For weeks now the weather man has been predicting snow for our area. I don't really happily anticipate harsh weather, but one must be prepared. With each report, I make sure that I stock up on lots of supplies for my kitchen, so that, God forbid, I don't starve to death if I can't get to the grocery store for a few days.
I buy all the usual things that people need to sustain themselves through a long, winter's hibernation: canned tuna, salmon, powdered milk, bagels (they freeze better than loaves) items to make soup, and.........................hot chocolate mix, cookies, frozen fudge bars, jelly beans (to avert a diabetic coma)and, of course, chips and dips. So the snow is imminent, and it is making me fatter by the day! It is a sin to allow food to go to waste, so, ultimately, it goes to WAIST!!
Why don't they stop trying to tell us days in advance that we are going to be stuck in our homes, and let the chips (multi-grain, of course) fall where they may? It wouldn't hurt any of us if we had to spend some time rationing what we have on hand, and, maybe, dropping a few pounds in the meantime! It seems the only way I will ever slim down is by enforced dieting......pretending I live in some third-world country where food is not so readily available as it is here at home. When I think of what others in this world have had to suffer through, it makes me very ashamed.
However, I have become accustomed to my snacks. Pretzels with Nancy Grace. Veggie dip and crackers with Dateline. And don['t forget good ole diet Jello (with sour cream).
Let one snowflake fall on our heads and everyone panics. There is no hope for me. I can panic along with the best of 'em. The time I go into my genuine panic mode is when I have a doctor's appointment looming on the far horizon, and I try to lose 20 pounds in a week. Never gonna happen. I fail to convince myself that there is no harm in snacking, in moderation, but my idea of moderation and the cardiologist's are two different things.
And so the vicious cycle keeps repeating and the weather man keeps predicting. Am I secretly hoping for a snowstorm to justify cake-baking, not only to "keep the house warm", but to use up that chocolate icing with the outdated "Sell by" stamp on the bottom of the can?
Look outside!! There are buds on the tree beneath my window!
DAMN!
Sunday, January 18, 2009
Friday, January 16, 2009
Looking for tiles has me FLOORED!!
Today I am venturing forth once more, trying to find a tile that I like for my kitchen floor. I am really stymied. Everyone ssys the same thing. "With a zillion samples in a million stores, you can't find something you like?" (A slight exaggeration).
Everything I look at is drab. Black with grey, Grey with black streaks, Brown and black with beige streaks, grey, brown and black.............DULL, DULL, DULL. I asked a salesman if he had something in mauve or aqua in a no-wax floor. He gave me a look that said, "Ma'am, the dinosaurs are extinct".
So off I go again, with hope in my heart. Wish me luck. Will report back when I have something positive to say.
Everything I look at is drab. Black with grey, Grey with black streaks, Brown and black with beige streaks, grey, brown and black.............DULL, DULL, DULL. I asked a salesman if he had something in mauve or aqua in a no-wax floor. He gave me a look that said, "Ma'am, the dinosaurs are extinct".
So off I go again, with hope in my heart. Wish me luck. Will report back when I have something positive to say.
Monday, January 12, 2009
january 12, 2009
Hi, Cookie!
I wrote a long tome just now and can't find it!
In case it shows up, I just wanted tosay I enjoyed our chat today, you look beautiful and sound wonderful, and MUST YOU GO SNORKELING???????
I read every word on your blog and you do have enough for two books!
Anyway, take care. Love you and kiss you.
I wrote a long tome just now and can't find it!
In case it shows up, I just wanted tosay I enjoyed our chat today, you look beautiful and sound wonderful, and MUST YOU GO SNORKELING???????
I read every word on your blog and you do have enough for two books!
Anyway, take care. Love you and kiss you.
JANUARY 12, 2009
Hi, Cookie!
I read every single word on your blog, but the snorkeling part made me uneasy. PLEASE BE CAREFUL and learn how to say, "There is an undertow here" in Arabic!! Just in case the water is rough.
All of your observations could, indeed, provide enough material for a couple of books.
You look wonderful and beautiful and very happy, "happy" being the most important.
Hope you get to read this. I don't have much of a readership yet so this is solely for YOU!!!I am going to a JRLW meeting tonight and will show the pics, etc.from Dubai to anyone caring to look and listen.............and maybe even to the others, too!
