2001 ~ a day that December

Between the life that we expected and the way things have always been...

I am not sure what I expected.

And I am still trying to figure out what I have got going on in my brain, that causes me to create these situations I do. But it seems to be, that's the way it's always been. I just never noticed it early on. I mean, I am painting my house, 14 days before Christmas! What kind of insanity is that?! And, I swear, my house keeps getting bigger!

The reason I know I am stressed --oh, did I mention I was stressed just a tad? --- is that, I just cut my hair this morning. I am a (retired) hairdresser. And I cut my hair at times when it really doesn't need cutting, and I have realized, through the years, that this (power) works as some kind of therapy for me. My husband comes home,.. looks at the sink, says "you cut you hair again"... with the little knowing smile (fear)...

next, will be finding the milk in the pantry and the eggs in the cupboard with the mops and the beans or, forgetting to put the coffee carafe on the hot plate part of the coffee maker and wondering, 'just_what_is that brown line coming down the counter?' -- which I did yesterday. Very confusing site, that. It never reached the floor, just kept traveling along the counter towards me. Eerie. Like a Stephen King movie.

I didn't expect living la vida loca in the ebb and flow of my daily comings and goings. But, here I am. Painting my house a color that I am not crazy about 2 weeks before Christmas! Ha!

Last night I had a moment. I was painting away and made a star, accidently, on the wall. I got carried away with making things - I was using a roller - and felt peaceful at the moment and into what I was (or thought I was) creating there, and didn't realize that I was tilting the paint tray. Towards me. I was covered with globs of paint running down my left sleeve. I didn't want to yell out, didn't warm to alarm anyone -- it's only paint on my favorite knockaround old sweater -- so I laughed out loud.

In my house that always works to get attention because everyone is always saying, 'what is so funny?' Not that I laugh at my family all the time, but certain things strike me as funny, that maybe they don't think are so funny... So, when I began to laugh hysterically, I heard the cries of 'what is so funny?' (you have to say this with a tad bit of annoyance to appreciate it)...but someone came to help me.

Now. I was in a corner. Stuck. Behind a computer desk and another desk that had been pulled out about, oh say, 3 feet. There was no place to put the paint tray or roller down. (I said I was 'painting'; I never said I was a 'painter who might know what they are doing')

Well, once paint is on a roll, it doesn't stop, even when you straighten the tray. Does life get like that? We start a way of living and it just keeps rolling? And then by the time we are mature enough, or enlightened enough, to look at it...we are just *there* -- not 'getting our act together' anymore, but instead, 'this is our act' --in Scene XXXXXLMIV - enter assorted relatives at holiday crunch time... etc?

Oh well. In the hard light of an angry sun, no one 'mentions' what was said or done, I suppose, if we are just tender...tender to ourselves through the mess-ups we make, tender to the people who help us make the mess-ups and the ones who help us through the mess-ups, tender to the people who don't even know they are making us crazy enough to throw paint or cut our hair off, then I suppose we can say, All is Well.

I hear a paint brush calling. It will have to wait until I get back from the Chiropractor. (Actually, I think the paint brush said a bad word.)

That's all for now.

~~ Special Thanks to Jackson Browne for the Song Tender is the Night ---

Exercise your Brain

You need your brain. I think we all know that without further research.

However, did you know that there is research available on the fact that your brain needs your body to exercise to help it build and fire it's (very important) neurons correctly? And you say, well sure, that makes sense.

Well listen to what Arthur Kramer, a PHD professor of cognitive neuroscience at the University of Illinois says

~~"We examined brain structure before and after fitness training and we found increases of brain volume in a number of areas." ~~

and you might say, "and so?"

And so, if this is true, why has funding for physical activity been taken out of schools? Why is not the funding for physical education important, if it has to do with the good functioning level of our brains? Someone is being very dumb and not reading the research.

So here’s how it’s dealt out – fact is fact. Your brain needs your body to work out! -- Do anything -- move around quickly and fastly, roller blade, play volleyball, play softball, just move!

Parents, it all falls on you. If we can’t change the legislation of funding for our schools, then we have to get our kids out there to move. And homeschool parents, you are responsible for the same thing. Our kids have to move, also.

Move America!! Move away from the TV and video games!! You’re your brain that’s at stake here. And consequently, what affects one person in the world is going to somehow, someway, affect us all.

Getting your heart rate up can increase blood flow to the brain which is a good thing. This will help with an improvement in memory and overall brain function, so say the studies. The studies also say for this to happen, all you need is 30 minutes of something as little as walking 30 minutes a day.

No one is asking anyone to run a marathon. Just remember the old motto, Move it or Lose it – and now, guess what folks, that includes Your Brain!

An Onion Tart

...is not a sassy little girl who smells like feet. An Onion Tart is pretty and can be served to company. I surprised myself with this delightful thing!

I found the recipe in one of Madam B's Vegetarian Cook Books. She avoided this one, because really, young people just aren't favored to onions ~ but Mr. B loves onions. And the other night, while out at dinner, someone else commented how much they love onions, and Mr. B's sister loves onions, so I gave this a try.

And a big thumbs up! It's pretty and it's tasty and onions are good for you. Here's the recipe:

Ingredients for the filling~

2 TBS butter or olive oil
2 onions sliced thin
1/2 tsp fresh or dried thyme
1 egg
1/2 cup sour cream or yogurt
2 tsps poppy seeds
1/4 tsp mace or nutmeg
salt and pepper

Ingredients for the pastry~

1 cup flour
1 1/4 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp salt
3 TBS cold butter
4 TBS Milk

The tart is a perfect size for a pie plate. It serves 6. Here's what you do to make it.

(I did the filling part because Madam B just can't handle onions yet. Her eyes just won't take it! We've tried all the old wives tale remedies I know; I'm sure one day she'll just build a tolerance....Madam B did the pastry part, so, of course, it was pretty and perfect)
anyway...

Step One ~ Heat the butter or oil in a frying pan and add your thinly sliced onions and cook over a low heat about 10 to 12 minutes until soft and golden looking. Add the thyme and some salt and pepper to taste, set them aside and let them cool while you do the rest.

Preheat the oven to 425. Depending on how fast your oven heats will depend on when you turn your oven on!

Step Two -- Sift the flour, baking powder and salt in a bowl. Using a pastry blender (which we don't have yet, can you imagine!) or two knives, cut the butter into the ingredients until the mixture resembles crumbs. Then add the milk and stir lightly with a wooden spoon to make a dough.

