassing? And for those of you who ask
why I did not go beforehand, I did try before we left for church.
Thought I was good. Life just works that way sometimes! Don't ask
questions if you don't want to know the answers!
But with signs, you must use
caution as the messenger is as important as the message.
GPS, for instance, is little more
than a complex electronic series of signs to guide you from one
location to another destination. One misstep and you may arrive at a
destination that you were not anticipating. Request directions from
your current location to the state park and find yourself frustrated
when you arrive at a remote trail head at one corner of the park, not
even close to the main entrance where most visitors would go.
Seriously? Not willing to give up so easily, we gave navigation a
second chance and decided to find the Lake of Egypt Rec Area. Twenty
minutes later, we found ourselves in a subdivision. There was the
lake all right, but we did not think that the residents really wanted
us trooping through their yards to enjoy the view. Especially since
they had a sign for no parking and another that stated resident use
only!
Having come to the conclusion that
this messenger was leading us astray, we fell back on the old
fashioned methods, maps and road signs. Map did show Lake of Egypt.
There was a road noted as Recreational Road, which we took to be a
“good sign”. After beginning our drive, we came across one of
those brown road signs that read LAKE OF EGYPT 7M with an arrow.
Okay, this we could do. So we turned and followed the rolling,
winding road for 7 miles. At the end of 7 miles, we found ourselves
at a T intersection on the edge of some town. There was one of those
little brown signs that read LAKE OF EGYPT 7M, with the arrow
pointing back the way from which we had just come. Ummmmm. We
consulted the map. We were definitely not at Recreation Road. After
several minutes riding in circles around town and a short squabble,
we decided that Lake of Egypt was not hidden somewhere between the
houses in town and to try and retrace our steps, returning down the
road which we had come.
 |
| Kid showing lack of sign |
So we were cruising along, looking
carefully for Recreation Road, and about 3 miles along our way, I
sighted what had once been a sign. Only the posts were left sticking
out of a rock base. Off in the brush was another of those little
brown signs with an arrow that read LAKE OF EGYPT 2M with an arrow
pointing down the unidentified road. There was no brown sign from the
direction we had originally taken (I checked) and the actual road
sign – well that was not at the corner of the intersection. You
know, where the average person would look for it. It was set well
back from the intersection. Just past the trees. Perhaps to direct
the wildlife.
I am thinking that either they
thought visitors had ESP or they really did not want any. Later
learned that the National Forestry used to have a campground there,
but had closed it. No surprise to me, not like anyone could have
found it without hiring a local guide. I am guessing that visitors
went for the easier option of staying at campgrounds that could be
found by clear signage. Of course, it is possible that the campground
and the sign disappeared at the same time. Still, we didn't encounter
many folks taking advantage of the Recreational Area.
Perhaps one of my most recent
favorite signs is one I saw on-line:
HUNTERS
PLEASE USE CAUTION
WHEN HUNTING
PEDESTRIANS
USING
WALK TRAILS
If you still doubt the importance of
signage, ask yourself why are there so many billboards along the
highway on the way to the airport.
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