I love Autumn. It really is, as I get older, my favorite time of year. Crisp clear days, chilly nights and warm meals simmering in the crockpot. I loved Summer as a kid, but now it's Autumn that I love best-- EXCEPT FOR THIS
Why is every food in the world being given a "pumpkin spice" twist? (Wasn't she one of the Spice Girls?) I swear! Yesterday I was at a local Mexican place and they were serving- you guessed it- pumpkin spice margaritas in a small pumpkin. NO I did not try it. I am boycotting all things pumpkin spice that are not MEANT to be pumpkin spice, so
No Pumpkin spice lattes
No Pumpkin spice beer
No Pumpkin spice margatitas
No Pumpkin spice body spray
No Pumkin spice soaps, handwash or body lotions
No Pumpkin Spice shampoo
I will eat pumpkin pie and pumpkin bread. I am actually looking forward to baking some very soon. I can't wait for this stupid marketing trend to be OVER!
Friday, October 31, 2014
Tuesday, October 28, 2014
Funerals
Funerals suck. I went to one this morning, and no matter HOW you try to spin it, call it a "Celebration of Life" or a "Home Going" it's STILL a funeral to me and it still sucks.
Funerals are for the living and I found myself today at one that was more like a Revival Meeting than a service. NOT that there is anything WRONG with revival meetings or that type of service, it's just that I was found that it did not provide me the type of release and comfort of a "traditional" service. I guess I missed the comfort of the ritual. I guess I have been to more Catholic mass funerals than anything else. I missed the ritual of turning to your neighbor and saying "Peace be with you". I lean on my Irish roots during times of grief. At Irish funerals, you are encouraged to cry. I have been told that "tears shed here speed a soul's progress to heaven." Crying relieves something deep inside and in our society it is not acceptable to grieve publicly. In Ireland, apparently, they hire "professional mourners" who cry at funerals. When my Brother-in-laws grandmother died, my sister told me I had to go, because "someone needs to cry for her" Well I went and cried and the rest of the family joined in. Seeing one person crying give you "permission" to cry, I suppose. If my family were still in Ireland, I would probably be one of those.
Is it wrong of me to say that at some point in today's service, I was critiquing the music? I know the singers were friends of my friend and her family, but the music actually hurt. I think they sound system was WAY too loud and the singers who were belting out gospel music and holding EVERY note ; not just select notes, but drawing out each word until they lost breath. I know it was in tribute and maybe I just didn't have an appreciation of the songs, but I just wanted it all to be over.
There were lots of prayers and Bible readings. One woman read an expanded version of the 23rd Psalm, which made me long for the simplicity of King David's original text as we know it . Admittedly, I don't really KNOW that what we know IS the original, but this harkens back to my longing for ritual. When it is read at Baptist funerals, for instance, the whole congregation joins in with the recitation. It is a unifying moment. I longed for "Amazing Grace" to be sung.
The very large room was filled with friends and family, a testament to the person we have all lost. I HATE the "filing past the open casket" part of any service. I wish I had been able to get out of line and slip out a back door. I hope the family did not think me being disrespectful when I did not look at her, but i DO NOT want my last memory of my friend- heck of ANYONE- to be of them in their coffin. She was a warm vibrant ALIVE woman and I will cherish her in my memory that way.
Funerals are for the living and I found myself today at one that was more like a Revival Meeting than a service. NOT that there is anything WRONG with revival meetings or that type of service, it's just that I was found that it did not provide me the type of release and comfort of a "traditional" service. I guess I missed the comfort of the ritual. I guess I have been to more Catholic mass funerals than anything else. I missed the ritual of turning to your neighbor and saying "Peace be with you". I lean on my Irish roots during times of grief. At Irish funerals, you are encouraged to cry. I have been told that "tears shed here speed a soul's progress to heaven." Crying relieves something deep inside and in our society it is not acceptable to grieve publicly. In Ireland, apparently, they hire "professional mourners" who cry at funerals. When my Brother-in-laws grandmother died, my sister told me I had to go, because "someone needs to cry for her" Well I went and cried and the rest of the family joined in. Seeing one person crying give you "permission" to cry, I suppose. If my family were still in Ireland, I would probably be one of those.