Step Three -- Turn out the dough on a floured surface and knead lightly.

Step Four -- Pat the dough into an 8 inch round pan of some kind. (It calls for a deep one, but I think a pie plate will do.) Press the dough evenly and then pour the onion mixture on top.

Step Five -- Beat together the egg and the sour cream or yogurt. (I used the dough bowl so I didn't have to dirty another bowl). Spread that evenly over the onions. (Vegetarians like things 'even' apparently.)

Sprinkle with your poppy seeds and mace (I didn't use mace) or nutmeg. (I have no idea what mace is, never used it before, so good luck with that should you choose it.)

Bake the Tart for 30 - 35 minutes until the egg topping is puffed and golden.

Step Six -- Let the tart cool for about 10 minutes. Slip a knife between the tart and the pan/plate/thingie to loosen, then, unmold onto a plate and serve. (I am not so formal and served it up in the original plate I baked it in.)

But it was tasty!!

That Crazy Red Bird is a Male

In Another Post I mentioned a crazy little red bird that just can't seem to get enough of himself from our car side mirrors.

He continues on pecking and attacking the mirrors....
so I did a little research. It seems the Obsessive Peckers are Males.

It seems there are a few possibilities as to the why of which they are pecking. One is that their hormones are out of control. If that is the case, it was suggested we wait out the season, and basically stay out of the way.

Another is that they are attacking an enemy, and it seems they can't understand why their 'enemy' will not leave. But yet they think their 'enemy' is a very handsome fellow. (HaHaHa ... I just threw that in there.)

The other suggestion was that the mirror is showing him a place where he wants to be, and he just can't get there! So, whack, whack, whack, he'll attack 'till he ruins your mirror (and we are about there).

One article suggested that we move the vehicles, as the male birds are extremely territorial. We did that. We've had each car in a different place more than once. He found himself again in all three, and he does seem to prefer the right side mirror of each. Can't find a reason for that.

The next suggestion was one I have been using, which is to put a plastic bag on the mirror. This does solve the problem with the bird. However, it makes ones' neighbors think one is bit weird. Having a plastic bag on a side mirror just looks rather strange.

And my husband asked me if I had been driving with the bag on the mirror. (Heavens. And no comment.)

The crazy red bird is getting used to me. I went outside to speak with him the other day and was quite surprised at how close he allowed me to him! However, he was having none of what I was saying. He alighted in a tree and waited patiently for me to finish talking, glancing at me nervously now and then, and when I walked away, he went back to attacking my mirror..

I have come to surmise that birds in general have extremely low intelligence quotients. They are handsome, and they are territorial, and they don’t give up easily, but they are not too bright with things of the modern world. Which makes it more necessary for us to watch over them and have a plastic bag handy for bird safety..

So once again, man and nature, nature and man ... together ... working things out.

Crazy Little Red Bird Poem
~~Miss Roxie

A birdie

A bag

A reflection

Who would think

there ever a connection?

He thinks he wants to be_ there_

So it’s owner beware ....

Because _through_ is his only direction!

Somethin to think about

"I have learned, that if one advances confidently in the direction of his dreams, and endeavours to live the life he has imagined, he will meet with a success unexpected in common hours."
~~Henry David Thoreau


REAL and ACTUAL SIGNS:

A restroom dryer - Do Not Activate With Wet Hands

US Military Base - Area restricted to unauthorized personnel

Gym - Merry Fitness and A Happy New Rear

Laundry Shop - How about we refund your money, send you a new one at no charge, close the store and have the manager shot. Would that be satisfactory?


"When I look back on all these worries, I remember the old story of the old man who said on his deathbed that he had had a lot of trouble in his life, most of which had never happened." ~ Winston Churchill

I should post

I haven't been entering my post. I've been writing them and then just leaving them in the draft stage. I'm not sure why. But I remembered the real reason I have this blog, and that is to keep track of my life during these days.

So here are some bullet facts:

1. Painting. Not painting the roses red, but painting the house a light almond. Replacing the siding (- inserted advice: never again have a house with wood siding -) and this involved priming _both sides_ of the 4 x8 sheets of wood, and then painting. And one is painting on a wood that just really needs to soak up the paint. Okay, enough, I will remember what all was involved.

However, my body is about done with painting. I have reached high and low and painted while I was almost upside down...I think it looks good, but enough of this project. There is still trim to do, so we will see. Mr. B is busy up to his eyeballs as well. But I am physically tired.

2. There is a delicate situation going on in my family. I have been volunteered as the messenger. Actually, I volunteered myself, as it needed to be done, and I felt I could do it. So we will see what happens here. But I could say, lives are at stake.

But lives are at stake everyday when you think about it. Little children are becoming the adults they will be. They are soft and pliable, and then that fiber of their beings, their fluffy sweet little hearts, become strong stalks of whatever you helped make them into. Be a role model. Be a good role model. The world needs you to be as much as your own children need you to be a good role model.

3. Had a great conversation with one of my sister in laws about green smoothies! What a riot. I can't quite get people past the color! There is something about saying the word "green" and "smoothie" that brings up a caution sign in people! Spinach is okay ~ but ‘green smoothie?’ and they are cautious. But she's not against trying them, and I know her two little boys will try them because they think their mommy rules the world!

4. We have people coming to see our house today. Two different families. We've been passed over on some 'almosts' on two occasions (wonder if it's the wood siding! It's surely not the painting!! hahahahaha) -- so, Lord Willingly, maybe someone will make an offer as our little house in Hobe Sound is almost ready for occupancy.

5. American Idol. So much brew-ha-ha about this show. It's nothing but a talent show of old with worse commericals. Remember Ted Mack's Amateur Hour? The Idol is a hyped up version of that.

I have popped in on this show now and then; but it doesn't hold my interest to watch it every night. I don't care for watching the same people sing over and over after they choose the first round of 10 or so ... I think Simon Cowell is entertaining, but still, one doesn't have to watch it, as it will all be replayed over and over again on the telly and newspaper and the internet *just* in case you missed it!

I did watch the last 10 minutes when the final fellow won, I keep forgetting his name! I wanna say, Clay Hicks, but that's not right (It'll come to me) ...anyway, during his song, after he was crowned, he said something that brought nausea to my being -- he said, "come on and sing with me, I'm livin' the American Dream."

Truly, I just about threw up! I thought, "That's it?! That's the American Dream! Well, I guess I'm lost and confused, because seriously, world, I had no idea!"

