My union has joined a much larger, more powerful union, who kindly invited us to join in their annual "family picnic". I used to go to union picnics as a kid with my dad and remember they were a lot of fun. This one boasted a classic car show and food and games, so I thought "why not?" I invited some friend who are classic car enthusiasts to join us.
It started out well, it really did. We got some freebies from vendors ( a nice "grocery type bag" and some other medical related stuff. I saw our ED who had a t-shirt big enough to fit Chris and that was nice. THEN we went into the venue....
The signboard said "Midget bullriding" I don't know WHY I thought it was Midget BULLS. Nope. Not even close. It was Midget rodeo. The guy doing the bullfighting was doing a fairly decent job of it, even the bull seemed to know what his "part" was. It was amusing , if gentle bullfighting. I usually root for the bull anyway. At this point, I guess I didn't realize that they were all midgets. THEN they introduced the "Sexy siren" a woman came out dressed in a g-string with a lot of fringe and a bikini top. She looked like Honey Boo-Boo. She proceeded to badly lip sync to what I can only assume is a famous Mexican recording artist. The MC extolled the crowd to cattle call here by saying "isn't she sexy?' It was degrading. The next few "acts" also badly dressed performers lip syncing away, was painful to watch. The bull fighter came out and "rode" the bull- he actually took a stage fall as the bull left the gate. Same thing when he tried to ride a pony. Now here is the part that pissed me OFF. This is,remember a UNION PICNIC. The Master of Ceremonies, a brother member of the Affiliate, took an American flag out of his pocket and spread it out . "who here is proud to be an American? " he asked. Cheers from the crowd. He then proceeded to say that that the flag he had was made in China and then he WIPED HIS SWEATY FACE ON IT. DUDE that is NOT a rag, it's a FLAG. Insulted? YES. Mortified that someone connected to a union would do such a disrespectful thing.
The food was free, but we didn't get any. They had ONE booth open and the crowd was so big that it would have taken 1/2 hour to get anything. I was not standing in line that long for what looked like three street tacos. It was hot and I had a lot of work ahead of me.
The "Classic car show" wasn't all that much to look at. I have seen more classic cars in the local Von's parking lot, they had maybe 8 cars, some of which were cars I had driven "back in the day ( I am classic aged I guess) Nice but not worth the drive.
As we were leaving, I stopped by the Kaiser table to see what they had to offer. NONE of the employees even broke away from their conversations to greet us. Typical Kaiser employees. I had a question or two, but couldn't get the attention of the people at the Vision Essentials station at all ( how ironic is it that they wouldn't make eye contact?) I took a squeezy apple and departed, making a loud reference to the fact that they were JUST as helpful as everyone else at Kaiser ( which isn't really fair, as some people have been VERY helpful, it's just ADMIN people who suck- for the most part)
Sunday, July 28, 2013
Friday, July 26, 2013
Superwomen- fighting back
I know a couple of amazing women and this morning I just want to take a moment to give them a shout out!
Cindy Alexander. Not only is she just about the nicest person I know, she is a HUGE singing/songwriting talent. She's the mother of two rambunctious girls ( twins). Today she is fighting cancer; kicking it's but and having a double mastectomy. Cindy has been posting HER upbeat thoughts, so today, keep her in your thoughts.
Debbie Tilch. I went to school with Debbie's husband and have become Facebook friends with her and her family. Debbie is also kicking Cancer's butt. I admire the strength and courage with which she faces her opponent. I know she will beat this. Her husband is also facing challenges, so maybe this shout-out goes to both of them.
Pam Eisenberg- another FB friend who will be going "Over the Edge" for autism tomorrow. They are repelling off the Raddison Hotel near the airport. This amazing woman is a true warrior for her child and for educating us all; dealing with the challenges of autism.
Ladies- you ROCK. You all inspire me to do better, to do more. I am blessed to know you.
Cindy Alexander. Not only is she just about the nicest person I know, she is a HUGE singing/songwriting talent. She's the mother of two rambunctious girls ( twins). Today she is fighting cancer; kicking it's but and having a double mastectomy. Cindy has been posting HER upbeat thoughts, so today, keep her in your thoughts.
