The holidays loom just around the corner...Thanksgiving (which a lot of people think is just for football and food), and Christmas (which a lot of people think is for presents and food). Where in both of these holiday celebrations do family fit in? If you are from a big family, you can bet everyone will gather at Grandma's for a celebration. If you don't have a grandma...well...
I was born into a big family. That is, to say, I had five siblings. We didn't gather at holidays because everyone left home when they graduated high school...moved far away and never looked back (except for one of my sisters). Then the excuse of "it's too far," and "I can't get the time off from work" became the standard around holidays.
I used to get pretty weepy when I couldn't get my children together in one place for Thanksgiving and Christmas. After they married, they spent more time over at the "other" spouse's family celebration. I forged ahead and cooked big dinners, wrapped a lot of presents, and then waited. The day was always short-lived and me and the hubby were left once again to ourselves. I think last year was my last attempt at cooking Thanksgiving dinner. Everyone is too wrapped up in whatever to try to continue any family get-togethers.
Now I know how my mother felt.
Until next time..."There are three types of people in this world: those who make things happen, those who watch things happen, and those who wonder what happened." Guess.
Image: digitalart/FreeDigitalPhotos.net
Monday, October 31, 2011
Thursday, October 20, 2011
Technology Test
I am now not only among the ranks of the unemployed, I am among the ranks of being disconnected. The hard drive on my laptop has died, and I am forced to suffer 'withdrawal' from the internet world. It's a sad day, folks, when an oldie like me has to give up pretty much her last connection to 'what's happenin' '. I wasn't totally addicted, and, because I have no other choice at the moment, I must deal with it.
Seems like my whole life I have been on 'the outside lookin' in,' and this scenario proves no different. A lot of people always seem to 'know someone,' or have a 'friend of a friend' who can come to their rescue. I have neither. I also have no cash flow to repair the laptop, or replace it. Goes without saying, I have no generous benefactors either. As many folks that have set aside their old computers for the latest bells and whistles, or have made an upgrade...surely there is some 'ole laptop just laying around for this 'ole granny to borrow or just plain have? O-k-a-a-y.
It's okay. I probably needed to find something else to do with my spare time <all the time, not spare>. I can up my gas budget to make two trips a week to the local library and use their wifi and their computers. Been there, done that. Not the same though.
Enough whining, I guess. Dare I hope to get a comment on this post? Unlikely...that would merit someone actually reading it.
Until next time..."In three words I can sum up everything I've learned about life...it goes on."
--Robert Frost
Seems like my whole life I have been on 'the outside lookin' in,' and this scenario proves no different. A lot of people always seem to 'know someone,' or have a 'friend of a friend' who can come to their rescue. I have neither. I also have no cash flow to repair the laptop, or replace it. Goes without saying, I have no generous benefactors either. As many folks that have set aside their old computers for the latest bells and whistles, or have made an upgrade...surely there is some 'ole laptop just laying around for this 'ole granny to borrow or just plain have? O-k-a-a-y.
It's okay. I probably needed to find something else to do with my spare time <all the time, not spare>. I can up my gas budget to make two trips a week to the local library and use their wifi and their computers. Been there, done that. Not the same though.
Enough whining, I guess. Dare I hope to get a comment on this post? Unlikely...that would merit someone actually reading it.
Until next time..."In three words I can sum up everything I've learned about life...it goes on."
--Robert Frost
Monday, October 10, 2011
A Spot of Sports
I've started another significance-laden journey, or quest, if you will. A few years ago, I told myself I needed to try to read a 'classic' novel every so often, just to enlighten myself and if nothing else, so I could say, 'been there, done that.' Once I learned to read, I've never stopped, and have voraciously read many books since. Fortunately, 'classic' novels never go 'out of style,' and obviously nor has our seemingly never-ending obsession over sports.
Many times under duress, I've endured many years of listening to football on television. That, my friend, is my latest quest...to learn and/or understand the game of football. I tolerated the game when I was in our high school pep club, because I really didn't have to watch it. I was there 'to be seen' in my short-skirted uniform, knee socks and black and white saddle oxford shoes. I had no interest in the game nor in its players...especially the players. Now that I'm married to a former high-school football player, I may have changed my mind about that!
I've decided I favor college football more than professional football. I think anyone who plays a game for their 'job,' deserves no pat on the back. They get paid whether they lose the game or not. Of course, there is that fancy ring. I prefer college football because it's still a game, a rival between collegiate underdogs. To wear the colors and the team name means something to these players. They can talk about it after the game...on until the next one.
I know absolutely nothing about how the game is played. I've had a few people try to 'splain it to me, but I'm just not gettin' it. I obviously get excited when MY team makes a touchdown...that I know. It looks like a lot of pushing and falling down. I wonder why there aren't any women that wanna get in the game? Why is football an all-male sport? Well, I didn't mean to get off on that. It doesn't matter to me.
There are definitely more important things in life that watching 'my team' play against 'your team.' Just because you choose to sit in front of the television, or tailgate at the stadium, OR if you have lots of money, actually go to a football game...doesn't mean I have the inclination to join you. I would instead choose to sit quietly and read a good book or a bad book, it doesn't matter. Sports are overrated...if I choose, I can 'read' about football, and to attest to the name of my blog, drink a cuppa coffee while I read. Guess my quest has already run its course.
