what kind of mind ...

okay, all you family members who would like to know what kt did for thanksgiving -- go to his november 24 post. read it and enjoy the pictures, then at the bottom of the post where he says 'wish you a happy thanksgiving in person', click on the link. you'll have to wait about 5 minutes or so (unless you have dial-up, then the wait is more like 92 hours) for it to download, but then -- whoa! very cool!! watch out, george lucas!

one ringy dingy ...

i had a bit of time yesterday and ended up reading (in wikipedia) about area codes. it actually was fascinating.

there are several ways to introduce new area codes and all ways leave the introducers hated by the masses.

i went to the link to the fcc and read more. did you know there are places in this country where you need to dial all 10 digits even if you're calling your neighbor next-door? 'tis true. we in western wa narrowly missed that scenario back in 2001. whew!

excitement where you least expect it ....

wee one

we drove down to see our sweet little grandaughter today. she has gained 5 pounds since birth (6 weeks old now) and is beautiful! she looks just like her mom did at that age (daughter-in-law had pictures).

she likes to be moving, however, and will cry if you don't walk around while you hold her. i'm not sure why that is, but hey, whatever works.

so i got to hold her today and she and i walked around the house and she looked around and later even gave me a smile. ahhhh, little cutie! when she started fussing i shifted her around mostly on her tummy and carried her that way. sometimes pressure on their tummies feels good.

we only stayed a couple of hours but mom, dad, and baby looked happy. and so are we!

watch out!

boogedy, boogedy -- if you aren't aware of how you can be scammed by people who give you a check for something, you need to pay attention.

Canada, as benevolent (?) as our neighbor is, has a huge ring operating and preying on U.S. citizens. Other scam artists are located in Nigeria, the Netherlands, and England.

want to know what a counterfeit check looks like? go here: http://www.ckfraud.org/counterfeitcks.html

the scams? one is that you are given a check which is more than the amount due you, you deposit the whole thing, take out your amount, then wire the remainder. the check bounces. even when the bank says it has cleared, it may come back later and insist the check didn't clear and you are liable for the whole amount. man, that's a nightmare! in fact, read the whole article -- it will make you not want to take any check.

so -- we can't take a check, we can't take money -- the counterfeiters are everywhere. supposedly you are supposed to be able to use an online payment system, like PayPal, but they had their own problems awhile back with people posing as them.

this last article has some really good advice, though, about only taking a check on a local bank. still, it makes me nervous. i guess the answer is, rather than trying to sell something just give it away!

be one with nature

Happy Thanksgiving to everyone!

lots of love going out to our friends, relatives, and neighbors. we have sooooo many things to be thankful for and really feel blessed. may the universe bless you as well.

the husband and i wish you sunny days, starry nights, pleasant breezes, and double-rainbows.

in with the old

the husband and i watched U.S. Marshals (1998) tonight. sure, we've seen it before but it's been awhile. i have to tell ya, if you haven't seen it or if it's been a lot of years, watch it (again). we'd forgotten a lot of it and tommy lee is good. so are the others. tension and good music, too.

do you speak '60s?

"I knew I'd been living in Berkeley too long when I saw a sign that said 'Free firewood' and my first thought was 'Who was Firewood and what did he do?'" -John Berger

ahahaha -- those were the days .....

vignette ~ Harry's Dead

Clang. Clang. Clangittyclangitty. Clang. The wind kept knocking something metal against the library’s flag pole. It’d gotten a lot colder this evening. More wind plus cold equals hell-of-a-lot colder, and I hunched up my shoulders and pulled my arms in close to my body as I hurried along.

One more block and then I was in my cold coffin of a car, starting it up and quickly shutting off the blower which I’d left on ‘cause it was blowin’ nice and warm when I’d gotten out. The trees waved their branches up and down in the streetlight, making animated pick-up sticks shadows on the pavement as the engine idled a bit. No one else was out and about as I pulled away from the curb and headed on home.

Dammit Harry, why’d you have to go and die just when things were looking up? Harry was the nice old man I’d been renting a room from, just until I could get on my feet. But I came home for lunch today and found Harry sitting awful still in his favorite chair in the living room. The police said he’d died peacefully and since they verified I’d been at my job when Harry’d been granted his wings, they didn’t accuse me of anything.

I had cried. Not that I’m a big baby or anything, but I was gonna miss ole’ Harry. He’d gotten to me and that was unusual. I mean, nothing touches a loner, right? The police said I might want to spend the night somewhere else, but hey. I got no place else to go, right? So I just said no, thanks, I wanted to watch over Harry’s stuff, and they left me alone.

