Averages Trivia

Here are some trivia factoids from one of my favorite sites:

*Humans shed about 600,000 particles of skin every hour - about 1.5 pounds a year. By 70 years of age, an average person will have lost 105 pounds of skin.

*Every square inch of the human body has an average of 32 million bacteria on it.

*The FDA allows an average of 30 or more insect fragments and one or more rodent hairs per 100 grams of peanut butter.

*The linen bandages that were used to wrap Egyptian mummies averaged 1,000 yards in length.

*The average American will eat 35,000 cookies in a lifetime.

*Average number of hummingbirds required to create the weight of 1 ounce: 18.

*An ear of corn averages 800 kernals in 16 rows.

Smokers are likely to die on average six and a half years earlier than non-smokers.

*In 1900 the average age at death in the US was 47.

*The ashes of the average cremated person weigh 9 pounds.

*The average cow produces 40 glasses of milk each day.

*The average elephant produces 50 pounds of dung each day.

If you would like to read more, there are many more averages listed on the website.

Discovery of Governmentium---Ha Ha!

In the context of the pending elections and in-your-face politics, I am reposting an article about a mock scientific discovery. I hope it will give you a laugh.

Heaviest Element Recently Discovered---Governmentium

A major research institution has recently announced the discovery of the heaviest element yet known to science. The new element has been named "Governmentium."

Governmentium (Gu) has one neutron, 25 assistant neutrons, 88 deputy neutrons and 198 assistant deputy neutrons, giving it an atomic mass of 312. These 312 particles are held together by forces called morons, which are surrounded by vast quantities of lepton-like particles called peons.

Since Governmentium has no electrons, it is inert. However, it can be detected, because it impedes every reaction with which it comes into contact. A minute amount of Governmentium causes one reaction to take four days to complete, when it would normally take less than a second.

Governmentium has a normal half-life of 4 years; it does not decay, but instead undergoes a reorganization in which a portion of the assistant neutrons and deputy assistant neutrons exchange places. In fact, Governmentium's mass will actually increase over time, since each reorganization will cause more morons to become neutrons.

This characterization of moron promotion leads some scientists to believe that Governmentium is formed whenever morons reach a certain quantity in concentration. This hypothetical quantity is referred to as Critical Morass.

When catalylized with money, Governmentium becomes Administratium--an element which radiates just as much energy as Governmentium since it has half as many peons, but twice as many morons.

I don't know who wrote this, but I applaud them for their insights.

Lewis Perdue Comments

I just finished reading a book by Lewis Perdue and am reminded of the characteristics that make him one of my favorite authors.

His imagination and words create people, places and plots with precision and clarity. At the same time, he constructs a novel that is both thrilling and chilling as you are forced to realize "My God! This could really happen!"

If you are interested in genetics and bioweapons, read this book.

"Menial" Jobs

I took this picture when we were in Paris a few years ago. I was fascinated by the workers in the distinctive green uniforms and learned that these workers were assigned a street area and they spent the day sweeping the walks in in their area. I thought it was a great idea that should be exported to our country where it would help on two fronts: 1) it would provide jobs for the unskilled workers who complained about not being able to find work and 2) it would help clean up our dirty cities.

When I came upon the photo again tonight, I remembered my earlier musings and then I immediately thought "No. Americans would not take such menial jobs." And for some reason, illegal aliens came to mind. Their defenders tell us that they are performing the jobs that Americans will not do.

Uhm..............I may have to rethink my position on illegal aliens.

Why I "Fight City Hall"

I fight city hall because I live in a democracy. As a citizen of our democracy, I feel I have the responsibility to report and try to eliminate injustice, inefficiency, illegalities, etc. to prevent our democracy from being destroyed. I don't have the luxury of picking my fights. I have to fight each fight that comes before me, no matter how large or small. If I don't, I am silently giving approval to that violation of democracy. Our government, in any form, is a fair target for my actions when it does not act honestly and appropriately. That is true even if it's only a substitute mail carrier who always appears to take shortcuts that violate his own rules and regulations when delivering the mail. If that sounds trivial, remember that the erosion of a mountain starts with only one grain of soil at a time.