But anyway, I heard one good pitch for the Idol show on NPR. They said that this was giving the older, talented artist of the past a chance to be heard and maybe revamp their careers. Again, I guess that's part of the American Dream.

Not that singing and music are great and wonderful and most necessary. I love music! But listening to Andre Bocelli just 10 minutes before you hear those Idol people sing, and you think,'what are they doing? ohhhh singing....sorry."

And if you love Idol, that's fine ~ I'm just not a great TV fan. I do sit myself in front of it now and then, but it doesn't hold really much. And when you think about how many hours of television time are available, we should be ashamed at how much junk is featured on that thing.

Note to self - you have to hang up now. You have people coming at 11....

Three cheers

As I was leaving a store today, there was a commotion in the foyer area. I looked to see a young mother, maybe 35, with her hands holding a large whining, complaining boy child in his chair by his shirt. She was disciplining this child for all the world to see.

The reason she was holding onto his shirt is that he was struggling to get away, and he wanted to run around and was out of control. He was doing all he could to get out of her grip. She was tall, but she was very thin. He was about 13, but he was very big. She had a good hold on his shirt.

I looked at her face, and I couldn't believe it. Her face was as calm as the ocean on a balmy night. She was saying, "I told you to stop fooling around, and you would not listen to me." He whined, "Let me go..." She continued, "I spoke to you and told you to stop fooling around and leave your brother alone and you chose to not listen to me. Did you listen to me?" He whined some more, and struggled to get out of the shirt. He could not.

I couldn't believe how big this child was. If he had chosen to take a swing at his mother, he would have knocked her through the wall. But he did not.

She prevailed. And he finally stopped.

People were staring. They were walking by, no one commented, but people were staring at her. She never looked away from her child. She had a purpose in mind. And that was to calm her child. I say, bravo stranger. Bravo.

Kudos to her. She was in public and she handled it.

This Monday in May

Not much happening. Just the regular school day for Madam B. She did come up with another recipe for Vegan Cookies. She wants to find a way to have her cookies Vegan style...They were pretty good! Kind of had a sweet bread texture. But they were really nice to look at, and would go great with tea or coffee. Whatever they are, they are original. I find that Cool Beans!

I admire her creativity gene. She is a progress maker. At first, every single thing had to be done buy the book - if it called for one lb - than _ONE_ L-B- it was, had to be. Then, I guess she got her confidence up and now she just reads a recipe and swerves all around it. One tiny little problem with that ~ she might cut the recipe for, instead of 24 cookies only 12, and then she will eat them all!! She calls it *testing the samples* .... We call it *having no cookies for us.*

Madam B is interested now in speaking Japanese. Having no real knowledge on the subject, we bought a book yesterday, and she found a site on line that is really cute as it has audio~ it even helps you count -- you should try it, it's fun --
Click on this link - then Click on Numbers 1-20 -- make sure your speakers are on. It's helping! And it's fun!

So, she's been great. We're both looking for a book to be in love with. I ordered 5 from the library, using the suggestions of friends. Madam B bought one at Barnes and Nobles and noticed on the introductory page was a quote from Pride and Prejudice. She hopes it's good.

Tomorrow I paint. I think I’ll just plan on being outside tomorrow. Madam B can bring her books outside. We did pick up that book on Jan Vermeer, so we started that one. That will be our second artist this year, and we choose Comedy of Errors for Shakespeare’s reading.

She finished Midsummer’s Nights Dream, mentioning many times of how it reminded her of Romeo and Juliet, and indeed I found in my book “Shakespeare After All”, and yes, it was Romeo and Juliet ‘turned inside out’ it says.

And I can enjoy my green smoothie outside ~ and speaking of that – I tried mine with mango and lime, and it’s wonderful! It was Mango, banana, spinach, green lettuce and the juice of half a lime….so good!

Mr. B hasn’t tried one yet, not even a taste. He has passed them in the kitchen and gave a little stare.

But I’m sure his day will come. Everything in it’s own time. He’s very pleased with stir-frys, and they are filled more and more with veggies and less and less with meat, and he seems okay with that. Tonight, though, with the stir-fry and chop suey, I made us a lovely piece of salmon. I’ll use the left over piece of salmon for his lunch tomorrow. So I can justify three meals with it!

I have stalled a bit in reading Persuasion, but I’ll get back to it. During my painting breaks, I’ll read. It’s become more of an assignment that a joy, but I am still hoping a great lesson or great thoughts will be stimulated from this fine work of Miss Austens.

Oh little up date for those who watch American Idol, one of my friends, who emails me, thinks that Taylor Hicks is going to win. And I asked her why, and she said that she lives where Katherine McPhee is from and the people are not really rallying around her very much, but that Taylor has the support of friends, family, and the townspeople; seems he got everyone excited about this, and excitement helps them. Seems they are waving his banner in Alabama, that’s for sure! So with that information in mind; it will be interesting to watch the results!

"Coming together is a beginning. Keeping together is progress. Working together is sucess:
~~Henry Ford

Little thoughts, Big Ways

Children require guidance and sympathy far more than instruction.
-- Anne Sullivan (Helen Keller's teacher)

You know, I can totally understand this. Especially with the teenagers. I'm not so sure it's easy to dissect who one is in such a world as this; one that is telling you how to be in the way you wear your clothes, and your hair, and not to mention the *weight* issue. I've never seen so much talk of plastic surgery in my life!! The *Standard* set for today is more unrealistic than the whole Betty Crocker thing..

I learned most, not from those who taught me but from those who talked with me. - St. Augustine

I am putting my savings in this bank of thought because I am thinking that this is most true. That's the way I homeschool ~~ talk, talk talk, talk, talk. And that's really the way I raised my kids, with a lot of talking and listening and letting them talk probably definitely more than I was allowed to talk. I came from an era of *seen and not heard*. I allowed my kids to be heard.

I never teach my pupils; I only attempt to provide the conditions in which they can learn. -- Albert Einstein

Here's another one of my homeschooling methods. I wish I had a million dollars is the name of a song, but if I had a million dollars, I would take my children to the Parthenon, not just look at it in a book; we would go look at the world God made on all four corners...visiting all the weather conditions, all the cultures, all the museums. I'm not sure when school would be out!

Reading the books we have, has inspired a desire in Madam B to see the world and take pictures of all cultures of people. She wants to check out for herself all the things she's read about in these books, and bring back what is true.

I found the above quotes on this site

Long Story short...

