Randomly.....
.... that Sue broke her femur while jogging and has been ordered to stay off it after walking around on it for 2 weeks (or three).
.... that my children have spent a chunk of their evening watching "Amadeus". Voluntarily. As in, Normy turned it on...but they were entranced and didn't change the channel when we left the room.
.... that someone can use "totally fair and gives equal weight to all sides" when referring to someone who subs on the radio for Rush Limbaugh. Someone who would characterize himself as a Conservative (note the capital "C"). How far up your ass do you have to have your head to think someone that Rush would allow to sit in for him would be "fair and balanced"? Oh. I think I just answered my question....
.... there are actual human beings walking around among the rest of us who think that blood transfusions are akin to practicing witchcraft and devil worship. Of course, I (and other like minded folk) think it is more that they don't want to have non-white people blood coursing through their veins. Sherilyn says that explains her atheist ways....she had transfusions at birth. I think that's a hoot and a half. I totally think she should just say "Well, I DID have blood transfused at birth" when someone questions her on why she doesn't believe in God. Then watch their heads spin... (pun intended)
.... there are other human beings who say that being fingerprinted is The Mark of The Beast. Which makes me wonder.... if God gave Adam and Eve these fingerprints.... WHO'S mark is it, exactly??? I'm easily confused. Not being a Bible Literalist and all..... Cause dang if it doesn't sound like if God gave A&E the mark, and fingerprints are the Mark of the Beast.... Well, like I said... I'm easily confused.
.... Steph (I'm POSTING!!) thinks that having multiple containers of a variety of necessities is weird. On the contrary. NOT having them is weird. I mean, really. Who wants to be running to the store at 6am for more deodorant? Weird people, that's who.
.... Me. Who thinks she's actually gonna get all this Malabrigo knit up into their proper forms before the end of the year. Along with all the OTHER projects.
Wednesday, October 26, 2005
Thursday, October 20, 2005
"Nancy Needs"
Stealing content from The Great and Wonderful Cowtown Stacy....again.
Try this at home. Go to Google and type in "[your name] needs"...except without the brackets. Kinda like the title of this entry, except with your own name.
Nancy needs to make sure that her Mom understands Nancy's message. Well...yea. But if Nancy's mom doesn't understand the message, Nancy's mom always asks for clarification. So that's covered.
All Nancy needs is to wolf down a three-thousand calorie dessert and bring the silver. No. Nancy does not need to wolf down a 3000 calorie anything. But I can bring the silver...
Nancy wants Susan to pass her the kettle. Now this made me laugh. Cause Sue is always trying decide if she is the pot or the kettle and has pretty much decided that she is the kettle. Which makes me ask: "What did you say to Jen NOW, Sue??"
You calculated that Nancy needs 2097 kilocalories per day. She is receiving 3060 kilocalories per day. Therefore she is getting too many calories. Yea! See... one dessert and I'm over the limit.
All Nancy needs is a peanut butter sandwich, a box of crayons, and some paper to be happy. Yea...that will do it.
Nancy needs help choosing snake to breed. No. No she doesn't. Cause if she does, Nancy will need a divorce lawyer. (Dibs on Hal!)
Nancy needs to "bite the bullet" and let her boss know that, as a supervisor, she believes it is her obligation to work with Myra. Um. Ok....
Nancy needs the exact same hardware in both machines for the servers to work together. Um. Ok... Stupid Windows.....
There is to be a cookout, and Nancy needs to prepare
the campfire, which is a multi-step process. I'm pretty sure that Nancy shalt not prepare any sort of campfire. But she can if she has to.
Nancy needs to wake up. I'm TRYING. It's barely noon.... give me a break.
Nancy needs to allow herself to be known. You mean there is someone out there that does NOT know me? How'd that happen?
And finally....
Nancy needs saving by George Clooney and wants to listen to Schubert, too. Well.... DUH!
Try this at home. Go to Google and type in "[your name] needs"...except without the brackets. Kinda like the title of this entry, except with your own name.
Nancy needs to make sure that her Mom understands Nancy's message. Well...yea. But if Nancy's mom doesn't understand the message, Nancy's mom always asks for clarification. So that's covered.
All Nancy needs is to wolf down a three-thousand calorie dessert and bring the silver. No. Nancy does not need to wolf down a 3000 calorie anything. But I can bring the silver...
Nancy wants Susan to pass her the kettle. Now this made me laugh. Cause Sue is always trying decide if she is the pot or the kettle and has pretty much decided that she is the kettle. Which makes me ask: "What did you say to Jen NOW, Sue??"
You calculated that Nancy needs 2097 kilocalories per day. She is receiving 3060 kilocalories per day. Therefore she is getting too many calories. Yea! See... one dessert and I'm over the limit.
All Nancy needs is a peanut butter sandwich, a box of crayons, and some paper to be happy. Yea...that will do it.
Nancy needs help choosing snake to breed. No. No she doesn't. Cause if she does, Nancy will need a divorce lawyer. (Dibs on Hal!)
Nancy needs to "bite the bullet" and let her boss know that, as a supervisor, she believes it is her obligation to work with Myra. Um. Ok....
Nancy needs the exact same hardware in both machines for the servers to work together. Um. Ok... Stupid Windows.....
There is to be a cookout, and Nancy needs to prepare
the campfire, which is a multi-step process. I'm pretty sure that Nancy shalt not prepare any sort of campfire. But she can if she has to.
Nancy needs to wake up. I'm TRYING. It's barely noon.... give me a break.
Nancy needs to allow herself to be known. You mean there is someone out there that does NOT know me? How'd that happen?
And finally....
Nancy needs saving by George Clooney and wants to listen to Schubert, too. Well.... DUH!
Tuesday, October 18, 2005
Underwear
In an odd cosmic twist, I have discussed the merits of packing twice today.
You know.... packing of clothing for a trip.
Underpack and you are totally screwed when you realize you have a key flaw in your apparel. choices.
Overpack and you are lugging half your wardrobe across a continent.
But here is a bottom line (no pun intended) non-negotiable.... There shalt be no butt funk whilst traveling.
It's one thing to be a slug and pull on yesterdays clothing when you are alone at home. It is an all together different issue when you are out in some serious public. With strangers. With collegues. With friends. EVEN with family. Because no matter WHO you are with, you are in close quarters when you are traveling.
On an airplane. In a car. In a hotel room. In a cruise ship cubbyhole. In a meeting room. In someone ELSE'S living room.
Please people. Clean underwear out there, will ya?
You know.... packing of clothing for a trip.
Underpack and you are totally screwed when you realize you have a key flaw in your apparel. choices.
Overpack and you are lugging half your wardrobe across a continent.
But here is a bottom line (no pun intended) non-negotiable.... There shalt be no butt funk whilst traveling.
It's one thing to be a slug and pull on yesterdays clothing when you are alone at home. It is an all together different issue when you are out in some serious public. With strangers. With collegues. With friends. EVEN with family. Because no matter WHO you are with, you are in close quarters when you are traveling.
On an airplane. In a car. In a hotel room. In a cruise ship cubbyhole. In a meeting room. In someone ELSE'S living room.
Please people. Clean underwear out there, will ya?
Monday, October 17, 2005
That Was Fun
"That was fun."
"She was nice. I like her."
"And she's pretty!"
That would be Emma's summary of dinner with Steph. Maybe it is because Steph gave Emma a sign language name. Maybe it's because it WAS fun, she IS nice, we DO like her...and yes, she is pretty.
Emma and I just had plain ol' fun driving up Hwy 50.... until there was an accident that was going to have the highway closed for 2-3 hours right at Echo Summit. We were able to take an old road and get around it, thank goodness. Cause otherwise it would have been faster to go back to Sacramento and go up I-80!
We stopped for a potty break and snacks at the Raley's at the Y and stopped periodically as we drove around the lake for photos and lake looking at-ing.
Squaw Valley in fall colors was spectacular.
I told Steph that I've been to Tahoe maybe a handful of times in the winter. But I've spent many SUMMERS there. The Tahoe I know is a summer lake, summer foliage.
The only questions that remain are these....
Why do we stay away? Why are we not up there several times a year? Why do we let the jewel of the Sierras just 'be there' without us?
Oh. And Emma is now very impressed with herself. She now knows someone, other than Gramma, who lives in another state.
