Bovine Revolution and Ogden Nash

I'm telling you, folks, that there is a bovine revolution underway. Remember the story of the cow escaping from a NYC slaughterhouse? (See my blog post dated 5/7/o9.) Now AP is reporting on two cows who left a Massachusetts farm and ran off to New Hampshire. As a former resident of Massachussets, I can tell you the human reasons for leaving Massachusetts for New Hampshire: lower taxes and cheaper booze.

But I'm getting off-track. With cattle escaping all over the place, I propose that Cattle Roundup 101 and Rope Handling 101 be added to the training of public safety officials. This revolution is only going to get worse.....

Ogden Nash addressed the basic information about cows. I wonder what he would say about all of these escapees. Anyway, here is Ogden:

A cow is of the bovine ilk,

One end is moo, the other milk.

World's Smallest Cat

Meet Mr. Peebles, the world's smallest cat according to the Guinness Book of World Records. Mr. Peebles was rescued by a veterinarian from a barn cat life in Tazewell County, Illinois. She took him back to her clinic and Mr. Peebles has taken up residence there.

The cat weighs 3.1 pounds and is 6.1 inches tall and measures 19.2 inches from his nose to the tip of his tail.

Nature's Checks and Balances In Old Age

Have you ever noticed that nature seems to have a system of checks and balances? This seems especially true as we grow older.

I find it difficult to contort my body into the unnatural positions needed to shave my legs. However, since my eyesight isn't what it used to be, I rarely notice.

My hearing isn't as sharp as it used to be. Good thing. I'm less embarrassed by the odd sounds emitted from my body.

I can't walk as far as I once did. Doesn't matter. I've seen it all anyway.

We lose friends and family and no longer need the time spent with them. This gives us time to concentrate on our own frailties.

I finally recognise and accept my character flaws. But it's okay. I can blame them on old age.

Surviving the Great Depression Per Ron Gibbs

When I knew Ron Gibbs, we were both working for Scantom's in Rochester. Scrantom's was an old established business in Rochester. Ron was working there during the Great Depression. Both Ron and Mr. Brauer, the owner, liked to tell that Scrantom's survived the depression by Ron's ability to repair fountain pens.

Unfortunately, Scrantom's could not survive Office Depot and Staples.

Early Basketball: Another Ron Gibbs Story

Ron Gibbs, a co-worker and friend, was born around the turn of the last century. He grew up in Andover, a community near the one where I grew up. He played on one of the first basketball teams in the area. They used an actual basket like the one pictured on the right. When they went to an away game, the players rode in the back of a delivery truck, probably like the one pictured above. Because basketball was a winter game, Ron said they used a little coal heater in the truck to keep warm.

Can you envision Michael Jordan in those conditions?

A Ron Gibbs Story

Many years ago, I worked with a great gentleman named Ron Gibbs. Ron was a country boy who had taken a job in the "big city" of Rochester, NY sometime in the 1920s. He got a job downtown and took the trolley to work. The first morning as they approached the street where he needed to get off, the conductor called out "Gibbs". Ron said that he was both amazed and impressed that the conductor knew his name and where he was to get out. It was only a few days later that he realized that the street was named Gibbs.

A Little Ogden Nash

It's time for some Ogden Nash and I've tried to select something that is timely.

The Wasp

by Ogden Nash

The wasp and all his numerous family

I look upon as a major calamity.

He throws open his nest with prodigality,

But I distrust his waspitality.

Slaughterhouse 0, Cow 1

Animal lovers everywhere are rejoicing over the news of a cow that escaped a slaughterhouse in New York City. It ran through through city streets, chased by mounted police who finally captured it. However, the cow clearly won because it was turned over to an animal care agency instead of going back to the slaughterhouse. Yay!

Maybe this is the beginning of a revolution by animals. They will refuse to go to be slaughtered and we will all end up as vegetarians.

Humorist Margaret Thatcher

Columnist Cal Thomas tells the story about Margaret Thatcher taking her all male cabinet out to dinner. The waiter asks what she would like to eat and she replies "I'll have the beef."

The waiter says "What about the vegetables?" and she answers "They'll have the same."

A Love Story

With a family as large as ours, you run into a lot of love and love stories. The love story that has left the greatest impression on me is the story of my youngest uncle, Max and his wife, Elaine. I don't remember when they first married but in my early teens and until their passings, I was very impressed by their love for each other. I always thought they were like a couple of teenagers in love, even into their 50's, 60's, 70's. Unfortunately, due to their poor health, they spent their last days apart, reunited whenever family could bring them together. Uncle Max's last words to Aunt Elaine before her death were "Well, I'll meet you at the pearly gates." He did, exactly a month later.

Threads of Life

Out of the corner of my eye, I can see a large pile of threads. The threads all vary: some are thick, some are thin, some are colorful, some are dull, some are long, some are short. I sense that each thread is a part of my life and that they need to be woven together. But I hesitate to do anything. Will the tapestry of my life be beautiful or ugly?