Debbie Tilch. I went to school with Debbie's husband and have become Facebook friends with her and her family. Debbie is also kicking Cancer's butt. I admire the strength and courage with which she faces her opponent. I know she will beat this. Her husband is also facing challenges, so maybe this shout-out goes to both of them.
Pam Eisenberg- another FB friend who will be going "Over the Edge" for autism tomorrow. They are repelling off the Raddison Hotel near the airport. This amazing woman is a true warrior for her child and for educating us all; dealing with the challenges of autism.
Ladies- you ROCK. You all inspire me to do better, to do more. I am blessed to know you.
Thursday, July 25, 2013
Invisibility- it's my NEW superpower
They say after a certain age, women become invisible and I am beginning to believe it. Case is point:
Kaiser is sending me to classes to manage my illness. It's ok and I would rather have them send me to class than deal with it in their traditional way- rolling a pill at me. So I went to the class and sat thru it, although I am not certain that it is really a good fit for me ( the instructor said that we will probably all feel that way at first and not to give up). The NEXT DAY I get a SNARKY call from Kaiser, wanting to know why I didn't go to the class. HUH? I told the woman that I HAD gone, she INSISTED that I hadn't, went so far as to accuse me of going to the wrong room. When I exasperatedly told her to inform the facilitator the name of the person I was sitting next to, she backed off; but not before asking if I would be at the next session. I replied, "I don't know if you will see me there, since you didn't see me yesterday." I was in what I like to refer to as my "righteous indignation zone" Honestly. I did get a very apologetic call from the facilitator, about three minutes later. I will go to the next class, but if I am still invisible I don't know what it can do for me.
Same thing happens in retail stores. I have been in Victoria's Secret, STANDING in the aisle looking to get someone to let me into the dressing room HOLDING a bra. The skinny little sales girls zoom past me and help other skinny young things. Seriously? My credit card has a bigger allowance and if you are working on commission, ignoring older women, who might SPEND a little more, is a grave error. The last time I went, I finally got help from the lone male sales clerk ( probably an FIDM student, as it is downtown) He steered me toward what I refer to as Kevlar Bras. I want a bra, not a flack vest. Sheesh. NO wonder I shop online.
Being invisible. It's going to take some getting used to, but it COULD be a lot of fun if I put my mind to it. I wonder what mischief I can get into?
Kaiser is sending me to classes to manage my illness. It's ok and I would rather have them send me to class than deal with it in their traditional way- rolling a pill at me. So I went to the class and sat thru it, although I am not certain that it is really a good fit for me ( the instructor said that we will probably all feel that way at first and not to give up). The NEXT DAY I get a SNARKY call from Kaiser, wanting to know why I didn't go to the class. HUH? I told the woman that I HAD gone, she INSISTED that I hadn't, went so far as to accuse me of going to the wrong room. When I exasperatedly told her to inform the facilitator the name of the person I was sitting next to, she backed off; but not before asking if I would be at the next session. I replied, "I don't know if you will see me there, since you didn't see me yesterday." I was in what I like to refer to as my "righteous indignation zone" Honestly. I did get a very apologetic call from the facilitator, about three minutes later. I will go to the next class, but if I am still invisible I don't know what it can do for me.
Same thing happens in retail stores. I have been in Victoria's Secret, STANDING in the aisle looking to get someone to let me into the dressing room HOLDING a bra. The skinny little sales girls zoom past me and help other skinny young things. Seriously? My credit card has a bigger allowance and if you are working on commission, ignoring older women, who might SPEND a little more, is a grave error. The last time I went, I finally got help from the lone male sales clerk ( probably an FIDM student, as it is downtown) He steered me toward what I refer to as Kevlar Bras. I want a bra, not a flack vest. Sheesh. NO wonder I shop online.
Being invisible. It's going to take some getting used to, but it COULD be a lot of fun if I put my mind to it. I wonder what mischief I can get into?
