A Room Somewhere

Close Call

2011-11-10T21:39:00.001-05:00

The last few weeks have been quite a ride. My husband developed shortness of breath on October 18th. He saw his doctor on the 19th, had an EKG and a chest x-ray (negative) and was scheduled for other tests in mid-November. I kept asking him to go to the ER. The shortness of breath got worse and worse, until we finally went to the ER on 10/26. We found out that he had several large pulmonary emboli, and that the right chamber of his heart was greatly enlarged because it was working so hard to get blood into his lungs past the clots.

My husband had emergency open-heart surgery that day to remove the clots. He spent the next 8 days in the Cardiovascular Unit (CVU) at the hospital. Halloween this year is a blur to me. He came home on November 3rd, and he is recuperating. I have been fortunate to be able to take a good amount of time off to be with him.

My husband has to take Coumadin (and a big bunch of other drugs) for at least 6 months. A visiting nurse comes twice a week to check his PT/INR level, to try to keep the dose of Coumadin regulated. That's proved difficult, and he developed nosebleeds from the blood thinners. We ended up taking off for the ER on Monday night (11/7) just after 11 PM. We were there until almost 3 AM. An incompetent ER doctor (he reminded me of all of the goofball interns on the medical shows we watch) left us in a cubicle for a couple of hours because he wanted to see if he bled anymore. He did. Then the idiot used Silver Nitrate to cauterize the bleeding blood vessels without numbing the area first. My poor husband, who was less that 2 weeks out of open heart surgery, just about jumped off of the table.

The next morning, the bleeding started again. We obviously were not going back to the ER. We kept an appointment at the hospital with the surgeon that afternoon. His office sent us on to an ear/nose/throat specialist, who cauterized the blood vessels WITH the benefit of local anesthesia. Unfortunately, the bleeding started AGAIN that night. We went back to the ENT the next morning (Wednesday), and he did some additional cauterization. So far, so good (knock on wood). It's Thursday night, and there has been no further bleeding of any significance.

The visiting nurse came today, and the numbers are improving. We actually got to spend the entire day at home today, and I got some cleaning done. Life is returning to a more normal pattern, although there will be many doctor's appointments, as well as visits from the nurse and the physical therapist. My husband still needs oxygen at night, and he won't be able to drive for at least a few more weeks. He has to ride in the back seat for now, away from any possible deployment of an airbag. He won't be able to lift more than five pounds for a couple of months, so I'll be busy taking care of the dogs, doing laundry, etc. (That's OK!)

This week has felt like a bizarre road rally/scavenger hunt. We found ourselves running to one place to pick up a clue which will send you on to the next place. All the while we were hoping to make it to the prize. Looks like we finally found it!

Oh...and the cause of all of this? The flight home from Italy led to a deep vein thrombosis in my husband's leg which, over the next few weeks, caused the clots in the lungs. At the time of the heart surgery, a filter was installed which will prevent clots from the legs from ever reaching my husband's lungs again.

Ciao Italia

2011-10-15T15:13:00.009-04:00

Returned home from a tour of Italy on 10/6/11. It was a marvelous trip! Here are a few pics:

Going...Going...

2011-05-28T00:24:00.005-04:00

Gone.

Serenity, I mean. I began the year striving for it. I had some success for awhile, but I haven't done so well lately.

Work is hellish these days. Change is a daily event. No one (management most of all) knows what they are doing. There have been many unnecessary promotions ( and a very few necessary ones), leading to hordes of confused, overpaid supervisory staff. Our upper level administration is making changes merely for the sake of making changes, with no thought for outcomes. Thing is, I've been there so long and I've been through so many changes that it's making me cranky. A lot of the other veterans are feeling it, too.

There are two problems with government jobs: bad supervisors and golden handcuffs. There is a consistent tendency to promote people with good job skills and good work ethics who have no business being supervisors. Then the golden handcuffs kick in (medical benefits, pension) to keep unhappy workers there in spite of the bad boss.

To be honest, though, it's not just the changes at work that are getting to me. Several years ago I was diagnosed with a pituitary tumor. The tumor secretes a hormone that affects my dopamine levels and can also affect estrogen levels. I have to take a medication that is a dopamine agonist to balance out the hormone levels and, hopefully, shrink the tumor. I've been taking it for 5 years now. It greatly reduces the levels of the unwanted hormone, and it has kept the tumor from growing. The tumor has not reduced in size.

It's not absolutely clear whether it's the ongoing effects of the tumor or the side effects of the medication (probably both), but a lot of people with my particular type of tumor have a lot of headaches, get anxious (sometimes including palpitations), and become irritable. And a lot of our doctors brush it off. That's because the tumor, when treated, is very manageable. When not treated, it can become very serious. There are only a few medications available to treat it, and the one I take has the fewest side effects. Stopping the medication is not an option and would not make me feel better. This tiny tumor (only 6mm) can cause great mayhem.

I don't mind telling people that I have a pituitary tumor, but I don't discuss the emotional impact it has. The only way that I know that the tumor is part of the problem is from online forums for people with the same issues. That's not exactly a scientific way to pin things down, it's just helpful to me personally. I don't like to blame my irritability on the tumor. Or on pending menopause. Or on the traumas of the past (we all have them). In the end, I have to acknowledge that I can't change any of those things, and I have to continue to try to find a path to serenity in spite of them. Like I said, it's not working out so well right now. But I'm not going to give up, it's a worthy pursuit.

Ancestry

2011-04-16T20:34:00.007-04:00

My mother and I have always thought that my father's side of the family might carry a hint of Asian ancestry. I have done genetic testing with 2 different companies, and I was disappointed when both companies reported my ancestry as 100% European. Of course, these results were provided based on comparison of my genetic material to databases that continues to grow and to be refined. I was pleasantly surprised when one of the companies recently updated my results to tell me that I am 95.76% Western European (Orcadian) and 4.24% South Asian (Pathan /Pashtun, Southeast Indian, North Indian).

I still don't think this tells the whole story of my ancestry. My father's parents were both Ukrainian, so I would expect to see some Eastern European ancestry in the mix. I have reason to think that my great, great, great grandmother (maternal) was of Dutch ancestry, but I still don't know a lot about her. I'll keep searching!

Sunday

2011-01-30T22:49:00.002-05:00

Darned Hallmark Hall of Fame sucked me in and made me cry. The story was about a WWII widow who finally learns the fate of her husband. He had been declared to be MIA during the war.

I guess this was especially poignant to me because that was my parents' generation. World War II changed so much for that generation, even for those who didn't lose a loved one to the war. I guess our current wars will do the same for many.

We visited my mom today. She was admitted to the hospital last night with hip and leg pain due to a fall. So far, there does not seem to be a fracture (waiting for CT scan results). Her memory issues add another dimension to the whole thing because she keeps forgetting that she isn't supposed to get up and walk around. They're watching her closely while she's in the hospital. She currently lives (very happily) in an assisted living residence, but I suspect the time is approaching when she will need closer supervision.

I suspect that arthritis is playing a role in her discomfort. I wonder if there are some circulation problems causing her to have weak spells and to lose her balance. She'll probably need a wheelchair until the pain diminishes, but I don't think she'll remember to stay in it. Mom isn't disagreeable or combative, she just doesn't remember what she's supposed to do. Oh well, one step at a time. For the moment, her injuries do not appear to be serious, and that is good news.

The Nitty Gritty

2011-01-09T13:16:00.004-05:00

In an earlier post I noted that my plan for this year is to cultivate peace and serenity. It's tough going, but I'm not going to give up.

Work continues to be hellacious for me. Management in my work area is very laissez faire. Laissez faire management can be a good technique to use on mature groups, but it doesn't work so well when there's a lot of change going on. A little more expertise would be appreciated these days.

Management's philosophy right now is "GOOD ATTITUDE TRUMPS GOOD SKILLS EVERY TIME." That's a direct quote posted by my supervisor on Facebook. He said that it was his managerial light bulb moment from last week.

Actually, it's a relief to know that all I have to do to succeed at work is be sunshiny. I don't have to strive to do a good job anymore. Think of all of the time I've wasted trying to get the job right. I mean this seriously - I have wasted too much energy trying to do things the right way and get good outcomes. I regret that immensely, and I'm not saying that sarcastically. I have a true and deep sense of loss over the effort I've expended for no good reason.

I guess I should be thankful that my boss posted that, though it is not necessarily best practice for a manager to be using a public forum for that sort of thing. It showed me the path to peace, and that's what I'm seeking. I just have to be nice, no deep effort needed.

I guess the nitty gritty of my pursuit of serenity could take me through some tough places, but I'm going to keep going. Or I'm going to keep letting go...

Democracy Took a Hit Today

2011-01-08T14:11:00.005-05:00

I have been watching the breaking news about the shooting of Gabrielle Giffords and several other people in Tucson today, and I am moved to tears. I am sad for the young woman (40 is young to me) and her family, and I am sad for the constant chipping away at freedom that has been going on in the US for several years now. It seems to me that the beginning of the new intolerance dovetails with the beginning of the first G.W. Bush administration.

I now live in a state with a conservative narcissist/hedonist for governor. I live in a country where the likes of Rush Limbaugh, Glenn Beck, Sarah Palin, Michelle Bachman and others incite violence against anyone who disagrees with their warped view of the world.

I know that there have always been crazy, rigid, unbalanced people in the world. The problem is that it's becoming mainstream to be one of those unhinged people. If the Republican Party really wants to be a respectable, conservative alternative in government, they have to disavow this wrathful, hateful element. There must be some sensible Republicans out there who would like to return their party to sanity. Let the crazies leave. If you can only keep your party alive by courting the unbalanced and fomenting hatred, well, there's something wrong.

We don't yet know what inspired this shooting, but it seems likely that Representative Giffords was targeted. The shooter might not have been a tea-partier, and might never have heard Sharron Angle's comments about using "2nd amendment remedies" to take over government. It doesn't matter. The culture of violence inspired by the tea party extremists and the right wing shock jocks has to end.

Ruby Slippers

2010-12-27T23:19:00.009-05:00

If you look very closely, you'll see a doggie in that window. Don't ask how much that doggie is...she's priceless! That's my Daisy, who was watching from the cozy bedroom as I tromped around taking pictures in the snow.

I haven't posted much lately because I've been generally miserable. It's not the holidays - I really had a nice Christmas, without too much stress leading up to it. I don't know whether it's hormones, (what with the pituitary thing and my age), or if it's work, or if it's just all of the sudden changes of the last few months (getting married, husband retiring). I guess it's some combination of all of the above.

Work has recently gone from being a place that I didn't mind, that I even liked most of the time, to being a land of the unknown. I'm like Dorothy in Oz, but without the promise of the Wizard to cling to. I really don't have much hope that things will get better anytime soon.

I'm one of the odd men out when it comes to office relationships since I don't have a lot of close friendships within the office group, and I don't text and email my coworkers throughout the day. But then, I never passed notes in high school, either. Being surrounded by networks of people who DO socialize with each other at work this way is...strange. And the atmosphere gets really toxic sometimes. I've taken the brunt of it, and I've seen it affect other people, too.

I'd say that it's a generational problem, but there are plenty of people my age participating in the silent babel. Funny how social networking is turning adults back into teens. It's just odd that it has taken on such an important role in the workplace. Maybe we never really grow up, we just don't have teachers anymore to tell us to stop, so we think it's OK.

Anyway, I've seen how ugly the whole gossip thing has become, at work and in the world at large, and I'm opting out. I know I'll stumble, but I plan to work on it. Even the craziest, most difficult person you know deserves respect.

I've been thinking more and more about pacifism. I have known some fairly committed pacifists in the past, and I have a lot to learn from them. It is not necessary to right every wrong or rail at every perceived evil. And it is distinctly wrong to try to get points for witty comments at someone else's expense. Serenity and peace are undervalued today. I think I will be more serene and peaceful if I cultivate respect and compassion for other people. Meditation might help, as well.

