Happy Halloween.....

BOO

can you tell who it is???

Flying again....

We have been informed that our kids are kidnapping us next February,
in honor of my forth coming 70's birthday in April. We don't know where
we are going but ......it entails, flying.

With the new policies (and yes, I have flown several times since the
strip show of Homeland Security) and then add on top of this.. the biggest
fear of any passenger....inattentive pilots.... we hear about the TWO
inattentive pilots, who took off their headphones (WHY???) to discuss
schedules. Isn't this up there with text messaging while driving? Although,
if they were text messaging, then they would have got the message,
that they over shot the airport. BY OVER A 100 MILES!!.

This wasn't always the case. I flew out of Providence, R.I. in 1958, on my
first flight, to Florida. Considering I only left R.I. once in my life... and rarely left Newport
County in a car, that was a leap of faith.Especially raised with a mother whose
thoughts were, if God wanted us to fly... he would have gave us wings on our
bodies. But at 18, one is brave.

Then I flew from the West Coast to the East Coast so many times, I
can't remember... but it sure was over 20 times. Even when one time
there was a water leak, that didn't shake my thoughts of flying. I knew
O'Hara like the freeways of our area... And knew if I flew in on one side,
I was guaranteed that I was flying out of the other side, 2 stories difference.
I knew the subway, the stairs and how to do it the fastest. So flying
was no big deal...

And hopefully, I remember those feelings come February. Because right
now, I am wondering...Do you think when I enter the plane, if I ask the pilot
if he is going to be paying attention all the time, he will be insulted?

Neither man nor beast

Well, with the rain coming down the road, filling in
the ditches, this is not fit for man nor beast..

The cat snuggled in a nice warm spot. The dog's
pad with a shirt that is there. And the dog has found
one of us to lay down next to us as we watch tv or read
a book.
And on a mission of duty outside. She ran as close to
the house as possible.
One time the King took her out and put her down
on the lawn mid way and she shot back to the
house with ears flopping. She was having no
part of that. Too bad dogs aren't litter trained too.

I have caught up on some of my magazines.
Down to one and then I have the two books.
I have the Kennedy book and also have Mitch
Albom's book ..have a little faith it is a true story.
I like Albom's books.

So snuggle in all of you... winter is coming.
Luckily it isn't snowing down here yet!.

Subjects that didn't make the cut...

When I come up with an idea for a post, I have to
write it down right away... or at least a small part of
it. So later when I have the time, I can flush them out
to a post for the day.

So I end up with notes here and there...
Use to have a spot called blog ideas, but had to write them
on paper, because the computer isn't always around.

So here is a few that didn't make the cut...

Bored women should not have access to power tools.
This was going to be how I have gotten in trouble with
power tools and my projects. Because power tools have
let me tear things apart that I haven't necessarily gotten
back together. Some things sometimes come apart easier
than they go back together. The King hates that. If he had
his way, I would never have access to power tools.

Characters that I raised my children with.
This was going to be some of the characters that
came into my life during child rearing years. And
their influence on the kids.

Old sayings that keep coming back around.
This was going to be some sayings I hear now, that
I first heard as a kid.

Fool me once, what a shame....
Fool me twice, shame on you....
Fool me three times, shame on me...

What goes around, comes around.

And my favorite since I was 8...
I don't get mad, I get even....

The first two have possibilities so they might make it yet.

Train going thru Sandpoint

There is a man name Pete, who shared his pictures that he took in Sandpoint, of the
recent passing thru of the steam train returning to Portland Oregon. My understanding
he took these pictures from his boat.
As it passed thru the land of emails... I was honored to be one of the ones who was
on the receiving end.

I don't know who you are, Pete, but thank you so much for sharing with us all.

GRIEVING...WHEN IS IT TIME?

Too soon? when then?
and who judges when?

This is not about anyone in particular. It could be written by you,
or me. anyone who has lost a spouse.
Well, I am writing it but with several people in mind. As
it has happen to many.