Sunday, July 21, 2013
Religion
Yes, I know I am going to open up a large kettle of worms, but I have been thinking a lot about religion and my views and well... Here's what I came up with:
I consider myself to be a Christian, which to MY mind means I follow the teachings of Jesus Christ. Simple really. Jesus had very few "rules" so they were easy to stick to. "Love ye one another" That's pretty much it in a nutshell. Some people will ask me about the rest of the Bible. I consider it to be advice I can take or discard. What worked for some might not work for all. The contrary advice of Leviticus just gives me a headache. There may have been good reasons for the "laws" placed in that book, but do they apply to me today? Nope. Call it "cherry picking" and decry my lack of "faith" if you must. My faith and my beliefs are what get me out of bed some mornings. I also VERY FIRMLY believe in everyone's right to believe as they will and as long as it doesn't cause injury to me or to someone I love, I say good for you! It is not my place to tell anyone else how to live or what to believe or what deity to worship. Not my business. I have friends who don't believe in any deity. If it works for you, that's great. I saw a t-shirt once that said something to the effect of "some people believe many gods, some people believe in no more than one god, atheists just take it a step further." I thought it was funny.
What you claim to believe does not make you a decent human being, it's how you put your belief into action that matters; case in point those morons at the Westborough Church. I don't know what they are reading, but I would dearly LOVE to see the part of any Bible that talks about God hating anyone. I often wonder at "religious leaders" who claim to have a direct line to God. That televangelist a few years ago who told his followers that "God would call him home" unless a specific amount of money were raised. I would have put THAT one to the test. Religion is Big Business for many people. There are so many "brands" it's hard to know which one to choose. Choose what speaks to your heart, it will be easier to "walk the walk" that way.
I consider myself to be a Christian, which to MY mind means I follow the teachings of Jesus Christ. Simple really. Jesus had very few "rules" so they were easy to stick to. "Love ye one another" That's pretty much it in a nutshell. Some people will ask me about the rest of the Bible. I consider it to be advice I can take or discard. What worked for some might not work for all. The contrary advice of Leviticus just gives me a headache. There may have been good reasons for the "laws" placed in that book, but do they apply to me today? Nope. Call it "cherry picking" and decry my lack of "faith" if you must. My faith and my beliefs are what get me out of bed some mornings. I also VERY FIRMLY believe in everyone's right to believe as they will and as long as it doesn't cause injury to me or to someone I love, I say good for you! It is not my place to tell anyone else how to live or what to believe or what deity to worship. Not my business. I have friends who don't believe in any deity. If it works for you, that's great. I saw a t-shirt once that said something to the effect of "some people believe many gods, some people believe in no more than one god, atheists just take it a step further." I thought it was funny.
What you claim to believe does not make you a decent human being, it's how you put your belief into action that matters; case in point those morons at the Westborough Church. I don't know what they are reading, but I would dearly LOVE to see the part of any Bible that talks about God hating anyone. I often wonder at "religious leaders" who claim to have a direct line to God. That televangelist a few years ago who told his followers that "God would call him home" unless a specific amount of money were raised. I would have put THAT one to the test. Religion is Big Business for many people. There are so many "brands" it's hard to know which one to choose. Choose what speaks to your heart, it will be easier to "walk the walk" that way.
Saturday, July 20, 2013
Traffic
I always wonder, when caught in a traffic jam on an otherwise lazy Saturday afternoon, WHERE in the world all these people could be going ? I have NO clue why there were so many people on the I15 around Corona. The last time I was stuck in traffic like that in that area, everyone was slowing down to look at a roll of carpet on the shoulder. Not even nice carpet, just a junky roll of carpet. There WAS rain, so that explains why everyone stopped to look up. That reminds me of what is surely an urban legend about turkeys drowning in a rainstorm because they look up to see what's hitting them and are too stupid to look back down again. Lots of people hit the car in front of them as it slows down, freaked out by the wet stuff on the windshield.
Which brings me to those stupid SIGNS that Cal Trans puts up. What sadistic moron programs those? We saw one that as we were passing said that there were lanes closed on the 60 and to "expect delays" So we opted to continue on the 15 to the 210. There was a sign that said there was traffic jammed at Foothill on the 15. It said NOTHING WHATSOEVER about the ramp to the Westbound 210 being CLOSED. NOPE! We took a scenic tour of downtown Fontana. Sigh. and the "jam' on the 60- we saw another sign which told us that closure was for NEXT week. These must be the same people who send SHORT subway trains during rush hour.
