Color my world (but just not that shade)

Never send a man out to get paint. His heart is in the right place, but his eye sees differently than yours.

We have a flesh colored bathroom. Our house, built in the late 50's has that horrible tile and tub, toilet, sink that was so popular back then. But I think if I had skin that color, people would insist I go to the doctor.

Needless to say, the new paint is not right. In fact it is down right ugly. I suggested, he went and bought the paint and ewwwwwww.

It is not his fault. I love him anyway. But this color has to go. So I will go and get new paint and hopefully it will look a little better. So much work has gone into this project that I am tempted to leave it. But it is so disgusting that it has to change or everyone will start going to the bathroom outside.

Beautiful

The weather has been beautiful here. But you can sense
winter coming. I have tried to spend some time out
doors, the afternoons being blue and gold, but
I know what is coming.

I do not like winter. The layering, the woolen things,
the covering every inch of exposed flesh. My flannel
pajamas are out of storage and fresh and clean. I have
put the flannel sheets back on the bed.

Winter is coming, but we are enjoying these
warm days as much as possible.

Here is hoping your weekend is clear and blue and gold.

Early. Much too early!

It is Saturday. One of the days you get to sleep in. And I wake up at 5:00 a.m.
and can't go back to sleep. It is cold and rainy outside and inside seems a very
nice place to be. I don't see anything exciting planned for the weekend. It seems
I will be cleaning for two days. I never seem to get caught up with laundry, no matter
how long, how many loads, etc. I believe it grows over night and unless you do
it all and have not one dirty item in the whole house, it breeds. Figure the odds
that I can get every single dirty thing clean in two days. I lose.

Kansas has been eating things off the counter tops in the middle of the night.
She doesn't want to come up stairs like she normally does when we go to bed.
Lurking on the couch, she waits until she thinks we are asleep (and we usually
are). The other night she ate a tray of muffins. Last night she scarfed
up a pan of cornbread. Well, she didn't eat it all, but has shaved it into
the Grand Canyon with her teeth. She must have been very careful as it is
a glass cake pan and she didn't drag it off on the floor. Reminder to one's
self: Make sure never to leave anything on the counter that is edible to
a dog.
Second note to self: Never leave pantry door open unless you want to wake
up to a kitchen floor covered in trash.
Sigh

Third note to self: Never ever again have a white linoleum floor in the
kitchen unless you like muddy dog prints.

Happy Halloween!

Ready or not......

It has snowed over the past couple of days. Temps are in the 30's at night and the old familiar sound of the furnace is being heard once more. Not long ago we had the air conditioner on because it was so hot.

I am not ready for this. The leaves have not changed colors yet and are falling still green. One day I have the fan on at my desk, and the next day my toes are cold.

I was not ready for this. I haven't cleaned the cabin (usually done in the early part of November), I hardly got to go fishing this summer, I want to see the colors of fall.
Instead, the ground has been white. Where did fall go? Or do we just not get one
this year?

I insist I have a couple more weekends up north. I insist that I get to smell the
dry leaf smell of fall. I insist that I am not ready for winter.

Someone had better listen.

Some good, some bad

The game last night was truly amazing! It was hard for me
to just sit and watch. Sort of like a scary movie that you
know something "thrilling" is going to happen so you can't sit
still. I am not a big "sports" person, and perhaps you would
call me a fair weather fan, but the Twins made the game
so exciting that I think even the worst of fans would have
been glued to the TV.

On the other hand, my boss just told me that her 50 year old
aunt had died last night. She died from an asthma attack.
In this day and age, asthma is manageable, but she was unemployed
and had no money for medication. This
is truly a tragedy. Especially when so many are out of
jobs with no medical insurance. This is what the fight is
for and I am sure her family doesn't care about the Democrats
or Republicans petty fighting. This should not have ever
happened. There should be safe guards for exactly this
type of situation.

So sad.

Sweeping out the spider webs

I can't believe I have not posted for months. It has been a crazy busy summer and
my mind has been pretty blank. But, its the season for reflection and the clearing out
of mundane things.

Its early, not yet 5 a.m. And pouring rain. The temp is 41 degrees outside and
I really do not want to go out into it. But, sometimes when we feel like stalling,
if we lean forward, we have to take that first step or fall down.

So, I am leaning forward, and off I go........