Losing one's spouse is devastating. Especially when it is
sudden. Heart attack? car accident? no good byes, lots of
feelings to sort out. Leaving one in a spin for at least a year.
Some even more.

Then there is the ones where you do have good byes. Years.
Those who are sick a very long time. The spouse/caretaker,
lives it every day, day in and day out. Especially if the sick one
is at home all that time. Even with outside help, the caretaker
is on duty 24/7. Day after day of stress, that those who have
not gone thru it, don't really understand.

The caretaker loves their spouse. Almost more than life.
They get tired but they wouldn't have it any other way.
It is their desire to do a good job of taking care of the
love one... after all the vows say "til death do us part".
Their life and body is wound in the sickness. And sometimes
it takes the caretaker. They will pass before the spouse.

When finally the end comes. The caretaker is left empty.
The tightly wound life, is all of sudden gone. Leaving the
spouse/caretaker suspend in a void, that once was so full, that
there were not even moments alone. Then the duty to
take care of the precious end of the spouse. The funeral,
or memorial, dealing with family members, making sure
they are ok. People stay with them, family and friends.
And then it is all over. The end..........

So the spouse goes thru the motions of life. Working,
takes up a lot of the time. The nights are lonely and
empty. The grieving is lightening up some. And family
has gone back to their lives. And life returns to normal
for everyone.

Then somewhere, a grocery store, church, walk in a park,
maybe an old friend from years before.... some where, some
one enters that person life. Some times it happens in a year,
some times earlier. Maybe months from the death of their
spouse. Some one who you enjoy talking to. Some one
who you share a dinner with, maybe a movie. Some one
who gives you a hug, when you have not been hugged
by someone other than the quick ones from family and
friends. You feel the warmth of it, almost makes you
melt, you have forgotten how it felt. And then maybe
a little guilt, because you feel like you are cheating. Yet
tears of acceptance.

More dinners, movies and laughter, gosh you haven't laughed
in a long time. You start to enjoy your time with the person.
Look forward to a phone call, or a walk on the beach or park.
Things are starting to look up, life... seems to be starting again.
You feel free and enjoying life in all of its phases.

AND THEN.. some one ... family, or a friend, let's slip a few
words, of don't you think it is a little soon? What would your
love one think? Others are more understanding, and tell
you that your spouse would want you to start life over and
get on with your own life. You might have even had the
discussion with your spouse. Long good byes do provide
some heavy discussions, even if it is a short thought.

So, is it too soon? When will you know it is ok? Will people,
friends and family understand? Will they understand that
you have been wound up in sickness and death, lost of love?
Will they understand you are starting to feel free again. And
is that bad? How long do they think you should grieve? How
long would they grieve? Do they understand that you started
grieving in private when you and your spouse found out that
their illness was terminal? Don't they understand that you
still love your spouse? You still miss them with all your heart,
but you also know you have to go on with life?
It isn't about sex, it is about companionship...

I hope they will understand that grieving for 3 or 4 months is just
as acceptable, as years for others... especially when the spouse
has been ill for year or years... before you judge, try to understand.

How did we survive?

Another email of how did we survive our childhood....
I will leave some of it for you to read... as I go visiting today......
and my question is.. truly how did we survive and how did my
children, as I also did the same with them, as they grew up.

My Mom used to cut chicken, chop eggs and spread Mayo on the same
cutting board with the same knife and no bleach, but we didn't seem to
get food poisoning.'
My Mom used to defrost hamburger on the counter and I used to eat it
raw sometimes, too. Our school sandwiches were wrapped in wax paper in a
brown paper bag, not in ice pack coolers, but I can't remember getting
e.coli.

We all took gym, not PE...and risked permanent injury with a pair of
high top Ked's (only worn in gym) instead of having cross-training
athletic shoes with air cushion soles and built in light reflectors.
I can't recall any injuries but they must have happened because they tell
us how much safer we are now. We all wore white, short sleeved,
buttoned shirts and (short) blue shorts for gym, washed over the
weekend and brought back clean on Monday. We all took showers at end
of Gym before going to our next class. Flunking gym was not an option...
Even for stupid kids! I guess PE mustbe much harder than gym.