Because I did want to watch over Harry’s stuff. What I hadn’t told the police was that when I came home today, I could tell that someone had been there. It had sprinkled and the driveway had a large spot which wasn’t the same wetness as the rest. And there was a wadded-up paper towel and a newspaper clipping on the front porch. I picked them up and put them in the trash ‘cause ole’ Harry likes to keep things neat, but I wondered how they’d gotten there in the first place. The wind was blowing at the back side of the house not the front and besides, the front had a lot of bushes and things.

So now that the excitement was over and I was in bed thinking back over the day, it occurred to me that maybe Harry hadn’t had such a peaceful exit after all. I thought about it for awhile as I listened to night-sounds through my open-an-inch-even-in-the-wintertime window. The wind had died down and I was finally heading off to dreamland when the nagging that had started in my head a little bit ago finally got my attention. Something or someone was carefully and quietly walking across the porch. Well, wait ... maybe the wind picked up again, blowing at the front of the house this time.

I focused, then listened a bit, then started smoothing back down the road to dreamland, when I heard some kind of clicking at the front door. Then the door opened. Ohmygod, can you die from adrenaline overload? Maybe not, but you can die from other things that I really didn’t want to find out about.

I threw back the covers, grabbed my jeans, boots, and wool sweater, and practically rammed myself through the screen-less window that Harry was never going to get fixed now.

I headed straight for the three pine trees in the corner of the yard and scrunched behind them, trying to get dressed and looking to see if anyone showed up. Slapped my jeans on, slipped the sweater over my head, and crammed my cold tootsies in my shearling-lined desert boots. This was going to work for a little while, as long as the wind didn’t pick up again, but really -- it was simply the wrong time of year to be starting an adventure.

I scoped out the alley, then headed down it, figuring it was only about four blocks to Macy’s farm on the edge of town. There was hay up in the barn and I could sorta keep warm in there. Come morning, though, I was going to have to figure out what to do.

go, team, go!

they caught a bad guy at work today. it's not that unusual, really -- they seem to find drugs or pests (agriculture) or something which isn't allowable on a regular basis. i just usually never hear about it.

but today i knew about it as it was unfolding. not that i was in the middle of it, but one of the top guys left the office for a bit and then there was a lot of activity outside and i could see it from my top-floor window.

sooooooo cool!! down with the bad guys and up with us!!!

oh, good grief

'politically correct' is one thing, but 'ridiculous' is another.

for quite a while now i've thought the p.c. idea has gotten totally out-of-hand, but yesterday a couple of co-workers told me that gossiping at work had gotten three people, from some company in this country, fired.

fired. for gossiping. i'm sorry, i just think that's stupid. sticks and stones and all that, so grow up.

the freedom of speech issue aside, unless someone can go back in time and take roseanne off the air, along with all the hateful, snide, snotty-commenting programs since, it's going to be hard to get workers to stop being so catty/snotty/hateful.

people have always been that way, but i think it's gotten worse since being negative was okayed by hollywood. good manners aren't nearly as valued as a quick, nasty wit.

i'd like to see political correctness die a quick death and i'd love a return to good old-fashioned manners. i don't mind all-inclusive terms like mailman, councilmen, brotherhood, etc. and i love someone opening the door for me, allowing me to exit first, helping me on with my coat. so there. pppffffththttttt.

vignette ~ What's Going On?

Everyday when Janet got off work, she drove out of the parking lot and past a little white house with a nicely-kept yard. It was always so neatly trimmed and pleasant-looking that it made her happy no matter how strained her day had been.

This evening she had worked late and, since it was Friday and she didn’t have to hurry home to do chores, she took her time walking to her car and getting it out of the lot. The little old lady who lived in the white house was outside sweeping her sidewalk and, on a spur-of-the-moment impulse, Janet pulled over to the curb and got out.

“Hi,” she said walking up to the wizened, grizzled woman, “I work across the street and I just have to tell you how much I love your home and yard.”

The old lady’s face split into a huge grin and she bobbed her head and said, “Thank you.”

Janet went on, “Everything is so nicely trimmed and cleaned up that it completely cheers me up, even after I have a really bad day. Like yesterday, for example, it was the worst day I’ve had in a couple of weeks, but when I got off work I made sure to look at your place. It was very soothing, but then when I saw the fire in your fireplace through the window, it made me smile and all the day’s irritations just went away.”

The old woman cackled an old-woman laugh and said, “Well, that’s a nice thought, dearie, but I don’t have no fireplace.” Janet looked at her with puzzled eyes and the old lady turned, pointed to her full-glass front door and said, “Look for yourself. I don’t know what you saw, but it weren’t no fireplace.”

Janet was seeing the cozy corner where the fire had been pleasantly flaring yesterday and where a rocking chair sat today. “Wha ... ?” She finally closed her mouth, shook her head, and mumbled, “I must be working too hard.” Remembering her manners she said, “Well, whatever it was I saw, I still love your home and yard and I just wanted to tell you.”