Vacation

yes, yes I know. No words spoken or written here for quite some time. I have had a busy busy summer and it hasn't included time for being indoors and writing blogs. However, we have just returned from a trip to the Boundary Waters (BWCAW) and I will be posting the trip with pictures.
I am a tad burnt, a tad tired, my right knee is stiff, but besides the numerous rainfalls, it was a splendid trip.

More to follow!

Its Franken!

Finally the courts have ruled in favor of Al Franken. This has been a long and tiring senate race.
Minnesota is just waiting for Gov Pawlenty to acknowledge what the courts have decided, and approve the selection.

That gives the Dems a 60.

Argh!!!!!!!!

So.

I lost a filling a bit ago. I visited my dentist and oops! A root canal in the future.
So, I am on some pain medication of some sort, I am drinking a gin ricky, and now
I feel no pain.

I do not know why I am falling apart this way. Old age must be creeping up on
me quickly.

Maybe I will be toothless and have to drink through a straw. That's ok.
Liquor is liquid. It doesn't have to be chewed.

Sunday - Father's Day

I have been secretly working on a little car kit for my husband. Maps, pencil/pad of paper/tire gauge/first aid kit/fire starter/etc. I am thankful for him, the best of fathers.

I took a break and went to Crooks and Liars. I check them every day for news, etc.

In Iran, a young girl dies while her father looks on. He tries to help.
It is useless and you can hear the anguish in his voice as he calls to her as she slips off.

A beautiful girl from Iran and her father.

And I will go upstairs and shed my tears before he comes home from shopping.

After all, it is Father's Day.

Hopefully this lady doesn't get hit. We are on a pretty busy road.
She sat there for about an hour, moved to peer through the window into the printing area, and then strutted off down the side walk. I didn't see her when I left work so hopefully she decided to go someplace quiet.

Wild Life

This morning when I came into work, there was a surprise waiting for me.
A wild turkey (female) is sitting on a rail right outside my window.
A fellow employee had come in earlier and scared it. It flew into the window,
and then flew away. It has returned and is grooming itself now.

I had to sneak out to get the paper, and it glowered at me but stayed still.

I am trying to caution people not to scare it so I can have it just a little
longer...............

Once upon a Time

Once upon a time there were two young lovers named Romeo and Julie. They had to secretly see each other because years ago their fathers, Big Jim and Billy Bob had loved the same woman and hated each other. This woman ran off to South America because she couldn't stand either one of them. Big Jim and Billy Bob got in bar fights, restaurant fights, hardware store fights, you name it, they fought.

Both fathers had a tendency to belittle their children, which made them rebel. Romeo had shaved his head, pierced his lips, ear lobes, and had spikes implanted under the skin of his scalp. Julie had tattoos over almost every inch of her arms, her hair was atomic red with undertones of black, her eye brows were pierced as well as her naval. These two had learned to love regardless of their fathers and they swore they would love unto death.

One day while they were kissing in the back of the old fish house that Romeo’s father owned (he never went fishing), Romeo’s father walked in on them and seeing Julie (she looked just like her own father) he went into a rage and threatened to shoot the both of them. He ran into the house, called Julie’s father, and then the fireworks escalated to such a degree that Romeo and Julie decided to run for it.

They leaped onto Romeo’s moped, Julie side saddle on the back, and took off across town. Unfortunately while concentrating on the road ahead, Romeo did not notice that Julie flipped off when the moped hit a bump. She fell into an open man hole and was seen no more.

Julie’s father called the police as Julie was only 14 at the time and Romeo was 34, - “jail bait”. Needless to say, Romeo was arrested not only for child abuse, but for suspicion in the case of Julie’s disappearance. He was tried, convicted and sentenced to 5 years in prison.

Some years later, we look in upon Romeo. He has married the matron prison guard and has 7 children and one more on the way.

And Julie? Well, her plan worked. She got rid of the dork, moved on to California, and became a high buck call girl.

fini

Sometimes life can be a tad difficult

No, I am not falling apart. No, I have no illnesses, wounds, broken limbs. But my heart hurts a bit. I don't like it. Sometimes I wish I did not feel so strongly, but then I tell myself at least I "feel" alive. Not excitingly alive. Just not completely dead of heart.

I adore my family and hate to see any of them go through emotional upheaval. Fears of the future, after school, with no real future to speak of. Loans that will have to be paid, years spent on studying something only to find there are no prospects at this time. Times are hard all over especially for young people graduating from college.

I feel badly when I know they are having relationship problems. I am not an expert, I just know that even though things feel terrible at the moment, it will pass. Time and distance do cure many wounds.