I have been bugged by these fluctuating bank charges on my monthly bank statement. Many times I've thought, "I need to call and find out why this is so high...” So I'd call and get put on hold; and have to hang up; and then call back another time and there would be more waiting.
So today ~ I decided to hold on for however long it took.

After about an hour and a half (I am not kidding), I find out that I have been charged a total of over $172 for 17 months of a service I had never signed up for!

Gees. I have been refunded $38.00 today for part of it, but for the other part, I had to go to the main bank I signed up with, which I did, and they have to send for a lot of records to verify what the girl I spoke with on the phone already verified. I suggested they just call her.

The semicolon

What a strange thing is the semicolon.
~~Miss Roxie

What purpose does it have?
It really does nothing special,
A period can handle it's task,
So, why do we have it, you might ask?

Don't know,
Guess it's pretty and different
then the regular marks out there,
It's a mark of non committment
When you have something
you are not sure you want to end
You place a semicolon there
and so the next sentence can begin ...

or if things seem long and complicated
a semicolon says, 'whoa, I'll take this."

I try to use it now and then,
I like it,
It's cute
and kind of fun.

From a professional view from The Editing Tip

The semicolon ;

The semicolon has ONLY two uses in English punctuation:

• It is an end-of-sentence mark. The mark it resembles most closely is the period. Use it between two full sentences which are highly relevant to each other in meaning.
• Example: "The lamb does not bleat in deliberate imitation of the sheep-community into which it is born; it bleats as its genetic blueprint lays down for it." (B. M. H. Strang, A History of English, Methuen & Co., 1970, p. 5). (The reason for the lamb's bleating makes these two sentences relevant to each other.)
• A semicolon may be used within a list if the items in the list have commas inside them.
• Example: For a successful birdwatching expedition in the tropics, you will need the following: binoculars with 8- or 10-power magnification; an up-to date field guide, tailored to the region; clothing that provides good protection from sun, rain and insects, but which allows air to flow through; and strong insect repellent.

A Wrong decision not a Happy Birthday

Here's the situation. Your 10 year old child has been invited to a birthday party. You got the little invitation in the mail.

So you give a little call up, 'hello, Jack's coming to the party, what are the plans?'

...answer, "oh nothing special, just some games and snacks and cake and maybe Shelby will pick out a movie. We'll call you when it's time to pick up or we could drop him off."