Say What You Mean

When John Gray's book "Men Are from Mars, Women Are from Venus" was first published, the title was greeted with amusement. However, the contents are now generally considered conventional wisdom.

One of his premises was the difference in communications between women and men. A pair of our friends demonstrate the interpretations perfectly. Mister (the names have been changed to protect the innocent) has a habit of collecting things. One of things he acquired was a dump truck that he parked in the driveway for months. Missus hated the sight of that eyesore in her driveway. One morning, on her way out the door, she growled to Mister, "When I get home tonight, I don't want to see that truck!"

When she got home that night, she didn't see the truck. Instead, she saw the huge tarp covering the truck.............

Identifying a Liar

While surfing the WebMD site, I happened upon a topic that I didn't expect to find there. Heather Hatfield wrote an article entitled "10 Ways to Catch a Liar". She assembled information from experts to come up with a list of ten telltale signs that a person is lying.

1. Inconsistencies


2. Ask the unexpected


3. Gauge against a baseline


4. Look for insincere emotions


5. Pay attention to gut reactions


6. Watch for microexpressions


7. Look for contradictions


8. A sense of unease


9. Too much detail


10. Don't ignore the truth
    

She adds an extra tip: Be trusting

In general we have a choice about which stance we take in life," says Ekman (Paul Ekman, an expert in lie detection). "It we take a suspicious stance life is not going to be too pleasant, but we won't get misled very often. If we take a trusting stance, life is going to be a lot more pleasant but sometimes we are going to be taken in. As a parent or a friend, you're much better off being trusting rather than looking for lies all the time.

Back on 8/31/05 I had a post entitled "How to Recognize a Liar". I also quoted Dr. Ekman.

Curious Court Case

Here's an interesting story off the AP wires:

WASHINGTON – The Supreme Court has turned away a challenge from a death row inmate in Texas who claimed his constitutional rights were violated by jurors who consulted a Bible during deliberations.

Jurors reviewed a biblical passage relating that a murderer who used an iron object to kill "shall surely be put to death." They were deciding whether to impose a death sentence on Khristian Oliver for fatally shooting and bludgeoning his victim with the barrel of a gun.
The court previously has said that jurors should base their verdicts only on evidence presented in the courtroom.

But state and federal courts upheld Oliver's sentence, despite testimony that some jurors consulted the passage that described a killing similar to the one Oliver committed.
The case is Oliver v. Quarterman, 08-833.

My Robin Returns

When I glanced out the back door a few days ago, I saw a nice fat robin pulling out worms. I told my husband "My robin is back!" For the last few years, there is often a robin in the same area of the yard. I assume it is the same robin. But then I wondered "Could that really be? How long do robins live?"

A quick internet seach told me two things: 1) I wasn't the only one who had wondered that and 2) it (robin lifespan) varies. Basically, if a robin makes it past the first year, which is hard to do, it will probably live for five or six years. So "my robin" may be the same robin who has lived near us the last few years.

For a quick and fascinating look at information about robins, go to http://www.learner.org/jnorth/search/RobinNotes2.html

Thoughts About Penicillin

To help me fight my second bout with bronchitis this year, the doctor prescribed a form of penicillin. My husband remarked about how inexpensive it now was (56 cents for 20 capsules) and that set off some memories I have of childhood encounters with penicillin.

Back in those days, as the scribes would say, penicillin was administered directly by our physician, in the form of injections. It was a really big deal if you had to have "a shot of penicillin." If you had to return to the doctor in a few days for a second "shot", that meant you were practically at death's door. Thankfully, perceptions have changed. It looks like recovery is possible now for only 56 cents.

Grim Ironies

Life has a way of flinging grim ironies at us. I've seen two in the news recently. One headline read "Two Die in Fiery Crash." The location? Endwell, NY. Or how about the story of the woman just arrested for killing a child? She lived with her grandfather who is a pastor. His name? Lawless.

The World's Cheapest Car

Tomorrow is a big day for auto aficionados because it launches the sale of the Tata Nano in India. The Nano is a five person car designed for city driving. India has a growing middle class and it is hoped that the Nano will appeal and sell to that market.

It appeals to me because it has a price tag of $2000 US dollars. Of course, I would have to give up one of my windshield wipers, air conditioning, the radio and power steering in a basic model.

To get more information on the "Peoples Car" go to their website at www.tatanano.com.

A Pet Peeve

My mother told me about one of her pet peeves and it struck me as being unusual. You know that membane between the egg white and the egg yolk. When the egg is boiled too long, according to my mother, that membrane turns a greenish-gray and that really bugged her. Strange, huh?

Tunnel Vision Causes Hearing Loss

Have you ever noticed that people with tunnel vision (not the physical condition but the mental one) also cannot hear (not the physical condition but the mental one)?