There have been other changes at work, with retirements and hiring and the like. Government agencies are pretty haphazard in the way they handle both of those things, and it's got me tired and confused. I used to know how to do my job, or at least I thought I did, but not anymore. I'm getting absurdly mixed signals about what's wanted and what's expected.

OK, so it looks like work is the source of most of my misery right now. At least that much is clear. I guess finding the Wizard of Oz was only a false hope for Dorothy, since he didn't do her much good in the end. Turns out, she always had the power to change her own situation. I guess I'm just at sixes and sevens when it comes to figuring out how to apply that to my own life. The pacifism/meditation route is the only step I can see right now. Where DID I put those ruby slippers?

All at Once

2010-10-24T09:26:00.009-04:00

I left work early last Wednesday because I felt lousy, like I had the flu. Felt much better Thursday and went to work. Then Thursday night it hit like a steam-roller: I had a sore throat and I felt lousy again. Stayed home Friday.

That's just the beginning of my tale.

On Friday morning, Muttley was trying really hard to get Daisy to romp with him in the house. Daisy was a very good dog and just sat quietly next to me. This led Muttley to go in search of a new tactic. A minute later, Muttley came out to me with something in his mouth. Turns out it was the cooling gel headache pad I had used overnight on my forehead. It's infused with all sorts of substances, including eucalyptus oil (toxic) and castor oil (possibly toxic and surely laxative).

When Muttley brings something like this to you, he wants you to chase him to take it away. It's an attempt to get you to play. Usually it's socks.

I said, "Want a snacky, Muttley?" and led him to the kitchen. Muttley ran around the table and came back empty-mouthed. I gave him the snack and grabbed his collar, then I put both dogs in the bedroom so that I could go back to find the dropped gel pad.

Only I couldn't find it.

I realized that Muttley had swallowed the pad and then come back for the snack. I had a moment of vertigo (partly from the cold, partly from the situation) as I envisioned a sick me hauling an uncooperative Muttley off to the vet for emergency treatment.

I calmed myself and took a moment to think. I knew that he hadn't had time to chew the pad, so he had to have swallowed it whole. That meant that he'd probably be OK if I could quickly get it out of him. I gave him a small amount of hydrogen peroxide to drink. Without going into too much detail, it worked like a charm. Cleanup was a minor detail compared to the thought of a trip to the vet.

Unfortunately, this is not the end of my tale.

Friday night, my hubby calls down the hall, "There's no water." Oh no. Immediately checked for flooding under the stairs, where the interior apparatus for the well is located. Nothing (thank goodness). Then checked the circuit breakers. All OK with the electric service. That's about as far as my knowledge base could take me, so I knew I needed outside help.

I dug out the information on the well. At 7am on Saturday, I called the guy who installed the well (house is not quite 4 years old). He said he'd "see about getting someone out here" and he'd call back.

The well man called back 2 hours later to say all of his guys are tied up. He told me to give the switch a couple of whacks with a stick - sometimes that's all it takes - and call him back. I gave the switch several whacks - nothing. Called him back. Got his voice mail, which was (surprise!) FULL. Got out my cell phone and called from a different number, and, magically, he answered. Told him the whacks didn't do the trick. He said he could get someone out here this afternoon and he'd call back. Waited all day, and nothing - no show, no call.

So now we're on day 2. Called a guy who advertises emergency service, and if water runs through it, he can fix it. Got his answering service, and he called me back right away. Said he'd call "Pete" and call me back in 45 minutes. That was 2 hours ago. I haven't given up hope yet, but it's waning.

Thank goodness for bottled water. Thank goodness for Nyquil. Anybody know a reliable well man?

Flowers

2010-10-12T09:35:00.001-04:00

Early Fall

2010-08-12T22:07:00.007-04:00

We've had one of the hottest summers on record in the Northeast this year, and we've had very little rainfall at my house. The result seems to be an early fall for us. There has been a bit of rain in some of the areas around us, but it seems to have missed us each time.

The sour gum trees are usually first to change color in our woods in the fall. They become a beautiful bright red, and they usually start to show color in August. I saw the first leaves turn on the sour gums during the last week of July this year and the sweet gum trees are going yellow already. Way too soon.

The sweet pepperbush was in flower and covered with bees and butterflies during the last 2 weeks of July. Now the leaves are droopy and brownish-yellow. The understory of wild blueberry usually turns into a lovely, endless bank of red sometime in October. It's already starting to go brown.

Some of the oaks have started to drop their leaves. That doesn't usually happen until November or December. There is sure to be a poor crop of acorns this year, which is bad news for the squirrels, chipmunks and mice.

Too hot. Too dry. We need rain.

Groundhog Day

2010-07-26T19:18:00.001-04:00

Caught!

Critter Wars

2010-07-24T10:33:00.005-04:00

On Wednesday evening this week the dogs went nuts - running around, barking, jumping at the window in the living room. I looked out, didn't see anything at first. Then I said, "It's just a fat rabbit on the front lawn. No...wait...that's not a rabbit. I think it's a groundhog." He started walking, and his identity was confirmed. He walked right up to the front steps then walked around them into the bushes along the foundation. Couldn't see him anymore.

The problem: now there is a BIG HOLE behind those bushes, right next to the foundation. Time for a groundhog relocation project. Let the games begin.

Broken Record

2010-07-21T20:42:00.004-04:00

Preview for the weather forecast coming up at 11:00, "Record breaking temperatures are on the way." Same thing they say every night these days. It's like listening to a broken record.

Cool Down

2010-07-07T23:22:00.004-04:00

After several days of temperatures in the upper 90's, culminating in temperatures of 104 and 103 the last two days, tomorrow's forecast for a high of 92 sounds like a cool-down. Seriously, the temperatures in Playa del Carmen, Mexico have been in the mid to upper 80's all week, according to the weather tool on my homepage. Anybody up for a trip to Mexico to cool off?

Soap Opera

2010-06-27T21:42:00.002-04:00

Muttley ate a bar of Dove Soap while I was at the grocery store today. R opened the gate to the upstairs hallway to put some laundry away. Muttley got into the guest bathroom. Doubt I'll get much sleep tonight...

New Hope

2010-04-21T22:45:00.006-04:00

We took a ride to New Hope, PA on Tuesday. It was a beautiful day, and we were able to dine alfresco by the Delaware River for lunch.

New Hope is a historic town on the Delaware, just a short walk across a narrow bridge from Lambertville, NJ. The town is sometimes described as "artsy" or "new agey," and there are lots of shops and restaurants. Some of the shops carry unique, handcrafted items, and some carry the usual touristy stuff. Most of the shops are located in partially restored historic buildings of the father-son-holy spirit variety (three story early American firetraps) often found in East Coast revolutionary era towns (Philly, Trenton, etc.).

The ride up through New Jersey was nice, traveling through the pinelands, then through Trenton and the outskirts of Princeton, and winding along the Delaware past Washington's Crossing State Park. It's nice to remember some of the good things about New Jersey. There is quite a lot of bitterness here these days, centered on politics and state and local budgets. It can sometimes be hard to see this as a nice place to live. It was nice to forget all of that for one lovely spring day.

Tee Hee

2010-04-15T21:44:00.003-04:00

Found this at cnn.com.

The Piper

2010-01-03T18:27:00.011-05:00

This is the pyramid of Kukulcan at Chichen Itza in Mexico. I was in Mexico from December 12th-19th, and visited the pyramid on December 15th. I really enjoyed the visit to Chichen Itza, though it was quite hot there. I would change only one part of the experience. We were approached by a nonstop stream of hawkers and vendors trying to sell Mayan goods, "One dollar, almost free, cheaper than Walmart." It's OK to have vendors at the gates to the grounds and even at tables on the walkways leading to the ruins. It would be nice, however, to be able to wander the ruins without this constant interruption.

Oddly enough, I kind of miss the ubiquitous hordes of vendors found all over the Mayan Riviera. Yes, they could be annoying, but they certainly were accomodating. If you were looking for something that a vendor didn't have, they'd find a vendor who had it, if they could. And the prices WERE low. I was looking at silver jewelry in Target today, and the prices seemed so very high after the prices in the markets in Playa del Carmen and Cancun.

Shopping in Pesos is a little bit overwhelming, since the US dollar is worth so much more than the Peso. At the time of our visit, 1000 Pesos was worth something like 77 US Dollars. I can only imagine how dramatic the difference would be if the US Dollar were robust right now!

On the way to the ruins, our tour stopped at a cenote - a sink hole fed by an underground water source. This cenote was in a cave and was well below ground level. There were roots hanging down into the cenote from several stories up. Here is a picture taken at the cenote:

As you can see, tourists are allowed to swim in the cenote. I did not, but my fiancee did. He reported that the water was warm, not cold as one might expect. It is asked that you rinse off in a shower before going into the cenote if you are wearing sunscreen, since it might jeopardize the fish, plants, etc. found there. I had applied gobs of waterproof sunscreen before the trip left in the morning (I'm fair - OK pale - and I burn without tanning), so I decided not to swim.

Below is my favorite part of the whole vacation: the vast pool at the resort where we stayed. You couldn't see the entire pool from any one spot. We usually camped out by this end of the pool, near one of the the swim-up bars. We spent pretty much the whole day at the pool on the16th and again on the 18th. It's hard to see in this night shot, but the palm trees, huts and umbrellas around the pool made it quite comfortable even during the hottest part of the day. The beach was nearby, as well, but my camera never made it down there.

Good thing we had a nice, relaxing day on the 18th. Travel misery set in on the 19th, as we tried to return to New Jersey during an unprecedented December blizzard. We were delayed getting out of Cancun, and our flight from Ft. Lauterdale to Atlantic City was cancelled. We were scheduled onto the same flight 24 hours later (9:20 pm on the 20th). THAT flight was delayed several times, as well, and we finally flew out of Ft. Laut at 3:30 AM.

We spent 27 hours at Motel Hell in Ft. Lauterdale. As soon as we saw our rooms, we went out. I had 2 cosmopolitans and a shot of tequila with my dinner at the outdoor Irish Bar up the block. Hey, at least we were dining al fresco while everyone back home was shoveling snow!

It's REALLY rare for me to drink that much, but I was hoping to soften the impact of the seedy room. After dinner, we went across the street to the CVS. We bought snug sacs and super-huge towels to put on the beds (there were two couples and two rooms) so that we wouldn't have to touch the sheets. We also bought Lysol, and we gave each of the rooms a good spray down. I bought Deep Woods Off and put some on, just in case. I sprayed the outside of my luggage, too.

When we finally flew into AC, we had to dig the cars out of the snow. We had no gloves, mind you, and we hadn't worn our warmest coats, either. We drove out of the airport as the sun was rising at 7 AM on Monday, December 21st. We had to dig our way into the driveway when we got home. Then we had to go back out to pick the dogs up from the kennel. After that, we slept the day away. Going to work was not an option. I would have been asleep at my desk all day.

I was only back at work for 2 days before my next holiday began. With furlough days (unpaid leave days required of NJ employees to help balance the budget), personal days, holidays and weekends, I've been off since Christmas Eve. Tomorrow I have to go back to work, and the next few weeks (maybe the next few months) are going to be hard. Time to pay the piper.

Here are a few random photos from the trip:

An air plant in it's natural environment, camped out on the branch of a tree.

This tree was growing at the edge of the jungle just off of the balcony of our suite.

Mayan Muttley at Chichen Itza.

2009-12-26T14:17:00.006-05:00

Here's a clip of Daisy in the snow this week.

And here's one of Muttley.

The snow is gone now, and we pretty much have a lake in the backyard. And it's still raining.

Quick question for my techie friends:

Would I get better video quality here if I published to youtube or another site before adding a video clip? The quality of these clips is better than the images you're seeing here. I uploaded from my PC directly to blogger.