I know, I know. In our country, it is embarrassing to talk about being a good citizen once you pass the age of thirteen. However, I think we all need to be reminded that being a good citizen means more that voting and paying taxes. It's not the big things that threaten our democracy. It is the ignoring of all the little things that add up to the colossal catastrophe that takes down a democratic government. Complaining and paying lip service to good citizenship is not enough. I must fight city hall.

The World's Best Christmas Cookie Recipe

A friend sent this recipe to me and I guarantee it will become a favorite. You don't even have to bake. Just reading it will warm the cockles of your heart.

Ingredients:
1/2 Cup of Water
1 Cup Flour
1 tsp Baking Soda
1 Cup of Sugar
1 tsp Salt
1 Cup of Brwn. Sugar
1 tsp Lemon Juice
4 Large Eggs
1 Cup of Nuts
2 Cups of Dried Fruit
1 Bottle of Jose Cuervo Tequila

*Sample the Cuervo to check quality. Take a large bowl, check the Cuervo again, to be sure it is of the highest quality, poor one cup and DRINK.
*Turn on the electric mixer...Beat one cup of butter in a large bowl. Add one teaspoon of sugar...Beat again
*At this point, it's best to make sure the Cuervo(Tequila) is still OK, try another cup...just in case.
*Turn off the mixerer thingy. Break 2 leggs and add to the bowl and chuck in the cup of dried fruit. Pick the friggin fruit off the floor...
*Mix on the turner. If the fried druit gets stuck in the beaterers just pry it loose with a drewscriver.
*Sample the Cuervo again to check for tonsistinsee.
*Next, sift 2 cups of salt, or flour o! r something. Who giveshz a sheet..
*Check the Jose Cuervo. Now, shift the lemon juice and strain your nuts for pitz. What? You know what I meant....
*Add one table. Add a spoon of sugar. Greash the oven.
*Turn the cake tin 360 degrees and try not to fall over.
*Don't foget to beat off the turner
*Finally, throw the bowl through the window, finish the Cose Juervo and make sure to put the stove in the dishwasher.

CHERRY MISTMAS

Bidz's Million Dollar Day

One of my recent discoveries on the internet (unfortunately to my pocketbook) is a site called Bidz.com. Bidz is an online, live auction, primarily for jewelry, althought they are constantly expanding their product line. Even if you are not shopping, the site can be mesmerizing because you can watch the bidding action on each item as it happens.

The site has some great features that can spoil you and make it difficult to go back to Ebay. For example, floating your cursor over a product photo will immediately (and on the same screen) bring up an enlargement of that product photo complete with description. To bid, you make one click for each bid. In real time, you can react to other offers. If you win, payment is very easy. They ship USPS within a couple of days by Priority Mail. They prevent delivery disputes by requiring each shipment to be signed for. The shipping and handling charge is $10.95 on anything you buy. Compare that with some of the sellers on Ebay! As soon as they ship, you are given a tracking number.

The products are of quality and many come from well known companies. Descriptions are accurate and the great photos do not lie. Even in cases of severe bidding wars, you get the product for a fraction of its assessed value. I have made several purchases from them and have been very pleased with each one.

The reason I am writing this post is that I just read that Bidz had one million dollars in gross sales in one day, November 29th. That's a lot of money and, in my opinion, the result of a great concept, an outstanding website, the checks built in to prevent mistakes and dissatisfaction, quality products and presentation, and incredible customer service.

A word of caution, however. If you are an impulsive buyer, you should probably avoid this site. If you are tempted to sneak a peak, don't log in. You have to be logged in to be able to make a bid. Enjoy!

Ugly Cats Continued

This poor little cross-eyed kitten appears to have a cleft palate. He could probably use a good hair stylist, too. It looks like he needs to wash his hands on a more regular basis also. And don't you want to pick him up and cuddle? I think he's a little sweetheart.

To see some other ugly cats, check my posts on September 18, 2006 and October 2, 2005.

National Geographic on "Remember This"

This month's National Geographic magazine has a captivating article on Memory. It relates the background of two individuals who demonstrate the extremes of memory; a gentleman who remembers nothing and a woman who remembers everything. It discusses the brain functions in remembering. The history of how memory has been dealt with different cultures over the years is discussed. It hashes over several other debates but I can't remember what.

