Another Monday

It's 6:45 am. Coffee is brewing in the kitchen as the dawn begins to light the sky ever so gently. I can hear the distant drone of traffic out on the highway. Coming at such an early hour, the noise indicates that this is a weekday, and the world is ready for business.

I have a few brief moments to ponder before I must busy myself with the ordinary Monday things and take myself off to join the masses headed to the workaday world. I feel resistant this morning, wanting to extend the relaxed glow of the weekend a little longer. I don't want to be drawn back into my weekly routine - the sameness of it, the chains it places on me. I am conscious of it now, tugging at me against my will. I will become unaware of it once it has me in its clutches, until I am set free again, albeit briefly, at the end of the week.

Maxine 6/6/90 - 10/6/06

Merthiolate

I had an interesting conversation with a couple of coworkers the other day. We started talking about the joy of skinned knees in childhood. Remember how messed up your knees (and palms and elbows) could get from falling on the cement? How often did we run home yelling, dripping blood all the way?

Our moms were staunch believers in iodine (applied after washing the area thoroughly with a soapy washcloth) as the first line of defense against infection. I wonder, was it really sanitary to use the stick in the bottle (attached to the lid) over and over again on our wounds? They didn't wash it before putting it back into the solution, did they?

My mom had an especially brutal tool in her arsenal: a big red spray bottle of merthiolate. This stuff was bright red in color, went on cold, and, no lie, hurt more than iodine. I remember seeing commercials for Bactine, which was supposed to be painless. I begged Mom to buy it, but she insisted we had to use up all of the merthiolate first. I don't think we ever did, and I'll bet she still has that red bottle somewhere, ready to torment me at the first opportunity.

Turns out that merthiolate is actually one and the same product as thimerosal. Thimerosal is the antibacterial, anti-fungal preservative that is being eliminated from vaccines and other products because of safety concerns. Apparently, it's almost 50% mercury. Thanks mom.

As for the skinned knees, I am told that today's kids mostly miss out on that bit of fun. Seems they play inside more than out, and are less active in general. Pity. Nothing quite beats the glory of skinned knees, wounds earned on the field of childhood play.

Grand Remercie, Mes Chers Amis...

I hope Frank will correct my French grammar, spelling, etc. It's been a long time...

I am blessed with some kind friends who have been very considerate, thoughtful and supportive over the last several weeks, and I cannot say enough to thank them. Two girlfriends have kept checks on me and helped to look out for me (Zelda and Mommanator), even though they have challenges in their own lives right now. I can't begin to describe how much they have meant to me.

In his own inimitable way, Pax has kept my thoughts positive and focused on the best aspects of the future, always ready with plans for good things. And he always boosts my self esteem when I'm a bit low. A chat with Pax is always a great way to start the day, along with a trip to Pax's Coffee Bar.

Another friend volunteered readily to do some heavy lifting in spite of a bad back. I will never forget his generosity of spirit.

One last friend provided me with some much needed respite in the form of an impromptu midwestern vacation, and has been there to revive my spirit as often as necessary, day or night. Thank you, from the depths of my heart and soul.

So an enormous hug and a big bushel of thanks goes to each of my very dear friends. I hope I have the opportunity to repay each of you in kind.

Lovely Lazy Saturday

Today was one of those lovely, lazy Saturdays. I slept late, went out for breakfast at 3pm, then came home and took a nap. Might take in a movie tonight. All in all, a perfect day. How did you spend your Saturday?

Changing Rooms

A Room Somewhere was closed for the last few weeks because my real-world, physical space moved. I’m writing this from a new room in a new town, though my virtual Room will remain comfortably the same, at least for now.

I managed to sneak in a vacation with a dear friend in September. I went to school in Indiana, and I came to love the Midwest while I was there. I had not been back since graduation (literally decades ago), and it was wonderful to see the heartland again.

The waves of grain were just beginning to turn amber while I was there. It was beautiful to see the moon hanging low in the sky over acres and acres of corn and soy; what a welcome sight to someone who can’t see the horizon at home because she lives in such a highly developed area. And the stars! The stars are bright and sparkling and abundant, with no light pollution to obstruct your view of them.

You all know how I like a quiet place. This visit with my friend fed my heart and soul in ways I can’t describe. I took long walks each day (sometimes more than once in a given day) along a country lane. The fresh air and exercise made me hungry as a big bear, and the home-cooked meals were filling and satisfying. It really was a perfect little idyll for me in the midst of a tempest.

I love being close to the ocean, but the East Coast is such a frenetic place to live anymore that I think I could leave the ocean for the farmlands. I’m sure the years from now to retirement will take me down many unexpected paths, but I think I may have found my heart’s desire along the country roads of the US Midwest.