Speaking of school, we all said prayers and sang the national anthem,
and staying in detention after school caught all sorts of negative
attention..I thought that I was supposed to accomplish something before I was
allowed to be proud of myself.

I just can't recall how bored we were without computers, Play Station,
Nintendo, X-box or 270 digital TV cable stations. We played outside
all day long, coming in at dark.
We played 'king of the hill' on piles of gravel left on vacant
construction sites, and when we got hurt, Mom pulled out the 48-cent
bottle of mercurochrome (kids liked it better because it didn't sting
like iodine did) and then we got our butt spanked.
Now it's a trip to the emergency room, followed by a 10-day dose of a
$49 bottle of antibiotics, and then Mom calls the attorney to sue the
contractor for leaving a horribly vicious pile of gravel where it was
such a threat.We didn't act up at the neighbor's house either, because if we did we
got our butt spanked there and then we got our butt spanked again when
we got home.

I recall Donny Reynolds from next door coming over and doing his tricks
on the front stoop, just before he fell off.
Little did his Mom know that she could have owned our house.
Instead, she picked him up and swatted him for being such a goof.
It was a neighborhood run amuck.
To top it off, not a single person I knew had ever been told that they
were from a dysfunctional family. How could we possibly have known
that we needed to get into group
therapy and anger management classes.

And we had lead paint on our cribs and we chewed on those rails.
We drank water out of hoses...
We swam at the river or creek, with out life guards.

We didn't act up in school, because the teacher smacked us and then our
parents did the same when we got home... Same thing when we acted up
in town. Some one would call our parents and they knew before we got home.

How did we ever survive?? And lived good normal lives?

Penny Candy Stores...

I am sure everyone has gotten the email about being
"Older than Dirt". You know the list of things they
ask do you remember.

Like the pop bottle with a cork stopper with
holes on the metal top. Which those of us
over 50 know that it was used to sprinkle
water on your clothes, before there were steam
irons.

Also the mention of penny candy. Do you
remember the local penny candy stores.
Where we probably sent the owners to
early drunkenness. With our constant indecisions
of which candy we really wanted, changing at
least 10 times or more before we finally settled
our bounty.

At Halloween, those could be wax vampire teeth,
big lips, and mustaches. And of course the many
other choices of different colors of candy, malt
balls, and tiny wax pop bottles, about 2 inches high.
Filled with Kool-Aid type juice.

My favorite was double bubble (it was a inch square
of bubble gum). Which got me in trouble and I got
kicked out of Brownies.

So those of you over 50, do you remember a local
penny candy store? Which Halloween candy do you
remember?
Did you drive the owner crazy?

Holiday Chores....

It is now the start of some of
the chores of the holidays.

Some people who do crafts for the
holidays are finishing up their gifts.
Others are starting their cooking of
cookies, cakes, breads, and jams
to be given away at Christmas.

For me, it brings back a memory.
As I was cleaning out a cabinet,
which became a catch all of junk,
I was cleaning dishes and etc.
These were dishes that were down
below in a cupboard part. And dust
and dirt had gotten in there over the
summer.

One dish in particular kicked in the
memory. As it had silver part to this
dish. A combo glass bowl that fit in
to a silver holder and lid for the bowl.

My years at home, every November
it was cleaning of silver ware of all
kinds and styles and shapes. I hated
that chore.

Black color soap, brushes, cloths.
Scrub but don't scratch, polish by
lots of elbow grease. Which had nothing
to do with elbows or grease. My mother
had dishes, plates, and silverware, meaning
forks, knives , spoons and serving spoons.
It would take hours.

Even when I moved back for 4 years as adult,
I got recruited for silver polishing duty. Which
didn't seem quite so bad, but still not my favorite
thing to do.

I don't remember my brother doing it while I was
living there. But maybe he had it when I moved away.
I, luckly, one have one item...