I am a mother, with all that comes with the job. I worry about my children, I wish I could help when they go through rough spots, but sometimes a kiss, an ear, or a shoulder are just not enough, and sometimes that is all I can offer.

There is a saying: "Someone should have told us when we became parents that for the rest of our lives our hearts would walk around outside our bodies". My heart is out there riding a bike from St. Paul to the University, riding a bike from Harding to home, and out driving, trying to come to terms with having to really be an adult.

I sometimes wish to keep them always near me. But they need wings and I must encourage them to go out into the world to find their own lives. It is one of the hardest things I have ever had to do. To just let go, let them go through hurt, joy, sadness, and all those things that we all go through. They will survive. I think I gave them that at least. And they will become who they are supposed to become.

And I will still be the mother, the wife, and when they need it, a friend.

Rushing

This is a quick post while I wait for my daughter to get me eggs for Phil's cake. I thought I had it all planned out but NO EGGS!

Yes,it is Phil's birthday today and I am making two cakes and potato salad.
Every year Chip and the boys (including Phil) go up to Leech Lake to fish on opening weekend. It usually is on Mother's Day weekend, but I am used to that.

They leave on Friday and come back late on Monday. In past years, I have sent along potato salad but last year I didn't. I was in the process of debating quiting a job that was so horrible, I would come home exhausted every day. I did quit, but like I said, there was no potato salad. Imagine my surprise when the boys called and asked me
where the potato salad had been. I have promised to make it until the end of times.
Its nice that they like it. It is my mother's old recipe....a little of this and a little of that and you mix until it has that perfect taste.

So here I wait. For the eggs. Maybe the cake will be done for dinner. Who knows?
Lucky me my guy is so laid back and will find humor in the situation.

His birthday is always a great day for me too.

Happy Mother's Day to all!!!!

Certain Bargains

Sometimes a bargain is not what you pay for.

My husband and I went to a Fleet Farm so that he could look at some fishing tackle that was on sale. Now, I don't normally shop at Fleet Farm, but while I was waiting for him
(he is so poky), I saw some clothing. Most of the women's clothing was not something I would like, but I did find a pair of black slacks for work. I have lost a bit of weight and I need new clothes so you can imagine my delight when the slacks were only 20 dollars!

I went to work this a.m. all happy with my deal, and an hour into the day, someone pointed out the slit on the right side where the stitching had come loose. It wasn't that way when I left the house. I had to whip stitch it sitting at my desk. I have no idea how long I was having this wardrobe malfunction, but it was embarrassing to say the least.

In future, I will check out a deal better than I did. And I will also admit that I don't plan on clothes shopping at a fleet farm any time soon.

Lovely

I spent the weekend at the cabin. Saturday came cool but sunny. I didn't want to get out from under the electric blanket, but there was work to do.
I cleaned. Rewashing all the dishware and pots and pants. I swept, scrubbed, dusted, and then decided to rearrange everything. More room in the open living area.

I miss that bed during the winter. It is only a full size, and Phil and I have to curl up a bit. Especially if Bufford the lab sneaks on during the night which he did because
of the chilly night. Thank heaven for the wood stove and the electric blanket!

When we first drove in, I caught a flash of white up on the hill and realized
it was the warning of a deer's tail. Disappeared in a flash.
As usual, we had locals (all cousins and family) dropping by to welcome us "home".
Its nice to know they are around and the keep an eye on things. Theft of summer
cabins is big time in our areas. My brother has been broken into twice since his place was built. If you are not in residence, there is really nothing you can do.
At least our place is insured and there really isn't anything expensive in it
to make off with. If we do bring something, we haul it back home once the weekend
is over.

I am trying to get some pictures here but can't find which file they are in.
When I do find them, I will post.

Reamus:

Good luck on your journey. Let us know how things are going, where you are, etc.

Take care!

Friday

Tonight when my husband gets home, we are going to go to the cabin up north. I have needed this solitude for quite some time now, and this is our first visit this year.
I will be cleaning everything, etc, but I will be THERE.

It is my "true north".

Have a great weekend all. Maybe I will send some pics next time.

Dear Mom, Papa and Tim:

When I got home I found a note from my daughter. The following steps were listed for me to
follow: (All emphasis is mine)


"I've prepared dinner for you guys. Follow the instructions carefully please.

