A few things I'm amazed about -- not in a good way -- that have occurred lately (confirming the near-total black days of polite society).
1)The two yuppie types who breezed out in traffic in their SUV, halting both lanes of traffic as they sat there, deciding what direction to proceed in. Apparently the laws of driving do not apply to them. When someone honked, they just laughed. I dunno. Maybe they had too many beers at lunch or something.
2)The girl who 'broke up' with my nephew as soon as he drove her to his first dance at high school. As much as we assured him that he was welllll out of that relationship - and dodged a bullet -- he was still heart-broken...for as long as a teenaged heart stays broken, anyway.
3)The nurse's aide who kept complaining loudly to us how 'tired' she was while Excy was writhing in pain and we had been stuck in ICU 10 hours without food or drink.
4)A relative who called my parents to complain I wasn't calling her to let her know the situation, the last time Excy was in the hospital.
5)The ophthalmologist who told an acquaintance who had just spent $800 on new glasses when she went back after 2 weeks to complain they were hurting her nose that there was 'nothing' that could be done about the fit. Not even attempting to adjust them. No concern. The receptionist who joked to 'just put some kleenex on your nose' was fired two days later.
6)The checker at the grocery store who has never in the 13 years I've gone there, been pleasant while ringing up purchases. I have actually queried other shopper friends who go there, and she has never smiled or said 'hello' to them, either, so it's just not me. I make a point to avoid her -- not going through her line even if it's empty. Even if I have to wait.
6)The stranger in the parking lot who yelled 'What's wrong with you?!' Nothing. What's wrong with you??!
7)The property manager who told a friend fixing a flat tire on her horse trailer in a parking lot that she 'had to move' and 'couldn't do that here.' The same intrepid, sensitive soul stuck around and watched and complained that she would 'have to clean that up' referring to the horse poop, as my friend stood beside the horse, shovel in hand. (The horse had to be unloaded off the trailer so she could fix the tire in the first place).
8)The 80ish-year-old woman who shoved me aside to pay her condolences at a funeral reception. I use a cane, people. I thought of using it to trip her.
It's the end of the world as we know it...Seriously, civilization is taking a hit, anyway...
Thursday, July 8, 2010
Wednesday, June 30, 2010
Hot Time in the Summer
My neighbor S sent these three shots of her coonie friends the other day. All of our coon babies are growing up and getting so big you can hardly tell them from the juvies these days. S said that last weekend, several mommas dropped their babies off at her deck and took off -- just like they were leaving them at day-care. She had 14 babies hanging around all afternoon until the mom's came back to pick up the kids! Note the cats sleeping off to the side; they couldn't be less concerned.
At my house, it's not unusual to see a mom hanging out at the koi pond with the kids. They love to hang their feet and paws in the cool water and survey the woods. It reminds me of young mothers hanging around the pool while the kids splash in the kiddie pool.
Patrons at the cafe a month or so ago...
Francis and Mr Fox are allowing the kits to play in the yard more and more. I think the kits have ADHD from the crazy wild ways they run all over the place. Last night I looked out the front yard and saw Francis grooming herself on a big rock while the kits tussled with dad. I'm glad no cars drove by to see them. It was too dark to take a good shot. They started letting the kits come up to eat on occasion but for the most part don't -- which is an excellent idea, since they need to get used to fending for themselves in the woods and steer clear of people...
Friday the cutest human baby in the world is coming from Austin to visit her "Namy" and "Grand dad" over the 4th of July with her parents. I am planning a family cook-out. I'll be back on-line when they leave next week. Happy holidays!
Friday, June 25, 2010
Cuckoo for Coconuts
A dear long-time friend came out today and we hauled off 10 wheelbarrow loads of leaves (well, he did most of the heavy lifting and work). Can you believe raking in late June still? Ugh. On to weeding. The day started out overcast and breezy but by the afternoon it was hot. This made me think of the article I read in the health section of Time a few weeks ago about coconut water.
Coconut water is supposed to be an excellent rehydrater; better than Gatorade. C Water is extracted from fruit too young to have formed milk. It is low in calories, has no fat, and contains less sugar than most juices. According to the article, it contains the same five electrolytes found in human blood. In fact, in emergencies it has been used intravenously when conventional hydration fluids have been unavailable.
