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  My blog was filled up. I'm too lazy to clean it out. So I started a new one. |
| Just passing along some info from Martha Stewart: Don't throw away those bras. The bra business is a multi-billion dollar industry each year. Throwing one away is a terrible waste. Most women delay doing so, because they hate shopping for a new one. There is the rising price, plus trying to find the proper fit is difficult and time consuming. Most women don't realize they can't wear the same size forever. Our bodies change due to pregnancy, nursing, dieting, exercising, not exercising, and aging. There's no shame in adjusting downward. Martha lists 5 organizations that can use your old ones, even the unwearable ones. Most people shopping at Good Will and other second hand stores are a little weary of used intimate wear. Desperate women who might not have transportation to go to such places might use one in good shape if they have access. Look up Martha's website or magazine for more details or contact these agencies. Two focus primarily on recycling the materials. The first is Undie Chest which recycles the cloth in both bras and clean panties. The second is called Bra Recycling Agency. It uses them to make carpet cushion and red carpet (like for celebrities). For this one, you have to order a kit and ship the bras. They extract metal and plastic parts and separate the components (lace, elastic, foam, etc.). One that appealed to me is Bras for the Cause Gala. In October they auction off decorated bras. You know something that Madonna or Lady Gaga would wear or that could pass for modern art. You cover it in fabric, upholstery fabric, paper, buttons, sequins, craft items, whatever. Be creative and colorful! You ship it to them. The proceeds of the auction go for research in breast cancer and cervical cancer. Plan one now for next year. Get your artist friends to help. Another is called Support the Girls. Really good ones are used for homeless women. Others are sold for their benefit. The last group is called Free the Girls. A little known fact is that slavery is greater now than it was before the Civil War. It involves mostly women and children. The girls benefiting from this charity are sex slaves, many of whom live right here in this country under our noses. Many do not speak English. Rescuing them has to be a big secret mission involving pastors and state police and others. But what are they being freed to? They need a safe place to live, anonymity, jobs, clothing. They get first choice of the donations, but they are also taught to operate a used clothing store and learn all the aspects of retail. Granted, there are not collection sights in every town. It will cost you to ship your castaways in. That's why getting together with your friends and relatives or club is a good way to save on shipping. You're helping others, and you're saving the landfills, being a good steward of the environment. |
| We have an abundance of books and magazines in our living room and family room, and scattered amounts in other rooms. The babies come to visit and set their hands on all the books, magazines, and newspapers. Their parents seem to think this is okay. When they leave I have a pile of reading materials in the walkways and under the coffee table. On one such recent visit, I picked up a book I could barely recall buying. I rearranged the bookshelves and cleaned up the piles around the room, but decided to read this paperback. Once into it, it seemed faintly familiar, but I couldn't recall the gist of it. I'm halfway through it now, and it is familiar, but I really can't recall what happens next. Either I wasn't impressed, or my mind is finally going. Usually I recall a story once I glance at it, like watching a movie you've seen before. It's all familiar even if you've forgotten some details. This one leaves me out to lunch. It is a quick read, so maybe it just didn't engage me enough. It's got a catchy title: Happy People Read and Drink Coffee. It's not a commentary on life. It's actually the name of a shop in Paris that sells both books and coffee. Little takes place in the shop. The book, written in French and translated into English, uses Ireland for most of the setting. It gives the impression that most people smoke heavily and consume large amounts of alcohol. Rarely does anyone read or drink coffee. Maybe I'll remember it this time, so I won't read it again in a year or two. Or I can donate it to the neighbor "little library". Meanwhile, I'm trying to work on the older children's manners, like staying at the dinner table until they are dismissed. And picking up the toys before they go home. Unfortunately, I leave for handbells practice before they leave, so I'm not there to enforce that. I come in from church and load the dishwasher, wipe the table, and sweep the floor. Then I tackle books and toys, etc. You can see the adults are setting the model here. They are there to visit my father, the old man who can't hear them and doesn't want to hurt anyone's feelings. He loves books as much as I do. The newspaper collections are his. Only a year and a half before the youngest one is past the worst of it. By then the older ones will be bored with everything here. If I can just keep at it a little longer, we can have our home again. |