Also the other polish job I had all year around is the
copper bottom pots. That involved salt, and lemon juice.
I never own a copper bottom pot because of that. They
look beautiful when polished... but I hated the cleaning
part, especially if I had cuts on my fingers.

Good bye...garden...for this year

NEIGHBOR WATCH or NEIGHBOR SPIES?

Neighbor Watch or Neighbor Spies?

In the 1940 and 50's when I was being raised, we had neighbors
that watched out for each other... even in the 20 and 30's, maybe before... if your neighbor had a problem, you tried to help.

Women, whose husband's and son's, who went to war, were
watched over by the neighbors, helping where they could.

It wasn't until the late 40's and 50's that the public
found out how this kind of thing was turned against
the neighborhood, with neighbors spying on each
other. Mainly against Jews in Germany or other
countries. Written in books like Anne Frank.
As Americans, we were horrified at such a
community thing.

In the 70s and 80's neighborhood watch came
into play due to home crimes. Burglaries, and
vandalism. You called the police if you saw any
thing suspicious in your neighborhood. Drug houses,
people around your neighbors house that you didn't
recognize. Maybe you just took down the license
plate number, just in case something happen.

Now in the days of the 2009, they are asking
for neighborhood watch be beefed up. Become
even more observant. But how much, and what is to be
reported? With these days of camera, and
especially phone camera's... will my
neighbor be taking pictures of me using what
they think is too much water on my lawn?
Will I be reported because my street has a
15mph limit and I am doing 20?
Will my every move be Twittered to the police?

Personally I have a great neighborhood. We pretty
much live and let live policy, and if needed the other
is there. We do have one guy who is quick on the
phone reporting the dumbest things. And we are
use to him and I am sure the red face police who
have had to check out his reports of underage drinking,
to find a 4 years olds birthday party, are on to him
as well. But, it does give you something to think
about, as they ask for a beefed up Neighborhood
Watch.

ARE BLOGS LIKE HOME RADIO STATIONS OF THE PAST?

Those of us who are over 50 remember the home radio
stations. If we didn't have one in our town, then we
heard or read about them. The writer Fannie Flagg
wrote about them in her stories. Midwest was famous
for them.

They had the local news, weather and some gossip
on them. And were on the air for a few hours each
day, except for Sunday, of course. Some times
even having a local talent sing or play an
instrument.

Which some could even say that those radio stations
which closed down by the 60's, has been replaced in
the present and now time, by blogs.

As the majority of the blogs are like mine, mostly
about this and that, that comes to my mind. And
others do report on what is going on in the local
town. Or a hobby that the writer has.

Then of course you have the political and etc.
I wonder, did those local radio stations that were
broadcasting from the home, did they have political
subjects too?

WHAT IS THIS PLANT???

We cut down our tree, which was one of the fir type...
and then this appeared. It grew up to about 4 feet.
We thought it was a sunflower when it started to come
up, as we have feeders in the yard and sunflowers are part
of the feed. And it looked like one.

I touched the leaves one day when I saw it wasn't the
usual like buds for the sunflowers. And the leaves were
velvet in touch. Very soft.

I kept watching the buds to see what kind of flowers were
going to come out of this. But none ever came. Those little
bud looking things, had yellow in there, but it never open.

So last week, I dug it up and threw it in the garbage. Why?
Because with my luck it is probably the worse weed, that would
promote millions on my lawn. So I chicken out and dug it up.
The interesting thing of this is, not only the soft velvet leaves, but
there is no other one like it on my property, nor neither of my
nieghbors. (is that correct word usagage, Marianne?)

So do you know what it is? I sure like to know.

Name this plant

Do you really want to fly anymore?

Remember when flying was something you look
forward to? Unless it was for work, I guess it wasn't
so much fun. But when you flew home to see the folks,
Or a vacation... the flight was part of the deal and fun.

Now.. it is a burden.. because you worry about getting
there on time, because you have to allow extra time to
check in. And to get thru the electronic checks. Doing
your strip for the terrorist checkers.

