inauguration

1/22/2013

 

Inauguration

Yesterday, my Tivo recorded 6 hours of inauguration activities.  Why didn’t I just watch it live you ask?  Because I wanted to be able to fast forward through the useless chatter – and there was a lot of it.  Even recording for 6 hours I still didn’t get to see the parade!  So I ended up having to record an evening recap show and perhaps I’ll be able to see the parade that way.

The talking heads drove me to distraction and the commercials!  Really?  We have to have commercial breaks during a once every four year occurrence.  Or are the breaks really just designed to give the reporters a break from their nearly non-stop commentary?  There was some very nice groups of singers before the swearing in – but it was difficult to hear them over the "noise" of the reporters.

Everyone and anyone was interviewed and called upon to share their thoughts and opinions and  for the most part I put a lot of that in fast forward mode.  As soon as the President’s speech was over the criticism began.  What is wrong with people?  They can't wait until the next day to attack what he said or what he didn’t say?  Very sad.

Some reporters are more interested in Mrs. Obama’s new hairstyle – bangs!  And of course the clothes.  J. Crew must be loving all the free publicity they're getting. Reporters are always wanting to know who she, and the girls, are wearing.  Her ball gown was - in a word - stunning. 

One of the best part of the President’s speech for me was: “Our journey is not complete until our gay brothers and sisters are treated like anyone else under the law,”  “For if we are truly created equal, then surely the love we commit to one another must be equal as well.”

I thought it was a wonderful day even with all the commercials and endless commentary.  The Obamas are a beautiful and loving family who seem real and approachable.  They do normal things like the rest of us – yawn, chew gum, hold hands and wear shorts in public. I'll enjoy watching them for the next four years.

Food for the day:  Blonde Brownies!  

Quote for the day:  "Life is uncharted territory. It reveals its story one moment at a time." Leo Buscaglia

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First Acting Gig

1/21/2013

First Acting Gig

It's 1967, I'm a senior in high school and it's time for our spring play. There were 42 in my class so events such as the play required participation by most everyone.  And in a class that size you really did know EVERYBODY and you knew them well.  The play that year was "Where Were You on the Night of January 16th".  There has been a murder and the play centers around the courtroom.

I didn't have any desire to be in the lead but I did try out and got the role of a Swedish maid.  Now before you get all excited about curvy blondes, Magda Svenson (the maid) was neither curvy nor blonde.  She was in fact an old woman who wore orthopedic shoes, had gray hair and wore her glasses at the end of her nose.  She/me was a beaut!

Magda was the servant to the woman who had been murdered.  During the performance the "witnesses" sat amongst the audience and were called up one by one when it was our turn for questioning.  In each performance the jury consisted of random members of the audience who determined the closing of the play - guilty or not guilty. For one performance my Dad sat on the jury - but I can't remember if that was a guilty or not guilty night.

From my grandmother and her friends, I was able to come up with some old heavily flowered dress, purse and super nasty tie up shoes.  I even sprayed my hair gray which, at the time, I thought was fun (it's not quite so amusing now).  Magda didn't walk to the stage she stomped.  I not only learned my lines but attempted to perfect the accent.

During my time on the witness stand I had two lines that were nearly identical and during dress rehearsal I botched one of those lines.  Before opening night, I wrote down those two lines on my hands and hoped that I wouldn't sweat so much as to the make the ink run and disappear.  I'm happy to report that I got through those two lines!

While Magda was on the witness stand, she sat ramrod straight in the chair and clutched her little black purse in her hands as if at any moment a bad guy was going to walk into the courtroom and take it from her.  Magda was nervous and very agitated during her testimony and when she was done in court stomped her way back to her seat in the audience.

The best part about the play?  Rehearsals.  The gym/auditorium was filled with seniors buzzing with excitement, teachers trying to rein us all in and downing coke and pizza.  It was a fun experience and I remember it fondly.

Sadly, Magda was my first and last acting gig.  I would love to try my hand at stand-up comedy but that would require me to actually standing in front of a group of strangers and talk.  Okay so we know that's never going to happen.  I have a secret (and now it won't be) desire to be a DJ.