New Worlds

2009-11-17T23:44:00.007-05:00

I was never a big fan of the Sci-Fi and Fantasy genres of entertainment, but I've been drawn into them almost against my will over the last couple of years. That's because they're on the TV almost constantly at my house. I've become intrigued by Dr. Who, Torchwood, Being Human and Robin Hood - to name a few. I still can't quite buy into The Seeker - the storyline seems a little too much like a pointless video game to me.

I really rebelled against Robin Hood for the first season or two, watching only because I didn't want to sit alone on a Saturday night. The series has managed to draw me in, mostly due to the acting of Richard Armitage, who has brought real complexity to the character of Sir Guy of Gisborne. The current season has a new edge to it, complete with a cranky Robin and a haunted Sir Guy.

Robin Hood is drawing to a close, with only a few episodes left to air. I'm glad that it's ending because there can only be so many death-defying season's end episodes involving the few main characters of the series. This is a story that calls for a complete ending, not just a Newhart-style it-was-all-a-dream finish. It should be incredibly satisfying to watch the finale. It could end in a bloodfest - they've already had the courage to kill off a main character, one who did not die in the traditional tale. The series seemed doomed at the end of last season with the demise of this particular character, but, remarkably, this season has been more intense and dramatic because of the death.

In any event, watching Robin Hood has led me to the work of a talented actor, and I can't wait to see what he does in the future. He's sure to show up more and more, so keep an eye out for him.

Tearing My Hair Out!

2009-10-23T00:17:00.002-04:00

Needed my passport tonight to order airline tickets for an upcoming trip, and it wasn't where it was supposed to be. Finally found it (phew). Since my birth certificate was with it, I started to feel pretty desperate. It would have been a challenge to replace both the birth cert and the passport and THEN get airline reservations in time for our trip. Four of us are traveling together, and we want to book the flights together so that we arrive at the same time.

The upside? I now know where EVERYTHING in the house is! I have looked in every box in every closet and in every drawer. I also found a lost password, as well as the keypad code to my car door. I never memorized it because I always use the keyless entry. Wonder if it still works?

So back to square one. Guess we'll order the tickets tomorrow. Hope the fares don't go up by then!

Photo Poem

2009-10-12T15:02:00.007-04:00

When was the last time you saw acres of sky?

Or sat in the grass and let the wind wash over you, with no discernible sound of human activity?

Or contemplated the metaphors for life found in old farm structures?

Or saw light at the end of a hazy pathway?

Getting away can give you a new perspective on things.

Though there is always work to be done.

House of Fish

2009-09-13T20:54:00.005-04:00

Image found at fishdeals.com

This place is turning into a fish house. Our 125 gallon aquarium currently has a partition in it to protect the pleco (sucker catfish) from the cichlids. He was under assault and losing fins fast. He is recovering nicely, but the partition can't stay up forever; it's ugly, and the cichlids need the run of the tank for optimal health.

Enter the 55 gallon aquarium, set up and cycling as we speak. The aquarium has to cycle through some chemical/biological phases before it's ready for fish. Once this one is ready to roll, the pleco will move in. His tankmates will be some nice, friendly community fish who will be unlikely to cause him any problems.

We lost one catfish already, sadly, to the aggressive cichlids in the other tank. My web research shows that it was a species of fish best left to nature or the truly large (commercial) aquariums. I think the cichlid mix in the 125 gallon tank (it's not my tank) is a little bit questionable. So what happens when they get bigger and more territorial? Will they spawn more fish tanks? And what happens if the pleco outgrows the 55 gallon tank? He just might.

Welcome to the South Jersey House of Fish!

Lions and Tigers and Bears

2009-09-10T02:02:00.002-04:00

Aquariums, laptop-shopping and facebook taking up my time these days, oh my! Must find time to post. I like blogger better than facebook, yet somehow facebook draws you in. Social engineering at it's finest. Or most devious.

I'll come up with a real post soon, I promise!

Surprise!

2009-08-27T22:29:00.003-04:00

My very good friend and fellow blogger, Mommanator, is having a giveaway in honor of her 300th post over at Grannie's Ramblings. Stop by and enter for a chance to win something good!

Lost

2009-08-13T22:29:00.002-04:00

I recently read the book Lost by Gregory Maguire. Maguire is the author of Wicked and Confessions of an Ugly Stepsister, which I have also read. Lost is about haunting, in more than one sense of the word. It wasn't as good as the other two novels, but it has haunted me.

The main character in the book faces a ghostly haunting that seems to be a manifestation of her own haunted emotional state. She has fallen into a pattern of marking time, failing to move forward, because of the events of her past and emotions that she can't quite seem to acknowledge or let go of. She is stuck and she has lost herself.

I feel like that character. I have made several major life changes over the last few years, some by choice and some not, and I've lost myself somewhere in the shuffle. The fallout is more than I ever expected.

In the book, the word 'lost' applies in at least two ways: the character is lost, and she has lost (suffered loss). I don't think I would have understood this entirely if I were not in a similar state.

The main character in the book has something of a breakdown. I am not about to do that. And this doesn't mean that there is nothing good in my life. It's just that too much change too fast leaves you whiplashed. And lost.

Double Bind

2009-07-08T22:53:00.003-04:00

Conversation in my household tonight:

Me: Here's a quote from Oscar Wilde: A man can be happy with any woman as long as he does not love her.

Him: (Laughter - a good belly laugh.)

Me: Do you love me?

Him: (Silence.)

"List 7 things that you love, and then pass the award on to 7 bloggers that you love!"

2009-06-09T22:42:00.003-04:00

OK, here's my list of seven things, with apologies to Virginia Gal for taking so long to get around to it! I, too, will not list the obvious things, like family and friends and pizza and pets.

VACATION: away, at home, whatever!
A well-written book.
Quiet. It's so rare.
Snowfall.
The wind. There's nothing like standing on the deck of a moving ship, or on a hill, and feeling the wind wash over you.
Valentine's Day.
Hope.

I'm sure I'd come up with a different list on another day, but this one is just as good and just as true as any I could construct. I won't tag anyone, I never do.

Daisy and Muttley

2009-06-04T21:22:00.000-04:00

Caesar For a Day

2009-05-10T19:08:00.003-04:00

We decided that the canoe should be moved today. It was sitting on the spot where we plan to till a strip and put in some azaleas (or something). The conversation in our house just a few minutes ago went something like this:

"Hey, there's a mouse in the canoe! What should I do with it?"

"Chase it out and let it go."

"I can kill it - you want me to kill it?"

"No, let it go, as long as it heads for the woods and not the house."

"You wanna see it?"

"Well, OK."

Sure enough, a little grey mouse was stranded in the now-upright canoe.

"Tip it so it can get out."

The mouse scampered off into the woods.

"Hey, look, there's another mouse! There's a Mama mouse and another baby!"

Mama and baby # 2 scampered off into the woods, as well.

So I got to be Caesar and give a big thumbs up to Ms. Mouse and family today. Too bad I had just seen a cat lurking out there in the woods a few minutes earlier...

Muttley

2009-04-11T21:31:00.005-04:00

For Virginia Gal: Yes, Muttley is a Hanna-Barbera character from my childhood. This is a brief series of clips of the Muttley I grew up watching.

Here is the best I can do for a pic of Daisy and Muttley together. Right now, Muttley is recovering from a rite-of-passage medical procedure, complete with bedrest and an Elizabethan collar. He has to avoid strenuous activity for a week or two, so he has to be kept away from Daisy. They roughhouse a bit too much for his safety. There won't be new pics of them together for a little while.

Fave Foto Friday and All That Jazz

2009-04-03T20:48:00.006-04:00

Here's the latest member of the family. This little fellow is 6 months old. He came to us from a family member who couldn't take care of him. He puts the Energizer Bunny to shame when it comes to his activity level. He gets along really well with our Daisy. He needs a new name, since the old one doesn't really work for us. Right now he goes by Muttley, which will probably stick forever as his nickname.

Just Right Night

2009-03-17T22:00:00.003-04:00

I took the dog out a little while ago. It's just right out there: cold but not bitter (36.6 degrees, according to my remote thermometer). There's no wind, and it's clear and beautiful. It's not damp out there at all tonight, so the cold isn't bone-chilling. The stars are out, and Orion is hanging low over my back yard. I wore my dog-walking coat - a big old faux fur. It's the coziest thing I own.

I hope everyone had a happy St. Patrick's Day. I came home from work tonight and started cooking: beef stew with Guinness, colcannon and store-bought Irish soda bread. I must admit that this is the first time I've ever had to cook leeks in milk for a recipe! They're in the colcannon, along with cabbage, mashed potatoes and spices. The soda bread was good with butter on it, but it was not nearly as good as the homemade soda bread I had at work today. It was made by a co-worker. What a treat!

We finally sat down to eat at about 8:30, and I finished cleaning up at 9:30. That's OK. I haven't been sleeping well lately, but I have the feeling I'll sleep like a baby tonight!

Family Quest

2009-03-10T20:44:00.004-04:00

I think I noted in a prior post that I had done a free trial at Ancestry.com. It was so cool to find handwritten census records for my ancestors over the last century and a half. I felt an instant connection to the names displayed on my monitor. That was my family listed there. For the moment, they seemed alive and very real to me. Fascinating details emerged, like occupations (very working class), countries of origin and the names of second spouses (oh, the mortality rate of those days).

A couple of weeks ago I went to dinner with my sister and her sons. My nephews both had birthdays in February. We had surprise additions to the family group in the form of a couple of long lost cousins. We sat there together, all flawed people with histories that were at once remarkably different and remarkably similar. Family stories were told as they had been passed on to each of us. Clearly the same stories, but passed on with a different slant by different parents (my mom and my aunt). Our flaws and our differences can separate us sometimes, but at the price of the things we share.

Through marriage and moving and divorce I've managed to lose touch with most of the folks from my younger days. I haven't kept old friends, and I am such a very different person now that I don't have a desire to look them up. Still, it's good to have some grounding in the past. The connections with family members are based on shared family history, not political, religious or world views. Cousins and siblings will be cousins and siblings forever. That's a bond that you can always revisit, even after long fallow periods. It helps you to remember who you are and how you got to be that way. It's a good thing.

What I've Been Up To

2009-02-17T23:50:00.003-05:00

The mind boggles. I've been incredibly industrious lately in a totally non-productive way. I know, I know - that's not quite logical. Welcome to my world!

I've been playing around with Facebook. What a very different experience it is from Blogger! Since it doesn't seem to work too well with Internet Explorer, I downloaded Firefox. My goodness! All of these new formats to learn!

As if that wasn't enough, I signed up for a trial subscription for ancestry.com. I soon discovered it doesn't work too well with Firefox. What a complicated world we inhabit! The effort was worthwhile, though, since I have found several census entries for my family going back several generations on the maternal side. It gave me chills each time I found a record for a household that I knew to belong to my ancestors.

Over the long weekend, I read People of the Book by Geraldine Brooks. It was a good read, and gave me food for thought. One of my favorite books, Year of Wonders, is by the same author. I read her Pulitzer Prize winning tome called March some time ago. It was not an easy read. I had ordered March from Amazon, and they sent me a copy signed by the author, which is kind of neat.

I've seen 2 movies over the last several days: Doubt and He's Just Not That Into You. Also managed a ridiculously overpriced dinner out at a fondue restaurant. Incredible what they charged us to cook our own supper! That was a ONE TIME ONLY experience. No need to repeat it.

So there you have it, industrious in a non-productive way. Guess that's my way of saying that the housekeeping has suffered in the pursuit of my hobbies.

Gotta Love It

2009-01-29T19:20:00.002-05:00

This is what some folks in Austin, Texas saw on their drive to work yesterday morning. I know this is criminal, but...