And she's pretty.....
"She was nice. I like her."
"And she's pretty!"
That would be Emma's summary of dinner with Steph. Maybe it is because Steph gave Emma a sign language name. Maybe it's because it WAS fun, she IS nice, we DO like her...and yes, she is pretty.
Emma and I just had plain ol' fun driving up Hwy 50.... until there was an accident that was going to have the highway closed for 2-3 hours right at Echo Summit. We were able to take an old road and get around it, thank goodness. Cause otherwise it would have been faster to go back to Sacramento and go up I-80!
We stopped for a potty break and snacks at the Raley's at the Y and stopped periodically as we drove around the lake for photos and lake looking at-ing.
Squaw Valley in fall colors was spectacular.
I told Steph that I've been to Tahoe maybe a handful of times in the winter. But I've spent many SUMMERS there. The Tahoe I know is a summer lake, summer foliage.
The only questions that remain are these....
Why do we stay away? Why are we not up there several times a year? Why do we let the jewel of the Sierras just 'be there' without us?
Oh. And Emma is now very impressed with herself. She now knows someone, other than Gramma, who lives in another state.
And she's pretty.....
Thursday, October 13, 2005
Mother In Law
My Mother In Law has a job. I would tell you what it is, but I may have to kill you if I do. I'm not sure. So.... I won't, just in case.
But this job takes her to exotic locations on occasion. San Francisco. Washington D.C. Mare Island. (might've heard about Mare Island today. Big fire there last night. Wine warehouse. Rare and expensive wines up in smoke....)
The Phillapines. Guam. Hawaii.
RARELY do we know of her leavings until perhaps a postcard arrives for a granddaughter. A small gift.... Or just "when I was in Guam last month..." We knew she was in Hawaii recently because when called on her birthday and asked "what are you going to do for your birthday" she said something about walking on the beach.
Ok. NOT in Reno.... check.
But evidence of a trip to Hawaii has been arriving. Yesterday it was a necklace for Emma.
Today, it was six cans of Mauna Loa Macadamia nuts.
Judy loves us.
Chocolate cookies with chopped macadamia nuts.....hmmmm.....
But this job takes her to exotic locations on occasion. San Francisco. Washington D.C. Mare Island. (might've heard about Mare Island today. Big fire there last night. Wine warehouse. Rare and expensive wines up in smoke....)
The Phillapines. Guam. Hawaii.
RARELY do we know of her leavings until perhaps a postcard arrives for a granddaughter. A small gift.... Or just "when I was in Guam last month..." We knew she was in Hawaii recently because when called on her birthday and asked "what are you going to do for your birthday" she said something about walking on the beach.
Ok. NOT in Reno.... check.
But evidence of a trip to Hawaii has been arriving. Yesterday it was a necklace for Emma.
Today, it was six cans of Mauna Loa Macadamia nuts.
Judy loves us.
Chocolate cookies with chopped macadamia nuts.....hmmmm.....
Evil Mother
That would be me. I am the Evil Mother.
I torture my poor child.
Made her (read= paid actual cash money) take a knitting lesson.
I did this evil thing because, well.... she wanted to learn to knit. And I'm sure not gonna teach her. Nor did she WANT me to "teach" her.
Do you want me to have Mrs. Bowen give you a lesson?
Yes.
So the Evil Mother arranged for said lesson and paid for said lesson.
Good thing Mrs. Bowen has a good sense of humor and four children of her own. Sulking through a lesson is poor form.
I had to FINALLY knock on the door and say "HEY! I'm PAYING for you to sit in there and pee!". The child came out, properly contrite.... and gunned another glass of water.
The irony here is she has NO OBJECTION to knitting. She does have an objection to purling....but I totally understand that. But she WANTS to create knitted objects. She just doesn't want to LEARN how to make that happen.
And I KNOW that if and when she ever gets that felted purse done and felted... she's gonna be so dang proud of herself and just love it.......
I torture my poor child.
Made her (read= paid actual cash money) take a knitting lesson.
I did this evil thing because, well.... she wanted to learn to knit. And I'm sure not gonna teach her. Nor did she WANT me to "teach" her.
Do you want me to have Mrs. Bowen give you a lesson?
Yes.
So the Evil Mother arranged for said lesson and paid for said lesson.
Good thing Mrs. Bowen has a good sense of humor and four children of her own. Sulking through a lesson is poor form.
I had to FINALLY knock on the door and say "HEY! I'm PAYING for you to sit in there and pee!". The child came out, properly contrite.... and gunned another glass of water.
The irony here is she has NO OBJECTION to knitting. She does have an objection to purling....but I totally understand that. But she WANTS to create knitted objects. She just doesn't want to LEARN how to make that happen.
And I KNOW that if and when she ever gets that felted purse done and felted... she's gonna be so dang proud of herself and just love it.......
Monday, October 10, 2005
Opportunity Lost
Today, due to the fact that she is off track, Emma went with me to Tax Class. The promise of fast food for a mid-morning snack AND for lunch was too good to pass up. Yea. She won't be making THAT mistake again.....
Which is too bad. Because it didn't occur to me until too late, to put HER on the computers.
Today we took them SCREEN by SCREEN.
OMFSM..... if this one woman, who I will call "Jen", because that is her name, doesn't get behind EVEN WITH screen by screen instructions.
Enter zip code is the screen. The instruction given is: "enter in a zip code, doesn't matter for this". "What do I put here?" she asks. So I tell her "95624". "9.....5....6....2....4....?....?....?....?"
Yes. Dear FSM... YES.
"Is he blind?" He's a mechanic....what do you think?
"This W-2 doesn't have any allocated tips." Do you tip your mechanic? "No." Then that's probably why he doesn't have any allocated tips. (time passes) You need to press "enter" to go to the next question.
What you can't tell from this exchange, is that I had to tell her EVERY SINGLE TIME to "press enter" after EACH AND EVERY QUESTION.
Oh. And she had to hunt down that "Enter" key to boot.
It scares me to think she is a nurse.
Taxes ARE complicated.
Entering information into a database is not. And that's really what this is. ESPECIALLY at this stage of class.
Personal info: Name, SSN, Address
Income statements: W-2's, 1099-INT etc. It's just transfering the info from one place to the other. Fill in the blank.
And still...... DO NOT ENTER YOUR OWN SSN WHEN DOING SOMEONE'S TAX RETURN! They have one. Use that one.
I swear.... I could get Emma up to speed on doing basic returns in a week.
Schedule C? (self employment)
Schedule D? (capital gains and losses)
Schedule E? (If'n you have rental property)
I shudder to think.......
I think that even a Schedule A is gonna do some of them in.
If not them....me.
Which is too bad. Because it didn't occur to me until too late, to put HER on the computers.
Today we took them SCREEN by SCREEN.
OMFSM..... if this one woman, who I will call "Jen", because that is her name, doesn't get behind EVEN WITH screen by screen instructions.
Enter zip code is the screen. The instruction given is: "enter in a zip code, doesn't matter for this". "What do I put here?" she asks. So I tell her "95624". "9.....5....6....2....4....?....?....?....?"
Yes. Dear FSM... YES.
"Is he blind?" He's a mechanic....what do you think?
"This W-2 doesn't have any allocated tips." Do you tip your mechanic? "No." Then that's probably why he doesn't have any allocated tips. (time passes) You need to press "enter" to go to the next question.
What you can't tell from this exchange, is that I had to tell her EVERY SINGLE TIME to "press enter" after EACH AND EVERY QUESTION.
Oh. And she had to hunt down that "Enter" key to boot.
It scares me to think she is a nurse.
Taxes ARE complicated.
Entering information into a database is not. And that's really what this is. ESPECIALLY at this stage of class.
Personal info: Name, SSN, Address
Income statements: W-2's, 1099-INT etc. It's just transfering the info from one place to the other. Fill in the blank.
And still...... DO NOT ENTER YOUR OWN SSN WHEN DOING SOMEONE'S TAX RETURN! They have one. Use that one.
I swear.... I could get Emma up to speed on doing basic returns in a week.
Schedule C? (self employment)
Schedule D? (capital gains and losses)
Schedule E? (If'n you have rental property)
I shudder to think.......
I think that even a Schedule A is gonna do some of them in.
If not them....me.
