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 |  I've maxed out. Closed this blog. |
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This is a way of making myself write something coherent and grammatically correct almost every day. I'm opinionated and need an outlet. I'm also prone to flights of fancy. Thanks for stopping by. |
| When Grimm and Anderson went through Europe recording old folk tales, they cleaned them up for public printing. Folk lore had endured because they were remembered and told generation to generation, and spread by traveling minstrel and actors The tales of Europe had died out sooner than Ireland's because of printing, and the availability of reading materials. Ireland was later coming into the literate age, so their folk tales were still alive much after the King Arthur stories had died. The King Arthur stories were the overlap between superstition and Christianity, and Tennyson cleaned them up even more. When the Irish stories were finally collected, long after Grimm and Anderson, the stories were still alive and lurid. None of them were intended for children alone, but were for all ages. So if you pick up a volume of Irish folk tales, don't plan on reading them aloud to the kids. They are much too scary and R-rated. Finn MacCumhail (pronounced Finn McCool) is the hero of many of these tales. He's sort of a cross between King Arthur and Robin Hood. None that I have read make him out to be quite so noble or so virtuous, but he does save many people, and is always a strong leader. The stories include odd animal tales, and tales of giants crossing the Irish waters to England. The ancient tales lasted intact until almost the 20th century. |
| With St. Patrick's Day a week away, it's time to brush up our Irish. Let's start with wild banshees. I don't want to meet up with one, but I'm fascinated to hear about them. They're not really wild. They just sound that way and frighten people. Usually these spirits of dead women have attached themselves to a family or residents of their estate. For some reason, they have not been able to leave this world after their deaths, perhaps because of a tragic ending. In this lingering state, the spirits warn of an impending death. They could be called "wild" because most often they are heard by someone who's been out late drinking. The telling of it may have been affected by their physical and mental state. Some modern folks have tried to pass it off as the sound of wind, but we know better. A nice banshee makes a low, mournful sound. This is one who regrets the upcoming demise of a truly good person, or a very young person, maybe a young pregnant wife. She sounds sorrowful and heartbroken. Maybe this banshee wishes she didn't know this awful information. Her cries fill the listeners and their friends with sorrow and worry and dismay. Then there is the wicked banshee. She takes delight in knowing an upcoming demise. She shrieks and howls with laughter. Her cry is much scarier than the other kind. She strikes fear in the hearts of those who hear, which gives her even greater delight. Just or unjust, death to her is a game. I've heard of wild banshee Indians. I think that is a mistake made legendary. Perhaps an Irish cowboy, or his Irish wife, mixed the comparisons when talking about children. There were large settlements of Irish out west, like Chicago. Yes, Chicago was the wild west at one time.So don't fall for the mix of Indian and Irish lore. It just isn't so. If you don't want to hear a wild banshee for yourself, don't stay out at the pub so late at night, don't pass out drunk outdoors, and have a designated driver just to be safe. |
| Daylight Savings Time throws my schedule way off. I can't sleep, then I'm tired all day. The first day is okay, but the second day, I'm goofy and sleepy and moody. Meal times aren't lined up with hunger. Where did my quiet late afternoons go. Now that level of daylight is spent in evening chores. My mornings are freaky. I get up, but feel exhausted, and just can't get moving properly or efficiently. It's like being drugged or sick. How did I manage when I was younger? It's warm out, but there are sill big piles of ice by the mailbox, on sidewalk junctures, parking spaces and the side of the driveway. Winter is not scurrying away. But the vegetation suspects something. Early pollen is out, and some folks are sniffling and taking their allergy drugs. The gardeners have their seeds in the indoor boxes to sprout. Indoor temperatures are both cool and hot, as personalities clash, pass the blame, and lash out. Maybe the testiness is from being cooped up inside for too long. Maybe they're just nasty people. Hopefully, the warmer outside weather, and some flowers and tree buds, will have a positive effect inside, too. |
| The ice is still on the sidewalks. The icicles have been knocked off the gutters, and the pathways and roads are clear. It's freezing out, but the sun was bright during the day. In desperation, we held a beach party tonight. The youth and some old ladies did the Hawaiian theme decor. The men and boys had a contest for soup and dessert. We had some really good musicians play guitar and ukulele, and some adequate singers. We all sand Under the Boardwalk with printed words. The "Beach Boys" performed, but they played better than they sang. We got into the spirit by wearing colorful clothes, flip flops, straw hats and sunglasses. We wore leis, a few wore grass skirts. There was a hula hoop contest and a limbo contest. A 3 year old won the limbo by default. It was a pleasant break. Good food, family fun, colorful, and welcome interlude to a winter not ready to leave. Maybe some other folks who are snowbound, tired of the ice and the cold, could have their own luau or beach parties. |