Overused

2009-01-24T20:19:00.003-05:00

My friend Pax deplores the current tendency to overuse the word awesome. I have a word to add to the overused list: extreme. I'm tired of hearing it used in advertising for new products, and I'm REALLY tired of hearing it used to justify dangerous new (and usually absurd) twists on sports. Just my unsolicited 2 cents on the topic.

Update 1/27: Oops. My friend Pax especially dislikes the overuse of the word amazing.

Happy 2009

2009-01-01T00:24:00.003-05:00

Happy New Year to all! Midnight has passed, I have drunk some champagne, and I am going to bed. Sweet dreams, and may 2009 bring you health, wealth and wisdom.

A Sober New Year

2008-12-30T23:55:00.002-05:00

I had some sad news today - a dear friend's husband passed away on Monday, and services are tomorrow (Wednesday). I am so sad for the family - they are very close-knit and loving. I know they will find comfort in their faith, in each other and in the love of friends.

I visited Mom very briefly on Saturday, but a virus is going around the assisted living facility, and she was not up to a visit. I have been fighting a scratchy throat for about a week, and it has finally decided to turn into a full-blown sore throat. I was sick for New Year's Eve last year, but this cold (so far) is not nearly as bad. I've had lots of colds over the last 2 years. Guess my childhood immunities don't recognize the new batch of viruses, and my immune system is gearing up for the next several decades. I'm glad I got a flu shot this year.

So this is a sober New Year (truly, no pun intended) for me. I suppose it's appropriate, given the condition of my little world and the condition of the larger world. I'll have a small celebration at home, and I'll be asleep shortly after midnight. Time to gear up for the hard (but worthwhile) work ahead in 2009.

More Good Things

2008-12-26T20:52:00.003-05:00

Virginia Gal asked for a Christmas photo of Daisy, so here it is. Sorry, VG, I didn't have any holiday togs for her, so the setting will have to do. This pic was taken on Christmas Eve, with Miss Daisy by the Christmas tree. Some of the gifts in the picture were destined for friends and family - the entire pile was not just for us!

I made out like a bandit this year. I got a new watch (much needed), an office chair (I assembled it tonight and I'm sitting in it right now), an oak file cabinet (yet to be assembled), a Little Green Clean Machine, a jar of my favorite face cream and a new travel mug (ka-ching! I'll save money by not stopping to buy coffee at Wawa). You can see that my list leaned toward the practical this year. I got a couple of items in the pure indulgence category, as well, so I feel perfectly spoiled!

Christmas Day didn't turn out quite as planned, so we just had a peaceful day at home. Acme (a local supermarket chain) was open until 1:00 pm, so I ran out and picked up a small ham and threw together an easy holiday meal. It was unbelievably quiet around here, which was nice. I think this was the first Christmas in my entire life that I did not spend with my family. Oh well. Change is the only constant, isn't it?

We had some errands to run today, so we stopped for lunch at a local diner. It was so nice to eat plain, simple food after all of the holiday delicacies we've consumed lately. I had eggs over easy with Canadian bacon, home fries, toast and coffee. Those eggs sure were good!

Hope everyone's having an enjoyable season. Hope the customers are kinder now that the rush is over, Virginia Gal. And I hope everyone has a peaceful and beautiful New Year.

Coming soon to A Room Somewhere: A Fish Story.

Good Things

2008-12-13T10:28:00.004-05:00

Miss Daisy made her annual visit to the veterinarian today. I adopted her on 12/10/07. I can't believe she's been with me for a year already! She was an absolute drama queen at the vet's office - whining and moaning throughout the whole exam. She has to go back one day next week for a nail trim, but I have to give her a sedative first. They couldn't get her to cooperate today. Hope the sedative works!

Daisy has turned out to be a wonderful pet. She is sweet, and she likes people and dogs. She was crate-trained and house-trained when she came to us. I didn't know all of those things when I adopted her from the shelter, so I truly have been blessed!

I am, of course, behind in my holiday shopping and preparation. This weekend will be my catch-up time. I managed to get a few things done online last night and I'm going shopping today. If I'm motivated enough, I'll bake cookies tomorrow. I don't feel overwhelmed by the holidays this year. I'm actually enjoying the process because I'm committed to keeping things as simple as possible.

The new wood stove is working out pretty well! It makes the downstairs nice and toasty, and the upstairs stays just warm enough to keep the heater from going on. I'm looking forward to saving on my propane bill this year. I'll still use some propane, because I don't run the wood stove when I'm not home.

It was a comfort to know I had the wood stove for back-up yesterday. The power was out when I woke up - we had quite a storm here Thursday night into Friday morning. The heater won't work when there is no electricity, but the wood stove will!

Guess I've rambled enough for awhile. Hope everyone is finding some joy in their holiday preparations, for those who celebrate at this time of year. For those who do not, then I hope you get a good laugh at the rest of us with all of the craziness we put ourselves through!

Loss

2008-11-06T21:22:00.003-05:00

A lot has happened in my life over the last week or so, but I can't seem to bring myself to record much more than the events of today.

I stopped at the grocery store this morning. After I checked out, the cashier handed me my change: a $10 bill and some coins. I stuffed the bill into my coat pocket along with the receipt and the register coupons. When I got home, the $10 was gone.

I can't seem to find one of my rings. It's not my engagement ring, but it's not costume jewelry. I still hope to find it in some unexpected place, but I'm sad that it seems to be gone.

Tonight little Rudy made his last trip to the veterinarian. He had continued to live with my ex. I visited Rudy last night, and snuggled with him for awhile. Sleep in peace, little Ruru.

Book Meme

2008-10-24T22:18:00.008-04:00

I was tagged awhile ago by Mommanator to do this meme. Here it is! I won't tag anyone else. I think everyone's already done this one.

Do you remember how you developed a love for reading?

Mom often took me to the library when I was very young; we could walk there from our home. When I went to check out, the librarian used to talk to me about the books I'd chosen, and she'd read excerpts with me. She convinced me that she was a witch - it had something to do with a children's book about witches I had chosen, I don't remember the details. Anyway, she kept me coming back!

What are some books you read as a child?
Little Women, Little Men, Jo's Boys, Eight Cousins, Rose In Bloom, An Old Fashioned Girl - all of the Alcott books; The Mummy Market by Nancy Brelis; The Nancy Drew mysteries; The Mixed-Up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler by E.L. Konigsburg; A Little Princess and The Secret Garden by Francis Hodgson Burnett; The Secret of Madame Doll by Francis Cavanah; The Hornet's Nest by Sally Watson; many, many more.

What is your favorite genre?

Fiction.

Do you have a favorite novel?

Pride and Prejudice, by Jane Austen.

Where do you usually read?

In Bed.

When do you usually read?

Before I go to sleep, most of the time. Whenever I get the chance.

Do you usually have more than one book you are reading at a time?

Sometimes, though one usually wins out, and I finish it first.

Do you read nonfiction in a different place than you read fiction?
Yes. Most of my nonfiction is read at work (work related literature or news read at lunchtime).

Do you buy most books you read, or borrow them or check them out of the library?
I buy most of them, and borrow some.

Do you keep most of the books you buy? If not, what do you do with them?
I keep far too many of them :-). Any I don't keep, I give away or donate.

If you have children, what are some favorite books you have shared with them?
No kids.

Were they some same ones you read as a child?
No kids.

What are you reading now?
I just finished Certain Girls by Jennifer Weiner and Crown of Aloes by Norah Lofts.

Do you keep a TBR (to be read) list?
Not a formal one, though I often have a book or so ahead.

What’s next?
Not quite sure. I'm open to suggestions. I'm going to look up a few favorite authors to see if anything new has become available. A coworker loaned me her copy of The Story of Edgar Sawtelle by David Wroblewski. It looks good, but I can be a little bit over-sensitive when it comes to horse and dog stories, so we'll see...

What books would you like to reread?
All of Jane Austen's works, maybe the Potter series, perhaps some Mary Stewart books, Outlander by Diana Gabaldon, Evening Class by Maeve Binchy, Firefly Summer, by Maeve Binchy (I've recently reread Echoes and The Glass Lake, both by Maeve Binchy, and Good In Bed by Jennifer Weiner), The Virgin Blue and Girl With a Pearl Earring, both by Tracy Chevalier, Katherine by Anya Seton, The Secret Life of Bees by Sue Monk Kidd, The Pilot's Wife by Anita Shreve, The Pleasure of My Company by Steve Martin, Year of Wonders by Geraldine March, A Painted House by John Grisham, Where the Heart Is by Billie Letts; anything by Daphne du Maurier; some of M.M. Kaye's works; There are many more I'd like to reread!

Who are your favorite authors?
Jane Austen, Diana Gabaldon, Jennifer Weiner, Tracy Chevalier, Anya Seton, J.K. Rowling, Christopher Moore, Maeve Binchy, Steve Martin, T.H. White, Madeleine L'Engle, Daphne du Maurier. I'm sure there are others whose names don't come to mind at the moment!

Light a Candle for Peace

2008-10-17T15:41:00.002-04:00

I've been watching today's coverage of the political campaign and the abominable racism that is breaking out all over the US right now. For a few minutes today, it would be nice to be just an American - not a Democrat or Republican, not a Christian, a Jew, a Muslim or an atheist. For a minute today, light a candle for peace in your home. Pass it on.

Where I've Been

2008-10-13T18:34:00.006-04:00

Made a pilgrimage to the heartland this week. A LONG pilgrimage: it's a 19 hour, 1214 mile drive. We broke the trip up this year and stayed in the Toledo area (the half-way point) overnight. Thank goodness for clean, pet-friendly motels!

This is a beautiful tree by the driveway to the farm.

More of the driveway.

Corn crib at sunrise.

Fields leading to the slew.

Random Iowa scenery.

The farmhouse from across the neighbor's fields.

Daisy loved being a farm dog!

The north fields.

Where pasta really comes from.

At least somebody slept on the ride home!

Back home, and longing for the freedom to roam the fields.

New Toy

2008-09-30T22:40:00.003-04:00

Finally got one. Lovin' it. Bye. Gotta load some more tunes.

Uncharitable Thoughts

2008-09-17T19:57:00.002-04:00

I'm frightened by the things I see in the US economy. As a Democrat and political moderate, I generally have a charitable view of the opinions of the opposition. Not today. I'm tired of being afraid for our country and afraid for my own future. The present political and financial status of the US and of US Americans is the worst since the time of the Great Depression. I don't want to take the not-so-gentle ribbing of the Religious Right/Republican Party anymore. I don't want email in my inbox that is pro-right. I don't want to hear people praise the fools who have ruined our once (no longer) great nation. And I am tired of having right wing extremist philosophies equated with Christianity.

And please, no more stupid commercials about lipstick on pigs or anything else ridiculous. Tell me how you plan to fix the mess you've made. That's all I want to hear.

Maybe this will pass. Doubt it will happen much before Election Day.

The Future Under McCain/Palin:

2008-09-07T11:32:00.006-04:00

100 years in Iraq; Bomb, bomb, bomb Iran...

And the inevitable result:

This is just one of the many reasons to VOTE in November.

PHEW!

2008-08-17T10:28:00.004-04:00

August has turned out to be a big month for me. Medical appointments, family gatherings, household maintenance. Oi! And to top it all off, it turns out that my B-12 is low. That explains the crappy, crappy way I've been feeling lately. That, and the need to return to the endocrinologist. It helps a lot to know what's going on, and that it can be fixed.

Amidst all of the craziness, I find myself thankful for my blessings. I have vacation, sick and personal time that I can use when I feel lousy and need a break from work. I have good health insurance that allows me to make a trip to the doctor just because I've been fatigued and feeling low. I am able to find and treat simple problems before they become serious. There are far too many people in the world who can't say the same.

The need for universal health care is not just a financial proposition; it is a real necessity for desperate human beings. How does someone who feels worn out and unmotivated go out to find a job, or take care of a family?