Waking Room

I'm crossing all of my fingers and toes, and, with a little luck, I'll be able to turn the lights back on in the Room this weekend. It'll take a little magic and a lot of help from Comcast, but I think I just might pull it off. Hope to see you all soon!

Room at Rest

The Room is going to take a nap for awhile. I won't have access to a computer for awhile (except at work, and I don't like blogging on the sly), so I can't post and I can't get to email, either. I hope to be able to stop by your blogs from time to time, so I'll still be around.

See y'all soon!

Oops, I did it again...

I've been Home Alone this week, and, wouldn't you know, I set the alarm off again last night. Happened somewhere around 1:00 am. It only went off for about 5 seconds before I got to it, so maybe it didn't disturb anyone too much.

Sorry neighbors!

Landslides and Moonshine

Someone sent me various versions of Landslide (the song that seems to follow me lately), including the Dixie Chicks' version, which I like as much as the Fleetwood Mac version. I've burned all 4 to CD, along with a sweet little song called Kentucky Moonshine by Pure Prairie League. I heard a friend sing it today, and I had to track it down. Guess there's been a country theme to my day today.

Thanks very much for the Landslides and for the beautiful Kentucky Moonshine. Now I really AM going to bed! Goodnight!

Alarm Me! And everyone else...

Errrg. Just set off the alarm taking one of the dogs out. Boy, does that hurt your ears! Turned it off pretty fast, so I don't think I annoyed the neighbors too much. And NOW, I get to try to go to SLEEP.

GOODNIGHT!

Another Weekend Gone

Another weekend gone: one in an endless procession of nondescript breaks from work. Nondescript was OK with me this time around; I needed the rest. I nearly fell asleep while driving on Friday, less than half a mile from home. I know it happens to everyone sometimes, the sudden jerk of the head, but this was worse than usual. Let's just say that my car would have lost in a match-up with the oncoming SUV. I was seriously sleep-deprived last week. I think I totalled about 15 hours Sunday night through Thursday night. I'd fall asleep each night, but I had trouble staying asleep.

Today was an OK day. I did a bit of shopping at the mall and at Borders (had to try to find the song that made me cry when I was walking through Walmart on Friday), and I took a ride past my old house late in the afternoon. It's out in the country, and it's a pleasant drive. I'll post about that house one of these days; it was the only home I ever really fell in love with. I call it my Manderley, for those of you familiar with Daphne DuMaurier's Rebecca (though not because it's a mansion, or has a seaside cottage on the grounds; I've never been that rich).

Anyway, I turned off of my route home from the mall to head up Cumberland Avenue. Doesn't it sound green and bucolic? It is! I was immediately distracted by a small sign with an arrow that said, "Yard Sale." I made a quick left onto who-knows-what road, intrigued by the concept of a yard sale in the middle of nowhere.

Half a mile or so up the road, on what I think was a farm (I didn't stop to look too closely) some folks appeared to be clearing up the last evidence of the sale. It was late in the day (5-ish), so I guess it was silly to think a yard sale would still be in full swing. Wonder if they pulled in any business? This is truly a back road through the woods, with very little traffic - lovely and peaceful, but not yard sale territory.

I turned around a little way up the road, went back to Cumberland Ave., and cut over to my old street. It has an equally lovely name, but I'll leave that detail out. ;) You really can't see much of my old house from the road - it sits WAY back in the woods. The driveway appears to be in need of a new load of stone, and weeds seem to be poking through. Oh well, it is the country.

Still not ready to go home, I cut back up Cumberland Ave. This time I rode through with the sun roof and the windows open. I wanted so badly to just pull over and enjoy the peace and quiet, but it didn't seem like a sensible thing to do, so I headed for home.

I finally ate dinner (which was also breakfast and lunch today - I was so distracted by shopping that I forgot to eat) at about 6:30. As soon as my laundry comes out of the dryer, I'm for bed. 'Night all! Sleep tight.

Pandora's Box

I found Pandora's Box in my attic last week. Having reduced a bit lately, I've been shopping my attic for clothes that fit (as well as several local department stores; have you heard the scream of anguish from my bank account?) I came across a box packed several years ago marked, "small clothes." All things being relative, most women will recognize that the clothes we called small several years ago would qualify as absolutely miniscule today.

I actually let the box sit out for a couple of days, and I thought I had decided to return it to the attic unopened. I should have known better than to tear the packing tape off of it, but what would the world be like if Pandora had been a woman of good sense? I proceeded. What was inside? Rare treasure, indeed!

1)Tiny little chinos from the late 80's, with tapered legs and high pleated waistlines. Bought at The Limited. Black and khaki.

2)Two knit dresses barely big enough to fit my Charmin Chatty doll (I still have her, though she's in terrible condition). One green and slinky, one black and white striped above an empire waist, and black below the waistline. Both with the obligatory padded shoulders of the 80's. The black dress has two gold buttons just under the waistline, giving it a military flair. Can't believe I ever wore these to work!

