Listen

Strange dream.  I invented a word: twinksies.  I have no idea what it means, nor what it meant in the dream.  It had something to do with Penni yelling at me for not showing up for our choir recital contest.  We were at some swanky hotel with many escalators.  I was carrying my white gown, like a graduation gown, but I was too terrified to go to the theatre where the competition was to be held.  We lost.  Penni said it was all my fault and I ruined it for her grandchildren.

We were never in a choir together and we were children in the dream.

Strange afternoon.  One of my favorite radio program has a repeat on Wednesday's daylight.  Quite different from the Thursday night hearing the show in a dark room with an almost silent outside.  Today it competed with auto and walking and bicycle traffic noises and the never ending generators growling.  The show was still just as good.

I also reorganized a large plastic container and found a ten year old journal.  Letters to and from some "ex-es" in many categories.  The first experiments where I first allowed myself to add collage and sketches.  Prior to this I felt like journals were only for writing.  And I was always afraid that someone would find it and laugh, criticise, or tease me about my writing.

And successfully made six copies.  I did not lose my temper and I did not break anything.  I listened to myself being patient.  Whoop De Do!

This is the third day I will try to call my friend for her wonderful present.  Seriously, a large cardboard box crammed with all the coolest stuff imaginable.  The perfect glitter rick rack I've been searching for and three skeins of exquisite yarn.  I feel like a princess.  But "the rule" is that one can't use a present until the giver has been thanked.  I've been thanking her verbally here but I'm not sure that counts.  But I don't think I can hold myself back much longer.

Duty Called

After Monday's visit to the blood guy I had some homework.  A chore I took seriously but was clearly not thrilled about. Twelve phone calls which put me in the awkward position of giving some, at the very least, icky news.  I did it as best I could.  Although apparently one of the individuals has completely dropped off the planet.  Do people really do not have voicemail or answering machines?  Ah, well...

Today is brain guy's turn.  Can't wait to see what he's going to want me to do when I get home.  This time I charged up the phone already.  His office mailed eleven pages to be completed before the appointment AND I received two robo-calls.  One confirming the visit itself and a second call instructing me to arrive twenty minutes early to finish any paperwork I didn't complete or completed incorrectly.  I'm not certain if the office is incredibly thorough or they expect their patients are incredibly stupid.  Ah well...

One of the things I know I'll be doing when I get home is trying to figure out a way to annihilate all these damn ants.  My friend tells me they are "sweet ants" and follow anything sugary and anything remotely warm.  Also they bite.  Found that part this morning and have a smidgy, red itchy spot on my arm now.  Don't need the phone for this chore.  Do wish I had more bleach.  Ah well...

Tomorrow is Library Guy and my radio entertainment.  No homework from any of them.  Yippee!

Little Bitty Goody Goody

Yes, this was a cartoon from my childhood and consequently explains much.

The little goodies:

Simmering pot of oranges and cloves

Gold metallic rick rack

Completely unexpected floral arrangement from an amazingly thoughtful human

Stained glass

Very large rippled philodendron half price

Four new composition notebooks in four different colors
Palm cookies

Two more library books

Lee Krasner

Ice cubes

My black sweater

Voices from people I love

Up And Attem

• Flipped the clock
• Little Red Hen
• Sad dead ficus
• "Countertop" sun tea
• Postcard project
• Oriental Trading
• Shiny pink pig
• Future cactus
• Choking on lime jello
• Dandy dreams of brothers and movie stars
• Excellent reading material
• Scented candles
• How much do I hate coffee breath?
• I didn't know they were called "mood boards"
• Toenails
• Slipshod correspondent
• Love that carpet sweeper!
• Schemes and Themes tonight!  Alas Subterranean may be no more
• Chicken salad

501

Today is definitely an orange jello kind of day.  Sparkly, jiggly.  Transparent, yet coloring everything with a pleasant glow.  WWWwwwhhhaaaat?!  This from me?  One of the grumpiest women in America.

Yes indeed.

I finished another book by Fannie Flagg and it just made me smile.  She's not one of the great authors of our time but she writes about good strong women. (Bing!)  And though her plots are rather formulaic and everything always comes to an overwhelmingly happy ending... Screw it.  Not every book has to be so damn serious.

And I will be forever grateful to an author who gave me Evelyn Couch and now Maggie Fortenberry.  Thanks, Ms. Flagg.  And I hope you have a lovely day, too.

Read This

This novel was not an actual recommendation.  Baby Sister mentioned it during a phone conversation about another topic.  I wrote down the title as I was trolling for new authors at the time.  And I liked the cover.  I'm old.  Trust me, the cover matters!

When Library Guy brought my last sack of books I shuffled this one to the bottom.  It was heavier than expected; so I didn't want it to be one I lugged to the laundry room.  My laundry is enough of a load. Yikes!  Puns this early in the day hurt my head.  And three of my reserved books were authors I love and they, of course, ranked higher on my list.

Well, I consumed this book in three marathon readings.  Broken only to visit my new grandson and renew prescriptions.  Yummy!  I will say I figured out some of the "punchlines" but I was thrilled when the plot twisted in ways I had not anticipated.  A wholehearted recommendation from yours truly.  Those of you who can read, understand, and spell words of more than two syllables, and I realize not all of you have those abilities, should hunt down a copy of this book.

