I'm trying hard to give all of you a gently-measured dosage of blogging. I know you -- if I got back up to full speed, you would gorge yourselves to the point of making yourselves sick. So, I'll watch out for you and carefully get your systems built up.
(Yeah, yeah.)
How are you all doing with the transition in seasons? I can't believe we're right on top of Memorial Day and practically into the summer months! Our spring was just unusual, I think. The oppressive heat has abated and come back, kind of moving in on us in waves. We're starting to see the heavy thunderstorm season. Last night I stayed up late and had my front door open so I could enjoy some cooler air and the sound of rain. A little after midnight, though, that rain turned torrential and the air started swelling like heavy seas. By the time I battened down the hatches and went to bed, air was whistling through the cracks around the back door and the house was groaning. I could feel the roof struggling to stay firmly attached to the house.
This morning on the way to work I saw a tree that wasn't able to hang on quite as well. Half of a huge tree blocked the street a block from my house on my route to work. It was hung up on the utility lines and virtually filled the street from curb to curb. Impossible for cars to get through, but one lone biker was able to make it through by gliding along the far gutter over the tips of the limbs. I think I would have been too concerned about puncturing a tire on twigs and sticks to try it myself. At lunchtime, I noticed they had gotten the bulk of the mess out of the street, but there were still a lot of scattered leaves.
Since I had to take a detour anyway (oh- but of course I took a photo of the tree for work!) I picked up breakfast for everyone at the office. Friday always seems to be a good day for us to gorge on breakfast around here. I'm not sure I'll be able to continue doing that though, as it doesn't exactly align with my doctor's orders...
I almost hate to write this out loud, but ... shhh! Don't say it!! You'll jinx it! I have a quiet!! three-day we said HUSH! weekend! That gives me one day to clean house, one day to go to Tulsa and one day to recover and lolly-gag like a Woman of Leisure. Oh, how I need this! I'm too old to be working six days a week routinely. I really, really am.
School is out as of the end of the day. Even though I don't have kids, it's still a good thing for me as one part of my job is being the education editor. This last week has been a bear with all the schools having their "end-of-the-year" programs and parties and other activities. Graduation is tonight. Next week's page will be slim pickin's I'm afraid. I may wind up just doing a photo page. We'll see.
Here's a question for you — how are you handling the higher gas prices? I'm traumatized, but honestly my driving is pretty minimal. I will be cutting back. On days when the weather allows, I'll consider walking the 10 blocks to work. I looked at a Honda Elite scooter the other day. It sure was cute and I was tempted to go pay the $2,000 or so for one. It is something to consider, but there's not a local dealer and I did some reading on message boards. Reviews were kind of a mixed bag. Good milage and cute, but not much pep. There's a definite load limit on what they can handle.
Hey, it's Friday! Go make some fun weekend plans!
Friday, May 23, 2008
Tuesday, May 20, 2008
Whoa, Baby! It's Two-fer Tuesday!
Don't faint and don't get spoiled, but here you go with a second post for this fine Tuesday. It's something I was going to blog last night if I had not fallen asleep at the late hour of 7 p.m.
The season changed yesterday, rudely and abruptly. We've been rolling along with a cool spring and then BAM yesterday shot up into the 90s. I had made a pledge not to turn on my air conditioner before June 1, but I gave it up yesterday evening after I came home from the grocery store and it was 86 degrees in the house at 6:45 p.m.
Here in the land of floor furnace and window units, it's a big deal to change seasons. I had already been living with the heat thermostat set low, but even so have had blankets and a quilt on the bed for cooler nights. Turning on the main window A/C in the living room requires the assistance of a steak knife or thin screwdriver (last night I appropriated a steak knife) because the face plate is just ever so slightly cattywonker and won't allow the "off" button to pop back out unassisted when you try to push a cooling button. So I've learned the secret of the A/C surgery routine and in return was greeted with a face full of dust blowing full force once I accomplished my mission. Hey, it's part of the transition.
Today, of course, the high returned to the 60s. I came home for lunch and had to shut the machine off again because it was cold. Don't know why it didn't dawn on my this morning but I can only plead grogginess. Since I crashed so early, I woke up for a couple of hours in the middle of the night before I could return to slumberland just in time to get deeply, deeply asleep in time for the alarm to go off.
Have I ever mentioned how much I hate waking up to an alarm? Actually, I have to use a combination -- an alarm followed 15 minutes later by an annoying station on the clock radio. Around here the annoying station part is simple. Anything that's played within the range of my radio is guaranteed to be annoying, pretty much 24/7. I cannot get the NPR station from the university 40 miles south of here. It's almost enough to trigger a psychotic break. Hey, maybe THAT'S what happened! Intriguing theory.