Everything Old is New Again
My grandmother and all her sisters (except Barbara and Elsie) are looking down from heaven (Barbara and Elsie are still of this Earth... not that they went someplace "not heaven....just wanted to be clear) and just shaking their heads.
They watched The Today Show Today with the rest of us.
You see.... They started potty training their babies at 6 months plus or minus. They were 12 of them. Four boys, Eight girls. I think. Dang if I can remember all the time.... (ask my cousin Lori, she knows). But when you have THAT MANY CHILDREN back in the day? You didn't have Huggies and you didn't have those fancy schmancy "nappy covers". You didn't even have rubber pants. Back in the day, if there WAS a diaper service, they didn't go out to the ranch. Or you called the diaper service "the big girls". So babies didn't walk around in diapers for three or four years.
My grandmother and her sisters had their babies pottied trained by the time they could walk.
Those babies, for the most part, did the same with their babies. Our generation totally failed our grandmothers.
But I would venture that most of us had our babies pottied trained before the national average.
Yes. This is PARENT LED potty training. Shocking, I know. It requires the PARENT to decide that "now is time". It's a good idea, really. Sets up your authority for the future. "It is time to go to school". Emma would still be in Miss Rose's preschool if her parents didn't lead her away and off to kindergarten.
No. No one goes to college still in diapers. But that doesn't mean the kid has to wear them until three days before kindergarten either.
It's a simple principle really. Start them as soon as they can sit up on their own (because toppling over isn't good for anyone) but before they can get up and walk away. Captive audience. It won't happen overnight. It won't happen in a week. It will take a year to get the child to the point that they can use the potty on his or her own and be pretty much accident free.
I had one child announce that she wanted to start using the potty. And from that point on, she did. She was barely two. Verbal little cuss she was too.... It was up to me to let the other child know it was time. And even tho' she was the ornery sort at the time, she complied. It took longer with her, several months (not the diapers yesterday, no diapers today or ever again day and night like her sister) but she was fully potty trained by 2 and a half.
It just slays me to see three year olds say "I need a new diaper". If they can know they need a new diaper, they can know they need to get to the potty. But the parents say "He doesn't want to". WTF? He's not gonna want to take out the trash or do his homework EITHER. Step up and be a parent.
The Denny sisters are looking down and just shaking their heads. Probably squabbling about who had to change or wash the most sibling diapers too. They were a great bunch of women. For so many reasons. Grammy died when I was 6. I wish I knew her when my own was 6. But my sister and I were adopted by the rest as their own granddaughters. My girls may have been in diapers WAY too long... but I hope I make them proud.
They watched The Today Show Today with the rest of us.
You see.... They started potty training their babies at 6 months plus or minus. They were 12 of them. Four boys, Eight girls. I think. Dang if I can remember all the time.... (ask my cousin Lori, she knows). But when you have THAT MANY CHILDREN back in the day? You didn't have Huggies and you didn't have those fancy schmancy "nappy covers". You didn't even have rubber pants. Back in the day, if there WAS a diaper service, they didn't go out to the ranch. Or you called the diaper service "the big girls". So babies didn't walk around in diapers for three or four years.
My grandmother and her sisters had their babies pottied trained by the time they could walk.
Those babies, for the most part, did the same with their babies. Our generation totally failed our grandmothers.
But I would venture that most of us had our babies pottied trained before the national average.
Yes. This is PARENT LED potty training. Shocking, I know. It requires the PARENT to decide that "now is time". It's a good idea, really. Sets up your authority for the future. "It is time to go to school". Emma would still be in Miss Rose's preschool if her parents didn't lead her away and off to kindergarten.
No. No one goes to college still in diapers. But that doesn't mean the kid has to wear them until three days before kindergarten either.
It's a simple principle really. Start them as soon as they can sit up on their own (because toppling over isn't good for anyone) but before they can get up and walk away. Captive audience. It won't happen overnight. It won't happen in a week. It will take a year to get the child to the point that they can use the potty on his or her own and be pretty much accident free.
I had one child announce that she wanted to start using the potty. And from that point on, she did. She was barely two. Verbal little cuss she was too.... It was up to me to let the other child know it was time. And even tho' she was the ornery sort at the time, she complied. It took longer with her, several months (not the diapers yesterday, no diapers today or ever again day and night like her sister) but she was fully potty trained by 2 and a half.
It just slays me to see three year olds say "I need a new diaper". If they can know they need a new diaper, they can know they need to get to the potty. But the parents say "He doesn't want to". WTF? He's not gonna want to take out the trash or do his homework EITHER. Step up and be a parent.
The Denny sisters are looking down and just shaking their heads. Probably squabbling about who had to change or wash the most sibling diapers too. They were a great bunch of women. For so many reasons. Grammy died when I was 6. I wish I knew her when my own was 6. But my sister and I were adopted by the rest as their own granddaughters. My girls may have been in diapers WAY too long... but I hope I make them proud.
Tuesday, October 04, 2005
Randomness
A series of random thoughts....
Ok. So people DO read this thing.
*****
There is really nothing new in tax class. There is still a stunning number of people (defined as >0) who do not know how to operate a computer when the instruction is "put in the social security number and then hit "enter" "
It is still true that NO MATTER how many times you say "The Social Security Number is the single most important piece of information you must enter." there is still a stunning number of people (see above definition) who will wonder why they can't get past the "enter SSN" screen and argue with you when you say "because you didn't enter it in correctly". Damn if it ain't the case EVERY DAMN TIME. No. It is not the program. The program is FINE. It is keyboard to chair interface error.
It is still true that every class will have someone with two brain cells and that person will rub them together, generate some heat and get what you are saying in 1.3 seconds. You will know them by the bruise on the forehead from pounding their head against said keyboard while waiting for you to say "NO. You have to LOOK at the social security number in and enter EXACTLY THE SAME WAY both times the program asks for it" for the 12th time to the same person.
Yes. It must be entered the SAME both times.
Really.
NO LIE.
Why would I lie about that??? What would be my motive???
******
Dye lots matter.
******
Unless it's a "design element".
******
I should care that my workroom is a disaster. But I don't. I think that means I don't care about the business that is supposed to be conducted out of that room. But I knew THAT. C'est la vie.....
*****
I don't care about baseball playoff. I won't care until the CALIFORNIA ANGELS (and in a pinch, Anaheim Angels) win the pennant. Then I MIGHT.
*****
Basketball starts soon. I REALLY don't care about that. Again...until the Kings are in the hunt, I won't.
*****
Sir Paul puts on a fine show. Counting down to November....
*****
I don't watch Presidential Press Conferences. They make my brain hurt. Unfortunately, I miss out on all the good quotes that way too.....
*****
The shoes are gone. Both locations.
*****
Sometime this week, probably tomorrow, DHL will deliver very large feed bags of yarn from Uruguay to Knitique. We have 8 more in our order still due to arrive. I both dread and look forward to this occurance. It's Malabrigo and it is 215 yards of the most wonderfully soft wool yarn. It is kettle dyed and so the variations in each skein make for wonderful patterns in your work. It is fabulous felted. Just gorgeous. I think we have 40? 50? different colors coming in. That's the dread part.... I gotta find a place for all of it!
*****
I had my "annual"..or semi-annual..or has it been three? ... dermatalogical examination. Doc decided four spots needed closer examination. Which means I have been wildly itchy on the four small spots that got scraped off. Two she thought looked 'funny' cause of where they were (right where my collar rubs) but took 'em off anyway. All were funny. But only one needs more attention. That happens Dec. 6. Once again... only in the 'blast zone'. Oh well..... small price to pay, all in all. My moles still make Doc crazed. But they don't change so she leaves them be.
*****
Being grounded sucks. My children are just starting to REALLY embrace that idea. And if they don't.... I'm tougher than they are. And I care WAY less about their social lives than they do.
*****
It is October. Again. REALLY starting to not like that month. Not only for the above mentioned tax class, but because Halloween is at the end. This year, we are invited to a COSTUME party. Ugh. I have an aversion to spending mega bucks (that I really don't have to begin with) on something that will be worn for a couple of hours. Emma has expressed an interest in being a "Dead Cheerleader". Kaitlyn was a "Dead Prom Queen" last year? Year before? My children are freaks. Normy and I have to come up with a "couple's costume". Hmph. Then I have to spend a bunch of scratch on candy. Pumpkin carving.
Ugh.