Nearly forgot - today is clam chowder day.  

Quote for the day: "Politics is supposed to be the second oldest profession. I have come to
realize that it bears a very close resemblance to the first." Ronald Reagan

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Sweating Out an Ebay Auction

1/20/2013

Sweating Out an Ebay Auction

I've been busy today, I'm mean really busy.  I actually put away my laundry, emptied (mostly) the dishwasher, made a killer dessert (think cream cheese, strawberries and cool whip) and worked on Wilma for hours.  And I got up at 3:00 this morning and have had no nap!  Jeff made split pea soup which is yummy and so what am I up to right now?  Sweating out an auction for the fellow below.  I have so many clowns now that I only want unique ones and this guy certainly fits the bill.  He's 12" tall and has a lovely pink hue when you turn him sideways and the artisan has engraved his name on one of the feet.  I want this clown but don't want to get in a bidding war with the current high bidder who appears to be a dealer (based on the amount of feed backs she has).  This guy is sitting at $67 which is a steal for such a unique piece and I know that his actually buying price will be much higher.

I'm setting my timer to alert me when there are about 15 minutes left and I'll bid again.  So keep your fingers crossed for me. It has been a long time since I actually sat at the computer during those last few minutes waiting to bump up a bid in the last seconds if I needed to.

I'll let you know tomorrow how I did.

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Wilma

1/20/2013

Wilma

I'm trying to keep you guys in the loop.  As of last night I have put part two of Wilma to bed - for now.  The two parts I have mostly finished gives me 110 pages of single spaced text.  Part three, which I'm rewriting at the moment, is about an additional 40 pages.

Oh and the best news is that I've come up with a title "Abe's Missing Diary".  I may change it but I'm trying it out and so far I like it.  Of course the title is only 24 hours old and you know what they say about women and their minds!

Anyway in part two Wilma finds herself on her own and winds up staying at a "motel" where rooms are rented by the hour and no questions are asked!  Then other stuff happens (clearly I can't tell you everything) and Wilma's best friend is coming to Washington with clean clothes and money.  Wilma is befriended by a man named Sue (nickname) who she trusts - for now. "Sue" is pretty evasive about what he actually does for a living which causes Wilma concern.  Meanwhile, Wendell (the villain) is still in the picture and always seems to be just one step behind Wilma. 

Lest you think I don't suffer for my art - it's 3:30 in the morning and I'm up - coffee in hand - and writing.  First, I'm writing to you guys and then I'm going to start reading and editing part three.  One new incentive for working on Wilma so much is that Cirrus (plane) has just announced a new plane that can carry 200 more pounds and has a larger parachute.  That means you could have four people in the plane, full fuel and still have "weight" room left over for the luxury items - like luggage!  Weight is always an issue when flying even in big planes but more so with the little guys.

I'm authoring early because Jeff and I have agreed (reluctantly) that we would spend today closing out the books for one of the companies - preparing W-2's, prepare all required state and federal annual filings - boring stuff like that.  We also have one other agreement that is in place every year when we are doing taxes and such.  We agree that we won't kill each other and/or we won't get a divorce. Raised voices are okay and generally is part of year end accounting for us but we'll see love each other tomorrow!

Nearly forgot the food of the day.  Yesterday was popcorn and I managed to get that in last night while watching tv.  Today is butter crunch, cheese lover's, granola bar AND coffee break day!  I don't know how the 20th of January managed to cram so much food into one day but I prefer not to look a gift horse in the mouth.  Enjoy.

Thought for the day:  

You learn to speak by speaking, to study by studying, to run by running, to work by working; in just the same way, you learn to love by loving. - Saint Francis de Sales.

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Change

1/19/2013

Change

Good?  Not so good?  I think there's a case to be made for both sides.  What kind of change are we talking about?  And what kind of person are you?  Some people I know are brave, independent and adventuresome and they love a change as well as a challenge.  Then there are folks like me who are rooted in a spot and avoid change like the plague.  Why?  Fear of failure, something new (a biggie for me) and/or criticism.  This is by no means a complete list of the reasons people give for being against change.