Which brings me to those stupid SIGNS that Cal Trans puts up. What sadistic moron programs those? We saw one that as we were passing said that there were lanes closed on the 60 and to "expect delays" So we opted to continue on the 15 to the 210. There was a sign that said there was traffic jammed at Foothill on the 15. It said NOTHING WHATSOEVER about the ramp to the Westbound 210 being CLOSED. NOPE! We took a scenic tour of downtown Fontana. Sigh. and the "jam' on the 60- we saw another sign which told us that closure was for NEXT week. These must be the same people who send SHORT subway trains during rush hour.
Saturday, July 13, 2013
Road trip food: the good, the Meh and the RUN LIKE HELL
We are back from a few weeks of being on and off the road. I know you are just dying to hear about MY favorite topic- FOOD. So here is a rundown of the food that was part of our trip to Oregon and later to Las Vegas ( two trips in a short period of time)
The good
Aside from Taqueria Eduardo, which is a MUST DO in Hayward ( at least for Chris who makes a sacred pilgrimage to have his favorite burrito whenever we go there), we ate at some good places. The BIG standout was Georgie's in Newport Oregon. In a hotel, right on the beach the restaurant overlooks the beach and in the distance a lighthouse can bee seen. Chris' Uncle suggested the clam chowder; not once but MULTIPLE times. We had to and we were GLAD we did. Yummy, with big pieces of clam, not too clammy tasting and not salty as New England Chowder can be.
We went to several casinos on the way, some had decent food, some, well....
The Mill had a nice, if small, salad bar LOADED with shrimp of different sizes and the waitress brought me some of the New England Clam chowder, which was very good. I am not a big Fan of Manhattan style chowder. There was a lot of seafood on this trip. I love seafood, Chris could live without it!
Seven Feathers Casino had a nice "coffee shop type" restaurant Good breakfast, decent dinner GREAT hot fudge sundaes ( well I didn't have one, but they LOOKED good!)
Twin Palm Casino had a lovely breakfast, the steel cut oatmeal was wonderful!
We went to the Bellagio, post wedding. The food there was up to it's usual standard of excellence, but the breakfast I had consumed and the heat made me not want to eat anything.
The meh....
We went to Lumberjack's Restaurant in Willits, The food was good; a nice if small salad bar and the "senior menu" was plenty ( which they let me have despite the menu INSISTING that you be 55 and I was a few days shy of that magic mark at this point) They give you a half a "loaf" of tasty bread. They said the cobbler was homemade and I love berry cobbler, so I got it. Now, as I have stated before, I DON'T like my dessert nuked, so I asked the waitress not to. She complied but when I took a bite of the thing, it tasted BAD, it had a moldy taste to it. I wondered if it were just the crust, so I took a bite of the berry mixture bellow it. It was extremely nasty ( to borrow a phrase from Monty Python) Both Anna and Chris tasted it and agreed with me. I called the waitress over and told her. To their credit, they pulled the remaining cobblers in the case. The food was good and the service was good, so go there but beware the cobbler.
When we got back "home" we went to "Val's" which is a classic hamburger joint. The food was NOT so good and they served the "Hot fudge" sundae in a regular drinking glass The "hot fudge" was Hershey's syrup. I have been to Val's for breakfast and frankly was disappointed in the lunch we got. I got a sacrificial ( read BURNED) grilled cheese. The burgers were pricy, as all you GOT was a burger, nothing else. Fries are extra. I won't go out of my way to go there.
We got a two for one buffet deal, which is a pretty good deal- two buffets, one price. This was the Luxor and the Excalibur. The Luxor was pretty good as far as buffet goes. The Excalibur...
The RUN LIKE HELL
The breakfast at Excalibur was terrible! I wanted a waffle. WHAT IS IT ABOUT MICROWAVES. They nuked the waffles. I wanted a nice CRISPY waffle. Not to be at the breakfast buffet. Something I ate ther did not agree with me and I had an 'Icky " stomach the rest of the day, which was NOT good.
Sherwood Valley Rancheria. The casino is small and so smoky I thought I must have taken up smoking . The "Diner" was a glorified lunch counter with food that looked worse than the warming table at the AM/PM. YIKES!
Three Rivers Casino, Florence Oregon. The meatloaf was super salty and the potatoes tasted like the box they surely came from. I have a rule against eating anything really salty, as it usually masks food that has spoiled. Chris and Anna both enjoyed their meal, so it's probably just the meatloaf you need to avoid.