I have been able to push myself to get up and get out to work, though I've had to force myself to focus while there. I pretty much crash into nothingness after supper each night, with no energy left for household chores. I've had my first monthly B-12 shot, and I'm taking OTC supplements. I feel some improvement already, though my energy level still bottoms out at times. With my endocrine system a bit out of whack, along with the low B-12, I feel like a human biology experiment.

Anyway, this can and will be fixed. I'm one of the lucky ones.

As The Worm Turns

2008-07-17T17:57:00.004-04:00

As I walked up the path to my front door late this afternoon, I found myself wondering why a large, red worm was curled up in the middle of the sidewalk. It hasn't rained for a few weeks here, so there's no reason to expect to see a worm on the sidewalk. Then I realized that the worm was an unusually bright shade of red. I looked closer, and it became apparent that the big worm was actually a tiny snake.

It appeared to be in the process of shedding its skin. I'm not absolutely positive that it was still alive (I'll check on it later). I think it's either a northern red-bellied snake or an eastern worm snake. It's really quite tiny for a snake, no bigger than a good-sized earthworm.

This little fella (or gal) was just a few feet from my house. Unless he was dropped there by a predator, the most likely place for his residence is under my front steps. Wonder how many siblings he has???

A Note on the Fly

2008-06-25T22:36:00.002-04:00

Just posting a quick note on the fly. Mom is in the hospital, and will probably move from there to a nursing facility on a permanent basis. It's for the best, but it's sad that she won't go home again. We'll do our best to help her to be happy wherever she is!

Say a Prayer

2008-06-12T19:57:00.003-04:00

My favorite little town in the midwest is under water. Fortunately, the folks I know there are OK, for now. I'm not sure whether or not the Iowa River has crested.

This is a restaurant where I've had a couple of fine meals. Hope the sandbags held up; this was taken earlier in the week.

2008-05-29T18:35:00.004-04:00

Here it is, an unedited photo of the new wood stove! There is a bit of cosmetic work to be done, since it replaced a ventless propane fireplace (ventless=toxic). The silver electrical box (upper left of photo) has to come out, since it is no longer needed. Some trim has to be replaced, and the wall needs some doctoring, but she's ready to fire up. Now all we need is some cool weather!

Jury duty was a trial, but I made it through. Actually, I was fortunate, and was not selected as a juror. There were about 70 people in my group (one of two groups present that day). They called the first 7 people to the jury box seats, interviewed them, dismissed one, and accepted the next person up as the replacement. The other 62 or so of us got to go home without ever being interviewed by the judge. I had to call in for the next 2 nights, but was not required to appear again (phew). This was apparently a light week because of the holiday, with only two judges presiding and only a few cases scheduled.

I did not park in the free parking garage (free with validation, that is) because I would have had to walk a few blocks to the courthouse in a not-so-nice part of Atlantic City. And, trust me, Atlantic City has quite a not-so-nice side to it. I really don't like to go there alone.

I paid $9.00 to park in the lot across the street from the courthouse, the lot they call the Courthouse Parking Lot. The lot has no government affiliation, so validation is not an option. Good deal for the owners, because a lot of the women opted to park there, and I'm sure some of the men did, too. Several women had their husbands drop them off at the door. Nice.

I came home after court with a migraine and ended up in bed early. The headache carried over into Wednesday, but I was essentially functional. Today, all is well. And what a beautiful day it is!

So life may once again resume its normal ebb and flow, and I can stop being a worried, miserable so-and-so. Apologies for the gripe fest earlier this week!

Hope everyone has a marvelous weekend. I'm hoping to get out to see the new Indy movie.

Here's a quick pic of Daisy, just for Virginia Gal:

I'll have to get some video of her running. She runs like the wind! She barrel races around the trees in her enclosure out back. Don't expect those images too soon. I don't even have a cable to get the video images into the computer. Then I have to figure out the whole You Tube thing. I'll get there, sooner or later!

One at a Time

2008-05-26T10:49:00.003-04:00

The wood stove will finally be installed this week. It was supposed to be installed a couple of weeks ago, but it dared to rain on the scheduled date. It took a bit of doing to get the wood stove guy to reschedule, but Wednesday should be the day.

The wood stove guy was off pursuing a dream - something to do with having someone famous read his screenplay. Nice, but he left the business here hanging for several days while he was gone. The folks left behind in his shop seemed to be at a loss, unable to set a schedule until he came back. They kept telling me that they expected to "get with him" that day and they'd call back with a final date, then I'd hear nothing.

I understand chasing your dreams, but I also know that I need a reliable business backing up this purchase. The relationship with this guy doesn't end with the installation of the stove. There will be maintenance, replacement parts and chimney sweeping through the years.

Ironically, I could have used the stove a few times over the last few weeks, since it has been chilly at night, and on few rainy days, as well. At least the stove will be there when I need it in the fall. More wood is being chopped as I write, and my woodpile grows daily. The propane company wants me to prepay some $2500.00 for next year's fuel to help me to SAVE money. Not me, not gonna happen. I am going to use WAY less propane next year.

Anyway, the wood stove is the first in a line of projects needed around here. The water conditioning system needs to be serviced. My Daisy needs a fenced back yard. Gutter Guards are needed on the roof. Massive amounts of gardening and landscaping are needed. I need a handyman for several small projects around the house that are beyond me. Actually, I might take a few of them on myself, once I have some time.

My time hasn't been my own lately. We've just been through a round of graduations, graduation parties and family visits, and this week I have jury duty. No, I don't consider it to be a pleasure to do my civic duty. I don't have much faith in the American justice system, and, if I am selected as a juror, I'll probable get stuck listening to the details of some silly lawsuit, since I've been called for civil court.

I will have to travel for more than an hour to get to the courthouse in Atlantic City. I couldn't be called to jury duty at the courthouse that's 20 minutes from home, oh no. I have to go to the opposite side of the county and into the city, where I must struggle with traffic and parking. I hate traffic, and I hate driving and parking in the city.

I've already checked the train schedule, and it's a no-go. The train station is too far from the courthouse, and the schedule is limited. If I take a cab from the train station, I'm only adding to the expense of the day. I'm going to check out the bus schedule, but I'm not too hopeful. I used to think that any day off of work was a good day, but I truly would prefer to go to work this week.

OK, enough complaining. This, too, shall pass. I'll probably feel far less stressed and miserable once I've made it through tomorrow. I just have to remember to take things one at a time.

Of Ghoulies and Ghosties...

2008-05-08T22:57:00.002-04:00

...and short-legged beasties, and things that go bump in the night.

Set out to walk the dog at about 8 or so tonight. I opened the back door. Before the motion-sensor lights out back could come on, I heard rustling and a THUMP! and Daisy tried to take off (along with her leash and my wrist). I wrestled her back into the house and closed her in, then turned to face the intruder.

My first thought was that my turkey hen was back - I've seen one several times recently, and she seems to like the sunflower seed that falls from the bird feeder. But no, it was not an early visit from Thanksgiving dinner (only kidding, I might actually find it difficult to eat turkey this year, now that I have a turkey friend). I caught a glimpse of something fast and four-legged, and I heard another THUMP!

When the motion-sensor light came on, I saw a tiny little female beagle running away from me. I called her, and she came. I thought my Daisy might be gaining a new companion, but then I noticed the beagle's pretty pink collar with little rhinestones on it, and I saw that she was clean and well-nourished - all pointing to a recent escape from a good home. She belongs to a neighbor who more or less lives across the street, and she is safe at home this evening. Needless to say, she would have been welcome to stay.

As for the things that went bump in the night, well, let's just say that the growing woodpile needs a little bit of attention tomorrow...

2008-04-30T20:30:00.002-04:00

Ordered today: 1 wood stove, more or less similar to the one in the photo. It's not an especially pretty one, but it's a workhorse that will handle most of my winter heating needs. It should be installed in a couple of weeks, just in time for summer...

Fave Foto Friday - Name That Gnome!

2008-04-25T18:21:00.004-04:00

There has been a considerable amount of conversation in my household related to the choice of a name for the birthday gnome pictured here. My choice was No-No, in honor of the character Jim on Vicar of Dibley, one of my favorite Britcoms (Jim's scene as the innkeeper in a Dibley Christmas pageant was classic).

My choice was Pooh-poohed, and I have refused to cave to pressure to name him Rosco or Norm. Please help out - I need suggestions!

2008-04-22T23:06:00.002-04:00

I've finally arrived at the next step in the process of warming up the downstairs - just in time for Spring! Tomorrow afternoon the wood stove guy is coming by to give me an estimate and discuss the options for placement of a stove.

Later in the day the fencing guy is coming by to give me an estimate on a nice, safe enclosure for my poor beguiled Princess Daisy. The sights and sounds of the season have proven to be too much for her. She wants to race off after every squirrel and track every scent.

I watched with woe on Saturday as she disappeared into the woods. For a few heartstopping moments I wasn't sure that I'd see her again. She easily leaps over the blueberry bushes and brambles in the woodlands hereabouts. I am more earthbound, and my progress through the undergrowth was sluggish at best. I am happy to report she is safe and sound. The fence has become a priority.

Fave Foto Friday

2008-03-28T11:38:00.002-04:00

Who's got the life?

Still Kickin'

2008-03-05T19:45:00.002-05:00

Whew! Can't believe it's been a month since my last post. I'm still here, I promise. I get great ideas for new posts, but I just don't seem to make it downstairs to the computer to get started.

You can blame the propane company for my lack of computer time. I just spent a undisclosed but obscene sum for one month of fuel for my home. I already had the thermostat down to 65, now it's set at 63. The downstairs being the natural cold spot of my home (what with the down location, the cement outside walls, and the tile floors), it can be just a little too brisk to spend much time here in the winter. It's pretty nice in the summer, though.

Not to worry, I have plans for the future! I'm looking at woodstoves, coal stoves and pellet stoves as alternatives for supplemental heat. Should make it nice and toasty down here next winter, and the heat should rise to help out upstairs,too! And then there's the plan (OK, it's more of a hope at this point in time) to buy a laptop and go wireless.

I know, moving the computer upstairs sounds like a bright idea, too. I'd still have to go wireless to do it because of phone jack locations (since I'm stuck with Verizon DSL and Verizon phone service, and with DirecTV). Since my PC gives me occasional warnings on bootup about the status of the hard drive, it hardly seems worthwhile to invest in serious upgrades to this system.

I'd give anything to have Comcast back (I never thought I'd say those words), but they are not available here. Comcast's customer service is FAR superior to Verizon's, and, frankly, so is their product. DirecTV is the incredible shrinking product, with an ever decreasing number of stations available on my plan.

Oh well. How about all of you? How are you weathering the economic and climate conditions in the US these days?

Voting, Small Town Style

2008-02-05T18:22:00.000-05:00

I came home from work tonight, took the dog out, fed her, and took her out again. At about 5:55 pm, I backed the car out of the garage to go to My Town Hall to vote.

When I arrived at my destination, I parked and followed the herd into the building. I had to wait in line for approximately 30 seconds. I gave my name and confirmed my party. They gave me a pretty pink ticket, and I took it to the voting booth.

I had to wait approximately 5 seconds for the booth to empty. I used my 5 seconds to comment that mine wasn't the only pink ticket on the spike on the side of the machine. I had thought that it might be; my politics are atypical around here. Actually, there were quite a few pink tickets keeping company with mine! Maybe more pink-ticketed people were driven to vote in this year's primary.

I almost said pink-leaning people, but then I realized the historical implications of that! Wonder why they chose pink to represent my political party??? Someone's idea of a joke???

I cast my pink little vote, left the building, and drove back around the corner. I pulled my car back into the garage at 6:04 pm.

There you have it: Voting, Small Town Style!

Technicalities

2008-02-03T17:06:00.000-05:00

Every now and then I get a message when I boot up my computer that a problem has been detected with my hard drive. I don't know too much about the technical end of computer stuff, but I suspect that this is The Beginning of The End for my PC. Time to start updating myself on the minimum requirements for a computer system these days.