| We accumulate things without even realizing we're doing it. Every month magazines feature articles on "organizing" or de-cluttering. Classes are offered on it. TV shows show professionals going into someone's garage or closet and refining it. The same magazines and TV channels encourage us to buy more stuff. Then there's all the organizing equipment we buy to store our stuff. How does that work out? I have accumulated lidded boxes, baskets, over the door hooks, garment bags, and shoe racks that are crowding me out. Recently I threw away a shoe rack (it folded flat) that I haven't used in 10 years. It just didn't fit, and it wasn't convenient. I've been trying to condense baskets and boxes as I throw things away and make donations, but there are just too many left to be of service. I keep envisioning someone having to go through my house if I die or develop dementia (no one has in my family so far, but I could be the first). The thought is motivational. I know how it was when my younger brother died, and grandparents, and so forth. Others can be pretty crucial, even if they are worse pack rats themselves. My uncle's wife once told me she cleaned house as though she were going to die tonight, and her husband was going to have another woman in the house tomorrow. She applied that to the drawers, the closets, and the refrigerator. Her whole house was like one in a magazine. It's kind of a fatal attitude, but it worked in her home. I, on the other hand, have molds and supplies for making my own candles. I haven't made candles in over 30 years. You'd think I could pass them along. There aren't too many earth mother types around who might like to try making candles that still drip and make messes. You either have to be an artist or an aging hippie. I was the child of people who were raised in the Great Depression and the recovery. They didn't throw anything away. Like my grandparents, they cut the buttons off old clothes to reuse. I have jars of buttons (but I just learned a way to reuse them in crafts, so they're nor going anywhere). I still embroider, crochet and sew, so I want to keep all those supplies, even if I don't use all of them every week. I'm learning to get rid of clothes and jewelry that I haven't used in a while; it's not likely that I'll use them again some day. When Dad isn't looking, I'm beginning to throw away old parts. he can't even remember what they came from but he's convinced as soon as he throws one away, he'll need it. Then there's the miscellaneous screws, picture hangers, tape, batteries strewn all around the house. I did put all his flashlights in one container, except for the one by his bed, and one downstairs. I gathered up all the batteries in the house and put in one container. He seems to like that idea and is willing to play along for now. He likes to have everything conveniently placed, so he doesn't have to look. That's why there are numerous pencil jars in almost every room, as well as scissors, tools, and reading glasses. I've been trying for years to keep the refrigerator organized: dressings all in one place, vegetables only in one drawer, fruit in another, meat and cheese in another. He won't go along with that, so I have to rearrange every day and clean it as I go. Letting go emotionally is difficult. I long ago realized the fear of the future was making me hold onto things. I might be impoverished and need it! Now there's sentimental value to things: it belonged to my brother or my mother or my late uncle gave it to Mom or my husband liked it. I can't do mass changes. I have to go through them item by item and determine if there is any value in keeping it. It doesn't really matter how much it cost 25 years ago, or how much of a sacrifice it was at that time to obtain it. I don't need to fear what might happen if I become homeless or get sick; I'll make do. I am a survivor. I am not destitute. Nothing I have will make a difference in history. Some things are worth keeping in the clutter; some are not. There's a lot to be said for an organized and peaceful life. Orderly surroundings, uncluttered and stress free, can contribute to that. Once I cull through everything and live with it for a while, I'll have to go through it all a second time, and cull out some more. The garage and the shed are my Dad's territory. I'm going to have to do those, too! |