Directions for Delicious Burritos:

1. Warm large tortilla in microwave for 20 seconds (tortillas are tagged with number 1)
2. Spoon meat and onions onto open tortilla (Meat/onions are tagged with number 2)
3. Cover meat in Old El Paso Enchilada Sauce (tagged with number 3)
4. Spoon french market beans onto meat (tagged number 4)
5. Cover with shredded cheese (tagged number 5 Mozzarella, tagged number 5.5 6 cheese Italian)
6. Apply Tabasco liberally (I skipped this step because I don't like Tabasco)
7. Wrap Tortilla tightly, microwave for 30-45 seconds. (the microwave was tagged with the number 7)
8. Enjoy!!

Love,

Teagan"


I am a lucky mom!!!!!

What can I say

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9lp0IWv8QZY

Yawn. In more ways than one.

`Twas brillig, and the slithy toves............

I know that as we age, we lose brain cells, and we don't get new ones either.
I seem to be in some odd hazy funk. And I get bored easily. My only recourse
to the boredom is to sleep. I think it must be spring.

We had a lovely easter dinner. (Made by Phil of course). It was nice having the kids and significant boy/girl friends along. After dinner, I caught up, Jessica wrote her paper on
"fighting words" and everyone else went to the park to play football. We all ended the evening
tired but contented.

The weather has been beautiful lately. Sunny skies (except today), and warmer temps. Temps in the 50's to Minnesotans means its time to put on the shorts, BBQ stuff, and suddenly erupt from homes across the state like those crazy mice in Australia. Sorry, it was on some show I saw and I don't remember what. Animal Planet? Animals gone wild? Sorry, no little bikinis.....as if people would be interested in that. But you never know.

My doctor told me that younger people are getting kidney stones at an alarming rate. He and others believe it has something to do with high fructose corn syrup. I didn't think I ever drank that, but it seems my lemonade (frozen concentrated) has huge amounts. Most fruit juices do unless they cost a lot. Cheap stuff that you can afford usually is worse for your health.

Well, time to get something on for dinner. But I would rather take a nap.

Happy Easter

I will be out for a bit and wanted to give the blog a good spring airing.
I will try to be back next week.

Breakfast

I was just listening to a blurb on NPR about Iceland. Seems people are going back to the old ways.
Everyone is eating oatmeal again, where before it was almost shunned.
In fact it is hard to keep it on the shelves as everyone is buying it. It is nutritional, hot, and stays with you awhile during the day.

We used to eat alot of oatmeal when I was young. It was cheap and could feed all eight of us kids.
I especially liked it with brown sugar, but my mother always made it with raisins too. ewwww
I hate cooked raisins. No raisin pies, no raisin cookies, no raisins in baked goods. Yet every
morning there would be my bowl, full of bloated cooked raisins. (They reminded me of those awful huge ticks that dogs get if you miss even one of the little buggers.)

I also loved Farina/Cream of wheat. With brown sugar of course. But my all time favorite was
cooked hot wild rice with cream and sugar. With a little dab of butter, there is nothing like it with it's nutty taste. Of course in those days, we went to the farm to get milk. And would let the cream rise to the top. mmmmmm. We also harvested the wild rice ourselves. At least my brothers did. I remember having to clean the unsavory bits out of the rice.

Now days, I am partial to cheerios, grape nuts and some of those kids cereals. I know. bad bad.
But at least I eat breakfast. And not to forget, the best of all of these is my husband's pancakes with real old time maple syrup. The stuff that is boiled over an open fire in a big kettle. You can taste the smoke and it is thick and very dark.

Poor people food at that time. Now it costs an arm and a leg to get the real stuff.

Anyway, it is nice to hear that others eat oatmeal like we do. I just hope they don't put raisins in it.

Owwwww!

Ok. so the evil tooth is gone. But it left something behind. Pain that no amount of recommended Tylenol has helped. I took the max I thought safe and I still want to crawl into bed and weep.

I am scolding myself for not saving even one of "those" little pills. And I can't drink either.
Dang! Next time, I am going to have them put me completely out instead of the Novocaine and the wracking around in my mouth. I would be asleep in la la land and not feel anything.

When?

As I sit at my desk, I can see snow driving by the windows. This snow fall has clumps of snow falling, or the flakes must be at least 1/2 - 1 inches in diameter.

The ground is white again, the roads covered and the grass invisible once more. This storm will
go on for a couple of days, with colder temps too.

ack! When will spring be here?

Love

I love this poem and here are the last lines:

I have you fast in my fortress,
And will not let you depart,
But put you down into the dungeon
In the round-tower of my heart.