| We spend a lot of time in our autos. Those autos let a lot of sunlight onto our faces and arms. The ozone layer is getting thinner, so that skin cancer and glaucoma are on the rise. Isn't it time that we buy cars with UV protection in our windows? I know it costs a lot of money. Windows with UV protection in your home have a really big up-charge and are thick. But the costs of medical care are big too. Not being able to drive because our visual fields have narrowed is also costly. I'd rather pay more up front for the extra protection in the car. I know the technology must be available. In America, we tend to have age spots more on the left side of our faces and left arms. In Europe, where the driver is on the right side, the sun spots and moles show up on the right side. If they're looking to save money, American cars would have UV protection on the driver's side and the front windshield. Upscale cars would have it all the way around. My eye doctor told me that glaucoma is showing up about 20 years too early in her patients due to the ozone layer. She said never leave home without sunglasses or a hat if staying outside. So even in this snowy, cold weather, I have on my UV glasses and my bundles of scarves and gloves, etc.This summer, I'm going to get a UV straw hat. I've wanted one for years for my skin; now I'll get one for the eyes. So what do you say auto makers? Can you make UV protection standard or at least easily available? |
| There many types of detox. According to Prevention Magazine and their publications, we are all poisoned and need detoxing. I actually found a detox recipe on Facebook, which I copied, then Googled (I know it's technically not a verb yet, but it will be when the dictionary is updated). It is supposed to be consumed daily at least once, maybe twice. The results are supposed to be spectacular. The recipe calls for 12-16 ounces of filtered water (so far so good), 2 tablespoons of organic, unfiltered apple cider vinegar, 2 tablespoons lemon juice, 1 tablespoon raw unfiltered honey, and 1 teaspoon cinnamon. Drink quickly, no sipping over a leisurely read in the rocking chair. Sounds cheap enough and do-able. I've read before of the good effects of vinegar in food and drinks. Honey is questionable, because of the sugar calories, glucose, etc. I've also heard that cinnamon assists insulin and has other good effects on the health. I found in my search that this is a popular recipe, and only the organic part changes in various sources. I wondered how it would interact with medications and what side effects there would be from regular use. Some people are allergic to cinnamon, but would know that in advance. There are no indications that it causes harm, unlike the grapefruit diet. However, apple cider, organic or not, has acid which erodes tooth enamel and can damage the esophagus if taken undiluted. Mixed with food or other fluids, it shouldn't cause any problem. People who want to try it, but are concerned, should brush their teeth and rinse with mouthwash immediately after drinking it. An antacid or preventative could help protect from indigestion and acid reflux. Drink lots of water after consuming such a drink. But why take it in the first place? It promises to flush your digestive system, avoid gas and bloating, reduce the build-up of bad bacteria, act like a diuretic to remove fluid from your limbs, cleanse your liver and kidneys, improve glucose levels of people who are not severe diabetics, ward off colds and minor illnesses, improve blood pressure, and give you more energy. Who wouldn't want all that? It promises everything except a better sex life for the very elderly. |
| I've been reading about all the bad things in our food for years, and it's finally beginning to sink in. So I've decided for health's sake, I'm going to give up fried foods, including hamburgers, indefinitely. I can eat baked fish, etc., but not fried. The list also includes potato chips and other junk foods and pizza. I have made a lot of progress in giving up sweets and sodas or carbonated beverages, even though I was keeping track of calories. When you do that you can have a 300 calorie doughnut, just leave out some protein or whole grain. I knew that wasn't healthy, but at least I wasn't over my calorie budget. Then I decided "no doughnuts", since my dad buys some every week. I did well on that, too, once I made that decision. But now it's time to up my game. I just read about the acids that these foods store in your cells all through your body. Supposedly, these acids interfere with your sleep, your energy, joint pain, memory, digestion, blood pressure, and metabolism. Since we're into Lent, that's my excuse for doing this, only 1 1/2 weeks late. If I actually feel better by Easter, I'll just keep doing it. I'm recording this here, even with the possibility that no one else may see it, to commit to myself not to consume unhealthy things like fried foods and packaged snack foods. This is a sacrifice in that food consumption is often influenced or controlled by other people. The boss buys your lunch, you eat what's there in small quantities. You live with someone who wants his fish fried and his beans "greasy", and you have to prepare his or her food, you give him what keeps him quiet. But Lent gives the perfect excuse to be different. It gives the excuse to fix two different dinners in your own home or not eat what you cooked. Once I have some success or a good report that will be the only excuse I need. |
| One of my great weaknesses is procrastination. At work, I get to tasks and get them out of the way. I'm also organized at work. But away from work, I'm a mess. I delay everything. I have a basket of clothes I can't wear because they need ironing. I have minutes I need to type (because I couldn't say no when "they" needed a secretary-another weakness) before we get to the next meeting. I have a book to read for book club. I have two stories in my head that haven't made it to paper. There's a basket of hand-me-downs that need to go to Good Will. Let's not forget the exercise routine I haven't started. The car needs an oil change and a new tire. If I can wait until the last minute for anything, I will. My house is never ready for company. I order flowers at the last possible moment, or renew my driver's license the day after it expires. I have improved in one area. I now pay my bills immediately on receiving them. In my pinch penny days (most of my adult life), I had to wait until after payday, pay what I could, hold the rest for the next payday. Gradually, I got to the once a month paying system. Now, I've saved thanks to my rent free situation with my dad, I pay as soon as the bill comes in. I stay ahead of interest, late fees, or duplicate billing. And I've gotten a little better at ordering medicine before I run out. Most of the time. Now if I could just be more prompt about those chores I'm supposed to do for that rent thing. |