So, my blog pals, what will I absolutely require in a new PC? I would actually love to go the laptop route this time around, though affordability is a major factor for me. I can live with a desktop, if necessary.

I don't need an extreme system. I want to blog with my computer, manage and edit digital photos with it, and maybe watch an occasional DVD on it (especially if I get a laptop). Gaming in my household is pretty much limited to puzzle, arcade and word games - some with cool graphics, but nothing excessive. I suppose Windows Vista is the likely OS, and I would like to go wireless if I get a laptop.

Any and all suggestions about necessary elements, brands, where to shop, etc. will be appreciated!

Odd Choice; Change of Subject

2007-12-22T22:18:00.000-05:00

I just looked at my choice of photo for Fave Foto Friday yesterday. Seems an odd choice for this time of year.

I took the photo some time ago, and I chose it simply because I liked the image. Bread Line was particularly impressive in person. You can stand beside the life-sized figures. You can even stand in line with them. That would have been a better image, I suppose.

Changing the subject, I've decided that my New Year's Resolution will be to, well, change the subject more often. I've been so busy about the business of reinventing the wheel of my life that my blog has been sorely neglected. I plan to do some revamping in the New Year. I don't have much talent in blog artistry, so I take that on the redecorating aspect of the project with some anxiety. Reworking the content should be a bit less daunting.

The next few days should be pretty busy for me, so I might not get back here before Christmas Day. I wish everyone a beautiful, memorable holiday. If you don't celebrate Christmas, I wish you a day of rest, and joy in whatever traditions you observe.

Peace.

Depression Bread Line

2007-12-21T20:38:00.000-05:00

"Depression Bread Line,"

Sculpture by George Segal

Grounds for Sculpture

For Virginia Gal

2007-12-14T11:45:00.000-05:00

Here it is, Virginia Gal: Daisy in a Santa hat, just for you!

Fave Foto Friday - Early Christmas Present

2007-12-14T10:28:00.000-05:00

What I Love About the Season

2007-12-03T20:07:00.000-05:00

My dear friend Pax so aptly blogged about some of the recurring annoyance of the holiday season. I'm feeling less pressured this year - don't ask me why; I couldn't say. In any event, here is a list of the things I love about this time of year:

1. People working together to create a warm holiday celebration at the office.

As government employees we are not permitted to celebrate on the clock, so we put together a Holiday Event within the confines of the office. Everyone uses their official break time to come together to celebrate. People sign up in advance to bring a dish and help out in general. It turns into quite an extravaganza. It can be a feeding frenzy, too, but that's in keeping with the season.

2. Red and green.

These are colors that I would not stomach together most of the year, but at Christmas they are beautiful. Throw in a little gold and silver, some candles and light strands, et Voila! Seasonal bliss.

3. Fruitcake.

I like a good fruitcake. No, not the grocery store version with rum extract, but the real stuff. It's hard to find a good one locally anymore. Anyone know where to get one?

4. Christmas shopping.

I actually like shopping. I rarely have to buy something for anyone I don't really care about, and buying for those you love is a joy. I do try to avoid the crowds, for the most part.

5. Christmas songs.

I haven't been inundated with them this year, and it's refreshing not to have them overplayed. I love them when they aren't forced on me 24/7. It's nice to know all of the words, and most of the melodies are simple enough even for my feeble voice. OK, there are some exceptions, but I still sing them when no one else can hear me!

6. Decorated homes, from the simple to the sublime.

My exterior decorations are limited to a candle in each front window and a wreath on the front door. I really appreciate the folks who take the time to put up elaborate displays, and I'll ride around several evenings from now 'til Little Christmas to enjoy the view.

7. Christmas cookies.

No further explanation needed.

8. Christmas Eve.

It's still magical to me, pregnant with soon-to-be fulfilled wishes and dreams yet to come true.

9. The wonder of the winter world.

I love the woodlands in winter. I love feeding the birds and finding deer prints in my yard. I love crisp air and cozy fires, hot toddies and long, cold nights.

10. Layers of shared cultural history.

Remember the year in the 1960's when we had a huge snowfall on Christmas Eve? Remember finding a bike under the tree? Remember your quirky extended family, all in one room at one time? Remember getting Dancerina for Christmas, or Charmin' Chatty, or Rock 'em Sock 'em Robots? Remember the year in the 80's when it was 70 degrees on Christmas Day in the North, and everyone wore T-Shirts and played touch football? Remember waiting to watch Rudolph every year, and Charlie Brown's Christmas Tree?

Maybe I enjoy Christmas more these days because I've learned to eliminate a lot of the unnecessary stuff - overdone gifts, excessive outings and responsibilities. I only send a few cards these days, and I do a lot less work. I look forward to the serenity that you can find in the season.

I wish each and every one of you a beautiful holiday season, exciting or serene - whichever you prefer. No matter what you celebrate, or if Christmas is just an extra day off to you, may it be rich in all of your favorite things.

Leftovers

2007-11-25T19:35:00.000-05:00

In keeping with my personal tradition of doing things bass ackwards, I made a full turkey dinner today. Yes, I had a nice relaxing Thanksgiving Day with no need to cook. Then I turned around and did all of the work today, the day before returning to work. And I am pooped! Now I remember why I had foresworn cooking Thanksgiving dinner in the past. So now, of course, I have leftovers.

We made it to the mall oh, so very briefly on Black Friday. I was so proud of myself - I directed my companion through all of the back roads and we avoided the heavy traffic. My companion was going to the DMV (actually, in NJ it's the MVC - Motor Vehicle Commission) to renew a driver's license. It was my advice to include a birth certificate amongst the various pieces of documentation required to renew a license these days, but, alas, this went unheeded. I spent a total of about 10 seconds looking at the racks in the first (and only) shop I entered before my (irate) companion tracked me down complaining that the MVC would not renew the license without a birth certificate or passport. We left the mall.

I decided not to let the day end on this miserable note. I took off on my own for upper Cape May County and did some antiquing all by myself. I didn't buy any antiques, but I saw some potential future purchases. I also checked out a favorite garden center with all of its holiday displays, but I'm not ready to concede that the Christmas season is upon us, and I didn't buy any decorations.

So that's it, my backwards holiday weekend in a nutshell. The fridge is full and the kitchen is clean, so I have no reason to complain.

No Leftovers

2007-11-23T08:26:00.000-05:00

There are no Thanksgiving leftovers in my household today: no turkey slices chilling in the fridge, no gravy congealing in a bowl. My family went out to eat for Thanksgiving dinner. Judging from the crowd at the restaurant, this is the trend for the future.

We had a lovely day. Everyone was well rested, no one had to sit in the up-and-down seat (where the hostess sits because she gets up and down throughout the meal), cocktails were served. We relaxed and enjoyed each other. I got a chance to catch up with a nephew I haven't seen in awhile. My brother is in town from Florida, and I got to talk to him for a bit. We went back to Mom's for dessert. Mom isn't well enough these days to go out for dinner, and she wasn't up to having us set the meal up at her house, as we've done in the past. We still got to spend time with her and with each other, which is really the important thing, when all is said and done.

In a quirk of fate, we must go to the mall today for something unrelated to shopping. I haven't been to the mall on Black Friday in years. I'm not big on driving in heavy traffic and shopping in crowds. However, since I'm going to be there anyway...

Free

2007-11-18T15:16:00.000-05:00

Max is running free again now. No more pain from arthritis, no more trouble breathing, no more frantic trips outside in the middle of a cold, wet night. I'll miss you, Max. You were the best dog I've ever known.

Fave Foto Friday 'n' Stuff

2007-11-01T21:07:00.000-04:00

I'm settling into the new house pretty well. An old retriever mix dog (Lab and Golden) has taken up residence here, too. He has been an outside dog all of his life. That doesn't sit well with me, but you know what they say about teaching old dogs new tricks.

Still, Max has arthritis, and he's near the end of his time on Earth, so I can't just leave him outside. His run takes up just about half of my roomy 2 car garage, so he has lots of space. I'm gradually introducing him to the inside of the house.

The garage stays tolerably warm right now, since it's attached to the house and it's insulated. The plan is to have him stay in the house overnight once the garage gets to be too cold. That will mean sleeping downstairs with him, since he can't climb the stairs and he'll need someone to be here to let him out on demand. I don't mind too much, since there's a fireplace (gas log) down here. The TV and computer are down here, too. Might be fun to camp out with Max!

I'm accustomed to small dogs, so a large dog is a big change for me. Everything is bigger, from the amount of food they eat to the amount of food they recycle. And the shedding! Oh, the shedding! But Max is just the sweetest animal. He helped me weed the garden last weekend, popping his head under my arm at odd intervals for a cuddle. I've never before had a dog that could be left off leash without a fence. Max is reliable that way. Besides, I can outrun him (poor beast).

Here's a picture of my buddy for Fave Foto Friday. This was taken in the midwest in September:

Fave Foto Friday

2007-10-19T20:49:00.001-04:00

Here's an image from my recent vacation in the Midwest:

Double Back

2007-10-13T00:33:00.000-04:00

It's been an odyssey, but I finally have internet access once again! Cable is NOT available at my new address, had to set up satellite service for TV and DSL for internet access. YIKES!!!

More later. I'm off to bed. I have house guests right now, and I have an early appointment tomorrow.

'Night all.

Back!

2007-09-09T21:18:00.000-04:00

Made a not-so-quick trip up the road this past week. I'm home today, and desperately in need of sleep after the grueling 1200 mile ride. More to come.

I suspect that at least one fellow blogger will recognize the image above!

Question

2007-08-25T13:36:00.000-04:00

Anybody know of a place to get good, affordable veterinary care in the Millville/Vineland/Mays Landing area? Suggestions appreciated!

How to Reconstitute a Zombie

2007-08-12T11:18:00.000-04:00

The secret's out. To reconstitute a zombie, give her a shower. I know it for a fact, because it worked for this zombie yesterday morning.

Got up bright and early yesterday to participate in a friend's movie-making adventure. Pax relates the gory details deliciously over at his blog. Suffice it to say that we all had a blast, and that we each took about half a ton of sand, dirt and corn starch (zombie makeup) away with us. That shower felt oh, so good!

Maybe I should have remained a zombie for a few days. Do zombies feel bug bites? I kind of doubt it! One scene required us to play dead on a sandy shore for several minutes. The side of me that was against the sand has several insect bites today. Sand fleas, ants or chiggers, who knows? They left their mark. Just the universe exacting payment, I suppose.

Filming was done at a remote pond Down Jersey. The environment here is a unique combination of sandy, desert-like areas juxtaposed against fairly dense woodlands. There is a deep pond here, with a reputation for some of the best fishing in this part of the state. There is access to waterways which, if followed for several miles, would eventually take you to the Delaware Bay, then on around the southernmost point of New Jersey to the Atlantic Ocean.

This area represents both the best and the worst of the New Jersey pinelands. There is beauty here, but the pond owes its existence to sand and gravel mining, which scarred the pristine forest and harmed the nearby waterways by creating a problem with saltwater intrusion. Waterways that had been freshwater ecosystems became brackish.

The desert-like portion of the landscape is maintained by human activity, mostly dirt biking. Hardy juniper ground covers would take over these areas, followed by scrub pines and then hardwoods like oak, if human activity ceased.

I am enough of a realist to comprehend that human activity will not cease, though it would be nice if some of the most pristine areas were to be maintained in a forest primevil state. I suppose dirtbikers need a place to ride, fishermen need a place to fish, boaters need a place to boat and so on. What disturbs me is the mindlessness and selfishness with which humans often pursue their leisure activities, leaving mounds of trash behind, beligerently riding in areas were riding is specifically verboten.