| What is it with plumbers? You call them when you have a problem, now. Or remodeling whenever. Getting same day service is non-existent. Allowing for weekends and holidays, it still takes 2 to 4 days before someone will come do an estimate, then schedule service. So you do without a toilet or a kitchen sink until someone can work you in. Let's hope you're not flooding. Moving on. We need a new air-conditioning system with duct work put in. We have to remove our stored items from the attic which is over 100 degrees. Plus the guys aren't going to give their best effort when they're sweating and in a hurry to get down from there. So we're waiting until the temperature drops. At least we have fans down here and window units. Every thing seems to go bad at once. We just replaced the washer when the old one quit. The house is in desperate need of painting, and that will only cost half of what the AC will cost. My yard help isn't coming any more, so the weeds are overtaking the shrubs, the trees, the walkways, the cracks in the patio, and porches. My dad is 90, but he tackled the morning glory creeping up the deck. I thought they were clematis gone wild. I still can't get the software for my printer to work. But that may be more on me than the printer. I've had it too long to take it back. I'm coughing my head off with allergy-hay fever trouble or whatever. I'm falling apart along with the house and the yard. I'm not a victim. That's just life. We take it day by day. When I look back at notes and prayer lists from years ago, I know that all the problems eventually resolve themselves, not necessarily the way I'd like. My husband died from drinking too much. But all the job searches and financial problems worked out at the time. They will now. It's just a needy season. |
| {{size:4}indent}For the first time, I went to Camp Young At Heart for the whole session (3 days). Anyone over 50 is welcome. It's held in my community every year at a very busy church near the shopping mall on the north side of town. The first day has the best turnout each year. Old people get tired and drop out, or like me, last year, other things come up for self or family, and you can't stay all day or don't make it back. Sounds like a snooze fest? Maybe I really am right for it, though Heavens knows I'm not old enough! I work out in the gym at least twice a week, and babysit, etc. The opening is just a sing along and the usual opening remarks. It seemed the most boring, but I wanted to appear fully involved. Actually, I got some great stories from the Oriental preacher. Then we break up for classes and have a bag lunch before the third one. Classes depend on what teachers are available. There was one theology class. In the past they had a professional photographer talk about phone cameras. There is usually an art class, this year was print blocking. I took "Lessons From the Silver Screen", and it was great. A large number of people took it, and we were all opinionated! We watched clips and discussed them. There was Tai Chi, which I found exciting. I can't balance myself to point my toe outward, but maybe if I practiced more. It's good for balance, pain management, and protecting your spine. Advanced students can use it for self defense. It's fascinating to watch. We all enjoyed it, and all but one feeble lady came back the other days. There was a make and take crafts class. This one really made me feel like a kid in summer camp, but I have a new ornament and a red ribbon wreath!. It does feel good to hold something you made with your own hands. I came away with two ideas that I will have to make happen. A movie club instead of a book club would allow us to pick a movie and then discuss it after viewing the whole thing. A small group that remained the same each time could meet in homes. A bigger or open group would have to meet in a church or school. I say no refreshments served. You're on your own, just like at the movies. Not to include children. My second idea was a poetry circle. We start out with the idea of writing poetry, even if you haven't tried since you were a kid, That would mean reviewing the forms and elements of poetry. Folks could take turns presenting a favorite poet and reading to us for discussion. I could start it out, and let a true leader evolve to take over. The goal would be to write a little each meeting. Maybe no great poetry would ever happen, but we'd deepen our appreciation for it. My church would be a great meeting place. We'd invite people from other churches and within our neighborhood. Don't be narrow minded. Stay young forever. Go to camp! |
| Summer colds. Don't you just love them? The heat index is 105. No way can the air conditioner block out that much heat and humidity. It's running all day at full capacity. So my head hurts and my sinuses feel swollen. They're not really stopped up because my nose is running like a faucet. I'm sneezing more than twice what I usually do every day. I'm tired all day and feel inertia. Baby Jack had a runny nose on Sunday and I held him a lot. By Tuesday afternoon, I was a goner. Wednesday night baby Jack came to visit again, but his nose was all cleared up. I was running hot and cold and was miserable. Winter colds are bad enough. I'm sure we are not sicker in the summer. The feelings are just amplified. We live in the space age with new technology and fast communications. Robots can clean, work assembly lines, even drive vehicles. Many miracle medicines have been developed, and some diseases minimized. Yet, still no cure for the common cold or arthritis, which almost everybody gets if they live long enough. No cure or preventative for migraines. New drugs are introduced every year for male virility. But no cure for runny noses and irritated eyes. You can try an antihistamine, but you can't drive or stay alert. Depending on where you live, we're not quite into hay fever season. Beware the grass see blowing in the wind, the goldenrod and other wild flowers. Your cats and dogs can carry the pollen, too. We just have to muddle through, until modern medicine solves the dilemma. |