Until next time...as Vince Lombardi said, "If it doesn't matter who wins or loses, then why do they keep score?"
Many times under duress, I've endured many years of listening to football on television. That, my friend, is my latest quest...to learn and/or understand the game of football. I tolerated the game when I was in our high school pep club, because I really didn't have to watch it. I was there 'to be seen' in my short-skirted uniform, knee socks and black and white saddle oxford shoes. I had no interest in the game nor in its players...especially the players. Now that I'm married to a former high-school football player, I may have changed my mind about that!
I've decided I favor college football more than professional football. I think anyone who plays a game for their 'job,' deserves no pat on the back. They get paid whether they lose the game or not. Of course, there is that fancy ring. I prefer college football because it's still a game, a rival between collegiate underdogs. To wear the colors and the team name means something to these players. They can talk about it after the game...on until the next one.
I know absolutely nothing about how the game is played. I've had a few people try to 'splain it to me, but I'm just not gettin' it. I obviously get excited when MY team makes a touchdown...that I know. It looks like a lot of pushing and falling down. I wonder why there aren't any women that wanna get in the game? Why is football an all-male sport? Well, I didn't mean to get off on that. It doesn't matter to me.
There are definitely more important things in life that watching 'my team' play against 'your team.' Just because you choose to sit in front of the television, or tailgate at the stadium, OR if you have lots of money, actually go to a football game...doesn't mean I have the inclination to join you. I would instead choose to sit quietly and read a good book or a bad book, it doesn't matter. Sports are overrated...if I choose, I can 'read' about football, and to attest to the name of my blog, drink a cuppa coffee while I read. Guess my quest has already run its course.
Until next time...as Vince Lombardi said, "If it doesn't matter who wins or loses, then why do they keep score?"
Thursday, October 6, 2011
An Apple A Day
So, Mr. Jobs. Being mindful of the fact that you had a serious technological mind, I'm afraid I might be one of the few dinosaurs that did not avail themselves of anything you created. That's not to say that I don't 'know' how to use certain electronic devices, but they were never part of my day-to-day existence, as they were with so many others. I'm sorry for your family, indeed.
This time of year takes me back to the 'old' days, when apple-eating was a certain thing in the fall of the year. It seemed as though they tasted better back then too. Probably not so many chemicals were applied, and LOOK...I'm still kickin'! Mom and apple pie. Yes, she did make a mean pie. I still love apple pie, and when I can afford to buy them (at almost $1.50/pound), I will make myself one. So, do you like yours a la mode or not? Either way is fine, but the pie has to be warm out of the oven. Thankfully, too, I still like to just eat an apple, and I'm blessed to still have all of my own teeth, so this is a fairly easy task. Whew! I feel for you denture-wearers!
Unfortunately, the crisp fall days of my youth do not exist in the climate in which I make my home. I just turned on the air conditioner because the temps are climbing this mid morning. If I recall, when walking to the bus stop at the end of Wire Street, my breath would appear as I trudged the half block HA! I always had some kind of ratty jacket to wear...my folks were still of the mindset that you only needed one coat and two pair of shoes each year. Even though it was my siblings that grew up in the WWII days, my folks were still 'tight as bark on a tree.' Oh well...I survived, and pretty much still only have one coat and two pair of shoes.
Those of you who make your way to my blog will undoubtedly think you have passed through a time warp of some kind. Yes, I do have a lot of fond memories of when I was young. These are what keep me entertained today. Sorry if they seem boring or just plain stupid. You had to have been there.
Until next time..."when in doubt...don't."
This time of year takes me back to the 'old' days, when apple-eating was a certain thing in the fall of the year. It seemed as though they tasted better back then too. Probably not so many chemicals were applied, and LOOK...I'm still kickin'! Mom and apple pie. Yes, she did make a mean pie. I still love apple pie, and when I can afford to buy them (at almost $1.50/pound), I will make myself one. So, do you like yours a la mode or not? Either way is fine, but the pie has to be warm out of the oven. Thankfully, too, I still like to just eat an apple, and I'm blessed to still have all of my own teeth, so this is a fairly easy task. Whew! I feel for you denture-wearers!
Unfortunately, the crisp fall days of my youth do not exist in the climate in which I make my home. I just turned on the air conditioner because the temps are climbing this mid morning. If I recall, when walking to the bus stop at the end of Wire Street, my breath would appear as I trudged the half block HA! I always had some kind of ratty jacket to wear...my folks were still of the mindset that you only needed one coat and two pair of shoes each year. Even though it was my siblings that grew up in the WWII days, my folks were still 'tight as bark on a tree.' Oh well...I survived, and pretty much still only have one coat and two pair of shoes.
Those of you who make your way to my blog will undoubtedly think you have passed through a time warp of some kind. Yes, I do have a lot of fond memories of when I was young. These are what keep me entertained today. Sorry if they seem boring or just plain stupid. You had to have been there.
Until next time..."when in doubt...don't."
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