C Water is the 'new next thing,' that athletes and health nuts have discovered. Sales topped $50 million last year. The top three brands are Zico, O.N.E., and VitaCoco. There's a lot of hype out there about the benefits of the drink, mostly false, (it's doubtful it cures cancer or even cramps), but since it does help with dehydration better than Gatorade or most drinks, I would've been happy to try it this afternoon,
Coconut water is supposed to be an excellent rehydrater; better than Gatorade. C Water is extracted from fruit too young to have formed milk. It is low in calories, has no fat, and contains less sugar than most juices. According to the article, it contains the same five electrolytes found in human blood. In fact, in emergencies it has been used intravenously when conventional hydration fluids have been unavailable.
C Water is the 'new next thing,' that athletes and health nuts have discovered. Sales topped $50 million last year. The top three brands are Zico, O.N.E., and VitaCoco. There's a lot of hype out there about the benefits of the drink, mostly false, (it's doubtful it cures cancer or even cramps), but since it does help with dehydration better than Gatorade or most drinks, I would've been happy to try it this afternoon,
Monday, June 21, 2010
Going on 19
Excy and I had our 19th wedding anniversary last Tuesday. I was sick most of that week so we celebrated by going out to brunch Sunday at a fabulous restaurant. We ran into some friends waiting for a table (great minds think alike), so we all ate together. We have nothing on my parents, who celebrated their 59th June 9.
The story of our meeting is worthy of a Nora Ephron treatment (anyone know her?). I was working as an associate editor for ARCHITECTURE magazine in DC. My editor-in-chief flipped a file on my desk and told me to interview this architect for one of my columns on new buildings. Usually when an editor calls an architect and says they're interested in their work, they fall all over themselves with excitement (competitive market -- lots of architects and fewer magazine pages to highlight their work). So I was unprepared for a snarky response when I told him who I was and why I was calling. "What did you do? Pull that out of the round file?" Annoyed at his remark, I told him I could tell he wasn't interested and I was sorry to bother him...
Thirty minutes or so later he called up and apologized, saying that we had the slides for so long that he'd tried to get them returned, only to be told they had gotten lost...after that kerfluffle, we moved on, and I interviewed him by phone. Listening to the tape later, I was surprised that it was about 30 minutes of project discussion, and 20 minutes of flirting. Hummmmm. We talked on the phone every day for 2 weeks. After I had finished the column, I thanked him for his help, and said how much I had enjoyed speaking with him. The next day, he called: "Hey, kid, I just missed talking to you." Obviously, we couldn't talk on office time, so the next thing I knew, he was calling me every night about 11 p.m. I think he was just checking up on me to make sure I was home!! After 6 weeks of this, he said he wanted to meet me in person. My status then was, I had been divorced about 2 years, and was dating an architect in NY (loved the fact it wasn't in the same city), and did not want to get attached. So I kept putting him off. I enjoyed having a phone buddy. I had a sense that if we met it could get serious. Finally he said this was ridiculous and he was picking me up for lunch Saturday. I told him I couldn't, I had to go into work. He said he'd pick me up for lunch at work. I finally relented. As I sat waiting for him in the lobby it occurred to me we hadn't discussed what either of us really looked like...all I knew was he was tall. It was deserted in the building, though. Suddenly a tall dark handsome man pushed through the swinging doors. My exact immediate thought was: "Shit, I don't want to get married again!"
Many many years later, I learned the other side of the story: after he hung up from that first phone call, he called my editor and asked what was going on -- that he'd always had the editor or a higher-up editor review his projects (conceited or what?!) and Mr Canty replied, "You want to meet this girl. Don't you have a restaurant in MD or something? Take her to lunch." Excy: "What? I've never had to take my editor to lunch before!" Mr Canty: "You aren't listening to me. You want to meet this girl."
Mr Canty playing cupid?? I wish I had known this...he died awhile back.