| On Friday August 10, after 6 pm, but before ten, our land line and Internet went down. We frequently lose power or the Web, so we didn't panic. But 12 hours later, it wasn't fixed. I called a hard to find service number, and through a series of recordings requiring input, I found a recording that told me the cable was out in our area and would be repaired by 6 pm Monday. Monday night came and no service. I called Tuesday am and went through several computers, then operators until I found one who gave me a lecture about how it would cost $85 if the problem was inside the house even if the technician didn't come inside. I had checked all that and had already switched routers with new ones. So he made an appointment for September 4! "You're kidding me! " I cried, louder, but not screaming. "I've got a 90 year old man in the house who can't use a cell phone. What if I have an emergency?" "I'm sorry. That's the first opening I have." So I took the appointment, but told a lot of people what lousy service we have. It turns out another woman had the same pickle with service. Her son is a state level politician. He made a few tweets, and she got her phones fixed immediately. This came to the attention of a local reporter who wrote an article in this past Sunday's paper. So on Monday, I got a call on my cell phone from this guilty company, telling me that "today" my phone lines would be fixed. Today came and went. Finally Tuesday, sometime between 11 am and 1 pm the phones came back on with no one coming to the house. The problem was somewhere else apparently. Thursday I got a call from the service department to follow up and ask if it was resolved, but she didn't wait for my response. She could hear the horrible static for herself and supposedly was going to report it to the technician. The Internet is slow but fine. The technicians are independent operators and overloaded. The service supplier, according to the paper, has no intention of increasing its workforce or updating equipment and lines. As far as I'm concerned, we have to change our service as soon as my Internet contract expires. I'll just have to get Dad an I-pad to use as a phone with large keys and high volume. We don't have a lot of options for Internet where I live, but hopefully that will soon change. With as much construction as we have going on this mountain, there will be a greater demand. Meanwhile I've tried to consider this a vacation from surfing and incessant sales calls. I've done more reading, more yard work, and cleaned out a closet. Maybe I should disconnect on purpose. |
| I was at my computer today, taking a break from housekeeping, when unexpected company came in. Almost immediately, I got a phone call. My sister-in-law. 70 miles away, was checking to see if my brother and their son had arrived yet. I never asked, but I wondered why the unplanned visit was taking place. What if both my father and I had to go out for appointments or just shopping? They stayed all afternoon. I had to do an impromptu lunch. Some stayed until late tonight. I'm not complaining too much. I do love them. But it cut short our work plans, and left me without decent food prepared. Of course, with these wild children, not only did I not get my housework done, but the house looked like a tornado hit after they left. The five year old went into Great Grandpa's room to steal his pillows for playing. When I caught her, she took them back and threw them on the floor. They're never allowed into his room! A three year old got pushed down the stairs (near the bottom). There were pillows everywhere. Toy cars under the coffee table. To settle down the cousins, someone turned on the TV. So two kids had to eat in front of the TV or they wouldn't have eaten. I have been crazy for honeydew melon lately and had just sliced one up this morning. It's history now, but not because of me. It was good to have them all, even unexpectedly. My dad is almost 90; who knows how many more years they can spend time with him? And one of my brothers, the grandfather of some of the kids, is in stage 4 cancer. He doesn't need to be staying at home, getting depressed. He needs the love and support of his family. Life as always. Now I've swept all the floors, run the dishwasher, and picked up toys. The pillows are back where they belong. I got to witness the 7 month old sit up with both hands in the air for a second before one went back to the floor to support him. I'm fascinated just watching him squirm around and scoot and almost crawl, almost sit. Soon he'll do it all second nature to him. We old folks will carry our sorrows and our joys, all bound up together and intertwined. As long as we can, we'll sweep, cook, clean-up, instruct, watch, laugh and grieve. A full house, a full heart embraces life and death, health and illness, contentment and sadness, and allows them to exist together. How incredible is the human heart to experience sorrow and joy all at once! |