I also had to fill my gas tank today. I've been putting it off as long as possible, hoping to make it until my check hits the bank tomorrow, but fortunately I did have enough to go ahead and fill it today. Just barely. My little Civic drank up nearly $40 -- undoubtedly the most it has ever cost me to fill Ruby's tummy in the 13 years I've had her. It almost made me cry. One of my co-workers and I have about decided to start walking to work on days when weather and work schedules make it practical. My problem is an irregular night schedule with a lot of evening meetings at City Hall. I'm just not all that comfortable with walking home from there after dark, although it's only a few blocks on the main street and most nights would be safe enough. Problem is, I read the police logs every day and I know too much about the wacky and crazy things that can happen at that time anywhere in town. And we have our share of town characters who wander randomly and may act inappropriately. Still, on days when I can walk in the daylight and the weather cooperates, I may start hoofing it.
The other alternative we've talked about is riding bikes. I'd love to get a touring bike and I think it would be fun to ride it to work, provided I had a safe place to park it while I'm at the office. Somehow I don't think they'd appreciate me parking it next to my desk. I wonder though - I promise I'd get a really pretty pink one! With a basket! And I'll put flowers from my garden in the basket. Do you think I could convince them it's really just a mobile vase? Hmmm.
I'm toying with the idea of buying a tiny camera that I can carry with me for fun. I have a Nikon D70 SLR digital with a couple of lenses, but the bag is just big enough and bulky enough to be kind of a drag. And I haven't had the time to go on many (read that: any) weekend adventures since I've been here like I used to. I'm considering one of the tiny Canon Elph cameras. They come with a huge number of megapixels these days and the cost is very reasonable. I've looked at a few and a friend at work showed me his today. I'd considered one of the Sonys but he said they aren't very good quality. It'll probably be a while before I have enough free cash to seriously consider the purchase so I have plenty of time to study up on it.
Oh hush. I can hear you out there saying "I think she's only writing to keep from cleaning up more in the living room." Smarty pants. You think you know everything now that I've revealed my love of the Rita music. OK, OK. One more time on the CD and then to bed. We'll see what I can accomplish on the third playing. No matter how much more cleaning I get done, Rita's good therapy nonetheless.
Be seein' you around.
The season changed yesterday, rudely and abruptly. We've been rolling along with a cool spring and then BAM yesterday shot up into the 90s. I had made a pledge not to turn on my air conditioner before June 1, but I gave it up yesterday evening after I came home from the grocery store and it was 86 degrees in the house at 6:45 p.m.
Here in the land of floor furnace and window units, it's a big deal to change seasons. I had already been living with the heat thermostat set low, but even so have had blankets and a quilt on the bed for cooler nights. Turning on the main window A/C in the living room requires the assistance of a steak knife or thin screwdriver (last night I appropriated a steak knife) because the face plate is just ever so slightly cattywonker and won't allow the "off" button to pop back out unassisted when you try to push a cooling button. So I've learned the secret of the A/C surgery routine and in return was greeted with a face full of dust blowing full force once I accomplished my mission. Hey, it's part of the transition.
Today, of course, the high returned to the 60s. I came home for lunch and had to shut the machine off again because it was cold. Don't know why it didn't dawn on my this morning but I can only plead grogginess. Since I crashed so early, I woke up for a couple of hours in the middle of the night before I could return to slumberland just in time to get deeply, deeply asleep in time for the alarm to go off.
Have I ever mentioned how much I hate waking up to an alarm? Actually, I have to use a combination -- an alarm followed 15 minutes later by an annoying station on the clock radio. Around here the annoying station part is simple. Anything that's played within the range of my radio is guaranteed to be annoying, pretty much 24/7. I cannot get the NPR station from the university 40 miles south of here. It's almost enough to trigger a psychotic break. Hey, maybe THAT'S what happened! Intriguing theory.
I also had to fill my gas tank today. I've been putting it off as long as possible, hoping to make it until my check hits the bank tomorrow, but fortunately I did have enough to go ahead and fill it today. Just barely. My little Civic drank up nearly $40 -- undoubtedly the most it has ever cost me to fill Ruby's tummy in the 13 years I've had her. It almost made me cry. One of my co-workers and I have about decided to start walking to work on days when weather and work schedules make it practical. My problem is an irregular night schedule with a lot of evening meetings at City Hall. I'm just not all that comfortable with walking home from there after dark, although it's only a few blocks on the main street and most nights would be safe enough. Problem is, I read the police logs every day and I know too much about the wacky and crazy things that can happen at that time anywhere in town. And we have our share of town characters who wander randomly and may act inappropriately. Still, on days when I can walk in the daylight and the weather cooperates, I may start hoofing it.