Is it wrong of me to say that at some point in today's service, I was critiquing the music? I know the singers were friends of my friend and her family, but the music actually hurt. I think they sound system was WAY too loud and the singers who were belting out gospel music and holding EVERY note ; not just select notes, but drawing out each word until they lost breath. I know it was in tribute and maybe I just didn't have an appreciation of the songs, but I just wanted it all to be over.
There were lots of prayers and Bible readings. One woman read an expanded version of the 23rd Psalm, which made me long for the simplicity of King David's original text as we know it . Admittedly, I don't really KNOW that what we know IS the original, but this harkens back to my longing for ritual. When it is read at Baptist funerals, for instance, the whole congregation joins in with the recitation. It is a unifying moment. I longed for "Amazing Grace" to be sung.
The very large room was filled with friends and family, a testament to the person we have all lost. I HATE the "filing past the open casket" part of any service. I wish I had been able to get out of line and slip out a back door. I hope the family did not think me being disrespectful when I did not look at her, but i DO NOT want my last memory of my friend- heck of ANYONE- to be of them in their coffin. She was a warm vibrant ALIVE woman and I will cherish her in my memory that way.
Monday, October 27, 2014
28 years?
Yesterday marked 28 years of working in my current job. That's TWENTY-EIGHT. add that to the ten I have in other City jobs and you get THIRTY EIGHT. Yikes. Where did the time go?
When I started THIS job, I was a 28 years old. Kate was a wish at this point, although I got pregnant with her about a week after I started this job. I was only going to stay there 5 years, fill some gaps in my resumè and move on to bigger and better things. But I stayed and I am thinking today about why.
I guess first and foremost, I like what I do. If I had designed a job that hit all my personal desire marks, I don't think I could have done a better job of it. My job allows me to help a whole LOT of people in the City, all at once. I help keep the doors open.
The job is a constant challenge. My ex called me a "paper-pusher" but that's not really it. I am a trouble-shooter, or a troublemaker if you want to view me that way. I work with some amazing people in other City departments who make me look good. I am lucky to have built such a network where I can talk to someone and get a resolution. I like to think of myself as a problem solver. Sometimes I think I am "Mom" to 72 branch libraries. I never know what I am going to hear when I pick up the phone.
I have made some incredible friends here. I cannot stress how much their friendship , support and love (yes love!) have strengthened me. I only hope that someday, somehow I can repay it all.
I have had some wonderful "adventures" in this job. The earthquakes and the Bond issues and all the branch moves have given me wonderful opportunities. I worked for a few great bosses (and one SHINING example of how NOT to be a boss). I was made to feel part of something bigger than "just a job"; libraries are a mission. My opinion was considered and often valued and I felt free to be creative in my approach to situations we had not encountered before. I am either blessed or cursed, depending on how you look at it, with a large amount of common sense. I can be a bull in a china shop about it, especially if something needs to be done quickly. I have learned more about diplomacy on this job than I ever thought possible. I have heard "diplomacy" defined as "telling someone to go to Hell in such a manner that they actually look forward to the trip." Someone from General Services called me a "pit-bull" Darn skippy! I am cute and loveable, but don't mess with my peeps!
I hope to be able to pass on my " institutional knowledge" to someone before I leave. The person who had this job before me left me three names and phone numbers. I had to hunt to get HIS, as he was still a City employee and I needed some information. One of my supervisors remarked that I had really tailored this job to who I am, and I suppose she was right. If we define ourselves by our jobs, it's going to take a while for me to disengage. It looks like I will be here another six years, unless I win the lotto or something, then ALL BETS ARE OFF!
When I started THIS job, I was a 28 years old. Kate was a wish at this point, although I got pregnant with her about a week after I started this job. I was only going to stay there 5 years, fill some gaps in my resumè and move on to bigger and better things. But I stayed and I am thinking today about why.
I guess first and foremost, I like what I do. If I had designed a job that hit all my personal desire marks, I don't think I could have done a better job of it. My job allows me to help a whole LOT of people in the City, all at once. I help keep the doors open.
The job is a constant challenge. My ex called me a "paper-pusher" but that's not really it. I am a trouble-shooter, or a troublemaker if you want to view me that way. I work with some amazing people in other City departments who make me look good. I am lucky to have built such a network where I can talk to someone and get a resolution. I like to think of myself as a problem solver. Sometimes I think I am "Mom" to 72 branch libraries. I never know what I am going to hear when I pick up the phone.