Despite my posthumous fleabites, we saw very little in the way of animal and insect activity at this location yesterday. Not many birds about, saw a fly or two, but no bees or snakes or the like. Didn't even see any squirrels. I'm sure the creatures are there, but we only saw a couple of dogs (both off-leash) and people doing their thing.

I don't know what the answers are when it comes to balancing human desire and greed for resources with the needs of all living things. I do know that desire and greed are two very destructive forces, both on a personal level and on a universal level. Greater minds than mine will have to propose a solution. I hope I have the courage to sign on when they do.

Netherworlds

2007-07-30T23:12:00.000-04:00

Some of the finest hours I’ve spent in life have been passed in netherworlds created by screenplays or fancy of fiction. I most recently passed several hours in the netherworld constructed by J.K. Rowling in Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows. The imagery throughout the story was so real to me that I feel as if I had already seen the movie. I remember the battle scene visually and viscerally, not as a conglomerate of words and phrases.

When I was a child, I would sometimes cry when I finished a particularly compelling novel. I had entered so fully into the plotline that I became part of the story. I had a true sense of loss upon my return to reality. I wanted to be in that other world, in that other time – not in this one. This occurred as a facet of my overactive imagination, not because my childhood was unhappy or troubled.

Emerging from a netherworld is as much a physical experience as a cognitive one for me, like waking from a deep sleep to a slowly increasing awareness of the buzz of life around me. I feel the mist slowly begin to lift from my mind, and I sleepily begin to respond to external stimuli.

I was a slow, intense reader as a child, prone to remember phrases word for word and able to retell storylines in great detail. Sadly, education and employment have given me new “skills.” I read much faster now, looking for key thoughts and developing an overall sense of the material. This is a necessary evil for someone who must review masses of information daily and reduce it to a summary of significant points. When I read now, there is almost always an overlay of sound in my head, a cacophony of reminders to get to the point, to ignore minor details and find the facts. I look forward to the time when I may once again consume each word and digest it, slowly savoring nuances. I want to immerse myself in the text, like a skinny-dipper on a moonlit night, alone in the enveloping coolness of the water.

The magical power of words built my netherworlds, like chanted spells binding me to the tale, weaving me into its fabric, and broken only when the text ran out and the story ended. As a mid-life adult buzzing madly in the midst of the beehive of my life, I suppose I long for the netherworlds of my childhood as the ultimate repose. Perhaps the real joy of later life will be found in escaping once again into the enchantments of those netherworlds.

Busy Days

2007-07-28T09:00:00.000-04:00

Lots of busy days ahead, getting the house set up and moving in. Up for today: visit Mom, buy a washer and dryer and put up a mailbox.

I've pretty much decided to go with a front loading washer. They cost more (ouch!), but they save an incredible amount of water and energy. A top loading washer uses up to 60 gallons of water for a full load of laundry; a front loading unit uses about 14. That means less water pulled from the well, less water heated, less detergent used, and less water and detergent discharged into the septic system. Front loaders are also more effective at cleaning, and they get a lot more water out of the laundry during the spin cycle. That translates to shorter drying times. Basically, I'll use less water, propane and electricity, and I'll put less stress on my septic system if I buy a front loader. It's a win-win situation, since what is good for me is also good for the environment. There are some minor drawbacks to front loaders, too, but with a well and septic, it's the way to go. Advice would be appreciated from anyone who has experience with particular brands of washer/dryer combos.

Tomorrow will be a day for cleaning (floors and counter tops, which still have some dust and grit from the building process on them), ironing (window treatments) and moving small items. No need to describe the coming days any further, you get the gist. I have a vacation coming up in September, and I hope to be pretty well settled in by then, which will free up my time to putter in the yard.

MERCY!!!!

2007-07-24T17:31:00.000-04:00

I am rattled beyond belief today. Settlement is tomorrow. Tomorrow morning I will pretty much empty the contents of my bank account and hand it over to a mortgage company. The mortgage company will then proceed to take most of my income every month forever. I see trips to Tuscany and Provence, cruises of the Mediterranean, now beyond my reach.

I ended the work day today with an incomprehensible collage of sticky notes on my desk. Most of them made little or no sense. I'll try to sort it all out when I'm back at my desk on Thursday, hopefully in a calmer frame of mind.

I really am rattled.

Witching (and Wizarding) Hour

2007-07-21T10:54:00.000-04:00

I'd never been to the mall at midnight until last night. Only one of the four or five doors at the entrance was open for the Harry Potter fans trickling in to pick up their copies of Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows. Security guards on Segways eyed those entering the building, watching to make sure they headed straight for the escalator that would take them to the Borders Express upstairs.

The mall was dark and warm, the air conditioning having been turned up a few degrees for the night. Silence reigned, except in the small area outside of the bookstore, where chaos seemed to have taken control. There had been a celebration leading up to the witching hour, and salespeople dressed as witches continued to call out numbers for prize drawings. Since I was there only to pick up my preordered copy of the book, I didn't try to snag one of the little blue tickets needed for the prize drawings.

Mistake.

At the stroke of midnight, the crowd (not huge, but still too much for the small mall store) massed together to find their way to the registers to make their purchases. Incomprehensible instructions were given, which seemed to cause shifting of the crowd, but still, no clear lines were formed. Then, an imperious security guard began ordering people out of the store. A young girl nearby explained to me that customers were being taken in order of the numbers on their little blue tickets.

It was 10 past midnight at this point, and only a few people had left the store with book in hand. I had no idea where to obtain a ticket. Even if I came up with one, I'd be the very last customer served. While I could have abided an orderly line, the chaos in the store and the ill-will of the security guards made staying unpalatable to me.

I left.

I drove across the highway to Walmart, where peace and order marked the early moments of the new day. A simple line had been constructed outside. Bookmarks, posters, cupcakes, candy and wristbands were distributed to all who waited to enter the store, just a few people at a time. I waited no more than 5 minutes before gaining entrance. I was guided to a customer service desk where 2 clerks with stacks of books assisted with purchases. 5 minutes later I was home and beginning my journey into the final tome in the Harry Potter series.

As for Borders Express, I'd probably still be waiting in that mob right now...

Tearing My Hair Out

2007-07-17T17:56:00.000-04:00

With settlement on my home purchase just a week away and some of the finer details unresolved, I'm tearing my hair out. To add another cliched saying to this post, it never rains but it pours. I have a vacation coming up in September. I'm desperately trying to get ahead at work so that I won't be BEHIND when I get back. Add into the mix medical appointments (routine, but time consuming) and the impending settlement, and, well, things are stressful! And now Mom isn't feeling too well.

My sister has been wonderful - she lives near Mom and does all that she possibly can to help her. I think Mom might have to go back to the hospital again soon. She's been dwindling physically and mentally. She recently asked my sister about my brother's wife, who died 6 or 7 years ago. I guess Mom had forgotten that she was gone, and she cried when my sister told her about it.

Putting it all in perspective, the settlement stuff will fall into place, or it won't. I'll be warm and dry and well-fed either way. I'll get stuff done at work or I won't. I'll make every effort to stay on schedule, but, if I don't, it will be there when I get back. It's the people we love who count, and all of the other things can go hang.

By the way, it really does look like I've been tearing my hair out! I've got the worst case of the frizzies ever, and I can't seem to conquer it. Any suggestions???

Making Sunday Pudding

2007-07-15T12:32:00.000-04:00

Looking at my last post, I realize that I left out some critical bits of information. I've grappled a bit with my own religious affiliation in recent months, and I even considered converting to Catholicism at one point. I had to examine what I believe about God, the church, divine revelation - the whole lot.

I know many sincere Catholics, and I respect and admire them. I'm far too ingrained in protestant ways of thinking to convert with ease. Pity the poor priest who might have had the task of instructing me!

The Pope and the hierarchy of the Catholic Church are probably convinced that he actually does represent Christ on Earth, and that the Catholic Church is the only path to God. I am not convinced of that, so I obviously would not make a good Catholic. I respect those who do believe these things. Their beliefs are at least as reasonable as some of the things Protestants believe. For the record, I don't completely swallow the Protestant KoolAid, either.

I was raised in the Methodist Church. What I believe about God and faith could not be summed up neatly in a booklet about Methodist doctrine. I don't believe exactly what any one denomination believes, swallowed whole in an undigestible mass.

I guess the Pope's recent statements irked me a bit. They struck at the core of my sectarian and religious beliefs about freedom. However, as part of that freedom, every religious group has the right to define itself without intereference (as long as it does so peacefully). We each choose our religious, political and personal affiliations. More important, we choose just how much influence each of those thing has on who we are and how we go forward in life. I guess, in the end, the proof is in the pudding.

No Surprises Here

2007-07-11T20:47:00.000-04:00

The conversation around the office lunch table invariably swings to the news of the day. First up for discussion over tuna sandwiches and diet Snapple today was the Pope's recent statement that the Catholic church is the only denomination that counts (one true church/faith kinda deal).

Reactions in the room were interesting, with the Catholics among us expressing the most incredulity. We non-Catholics were essentially unmoved, for two basic reasons. First, we already knew that the Catholic church held that position, so it wasn't news to us. Second, the Pope holds no authority to us. We don't think he speaks for God, and we don't think he has better access to God than anyone else. His opinion is fairly irrelevant to us, unless it impacts public policy or inspires genocide.

Any really interesting conversation (let me put my Geek hat on) today centered around Harry Potter. Discussions about the latest movie (released today) and the 7th book (to be released on 7/21; yes, I'll be in line at midnight) were animated and full of anticipatory speculation. Most people seem to think that Harry will make the ultimate sacrifice. He might be a horcrux (OK, I did mention the Geek hat, didn't I?), or Neville might turn out to be the wizard in the prophecy after all.

Those of you who have not followed the story have already tuned out on this post. Those of you who know the HP saga must have a guess about the final outcome of the series. What do you think?

A few of my predictions:
Ginny Weasley will play a significant role
Snape: friend, not foe (though never friendly)
There are a few surprises yet to be learned about Harry's family history
Harry might die, but Voldemort will not win
Neville and Luna will play important roles, as well
Draco Malfoy could make an unexpected change for the better
House elves, goblins and giants will factor into the final fray

OK, so I've dissed the Pope and exposed my interest in the wizarding world of Harry Potter. Am I a wanton liberal, or what?

2nd Monday and Stuff

2007-07-05T19:39:00.001-04:00

Today felt like Monday all over again. After having the day off yesterday for the Fourth (funny how we almost never call it Independence Day), getting up for work was like getting up on a Monday morning. 2 Mondays in one week, yikes.

Not that I'm complaining...

&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&

Maybe I watched too much of the 'Twilight Zone' marathon yesterday. One episode I saw was about a man who went back in time to the day of Lincoln's assassination. He wanted to stop John Wilkes Booth from completing the deed, but he couldn't do it.

Ever wonder how the world might be different today with just one small change in history? Imagine what would have happened if Benjamin Franklin had decided to remain loyal to the throne of England. He moderated much of the angry debate in Philadelphia prior to the Declaration of Independence, he persuaded many to join the fray, and he was the tie to our important French allies at the time of the war. He was a diplomat's diplomat.

Where would the US today be without Ben's influence on our history? What if he had used his considerable intellectual powers on behalf of Jolly Old England? Cricket, anyone? Would there ever have been a George Bush or a war in Iraq?

All questions, no answers. Like I said, too much 'Twilight Zone.'

Phew!!!

2007-06-30T11:30:00.000-04:00

I know it's been quite awhile since I posted. I'm glad to see that the Room was still here waiting for me!

The home purchase I was planning back in April didn't pan out, and that's a good thing! I've found something I like much more, and I'm expecting to sign contracts this afternoon. Cross your fingers for me, I'm really hoping this one will stick. Sure, this house costs more, and the interest rates have gone up, but at least the taxes are lower...