"Oh not a problem, we'll pick up."

~~~You pick him up.

That night he has a nightmare. He sleeps in your room. Ummm, you think, it's been a long time since he's been _this_ scared.

so as a qualified parent, you ask a few questions of your child. The party comes up. Seems little Shelby chose a movie alright...

". Little Shelby chose Nightmare on Elms Street.!! What!! Nightmare on Elms Street!! Are you kidding me? Weren't there other 10 year olds at that party?!"

Yes. It's seems that _The DAD_ himself volunteered to stay so that they could view the movie, and that way Shelby could get her wish.

And yes, It's rated *R*,
And no, no parents were told about it ...

So if there was an award for the most irresponsible parents right now...ggrrrrr.

Meantime, it's my nephew that's been having the nightmares. He had asked that he be taken to the doctor because he says he can't make them go away. They come when he doesn't have anything to do or think about.

My sister is taking him to the doctor tomorrow, it's been 5 days and she promised him if they didn't stop she'd take it, and I back her up on this.

But these parents....what were they thinking!!

No one has called them to advise them of the situation. I think they bear some responsibility or should at least let it be let known what their (Irresponsible and careless) decision has caused. But no one wants to call them.

Meanwhile, the children suffer because parents...I guess they just gotta be so cool.

Notes to self....

1. Go to the bank tomorrow (you idiot)

2. Good job on the painting of the siding! Don't forget to buy more paint.

3. Work on the plan for Mr. B to eat less meat. For some reason, Mr. B thinks that when Madam Blueberry and I suggest or make anything with the sound of vegetarian or vegan in it, he thinks some kind of voo-doo is involved. I can't figure out what it is, but he had a dinner tonight with no meat. And he didn't even notice. (Had a plate of veggies and dip awaiting him when he got home, and then made two small veggies pizzas for dinner. They were good! Onion, green pepper, mushroom, and tomato...)

4. Learn how to add links to my blog.

5. Go to the store. Plan to eat everything in 'fridge before next grocery trip has been executed. There is now, no real food in the house. I mean, there's salsa no chips, cereal no yogurt, etc...well, there is oatmeal and flaxseeds. And, things for maybe three smoothies ...and frozen spinach, two veggies burgers ... ummm

Spunk Notes by Miss Roxie

In order to encourage myself to reflect on what I read, I have created a separate blog -

Spunk Notes by Miss Roxie.

I realized I wanted to write about what I read and wasn't doing it, and also, I'm realizing that when I do write such, it is taking up a lot of space. Maybe that is not relevant in the matter to some, but it seemed relevant to me.

Therefore...http://roxiespunknotes.blogspot.com/ began.

I am currently transferring my Persuasion notes over there by copying and pasting because I don't know of any other way to do it. But, I'm in the middle of painting still, so I haven't completed the job as yet.

And yes, I am covered in paint...no matter how hard I try, I can't seem to avoid it. I should just pour some on myself to start and be done with it.
So, brushing on ...

Another manic Tuesday

Adumbrative notes in bullet fact form:

1. Need shorts. Its summer coming, warmer weather. Look online to search for shorts, as there is not time to shop. All the models have skinny legs and no belly. There are no shorts for almost 60's who have had three children and aren't married to the gym membership and eat cake.

2. Don't eat any more cake. Just because it's good, doesn't mean you get to keep eating it.

3. Paint more siding boards. The boards are all catawampus in the shed. Which means I have to stand on my head to get some of the places on the boards. And the boards suck up the paint which means I've made two trips already for paint, put down on list ~more trips for paint. Also, plan on hair, and person, to be covered with paint.

4. Go to bank. You wrote checks. Now you must deposit money to cover checks. Especially before Bobby gets to the bank. And the electric company gets their bill. Or the mortgage company. Or the cable. garbage man. doctor. Credit card.

5. Pack more boxes. Go to liquor store get more boxes. See if they have tequila samples today.

6. Write a letter to a Congressman or Senator protesting the high cost of drugs and insurance and complain about the new Medicare plan, as you know every old person you know is going nuts trying to figure it out and when they read it to you over the phone you want to poke a pencil in your eye because they lost you at the first sentence and you are not suppose to be an idiot, and you can now understand why there are companies formed who come out to your house to try to explain it to you. WHY would the government write something so confusing for the elderly? I have enough trouble finding my keys and my shoes everyday. Now, tell me, this is what I have to look forward to?

7. Buy Stamps.

7. Don't forget to put the mango in your green smoothie.

8. Have a sunny day.

Persuasion - Chapter Four- Jane Austen

Spunk Notes ~

So finally now, all the Persuading that happened, that must have influenced the title of the book, has been officially mentioned. Up until this point, if one had read nothing but the novel, one would not have known.

But. It seems that 10 years ago, our heroine Anne Elliot, was in love, at 19, with a sailor! And it's seems that since her family, mainly her father the baronet of mass destruction, did not approve because of all the snobby reasons that people who do not approve of things have ~ according to Hoyle, what those of the baronets ilk require are:

1. Title
2. Wealth

And even though her father did not approve, it was not on his word alone that we found Anne dumping the love of her life because of; it was Lady Russell’s. (See. I kind of knew she was a secret snob. And I hate to say, “I told you so.”)

Anne did allow herself to be persuaded to break off the engagement, and now it seems that she is persuading herself to believe that all will be well, as it is Captain Frederick Wentworth, the very man she loves, who’s sister is going to be renting Kellynch, and now he has made his fortune and gained suitable rank and will be returning. And, I think, she thinks, they will reunite.

Anne didn’t hold Lady Russell to blame, as she felt she would have guided anyone at the age of 19 in such a choice of situation, begging forth that the decision that one was making for marriage, to the whom she was choosing, would be the wrong one to soon.

I'm looking ahead and noticing there are 28 chapters. And nothing really exciting is happening in each one. I think, perhaps, combining some chapters might be a good idea.

I have also read some opinions that Persuasion is Jane Austen's best work. I'm not sure why yet. Maybe there is some deep dark hidden knowledge here. I don't see it yet. I'll have to admit, though, I'm curious.

The Off Day

The Off Day.

The Off Day is the day that you think is Thursday, but it's not. It's Friday.

The Off Day is the day that someone is coming to see your house, this is a someone that is coming for the second time actually and is bringing his wife, and you can't be here because you have a doctor's appointment because you have had a congested chest for way too long and have been fighting going to get the antibiotic that you know you need, and so you ask the realtor to come and he says 'what would I do that would be any different than what you would do?" and you think, "huh?" and then say some things that amount to you saying 'forget it then’, but he backs up because he missed the part about you being sick and having to go to the doctor, as you see he has no people skills, and doesn't realize when people mention they are going to the doctor that sometimes they might be sick and be having an Off Day.

On the Off Day you need to run errands same as a Normal Day, so you do, and then you run by Barnes and Nobles to pick up the book on Vermeer, and check out a sale for something for Madam Blueberry, who has a graduation dinner to attend for friends, but has nothing to wear because she hates to shop and you don't blame her because it's buggers out there, so you run in, grab a few things, and then realize it's time to go! ~ So you rush out of the store and look frantically for your car keys, frantically, did you leave them in the book store, frantically! Oh my gosh you have dementia! Frantically, you realize they are in your left hand. The whole time. Like I said, an Off Day. You can't stop staring at the keys. How did they get there? Oh no, well, God sees all, and one day he will tell me what happened here.

The Off Day is the day it's mentioned that the Open House is tomorrow from 1 to 6 and you say, "you mean Saturday" and the realtor says, "yes, tomorrow. Today is Friday." And you think, oh great but say nothing as you just sigh, and he says, "yes, we are all tired." And you think things that people _think only_, but never say out loud on the Off Day.