And there will I keep you forever,
Yes, forever and a day,
Till the walls shall crumble to ruin,
And moulder in dust away!

The Children's Hour
by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow

Old

Some time ago I was talking to a cousin who is a nurse. (I am sure she gets lots of questions from people and I wonder if this is annoying) I had a discolored mark on my wrist and wanted to know what it was caused from. Her response? "Old". Yes, those horrible marks our mothers used to use Porcilana (sp?) on. Age spots!

Well I feel rather old of late. I went to my quilt retreat. It was lovely. But one of the meals they served had carrot sticks and as I chopped away, I realized my tooth was hurting. this is a tooth I had a root canal (ugh!) done on some years ago. Over the next several days my cheek started getting larger and larger, and I started taking those horded oxycodons that I had from my last hospital visits. Wednesday, I looked like a chipmunk with his whole horde of winter food stored in my left cheek. Yes, I went to the dentist and he informed me that one of the roots of the tooth had broken. How the heck does that happen?? So I have to have it pulled. There is no saving this evil tooth, it has to go.

So now, I exist on antibiotics, my left over oxycodons and I am allowed one Gin Ricky a day.
this is my penance for my St Patricks day joke, which in reflection, was not a good thing at all.
To those of you I insulted, I will have you know that I am atoning for it. And also know that I walk with a slight limp as I have a pretty awful case of scoliosus (also I have no idea how to spell this). I have degenerative disc disease up to the 1st lumbar so I do limp.

So, for those that don't know me well, my Paddy's day joke was a laugh at myself. But do know, even though I limp, I love you all.

St Patrick's Day

I am not Irish. At least I don't know if I am. But it is fun to get into the spirit and wear green, or drink green beer (ugh!). Every one at work was calling themselves "O" what ever their last names were. It was rather amusing.

Here is my old Irish saying, although I really don't know if it is new or old or even Irish:

May those that we love, love us.
And those that don't...
May God break their ankles
so we will know them by their limping.

Have a green day!

Early Evening

Sometimes, when the weather is nice, I wait out on the front steps for my husband to get home.
Today is such a day, and a lovely one to ride your bike. He rides his to work in good weather.

While I sat there, two different vehicles at two different times stopped at the 4 way stop on my street. Both times a man was yelling at the passenger (I think they were women) about paying bills, money problems, etc.

This is a blue collar neighborhood. And there have been home repos, as many as 90+ in this small community. It was so disquieting that I had to come back in the house. And no matter where you are, you can't get away from the fact that our world seems to be exploding.

It is a beautiful evening. And I am waiting for my husband to come home.

Spring at last??

Ahhhh! It is a beautiful Friday afternoon. Temps are in the high 30's and Sunday brings them into the 50's!
I feel the spring fever, really. I want to run barefoot through the yard, sit in the sun, heat up the
grill and get ready for summer.

I have been hearing all sorts of birds and was able to coax a male cardinal into the yard the other day. I try to repeat their specific bird calls and sometimes they are tricked into visiting.
I think the cardinal was so stunned when he realized I was not a competing male that he just sat in the tree for about 10 minutes in utter silence.

Spring! Hopefully March is out of its lion phase and into its more gentle lamb-like personality.

Birthdays

People at work bring birthday treats in when it is their own personal birthday. Tomorrow is mine,
but since I am not on the official list, I could slink by. But, I have enjoyed others birthdays so
I think I will make cupcakes.
Yes, tomorrow is my birthday, and I am now at the point that it could come and go without anyone being the wiser and I would be just as content as if a huge party had been thrown.

I know what I want. Two weeks from now there is a quilt retreat about 200 miles north of here.
I have gone many times in the past, but the last couple of times, well, it just didn't appeal to me.
You pack all of your things in your van (normally I bring two other people), drive north stopping at every quilt shop in the state on that route (my patience runs out within 10 minutes at each store and I have to wait for two very smart but dizzy women who have to look at everything).
So, in times past, I have gritted my teeth, sat in the van and waited them out.
It just got to be too much when the last time they wandered for over an hour on a Sunday early evening, and I was starting a new job the next day. I just figured I needed to give it a rest.

But, since I have not been at the last couple, I am getting phone calls left and right begging me to come. We saved you a spot, you can come on Fri vs Thursday, you only have to pay X numbers of dollars, (cheaper than regular fees), you can bunk with us. And now I am feeling a tad guilty as if my presence were somehow necessary for the good of the all.