To get rid of some of these parentheses, let me give you some definitions. When I refer to "tunnel vision", I am referring to the state of an individual who has one point of view and all information that individual receives is filtered through that single viewpoint on any issue. Period. End of discussion. Even if there are other viewpoints, it does not matter for the tunnel vision person is always right. Period. End of discussion.

It is this attitude that causes me to conclude that tunnel vision is closely tied to a hearing loss. Oh, the ears are working just fine but the tunnel-visioned individual has no need for them. He already has all the information he needs. Let's not cloud the issue with someone else's thinking.

I started thinking about this connection in regards to the emails I receive with some anonymous person's rants about whatever. One of the latest is a letter from a grandfather to his granddaughter who made the serious crime of voting for Barack Obama. Gramps carefully explains to her that her vote will raise taxes, cause loss of jobs, gifts, food, housing, tires, etc. Gramps goes on to imply that anyone who voted for Obama, did so only to be able to get welfare, etc.

NEVER ONCE DOES GRANDPA MENTION THE $1.2 TRILLION DOLLAR BUDGET DEFICIENT RUN UP BY THE CURRENT ADMINISTRATION---AN ADMINISTRATION WHICH SPENT AMERICAN DOLLARS BUT DID NOT HAVE THE GUMPTION TO RAISE TAXES TO PAY FOR ITS OUT-OF-CONTROL SPENDING.

And why didn't Gramps mention this? Because his tunnel vision prevented him from seeing it. Apparently, his filter doesn't always let facts through. I call people like Gramps DEAFS (Don't Even Ask For Sensibility).

Now my next question is: What is the connection between tunnel vision, hearing loss and intelligence? Umm.....

I Resolve............

Well, it's the time of year when many people make New Year's Resolutions. I used to until I realized that I was setting myself up for failure.

If I were going to make a resolution, I suppose it would be to improve on my ability to see people as they really are and not some idealized perception that exists only in my mind. My husband has always said that I expect too much from people. It's true and it's because I have given them hefty qualities that don't even exist.

I remember years ago when a friend and I were following an RV from out of state. At each intersection, the driver hesitated longer than my friend thought they should do. She ranted about the social level of people who drove RVs. Another time she asked me if I thought she should continue a friendship with a certain couple. Her concern was that the husband worked for a fast food chain. At the time, I dismissed these incidents (and similar ones) by thinking that she was having a bad day, or that she was in pain, or that I misinterpreted what she said, etc., etc., etc. It took me years to accept the fact that she was a SNOB of the highest degree. Until I faced reality, I mourned the loss of that friendship and assumed that I was solely to blame for the loss. That was because I perceived her to be a kind, understanding, giving person when in reality she pulled those qualities out only when they would benefit her in some way.

I don't mean to blame her and people like her for the pain they cause. They are just being themselves---I am the one who lacks the ability to see who they are and accept them as they are. Over the years, I have become very cautious (oh, all right...cynical) about putting the friendship tag on people I meet.

I don't get hurt as much but I liked the world a whole lot better when I could view it through rose-colored glasses.

Rite, Right, Site, Sight

As the steel trap, formerly known as my mind, continues to weaken due to old age, medication cocktails, and/or carelessness, I continue to be aggravated due to the misuse of some words, including rite/right and site/sight.

How one can mistaken "right" a principle for "rite" a ceremony continues to baffle me. So does interchanging "sight" having to do with vision with "site" indicating "location".

I know I have simplified the meanings of these words to accommodate my means of making a point. As parsing the written language becomes fuzzier, the meaning of certain words does not. My blood pressure would benefit if it did.

Blogger Analysis

Just because I've severly cut back on entries for my own blog doesn't mean I have stopped reading the blogs of others. And I've been very disappointed in some of them.

It appears that some bloggers evolved from solely posting for the joy of writing, of sharing, to seizing the opportunity to display their own superiority, whether it's intelligence, vocabulary, depth and width of knowledge, mastery of grammar, whatever.

I think my hiatus from blogging resulted from the fear that I would fall into the same trap. Ego can be a very destructive force.

What If.....February 12, 1809 Had Never Happened?

You've probably guessed or knew that Abraham Lincoln was born on that date. Born on the same date was Charles Darwin.

The current issue of Newsweek has an article on the two and how their contributions helped shape the world we know nearly 200 hundred years later. I haven't read the article yet but I've sure had fun imagining what my world would seem like if either---or neither---had ever been born.

I'm Back?

I have sort of abandoned my blogs, this one and Sir Ryder of Cupp, for several months. Why? I don't really know. And while my readers don't seem to have missed my writing, I have missed writing for my readers. (Readers, plural. How's that for optimism?)



Checking stats for the last few months reveals that readership remains about the same, thanks to pictures of the world's ugliest cats and a recipe for kookie Christmas cookies. I guess I haven't acquired Anna Quindlen status yet. Maybe that explains the silence. (How's that for pessimism?)

Icy Greeting

We live in Western NYS and this was the view out one of the windows yesterday morning. We still have some of the ice but by and large, we escaped the weather extremes that hit other parts of the country.

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.