On the Off Day you come home late because even though the appointment with the doctor is for 3 PM, and you were there by 2:50 PM, you don't get to see the doctor until 4 PM, and then she asks you which antibiotic you want to choose, and you have to go and get the prescription, that you waited to long for, filled, and you get home and think, "okay, maybe pizza for dinner," but someone calls and they want to see your house at 6 PM, and oh, what time is it now? 5:35? Sure, you say, I mean, it's an Off Day, you know, might as well go for broke.

Good news on the Off Day is that both people who came like your house. And they say that tomorrow they are both coming back to attend the Open House. One family is bringing back his children to look especially at Madam Blueberry’s room, which should host a television show all by itself, as it is so original. The other family because the wife wants to look at lots of homes before she decides, but the husband decided, he says he likes my house! And I hope he wins at the right price.

On The Off Day I’ll go to bed without my shower because I forgot that the Hot Water heater was turned off to save money and so, oh well, what is better on an Off Day than to save a dollar?

Cranky Scarbble

The is a game played with wooden tile letters and a board with spaces for them to go to make words. Some people call it Scrabble.

The rules:

1. Don't play for a long time and forget all the words you ever new.

2. Draw mostly vowels on your first draw.

3. Draw all *i'*'s on your second draw.

4. Your play always gives the other player the Double Word or Triple Word Score.

5. Be always one letter away from a great word.

6. Have your child end up telling you words you couldn't think of and didn't know, like "lire" (I mean really, who knew that was the plural of "lira"?)

7. And totally forget how to spell....

More Little Birdies

When I move, I will miss the wildlife around my house ...

Yesterday I was on my way out to paint. My husband was in his boat and cleaning it, as it is for sale. As I walked out the door with two rollers and a paint brush, Mr. B yelled, "Get me some gloves quick!" I went back in the house and brought him my cleaning gloves. I thought maybe he was needing them for applying some stuff to the teak, but no...

He was cleaning the cabin out and flung this "hat", he thought, out ~ no hat though ...it was a bird's nest and three little birdies had been flung out. The mother was flying around the perimeter of the boat ~ or some relation to the birdies because the bird was yapping away ~ anyway,

One birdie landed on the floor in a puddle of water, picked him up and put him back in the nest, one landed in the place where the engine is, also in a puddle of water, got him back in...and, of course by now, Madam B is in the middle of this with a towel trying to get the other flopping birdie back in the nest, and he jumps into a puddle of water, too! It was a comedy, but they did manage to get all three of them in.

Now. What to do with the nest! It was a little snaggled at this point. For now it was in a large plastic bucket to protect it from the cats, and tried to position it where the mama bird could see all was well, but we still needed to put it somewhere like in a tree or something, but it was too flimsy.

So Mr. B went into the shed and found a basket. A really nice one. And he got a bungee cord. He hooked the basket with the bungee cord to a very large ligustrum right next to the boat and placed the nest inside.

And good news, as soon as they were dried off, the little birdies flew away! I saw them flying around the back yard yesterday, so I put some bird seed out and also, I put some in the basket up where the nest is. I thought it couldn't hurt.

So man and nature sometimes clash. But hopefully if we keep trying to work together, and show we care, all will be well.

To see a world in a grain of sand,
And a heaven in a wild flower,
Hold infinity in the palm of your hand,
An eternity in an hour.
~~ William Blake

Thought for the day

"Treat people as if they were what they ought to be, and you help them become what they are capable of being.
~~Johann Wolfgang von Goethe

Persuasion - Chapter Three - Jane Austen

Spunk Notes ~

You know, there's not really much here in Chapter Three. Basically Sir Walter de Vanity has decided to rent his place out to a naval officer. And if one didn't have a dislike for Sir Vanity already, one would certainly have it now. He's a bore and a stuffed up ole peacock who even judges Navy men in a negative light because the sea years age them and they come up in the ranks of society without deserving it. That is, he was 'born' so therefore he is deserving ...see what I mean?

Anywhoo,
There's a lot of blah, blah, blah about who can walk in his park and who might be some rank of distinction in connection to the rental person, but, alas after much insulting of anyone whom he mentions, he decides to give it a go.

Elizabeth is pleased with the decision being made because she is ready to go to Bath and party, and I love the way Miss Austen phrases that feeling, she explains, 'her inclination was growing so strong for a removal, that she was happy to have it fixed and expedited by a tenant at hand...." I love that!

Mrs. Clay is mentioned and shows a bit of good character in actually defending people's looks to Sir Vanity. And Anne shows herself again kind and a bit dreamy, I think, as she walks alone around the grounds thinking perhaps that the love of her life might very well be walking there soon.

I think it's interesting that Anne walks and Lizzie Bennett from Pride and Prejudice walked. I wonder if Miss Austen walked, and perhaps it was on her walks that she discovered things about herself and developed her characters and her stories. Perhaps she has her heroines walk as a way to show some kind of strength in them.

1978 Jackson Browne & David Lindley

Jamie's School Lunch Project

This is a show on The Learning Channel. I saw it tonight for the first time. Madam B told me about it last week. I was really impressed with Chef Jamie Oliver.

He's taken on the School System in London to try and persuade the children to eat healthier. The School officials have told him that the reason they serve children junk is that, that is what the children want! Yeah. Right. Since when do kids know best? Over the government, no less!?

I found it interesting to watch the reaction of the children as he tried to find ways to get them to eat the healthy foods. Kids are just great at being honest. And Chef Jamie was very kind to a little girl who cried because she didn't want to give up her lunch to eat his food! She was won over in the end.

He challenged everyone, but with kindness, and with style and humility. He's appalled that they are served the types of food the country has allowed to pass for inspection as okay for kids to eat, and he told them so.

But the kids were won over! He was able to persuade them to try new things. Many of them rejected him right off, but he was patient and talked them into it. He taught a class at one of the schools. He let them do the cooking!

Actually, he could tell you better than I ~ Jamie has a blog.

Chef Jamie also has a cookbook and a show called The Naked Chef, but don't let that scare you off. He puts it this way, to quote him, "It's basically stripping back to the bare essentials."

What I've seen so far is brilliant. Just Brilliant. His efforts that is, not so much the show itself.

The show that followed next was Honey We're Killing The Kids. That's an American Show on which a nutritionist comes in and tries attempts to lead a family with an (extremely) unhealthy lifestyle into a better way of living and eating. It's okay. But it seems that it's set up to appeal to one's vanity.

The nutritionist shows the parents a time sped up photo of what the children will look like at 40 if they continue on the current diet and no-exercise path. Then after three weeks of correct diet and exercise, another photo is shown of what the children will look like at 40. Of course, it's better, and everyone seems happy.

But vanity is how most diets are pitched to us anyway. It seems that every diet plan ad features someone in a bathing suit. Yeah. Right. That's how _I_ dress most of the time, right? Ha Ha.

Anyway, the shows are interesting enough but I couldn't watch them every week. They do what a lot of those shows do and turn 25 minutes worth of footage into an hour show by showing the same clips over and over and over again.

The Gift of a Memory

Next weekend is Mother's Day. The best gift is a gift of a memory, but sometimes, that is not always possible. I thought about sending my mom a Rachal Ray cookbook, or something with quick and easy healthy meals. Think I'll pop over to Barnes and Nobles and pick something out.