I am copying the review I wrote on Yelp for the Cafe in the Paris. This is the one that looks out over the casino and we had gone there for lunch before and I remembered it as being good. I was tired of buffet food and wanted just a nice meal.
" I would give them NEGATIVE stars, were that possible. We stopped in for breakfast, as I was sick of buffet- style eggs and bacon and wanted a real meal for a change. I ordered quiche. It was microwaved into insensibility. The "Fried" potatoes had never seen the inside of a pan- again the microwave did the work. The WORST part was my husband's omelet, which I am sad to report was also prepared in the microwave. I complained to the waiter, who I presume was French as he had a French name and an accent, but you never know who is real and who is fake in Sin City, do you? I told him the cook should be ashamed of the food, wondering all the time if the WAITER shouldn't be a bit ashamed to place plates as awful as this on the table and wish unsuspecting diners "Bon Apetite" Yuck. Overpriced at almost $15 a plate. I want to issue a global warning about this. Stick with the buffet, you can see it before you pay for it."
Maybe I am getting picky in my old age. Life is too short to eat truly bad food.
The good
Aside from Taqueria Eduardo, which is a MUST DO in Hayward ( at least for Chris who makes a sacred pilgrimage to have his favorite burrito whenever we go there), we ate at some good places. The BIG standout was Georgie's in Newport Oregon. In a hotel, right on the beach the restaurant overlooks the beach and in the distance a lighthouse can bee seen. Chris' Uncle suggested the clam chowder; not once but MULTIPLE times. We had to and we were GLAD we did. Yummy, with big pieces of clam, not too clammy tasting and not salty as New England Chowder can be.
We went to several casinos on the way, some had decent food, some, well....
The Mill had a nice, if small, salad bar LOADED with shrimp of different sizes and the waitress brought me some of the New England Clam chowder, which was very good. I am not a big Fan of Manhattan style chowder. There was a lot of seafood on this trip. I love seafood, Chris could live without it!
Seven Feathers Casino had a nice "coffee shop type" restaurant Good breakfast, decent dinner GREAT hot fudge sundaes ( well I didn't have one, but they LOOKED good!)
Twin Palm Casino had a lovely breakfast, the steel cut oatmeal was wonderful!
We went to the Bellagio, post wedding. The food there was up to it's usual standard of excellence, but the breakfast I had consumed and the heat made me not want to eat anything.
The meh....
We went to Lumberjack's Restaurant in Willits, The food was good; a nice if small salad bar and the "senior menu" was plenty ( which they let me have despite the menu INSISTING that you be 55 and I was a few days shy of that magic mark at this point) They give you a half a "loaf" of tasty bread. They said the cobbler was homemade and I love berry cobbler, so I got it. Now, as I have stated before, I DON'T like my dessert nuked, so I asked the waitress not to. She complied but when I took a bite of the thing, it tasted BAD, it had a moldy taste to it. I wondered if it were just the crust, so I took a bite of the berry mixture bellow it. It was extremely nasty ( to borrow a phrase from Monty Python) Both Anna and Chris tasted it and agreed with me. I called the waitress over and told her. To their credit, they pulled the remaining cobblers in the case. The food was good and the service was good, so go there but beware the cobbler.
When we got back "home" we went to "Val's" which is a classic hamburger joint. The food was NOT so good and they served the "Hot fudge" sundae in a regular drinking glass The "hot fudge" was Hershey's syrup. I have been to Val's for breakfast and frankly was disappointed in the lunch we got. I got a sacrificial ( read BURNED) grilled cheese. The burgers were pricy, as all you GOT was a burger, nothing else. Fries are extra. I won't go out of my way to go there.
We got a two for one buffet deal, which is a pretty good deal- two buffets, one price. This was the Luxor and the Excalibur. The Luxor was pretty good as far as buffet goes. The Excalibur...
The RUN LIKE HELL
The breakfast at Excalibur was terrible! I wanted a waffle. WHAT IS IT ABOUT MICROWAVES. They nuked the waffles. I wanted a nice CRISPY waffle. Not to be at the breakfast buffet. Something I ate ther did not agree with me and I had an 'Icky " stomach the rest of the day, which was NOT good.