I have made some incredible friends here. I cannot stress how much their friendship , support and love (yes love!) have strengthened me. I only hope that someday, somehow I can repay it all.
I have had some wonderful "adventures" in this job. The earthquakes and the Bond issues and all the branch moves have given me wonderful opportunities. I worked for a few great bosses (and one SHINING example of how NOT to be a boss). I was made to feel part of something bigger than "just a job"; libraries are a mission. My opinion was considered and often valued and I felt free to be creative in my approach to situations we had not encountered before. I am either blessed or cursed, depending on how you look at it, with a large amount of common sense. I can be a bull in a china shop about it, especially if something needs to be done quickly. I have learned more about diplomacy on this job than I ever thought possible. I have heard "diplomacy" defined as "telling someone to go to Hell in such a manner that they actually look forward to the trip." Someone from General Services called me a "pit-bull" Darn skippy! I am cute and loveable, but don't mess with my peeps!
I hope to be able to pass on my " institutional knowledge" to someone before I leave. The person who had this job before me left me three names and phone numbers. I had to hunt to get HIS, as he was still a City employee and I needed some information. One of my supervisors remarked that I had really tailored this job to who I am, and I suppose she was right. If we define ourselves by our jobs, it's going to take a while for me to disengage. It looks like I will be here another six years, unless I win the lotto or something, then ALL BETS ARE OFF!
Sunday, October 26, 2014
Rant
I'll probably upset a few people by posting this, if they read it, but I doubt they will.
I am on the Board of my local Arts Center. Our stated mission is "Affordable Arts Education for everyone" We subsist on the fees we change for classes ( which don't actually cover the true COST of the class) and grants. The grants had helped to offset the operating costs to keep the doors open. Well, the grants dried up. We can't raise class fees and we can't seem to get the community involved in helping the Center. Please know that everyone I talk to gushes about how important the Center is to the community and what a treasure it is and blah, blah blah. Very few of them actually reach into their wallet and hand over a donation. Recently the local "new" newspaper in town printed a half baked hatchet job on the condition of the Center. Never mind the FACTS, the reporter was fed lies and half truths about things and chose to take the word of a person who had an axe to grind. Yes, I believe I know who it is and I am disappointed in this person. The reporter did not ask the Board to respond and ran with it. The poor soul probably imagined himself to be both Woodward AND Bernstein of the S-T community. We are STILL dealing with the fallout and I am shocked to see how many vultures are circling to cheer the demise of the Center. Here's MY two cents:
The Board is all volunteer. We don't get paid a dime and most of us are ponying up a good chunk of money to keep the doors open.
When you come to an event, BUY something or donate a few bucks. We had an event this weekend that the people who came to seemed to enjoy. A few people enjoyed the free snacks ( he snacks are donated by me and another Board member as part of our commitment to the Center) and the music for a mere $5, and kept coming back to the bar to get water and more snacks, but didn't even toss a dollar in the tips jar. Seriously, EVERYTHING we do is a fund raiser. This last event was a terrible disappointment and we didn't make enough to warrant the time it took us to do the event.
Non-profit doesn't mean we don't have operational costs. We do. I have hit up all my friends and co-workers to help me to raise money for the Center. I appreciate everyone who has stepped up to help- most of whom DON'T even LIVE up here. They will not be taking classes here, their kids won't go here, but the magic of the Center is alive for those who visit there.
I just don't know what to do to make the COMMUNITY understand this. Like the Joni Mitchell song says "Don't it always seem to go, that you don't know what you've got till it's gone."
I am on the Board of my local Arts Center. Our stated mission is "Affordable Arts Education for everyone" We subsist on the fees we change for classes ( which don't actually cover the true COST of the class) and grants. The grants had helped to offset the operating costs to keep the doors open. Well, the grants dried up. We can't raise class fees and we can't seem to get the community involved in helping the Center. Please know that everyone I talk to gushes about how important the Center is to the community and what a treasure it is and blah, blah blah. Very few of them actually reach into their wallet and hand over a donation. Recently the local "new" newspaper in town printed a half baked hatchet job on the condition of the Center. Never mind the FACTS, the reporter was fed lies and half truths about things and chose to take the word of a person who had an axe to grind. Yes, I believe I know who it is and I am disappointed in this person. The reporter did not ask the Board to respond and ran with it. The poor soul probably imagined himself to be both Woodward AND Bernstein of the S-T community. We are STILL dealing with the fallout and I am shocked to see how many vultures are circling to cheer the demise of the Center. Here's MY two cents:
The Board is all volunteer. We don't get paid a dime and most of us are ponying up a good chunk of money to keep the doors open.