The story of our meeting is worthy of a Nora Ephron treatment (anyone know her?). I was working as an associate editor for ARCHITECTURE magazine in DC. My editor-in-chief flipped a file on my desk and told me to interview this architect for one of my columns on new buildings. Usually when an editor calls an architect and says they're interested in their work, they fall all over themselves with excitement (competitive market -- lots of architects and fewer magazine pages to highlight their work). So I was unprepared for a snarky response when I told him who I was and why I was calling. "What did you do? Pull that out of the round file?" Annoyed at his remark, I told him I could tell he wasn't interested and I was sorry to bother him...
Thirty minutes or so later he called up and apologized, saying that we had the slides for so long that he'd tried to get them returned, only to be told they had gotten lost...after that kerfluffle, we moved on, and I interviewed him by phone. Listening to the tape later, I was surprised that it was about 30 minutes of project discussion, and 20 minutes of flirting. Hummmmm. We talked on the phone every day for 2 weeks. After I had finished the column, I thanked him for his help, and said how much I had enjoyed speaking with him. The next day, he called: "Hey, kid, I just missed talking to you." Obviously, we couldn't talk on office time, so the next thing I knew, he was calling me every night about 11 p.m. I think he was just checking up on me to make sure I was home!! After 6 weeks of this, he said he wanted to meet me in person. My status then was, I had been divorced about 2 years, and was dating an architect in NY (loved the fact it wasn't in the same city), and did not want to get attached. So I kept putting him off. I enjoyed having a phone buddy. I had a sense that if we met it could get serious. Finally he said this was ridiculous and he was picking me up for lunch Saturday. I told him I couldn't, I had to go into work. He said he'd pick me up for lunch at work. I finally relented. As I sat waiting for him in the lobby it occurred to me we hadn't discussed what either of us really looked like...all I knew was he was tall. It was deserted in the building, though. Suddenly a tall dark handsome man pushed through the swinging doors. My exact immediate thought was: "Shit, I don't want to get married again!"
Many many years later, I learned the other side of the story: after he hung up from that first phone call, he called my editor and asked what was going on -- that he'd always had the editor or a higher-up editor review his projects (conceited or what?!) and Mr Canty replied, "You want to meet this girl. Don't you have a restaurant in MD or something? Take her to lunch." Excy: "What? I've never had to take my editor to lunch before!" Mr Canty: "You aren't listening to me. You want to meet this girl."
Mr Canty playing cupid?? I wish I had known this...he died awhile back.
Sunday, June 20, 2010
R.I.P., 'Roo
Our oldest feline companion died Saturday morning. We actually had Scat a year and a month longer than we thought we would. Last summer he was diagnosed with end-stage renal disease. His biological mother died quickly of the same disease within weeks of Scat's diagnosis. Scat spent 7 days in the hospital that summer. He was so miserable (he detests leaving the house and hates the vet) that he was going downhill fast, so I took him home. If he was going to die, it would be on his terms, where he wanted. (I know I'm projecting -- my biggest fear is dying in a hospital. I want to be at home. Excy knows if he doesn't at least drag my ass out to the parking lot I'll haunt him for life, not in a kind way).
Scat was our first and only, so far, cat who has never known abandonment or hardship of any kind. I rescued his mother, who found her forever home (with some gentle prodding from me), at my parent's house. She had a litter of kittens almost immediately after settling in. Scat was the only one with a deep gray coat with black tiger stripes. From days old, I held him and we bonded. Dad said later he must be 'my' cat, because he never wanted to be held by anybody else, and he'd always stretch out and fall asleep on my legs. When he was ready to leave his mom, I had to get surgery, so he stayed with his biological mom a longer time. By the time I got him he had turned into a real mama's boy. He transferred that affection to me. Every evening when I got home from work he was waiting for me at the door. He caterwauled until I picked him up and he never wanted to be let down. I seriously considered a Snuggly just to have my hands free.
My oldest cat at the time was a once-in-a-lifetime animal companion that if you're lucky, you have a unique relationship with. Gogo was dying and she knew my heart was breaking. She was happy I was bonding with this new kitten, and that it would make her passing easier. But even she grew a bit jealous by how possessive 'Roo was becoming of me.