The other alternative we've talked about is riding bikes. I'd love to get a touring bike and I think it would be fun to ride it to work, provided I had a safe place to park it while I'm at the office. Somehow I don't think they'd appreciate me parking it next to my desk. I wonder though - I promise I'd get a really pretty pink one! With a basket! And I'll put flowers from my garden in the basket. Do you think I could convince them it's really just a mobile vase? Hmmm.
I'm toying with the idea of buying a tiny camera that I can carry with me for fun. I have a Nikon D70 SLR digital with a couple of lenses, but the bag is just big enough and bulky enough to be kind of a drag. And I haven't had the time to go on many (read that: any) weekend adventures since I've been here like I used to. I'm considering one of the tiny Canon Elph cameras. They come with a huge number of megapixels these days and the cost is very reasonable. I've looked at a few and a friend at work showed me his today. I'd considered one of the Sonys but he said they aren't very good quality. It'll probably be a while before I have enough free cash to seriously consider the purchase so I have plenty of time to study up on it.
Oh hush. I can hear you out there saying "I think she's only writing to keep from cleaning up more in the living room." Smarty pants. You think you know everything now that I've revealed my love of the Rita music. OK, OK. One more time on the CD and then to bed. We'll see what I can accomplish on the third playing. No matter how much more cleaning I get done, Rita's good therapy nonetheless.
Be seein' you around.
You know what's good?
I'll tell you what's good. Putting a Rita Coolidge CD on the boom box (specifically: The Best of Rita Coolidge The Millennium Collection from 20th Century Masters); cranking it up and belting out songs like "Long Ago and Far Away;" "All Time High;" "Loving Arms;" and "I'd Rather Leave While I'm in Love."
Oh nostalgia! It hurts SO good. I'm playing it through a second time now as I go about a little purging and house straightening. EXCELLENT for that purpose because the music can carry my mind back waaaay far into the past and I can wail and cry the blues away while I rock out. Do you have any idea how many old magazines you can throw away in that state of mind? A TRUNK FULL! And they aren't even MY MAGAZINES. These are magazines that the previous owner left stashed away in a closed cupboard and I just never had the emotional strength to deal with her mess on top of my own. That is until RITA came to my rescue tonight.
Rock on! More later, folks. I'm mulling over a LOT of stuff tonight while I purge.
Oh nostalgia! It hurts SO good. I'm playing it through a second time now as I go about a little purging and house straightening. EXCELLENT for that purpose because the music can carry my mind back waaaay far into the past and I can wail and cry the blues away while I rock out. Do you have any idea how many old magazines you can throw away in that state of mind? A TRUNK FULL! And they aren't even MY MAGAZINES. These are magazines that the previous owner left stashed away in a closed cupboard and I just never had the emotional strength to deal with her mess on top of my own. That is until RITA came to my rescue tonight.
Rock on! More later, folks. I'm mulling over a LOT of stuff tonight while I purge.
Wednesday, May 07, 2008
Sick
I've been in bed all day. Fever, coughing, leaking head. Was up for an hour this afternoon then crawled back to bed. I've been up for a few minutes now to get water and check around the internets to make sure I was still sort of alive. Will be returning to bed/nest shortly. Will try to refrain from groaning.
Monday, May 05, 2008
OK, Fine
Apparently NOBODY is reading things around here any more. What am I going to have to do, start doing give-away contests? Fine and dandy, Andy.
Stay tuned to this station. As soon as I find something worthy of giving away, I'll post my very first contest. Meanwhile, though, won't somebody please say hello, at least? There's an echo in here!
Stay tuned to this station. As soon as I find something worthy of giving away, I'll post my very first contest. Meanwhile, though, won't somebody please say hello, at least? There's an echo in here!
Friday, May 02, 2008
Haiku
As a nod to my deep cultural roots, please allow me to share my newly discovered favorite Haiku of all time (sorry E.R., this has bumped you out of first place for the moment. Please post yours in the comment, though, because I would love to re-read it. And yes, this is a test to see how long before you read this and reply.)
Please also remember that I am probably one of the few 53-year-olds who still has a yen to rollerskate.
And now, courtesy of Bill Slowsky, the turtle from ComCast, whom I just discovered today because I do not watch television:
In what world is it
Okay to wear rollerskates?
Take those off your feet.
Please also remember that I am probably one of the few 53-year-olds who still has a yen to rollerskate.
And now, courtesy of Bill Slowsky, the turtle from ComCast, whom I just discovered today because I do not watch television:
In what world is it
Okay to wear rollerskates?
Take those off your feet.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