Halloween is definitely the most not looked forward to holiday.
*****
Thanksgiving will be next. Excellent. I make a GREAT turkey and stuffing.
*****
It really sucks to be several states away when your friends are hurting and are in need. I hate that. I need to learn to fly and buy myself a Cessna. Then I could just GO and take someone out to coffee (and make her get dressed) or take another's kidlets to the park for a few hours to get them out of the house (so she can nap in peace).
*****
Customer service in my world is a given. I give it. I get it. MOST places I go and all places I work, give great customer service. The customer isn't always right, but the customer can always be made happy. Unless they are hopeless cases and then it doesn't matter. So it is always a shock to the system when we encounter BAD customer service. Hint: If you order equipment from DISH Network...ASK what cables are needed, KNOW what you HAVE and make sure you'll get what you need and not what you HAVE.
*****
Finally.... in case you were wondering.... the "enter" key? It's the big one on the right that says "enter". In addition, there is NO key that says "Any" so quit looking for it and just hit the "G".
Ok. So people DO read this thing.
*****
There is really nothing new in tax class. There is still a stunning number of people (defined as >0) who do not know how to operate a computer when the instruction is "put in the social security number and then hit "enter" "
It is still true that NO MATTER how many times you say "The Social Security Number is the single most important piece of information you must enter." there is still a stunning number of people (see above definition) who will wonder why they can't get past the "enter SSN" screen and argue with you when you say "because you didn't enter it in correctly". Damn if it ain't the case EVERY DAMN TIME. No. It is not the program. The program is FINE. It is keyboard to chair interface error.
It is still true that every class will have someone with two brain cells and that person will rub them together, generate some heat and get what you are saying in 1.3 seconds. You will know them by the bruise on the forehead from pounding their head against said keyboard while waiting for you to say "NO. You have to LOOK at the social security number in and enter EXACTLY THE SAME WAY both times the program asks for it" for the 12th time to the same person.
Yes. It must be entered the SAME both times.
Really.
NO LIE.
Why would I lie about that??? What would be my motive???
******
Dye lots matter.
******
Unless it's a "design element".
******
I should care that my workroom is a disaster. But I don't. I think that means I don't care about the business that is supposed to be conducted out of that room. But I knew THAT. C'est la vie.....
*****
I don't care about baseball playoff. I won't care until the CALIFORNIA ANGELS (and in a pinch, Anaheim Angels) win the pennant. Then I MIGHT.
*****
Basketball starts soon. I REALLY don't care about that. Again...until the Kings are in the hunt, I won't.
*****
Sir Paul puts on a fine show. Counting down to November....
*****
I don't watch Presidential Press Conferences. They make my brain hurt. Unfortunately, I miss out on all the good quotes that way too.....
*****
The shoes are gone. Both locations.
*****
Sometime this week, probably tomorrow, DHL will deliver very large feed bags of yarn from Uruguay to Knitique. We have 8 more in our order still due to arrive. I both dread and look forward to this occurance. It's Malabrigo and it is 215 yards of the most wonderfully soft wool yarn. It is kettle dyed and so the variations in each skein make for wonderful patterns in your work. It is fabulous felted. Just gorgeous. I think we have 40? 50? different colors coming in. That's the dread part.... I gotta find a place for all of it!
*****
I had my "annual"..or semi-annual..or has it been three? ... dermatalogical examination. Doc decided four spots needed closer examination. Which means I have been wildly itchy on the four small spots that got scraped off. Two she thought looked 'funny' cause of where they were (right where my collar rubs) but took 'em off anyway. All were funny. But only one needs more attention. That happens Dec. 6. Once again... only in the 'blast zone'. Oh well..... small price to pay, all in all. My moles still make Doc crazed. But they don't change so she leaves them be.
*****
Being grounded sucks. My children are just starting to REALLY embrace that idea. And if they don't.... I'm tougher than they are. And I care WAY less about their social lives than they do.
*****
It is October. Again. REALLY starting to not like that month. Not only for the above mentioned tax class, but because Halloween is at the end. This year, we are invited to a COSTUME party. Ugh. I have an aversion to spending mega bucks (that I really don't have to begin with) on something that will be worn for a couple of hours. Emma has expressed an interest in being a "Dead Cheerleader". Kaitlyn was a "Dead Prom Queen" last year? Year before? My children are freaks. Normy and I have to come up with a "couple's costume". Hmph. Then I have to spend a bunch of scratch on candy. Pumpkin carving.
Ugh.
Halloween is definitely the most not looked forward to holiday.
*****
Thanksgiving will be next. Excellent. I make a GREAT turkey and stuffing.
*****
It really sucks to be several states away when your friends are hurting and are in need. I hate that. I need to learn to fly and buy myself a Cessna. Then I could just GO and take someone out to coffee (and make her get dressed) or take another's kidlets to the park for a few hours to get them out of the house (so she can nap in peace).
*****
Customer service in my world is a given. I give it. I get it. MOST places I go and all places I work, give great customer service. The customer isn't always right, but the customer can always be made happy. Unless they are hopeless cases and then it doesn't matter. So it is always a shock to the system when we encounter BAD customer service. Hint: If you order equipment from DISH Network...ASK what cables are needed, KNOW what you HAVE and make sure you'll get what you need and not what you HAVE.
*****
Finally.... in case you were wondering.... the "enter" key? It's the big one on the right that says "enter". In addition, there is NO key that says "Any" so quit looking for it and just hit the "G".
Thursday, September 22, 2005
E
E is out of surgery. Her surgeon is pleased with the repair. This should mean that E will be too. Jer hadn't been in to see her when he gave me the message.
Healing thoughts are heading your way, E!
Healing thoughts are heading your way, E!
Requiem
As of this moment, I have about one hour left with my beloved. My beloved will be leaving me again as it happens every year.
I am a summer person. I may be the only non-child who loves summer. Every other adult just complains that summer is too hot.
Spring and Fall are too fickle. They can be hot, or cold. In the same day. I dress in long pants and turtleneck because there is frost in the air in the morning but by afternoon, I am melting because it is pushing 90.
Winter is cold and dark. My bones ache from the cold and my messed up internal thermostat causes me to shiver uncontrollably at the slightest hint of chill. The sun doesn't shine upon me for weeks on end. Winter brings tule fog and regular fog and you don't see the end of the street for 3 weeks straight. And it rains in the winter. For you non-Californians... we don't have a lick of rain in the summer. It stops raining in March or April and does start again until November, maybe late October, often not until December. Nary a drop. No umbrellas. No rain coats. And when it rains, it is cold. We don't do "warm summer rain". We only do cold winter rain.
Summer is sunny. Sure...it's hot. But my car, my house and every building I go to has air conditioning. Except for church. But that's going in right now...just in time for winter. But next summer...it too will be cool. It is not uncommon to keep a sweater in the car in the summer because the air INSIDE is so cool. In summer it stays light until 9pm or so. Kids can play outside until the street lights come on. Even tho' that's after 9pm, it's ok, because school is out. No homework. No projects. The best gatherings with friends are in the summer... outside, around the pool. The smell of meat on the BBQ is in the air every night. Summer is slower. Summer is relaxed. Summer is napping in the afternoon and still feeling like you have half a day left.
Goodbye my beloved summer. I will miss you. I look forward to seeing you next June....
I am a summer person. I may be the only non-child who loves summer. Every other adult just complains that summer is too hot.
Spring and Fall are too fickle. They can be hot, or cold. In the same day. I dress in long pants and turtleneck because there is frost in the air in the morning but by afternoon, I am melting because it is pushing 90.
Winter is cold and dark. My bones ache from the cold and my messed up internal thermostat causes me to shiver uncontrollably at the slightest hint of chill. The sun doesn't shine upon me for weeks on end. Winter brings tule fog and regular fog and you don't see the end of the street for 3 weeks straight. And it rains in the winter. For you non-Californians... we don't have a lick of rain in the summer. It stops raining in March or April and does start again until November, maybe late October, often not until December. Nary a drop. No umbrellas. No rain coats. And when it rains, it is cold. We don't do "warm summer rain". We only do cold winter rain.