My kids asked me what I want, and I decided I want rosebushes. I want them for my new house, and I have decided I want one from each of them every year. I think in 10 years, my rose garden of loving memories from my children will look quite lovely. I told them they each have to choose the color on their own. I'm excited about it. It's the most I've looked forward to gift getting in a very long time.

My mother in law is difficult to buy for this year because she is in the middle of moving also.

Some of the most unique gifts I've given her are memories. One year that was most fun for all of us was a surprise dinner set up in her home so that we could serve them a Royaly Fine Dinner at a Lovely Establishment upon their return! -- while she and my father in law were attending a church service, my sister in law and her girls and myself and Madam B turned their living room into a lovely room for dining. It was beautiful when we finished. And we had the best time planning this!

It was a big job! We put the dining room table in the living room, complete with gorgeous table clothe and formal place settings, and found a way to *hang* a lovely sheet to cover the dining room area, and had to move the other furniture around. We decorated the room with everything we could find that was lovely; flowers, lots and lots of candles, stuffed animals, greenery of any kind, and we had the fireplace lite.

We prepared a menu (along with a meal) that included appetizers, two main course selections, with salad, and, of course, deserts. It was great! Good thing there was 5 of us to pull this off. The girls did the waitressing and food delivering.

My mother in law was so funny. Half way through the meal she asked to speak with the proprietor. So I came out and received all these formal complements on my 'staff" ... it was cute.

That is the kind of thing I would give this year, if it were possible. But I’ll mail a beautiful card, or write some heartfelt words on some stationary, and come up with something pretty or needful, and make the phone call to say ‘I love you’. That won't be as great as a beautiful Memory. This gives me pause though; I have to think of some things for the future.

But in the end, any act of kindness or love should be counted good and best. For without love, and the desire to be kind, there is emptiness in the rest.
~~Tu tranquilo,

Miss Roxie

Math Assignment

I thought it would be an excellent idea to give Madam B a Math Assignment that might mirror real life skills. So I gave her the problem, last Thursday, of finding out if she could eat on $35.00 a week, as she prefers certain foods, and then a comparison later of what the average meat eater might spend. (Of course, I couldn't use the word 'meat-eater' to her as it does repulse her so.) Figured she could take a week or two to work on it...

I thought this was a clever assignment, and Friday asked to see what she had done. She had nothing to show me. "Why don't you have something for me to see?" I inquired. "Because I have been thinking about it," she replied.

Well, okay. Thinking is good ... (she got me there)

My #2 son, who just completed his first year of college away from home, and has enrolled for the summer semester, budgets his food spending this way:

Budget amount: about $28.00 per week

1. Go to the store at the beginning of the week, and buy food, and spend the entire $28.00 because that's what you have, and forget you are forgetting about toilet paper and paper towels, dish soap, razor blades, hair gel, and toothpaste.
2. Eat the food by Tuesday night most likely, if one is lucky, Wednesday.
3. Scrounge around for what you can find until end of the week, should you run out of stuff, which you most likely will, eat peanut butter off a spoon until you are full, eat 13 pieces of toast for dinner, and that bag of left over chips, the 5 Oreos, and salsa's not so bad with just a slice of cheese, until the next payday.

I think I actually took the day off...

Seriously. I think I did! I was so tired yesterday...

I tried to go out and do some grocery shopping and few errands, but it just didn't happen.

I ended up cutting my hair, doing a load of laundry, and then when I brought it in the living room to fold, looked for an old movie on TV and found the Judgment at Nuremberg. Wow! What a good movie that turned out to be...

All the great old stars were in it, and there was also a very young Captain Kirk. Here is some information on Amazon about the film.

I love the old black and whites. And this one really made me think ~ about history and apathy and always being vigilant.

I did fall asleep towards the end, it was a three hour movie, and my snoring woke me up ~ but I saw the ending.

When I see films like this one, I always wonder whose point of view this is, even when the film is based on fact. But I think it was good to watch. There were scenes from the Concentration Camps that were very difficult to look at. But the point of showing them was that the German judges on trial had said they did not know what was happening. They said they were acting for the good of Germany in their decisions.

Later, I got a call about someone coming to see the house. They made an appointment for today, so I thought I should clean the bathroom or something, but some friends dropped over. Visiting seemed like a better thing to do. So we visited until way past everyone's bedtime. The kids swam in the pool, and we decided to do it again today after the people who are looking at the house leave.

I am getting bored of this living in this between stage of the house selling. I told my son I'm in a 'limbiontic state'. He says, "mom, what is that?" I said it's like being in limbo while you are catatonic (the trance part, not the drunken stupor part.)

One more thing, I had told my husband before I got the call about the Realtor appointment, that we should keep the house up as someone was going to come this weekend.

A great secret of success is to go through life as a man who never gets used up. -- Albert Schweitzer

Learn from yesterday, live for today, hope for tomorrow. -- Anonymous

Life is a great big canvas, and you should throw all the paint on it you can. -- Danny Kaye

And in the end, it's not the years in your life that count. It's the life in your years.-- Abraham Lincoln

Difficult times have helped me to understand better than before, how infinitely rich and beautiful life is in every way, and that so many things that one goes worrying about are of no importance whatsoever...-- Isak Dinesen

Even before Rachael Ray....

I knew there were less than 30 minute meals. My mom, 76, has not really taken this into her daily life yet.

Long story short, my dad wants to eat at 6 PM every night, so mom feels some kind of pressure to 'get things done' right, or she doesn't feel like a good wife. And being a good wife means, you soak,you rinse, you pat, you bread, you fry, and you bake the same object along with other things that take much peeling and washing and rinsing, and you get the picture...old school cooking.

I ran down a couple of my *tried and trues* to her over phone with protein, starch and veggies, and I really think she just didn't get that cooking meals this way is quite easy now. I hope she believed me because it sure would make her life a lot easier.

And my dad changes the way he eats from time to time. First it's no bananas, then it's one everyday, and an apple every day, and also orange juice. Don't ever run out of those. Then he eats wheat bread, then he eats no bread. He reads thing.

She shops just about every day, at least 5 days a week, the manager knows her name and greets her at the door because she writes a check so often, the transaction comes up in the system and the manager has to sign off the check writer. Wild, huh? I guess a safety precaution with the store, but my mom took issue with them, and now they treat her like a celebrity She has to buy fresh. She told them that. so,I'm not sure she gets that thing about refrigerators entirely.

She was lamenting over the fact when she cooks soup, that she has to make so much, she wishes she could 'make smaller'; I told her that was easy too, but even if it was a large pot, freeze half right away, and you are good to go on another day. Her response, "really? and it will still be good?"

I'm thinking, us kids, we always thought our mother was a good cook. And now I know why! Everything was fresh! I'm not trying to break her style, but maybe just save her some steps and free up some of her time.

I also printed out some information on the Green Smoothies. Wait till my father finds out just _how good for you_ these things are!

My mother in laws cholesteral dropped from 246 to 176, and I'll bet anyone 20 to nothin', it was the introduction to the green smoothie that can take the credit. Can't wait to get mine checked again. I eat well, just splurge ever so slightly, and my was 202. So I have at least one beautiful smoothie everyday ... still like regular food, but I'm working on that...