“You’re a nice girl to say those things, thank you kindly now.” The woman grinned and continued, “You just look at it all you want,” and she went back to her sweeping. Janet went back to her car, got in, and headed for home.

“What in the hell did I see yesterday I wonder. I know damn-good-and-well there was a fireplace in that corner,” she softly muttered. After driving another three blocks she muttered some more, “That just doesn’t make any sense.” By the time she got home she had decided to have left-overs for supper and then take a long bubble-bath. Maybe relaxing would help her figure out what she’d seen.

The phone chimed as she was sticking a plate of food in the microwave and she answered it on the second ring. “Janet,” said Polly, her best friend of 25 years, “you’ll never guess what. Joe got the supervisor job he bid on!” Polly was so happy, Janet could just see her doing her happy-dance steps.

“I know. You told me yesterday and you still sound excited about it. Are you guys going to celebrate?”

“What do you mean I told you yesterday?” Polly sounded puzzled. “I only found out ten minutes ago when Joe called me from work. His boss didn’t get back from the conference until after midnight last night.”

“No, you told me yesterday when you called to get my applesauce cookie recipe. You wanted to make them special for Joe.”

“Janet I didn’t call you yesterday. It was my sister’s last day in town and we had some shopping to do before she packed. Then I took her to the airport, came home, and ironed shirts until I went to bed. We didn’t talk. What’s going on?”

“Polly, we talked and I can prove it. Joe’s new job will give him $57,000 a year. That’s what you said. And I remember that figure because Joe turned 57 last month.”

“Look. This doesn’t make any sense. Joe only just now called me, right from his boss’ office, and he didn’t tell me how much he’d be making so I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

Janet felt a cold chill go down her back and decided she needed some down-time. “Listen, Polly, I’ve got to go but I’ll get back to you tomorrow. Don’t mention our conversation to Joe; just have a good time tonight and celebrate. He’s worked hard a lot of years. And tell him I’m happy for him.”

They hung up and Janet got her warmed-up plate. “What-in-the-hell is going on,” she muttered. Armed with chicken and peas, she walked past her glass of water and grabbed a beer on her way out to the back porch. She knew it would be chilly outside before too long, but she loved sitting out back. When Charlie had died two years ago it was the only place she could go and feel safe and close to him. The bedroom made her cry. The kitchen made her cry. The living room made her cry. The back porch was the only place she had some peace, and she had spent a lot of time out there.

So she ate her supper and rocked in her chair, trying to relax. Charlie had taught her that if she had a big problem sometimes the best way to handle it was to turn to something else, let the problem sit, and go back to it later. Then, more often than not, the solution was there waiting.

She missed him. He had been the other part of her. Always helping her with things, giving her new ideas, solving problems. He’d be able to figure out what was going on right now. This was just so strange and she really didn’t want to think it might be her mind giving out. After all, she was only 54.

No, something was off and Charlie would have been able to figure it out. Her mind wandered through her thoughts as she absently looked around the back yard. It was nicely private with a one-car detached garage and a chain-link fence which ran around the perimeter. You couldn’t see the fence since the bushes had intractably interwoven through the links, but that was okay with her since she didn’t do more than say ‘Hi’ to her neighbors.

She jerked her head up as it suddenly occurred to her that there had been a number of unexplained episodes since Charlie’s death. Her favorite angora sweater had gone missing and never turned up. She found an unopened packet of her favorite incense under the bathroom sink when she knew she had used the last stick. She couldn’t find her favorite pair of earrings. Something weird was going on and it didn’t make a bit of sense.

She shivered, realized the sun was setting on a beautiful pink sky, and decided it was chilly enough she should be getting inside. She gave a big sigh and rose, plate in hand, turning to the back door.

“Janet,” said Charlie standing on the edge of the driveway with his hands in his coat pockets. She froze then screamed, dropped the plate, and reached for the back door. “Janet, wait,” he said but she screamed again -- a very panicked, frightened scream which stayed with her all the way to the floor and under the blanket in the back of the bedroom closet.

dream last night

i was in a shopping area alongside which ran a very busy street which was under construction. the shopping area had street vendors along with busy stores and i was walking past things for sale when i noticed a hot-air balloon coming down to land.

it was a beautiful day with no wind and the balloon was set to land across the street in a pasture. when the gondola touched down, all that forward motion translated into splintered motion and the gondola with its twelve passengers sort of bubbled and bounced around for a bit, like a drop of water on a hot skillet.

another one was coming in to land but i resumed my walking and found myself going by the american indians who had the hot-air balloon business. the balloons were laying right there by the roadway, unfilled, waiting for the next passengers so they could inflate. i remember thinking the balloons weren't big at all, only about 12-15 limp feet long, with a couple of eagle feathers on the top.

vignette ~ What To Do

After twenty-two years of an uneventful marriage, Bretta and Dave divorced four years ago. No acrimony, just ennui. The twins, Samantha and Tatiana -- Sam and Tits for short -- were in college when the decision was made. They accepted the news with only a few questions, and the divorce was amicably handled by an acquaintance of Dave’s. From different apartments in different parts of town, they sold the house and divided everything up neatly and politely, exactly as things had always been in their marriage.