Before your family went with you to the flight area.
Now you can't. You use to come off the plane and look
for a familiar face... now you walk like cattle thru the
halls until you get your luggage then you can search
out for your family or friends.

And now, it isn't all the checking in, but the extra
prices that have been stacking on since the first of
the year.
First it was extra charge for your extra luggage,
and then for any luggage, $15 to $30
extra leg room...$25
blanket and pillow ...$7.
food and drink is extra now.

And now they want to charge extra for the
busy days of flight. Like all the holidays.
So if you are going home to see the folks
this Thanksgiving, or Christmas time...
figure you are going to spend $10 more.

Flying is becoming the thing to do for the
rich once again. As that was what flying was
in the 1950's

Good Advice for fighting any flu

Got this as a email, I thought it was good advice for any flu... so
thought this was a good way to pass it on..... Good common sense,
remember that? So here you go.. read it and follow it...

Prevent Swine Flu - Good Advice

Dr. Vinay Goyal is an MBBS,DRM,DNB (Intensivist and Thyroid specialist) having clinical experience of over 20 years. He has worked in institutions like Hinduja Hospital , Bombay Hospital , Saifee Hospital , Tata Memorial etc.. Presently, he is heading our Nuclear Medicine Department and Thyroid clinic at Riddhivinayak Cardiac and Critical Centre, Malad (W).
The following message given by him, I feel makes a lot of sense and is important for all to know

The only portals of entry are the nostrils and mouth/throat...
In a global epidemic of this nature, it's almost impossible to avoid
coming into contact with H1N1 in spite of all precautions.
Contact with H1N1 is not so much of a problem as proliferation is.

While you are still healthy and not showing any symptoms of H1N1 infection,
in order to prevent proliferation, aggravation of symptoms and
development of secondary infections, some very simple steps,
not fully highlighted in most official communications, can be
practiced (instead of focusing on how to stock N95 or Tamiflu):

1. Frequent hand-washing (well highlighted in all official communications).

2. "Hands-off-the-face" approach. Resist all temptations to touch any part of face (unless you want to eat, bathe or slap).

3. *Gargle twice a day with warm salt water (use Listerine if you don't trust salt). *H1N1 takes 2-3 days after initial infection in the throat/ nasal cavity to proliferate and show characteristic symptoms. Simple gargling prevents proliferation. In a way, gargling with salt water has the same effect on a healthy individual that Tamiflu has on an infected one.. Don't underestimate this simple, inexpensive and powerful preventative method.

4. Similar to 3 above, *clean your nostrils at least once every day with warm salt water. *Not everybody may be good at Jala Neti or Sutra Neti (very good Yoga asanas to clean nasal cavities), but *blowing the nose hard once a day and swabbing both nostrils with cotton buds dipped in warm salt water is very effective in bringing down viral population..*

5. *Boost your natural immunity with foods that are rich in Vitamin C (Amla and other citrus fruits). *If you have to supplement with Vitamin C tablets, make sure that it also has Zinc to boost absorption.

6. *Drink as much of warm liquids (tea, coffee, etc) as you can. *Drinking warm liquids has the same effect as gargling, but in the reverse direction. They wash off proliferating viruses from the throat into the stomach where they cannot survive, proliferate or do any harm.

I also will tell you, use those wipes you see when you got into the grocery
store.. One of the biggest germ holders (just like the commerical shows)
also phones and door knobs. cis

MOTHER OF THE YEAR......

" I hope to hell he stole those airplanes--
I would be so proud," said the mother.
She said she doesn't see anything wrong
with what he is suspected of doing.
When he went to first grade she knew there
something off about him- "sort of a disconnection"
She said he calls from time to time on his cell
phone. But she isn't telling from where.
"I figure I'll spend my time with him in a positive
way", she said, because "who knows if he'll be
shot tomorrow."

All of this is from the mother of the young man
who stole the airplane from Bonner's Ferry and
crash landed in Washington State. And from the
article I read, this isn't his first time. Also he has
allegedly stole from homes, business and etc.