| Unfortunately, my elderly father had several hiding places for money. I live with him and I only knew about one of them. However, the housekeeper referred to us by a relative found all of them. She cleaned him out. How she managed to get away with heavy cans of coins when someone always saw her leaving we haven't figured out. The cash she could put in her pockets. We suspected a few things here and there but couldn't prove anything. We were tipping her and giving her gifts because she's young and is having a hard time. But apparently she has an unemployed boyfriend who likes drugs, so we can assume she was helping him out. I called the relative so she could give the girl a chance to make it right. At that time I only knew about a very large sum of cash. (Believe me I have lectured him about keeping that kind of cash in the house in an unlocked file cabinet, no matter how well it was hidden inside other things.) She denied it, of course. the police detective said she shouldn't have received a warning, but I was trying to help her go straight. Now we are discovering other things we weren't paying attention to. I was at work while she was there. My dad gets bored and goes out to the garage or outside. He didn't stay on the same floor where she was working, so that gave her half an hour or more at a time to go through drawers, cabinets, etc. The coffee cans were behind my sewing machine under a shelf on boxes of books. I didn't know there were there. You couldn't see them standing in the room She went searching big time. We can have her arrested, but we can never prove in court how much money it was. There are no receipts, no documents. All fingerprints were covered by my dad's fingerprints once he discovered a problem. We have had several instances of theft because my dad is a nice guy who tries to help people. He's trusting and falls for a hard luck story. He's also old, so they take their chances and rip him off. I feel like there's a sign over his head that says "Rob me". Now that I know the extent of her theft and that it must have been gradually over a period of time, rather than a momentary lack of judgment, I want her to learn a lesson. Amnesty is no longer an option. But I don't think she'll receive much punishment, if any other than the police hassle. We are going to buy a safe. We will not have a housekeeper. I can't let anyone in the house or on the grounds while my dad is home alone. I don't want to be robbed; I work hard for my money, why should some lazy person take it away from me? But it really makes my blood boil that people are so willing to rob a kindly old man and leave him without the money he has saved. He has worked two jobs most of his life, and is still working at one job in his 80's to stay afloat. No one has the right to take it away from him. |
| This is a personal rant, so you may not want to read. I'm an HR clerk with a college degree and lots of management experience when I was younger. But the years took some nasty turns, and women over 40 don't get the same opportunities. So I've ended up in this part-time hourly position in a company that puts out fires, but manages to hold onto a lucrative contract with a big company. After a long period of unemployment, then very low under-employment, I settled into this because I have good living arrangements, and most days the people around me are pleasant. Now that I realize it is a dead-end job, I also realize retirement is only a few years away. I don't really want to start over again somewhere else and get a new routine. I have tried for years to tell the managers when they were due to write employee evaluations and do competency training. The only thing they listen to are the big wigs or outside deadlines. They are always too busy to tend to routine yearly chores. At least until an emergency happens. I succinctly remember telling my superiors a year ago that certain papers were due. By mid-summer, I gave up and told someone that the crap would hit the fan eventually, but I had to move on to other things, Now the fan is blowing. I got a call tonight while at dinner from my boss wanting to know why these papers weren't in employee files. I told her the managers didn't do them last year. They're due again this year, which I told her about a month ago. She was very upset with me, like I didn't do them. I can't do 300 papers for people I don't know. I don't have the authority for one thing. So I see where this is going. If they get caught in the audit being done this week, I will be the scape goat. But I'm setting my foot down. I will not take the responsibility for mangers who get better pay and perks, especially when I went to all of them last year and asked them to do this work. Putting my foot down could have bad results for me. Either way I'm in trouble for someone else's incompetency. I'm mad at myself for letting it bother me so much. I know I'm powerless to do anything about the first half--getting people to do what they should. I'm powerless to stop getting blamed or written up for the absence of these forms, which I'm only supposed to file. The tone of her voice on the phone, the fact that she called me at home to ask about it, has made me so angry all evening. I have to go to work early tomorrow to help her fabricate as many as possible before the auditors pull some random files. I'll probably fume all night instead of sleeping. |
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