 I am so sorry the author is dead.

Waiting For The Library Guy

I reserved a magazine from 2009.  It was obtained from a library in Calumet City where they must have incredibly strict rules about library loans.

It came in its own envelope with a bubble wrap lining.  Many rubber bands securing many handwritten forms and checklists.  Paper clipped instructions to me; here after to be known as "borrower."  Colorful post its affixed to certain pages noting acknowledged damage (corner folded, ink stain, etc.) so that, I hope, I will not be blamed.  And its own special, earlier scheduled pick up time.  Not like plain old home delivery schedule this magazine would be out of Calumet for only a few days rather than the usual three weeks.

Okey Dokey.

I read the articles I wanted.  I wrote down some book titles.  I copied one picture.  And I reverently replaced the magazine  inside the special envelope.  All ready to go.  Nine o'clock came and went.  Does this mean the magazine is mine?  Has it been forgotten?  Should I call Calumet City?  And what happened to my beloved Library Guy?

I'm just evil enough to reserve a magazine from the 20th century.  Wouldn't that throw them for a loop?!

End O The Week O

Blessings this week:

A really cool call from my best friend whom I never see informing me about an opportunity to obtain some much needed medical aid.  She's such a sweetie for thinking of me.

Really good news for Darling Eldest Daughter and her boys.  Wagons Ho!

The potential for really good things to happen soon for Sister and Son.  I'm always baffled when I hear that "siblings" begrudge her any good fortune.  Some of this family "just ain't right."

Really weird failure at making dark chocolate peanut butter fudge.  Let's call it a learning experience.  Tastes great but ugly.

Lots of really good books from Library Guy and a special order magazine that came in its own sealed delivery pouch.

Finding the really magnificent "little red rock" I've been searching for.  Take THAT, Big Box.  The item was discovered in Tennessee.

And, could it be?  Here at Elder House the distinct aroma of a pot smoking geezer.   Summer has officially begun I guess.

Numbers

34   Trees outside my bedroom
35   Months without a cigarette
3     Precious Jewels
2,345  Messages deleted from my old aol account
7     Phone calls completed
2     Calls returned
This is where the video for "Dance 10 Looks 3" from A Chorus Line The Movie is supposed to go.  Anyone who knows how to find it, copy it, and actually figure out how to insert the damn thing, please let me know.  Thanks!
88   Steps to the exit
17   Cars usually in the parking lot
8,450.00  Price of a motorized wheelchair
19   Trips to the bathroom
6    Nightmares last night
47  Pain on a scale of one to ten
11  Days til the card reloads
96   Sad

62  Minutes wasted waiting for program to boot up
5  Snarky emails sent to said program's network
4.09  Dollars in my account
1  Hideous runaway dog
8  Daily meds
11/2 Remaining time

Gah!

Dear David,

I love you, but this cover photo is really creepy.

I admit I've completed only the first three stories.  So far so good.  If these guys turn out to be IN the book, perhaps I will be less harsh
But, David!  Come on!  I don't care if it was 1994 that unibrow is inexcusable.  Those hat brims should be decidedly more snapped.  And I'm pretty sure the ties should be skinnier.  For historical accuracy and all.  I don't mean to nit pick.  I expect a lot from you.

One good thing about the picture is that there are no visible piercings.  Not that I am opposed to  piercings.  I'm not.  I just wanted to end  this post on a positive note.

Now carry on.

This Is What Happens When You Go To Bed With Sylvia Plath

Imagine my surprise!  After all these years of good intentions I finally borrow a copy of The Bell Jar (or should it be "The Bell Jar"?  I can never remember.) and dive right in.  Not scary at all!  Yippee!  And it didn't make me any more suicidal than usual.  I loved the way Plath combined words.  I've got to return the book today; so I can't find any examples.  Not sure I'm brave enough to try the poetry.  Definitely going to check out some biographical stuff.  I wonder what her Mom was so afraid of.

Imagine my surprise!  Thursday today.  I had almost totally convinced myself that it was Wednesday.  Garbage guy at six thirty was my first clue that I was mistaken.  Pills B and C come in a dated, plastic dispenser pack and they both had Thursday as the next dose.  DJ teacher posted song of the day which he faithfully does the morning of his radio broadcast; so I admitted it was /IS Thursday.

Imagine my surprise!  I did NOT miss my Darling Middle Daughter's birthday!  I crafted a card of real card stock and intentional stickers.  I had made another vow not to buy into the corporate/Hallmark/holiday thing.  And so I splurged on cool, colored markers, card stock, and a package of neon stickers.  Two store bought cards would have cost just about the same amount.  Since I already had envelopes I now have supplies on hand to send cards to the people I care about.  Yay me...  And I have a legitimate excuse to blog troll all the pretty paper ephemera blogs.

Imagine my surprise!  The weather is supposed to suck for the next few days.  I crave the sunshine.  I am not complaining about the lack of snow or the relative warmth of this winter season.  I know it's not an anomaly, but rather a harbinger.  We have fucked this poor planet unimaginably badly and now she is saying, "Nyah! Nyah! Nyah!"  Or maybe begging, pleading for mercy.  I tremble at what the ecosystem (is that even a term that's in use these days?) is going to hand us in the next few decades.

Today is library day.