Chair Follow-Up

I used the lead discovered in a magazine to do some research on my chairs. The internet is wonderful. The chairs are indeed reproductions from China's Ming Dynasty. They are still being made today and can be purchased in some stores around the world or on the internet. The photo above shows a chair exactly like mine, minus the cushions. Now I'm planning to purchase new cushions.

Identified Sitting Object

Last summer I was looking for smaller chairs to use in my tiny sitting room. At a nearby antique store I found a pair of the chairs that you see on the left. They were very unique---interesting curves and incredibly smooth wood. The dealer had purchased them at an auction and couldn't tell me anything about them. I couldn't resist the design, the wood, the workmanship, the unusual cushions and the medallion carved on the back slat. I brought them home without any idea of what they were.

Today as I was going through a magazine, I found a picture of a similar chair. It was identified as a Ming Dynasty reproduction and that is what I suspect I have. If any of you out there have any other information on these chairs, please let me know.

WWII Hero: My Hero

He was a member of the US Army Air Force and while on a bombing mission, his plane was shot down. He parachuted and landed somewhere in Germany, was captured and spent the rest of the conflict as a prisoner of war in Stalag 17B, Austria.

When the war was over, he returned home with the memories and a pile of medals. He lived life quietly as an honorable man. He spent the last few years of his life in a nursing home, disabled with Parkinson's disease. Still his mission was not over because he had to "take care" of his wife Erma. She passed away in July; he passed away this morning. His mission was finally completed.

His medals identified him as a US hero. His life, all of it, marked him as my hero. Off you go into the wild blue yonder, Uncle Ralph. Godspeed.

One Way to Domestic Sanity

Years ago I discovered that I could cut time and effort by having the meat dish done ahead of time. I buy meats in bulk and then cook them all at once. Today I'm doing meatloaf, browned hamburg, parboiled Italian sausage, and oven-made "fried" chicken. I also have to get some pork chops to prepare.

Why browned hamburg? It is all ready to add to sauces, to use in dishes like Spanish rice, chili, or stuffed peppers. The parboiled sausages can be grilled or broiled very quickly. Also parboiling gets rid of a lot of the fat and in my opinion, enhances the flavor. The chicken, pork chops, and meat loaf can be popped in the microwave and be ready in less than five minutes.

I package the meats in meal sizes and store them in the freezer. At meal time all I have to do is make a couple of side dishes, nuke the meat, and call my husband to the table. The pressure of getting meals disappears and the insanity of figuring out a menu goes with it. I have the comfort of knowing all that meat is waiting in the freezer. It works for me.

The Hills of Home

Yesterday I took a ride into my past. When growing up, my father worked for an oil company (drilling and pumping). The company owned three houses in a wilderness area and housed the families of the workers in them. When they closed the oil operation there, they burned the houses so they would not have to pay taxes on them. However, they could not destroy the magnificent setting.

The setting, as you can see, is a marshy area surrounded by forested hills. As children, we would sometimes find arrowheads left by Indian cultures long before we arrived on the scene. I used to imagine the Indian children who had played there before we did and wondered what their life was like.

When I explored yesterday, I realized that there were few traces of our lives there. We had passed the way the Indians had, silently, leaving the beautiful environment intact. May it always be so.

Forgiveness: My Thoughts

The anniversary of the tragedy in Pennsylvania and the discussions of the ability of the Amish to forgive has me thinking about forgiveness. The Bible tells us to forgive one another as we were forgiven by God through Jesus. Unfortunately, in my view, the ability to forgive was not an inherent gift from the Almighty. In fact, lack of forgiveness may be the greatest human flaw.

Think how differently human history would read if we could forgive one another: wars unfought, feuds forgotten, relationships unbroken. Iraq would be one united peaceful country. Israel and Palestine would quietly share their rich history. Divorce rates would drop. And on, and on, and on.

I think forgiveness must start with each individual. Ah ha! There's the rub. When I look at myself, I know I do not forgive. I can pay lip service to forgiving but deep in my being, I still harbor feelings of resentment and hurt. For me to truly forgive, I would also have to forget. And that part of my memory has not faded yet. I wish it would. Or that the Amish would share their secret with me.