He has been in trouble since he was 12.
With a mother like that, with a view like that
can you wonder why?

And they had him in a halfway house. What is with that? This
kid has been in so much trouble, and they think
a half way house is where he is going to stay?
Who is running this show?

For Free....

We all get them in the mail. Calendars,greeting cards
and address stickers. All for free ....sort of.

All you have to do is send in a few dollars.. from $10 to
$100. It is all for a good cause. And if you happen to
send in any money, and sum..... you will have at
least 20 more with in 3 months. In fact you will have
enough stickers for a life time with in a year or less.

You name the charity, cause or what ever and
your name is on the list. No way to get away
from it, Move and they will find you.. Die and
your relatives will be getting them for you for
up to 5 years.

Some times even longer as we stopped getting
for the King's mother 5 years after. Yet here it
is 9 years later and someone found her name,
sold it and we are getting a second round of them.

So when you get the calendars, cards and
address stickers... what do you do with them?
Do you send money? Do you throw them away?
Or do you use them, and shred the envelope and
request sheet?

Some Days just don't need words...

HONK, HONK, HONK

How much do you use your horn?

Are you one of those who uses it to complain
about other drivers?

To warn other drivers?

To tell people you have arrived at their house,
for them to come out?
(I remember my folks wouldn't let me go out
the door, if a boy came and just honked his horn)

What I figured out today was, I am none of above.
In fact, I could not remember the last time I did use
the horn. So long I didn't know where the horn was on
my car. Cars today, have several things there in the
middle, that the horn is no longer in the middle of the
wheel. It is lower.

This all came to me, because the King used mine
today, to let someone know he was driving by and
was waving to the guy. That is when I looked to see
where it was.

But I do remember the OOKA horn. That was cool.
The there was the one that played a tune, when you
hit the horn.

HONK, HONK, HONK... annoying isn't it.

It's back!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Why do men make things so complicated?

I have wanted to redo my kitchen for 10 years
and a new door in front for 4 years.

But for some reason, the King has made
these such big complicated problems. Making
them more expensive than how I would go
about it.

The door is easier to explain, so will go with
that first. See our door is 31 inches wide. Big
problem when bringing in any kind of large items.
Be it a refrigerator or couch or even large chair.
The last chair turn out to not be so bad as the guys
could take the back off. And I guess when the
s-i-l and b-i-l surprised us with the couch while
we were gone, they had the same options.

But the King and I have wrestled in two
couches, with just short of divorce words,
said. And the guy who delivered the freezer/
refrigerator 11 years ago didn't fare much better.
Do you know that Sears guys can cuss and
throw tantrums? He threw his tools on the
ground, and we had to remove our grandson,
so he wouldn't learn new words. After 3 hours
a door removal of the item, it was wrestled in
to the kitchen and placed. The guy took off with
in seconds of us signing the paper and plugging
in the item.

So I would like a 36 inch door. It needs to be replaced,
as it has spaces on all sides. The wall will accommodate
the extra 5 inches. So I figured that the supplies to
open the hole bigger will run about $100 to $150 and
the door about $350 to $450. But no, the King has
better idea, tear off the porch, make the entry bigger,
and I see over $2000 in view.

Same thing with the kitchen. I thought we could do
a section at a time, and pay as we go.. he figures,
no, we need to take EVERYTHING out, walls and etc.
and then do the whole thing at one time. I see months
of running to the garage to get kitchen stuff and thousands
of dollars up front. Meaning never. Where I could have done
a section for $500 at a time.

Maybe men go for the bigger and more expensive
project, in hopes the wife will forget it. Knowing the
big money isn't easy to get in one lump sum. But
some how we have over these years gotten two boats,
rifles, lean to for his toys, raised gardens and etc.
Well, you get the idea.

I am going to have to reconsider my approach to
these projects of mine. I wonder if my old stand
by will work. You know, where the wife takes it
apart and then the husband has to fix it and put
it back together? Got to go, got to write this down,
you know how our memories are these days. lol...