In 1986 when Jeff and I and the boys trekked across the country in our own version of a covered wagon (think 747) to begin our lives afresh 3,000 miles away, it was a good change.  Jeff and I felt just like pioneers who were toting all of our worldly possessions along with us, including three tired, cranky boys and one drugged up dog when we landed at Dulles.  Even though we lived in a rental house for 6 months with the most minimal of furniture and knew nobody we embraced the change.  It was truthfully a very exciting change and one that we have never regretted.

When Jeff and I are taxing off in N874T and heading out of town that is a change in my routine that I  enjoy.  Even though the cabin service on 874T really sucks, there is something so very peaceful flying above the ground looking down on the matchbox cities.  And night flying?  Peaceful, beautiful and soundless (except for the required radio chatter).  

In my working career which began in 1968 (I know before many of you were born) I have held exactly 11 jobs. That is not a lot of jobs and/or change in 45 years.  Clearly if I've got a desk and a job to do - I'm good.  I'm not and never have been looking for the next lily pad to jump on.  My career is winding down and I'm probably working in my last full time job.  I have been sitting at my current desk for 13 years and if I remain physically able to work until I was 70 I only have to work 6 more years!  Of course when I give up my desk permanently then I will experience a CHANGE.  A change unlike anything I've experienced before - retirement.  Yikes.

Quote for the day:  

“You’re braver than you believe, and stronger than you seem, and smarter than you think.” –A.A. Milne


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Miscellaneous

1/18/2013

Miscellaneous

After lounging around the house for the past two days with alternating chills and sweats, I believe I may be on the mend and today I'm going back to work.  So during my hiatus I had plenty of time to think about stuff.  Of course my thinking came in between napping and hours of brainless television.

You will recall my filing cabinet dilemma while Jeff was out of town last week.  I wanted to give you an update.  When Jeff got home he discovered, as I did, that two out of the four drawers were unlocked but the actual cabinet was locked.  Even with my best efforts the stupid lock remained steady.  Drat those old heavy steel cabinets.  When Jeff looked at the cabinet he said that two of the drawers had at one time or another been switched out - they didn't lock - and couldn't lock.  Hmm.  We checked the other cabinets in the basement and couldn't find any drawers out of place.  Must have bought it that way.  Anyway, rather than drill the lock out he was able to unscrew it (or something) from behind permanently removing the lock.  The lock has not been destroyed and with the lock and screws put safely back inside the cabinet, it could be a semi-locking cabinet again one day.  The odds of that happening are of course slim and none. At least as long as we own it.

I don't know how where you stand on self-flushing toilets and automatic water and soap.  It all works swell until they don't.  I have more times than I can count stood like an idiot in a bathroom waiting for the water/soap to come out.  When it doesn't work you switch sinks until you can get water and/or soap to come out.  Sometimes washing up is a two sink process - one sink allows you to have water - and the other one will give you soap.  I really do prefer to turn on my own water to my desired temperature and pump out my own soap.  But I realize why offices and stores have gone down this path.  It's cleaner and probably saves more money.  I'm sure some folks like this but I'm not a huge fan.

Computer are everywhere and they are a great tool until they don't work.  When they don't the urge to throw them down an elevator shaft is very strong.  I hate sitting down at a computer, press the wake-up bar and either get nada or a very s-l-o-w response.  I have zero tolerance for either.  I type fast and my brain works fast so the blasted computer needs to do the same.  Ever type something and you find the computer dawdling behind what you've typed.  What's all that about?  Please don't tell me that the machine can't keep up.  Years ago when I was having significant problems with my computer at work I was actually told that I "am too fast" (i.e., when I hit the spacebar I believed that the computer should get moving - now).  Just think of how many generations of children who have grown up or will grow up with the mantra Ctrl-Alt-Del being a large part of their language. With a typewriter you simply inserted paper and typed.  If it was a manual typewriter it always typed even when the power was out!  Of course completely retyping a document after revisions or too many typos (not something I suffered from of course was something that no secretary relished.  And yes back in the day we were secretaries - today we are administrative assistants.  Whatever.  I've been a secretary full time since 1968 and when ever I decide to take myself out of the game I'll still be a secretary.  Titles don't mean very much to me - you are basically going to get the same wage whether you are a secretary or an AA. 