Summer is sunny. Sure...it's hot. But my car, my house and every building I go to has air conditioning. Except for church. But that's going in right now...just in time for winter. But next summer...it too will be cool. It is not uncommon to keep a sweater in the car in the summer because the air INSIDE is so cool. In summer it stays light until 9pm or so. Kids can play outside until the street lights come on. Even tho' that's after 9pm, it's ok, because school is out. No homework. No projects. The best gatherings with friends are in the summer... outside, around the pool. The smell of meat on the BBQ is in the air every night. Summer is slower. Summer is relaxed. Summer is napping in the afternoon and still feeling like you have half a day left.
Goodbye my beloved summer. I will miss you. I look forward to seeing you next June....
Wednesday, September 21, 2005
Overheard
Useful info for this entry: If you wish to felt wool, on purpose, you must wash it in hot water in a washing machine. The combination of hot water and agitation will cause the wool fibers to shrink and grab onto each other and become a solid piece of wool felt. All felting patterns give this instruction. Sometimes you do this with the Irish wool sweater that you love and so you give it to a toddler. Other times you do this to make a hat or purse or other item.
"I knitted that flower from the kit, but it didn't felt!"
Really? Do you have it?
"Yea, here..."
(flower and leaf are examined. Sure enough, knitted but not felted in the least.)
Is this the yarn from the kit?
"Yea. I bought it here."
Did you put it in the washing machine?
"Washing machine? NO! I put it in the microwave! Does it HAVE to go in the washing machine?"
Yes.
"I have to put that little flower into the whole washing machine?"
Yes.
"Well, ok then...."
Bless your heart.....
"I knitted that flower from the kit, but it didn't felt!"
Really? Do you have it?
"Yea, here..."
(flower and leaf are examined. Sure enough, knitted but not felted in the least.)
Is this the yarn from the kit?
"Yea. I bought it here."
Did you put it in the washing machine?
"Washing machine? NO! I put it in the microwave! Does it HAVE to go in the washing machine?"
Yes.
"I have to put that little flower into the whole washing machine?"
Yes.
"Well, ok then...."
Bless your heart.....
Tuesday, September 20, 2005
Weirdness
For several days now, I've noticed what appears to be a RUBBER shoe in the intersection by our house.
Just one.
That was weird. A flat. Ballet shoe like. Maybe a 1/2 inch heel. And it is either very smooth leather or...rubber/plastic of some sort.
Today, I found the mate. It's a mile down the road in front of the CSD building. In the middle of the road.
How does one lose one shoe in the middle of an intersection?
Then...toodle down the road and lose the other one in the middle of the road?
Weird.
Just one.
That was weird. A flat. Ballet shoe like. Maybe a 1/2 inch heel. And it is either very smooth leather or...rubber/plastic of some sort.
Today, I found the mate. It's a mile down the road in front of the CSD building. In the middle of the road.
How does one lose one shoe in the middle of an intersection?
Then...toodle down the road and lose the other one in the middle of the road?
Weird.
Monday, September 19, 2005
What The Heck...
Everyone else has a list, I might as well too....
4 Things To Do Before I Die:
1. Visit all 50 states.
2. Learn to play the piano or sax or both.
3. Be published, in print.
4. Travel to Australia.
4 Things Crossed Off the List:
1. CA, OR, WA, AK, NV, TX, UT, CO
2. Sing a solo in church.
3. Take a cruise.
4. Donate blood.
4 Things I'm Good At:
1. Finding new hobbies.
2. Procrastinating.
3. Being a mom.
4. Voicing my opinion.
4 Things That Need Improvement:
1. Housekeeping
2. Keeping up with my hobbies.
3. Not procrastinating.
4. Keeping my opinions to myself.
4 Things I Can Not Do:
1. Wink with both eyes.
2. Ride a unicycle.
3. Algebra.
4. Donate a kidney.
4 Things I Say A Lot:
1. Would you PLEASE pick up your things?
2. Hi. How can I help you?
3. WTF?
4. Where is.....?
4 Things I Loathe:
1. Brussel Sprouts.
2. The self righteous.
3. Rap/Hip Hop, especially coming from the car four cars away.
4. Housework.
4 Things That Make Me Cranky:
1. Illogical Conclusions
2. Things on the floor
3. Being late.
4. Chores not done.
4 Things That Feed My Soul:
1. Music, all kinds (except rap/hip-hop obviously)
2. IM-ing with friends.
3. Hanging out with Normy doing routine things.
4. Being creative.
4 Things That Make Me Laugh:
1. The Bobs
2. Normy
3. Jon Stewart
4. Inside Jokes
4 People/Groups of People That Enrich My Life:
1. My family
2. Elk Grove United Methodist Church
3. The Elk Grove Community
4. The Bobs - the best friends a person can hope for
4 People That Inspire Me:
1. Norm, who shows me how to love unconditionally
2. My Childrenn, who teach me daily
3. Kathy LaPoint-Collup, my pastor who shows me how too embody Christ
4. My parents, I turned out GREAT!
4 Reasons I Would Marry Norm Again:
1. He supports me in all I do.
2. He is a great Dad.
3. He makes me laugh.
4. He loves me with his whole heart.
4 Quotes That I Love:
1. "There can't be good living when there is not good drinking." - Benjamin Franklin
2. "In the End, we will remember not the words of our enemies, but the silence of our friends." Martin Luther King, Jr.
3. "Your ignorance cramps my conversation." - Bob Hope
4. "The recipe for perpetual ignorance is: Be satisfied with your opinions and content in your knowledge." - Elbert Hubbard
4 Things To Do Before I Die:
1. Visit all 50 states.
2. Learn to play the piano or sax or both.
3. Be published, in print.
4. Travel to Australia.
4 Things Crossed Off the List:
1. CA, OR, WA, AK, NV, TX, UT, CO
2. Sing a solo in church.
3. Take a cruise.
4. Donate blood.
4 Things I'm Good At:
1. Finding new hobbies.
2. Procrastinating.
3. Being a mom.
4. Voicing my opinion.
4 Things That Need Improvement:
1. Housekeeping
2. Keeping up with my hobbies.
3. Not procrastinating.
4. Keeping my opinions to myself.
4 Things I Can Not Do:
1. Wink with both eyes.
2. Ride a unicycle.
3. Algebra.
4. Donate a kidney.
4 Things I Say A Lot:
1. Would you PLEASE pick up your things?
2. Hi. How can I help you?
3. WTF?
4. Where is.....?
4 Things I Loathe:
1. Brussel Sprouts.
2. The self righteous.
3. Rap/Hip Hop, especially coming from the car four cars away.
4. Housework.
4 Things That Make Me Cranky:
1. Illogical Conclusions
2. Things on the floor
3. Being late.
4. Chores not done.
4 Things That Feed My Soul:
1. Music, all kinds (except rap/hip-hop obviously)
2. IM-ing with friends.
3. Hanging out with Normy doing routine things.
4. Being creative.
4 Things That Make Me Laugh:
1. The Bobs
2. Normy
3. Jon Stewart
4. Inside Jokes
4 People/Groups of People That Enrich My Life:
1. My family
2. Elk Grove United Methodist Church
3. The Elk Grove Community
4. The Bobs - the best friends a person can hope for
4 People That Inspire Me:
1. Norm, who shows me how to love unconditionally
2. My Childrenn, who teach me daily
3. Kathy LaPoint-Collup, my pastor who shows me how too embody Christ
4. My parents, I turned out GREAT!
4 Reasons I Would Marry Norm Again:
1. He supports me in all I do.
2. He is a great Dad.
3. He makes me laugh.
4. He loves me with his whole heart.
4 Quotes That I Love:
1. "There can't be good living when there is not good drinking." - Benjamin Franklin
2. "In the End, we will remember not the words of our enemies, but the silence of our friends." Martin Luther King, Jr.
3. "Your ignorance cramps my conversation." - Bob Hope
4. "The recipe for perpetual ignorance is: Be satisfied with your opinions and content in your knowledge." - Elbert Hubbard
Friday, September 16, 2005
I. Am. Californian.
I have lived in California my entire 39 years of life. I have every intention of living in California until I draw my last breath.
As a Californian, I am often confronted by The Myth of California. One of those myths is that everyone either lives in The Haight or is a Movie Star. Sometimes folks remember that there is a REALLY big zoo just south of the Movie Stars. Once in a long while someone will remember places like Yosemite and Lake Tahoe.