| The latest in jewelry is mixed metals. As someone who was trained not to mix yellow and white gold, I have a hard time mixing silver, copper, pewter, black metal, and yellow gold-like. (These days even cheap jewelry is chemically treated not to turn your fingers green.) I did break down and buy a necklace that looked great on the model that featured gold tone chain connecting simulated wood, white plastic, and black synthetic something loops. Only after I put it on did I realize it's not symmetrical. My lifelong training tells me it should look the same on each side hanging down from my neck. I studied this thing, and it's not possible. Ok, I sort of gave up a little on white before Memorial Day and after Labor Day. I was raised to do "winter white" for Easter, but now they do both all year long. I still have a drawer full of dress gloves. They're never coming back in style. They're of no use to anyone, except maybe a theater company storage wardrobe. I even have a few hats on the top shelf in the closet. They're never coming back either. As for shoes, for ages I couldn't or wouldn't buy new shoes because I couldn't find a decent pair. I finally realized the 90's were gone, and those styles were never going to be reproduced again. I gave in to newer styles, but only the more comfortable ones. If I can't have the fashion shoe I want, I'll just do "laid back" instead. I loved the days when shoes and purses matched. Those days faded away a couple of decades ago. When it comes to jewelry, my favorite times were the colorful costume jewelry days. You'd color coordinate your outfits with your accessories, so you'd need earrings and beads in a variety of colors. I also like the gold add-a-bead chains. I have mine and my Mom's. Nobody wears them any longer. The chains were fine and get knotted in the jewelry box. I should get them all melted down into something else. It cost a lot more to obtain them than any money I can get for selling them to a gold dealer. In the early 2000's, I remembered seeing all the simple metal chains, not like the heavier long chains of the disco age, and hating them. I finally saw some older women wearing them in church. I decided that if they could step up to current styles, I could, too, a generation younger than they. As for clothing styles, I hate the peek-a-boo shoulders or upper arm cutaways. If they only appeared on dressy dresses or just beach wear, it might not be so bad. But they're everywhere on every kind of clothing, so it's an overdone trend. My shoulders aren't worth peeking at, but I tire of seeing them on everybody else. Those loose flowy tops, some with a tight fitting tank, seem like they would cover a muffin top or disguise an early pregnancy. But they only work on skinny girls. The majority of women wearing them look heavier or puffier in them. So they don't work for slimming. No one wants to look stuck in the 70's or any past decade. But it is hard to adjust to trends as we get older. We want to hold onto the comfortable. Why spend more money to fit in with the crowd whose opinion really doesn't matter as much to us now as it did when we were young? We can act our age and still make adjustments to the changing times. Some trends we can adopt. |
| Last week I saw a musical, The Cocoanuts, music and lyrics by Irving Berlin. It featured the Marx brothers, and these were some excellent imitators. The lead actor, Frank Ferrante has done Groucho plays and one man shows from California to Broadway. He has the voice for it, and is quick-witted, ad libs, and interacts with the audience. The one who played Zeppo sang okay, but like the "normal" Marx brother, he was the least interesting of that group. The others had the mannerisms down so well that the audience just stayed in hysterics. A local man played the lead female. He's very tall, sings very high, and is very funny. I saw him in a four county theater as the prison warden in Chicago. (Queen Latifah did it in the movie.)He was great in that role, too. He" ad libbed" almost as much as the Marx boys. It was very funny and a great night out. The music wasn't the best I've ever heard. The dancing was barely worth watching, but not horrible. The comedy was superb. If Ferrante comes to your town to do local theater, try to catch a show, especially if he's doing Groucho. Pretty girls have a very good chance he'll come into the audience to visit during the show. Anyone sitting up close, at any age, may somehow be involved. Be prepared to be the butt of some jokes. Lots of fun. |
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