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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. |
| Watched another old movie again. I know I saw it the first time around, maybe once or twice since then, at least partially. I never realized that Stacy Keach was in The Heart Is A Lonely Hunter. He had a receding hairline even in those early days. I never knew that was Sondra Locke's first big break. They kept the no make up look to help her look about 8 years younger for the part of a high school girl. But she has always kept a natural look as far as I can remember. I never really followed her movies. In fact The Outlaw Josie Wales and the chimp movies with Clint were the only ones I was aware of. Apparently, she's done a lot of movies with and without Clint. Unfortunately, her private life with him has gotten more publicity. She actually had an Oscar nomination for this role, along with Alan Arkin. Neither one of them actually got it. It's a very tender story about hurting people, all eloquently portrayed. The deaf mute, who cannot communicate, manages to befriend lonely, misunderstood, hurting people. In his silence he still connects with them, and they "hear", like they count for something. He makes them feel a little less broken. But no one can help him. He resorts to talking to himself with his hands as he walks down the street. The story is still strong today, transcending the 60's setting and culture. The Mozart, the dance music, the fireworks, and all the other noises accentuate the silence. It's a very gripping movie. Alan Arkin pulls at the heart strings in a great performance. |
| It never fails. You can look and look for something and not find it. Go and buy another one, and you'll find it very soon after. My dad and I searched everywhere for a meat thermometer. He and Mom had one. After I moved in, I came with all my goods, which included a meat thermometer. But the utensil drawer is very full. We took it out and emptied it and couldn't find one. We made do without one several times. But I made up my mind that we needed one. So I drove past K-Mart today. I needed something else that I didn't wanted quickly, so I went in the store that was handy. I picked up a meat thermometer while there. I got home and put it away. I didn't like the thought of the utensil drawer, so I opened the towel drawer. I looked underneath the stack, and there was a solitary meat thermometer. I had already opened the new one and discarded the packaging. We might be the owners of two, now. I did the same with the camera battery charger at Christmas. We couldn't find it, so I went to a big tech store and spent almost thirty dollars on a new one that handles several kinds. After Christmas passed, I found the charger in an outlet we hardly ever use. So now we have two. Back to K-Mart. I purchased four items. Only one ended up being the price I expected. The meat thermometer was 40 cents higher. Another item was one dollar higher. A third over the counter medicine was three dollars higher. So now it's not so handy. I have to go back with the receipt, and walk around to find out if I really misread that many shelf labels. I almost didn't get the one that was $3 more, because the price I thought it said was more than CVS. But it had a $2 coupon on it that would make it the same, and I could save a trip. If I misread the shelf signs, then I need to shop with glasses and maybe a magnifier. If Kmart made that many errors, I need a refund and to shop somewhere else. |
| Today was a long day with a two year old. Her mom, an RN, had a 12 hour shift. They spent the night with me, so that the girl could sleep in. She's fairly mindful when her parents aren't around. But like most two-year-olds, she has to push the limits, and refuses to eat. Every door gets opened, every drawer is pulled out. Her feet go inside the refrigerator before I can get to her. So we have new rules, including "No feet inside the refrigerator!" (She has to stand on a shelf to look higher up.) I have to force her to take a nap. She resists, but within 2 minutes she's out. So I just have to ignore the fake crying and the pleas of "No". We read lots of books, tell lots of stories, sing songs of all kinds, and I get to recite from memory nursery rhymes and kid poems. We walk a lot. Sometimes, weather permitting, we pull weeds or sweep (pretend sweep) the patio. We feed birds and pick up trash. Today, the weather did not cooperate. Every time we went out the sun would fade, and it would start to drizzle. While I was getting her diaper change things ready, she jumped on the bed. She hit the wall at the head with a really hard thud. We're convinced this fearless child will have a wing of some hospital named for her one day. But I distracted her, and the wailing stopped. No bumps showed up--yet. I had to miss choir practice. I admit I'm a little old for this. I have to push myself to entertain her when my head is aching, and I need a nap of my own. (Try resting with a child around.) Kids like to cook, so we made a cake mix. She got to brag and try it out when Mommy got in. It will take me a day to get back into sorts. |