Scat was an incredible friend. Some of his unique qualities: That coat developed into a sharkskin suit. It looked black until you brushed his fur the wrong way and saw his undercoat of silver. Gorgeous. He was a true diplomat. He loved his siblings and considered himself an ambassador to the house, greeting everyone and finding a lap. He had twinkly tin-foil balls that he'd bring to us for attention, loudly announcing that he was bringing them to us. Every night when he felt it was time for bed, (between 11 and 11:45), he'd yell down the hall. He slept with me every night in the crook of my arm and if I had to get up he just waited patiently until settling down again. He danced, looking just like Snoopy on the Charlie Brown specials. And he'd let Excy spin him around on the floor while he lengthened out, longer and longer.
He was just such a stellar cat. We had a memorial service and Excy constructed a funeral pyre, and Scat's ashes will go in the ginger jar with Gogo. The house feels empty, despite our 3 other cats. It's so unfair animals don't live as long as we do. But the time we spend with them is heavenly.
Scat was our first and only, so far, cat who has never known abandonment or hardship of any kind. I rescued his mother, who found her forever home (with some gentle prodding from me), at my parent's house. She had a litter of kittens almost immediately after settling in. Scat was the only one with a deep gray coat with black tiger stripes. From days old, I held him and we bonded. Dad said later he must be 'my' cat, because he never wanted to be held by anybody else, and he'd always stretch out and fall asleep on my legs. When he was ready to leave his mom, I had to get surgery, so he stayed with his biological mom a longer time. By the time I got him he had turned into a real mama's boy. He transferred that affection to me. Every evening when I got home from work he was waiting for me at the door. He caterwauled until I picked him up and he never wanted to be let down. I seriously considered a Snuggly just to have my hands free.
My oldest cat at the time was a once-in-a-lifetime animal companion that if you're lucky, you have a unique relationship with. Gogo was dying and she knew my heart was breaking. She was happy I was bonding with this new kitten, and that it would make her passing easier. But even she grew a bit jealous by how possessive 'Roo was becoming of me.
Scat was an incredible friend. Some of his unique qualities: That coat developed into a sharkskin suit. It looked black until you brushed his fur the wrong way and saw his undercoat of silver. Gorgeous. He was a true diplomat. He loved his siblings and considered himself an ambassador to the house, greeting everyone and finding a lap. He had twinkly tin-foil balls that he'd bring to us for attention, loudly announcing that he was bringing them to us. Every night when he felt it was time for bed, (between 11 and 11:45), he'd yell down the hall. He slept with me every night in the crook of my arm and if I had to get up he just waited patiently until settling down again. He danced, looking just like Snoopy on the Charlie Brown specials. And he'd let Excy spin him around on the floor while he lengthened out, longer and longer.
He was just such a stellar cat. We had a memorial service and Excy constructed a funeral pyre, and Scat's ashes will go in the ginger jar with Gogo. The house feels empty, despite our 3 other cats. It's so unfair animals don't live as long as we do. But the time we spend with them is heavenly.
Friday, June 18, 2010
Pretty Much a No-Spend Thrift These Days
I can be a cheapskate, with severe deficits. I've learned to know, and rise above, my spendthrift limitations, however. One of my worst faults is I can find something to buy in any store on Earth. So I have learned some tricks. The biggest is simply not to place myself in the path of temptation. I am not a window-shopper -- not a shopper at all, actually. I stay out of stores. If I must shop, I go in with a list or mental list, enter with a pair of mental blinders on, and bing/bang/boom, I get out quickly.
I'm better buying off the internet. I don't pay full price for anything, other than food. (And I'm one of those coupon mavens, discounting Senior day shoppers). if I am taken with something (besides food, that is), I wait at least one week to think about the purchase. It goes without saying again it's on sale, right?
That said, when I do buy, I buy the best quality I can afford, thinking, hoping, it will last.
Mom and I sold a clothing and accessories line that was close to couture. The main reason we did was it was fun to be in business with each other, but also to buy at a seller's deep discount. Those beautifully classic clothes (think Katharine Hepburn
or Lauren Bacall) I bought in the '80s and '90s are still gorgeous today. I get compliments every time I wear them. If I grow tired of something it's like saying goodbye to an old friend, and I pass it along to be enjoyed by someone else.
Another 'trick' is to pay cash for something. After a project I put my self-employment tax in the savings account, and I sock away $100 for fun money. I've found it's vastly harder for me to shell out cash than whip out the plastic.