The house is new, and it's in the woods. It's quiet and private, everything I want in a home. It's an American classic in style: it's a bilevel. I knew I wanted the home the first time I stood on the patio. There is lovely swirled design imprinted into the cement. Shortly after they poured the patio, a turkey (a big one, judging from the size of the tracks) came by and wandered up to the doorway to take a peek inside. Hey, people pay big bucks to have their cement texturized. This design was donated by mother nature. Hard to beat that!

Hope the turkey is a frequent visitor. And DON'T get any funny ideas about Thanksgiving dinner!!!

Earth Day

2007-04-22T12:51:00.000-04:00

The time has come to pay attention to our Earth and her needs. Check out the Earth Day website.

Mercy!

2007-04-18T22:06:00.000-04:00

Mommanator over at Grannie's Ramblings told me today that it was time to dust off the Room. She told me she needs some new reading material, so here it is, fresh off the presses just for you, Mommanator!

I signed a contract to buy a home tonight. The sellers have agreed to my offer, and, if they sign the contract as expected, then I'll soon find myself in the midst of the maelstrom that accompanies real estate purchases.

The home in question is modest but relatively new. It's in a neighborhood, but the lot is large (1.5 acres). It needs some landscaping, so I'll be calling on all of my gardening friends for advice in that realm! I enjoy yard work, but I don't have much expertise when it comes to proper planting techniques, purchasing stock, etc.

In other news, my Mom has been in and out of the hospital and nursing care. She's home now, but we're working on setting up assisted living for her. She's not too good about taking her medication, and she's not particularly interested in eating. My siblings and I are doing our best to keep her well, but she needs a little more help than we can give her.

My office moved a couple of weeks ago. Fortunately, I have less than a 10 minute drive to work right now. That will change if my plans to purchase the house go through.

The new digs are nice, though moving was a major effort. I have a nice cubicle with a window. It offers a lovely view of some sort of maintenance yard, complete with trucks, piles of stuff and a warehouse. The view should improve when the large oak trees on the office property leaf out. No matter what, it's nice to be able to see at a glance what the weather is like. I see birds from time to time, too.

All in all, I think it's fair to say that my life has been a little bit crazy lately. Sorry for the long absence from posting; hope some of my blog friends find their way back for a visit soon. I'll try to be a little bit better about posting from here on out. With a little luck, I won't be touring real estate anymore, so I should have more time available. So, welcome to anyone who finds their way back to the Room. It's nice to have this virtual real estate to return to as my real life accommodations shift and change!

In Stitches

2007-02-27T22:41:00.000-05:00

Heard a reporter (think it was on CNN) the other day talking about a violent event somewhere in the world. She described the group behind it as having a wonton disregard for human life. Yep, she pronounced it just like the name of your favorite Chinese dumpling. I howled.

Time For Tea

2007-02-27T22:04:00.000-05:00

I had the pleasure of the company of two of the best friends a girl could have for a dining adventure last Saturday. We took our afternoon tea at The Vintage Rose Tea Room in Millville, NJ. My friend Zelda described the outing over at her blog, Garden of Eden.

The fare at The Vintage Rose was sumptuous. The ambiance was elegant and peaceful, but not at all haughty. The tea sandwiches were a dream, the scones were perfect, the desserts were heavenly and the tea selection was impressive. Clotted cream and lemon curd accompanied the scones, of course. The tableau was charming, with floral table covers reaching to the floor, silver service, and Royal Albert Old Country Roses china to hold the delicacies. The gustatory delights were presented on china plates on a three-tiered silver server. Cloth napkins were provided, of course. We dilly-dallied over our repast, enjoying the finest tea, food and company available.

I wish Virginia Gal lived nearby; I'd love to take her there for a treat one Saturday soon! I know she loves tea, and she is a bit of an Anglophile. I'd enjoy a chat with her over a cuppa.

It seems that Millville has played a prominent role in the more posh of my (admittedly limited) outings recently. I described a chic meal out at Winfield's in Millville in a post in December. These venues really are a surprise and a delight, tucked away in unpretentious little Millville. Will wonders never cease!

Noisy Neighbors

2007-02-27T07:27:00.000-05:00

I'm not talking about the folks upstairs, although they ARE noisy. That's a story for another day. There were quiet mornings around here for the last couple of weeks. The pond had frozen over and the wildlife had deserted us for greener pastures, errr... wetter waters. All that ended late last week when the deep freeze eased. I was awakened shortly after dawn by the calls of the ducks who had returned to the pond. They are joined from time to time by a small flock of Canada geese, who give new meaning to the word noisy! I've even heard the geese in the middle of the night, honking just outside my (first floor) bedroom window.

Yesterday morning I was up early and sat down to check my email. I heard the oddest noise, and I wondered just what the neighbors were up to now. I peeked out my window to behold three enormous turkeys parading around on the lawn just outside The Room; another voice had been added to the daily cacophany of nature sounds to be heard here, unexpected in such a populated location.

As loud as my feathered friends can be, their noise never disturbs me. Human noises often annoy me to no end, but most of the sounds found in nature are comforting to me. Guess that's why my current home search is focused on more rural settings. Wish me luck!

And Now for Something Completely Different...

2007-02-22T18:37:00.000-05:00

...allow me, please, to introduce the multi-talented (dare I say ingenious?) Evil Chicken. The name is deceptive, because EC is actually one of the kindest people I know, and he has a degree of moral courage that would put most of us to shame.

In any event, stop by his place, Chicken Scratch, from time to time. You never know just what you'll find there!

Fave Foto Friday

2007-02-16T09:55:00.000-05:00

Here's a little something for FFF. I know I've been woefully AWOL lately; sorry! Life's been coming at me fast. I'm on my way out the door in a few minutes, so I don't have time to reply to any comments right now. I hope to have a chance this evening or tomorrow. Hope everyone is well!

Stretched Out

2007-01-26T22:06:00.000-05:00

Some Days

(today was one)

I feel like a used paper clip

-form slightly skewed

-less useful than before

I can still function to handle the big things

(for a short while...if I must)

but smaller things

elude my grasp.

Ducks and Drakes

2007-01-26T17:53:00.000-05:00

OK, here they are, finally, the real decoy, errrr... McCoy. Anywho, these are the ducks who inhabit the pond outside The Room.

Not the greatest photos, I know. I'll get better ones at a future date.

Allow Me to Introduce...

2007-01-24T21:24:00.000-05:00

...my very good friend, the Mommanator! Her blog is up and running, and it's ready for prime time. Stop by and show her the love!

Room With a View

2007-01-17T18:31:00.000-05:00

The windows here at The Room overlook a pond occupied by a small flock of Mallard ducks. Recently, a group of Canada Geese has been in residence, as well. Here is a link to the sound I wake to each morning. The pond is just outside of my bedroom, and the ducks seem to favor my side of the water at sunrise. They take a morning stroll across the lawn at about 7:00 am every day; I suspect that one of the neighbors throws out some seed at about that time each morning.

One poor drake has a backwards foot. I don't know whether this is due to a birth defect or an injury. It makes him a bit of a pegleg, and he hobbles when he walks. The social worker in me wants to connect him to services. I wonder if there is a local nature group or veterinarian who might be able to correct his defect. He's still pretty functional, but I wonder how well he will be able to evade the cats lurking around if he's caught any distance from the water when one appears. I guess that's natural selection, but I don't have to like it.

I don't have any photos of my ducks to share right now. I'm posting this at night, so I'll have to wait until tomorrow to try to take a picture. I'll shoot for an image of the ducks for Fave Foto Friday this week. Here's an image of a Mallard I found online:

Melting

2007-01-07T08:45:00.000-05:00

Photo found at Komo TV website

Global warming is a topic of great interest to me. Frank at iFlipFlop posted recently about the unprecedented high temperatures we're experiencing this January. While one warm January does not a melted planet make, there seems to be an overall trend toward warm winters in the eastern US that is hard to ignore.

An article at cnn.com dated January 4 adds fuel to the fire. According to the article, an ice shelf the size of 11,000 football fields snapped free from Canada's Arctic 16 months ago (August of 2005), something scientists consider to be an alarming occurrence. Global warming is considered to be a, "major contributing factor," and this is seen as evidence that we are, "crossing climate thresholds." Earthquake monitors located 155 miles away picked up the collapse.

Fave Foto Friday

2006-12-29T16:23:00.000-05:00

This is a photo of my sweet little Maxine at about age 1. I wanted to end the year with one last remembrance of her.

5 Things You Don't Know About Me (and Maybe Didn't Want To)

2006-12-28T09:34:00.000-05:00

OK, here goes with the, "5 Things," meme. I was tagged awhile back by Frank at iFlipFlop to do this meme, but the holidays and Mom's illness slowed me down a bit.

1. I love to travel, but I'm a terrible homebody. Coming home from somewhere (the mall, a party, a vacation) is one of my greatest pleasures.

2. I'm in a bit of a transition period right now, so home doesn't exactly feel like home. I'll probably buy a house sometime in 2007.

3. I'm generally pretty quiet. When I'm home alone, I don't often have the TV or the stereo on. I love music and I love entertainment (I'm going to see Trans Siberian Orchestra in AC tonight), but it usually just doesn't occur to me to make noise. Can't someone invent a truly quiet washer/dryer/dishwasher/heater that's affordable to the masses? One thing my new home is likely to have is a separate laundry room, hopefully far from the main living area!

4. My current digs won't allow dogs, but cats are allowed (for an additional monthly fee). I love all animals, and I had a chance to adopt a kitten on Christmas Eve, but I'm allergic to cats. Another reason to buy a house soon!

5. I doubt very much that I will live in New Jersey after I retire. New Jersey has become crowded, traffic-jammed and noisy since I was a child, and has lost far too much of its woodlands and wetlands, in my opinion. The wide-open spaces of the Midwest beckon.

I hope everyone had a lovely holiday. Christmas was odd for me this year, with Mom sick and the family a bit hectic, but I survived.

I had a lovely dinner out with a friend last night. We dined at a fine restaurant in Millville, of all places! Winfield's is surprisingly chic and urban in decor, and they have quite a martini menu. I had a tartini, which was delicious, and included muddled raspberries in the mix. I also had a nice glass of merlot with my steak au poivre (one of the specials last night), and (the ladies will appreciate this) I had creme brulee for dessert.

Well, time to gear up for the New Year. Here's to a spectacular 2007 for all!

A Room Somewhere

Close Call

Ciao Italia

Going...Going...

Ancestry

Sunday

The Nitty Gritty

Democracy Took a Hit Today

Ruby Slippers

All at Once

Flowers

Early Fall

Groundhog Day

Critter Wars

Broken Record

Cool Down

Soap Opera

New Hope

Tee Hee

The Piper

New Worlds

Tearing My Hair Out!

Photo Poem

House of Fish

Lions and Tigers and Bears

Surprise!

Lost

Double Bind

"List 7 things that you love, and then pass the award on to 7 bloggers that you love!"

Daisy and Muttley

Caesar For a Day

Muttley

Fave Foto Friday and All That Jazz

Just Right Night

Family Quest

What I've Been Up To

Gotta Love It

Overused

Happy 2009

A Sober New Year

More Good Things

Good Things

Loss

Book Meme

Light a Candle for Peace

Where I've Been

New Toy

Uncharitable Thoughts

The Future Under McCain/Palin:

PHEW!

As The Worm Turns

A Note on the Fly

Say a Prayer

One at a Time

Of Ghoulies and Ghosties...

Fave Foto Friday - Name That Gnome!

Next

Fave Foto Friday

Still Kickin'

Voting, Small Town Style

Technicalities

Odd Choice; Change of Subject

Depression Bread Line

For Virginia Gal

Fave Foto Friday - Early Christmas Present

What I Love About the Season

Leftovers

No Leftovers

Free

Fave Foto Friday 'n' Stuff

Fave Foto Friday

Double Back

Back!

Question

How to Reconstitute a Zombie

Netherworlds

Busy Days

MERCY!!!!

Witching (and Wizarding) Hour

Tearing My Hair Out