Went out on Ebay recently to look at some vintage toys for Benjamin and realize that if I had kept some of  the boys' toys - I could sell them for big big bucks today.  Trouble is I didn't.  When kids outgrow their toys most of us are just glad to get rid of them and make room for the next phase of play.  One of Benjamin's favorite things to play with is an old Mattel Sto 'n Go railroad that can be folded up at the end of play.  I don't know why I kept it but I do now that when Benjamin leaves the house, this old toy slides beautifully under a couch, chair or cabinet!  Love it.  I'm looking for more toys like this for him but it appears that I'm going to have to spend big bucks to do so.  So if you haven't tossed out all of the old toys - hang on to them - they are worth money.

One more thing and then I'll go I promise.  Jeff tells me that with the copy and pasting that I do of some of my writing - you the reader are seeing everything in all caps.  I'm sorry for that.  If that is the way you are seeing the blog I apologize - I'm not really screaming at you.  :)

It's Friday and for most of us a long weekend - yeah.  Enjoy.

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Packaging

1/17/2013

Packaging

I hate to continue harping about how good the old days were - but if it looks like a duck, walks like a duck, it's a duck.  Things were just easier then and one example is packaging.  You didn't need an advanced degree in engineering and an arsenal of weapons (letter opener, box cutter) to open something you had bought at the store.  Scissors, for example, were sold unwrapped except for the little cardboard strap that held them on to the package.

Medicine had those nice easy to open tops (not good for children I know but we can talk about that another time) and we didn't have to remove the plastic strap thingy, remove the top (if you can) and cut open that silver covering.  We now have to do all of these things BEFORE we can even get to the medicine for which we likely paid an arm and leg for.  I understand why manufacturers of medicine have all these precautions now.  Remember the Tylenol poisoning incident in 1982?  We for sure don't want a repeat of that.

Bought a toy lately?  Benjamin's Princess Barbie that we gave him for Christmas was literally tied down with these nasty little plastic ties that, because of the mess of Christmas morning, ended up on the floor and underneath bare feet.  Ouch.  Why does Barbie have to be tied down?  Of course before we could untie poor Barbie we had to cut (literally) our way through the clamshell pack.  It's hard enough to open one of those packs but even more difficult when a child is dancing on one leg with excitement and waiting for you!  Another problem with the clamshell pack is that once you have managed to cut the plastic open, the sides are deathly sharp and will and can inflict injury.  Has the manufacturers thought about that? 

If I lived alone and thankfully I do not, I would find it hard to eat, take my medicine and/or enjoy a DVD.  Why?  Because of the packaging.  Medicine I get, but I require scissors to open up a DVD (that little plastic strip causes me grief).  And food.  Those little hints called "tear here" on food packages are sometimes a joke.  Maybe it's me and I'm not strong enough to open up a package of cheese but I could starve trying to successfully open up some food items.  I keep not one but two pair of scissors in my kitchen - for the sole purpose of opening up stuff.  And those bags of food that have a sealing device for after you have gotten inside - don't work if you have used scissors or a knife to open up the stupid package.  I have done this often and end up using binder clips or scotch tape for resealing.  Jeff is not always around to rip open everything that I need to get in to.

Jeff recently came back from traveling and said he watched an elderly couple on the plane work for a long time trying to open up a pre-packaged sandwich.  I feel their frustration.  With no accessibility to sharp objects on the plane, I guess you could resort to using your teeth to tear open your lunch.  How lovely is that?

I know that some of these precautions are for our own good - but many of them have been put in place to slow down theft and/or make it easier for the retailer (think how many things you see in stores "hanging" from a hook) to display items for sale. 

Amazon has launched a "frustration free packaging" program.  Here is an example in the difference between a regular retail package and the easy to open box from Amazon.




Amazon has 200 vendors and 70,000 products in this program.  I have bought some of Benjamin's toys with this "new" packaging and it was wonderful.  I opened up the box and out popped the toy.  So easy.  I just wish that this kind of packaging was more readily available in stores.

Have a great Thursday.

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