Unmeasurable Losses

This rural area is reeling from the loss of four young people over the weekend, including three high school students and a recent graduate of the Jasper-Troupsburg School District. The photo above was taken by Lynn Brennan of The Evening Tribune and printed in today's issue. I can relate to the event because when I was in high school, there were close bonds between J-T and my school.

The four were lost as the result of a one car accident. The search for them started Saturday when they did not return from a party Friday night. The site of the accident was not discovered until late Monday afternoon despite intense searching by several hundred volunteers. The effort was greatly aided by teenagers who were determined not to give up until their friends were found.

I cannot imagine the pain their families and friends are suffering now and hope that they gain some measure of relief from the expressions of genuine caring from other people in this area, symbolized in the photo above.

Segue Into Fall

Moving along from mid-summer to fall, here's a picture from nearby Letchworth State Park, taken by Andy Thompson, managing editor of the Evening Tribune, in 2006 and published in today's paper.



This area becomes inundated with leaf peepers in the fall each year. The leaves haven't reached their peak in Hornell yet.

A Summer View

A cousin just reminded me of the hillside where I grew up. Perhaps that is the reason I so love the place we live now. This photo was taken earlier in the summer and down the street from our place. It's looking across the Canisteo Valley. Perhaps you can see how high up we are.

A Local Storm

We live in a great part of the country where we tend to escape weather-related disasters so common in other parts of the USA. However, on Saturday a violent thunderstorm passed through. We suffered only scared cats but down the road about four miles away, the village of Canisteo was heavily damaged---downed trees that fell on power lines, houses, cars, streets, etc.

The picture above is a scene this morning of crews repairing power lines. The mayor said that every street had some kind of damage and that a state of emergency will probably remain in effect until Thursday. Quite a consequence for a storm that lasted about three minutes.

My morning routine includes checking my e-mails, reading the important news stories, and then turning to a section of the news considered oddball. If you've never read the oddball news, you are missing something very entertaining. For example, here are the headlines for today:

MOST VIEWED: ODDBALL NEWS
Man rides mule from Minnesota to Wyoming AP
British dwarf's penis gets stuck to hoover AFP
Gambler complains of urine-soaked seat AP
Van was rocking, police were knocking AP
UAE father of 78 eyes new brides for century target Reuters

Magic

I've been thinking about Aunt Erma. We sat across from her at a family reunion last summer and watched as dozens of children came up to greet her. I remember saying to my husband, "That's the way we used to look at her, too."

For the children would gaze at her with wide-eyes filled with love and adoration, and a kind of expectancy, as if they thought she was about to pull a rabbit out of a hat.

And maybe she was. A magician, that is. She certainly made the rest of us greater than the sum total of our whole.

Another Erma Story

At my aunt's funeral yesterday, her pastor discussed the three things that best described her: fun, family and faith. It was a perfect summation of what made Aunt Erma so special.

He described a conversation he had with her the day before she died. They were talking about her family and he said, "Eight children. Erma, what were you thinking?" She laughed and replied that people had asked her if she was a strict Catholic. The pastor asked her what her reply was. She motioned for him to come close to her as if she was going to tell him a secret. As he leaned in close, she said, "I told them I wasn't a strict Catholic---I was a sexy Protestant! "

Family and friends will be telling "Erma stories" for decades to come.

A Great Lady Is Gone

I am going to paste in a post I wrote in over two years ago:

Sunday, May 08, 2005

A Great Mother
During my lifetime, I have been blessed to know many great mothers, but today I want to pay tribute to one, Erma Allen, my aunt by marriage but my mother by nurturing. She says that she was delighted to discover there were many children in his family when she married my uncle. She came from a family where there weren't many offspring. She immediately opened her home and heart to all of us, my siblings and cousins. Her quiet and gentle guidance was always there, along with her steadfast love, no matter how large a load she carried. What a lady and what a mother! I love you, Aunt Erma.
Posted by Lillian at 8:14 AM 0 comments

Sadly, Aunt Erma passed away last night. Her great wit remained with her right up to the end. Two or three years ago, I went over to sit with my uncle so that Aunt Erma could go out with her dying sister. As I went up the steps leading to the kitchen, I fell flat on my face and acquired a spectacular black eye.