When you come to an event, BUY something or donate a few bucks. We had an event this weekend that the people who came to seemed to enjoy. A few people enjoyed the free snacks ( he snacks are donated by me and another Board member as part of our commitment to the Center) and the music for a mere $5, and kept coming back to the bar to get water and more snacks, but didn't even toss a dollar in the tips jar. Seriously, EVERYTHING we do is a fund raiser. This last event was a terrible disappointment and we didn't make enough to warrant the time it took us to do the event.
Non-profit doesn't mean we don't have operational costs. We do. I have hit up all my friends and co-workers to help me to raise money for the Center. I appreciate everyone who has stepped up to help- most of whom DON'T even LIVE up here. They will not be taking classes here, their kids won't go here, but the magic of the Center is alive for those who visit there.
I just don't know what to do to make the COMMUNITY understand this. Like the Joni Mitchell song says "Don't it always seem to go, that you don't know what you've got till it's gone."
Saturday, October 25, 2014
Thoughts behind the wheel
I drive twenty miles to work every day. It takes me about an hour, so I have plenty of time to reflect on my way to and from work, If you leave at the same time, you see some of the same cars and know what they are going to do along the way. I got to thinking about it and here's my list of things that happen and annoy me on my daily commute:
Car Voted Most Likely to Cut me Off: A Mercedes or a BMW. The likelihood ramps up exponentially if the person has a USC license plate or bumper sticker.
Car Voted Most likely to ignore My blinker and squeeze past me: Prius.
Driver voted most likely to be having a discussion with the CHP or another driver on the shoulder; Thirty-something male with beard, who drives at breakneck speed and acts like he bought the road along with the car. This is not one person, there seem to be an awful lot of thirty-something males who drive like this. I call them "Testosterone Jockeys"
Most annoying bumper sticker; The "baby on Board" STICKER. Really? I understand the original intent was to warn people of possible flying object from the car when the Yuppies in the 90's wanted to declare "oooh look ! I reproduced!" but A BUMPER STICKER? Does that mean your child
1. Is Always in the car?
2. Will Always be a baby?
or
3. It refers to the driver who is a spoiled, petulant child and drives accordingly?
I hate the "Baby on Board' thing.
I wonder if I should be surprised when the same car every day races ahead of the line of cars that are merging onto another freeway, as if they just noticed that they need to get over? You're NOT that special and you don't get to cut in front of everyone else, as if the traffic laws don't apply to you. I don't let them in. I'm can be a "B" like that.
How about my wave? If I signal to get over and someone lets me in, I give them a little "thank you" wave over my shoulder. I was taught it was polite. When I let someone in, I think "where's my wave?" Mostly it's people of my vintage who do the "thank you wave". The only "Wave" I seem to get from the current generation is the kind that tells me what their I.Q is, or as I like to refer to it the "I'm Number One" salute.
Generally, I prefer driving in traffic on the week days. It's like being in a dance where everyone knows the steps and everyone knows their part. Weekend traffic is a preview to Hell. It seems these people have never BEEN in traffic before and don't know the "rules' to make it an easier commute. On the weekends, you get a lot of people who have the "I'M DRIVING HERE' attitude. There are no manners, or much less adherence to protocol, exhibited by weekend "Sunday" drivers.
Car Voted Most Likely to Cut me Off: A Mercedes or a BMW. The likelihood ramps up exponentially if the person has a USC license plate or bumper sticker.
Car Voted Most likely to ignore My blinker and squeeze past me: Prius.
Driver voted most likely to be having a discussion with the CHP or another driver on the shoulder; Thirty-something male with beard, who drives at breakneck speed and acts like he bought the road along with the car. This is not one person, there seem to be an awful lot of thirty-something males who drive like this. I call them "Testosterone Jockeys"
Most annoying bumper sticker; The "baby on Board" STICKER. Really? I understand the original intent was to warn people of possible flying object from the car when the Yuppies in the 90's wanted to declare "oooh look ! I reproduced!" but A BUMPER STICKER? Does that mean your child
1. Is Always in the car?
2. Will Always be a baby?
or
3. It refers to the driver who is a spoiled, petulant child and drives accordingly?
I hate the "Baby on Board' thing.