However, I do need to get away. I need to be creative. I need to be able to take a nap if I want and to wear my pjs until 2 p.m. if I want. It is fun. Great people, lots of snacks, wonderful quilts, and beautiful fabrics.

Maybe I will ask for that weekend for my birthday. What do you think?

Super Hero?

Another blogger had this site on her blog, so I thought it would be fun to find out what sort of Super Hero I would be. Queen of the grocery shoppers.

New Day

Its not quite 5 a.m. Phil, up early, has stolen my shower spot.
It snowed yesterday. Wind blowing, flakes flying. I don't know how much we got,but it has turned the yard white. The backyard is full of dog prints but the front is smooth and beautiful.
As a kid raised in the country, on days like this after a new snow fall, it was like a person got to start all over. Everything pristine and new, fresh.
So, I will go to work, the first to step out into the snow and a new day.
Beginnings are not always easy, but in some cases necessary.

Take care out there.

Life in the time of depression

Two winter storms are on their way. I can deal with the snow and the cold, its the economical storm I worry about.

Cuts in pay across the board where I work. Thankfully I don't make that much money so my cut is small..
Some will have 10% or more in wage cuts.
People are worried. You see it in faces at the grocery store, gas station, bank, and at home.
My son's wages at the U of M have been cut. He may have to move back home. At least I know he will be able to eat.
My daughter's job hasn't called her to work in two weeks. She works part time as a waitress and there just isn't enough business to pay even part time wages.
I worry about my husband's job. I keep thinking of ways that I can help but I think the boss, who is pretty business savvy,has cut back just about every way he can.

Good people I work with, good people Phil works with, this economy is hitting home with a vengeance.

I have been trying to eke out dinners, making them last a tad longer by adding something. I have been baking from scratch and may start using my bread maker again.
I only hope that what ever I can offer will be of benefit to my husband, who is my world. I do not want him stressed more than he is.

I think I will start looking for a cobbler, etc to have on hand. In times past when my shoes got shoddy, I just bought a new pair. Now, I polish them and try to protect them as much as possible because they have to last longer than normal. I also have to start going to the library more often. I am sure Barnes and Noble love it when they see me as I am an avid reader, but for now, its back to the library.

I am sure we will make it through this. We are pretty tough and I grew up with next to nothing, my parent's depression frugality a fact of life. Hopefully those values will stand me in good stead in the days ahead. Perhaps we can come up with some creative ways to make ends meet.

It's a grey day. I have to remember to "keep my sunny side up". Sometimes a laugh or smile can make a difference and so I will try to do that as much as possible.

I wish you all better days ahead.

The importance of water

I have learned, the hard way, to make sure to drink a lot of water.
Three days in the hospital are not good ways to learn this.
Kidney stones are a good way to learn this, but terribly painful.

Skip the pain. Drink a lot of water.

Off to bed

Early Morning

Life is interesting. I go to work and answer phones, direct visitors, etc. Very verbal and face to face. When I get home, the last thing I want to do is talk to people.
I am a bit of an introvert, and I have a tendency to hibernate while home.
So, I read news, blogs, etc on the internet. I have become attached to certain blogs, and certain bloggers as if they were friends that come over on Friday nights for a beer and pizza. When they don't post on a regular basis, I worry that something is wrong.
If they seem down, I post comments on their sites, trying in my way to be supportive.
Silly I know. But I am loyal if nothing else. And I do enjoy the different writing styles and content.
I should go out and do things, meet people, communicate in real life. But, I am content in my little world. And if I garner pleasure from these things, what is the harm?
Its early, I am a bit foggy, and I really need to get ready for the day.
I wish a good day for all in my life, bloggers included. You know who you are.

Groundhogs Day

So the damned rodent saw it's shadow this morning. I say bring out the traps!
Why this large guinea pig has any say on whether we look for buds on the trees, or add another layer of polar fleece to our winter wardrobe, I will never know.

I just can't see why they don't put some bright spot light over its head to fool it a little. But, as they say, you can't mess with Mother Nature.

Well, Mr. Punxsutawney Phil, lets have a do over. If you see your shadow again, its the dog bowl for you!

I don't know if I can stand more of this weather. Saturday it was sunny, melting and beautiful. You could almost smell "spring" in the air, but perhaps it was the dog "gifts" in the back yard.

I think I will burn my wool socks when spring actually does come. An offering to the gods that be.

Changes

There were layoffs at work today. A couple of people in production and one Project Manager from upstairs. I am concerned as I am the newest person there. We all knew it was coming, what company doesn't know that at this time in the world, more people will become jobless. And that the economy is not going to help them get new jobs.