Take care. I love you.
I read every single word on your blog, but the snorkeling part made me uneasy. PLEASE BE CAREFUL and learn how to say, "There is an undertow here" in Arabic!! Just in case the water is rough.
All of your observations could, indeed, provide enough material for a couple of books.
You look wonderful and beautiful and very happy, "happy" being the most important.
Hope you get to read this. I don't have much of a readership yet so this is solely for YOU!!!I am going to a JRLW meeting tonight and will show the pics, etc.from Dubai to anyone caring to look and listen.............and maybe even to the others, too!
Take care. I love you.
Sunday, January 11, 2009
Give Us This Day our Daily Blog.......The Ballad of Casey Anthony
The news is bad.......oh, my..........oh, mee-o
And worthy of the Kingston Trio
Who can Lizzie Borden's rival be?
Why, it's surely Casey Anthony!
A liar supreme, and so sweetly vicious
She invented a nanny............quite ficticious
And gave a real person her few moments of fame
Simply because she had the same name!
Casey keeps lying on every issue
She wipes at her eyes......can someone hand her a tissue?
If this nanny stole Caylee, and took her quite far....
How'd Caylee's body end up in Casey's car?
Now she sits in her jail cell, snacking and sleeping
And never once thinks about crying and weeping
How'd she pay for a nanny? With no job, it's not funny
Was the fictitious nanny paid with fictitious money?
One day the light will shine on her blunder
She murdered her child because she "stole her thunder"
But how could one help but being enchanted
With that sweet little angel, which to her God had granted?
So sneaky ole Casey keeps lying away
Does she think that the public was born yesterday?
When the court finds her guilty, then that will be that
And what fate for Casey when she gets up to bat???
Just say your prayers, Casey, it's time that you utter
A word of contrition out loud.....do not mutter.
We'll get out the duct tape and chloroform, too
And see how you like it, if it happens to you!
And worthy of the Kingston Trio
Who can Lizzie Borden's rival be?
Why, it's surely Casey Anthony!
A liar supreme, and so sweetly vicious
She invented a nanny............quite ficticious
And gave a real person her few moments of fame
Simply because she had the same name!
Casey keeps lying on every issue
She wipes at her eyes......can someone hand her a tissue?
If this nanny stole Caylee, and took her quite far....
How'd Caylee's body end up in Casey's car?
Now she sits in her jail cell, snacking and sleeping
And never once thinks about crying and weeping
How'd she pay for a nanny? With no job, it's not funny
Was the fictitious nanny paid with fictitious money?
One day the light will shine on her blunder
She murdered her child because she "stole her thunder"
But how could one help but being enchanted
With that sweet little angel, which to her God had granted?
So sneaky ole Casey keeps lying away
Does she think that the public was born yesterday?
When the court finds her guilty, then that will be that
And what fate for Casey when she gets up to bat???
Just say your prayers, Casey, it's time that you utter
A word of contrition out loud.....do not mutter.
We'll get out the duct tape and chloroform, too
And see how you like it, if it happens to you!
Friday, January 9, 2009
If I Could Only Understand English!
There are many words in our English language that are never used. I am assuming that they really ARE words, but one seldom hears them.
Having been involved in the reporting field, the written word is a fascinating thing to ponder, but for me leaves many questions unanswered.
Take, for instance, the word "overwhelmed". Have you ever heard of anyone simplsy being "whelmed"? Really? That whelms me.
And then there is "uncouth". Don't call me that name. I am as "couth" as you are. It seems that certain words have evolved to take the place of the old ones. Whatever happened to "resound"? It is now "resonate". And remember trying to "orient" yourself to a situation? Now try "orientating".
So many interpretations can be derived from certain words, posing quite a challenge for those just learning the language. For instance, when Beethoven was not writing music, would you say he was "DEcomposing"? If you are not really happy with something, can you merely be "joyed", rather than "OVERjoyed"?
I think I spend too much time alone with my thoughts. But, after all, as the title of this blog indicates, I always have "THOUGHTS FOR EVERY MOOD".
Anyway, that is a whole "nother" subject.
Having been involved in the reporting field, the written word is a fascinating thing to ponder, but for me leaves many questions unanswered.
Take, for instance, the word "overwhelmed". Have you ever heard of anyone simplsy being "whelmed"? Really? That whelms me.