Sherwood Valley Rancheria. The casino is small and so smoky I thought I must have taken up smoking . The "Diner" was a glorified lunch counter with food that looked worse than the warming table at the AM/PM. YIKES!
Three Rivers Casino, Florence Oregon. The meatloaf was super salty and the potatoes tasted like the box they surely came from. I have a rule against eating anything really salty, as it usually masks food that has spoiled. Chris and Anna both enjoyed their meal, so it's probably just the meatloaf you need to avoid.
I am copying the review I wrote on Yelp for the Cafe in the Paris. This is the one that looks out over the casino and we had gone there for lunch before and I remembered it as being good. I was tired of buffet food and wanted just a nice meal.
" I would give them NEGATIVE stars, were that possible. We stopped in for breakfast, as I was sick of buffet- style eggs and bacon and wanted a real meal for a change. I ordered quiche. It was microwaved into insensibility. The "Fried" potatoes had never seen the inside of a pan- again the microwave did the work. The WORST part was my husband's omelet, which I am sad to report was also prepared in the microwave. I complained to the waiter, who I presume was French as he had a French name and an accent, but you never know who is real and who is fake in Sin City, do you? I told him the cook should be ashamed of the food, wondering all the time if the WAITER shouldn't be a bit ashamed to place plates as awful as this on the table and wish unsuspecting diners "Bon Apetite" Yuck. Overpriced at almost $15 a plate. I want to issue a global warning about this. Stick with the buffet, you can see it before you pay for it."
Maybe I am getting picky in my old age. Life is too short to eat truly bad food.
Friday, July 12, 2013
Friday meanderings of my mind
Spent last night "helping" Skylight Books move thier Art and Architecutue Annex to their new space. I like to think I am uniquely qualified for this, as I have move probably more libraries than anyone in the countrry It's always a fun process, but my broken toe, really hindered me doing too much physical work. I did get into an interesting discussion with someone about the mixed feelings one has upon moving. He said he didn't understand feeling a bit angry about the process. Moving can be a bit like a death, I suppose and if you are not ready for the feelings of nostalgia, you can go through the stages of grief. In this case, this person was thinking of a co-worker who helped get the original space organized. The co-worker had passed on and I think the move brought up unresolved sorrow at the loss. Moving can be cathartic, burt sometimes you do through a range of unexpected emotions. Weird but true. I like to talk to people while moving, about the joy of getting into a new place. It helps to move on.
So, dinner at our house; a fundraiser for McGroarty Arts Center. I think we have six people for the event, and three who will get dinner later. What REALLY bums me out is all the people I sent invites to who didn't even bother to respond with a "thanks but no thanks" or.. anything. One person I see quite often didn't answer me at all and I am kind of , well, wounded by that. I know I shouldn't take it personally, that people don't always read their email and that this is not about me and that I need to focus on the good and on what to serve for dinner! Lasagna, my signature dish, and...... We will see. I need to talk to the people who are coming to see what people like. I never serve a meal without checking likes and dislikes of the guests. Since I am allergic to nuts, I ask about food allergies too or special dietary needs and tailor the menu accordingly. It's a challenge to my "skill" as a cook and a host. I am looking forward to an evening of food and conversation. It's always lively around out table.
So, dinner at our house; a fundraiser for McGroarty Arts Center. I think we have six people for the event, and three who will get dinner later. What REALLY bums me out is all the people I sent invites to who didn't even bother to respond with a "thanks but no thanks" or.. anything. One person I see quite often didn't answer me at all and I am kind of , well, wounded by that. I know I shouldn't take it personally, that people don't always read their email and that this is not about me and that I need to focus on the good and on what to serve for dinner! Lasagna, my signature dish, and...... We will see. I need to talk to the people who are coming to see what people like. I never serve a meal without checking likes and dislikes of the guests. Since I am allergic to nuts, I ask about food allergies too or special dietary needs and tailor the menu accordingly. It's a challenge to my "skill" as a cook and a host. I am looking forward to an evening of food and conversation. It's always lively around out table.
Monday, July 8, 2013
Why is it Monday already?
Where do weekends go? Is time really relative and does it really speed up the older we get, or does it just feel like it?