My sister was visiting her in the hospital a couple of days ago and told her that I wanted to be there but I couldn't walk that far in the hospital. She told Aunt Erma that she would pick me up Saturday and take her to her house (she was supposed to go home today). Aunt Erma said, "You tell Lillian she can fall into my kitchen anytime!"

I'm trying to remember those types of things about Aunt Erma. Otherwise, the grief will be overwhelming.

Yesterday's Sunset

Here's a shot of last night's sunset. I concentrated on getting the sun itself rather than the surrounding sky. My camera is a Sony DSC-H1 with a 12x optical zoom lense and it produces great photos.

Old Friends: Old Wine

Last night we had dinner with four of the people dearest in the world to us. Our friendship spans back several decades and even though we may not see each other for several months or several years, it survives. In fact, it seems like some wines; the older it gets, the better it is. We're so lucky.

Alec Baldwin: My Thoughts

I watched the Alec Baldwin interview on The View yesterday. I saw little regret and remorse but much rage and ego. Baldwin used that forum (and shame on Barbara Walters for letting it happen) to release another attack on his ex-wife, Kim Bassinger.

I know nothing about Bassinger. She may very well be a bad person and poor mother. I don't know. But I do know that Baldwin has lashed out in the past and directed rabid tirades at other people and in other situations. Unfortunately, his latest loss of control was directed at his own daughter.

He and Bassinger have made their daughter the bone of contention between them. Regretfully, the bone of contention in this case is a wishbone and they are both pulling it as hard as they can. Eventually, the bone will break and one of them will have the bigger piece. That really doesn't matter. The point is the bone is broken. That poor child.

On the program, Baldwin portrayed himself as a noble man capable of directing the rest of us in dealing with parental alienation. Step back, Baldwin, and look in the mirror! There you see the root cause of parental alienation. You'd better fix yourself before you try educating the rest of us.

P.S. Whadda I know?----I don't even know if his name is Alec or Alex.

A Mary Celeste Type Mystery

Remember the tale of the Mary Celeste back in 1872, when a "ghost" ship was found off the coast of Spain. Everything seemed normal except the lack of any humans on board. Rueters has reported finding a catamaran a similar occurance off the coast of Australia. The sails were up, the engine running, food on the table, a laptop was on but the three missing sailors were gone.

It's Not Polite to Stare---At the Chimps!?

AP reports that the Antwerp Zoo is asking that visitors try to avoid making eye contact with the chimps who reside there. They explain that one chimp was raised by a human family and they are now trying to have him bond with his own kind. Sounds reasonable to me....I think.

Virginia Tech Mixed Feelings

We share the disbelief and sorrow caused by yesterday's events in Blacksburg. At the same time, we are feeling relief and gratitude to learn that one of our friends, a professor of chemistry, is safe. His wife was one of my college roommates and matron of honor in our wedding. His e-mail this morning indicates his empathy for the parents.

Global Warning Exception

Here's a note from the National Weather Service local storm warning bulletin:

SNOWFALL ACCUMULATIONS OF 8 TO 12 INCHES WILL BE POSSIBLE OVERNIGHT...ESPECIALLY IN THE HIGHER TERRAIN . TOTAL SNOWFALL ACCUMULATIONS COULD WELL EXCEED A FOOT BY MONDAY EVENING...WITH 12 TO 18 INCHES POSSIBLE IN THE HIGHEST TERRAIN ALONG THE INTERSTATE 81 CORRIDOR.

I just read this as I looked out the window to nearly bare ground and sort of gloated about the bad weather missing us. Uhm......I suppose I could be wrong.

Happy Easter

I hope everyone's Easter was as joyful as ours. We spent it with my sister Nancy's family in Pennsylvania. I love Pennsylvania's colorful place names. For example, Nancy lives is a town called Shinglehouse and on a road called Horse Run.

The star of the day was Ava, my great-niece and Nancy's granddaughter. She held her own in a crowd of adults.

Construction Day Three

Here we are on day three. It's not quite done. The screens have to be put in, railings added on the exterior and more hardware installed. It's great and closed in just in time for more low temperatures and possibly snow. The installers have added some of their tools to the mix on the porch so the cats have been very nervous about going out. They'll love it tomorrow when it's all done.