I wonder if I should be surprised when the same car every day races ahead of the line of cars that are merging onto another freeway, as if they just noticed that they need to get over? You're NOT that special and you don't get to cut in front of everyone else, as if the traffic laws don't apply to you. I don't let them in. I'm can be a "B" like that.
How about my wave? If I signal to get over and someone lets me in, I give them a little "thank you" wave over my shoulder. I was taught it was polite. When I let someone in, I think "where's my wave?" Mostly it's people of my vintage who do the "thank you wave". The only "Wave" I seem to get from the current generation is the kind that tells me what their I.Q is, or as I like to refer to it the "I'm Number One" salute.
Generally, I prefer driving in traffic on the week days. It's like being in a dance where everyone knows the steps and everyone knows their part. Weekend traffic is a preview to Hell. It seems these people have never BEEN in traffic before and don't know the "rules' to make it an easier commute. On the weekends, you get a lot of people who have the "I'M DRIVING HERE' attitude. There are no manners, or much less adherence to protocol, exhibited by weekend "Sunday" drivers.
Thursday, October 23, 2014
Haunted Houses- and why I don't go
I see two girls are suing Universal Studios because one of their "actors" used inappropriate language toward them. humpf. Seriously, it's a FRIGHT Night, not Unicorns and rainbows night. HOWEVER. I had an unpleasant experience when my daughter and I went through a maze there once- it wasn't even Halloween.
We went to Universal for the day and decided to go through this maze thing that was related to the movie, "The Mummy". There was a small sign on it saying you could not touch the actors. That should have been enough warning to me, but I missed the subtle you-are-in-for-it inference.
It was pretty cool, with some trippy mazes, but one room was seriously disorienting and I had to help Kate out of the room. We emerged and while she was trying to get her bearings, we were accosted by an actor playing Imhotep. He menaced us and we screamed and tried to get around him. No dice. Kate was about twelve or thirteen at the time and still shaky form the effects of the spinning room. She started crying. I stepped in front of her and said "ok. You got us. Let us by." Nope. He continued to block our path. My daughter was bordering on hysterical. I got in HIS face and started yelling at him. I shoved Kate past him and shouted "GO" I whirled on him and started yelling that her should leave us alone. He continued in his antics. I was in FULL Mama Bear Mode. I believe he must have thought we were two teenagers, the mask covered his eyes quite a bit. and I was wearing jeans, a t-shirt and a baseball cap. I was also much more "petite" than I am now. BUT the yelling should have clued him in. I believe there is some kind of rule ( I know when the Library does them, there is) that if someone asks you to stop that you DO. Several other people asked me what happened and when I explained, agreed that was not cool. It IS a good thing I read the sign at the entrance, because I was THISCLOSE to going "All Pacas" on him. I was still spitting fire when we left the attraction. I marched over to guest relations and told them I wanted to file a complaint. The woman was surprised when I agreed to put it in writing. One of the things I suggested was that this person be given some type of retraining- even though I really wanted him busted back to "Sneeze-guard wiper". I did not ask for compensation, nor did I think this person should be fired for this. A week later, I got an apology and two free passes. The apology was enough for me. I did not go out and hire a high priced attorney to resolve the issue.
Even as a teenager, I did not enjoy the Haunted Houses that were all a rite of passage. It's not funny to me or pleasant to be frightened. I don't enjoy slasher films nor anything with creepy clowns. Clowns themselves give me the willys. Call me a chicken, but that's how it is. Halloween was never my favorite holiday, even if there WAS chocolate involved!
We went to Universal for the day and decided to go through this maze thing that was related to the movie, "The Mummy". There was a small sign on it saying you could not touch the actors. That should have been enough warning to me, but I missed the subtle you-are-in-for-it inference.