There are usually 4 shifts in the printing area. In good times, we run 7 days a week. But it is not good times and we are a large rather prestigious company with expenses. They have modified the schedules down to two sections.

One of the layoffs was a guy that has been working here for 20+ years. He lives in the same home his parents owned, he has never had children or even a dog. And part of the reason is that he has epilepsy that becomes more and more difficult to manage with medication. He is a slow, methodical sort of guy, but he has the sweetest smile you could see. I don't know what he is going to do without a job as to others he may seem a tad "slow".

Another is George. He works in the shipping area or where ever he is needed. Shipping is a pretty important part of our business. We print and then ship the product for our clients. George is probably close to 60 years of age. What is he going to do?

The last one I will mention is Heidi. She has been a project manager for this company for a year. She has two boys and is in a rather protected status trying to stay away from her abusive ex husband. There are no prospects in this industry as everyone is hurting. From the paper companies, the ad companies, the printing companies, all of them. Our sales force (working on commission only) is pounding the streets like crazy for leads. The layoffs put pressure on them as they feel it is their fault. So this is personal. It isn't joe blow in the back that we see once a year that is leaving. These are good people who have become friends over the past 4 months.

Now, we get to me. The newest person in the company, I only work part time, I do not get vacation or medical either. I have offered to cut back an hour each day if there is a schedule change. Small help, but I want to keep this job.

I know this all is disjointed and poorly written, but it has been a very sad day. It has hit home now, as it will for thousands of people. And I almost feel guilty for being one of the people that still has their job. And we all feel helpless at this point because the owner who is a wonderful man would not have done this without having great agony over the decisions.

Hopefully things will get better. Hopefully these people will come back. Hopefully I will still have a job come Monday.

Reamus

Because I am unable to post on that sight. I will post here.
It was an incredibly beautiful blog. I can almost smell the Mississippi mud.
This is an area of U.S. history that I did not know about and will have to do some research. The Civil War, though fought many years ago, is still a bit of a ghost to this country.

My home town is on the Mississippi. Another connection.

Thanks Reamus. If you ever publish a book on your travels, I want a signed copy!

Lost Boys

Next week brings an incredible change to our country. Yes, many will say we were duped with messages that promised hope and the ability for each of us to change our world. Hope to me is that small green growing thing inside each and everyone of us, a personal spring. If we water it, and treat it kindly, who knows what it will become.

One of my "lost boys" just turned 21 years of age. As his "other mother", I attended this birthday party as a celebration of what this young man has become. When he first came to me, he was troubled, and in trouble. Problems at home, beyond his control, had semi shattered his life. And he was lost.
We were fortunate to have some input into this young man's life. We fed him, gave him a bed, made him do his homework, but he himself was hopeful that things would get better. And they did. I am proud of this young man. I might have put food in his belly and scolded him a time or two, but the hope was his own.

Mark is in the National Guard, a good fit for a still growing young man. It saddened me when he went to Iraq. He has a very sensitive soul and I am still a bit worried about his experiences there. But he is in school now, and working full time. And taking care of himself.

Mark got news the other day that he was heading to DC as part of the inaugural security force. He was very excited to be part of such a historical celebration.
I told him to make sure he wore long underwear, and wool socks. And I told him he was a lucky little bastard. The interesting thing is he called us first. Before his own parents.

Ah Marky. Do us proud. Stand straight, be kind, and hopefully you will see our new president in the distance.
And have fun! You are now 21 with all the rights and privileges. And I have hope for you, as I do for all.

Here is to a better future for us all, and for Mark and my own children. They are just coming into the world and we need to make them a green growing future.

Baby its cold outside

Snow snow and more of the stuff. I have been home for almost 4 days, hardly leaving the shelter of the house for more than an hour or two. I am beginning to get cabin fever, but know that I will be going back to work tomorrow.

I wonder when our view of winter changes in our lives. As kids, we loved the stuff, staying out until all our fingers and toes were numb. We built igloos by heaping snow, and then alternating water and snow to build up the mass. I, being claustrophobic, didn't like actually getting in the things once we hollowed them out, but it was fun to build them.

Living on a lake most of my childhood and teens, we would clear off the ice and make a skating rink. We only had these old hockey skates, but we had a blast. Once again the only way we would come in was to be so numb we could hardly walk.