Construction Day Two

Here's the update after the second day of work. One wall is completed and work has begun on the other two. The door going to the ramp has been framed in.....it's wider than the one we had which will make it better for scooters, etc. Hopefully, the job will be completed tomorrow.

Under Construction

This is today's view of our front porch, soon to be a sunroom. It has been stripped down to the floor, roof supports and roof. The workers will return on Monday and add doors, windows and knee walls. The pile you see in the center is the stack of furniture moved out of the way for constuction. The cats are very upset because they have always claimed the porch as theirs and without barriers to prevent them from wandering off, we are keeping them in the house.

It Is Done

Our library is gone (or nearly gone). I just finished taking the last load of about 1100 books to the Salvation Army. This doesn't mean we'll stop reading. It just means we will stop accumulating books.

No Points for Deal Making

Yesterday I decided I couldn't swim in books any longer. We had a wall of floor to ceiling bookcases. All full. Even had a smaller bookcase in front of the bookcases. My computer desk was filled with books, the floor was stacked with books, one bathtub was filled with books, my husband's dresser was filled with books. In the living room,---well, you get the picture.

Anyway, I decided to start with the paperbacks. Because I need one hand free to support myself when walking, I packed the books in plastic bags. I packed and carried eighteen bags of books to the car---no small deal for me. My original intention was to take the books to our local Salvation Army. Some place along the way, my northern European roots came to the forefront and I wondered why I should just give the books away. With a quick phone call, I confirmed that a used bookstore in a town about 25 miles away would be glad to look at my books (meaning all eighteen bags would have to be carried into the store).

So with husband and books tucked in the car, we drove off to Wellsville. When we parked in front of the store, I noted with dismay the two-foot high mound of snow between the car and the sidewalk. Bravely, I attacked the snow only to discover I couldn't get through it without falling. So back to the car to get my cane. At this point, the shop owner came flying out of the store and announced that I shouldn't be doing anything and that she would unpack the books. We finally compromised. I stood on one side of the snow wall and she got the books out of the trunk and handed them across the barrier to me.

Then all eighteen bags were carried into the store and stacked by the owner's desk. One bag at a time, one book at a time, she selected the books she would buy. I carried the rejected books outside, waiting to go through the same dance to put them back in the car.

The owner selected 118 books and paid me------------eleven dollars and eighty cents. That's ten cents a book! When I told my husband, he dryly pointed out that would cover the cost of the gas. We went to McDonald's for lunch and that cost four dollars and change so lunch was covered too but the rest of my killing was too little for a bank deposit.

We drove back to Hornell and went straight to Salvation Army. I backed up to the Donations door and went inside to tell them that I had 100-200 books to be donated. A guy came out with a cart, loaded the rest of the books, thanked us and pushed the cart inside.

We went home where I decided to take the rest of books straight to the Salvation Army. By then it was pretty obvious that I had made no points for deal making.

Ryder's Bed

On my other blog (www.sirryder.blogspot.com), I just posted the same picture and the story of Ryder using this basket for his bed. He used it for years until I decided the sheepskin was too dirty and replaced it with a new piece. He never got in the basket after that. Now he sleeps on the floor or in a people's chair. And I feel guilty....

Forecast of Spring

Sounds like Panxsutawny Phil isn't any happier with his forecast that we are. And I'm always happy to comment on members of the current administration, even if I have to use a mouth piece.

Flower Power

I'm a so-so gardener, convinced that nature doesn't need a lot of help from me. I'm offering this photo as proof.

I have very small, easy upkeep flower beds that give us a lot of pleasure.

I'm looking for this year's blooms.

Reset Your Clocks

I hope everyone remembered to reset their clocks last night.

Speaking of clocks, the photo on the left is a picture I took of the display on a building across the street from our hotel in Paris a few years back.

Robin Sighting

I saw my first robins today. The photo is misleading because the robins were in a small grassy area surrounded by fields of snow left by the Valentine's Day storm.

We also saw flocks of wild turkeys and some deer. After all the snow, seeing anything else is exciting.