And then there is "uncouth". Don't call me that name. I am as "couth" as you are. It seems that certain words have evolved to take the place of the old ones. Whatever happened to "resound"? It is now "resonate". And remember trying to "orient" yourself to a situation? Now try "orientating".
So many interpretations can be derived from certain words, posing quite a challenge for those just learning the language. For instance, when Beethoven was not writing music, would you say he was "DEcomposing"? If you are not really happy with something, can you merely be "joyed", rather than "OVERjoyed"?
I think I spend too much time alone with my thoughts. But, after all, as the title of this blog indicates, I always have "THOUGHTS FOR EVERY MOOD".
Anyway, that is a whole "nother" subject.
Tuesday, January 6, 2009
Memorizing lyrics.........what a lark!!
Being a self-made aficionado of knowing lyrics from musicals and popular songs of the forties all the way up to the seventies, I wonder why I have so many complete songs, words and music, running around in my head without having made a concerted effort to commit them to memory. This does not include obscure songs, such as "Will the Dentyne Lose its Flavor on the Bedpost Overnight?" or "I've Got Tears in My Ears", etc.
In my musical history, I have noticed that Oscar Hammerstein had a distinct preoccupation with birds, and, more specifically, larks. There is a great abundance of them in his lyrics, and also those of other lyricists.
From Oklahoma, "Surry With the Fringe on Top",,,,,,,,,,,, "and just as I'm thinkin' all the earth is still, a LARK will wake up in the medder". " Oklahoma, where at night my honey lamb and I set alone and spark, and watch a LARK makin' lazy circles in the sky."
From Sound of Music, "Climb Every Mountain"...... "like a LARK who is learning to fly"and the sweet, silver sound of the LARK", from "You'll Never Walk Alone".
From South Pacific, 'talk about a bird learnin' how to fly, makin' all the music he can make"
State Fair, "like a nightingale without a song to sing". It's a Grand Night for Singing", ".......the moon is flying high, and somewhere a bird who is bound to be heard is throwing his heart to the sky...."
As soon as I end these comments I will probably think of a few more mentions of larks and birds in general, but for now I've got to go.
See 'ya soon!
In my musical history, I have noticed that Oscar Hammerstein had a distinct preoccupation with birds, and, more specifically, larks. There is a great abundance of them in his lyrics, and also those of other lyricists.
From Oklahoma, "Surry With the Fringe on Top",,,,,,,,,,,, "and just as I'm thinkin' all the earth is still, a LARK will wake up in the medder". " Oklahoma, where at night my honey lamb and I set alone and spark, and watch a LARK makin' lazy circles in the sky."
From Sound of Music, "Climb Every Mountain"...... "like a LARK who is learning to fly"and the sweet, silver sound of the LARK", from "You'll Never Walk Alone".
From South Pacific, 'talk about a bird learnin' how to fly, makin' all the music he can make"
State Fair, "like a nightingale without a song to sing". It's a Grand Night for Singing", ".......the moon is flying high, and somewhere a bird who is bound to be heard is throwing his heart to the sky...."
As soon as I end these comments I will probably think of a few more mentions of larks and birds in general, but for now I've got to go.
See 'ya soon!
Waging war with myself is a losing battle
In my time I have done battle with many worthy adversaries..................the worst of which has been ME!
For the past several weeks I have been waging an ongoing battle with myself over the benefits and advantages regarding my granddaughter, a college junior, going to Dubai for an entire semester in a study abroad program, as opposed to what she would consider the down side of not going at all.
She is leaving tonight. She won the seige, but not without being informed in as non-scary a way as I could muster, of the possible pitfalls of a trip across the globe. My self-battle goes something like this:
It will look good on her resume.
She could get homesick.
A very smart girl, she can advance her international law career because of this once-in-a-lifetime experience.
She might hate her roommate, and then she would be stuck.
Modern technology is marvelous.
She might hate the food.
They have counselors and staff on site.
What if an axe-murderer gets loose from the local jail?
And so it goes. My final losing parry ends up being, "But I don't want her to go!" like anyone cares what I want, and like I can hear my mother whispering in my ear from wherever she is in the great beyond, "You raised your children. Let them raise theirs!!"
All right, I admit defeat. No more,"But can't you learn something in this country?" and no more, "But didn't you just recently learn to cross the street by yourself?"