| Emergency food has been in the news and the ads a lot lately. I don't know if it's just another business trend getting promotion, or a timely idea. The ones advertised are pouches to which you add water. These have a 25 year shelf life. The only prices I've looked at, are about one dollar per person per meal. There's no use buying more of that than the amount of clean drinking water you stock. But if you're only planning on a climate disaster, like flood or hurricane, why plan for 25 years? A 3 to six month supply could be turned over yearly, so that you're prepared. But where does the average person store such things? Shouldn't it be a temperature controlled environment? And what if the disaster happens, looting starts, and word gets out that your family is fully supplied for a while? You'd have to be very secretive. But how could you let a relative or neighbor child go hungry? I have heard economists say that a six week supply, including matches, candles, first aid, and paper supplies should be stocked up, in case of disaster, be it weather or governmental, until things go back to normal. That seems kind of rash, especially since these same economists say an emergency is eminent, and have been saying so for many years now. Seems kind of alarmist, if nothing's happened since they said it five years ago or more. I don't think it hurts to have a little extra. There could always be a trucker's strike, things like that. We keep coffee, since that has an extended shelf life. We keep bottled water and paper supplies just because we don't want to run out in case we have unexpected overnight company. Soft drinks don't keep. Bleach is only good for one year before losing effectiveness. Mayonnaise, on the other hand, is good for 4 years before it's opened; once opened, it has to be refrigerated. Jelly lasts a long time. So does Spam and canned beans. These emergency food places talk about "frankenfoods" which is a bad thing. I don't know what that is, but I'm going to find out. Personally, I don't want to tie up storage space or my funds with food supplies I might not live to use. |
| Actually, the concept of anti-aging beauty products is not logical. You cannot stop aging. It's part of life. The products only minimize the appearance of aging or draw attention away from it. However, I read recently that the way we age is only 10% DNA, and the rest is within our control. Now, by what means they determined the percentage is questionable. Maybe the number should be a little higher. I know I can look at the people in my family tree, and they tend to age in the same way despite different lifestyles. The folds in the face, the hair trends, the sagging jowls, etc., make us all start to look alike as we get up there in years. As young people, we were blonds, brunettes, straight haired, curly, thin, chubby, short, and tall. But the aging makes us resemble each other much more. We make a good case for DNA having the upper hand. But sources seem to agree that certain factors make us appear older than we need to. And those factors begin when we are young and don't care about getting older. The rules don't apply to us when we're in our teens and twenties and early thirties. As we approach 40, however, most of us start looking ahead a little more, because the present has caught up with us. We are not invincible after all. Smoking is the number one enemy. It dries out and discolors the skin and promotes unwanted hair growth. Too bad it doesn't promote hair growth on the scalp. Getting enough sleep is the second most important thing, and we even call it beauty sleep. It must not be a new concept. But when you're young, you work all day, and party half the night. Then you start a family, and you're up all day and most of the night with the kids. You get a break briefly if you space them right, but then they start driving and dating, so you're up all night again. Drinking water is good for your skin. Exercise is good for the circulation, so it keeps the skin more resilient. Being sedentary doesn't just affect weight or muscle tone, but affects the skin as well. Eating healthy affects skin tone and elasticity.Skin is a major organ of the body and needs the proper nutrients. Not surprisingly, sun is our enemy from our childhood. In America the left side of our faces tend to have more age spots than the right. In Europe, the driver's side is on the other side of the car, so the age spots are more numerous on the right side of the face. Products like Olay moisturizer, have an SPF 15, but now they're telling us that's not enough. Women do not apply it evenly all over, so they now recommend 25 or even 30 SPF. When we're young, we want to tan, so we don't bother with sunscreen on the beach or the tennis courts or golf course. But we