California is the third largest state, square mileage-wise, largest state population-wise and would fall somewhere around 6th in the world as a nation, if we were our own nation.
And then there are those who think that 'own nation' thing is a good idea.....
What is less known about California:
We are an agriculture state. When you drive between The Haight and The Movie Stars, you drive through some of the world's richest farmland. We grow walnuts and almonds, peaches and nectarines, strawberries and artichokes, rice and cotton, lettuce and corn. Drive through the San Joaquin Valley and you'll go through a bunch of little ag towns, including Selma, the self proclaimed Raisin Capital of the World. If you eat Sun Maid raisins, you know Selma. Selma grows raisin grapes. Surrounding communities grow table grapes. Napa, Amador and Sacramento counties grow wine grapes. You know you live in grape country when developers can name a street "Flame Tokay" and everyone knows that's a kind of grape. And no one wonders why the people down at the corner have 2 acres of grapes planted; they are going to make wine obviously.
Los Angeles is frequently used to describe any place south of the Tehachipi Mountains. Natives know that Los Angeles is a vastly different place in every way from Orange County. And NO ONE calls it "The O.C.". No...it hasn't caught on. If you want to look like a tourist, skip the black socks with shorts. Just call it "The O.C." You'll go there if you go to Disneyland. The original. The Disney Empire began in a garage in Burbank, but it took root in an orange grove in Orange County. Back then, it probably took Walt about 30 minutes to make that drive. Today? You better leave a solid hour. Once you spend some time in Southern California, you'll never confuse LA and Orange County again.
In California geography is measured not in miles, but in time. "How far is it from Burbank to Anaheim?" I don't know what the mileage is, but I can tell you that it is at least an hour. We know we're different that way, but it is much more accurate for travel planning.
San Francisco is a strange and wonderous place. It is as gritty as any city can be. But with FLAIR! And you can go see the Bison without a lot of effort, most any day. You can STAND on Ocean Beach and dip your toes in the Pacific. Stay out of the water...killer rip tides and it is COLD. You can eat crab caught an hour ago. And if you need a tie-dyed shirt... this is your town.
I live in Sacramento County. My city is just south of The City of Sacramento. It seems the eyes of the nation are on the state capital today since Arnold has announced he's going to announce he's going to run for re-election today. Sacramento is a couple hours from San Francisco, a couple of hours from Tahoe, a couple of hours from Oregon and about 6 hours from L.A. Sometime during this school year, our school district, Elk Grove Unified, will acquire more students than San Francisco and will be the second largest school district in the state (and God help us if we surpass LA Unified...). Our best air conditioner here in the Sacramento County is the Delta breezes. Unfortunately, they also bring all the smog and pollens and whatever else is in the air between San Francisco while they bring that cool air off the Bay.
California has some wonderful natural beauty. The blue of Lake Tahoe. The majesty of Yosemite. The wonder of the Sequoias. The awe of the Pacific. I grew up near the ocean. I live too far from it now. It makes me sad that my children are in awe when we go to a beach. It also makes me glad that my children are in awe when we go to a beach.
We are as freaky liberal as everyone thinks we are. We are as staunchly conservative as you can imagine too. Politically, we are Sybil. We elect executives of one party and a legislature of the other. Then we wonder why nothing ever gets done. In rural areas, we are a red state. In the cities, we are blue. Save the "city" of Orange County, although they have been electing some Democrats lately.
This state was built on hard working dreamers. They came to find gold in the hills, but stayed, worked the Earth and grew crops and livestock. They built railroads and started a whole new industry out of that new fangled moving picture camera. Throngs of people still come here to seek their dreams. Maybe it's to be one of those Movie Stars. Maybe it's just to work at any job so their children will have the chance to grow up in America.
While we ARE the land of nuts (almonds, walnuts) and fruits (apples, nectarines, peaches, strawberries....), we aren't just the fruits and nuts of the other variety. Most of us are not much different than the rest of the people in the rest of country. There's just more of us and we just have to figure out how to get along in this cornacopia of people and geography.
I once was told by someone in a midwestern state how those of us who live on the coasts look down on the "fly over" states. Trust me... that isn't the case. It's just that by the time "it" gets there, we've been dealing with it for years. We are quietly laughing at the rest of the country's consternation at high gas prices right now. We've been running about 50 cents a gallon higher than the rest of you for YEARS. We've worked it into our budgets for quite some time. Immigrants? Yea. Old news. Meth in your town? Yea, we've known it's bad news for decades. Traffic? Housing prices? Yawn....
As Californians we know that we do not live on terra firma...but rather a constantly shifting plate on the Earth. We have built to survive all but the most severe earthquake. Every day the ground moves beneath us and we don't realize it. It makes us angry when "points East" say that the country would be improved if California fell into the Pacific. (see aforementioned 6th largest world economy and ponder how losing that would affect the other 49 states) We pay our taxes to points East and get pennies on the dollar in return services. We are told that if we REALLY want the southern border protected, we should do so ourselves. But generally speaking, we are pretty laid back and we don't get too riled up over national decisions. So forgive us our bemusement when you too have to take out another mortgage to fill up your car.
Come. Visit. Stay a while. If you want to stay...we can show you how to absorb the concept of a $3000/month mortgage payment without use of a defibrillator. We'll show you where your polling place is so you too can vote in intiatives that make governing the state harder and harder (we are really really good at that). We'll make sure your ski boots and your bathing suit are always at the ready. We'll show you how to eat an artichoke and how to peel an avocado (and remove the pit). We'll throw a locally grown, ground beef burger on the grill and ask if you want a veggie burger instead. At the block party potluck, you can travel the world by walking down the buffet. We'll make sure you have your Annual Pass to Disneyland. We'll share our recommendations for books on tape/iPod for your commute. We'll invite you to church, temple, mosque and invite you over for the football game. And we won't think badly of you if you decline. We'll give your kids a great education despite what our test scores say. It's hard to educate the world's children when they all speak different languages, but we try.
All we ask in return? Don't complain about who we are. Embrace our way of life. The beauty of it is that it doesn't matter what your way of life IS, it is here. There is a place for everyone, no matter who you are.
Welcome to California.
As a Californian, I am often confronted by The Myth of California. One of those myths is that everyone either lives in The Haight or is a Movie Star. Sometimes folks remember that there is a REALLY big zoo just south of the Movie Stars. Once in a long while someone will remember places like Yosemite and Lake Tahoe.
California is the third largest state, square mileage-wise, largest state population-wise and would fall somewhere around 6th in the world as a nation, if we were our own nation.
And then there are those who think that 'own nation' thing is a good idea.....
What is less known about California:
We are an agriculture state. When you drive between The Haight and The Movie Stars, you drive through some of the world's richest farmland. We grow walnuts and almonds, peaches and nectarines, strawberries and artichokes, rice and cotton, lettuce and corn. Drive through the San Joaquin Valley and you'll go through a bunch of little ag towns, including Selma, the self proclaimed Raisin Capital of the World. If you eat Sun Maid raisins, you know Selma. Selma grows raisin grapes. Surrounding communities grow table grapes. Napa, Amador and Sacramento counties grow wine grapes. You know you live in grape country when developers can name a street "Flame Tokay" and everyone knows that's a kind of grape. And no one wonders why the people down at the corner have 2 acres of grapes planted; they are going to make wine obviously.
Los Angeles is frequently used to describe any place south of the Tehachipi Mountains. Natives know that Los Angeles is a vastly different place in every way from Orange County. And NO ONE calls it "The O.C.". No...it hasn't caught on. If you want to look like a tourist, skip the black socks with shorts. Just call it "The O.C." You'll go there if you go to Disneyland. The original. The Disney Empire began in a garage in Burbank, but it took root in an orange grove in Orange County. Back then, it probably took Walt about 30 minutes to make that drive. Today? You better leave a solid hour. Once you spend some time in Southern California, you'll never confuse LA and Orange County again.
In California geography is measured not in miles, but in time. "How far is it from Burbank to Anaheim?" I don't know what the mileage is, but I can tell you that it is at least an hour. We know we're different that way, but it is much more accurate for travel planning.
San Francisco is a strange and wonderous place. It is as gritty as any city can be. But with FLAIR! And you can go see the Bison without a lot of effort, most any day. You can STAND on Ocean Beach and dip your toes in the Pacific. Stay out of the water...killer rip tides and it is COLD. You can eat crab caught an hour ago. And if you need a tie-dyed shirt... this is your town.