A Good Winter Read

I read Beverly Lewis' series THE HERITAGE OF LANCASTER COUNTY that chronicles the young adulthood of a girl who grew up in an Amish family. While some might consider this a religious book, I found it to be good fiction---a strong plot, well-developed characters and a style of writing that kept me turning the pages. I look forward to reading more of her books.

Let's Pretend

Remember when you were a kid playing with a sibling or friend? You wanted to play a new game and would say so. "Let's pretend to play school." "Let's pretend that we're in the jungle.""Let's pretend that I'm a giant." And so on. Most kids are very aware of what's real and what's fantasy.

Flash forward to adults. Which adult says "Let's pretend that this credit card is really cash."?Or "Let's pretend I'm sick so I can stay home from work." "Let's pretend I stopped at that stop sign." Notice how the labels are removed and the line between reality and fantasy disappears.

Move onward to the federal government. When they shout "Support our troops!" do they add "Let's pretend Walter Reed and V.A. hospitals take care of those who were harmed in the line of duty"? Guess not.

Once again it is Kids 1 Adults 0.

Phone Call in the Night

For the last four plus years, I became accustomed to receiving phone calls in the night from the nursing home or the hospital regarding my mother. I got the last one early this morning. My mother passed away this afternoon.

One of my brothers and his wife are at sea on the QE2 but we were able to reach them. They can be back next Monday so things on on hold until then. It's tough. More later.

World's Ugliest Cat Candidates

I get a regular parade of visitors to my website looking for the world's ugliest cat. Here are a couple more candidates, although I regard the kitty on the bottom as pathetic, rather than ugly.

Thoughts on the Passing of a Classmate

I read in the paper yesterday that one of my classmates passed away. We were in school together from grade one until we graduated; there were sixteen of us in my class. I haven't seen him since the day we graduated, about forty-nine and a half years ago. Regretfully, I never knew the man Clair became, but the boy he was taught me one of life's best lessons.

One year (while it was still politically correct) Clair drew my name for Christmas. When I opened my gift, it was a beautiful scarf. I thought it was the perfect gift and wondered how a
boy could pick out something so wonderful. It was years later that I realized that his mother and two older sisters most likely made the selection but by then, it didn't matter; Clair had his permanent, special place in my heart.

After the gift exchange, I started studying Clair, secretly I hoped. The striking thing I noticed was how easily he used humor to ease awkward situations. That strategy has helped me cope with life since I learned it from Clair.

Thanks, buddy. And I'll catch your next lesson up yonder.

I Finally Read It

I read The Da Vinci Code last week and felt like singing with Peggy Lee "Is that all there is?" Oh, sure, it was a good book and certainly contained controversial material but after all the hype, I had expected more.

A far better book in the same genre, in my opinion, is Daughter of God by Lewis Perdue. What do you think?

Red Hat Power

My sisters and I have discovered the power of red hats---you can do whatever you want to do, no matter how silly! The maturity gained through the years disappears in about ten seconds.

As Jenny Joseph said so well:

I shall sit down on the pavement when I'm tired
And gobble up samples in shops and press alarm bells
And run my stick along the public railings
And make up for the sobriety of my youth.

By the way, I'm the one in the red hat.

The Thief (a.k.a. Old Age)

We stopped at the nursing home tonight to see my mother. Lately, she has sat in her wheelchair very placidly so I was somewhat startled to see her carefully smoothing out bedtime supplies on her bed. I stood in the doorway for several moments watching her and wondering what she was doing as she carefully arranged a protective bed pad and over that a fully-opened adult diaper.

When I put my hand on her shoulder and she turned around to see me, she smiled and said, “I was thinking about you tonight. I had to make a bed and I thought I should call Lillian and have her help me.”

Then I realized that in her world, that was what she was doing---making a bed, just like she had done a million times before old age had crept in and stole so much of her mind.

Winter's Soft Colors

I hear people complaining because winters in upstate New York are "colorless." I beg to differ. Winter is not colorless; the colors are different, a different pallette and much softer.

This is a stream near us. I love the soft grays and browns.

I'm Back!

Here I am again! First there was my 90-year-old mother's latest hospitalization and then my "new" (14 month old) computer died.

My mother is better. My dead computer is not. I replaced it today and now have to set everything up again.

Bear with me.........