I spent a good deal of my Saturday ( note I do not say "the better part of Saturday" because it kind of sucked) at Kaiser, waiting with about 60 other people in the cramped Urgent Care waiting room. The diagnoses? A "slightly broken" toe. Huh? The doc must have been tired. "Slightly broken" is like being a little bit pregnant. Either it is or it isn't. In this case, it is. It is currently being close "buddies with the baby toe and will be for about two weeks. I have about four weeks until it heals and I am SUPPOSED to try to stay off it for a while, which is why..
On Saturday afternoon, I spent most of the day in the kitchen making a long promised dinner for friends. I had promised Shawn chili and he sounded so enthusiastic about it I just couldn't let him down. I made Chili, corn bread, honey butter and a salad, along with chicken strips ( home made and fun to do on my pizza stone of all things!) Dessert was chocolate mousse. We enjoy having friends in our home and the night made up for the crummy day I had been having.
Sunday, I sat around with my foot up and watched TV. I seldom watch that much TV. I was really annoyed by some of the commercials. What is it about commercials these days. They try to shock or titillate, I suppose. I remember when they just tried to SELL you something. On my list of pet peeves:
The Beyonce Pepsi commercial. Could she BE more annoying? Does anyone notice when she takes a BIG slug of Product, there is NONE on her mouth. uh-huh. Her lipstick doesn't come off on the can. Right. And WHY do the mirrors break when she dances? I thought they only broke if something were BAD, apparently she is so bad-ass she shatters glass.
The Bertoli "Date night" commercials. There are two versions, one with the man cooking one with the woman cooking. They are a "married couple" having a "Date" it's supposed to reconnect and rejuvenate their relationship, right? Isn't that the whole theory behind having a "date" with your mate? So WHY WHY WHY do they just TEXT each other? They are sitting two feet apart. They TEXT each other????? I can see the problem here.
Time to get my Monday game face on. Hopefully the day will go smoothly and we won't have too many problems. It's gonna be a hot week. Welcome Summer!
I spent a good deal of my Saturday ( note I do not say "the better part of Saturday" because it kind of sucked) at Kaiser, waiting with about 60 other people in the cramped Urgent Care waiting room. The diagnoses? A "slightly broken" toe. Huh? The doc must have been tired. "Slightly broken" is like being a little bit pregnant. Either it is or it isn't. In this case, it is. It is currently being close "buddies with the baby toe and will be for about two weeks. I have about four weeks until it heals and I am SUPPOSED to try to stay off it for a while, which is why..
On Saturday afternoon, I spent most of the day in the kitchen making a long promised dinner for friends. I had promised Shawn chili and he sounded so enthusiastic about it I just couldn't let him down. I made Chili, corn bread, honey butter and a salad, along with chicken strips ( home made and fun to do on my pizza stone of all things!) Dessert was chocolate mousse. We enjoy having friends in our home and the night made up for the crummy day I had been having.
Sunday, I sat around with my foot up and watched TV. I seldom watch that much TV. I was really annoyed by some of the commercials. What is it about commercials these days. They try to shock or titillate, I suppose. I remember when they just tried to SELL you something. On my list of pet peeves:
The Beyonce Pepsi commercial. Could she BE more annoying? Does anyone notice when she takes a BIG slug of Product, there is NONE on her mouth. uh-huh. Her lipstick doesn't come off on the can. Right. And WHY do the mirrors break when she dances? I thought they only broke if something were BAD, apparently she is so bad-ass she shatters glass.
The Bertoli "Date night" commercials. There are two versions, one with the man cooking one with the woman cooking. They are a "married couple" having a "Date" it's supposed to reconnect and rejuvenate their relationship, right? Isn't that the whole theory behind having a "date" with your mate? So WHY WHY WHY do they just TEXT each other? They are sitting two feet apart. They TEXT each other????? I can see the problem here.
Time to get my Monday game face on. Hopefully the day will go smoothly and we won't have too many problems. It's gonna be a hot week. Welcome Summer!