Then, three months after the papers were signed and two days before the divorce was technically final, Dave was. Final, that is. He had a heart attack while he was working late, and was found by the janitor. Apparently it had happened very quickly, meaning Dave left this life as easily as he’d come in. Honestly, some people just had all the luck.

None of it had been an emotional watershed, thought Bretta, so why, after four years, was there still just a touch of emptiness which persisted in coming and going of its own accord? Irritating in its constant incongruity, but there you are. Where are rules when you need them?

And besides the occasional bouts of loneliness, there was that whole aging thing. I mean, getting older was just such a let-down. New wrinkles, no matter how cute, and sparse hair, even if one didn’t really need all those pubes, just didn’t do all that much for the self-esteem department, not to mention the tiny little bits of weight gain here and those little pooches of sagging flesh there. Even wisdom wasn’t all it was cracked up to be.

So here she was, just four months past her sixtieth birthday, wondering what she should do with her three weeks of vacation this year. Her girlfriend was tied up with a sick parent and a wandering husband so making plans with her wouldn’t happen. The twins were both starting new jobs, Sam in Pittsburgh and Tits in Fort Wayne, and going anywhere with either of them was out of the question.

What to do, what to do. She could take a cruise, fly to Italy or New Zealand, do the Elderhostel thing somewhere, drive across the country. But there was nothing which cried out and said, “Do Me.” Not even a man. And it had been so long since she’d had a good roll in the hay, she wasn’t even sure she remembered how. Haha, as if. Baby boomers could do anything. Show her a willing man and she’d show him a thing or two. Maybe even with the lights on.

But boyfriends from high school and college were gone and long forgotten and, Demi not withstanding, most younger guys weren’t looking for an older partner. Oh well, maybe she’d meet up with someone when she lived in an old folks’ home, and they could watch Frisky Business together as their dry, arthritic hands curled around each other’s fingers.

Well, that thought was simply depressing and right now she had places to go and people to see, so she grabbed her coat and went out to enjoy a walk on this beautiful Autumn day.

Still air, smelling of burning leaves, made her think back fifty years. And the sound of crunching leaves under her feet made her feel like scooping a bunch together and jumping into them for fun. “On second thought, breaking bones would be painful. Good grief, can't we have any fun anymore?” she muttered as she walked along.

flash gordon

oh man, i was born 50 years too early. for those of us who like cars of the future, check this out: http://autoshow.autos.msn.com/autoshow/Tokyo2007/Article.aspx?cp-documentid=5630722 -- i like the Honda Puyo with its soft surface and bumper-car look, and i can see that the Nissan NV200 would be really cool to use if it fit your needs (the Pixy, too, for that matter), but i totally love the Nissan Pivo2!! i want one NOW!!!!!

your health

time to get a flu shot. the husband and i got ours last month and there's still time to get one at a flu clinic in your area.

be smart and be safe.

the way-back machine

spanky
ah-oooooooga
duck and cover
esther williams
mr. green jeans
the wayward wind
buck rogers
the tramp
helps build strong bodies twelve ways
cherry mash
green river
saddle shoes and bobby socks
pinafore
iron lung
vacuum tubes
test pattern
his master's voice
sputnik 2 and laika

tocsin

Cargill is recalling a million pounds of beef. if you bought any meat recently, check to see if it has any of these words on the label:

Century Farm, Giant, Giant Eagle, Shop Rite, Stop & Shop, Wegmans, Weis Premium Meats, Meatload Mix, and ...for Chili.

Full details are here -- http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/15587340/ -- and kudos to Cargill for getting on top of the situation quickly. well, i guess it's been almost a month, but still ... at least they aren't denying the situation.

spooky

it seems like there's never enough time to relax anymore. but yesterday was halloween and some of us at work decided to go crazy and dress up a little bit. we wore black pants and orange shirts. i wore black pants, a black shirt, and an orange vest, one of those puffy, down things which made me look like a pumpkin. then we put tattoos on our arms and D put one on her cheek and then we were rough tough killing machines!

my boss walked by once, turned, and said, "Nice mask. Oops..." cracked me up -- i wasn't wearing a mask.