I live in Sacramento County. My city is just south of The City of Sacramento. It seems the eyes of the nation are on the state capital today since Arnold has announced he's going to announce he's going to run for re-election today. Sacramento is a couple hours from San Francisco, a couple of hours from Tahoe, a couple of hours from Oregon and about 6 hours from L.A. Sometime during this school year, our school district, Elk Grove Unified, will acquire more students than San Francisco and will be the second largest school district in the state (and God help us if we surpass LA Unified...). Our best air conditioner here in the Sacramento County is the Delta breezes. Unfortunately, they also bring all the smog and pollens and whatever else is in the air between San Francisco while they bring that cool air off the Bay.
California has some wonderful natural beauty. The blue of Lake Tahoe. The majesty of Yosemite. The wonder of the Sequoias. The awe of the Pacific. I grew up near the ocean. I live too far from it now. It makes me sad that my children are in awe when we go to a beach. It also makes me glad that my children are in awe when we go to a beach.
We are as freaky liberal as everyone thinks we are. We are as staunchly conservative as you can imagine too. Politically, we are Sybil. We elect executives of one party and a legislature of the other. Then we wonder why nothing ever gets done. In rural areas, we are a red state. In the cities, we are blue. Save the "city" of Orange County, although they have been electing some Democrats lately.
This state was built on hard working dreamers. They came to find gold in the hills, but stayed, worked the Earth and grew crops and livestock. They built railroads and started a whole new industry out of that new fangled moving picture camera. Throngs of people still come here to seek their dreams. Maybe it's to be one of those Movie Stars. Maybe it's just to work at any job so their children will have the chance to grow up in America.
While we ARE the land of nuts (almonds, walnuts) and fruits (apples, nectarines, peaches, strawberries....), we aren't just the fruits and nuts of the other variety. Most of us are not much different than the rest of the people in the rest of country. There's just more of us and we just have to figure out how to get along in this cornacopia of people and geography.
I once was told by someone in a midwestern state how those of us who live on the coasts look down on the "fly over" states. Trust me... that isn't the case. It's just that by the time "it" gets there, we've been dealing with it for years. We are quietly laughing at the rest of the country's consternation at high gas prices right now. We've been running about 50 cents a gallon higher than the rest of you for YEARS. We've worked it into our budgets for quite some time. Immigrants? Yea. Old news. Meth in your town? Yea, we've known it's bad news for decades. Traffic? Housing prices? Yawn....
As Californians we know that we do not live on terra firma...but rather a constantly shifting plate on the Earth. We have built to survive all but the most severe earthquake. Every day the ground moves beneath us and we don't realize it. It makes us angry when "points East" say that the country would be improved if California fell into the Pacific. (see aforementioned 6th largest world economy and ponder how losing that would affect the other 49 states) We pay our taxes to points East and get pennies on the dollar in return services. We are told that if we REALLY want the southern border protected, we should do so ourselves. But generally speaking, we are pretty laid back and we don't get too riled up over national decisions. So forgive us our bemusement when you too have to take out another mortgage to fill up your car.
Come. Visit. Stay a while. If you want to stay...we can show you how to absorb the concept of a $3000/month mortgage payment without use of a defibrillator. We'll show you where your polling place is so you too can vote in intiatives that make governing the state harder and harder (we are really really good at that). We'll make sure your ski boots and your bathing suit are always at the ready. We'll show you how to eat an artichoke and how to peel an avocado (and remove the pit). We'll throw a locally grown, ground beef burger on the grill and ask if you want a veggie burger instead. At the block party potluck, you can travel the world by walking down the buffet. We'll make sure you have your Annual Pass to Disneyland. We'll share our recommendations for books on tape/iPod for your commute. We'll invite you to church, temple, mosque and invite you over for the football game. And we won't think badly of you if you decline. We'll give your kids a great education despite what our test scores say. It's hard to educate the world's children when they all speak different languages, but we try.
All we ask in return? Don't complain about who we are. Embrace our way of life. The beauty of it is that it doesn't matter what your way of life IS, it is here. There is a place for everyone, no matter who you are.
Welcome to California.
Thursday, September 15, 2005
Rashy
One of the hardest thing in the parenting job is determining if the kid is REALLY sick or just doesn't wanna go to school.
Being stuffy and sniffly always helps add to the drama.
Emma has hay fever. She is stuff and sniffly and often, coughy, a lot. If she stayed home every time she hacked up a lung, she'd never go to school.
Yesterday I was a horrible mean mom making her sorry self go to school. I'll admit that PART of that was because I had to go to work. But I figured if she STILL felt like crud, she could stay home TODAY.
Today she feels fine. Just like yesterday afternoon. Perky and skippy and happy. Uh huh... It was more "I don't want to go to school" than "I feel like crud".
Oh. And I'm itchy... says Emma.
Dang. I bet you are! Emma has a rash. It's on her torso only, save one small patch on her shoulder.
I outlined the rash last night, gave her loratadine, and sent her to bed. I think it's less in some places and bigger in other places this morning.
She's not going to school today. We have a doctor's appointment at 9:50. I suspect it is just hives. But I'm not sure what hives LOOK like. The nurse said it was like welts. Well.... maybe these are teeny tiny welts. Look more like pin pricks. If she had been rolling around on the grass, I'd say "it's a grass rash". But she wasn't. And she wasn't doing it nakey!
But I was right about yesterday. She was allergy struck, but she was able to go to school. I'm kinda afraid it's a reaction to loratadine. What do you do when you're allergic to the allergy medication?? In which case, I just gave her more of what she's allergic to....
UPDATE: Diagnosis: "Contact Dermititis" Meaning she came into contact with something she is allergic to. WHAT that is, remains a mystery. So she is soaking in an Aveeno filled bath. We have new hydrocortisone, but we can't cover her in that. It will just go on the itchiest spots. I have Benedryl to give to her before bed. She is cleared for school tomorrow....
Being stuffy and sniffly always helps add to the drama.
Emma has hay fever. She is stuff and sniffly and often, coughy, a lot. If she stayed home every time she hacked up a lung, she'd never go to school.
Yesterday I was a horrible mean mom making her sorry self go to school. I'll admit that PART of that was because I had to go to work. But I figured if she STILL felt like crud, she could stay home TODAY.
Today she feels fine. Just like yesterday afternoon. Perky and skippy and happy. Uh huh... It was more "I don't want to go to school" than "I feel like crud".
Oh. And I'm itchy... says Emma.
Dang. I bet you are! Emma has a rash. It's on her torso only, save one small patch on her shoulder.
I outlined the rash last night, gave her loratadine, and sent her to bed. I think it's less in some places and bigger in other places this morning.
She's not going to school today. We have a doctor's appointment at 9:50. I suspect it is just hives. But I'm not sure what hives LOOK like. The nurse said it was like welts. Well.... maybe these are teeny tiny welts. Look more like pin pricks. If she had been rolling around on the grass, I'd say "it's a grass rash". But she wasn't. And she wasn't doing it nakey!
But I was right about yesterday. She was allergy struck, but she was able to go to school. I'm kinda afraid it's a reaction to loratadine. What do you do when you're allergic to the allergy medication?? In which case, I just gave her more of what she's allergic to....
UPDATE: Diagnosis: "Contact Dermititis" Meaning she came into contact with something she is allergic to. WHAT that is, remains a mystery. So she is soaking in an Aveeno filled bath. We have new hydrocortisone, but we can't cover her in that. It will just go on the itchiest spots. I have Benedryl to give to her before bed. She is cleared for school tomorrow....
Friday, September 09, 2005
Overheard
So Kaitlyn is going to Extremz tonight.... first they go to a worship service at another church and then they go to a local small amusement park. They are to be awake all night. But that's not really relevent. The point is, she has to be at the church at 9pm.
I was going to take her.
But then Norm got home and said HE would take her cause he had to pick up a laser printer from Doug (who is an Extremz chaperone)
okey fine
Kaitlyn comes down about 5+ minutes before it's time to go.....she gets her permission slip off the fridge. I tell Norm, she's got the slip.... Okey dokey
The three of us are chatting.I say.... y'all better get going....
So Kaitlyn jumps up and Norm goes and gets his keys and wallet and such.....The TWO of them go out the door.