should use a sports variety with a much stronger SPF. You'll still tan, but the UV rays won't hurt as much. Unfortunately, most people don't get into sun protection until they're older. We're not so concerned about being cool. I wear a big straw hat when I'm out at the park or in my own yard. A baseball cap will do, if the visor is big enough. I burn easily so I use the sports sunscreen. But olive skin people and black people still need to use protection. They get skin cancer, too. Dark skin people can turn ashy in the sun without protection. You can get UV protected hats and clothing for vacations and hotter climates. Don't forget sunglasses.There are two kinds of UV rays; both are harmful. So when you buy sunglasses, read the labels. The darkness of the lens does not provide protection. You can actually get clear glass that is UV protected. Not only do they protect your delicate eyelids and surrounding skin, they protect against glaucoma. People are experiencing that at earlier decades now because of the thinner ozone layer. Men need to heed these same rules. They don't want to look too old too soon, either. Sunscreen or a really big hat for riding the lawn mower is a good idea. Baseball caps at games already work for them. Smoking, not sleeping, and the rest affect them the same way. As for beauty products, don't keep switching around, trying new things. Give them enough time to work. I was using one kind of cleanser in the morning and a different one at night. My face was clean, so I thought I was okay. I started using one of them night and morning, and was amazed after a week or so how different my skin felt. If you want to try something new, finish what you have first, unless you really hate it. And the products don't have to be really expensive. Some great ones exist at lower than average prices. Just stick with what you choose for at least two months; three is better. You'll never look 25 again once you've passed it. But you don't have to look older than you are. You can look as healthy and vibrant as you can at any age. |
| Fess Parker turned 91 today. He was an actor who always played lovable roles. As Davy Crockett, he was the wilderness senator who couldn't string together a proper English sentence, but made more sense than other statesmen. As Daniel Boone, he was slightly more polished, playing the family man in that show, but still a rugged frontiersman. In Old Yeller, he played a nurturing, caring father who struggled with the hardships of life and parenting. Again, he played the loving father in an admirable way. My generation grew up watching Fess Parker. As an adult occasionally seeing those shows, I realized he was quite an attractive man. He still has a full head of hair, but a totally different color. It's not quite white, not quite gray: it almost looks blond, so he's done something to it. It's not a Trump wig. As part of the birthday celebration, the TV shows have highlighted his life a bit, telling us that he was 6'6", too tall to be a pilot in the Air Force in WWII, but he served his country. He's been married over 50 years, which is somewhat rare for a TV or movie star. He still makes public appearances at Festivals and charity events, so he's still healthy and active. Happy birthday, Mr. Parker. You were a happy part of childhood for the TV generation. |
| I saw a horrible video today. I can't believe how I reacted to it. It was about a turtle, a very large turtle who had managed to get a plastic straw stuck up his nostril. He couldn't breathe and was bleeding. I shouldn't have watched. The paragraph underneath was about not dumping your trash or littering. I kept expecting the straw to come out. The man's hands were gently pulling it with small pliers, one hand touching the sides of his neck so that he wouldn't withdraw his head. The man kept pulling just a little at a time. The turtle kept jerking his head. Then I realized that's why the man didn't just jerk the whole thing out at once. When the turtle pulled his head up, I could see blood running down off his chin. It looked like he was crying and in pain. I burst into tears. I was sobbing out loud, but I kept watching, hoping to see it over, to see him safe and sound. I couldn't take it. I couldn't stop crying out loud. Just remembering is making me cry again. I'm not really an animal lover. I hate dog and cat hair. I don't like being licked or having muddy paws on my clothes.But I don't mind hunting for food. I can't stand to see one mistreated. I can't respect a person who mistreats an animal out of anger or meanness or carelessness. No animal needs to be tortured. Animals who die because the six pack plastic top got caught around the necks or stuck in their throats are victims of carelessness. This poor turtle was a victim of carelessness. He was suffering because someone was too lazy to properly dispose of his trash. Please, please, remember wildlife out in the woods and along roadways and recreational ares. Teach your children to dispose of their trash properly. We're not supposed to leave evidence of our intrusion into their space. |