Friday, July 5, 2013
Friday morning musings
I am sitting in my kitchen, trying to figure out how to get through today on 5 hours sleep. Coffee and five hour energy drinks, perhaps. We had a really good time at the fireworks event last evening. We were "support crew" for the show adviser ( read "go-fers") It was a lot of fun. The weather was perfect and I really enjoyed the vantage point. We were sitting directly under the display, close enough to see them lighting the charges. It was very cool. What I did NOT enjoy was what I did to my next-to-baby toe on my right foot. I appear to have broken it. It's purple all over and at a weird angle. It hurts. I ran it over with the massive gate WHO puts wheels so far out on a gate? I wasn't paying attention. It hurt like the dickens ( what does that mean anyway? It hurts like READING one of Charles Dicken's novels; he was paid by the word and it shows IMHO)
What do you CALL the next- to-baby toe, anyway? Certainly there must be a name for it? My education in toe etymology is sorely lacking.
I hope everyone had a good Fouth of July. I think about the men and women- YES WOMEN- who founded this country. We always hear about the Founding Fathers, but women had just as much, if not more, at stake in the fight for independence. We almost never hear about women and what they did, except for Abigail Adams ( whom I admire) and Martha Washington, sometimes you hear about Molly Pitcher, but that's about it. I suppose that the contributions of women were considered not to be "significant" perhaps they subscribed to the notion my grandmother had about "ladies names appearing in the Press. " "A woman's name should only appear three times; her birth, her marriage and her death." Yep. That's it. I prefer to think that "Well behaved women seldom make History" I wonder about the average woman during the Revolution. It could not have been a life of ease for any of them.
I am off to work, bruised and painful toe and all. Happy Friday!
What do you CALL the next- to-baby toe, anyway? Certainly there must be a name for it? My education in toe etymology is sorely lacking.
I hope everyone had a good Fouth of July. I think about the men and women- YES WOMEN- who founded this country. We always hear about the Founding Fathers, but women had just as much, if not more, at stake in the fight for independence. We almost never hear about women and what they did, except for Abigail Adams ( whom I admire) and Martha Washington, sometimes you hear about Molly Pitcher, but that's about it. I suppose that the contributions of women were considered not to be "significant" perhaps they subscribed to the notion my grandmother had about "ladies names appearing in the Press. " "A woman's name should only appear three times; her birth, her marriage and her death." Yep. That's it. I prefer to think that "Well behaved women seldom make History" I wonder about the average woman during the Revolution. It could not have been a life of ease for any of them.
I am off to work, bruised and painful toe and all. Happy Friday!
Wednesday, July 3, 2013
Decisions
I have been struggling with a choice I knew I needed to make. I have come to my decison , and as the song goes, "it's one of the painful kind" NO don't panic, Chris and I are still happily married ( whew) It's another break-up with a long term association.
For the past eight plus years, I have served on the Board of the McGroarty Arts Center. There is a system in place for Board Members to "Cycle off" after a certain time of service is complete and it's my time to either stay or go. For a variety of reasons, not the least of which was a terrible personal attack by one of the Board members, I have decided it is time to move on. I love what McGroarty stands for; Affordable Art education for everyone. I just no longer wish to be a part of the day to day operations of the Center. It's hard, because I have given a lot of my time and my heart to the changes that we made, but I think those changes are going to be overlooked and the direction changed to one that is a much more narrow focus than the one we had envisioned. I hope I am wrong, but at this point, I do not have the energy to devote to what I see as another battle.
I will fulfill my professional commitments, including the dinner party fundraiser. I sent out some initial invitations to folks I thought might like to join us but if you really want to come let me know! Come October, I will have more time to devote to my next adventure. Stay tuned....
For the past eight plus years, I have served on the Board of the McGroarty Arts Center. There is a system in place for Board Members to "Cycle off" after a certain time of service is complete and it's my time to either stay or go. For a variety of reasons, not the least of which was a terrible personal attack by one of the Board members, I have decided it is time to move on. I love what McGroarty stands for; Affordable Art education for everyone. I just no longer wish to be a part of the day to day operations of the Center. It's hard, because I have given a lot of my time and my heart to the changes that we made, but I think those changes are going to be overlooked and the direction changed to one that is a much more narrow focus than the one we had envisioned. I hope I am wrong, but at this point, I do not have the energy to devote to what I see as another battle.
I will fulfill my professional commitments, including the dinner party fundraiser. I sent out some initial invitations to folks I thought might like to join us but if you really want to come let me know! Come October, I will have more time to devote to my next adventure. Stay tuned....
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