Seconds later Kaitlyn comes back in....
Me: What are you doing back inside?
Her: I WAS SUPPOSE to go with dad, right???
Me: Yea...why are you inside?
Her: Well, he TOTALLY just left without me.
Me: Are you sure?
Her: Yea....he drove down the street.
(at this point I'm trying to decide....call him and ask "did ya forget anything?" or just take her and meet him at the church....)
Her: BUUUUUT he's coming back.
Me: Ok...is he stopping for you?
Her: Yep. BYE!
.......time passes.......
Me: Did ya forget anything?
Him: I got to the court and said "SHIT!"
Me: "Take child to church" kinda implies that one oughta TAKE the child.
Him: I was going to get the laser printer from Doug. Forgot about the "take Kaitlyn" part.
Him: Doug forgot the laser printer. I'll have to get in the morning.
I was going to take her.
But then Norm got home and said HE would take her cause he had to pick up a laser printer from Doug (who is an Extremz chaperone)
okey fine
Kaitlyn comes down about 5+ minutes before it's time to go.....she gets her permission slip off the fridge. I tell Norm, she's got the slip.... Okey dokey
The three of us are chatting.I say.... y'all better get going....
So Kaitlyn jumps up and Norm goes and gets his keys and wallet and such.....The TWO of them go out the door.
Seconds later Kaitlyn comes back in....
Me: What are you doing back inside?
Her: I WAS SUPPOSE to go with dad, right???
Me: Yea...why are you inside?
Her: Well, he TOTALLY just left without me.
Me: Are you sure?
Her: Yea....he drove down the street.
(at this point I'm trying to decide....call him and ask "did ya forget anything?" or just take her and meet him at the church....)
Her: BUUUUUT he's coming back.
Me: Ok...is he stopping for you?
Her: Yep. BYE!
.......time passes.......
Me: Did ya forget anything?
Him: I got to the court and said "SHIT!"
Me: "Take child to church" kinda implies that one oughta TAKE the child.
Him: I was going to get the laser printer from Doug. Forgot about the "take Kaitlyn" part.
Him: Doug forgot the laser printer. I'll have to get in the morning.
Wednesday, September 07, 2005
I Did It To Myself
I decided I wanted to knit a special blanket.
I figured I had plenty of time.
Dang if October doesn't follow September which follows August AGAIN this year.
But in my defense, I had "October 18" as her due date. Just because that is WRONG.... should not be held against me.
Oh. Baby Shower? September 18?
Yea. Panic knitting has ensued.
I absolutely positively MUST make major progress tomorrow.
Photos when I'm done......
(update to my Katrina blog for those interested. shame on the spammer who posted a comment to it. you have been deleted and banned.)
I figured I had plenty of time.
Dang if October doesn't follow September which follows August AGAIN this year.
But in my defense, I had "October 18" as her due date. Just because that is WRONG.... should not be held against me.
Oh. Baby Shower? September 18?
Yea. Panic knitting has ensued.
I absolutely positively MUST make major progress tomorrow.
Photos when I'm done......
(update to my Katrina blog for those interested. shame on the spammer who posted a comment to it. you have been deleted and banned.)
Sunday, September 04, 2005
Heavy Hearts
I have a dear friend with a heavy heart this day. It breaks my heart to know that I have contributed to that heaviness. I have not "trespassed against" her. But my troubles have come, and will come, to be her troubles. For that I am deeply sorry.
What I am not sorry for is being who I am. Simply put, if you don't want to know the answer, do not ask me the question. I am not one to blow sunshine up your ass. If you want the sun to shine there.... you need to find someone else to talk to.
I'm not Southern either. I have found they speak a different language in the south. They have a code... a way of insulting without you knowing. A way of criticizing without you seeing the knife heading your way. It works well for them. They understand the code. It doesn't work well when they speak to those of us not from the south.
For quite some time I have butted heads with someone from the south. I would make a statement... not only was I not speaking to or about her, but I wasn't even thinking about her when I spoke. Then BAM! I'm down on the mat. She is irate. How dare I? What do I know of her life? How can I possibly criticize her?? WTF???? I would go over my words.... what DID I say? I would ask others.... Damned if they knew either.
Last night another southern woman took umbruge at a simple word, spoken in sincerity. It wasn't spoken by me...but by a true Northerner. With Scicilian blood running through her veins to boot! One of my southern friends said he could see how it was taken other than intended. It was eye opening to me. I never would have taken it that way. I usually have just enough Southern in me to keep me out of truly hot water.... but I didn't see this one.
My Northern friend and I are a lot alike. We are so different in many ways, unlikely friends really. But what you see is what you get. "What is wrong?" will be answered. And no, you may not like the answer. But an answer is what you'll get.
Yes. I know I need to 'work on that'. But I'm not sure why. Why let it seethe? Why let a wound fester? I HAVE kept my tongue. I HAVE just 'let it go'. But I now see that in doing so gave approval. It let others believe that all was fine and dandy. That decision made were done so WITH my approval. Keeping silent was seen as agreement, not dissent.
There are those who do not like dissent or confrontation. They are very very uncomfortable. There are those who simply cannot understand why someone sees things differently. For most of my life, I was one of those people. Slowly I have come to accept that others see things differently. That reasonable people can disagree. I have also come to a place where I can disagree, state it and still be friends. My Scilian friend and I ARE friends. We call each other a butthead when we are being buttheads. Her definition of a "decent Democrat" to vote for is vastly different than mine. But I'd knock back a lemon drop with her any time, any day.
My best friends will tell me when I'm being an idiot, overreacting, being mean, being a butthead and that those pants make my ass look huge. Of course it stings to be told these things. But when I hear them...from them...
I know I must listen.
What I am not sorry for is being who I am. Simply put, if you don't want to know the answer, do not ask me the question. I am not one to blow sunshine up your ass. If you want the sun to shine there.... you need to find someone else to talk to.
I'm not Southern either. I have found they speak a different language in the south. They have a code... a way of insulting without you knowing. A way of criticizing without you seeing the knife heading your way. It works well for them. They understand the code. It doesn't work well when they speak to those of us not from the south.
For quite some time I have butted heads with someone from the south. I would make a statement... not only was I not speaking to or about her, but I wasn't even thinking about her when I spoke. Then BAM! I'm down on the mat. She is irate. How dare I? What do I know of her life? How can I possibly criticize her?? WTF???? I would go over my words.... what DID I say? I would ask others.... Damned if they knew either.
Last night another southern woman took umbruge at a simple word, spoken in sincerity. It wasn't spoken by me...but by a true Northerner. With Scicilian blood running through her veins to boot! One of my southern friends said he could see how it was taken other than intended. It was eye opening to me. I never would have taken it that way. I usually have just enough Southern in me to keep me out of truly hot water.... but I didn't see this one.
My Northern friend and I are a lot alike. We are so different in many ways, unlikely friends really. But what you see is what you get. "What is wrong?" will be answered. And no, you may not like the answer. But an answer is what you'll get.
Yes. I know I need to 'work on that'. But I'm not sure why. Why let it seethe? Why let a wound fester? I HAVE kept my tongue. I HAVE just 'let it go'. But I now see that in doing so gave approval. It let others believe that all was fine and dandy. That decision made were done so WITH my approval. Keeping silent was seen as agreement, not dissent.
There are those who do not like dissent or confrontation. They are very very uncomfortable. There are those who simply cannot understand why someone sees things differently. For most of my life, I was one of those people. Slowly I have come to accept that others see things differently. That reasonable people can disagree. I have also come to a place where I can disagree, state it and still be friends. My Scilian friend and I ARE friends. We call each other a butthead when we are being buttheads. Her definition of a "decent Democrat" to vote for is vastly different than mine. But I'd knock back a lemon drop with her any time, any day.
My best friends will tell me when I'm being an idiot, overreacting, being mean, being a butthead and that those pants make my ass look huge. Of course it stings to be told these things. But when I hear them...from them...
I know I must listen.
Temporary
Today marks 17 years of this temporary, rebound relationship being made official, in a church, in the eyes of God and the State of California. We've known each other TWENTY years. Dang.... methinks we are getting old.
But that's ok. No one I'd rather get old with than my Normy!
Happy Anniversary!
But that's ok. No one I'd rather get old with than my Normy!
Happy Anniversary!
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