I don't use a cell phone. Dad bought me one for the car for emergency use. I don't have the number memorized. This is also a quality of life issue; I don't like to talk on the phone much. I have more than enough books to read, but when I read a review of one that strikes my fancy, I get it from the library. Excy and I love movies and music. We get our movies from satellite and Netflix has worked out best for us, since we're in the country. I guess the last movie theater we went to was back in the winter.
Unless it needs the 'big screen' or is in 3D, even matinees are over-priced for my taste, and I don't care to hear other people chewing popcorn, texting, and talking. Plus if you have to get up you can't stop it while you're away from the screen! (I am beginning to suspect I am distantly related to Larry David).
We seldom eat out. Living in the country means a commute of close to two hours round trip, so it'd better be a special experience. That means NO fast foods, and we don't care for 'chain' restaurants. We tried a Chilies and an Olive Garden once and didn't think we were missing much. We like small, local, ethnic, or specialty restaurants. The quieter the better. And I do like to cook, so we stay in a lot. If you've read my blog any length of time, you know this is not only an animal sanctuary but a sanctuary for us, too.
We love to travel, but don't much because of the animals. When we do, we see a lot of things that are free or inexpensive or worth it to us-- visits with family and friends, museums, concerts, theater, stuff like that. Our pleasures are things and memories and experiences money can't buy.
Tell me some of your 'cheap-skate' tendencies.
I'm better buying off the internet. I don't pay full price for anything, other than food. (And I'm one of those coupon mavens, discounting Senior day shoppers). if I am taken with something (besides food, that is), I wait at least one week to think about the purchase. It goes without saying again it's on sale, right?
That said, when I do buy, I buy the best quality I can afford, thinking, hoping, it will last.
Mom and I sold a clothing and accessories line that was close to couture. The main reason we did was it was fun to be in business with each other, but also to buy at a seller's deep discount. Those beautifully classic clothes (think Katharine Hepburn
or Lauren Bacall) I bought in the '80s and '90s are still gorgeous today. I get compliments every time I wear them. If I grow tired of something it's like saying goodbye to an old friend, and I pass it along to be enjoyed by someone else.
Another 'trick' is to pay cash for something. After a project I put my self-employment tax in the savings account, and I sock away $100 for fun money. I've found it's vastly harder for me to shell out cash than whip out the plastic.
I don't use a cell phone. Dad bought me one for the car for emergency use. I don't have the number memorized. This is also a quality of life issue; I don't like to talk on the phone much. I have more than enough books to read, but when I read a review of one that strikes my fancy, I get it from the library. Excy and I love movies and music. We get our movies from satellite and Netflix has worked out best for us, since we're in the country. I guess the last movie theater we went to was back in the winter.
Unless it needs the 'big screen' or is in 3D, even matinees are over-priced for my taste, and I don't care to hear other people chewing popcorn, texting, and talking. Plus if you have to get up you can't stop it while you're away from the screen! (I am beginning to suspect I am distantly related to Larry David).
We seldom eat out. Living in the country means a commute of close to two hours round trip, so it'd better be a special experience. That means NO fast foods, and we don't care for 'chain' restaurants. We tried a Chilies and an Olive Garden once and didn't think we were missing much. We like small, local, ethnic, or specialty restaurants. The quieter the better. And I do like to cook, so we stay in a lot. If you've read my blog any length of time, you know this is not only an animal sanctuary but a sanctuary for us, too.
We love to travel, but don't much because of the animals. When we do, we see a lot of things that are free or inexpensive or worth it to us-- visits with family and friends, museums, concerts, theater, stuff like that. Our pleasures are things and memories and experiences money can't buy.
Tell me some of your 'cheap-skate' tendencies.
Wednesday, June 16, 2010
Wildlife Wednesday: New Kit in Town
Better late than never today...
Francis brought up one of her four kits to eat on the terrace for the first time ever! I think they were running amok with dad and she just grabbed one and took him with her. Cute isn't he? They ignore the 'coons, even the baby ones, and have been known to all eat on the terrace together.....
Francis brought up one of her four kits to eat on the terrace for the first time ever! I think they were running amok with dad and she just grabbed one and took him with her. Cute isn't he? They ignore the 'coons, even the baby ones, and have been known to all eat on the terrace together.....
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