It was pretty cool, with some trippy mazes, but one room was seriously disorienting and I had to help Kate out of the room. We emerged and while she was trying to get her bearings, we were accosted by an actor playing Imhotep. He menaced us and we screamed and tried to get around him. No dice. Kate was about twelve or thirteen at the time and still shaky form the effects of the spinning room. She started crying. I stepped in front of her and said "ok. You got us. Let us by." Nope. He continued to block our path. My daughter was bordering on hysterical. I got in HIS face and started yelling at him. I shoved Kate past him and shouted "GO" I whirled on him and started yelling that her should leave us alone. He continued in his antics. I was in FULL Mama Bear Mode. I believe he must have thought we were two teenagers, the mask covered his eyes quite a bit. and I was wearing jeans, a t-shirt and a baseball cap. I was also much more "petite" than I am now. BUT the yelling should have clued him in. I believe there is some kind of rule ( I know when the Library does them, there is) that if someone asks you to stop that you DO. Several other people asked me what happened and when I explained, agreed that was not cool. It IS a good thing I read the sign at the entrance, because I was THISCLOSE to going "All Pacas" on him. I was still spitting fire when we left the attraction. I marched over to guest relations and told them I wanted to file a complaint. The woman was surprised when I agreed to put it in writing. One of the things I suggested was that this person be given some type of retraining- even though I really wanted him busted back to "Sneeze-guard wiper". I did not ask for compensation, nor did I think this person should be fired for this. A week later, I got an apology and two free passes. The apology was enough for me. I did not go out and hire a high priced attorney to resolve the issue.
Even as a teenager, I did not enjoy the Haunted Houses that were all a rite of passage. It's not funny to me or pleasant to be frightened. I don't enjoy slasher films nor anything with creepy clowns. Clowns themselves give me the willys. Call me a chicken, but that's how it is. Halloween was never my favorite holiday, even if there WAS chocolate involved!
Wednesday, October 22, 2014
Poetry
Do people actually READ poetry anymore? I don't see a huge market for it. I enjoy going to readings, more like recitations than readings, but I wonder why people still write poetry. I write for my own enjoyment or to get out a particular emotion, but I doubt anyone would actually PAY me for any of it.
I am listening to "the Receptionist" a book about a woman who worked at the New Yorker for over 20 years as a receptionist. I think she was more a frustrated writer and her anger comes through her words, as she talks about that time. I don't think she really liked anyone she came in contact with. Maybe she just didn't like herself. I probably won't listen to too much more of the book, as she is depressing me. She talks about writers I have never heard of and am looking into so maybe I am getting something out of it. She is not very nice about any of them. I did get a book of poems by John Berryman to see if I like them. Apparently there are a whole LOT of Pulitzer Prize winning poets I have never heard of. Maybe my education is lacking.
I hate being told whom to admire in the literary world. As an English major, white and female, I am supposed to ADORE Jane Austen. Nope. If I had to pick someone, I suppose it would be Willa Cather, whose American cadence speaks to me more than a Regency era Englishwoman. I need to re-read some Willa Cather. I love "My Antonia" but it has been years since I have read anything by her. I think I will start with "A Lost Lady" which I remember as being very good.
I will continue to try to find my "lost" poetry "skills" There are a few groups of poets up here in the Foothills that I think about joining, but don't feel like they would have me until I get back up to speed. Right now, I still have the training wheels on.
I am listening to "the Receptionist" a book about a woman who worked at the New Yorker for over 20 years as a receptionist. I think she was more a frustrated writer and her anger comes through her words, as she talks about that time. I don't think she really liked anyone she came in contact with. Maybe she just didn't like herself. I probably won't listen to too much more of the book, as she is depressing me. She talks about writers I have never heard of and am looking into so maybe I am getting something out of it. She is not very nice about any of them. I did get a book of poems by John Berryman to see if I like them. Apparently there are a whole LOT of Pulitzer Prize winning poets I have never heard of. Maybe my education is lacking.
I hate being told whom to admire in the literary world. As an English major, white and female, I am supposed to ADORE Jane Austen. Nope. If I had to pick someone, I suppose it would be Willa Cather, whose American cadence speaks to me more than a Regency era Englishwoman. I need to re-read some Willa Cather. I love "My Antonia" but it has been years since I have read anything by her. I think I will start with "A Lost Lady" which I remember as being very good.
I will continue to try to find my "lost" poetry "skills" There are a few groups of poets up here in the Foothills that I think about joining, but don't feel like they would have me until I get back up to speed. Right now, I still have the training wheels on.
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