I am outnumbered. The whole world has gone travel mad. So her parents approved (what do they know?) and her teachers approved (them, too) and, first and foremost, she approved. which makes her a far braver, more daring and certainly more secure and grown-up a person than her weary old Mimi.
Go forth, then, child of my child, with my blessing, however reluctant it may have been initially.....................and certainly with my love and admiration. Be safe. Come home safe and wiser than before. Remember that my heart goes with you.
For the past several weeks I have been waging an ongoing battle with myself over the benefits and advantages regarding my granddaughter, a college junior, going to Dubai for an entire semester in a study abroad program, as opposed to what she would consider the down side of not going at all.
She is leaving tonight. She won the seige, but not without being informed in as non-scary a way as I could muster, of the possible pitfalls of a trip across the globe. My self-battle goes something like this:
It will look good on her resume.
She could get homesick.
A very smart girl, she can advance her international law career because of this once-in-a-lifetime experience.
She might hate her roommate, and then she would be stuck.
Modern technology is marvelous.
She might hate the food.
They have counselors and staff on site.
What if an axe-murderer gets loose from the local jail?
And so it goes. My final losing parry ends up being, "But I don't want her to go!" like anyone cares what I want, and like I can hear my mother whispering in my ear from wherever she is in the great beyond, "You raised your children. Let them raise theirs!!"
All right, I admit defeat. No more,"But can't you learn something in this country?" and no more, "But didn't you just recently learn to cross the street by yourself?"
I am outnumbered. The whole world has gone travel mad. So her parents approved (what do they know?) and her teachers approved (them, too) and, first and foremost, she approved. which makes her a far braver, more daring and certainly more secure and grown-up a person than her weary old Mimi.
Go forth, then, child of my child, with my blessing, however reluctant it may have been initially.....................and certainly with my love and admiration. Be safe. Come home safe and wiser than before. Remember that my heart goes with you.
Monday, January 5, 2009
Things I did in kindergarten
I always thought that by the time one gets to be an "old granny" like me (or, actually, "Mi-Mi") that childish things like cutting and pasting would be reserved for merely that............for CHILDHOOD.
Now I find that it is frequently necessary, having my own grown-up educational toy, my computer, that I am reduced to doing these childhood things once again. Of course, it is more fun these days, when Crayola and scissors have been replaced by keyboards and control keys.
We learn every day, even us old ---- er, I should say ---- "mature" people. How will I ever be able to write my great American novel, and edit, paste, revise, subtract, insert, etc. without the full command of cutting and pasting????????????
I don't really need the spell checking aspect of this Bill Gates plaything. because since the beginning of time there are few words that I cannot spell...............unless it is in Swahili or some such remote form of communication.
It seems that ever since my three children were tots there has been nothing on this earth with the power to intimidate, aggravate and, yet, entertain like my friendly little Compaq. So now that my brilliant granddaughter is taking off for Dubai for a "study abroad" program, the need for having my own blog has become an important way to keep in touch. A friend of mine tells me, "Good, Samantha will come back speaking fluent Italian".
So we're not all geniuses at geography.
That's all for now. I just came across my bottle of Elmer's Glue, which I shall promptly toss out as I see no need for antiquated items cluttering up my office.
Now I find that it is frequently necessary, having my own grown-up educational toy, my computer, that I am reduced to doing these childhood things once again. Of course, it is more fun these days, when Crayola and scissors have been replaced by keyboards and control keys.
We learn every day, even us old ---- er, I should say ---- "mature" people. How will I ever be able to write my great American novel, and edit, paste, revise, subtract, insert, etc. without the full command of cutting and pasting????????????
I don't really need the spell checking aspect of this Bill Gates plaything. because since the beginning of time there are few words that I cannot spell...............unless it is in Swahili or some such remote form of communication.
It seems that ever since my three children were tots there has been nothing on this earth with the power to intimidate, aggravate and, yet, entertain like my friendly little Compaq. So now that my brilliant granddaughter is taking off for Dubai for a "study abroad" program, the need for having my own blog has become an important way to keep in touch. A friend of mine tells me, "Good, Samantha will come back speaking fluent Italian".
So we're not all geniuses at geography.
That's all for now. I just came across my bottle of Elmer's Glue, which I shall promptly toss out as I see no need for antiquated items cluttering up my office.
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