| Yum. Tried a new recipe tonight. Zucchini casserole. It called for plum tomatoes, but I used what I had from the garden. Two cloves of garlic and two tablespoons of finely chopped onion, fresh home grown basil, dried oregano, salt and pepper were mixed with grated cheddar cheese and a little parmesan. You layer it in a casserole and bake 20 minutes. Oh, my goodness. I served it with salad and corn on the cob. Dad had some leftover meat, but I figured there was enough fat and protein in the cheese that I could go vegetarian. I didn't use salad dressing since the tomatoes and zucchini made so much liquid. What a great way to use the garden surplus and get our vegetables. Now I know I can try it on company. I don't know why I get a special thrill from using my own herbs. They are pungent when fresh. I feel connected to my agrarian ancestors using home grown fruits and vegetables and keeping things natural. But I do like the refrigerator and the electric stove, not to mention electric lights and an air-conditioned kitchen. Ok, not so connected, after all. |
| We have books coming out of our ears. We take them to Good Will occasionally. We lend them to people who never bring them back. A neighbor gave us two boxes full of mysteries. I took several to The Little Library a few blocks away from us. Someone in the subdivision started The Little Library years ago. It's on a very sturdy pole or fence post, like a bird house. It has a normal house roof, two shelves, and a glass door with good quality hinges. It snaps shut and does an amazing job of keeping the contents dry. That neighbor moved away, but someone else took over for her and moved it to her yard, which is downhill and up a block from my street. It doesn't hold that many books, and at the moment, there are no children's books in it. You can borrow, deposit, or just take what you want. It's on the corner of the property, so it doesn't bother the residents on either side. Occasionally, the newsletter will mention it, or the daily emails from one of the neighbors in the Community watch will remind us about it. I like ebooks because you can get them quickly, without driving all over town, and without paying postage. Amazon tricks you into thinking you can order a bunch of real books and get them delivered free, but the total has to be from each shipping origin, not your total order. I had one order way over the required amount, but when you broke it up into three shipping areas, none of them qualified for free shipping. No problem with ebooks. You have it within seconds of your credit card passing approval. The problem is that if you really like it, you can't lend it to your friends or relatives.It's in your "virtual" library, only for your device, and will not be available to visitors to your home. You will never donate it to a yard sale or charity. You can't get it signed when the author comes to town. I have both. Now there's ibooks. I still like the books I can hold, and thumb through. If I could, I'd add a wing to the house, which would include a library with a ladder to climb to the top shelf! |
| Everyone, take adequate warning. August 26 is National Toilet Paper Day! Don't let it slip by unnoticed. Now is the time to plan the festivities. Let's mark this national day for the importance due to it. Where would we be without magnificent toilet paper?!! First, make sure you are adequately supplied that week. It would be a terrible day for your family to fall short. Then plan a party! A good reason to celebrate. Make a menu, pick a venue, invite your friends, order the booze! Celebrate the evolution of TP. We've come a long way since corn cobs. Remember your older country relatives who still had outhouses? They put the old Sears catalogs and outdated magazines in the outhouse to avoid buying special paper. The paper itself has evolved through stages and is still available in various varieties. There was the tough scratchy kind that you hated to use. There was the very soft, but durable kind that pleased us but irked the environmentalists. Then biodegradable became so popular that it dissolved while you were using it. Now they seemed to have reached some sort of compromise, but at awesomely high prices. And let's not forget the TP companies have branched out to personal wipes, a moist towelette that's flushable and biodegradable, but completes what the TP can't do by itself. It's a huge industry. If you think I'm over playing this, read about the POW's who were inflicted with dysentery or beriberi with no paper in the camps. Or imagine having only an outhouse and some shiny magazine or a newspaper with the ink that rubs off. Any excuse for a party. So whether you go dancing or throw a barbecue or have a keg party, be sure to toast the makers of TP. |
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