3)Several pairs of shorts.

4)An acid-washed denim jumper with a high, tight waist. I remember wearing this on a date to a comdedy club in Philly, with a walk along the waterfront afterwards. I loved that jumper. Guess that's why I saved it.

5)One truly pretty outfit with a royal blue skirt in a silky fabric and an oriental-inspired wrap top in a matching print (same fabric).

6)A pretty black knit dress with long sleeves, an empire waist and a dirndl-style skirt falling from the waist, fuller at the bottom. This would be a great dress to dance in; it would flow with every movement.

And so, discontentment has been loosed from the box and into my world. I want to wear these clothes again, or at least be able to wear them. They'd look ridiculous out on the street in aught six, especially without the big permed hair to go with the shoulder pads.

I'd better take another look in the box. I think I may have packed hope back into it along with the clothes and sent the whole kit and caboodle back to the attic.

Followed By A Song

The song Landslide by Stevie Nicks seems to be following me these days. I heard it again last night just as I reached the end of a long wait in line. I don't believe in giving mystical power to happenstance, but I was a bit taken aback. I posted about this song back in July.

Hope the song can lull me back to sleep for an hour or so. I seem to fall asleep for a few hours, then wake up for a couple, mind in overdrive. I'm tired. A quiet weekend is just the ticket for me right now. Gotta make it through Friday first. An outing with the Breakfast Club should start the day off right. Pax, Zelda...see you at 8:00!

My Quiet Place

This is one of my favorite places. I've only been there once, and I'm not sure whether or not I'll ever return. It's a forest in Sitka, Alaska. This is where I send my spirit when it needs rest. I keep prints of this picture at work and at home.

Wordless

This week finds me at a loss for words. While I often cannot find just the right words, it's rare for me to find myself silenced. Right now, the words are locked in my heart, and my pen can't seem to set them free. I suspect that I am asking words to do something that words, no matter how fine, may never accomplish.

I think I'll rest a beat to refresh my heart. Maybe I'll find some wordless way to do what my poor, powerless pen cannot.

Fresh! Hot!

IT'S ABOUT TIME!

CNN is reporting that the US and France have agreed to a draft UN resolution to end the fighting between Hezbollah and Israel. What took them so long? Not enough death and destruction?

Has anybody heard any reports that the US government has called for a cease fire, aside from the pending UN resolution? The last I heard, we were saying something to the effect that we respected Israel's right to defend itself.

Yield Sign

Sometimes nature has a way of slowing you down when you need it. My weekend plans might be on hold because I'm exhausted. I was fragmented at work yesterday. It was a bad hair day, and my face is kind of splotchy - I think I'm allergic to something. I fell asleep right after dinner, and I woke up a bit after midnight feeling generally lousy. Maybe I'll pack my husband off to the barbecue today. That would allow me to spend a quiet day at home alone. Reading, sipping tea, enjoying the garden - mmmm, sounds nice!

I'm going back to bed now. Maybe I'll feel different about it when I get up later this morning. Maybe I'll feel like baking a pie and heading out to a barbecue. Maybe.

Whoever thought we'd be glad for a forecast high temperature of 93 because it meant a cooler day? Remarkable!

We have a barbecue with friends on tap for this weekend. Yet another barbecue! I'm thankful for the end of each summer because I'm ready to forswear barbecues for awhile. It should be a balmy 87 degrees this time around. I know that's a vast improvement over the 97 degree temperatures we've had for the last several days, but I've never been one to sit out in the sun (I burn, blister, peel and freckle, but I don't really tan), so 87 sounds high to me. I'll find a shady spot, and I'll pack plenty of sunscreen.

I have managed to take the edge off of my glow-in-the-dark skin with Jergens Natural Glow Lotion. While I wouldn't qualify as tan by most people's standards, at least I won't be guiding ships into harbor when I go to the beach.

In spite of the type of gathering, I'm looking forward to seeing my friends. This is an annual event with a group of guys my husband has known since childhood and their wives. Of course, that means we're going to hear about their youthful exploits all over again. I seriously don't know how these guys made it to adulthood without death, dismemberment or incarceration. We'll hear the same highlights and the same squabbles over details we hear every time this group is together (several times a year). That's OK. The ladies can withdraw to another table to discuss modern history.

I've been asked to make a sour cream apple pie for the affair, and I will oblige. I'm glad all over again for the lower temperatures, since running the oven in the extreme heat is not my idea of a good time! Yes, we have air conditioning, but, still, the idea baking anything when it's close to 100 degrees outside is anathema to me.

So, what's on for your weekend? Anybody have super plans to make the rest of us jealous? Right now, I'd probably be most envious of the person who said they were going to stay home and read a good book!