My brother used to trap muskrat in those days. One time he brought them in and left them on the basement woodpile to thaw. I used to hide down there, trying to find quiet and peace from a family of 8 children and two adults. Imagine my surprise when one of the muskrats thawed out and ran all over the wood pile. It was weeks before I could go back down there without listening for the scritch scratch noises.

I also went to a one room country school for the first 5 years of grade school. We used to walk quite a distance, rain or shine, warm or freezing, to get there. The cold never seemed to bother us, the way it does now.

So, I stay in the house as much as possible. If it wasn't for the fact that I HAVE to go out, I would stay put until spring, pasty white and rather like a gollum (sp?) sneaking about.

Here's to spring. May she come very soon.

New Years Day 2009

Stayed up last night until well after Midnight. Pip (husband Phil who has met all great expectations) and I got a little blotto, danced the evening away, and woke up after 10 a.m. We never wake up this late! I am always up by at least 5 a.m. and Pip a little after.

So we are dragging a bit today. I do not remember the last time I had a full bore hangover, and I don't want to remember this one either. It was fun though, and I would do it again without so much "dog".

I wish everyone a very happy New Year. And my hopes that it proves to be a much better one for all than 2008.

The Aitkin Fish House Parade

I grew up in a small town called Aitkin. I could go into the history of the place: The man named Aitkin that ran the Company fur trading post, the fact that the area was originally a huge glacier lake that over time created hundreds of smaller lakes which makes this area a haven for fishing, summer tourists, etc..

About 7 miles south of Aitkin in an area once called Hickory Hill, my great grandfather, supposedly using his civil war pay off, came out from Somerset Wisconsin and bought this land. My grandfather and two other brothers had farms here. In the winter they could stand out side and shout at each other, the clear air carrying the sound. In spring, one would shout the french version of "the sap is running" and everyone would scurry out into the woods to "pick" sap.

I remember having huge outdoor picnics at my grandfather's sugar bush, to celebrate the end of the maple syrup season. Each of us would have our own miniature canoe paddle to dip into the boiling kettle, and then lick it off once the sticky syrup would cool. There would always be several types of dill pickles to eat to cut the sweet once you got sick of it. Then you could start all over. This final batch would be boiled down to make maple sugar candy. We still do this although the method of boiling the sap down has become more commercial and not many have time to spend doing this. It definitely is time consuming and not something you can just do on weekends. My cousin sells his syrup in grocery stores. It is good, but I miss that smoky taste of the old open kettle boiled syrup. And to eat the stuff you buy at the grocery store is like eating soy meat to me.

So, what do you do in the beginning of winter here, when there is no snow on the ground to snowmobile (which I actually hate because I think it tears up the country side too much), and the lakes aren't frozen so you can't ice fish? You have a fish house parade.

The Aitkin Fish House Parade is the Friday after Thanksgiving. Everyone for miles around flocks to town for the festivities. ( those of us who are more like summer people come up for the day). There are Chili cook offs at the American Legion, music, specials at most of the stores, in short there is something for everyone to enjoy.
The winter fashionistas are on parade too, with their sorrel boots, fur bomber hats, thick gloves, and winter coveralls.

I will warn you that this is not Macy's Holiday Parade. This is just down home clean fun. Even when they threw out the Mardi Gras beads, no one flashed. Could be because it was pretty cold and this is a churchy sort of town. This parade has been televised all over the globe at one time or another. So in this part of the world, it is famous.

Here are some pictures:







Once the festivities have ended, we wander until 5 p.m. because the local bank is serving free stew at the Legion. While we wait, we visit our family plot at the cemetery. There are two here, one across from the other. One is Catholic, and the other is all the other Christian religions. Silly, but that is how they did things in those days. Our family originally had it's private cemetery, complete with day old infants. When a new priest came into town, he balked at having to travel all over the county for funerals, so insisted all existing graves were moved into town. Our section is old as you can see by the photos below.





I go sometimes in early in the morning when everyone else is asleep. My grandparents: Henri and Florida are buried here, as is my father and some cousins. I sneak a bottle of my husband's beer, I try to keep the plaques tidy and cleared, and then I split that beer between my father and grandfather. Crazy? Well it gives me some comfort and some connection to these two that have gone before me. I have a rich French Canadian history that was nurtured by my grandparents and I hope to pass some of that on to my children.

Back to the Legion for stew. I snuck an extra piece of cake. It was delicious.
The long drive home (2 hours) gives me time to reflect, morn a little, and laugh at the day.
I can not wait till spring comes so that I can return to my little cabin on the prairie