But here's to good health and shorter time in the kitchen.

I could easily run the world from my kitchen. And from there, it might even be fun!

Tu tranquilo,

Persuasion - Chapter Two - Jane Austen

Spunk Notes

Entry for Persuasion by Jane Austen

Chapter One Previously

Chapter Two

Thusly now, we find the continuation of the conversation dealing with the situation of the necessary retrenchment of Sir Vanity, and his charges, which all seemed to be caused by his unnecessary way of being to generous with his fine self.

In the opening moments we find that Mr. Shepherd, whom I presume it is safe to assume is a competent lawyer and a good friend, has found his way clear of delivering anything unpleasant to Sir Vanity's ear, and is leaving all of that bearing of bad news business and shooting the messenger testimony, to Lady Russell, as Mr. Shepherd thinks, methinks, that she would be saying what he would have said in the first place, so leaving it to her to share the plan with Sir Vanity in lieu of his place, he then escapes the place of being any bearer of bad tidings and looking like a nasty old devil to his friend and not be the one who would deny a baronet their continuous bad habits of over spending on things for no good reason whilst plunging into the black hole called debt.

But as it were, and is, everyone is really wanting to tip-toe around the feelings of the brooding baronet Sir Vanity, including Lady Russell, as it so seems she is trying not to disturb his state of well-being, and I can only suspect that she, too, is blinded by that circle of pomp and arrogance associated with a false appreciation of loving rank first above all else, otherwise, I have not quite figured out how he has everyone so falling over him so, aside from the fact his name is proceeded by a title, albeit it one that makes you think of a weapon. I am hoping there must be a good reason to like him beyond his rank and favor of privilege just because he was born, but it’s not here in chapter two that I have found at this point

.

I will say, he is a fortunate man in that his late wife secured such a wise friend as the Lady Russell, who seems to have some influence with him, and has recognized a sort of sweet wisdom in the daughter Anne. And, to the shock of all readers it seems, has actually sought out the advice of Anne regarding this need of retrenchment in their family! Back in this day, well, to ask the middle child about the family’s spendings, when all was for the task of Keeping up Appearances, well, I think this was just totally unheard of at the time. That is my feeling anyway, Miss Austen says, “she consulted Anne, who never seemed considered by the others to have any interest in the question.” And apparently, Anne, made some very impressive suggestions and was not only willing to bite a tight bullet, but saw clearly, ways and sensible means of which to do this. But her ideas are discarded.

Anne is a woman of seven and twenty at this time, and it’s about time one should be paying attention, doncha think? Oh how times have changed, but

Moving on…

This Retrench Needing Baronet has more than one property on which to live. He has three others besides his beloved Kellynch Hall. So, blah, blah, blah, he decides to move to Bath because he can still move around there in some social circles that draw attention to him and his stuff.

Anne is not happy about this, as she would rather live in the country, and I think she’s not much of a social creature, so flourishing at Bath might be a bit more difficult for her.

Now, there is a little peek at something else here, it seems that Lady Russell has an unspoken desire to break up a friendship between Elizabeth and the daughter of Mr. Shepherd. This Mrs. Clay, has managed to get herself in a situation of leaving a marriage with two children in tow, (those children are referred to as ‘additional burdens’ by the way, which implies that she was a burden, also, to her father the infamous too-chicken-to-talk-square-to-his-friend lawyer).

So Lady Russell does distain this friendship of Mrs. Clay and Elizabeth thinking that Mrs. Clay was a ‘dangerous’ and ‘unequal’ person for Elizabeth to be hanging out with, and Lady Russell considered this break-up of very great importance, which means deep down she herself is also a snob. Just, I guess, a nicer snob than all the rest.

But Lady Russell is hoping, I think, that Elizabeth will see the value of Anne a companion in their goings out, and perhaps this will help Anne in her blooming.

I’m seeing Anne and her father as the complete opposites in this family. Considering the family dynamics of her being the middle child, I would have thought her to be a rebel, but instead, she seems to be the sensible one. So, we’ll see….maybe later....

Rupert Friend was Wickham

Happen to glance at one of the 100 Most Beautiful photos, as per the Peoples We Don't Know Who Chooses magazine, and there upside down to me, was a slight familiar face,..."who's this? looks familiar" I inquired of Madam B there in the Ortho’s office.

"Oh, that's Wickham from Keira Knightley's Pride and Prejudice,” said Madam B.

"Mmm, no one will really get to know Wickham from that movie, will they?" Mused I. "Or anyone else, really."

"Nope." Madam B sighed, " That version is like 'There he is. He loves her. The end."

True, I thought. True.

My Spunk Note self thought:

The struggles of poor Mr. Darcy who deep down realizes there is a need for change in how society views things, might not be picked up by this audience nor would they understand his many levels of concerns.

His aunt has ideas that are Iron-Gate rusty and oatmeal-old-fashioned and certainly not fitted for the *real* attraction or chance of true love. Seeing that Auntie wants Darcy to marry a poor, sickly, relative (her daughter, oh, how convenient is that?)…

This idea may have given Mr. Darcy some clue that a change needs to be a comin', or his life is going to be changed in unhappy ways just to make sure his business stuff (family money) is all kept up nicely because the Aunt needs a dash of society in her tea cup, while Darcy was feeling he should find a way to stop being such a prudish snob and find a way to marry the handsome Lizzy, or even just talk politely to her would be a good plan right now….

But how? It’s hard for him. He was born with the Prudly/Snobly gene. Determined he was to break this curse though! Good Man, That Darcy!

But in mentioning Wickham, as we were, we didn't get to see what a plotter, schemer, back-stabber, dispenser of lost loyalty, even a dishonoring child molester (maybe they didn't call it that back then but...) he was, as the Young Mr. Wickham began throwing around his indiscretions early on, and Darcy realized that what he had once relied on as unquestioning loyalty was now something that could be swayed by a handsome face when he realized that Georgiana’s own governess, had, in fact, been swayed by this scallywag!. Wickham was his nemesis in more ways than one. And Wickham wanted Lizzy as did Mr. Darcy also have her charms firmly in his mind. Well, men... Time to belly up to the bar, men! Draw your swords!! or gloves? Or maybe Wickham should just run away ...

Quatro de Mayo

I don't know what I did with today. It was here. And then it was...gone. I can't believe it's already 'this late', and I have no plans for dinner. At all. I bought food to cook for dinner, but I have no plans of cooking it .. tonight. It'll have to be a course of Finfur. (As in fen for yourself). Because my get-up-and-go just got-up-and-went.

Trip to the Orthodontist today for Madam B. A follow up after one year. Amazing what difference a year makes ... last year when we left they said, "do you need a note for school?" And this year they asked, "so you're in college now?" I mean, really, did she mature that much in looks just because she doesn't have wires in her mouth?

While I was in the waiting area I looked through a People magazine. It had the world's 100 most beautiful people according to ... to... ummm, dunno...come to think of it ~ Nobody asked me!

Anyway, there was a sad story in there about a couple of celebreties who are in a heated and ugly custody battle (That would be Charlie Sheen and his wife Denise Richards). And because Charlie's dad is famous, the famous Martin Sheen, they asked him about the situation and his answer I thought was good....

He said (paraphrased from memory), "what we have here is a burning building. And the people in the building are asleep, and they are wounded. We have to get them out of the building and address their wounds and help them heal."

I thought that was a nice analogy. It's sad that all our baggage from our beginnings can be dragged around and then opened and all the junk we have stored inside will be dumped on innocent children. So sad.

I have no idea what will happen to the Charlies and Denises of the world. I do wish they would find a way to stop the madness and break that vicious chain of pain passed on to the next generation of innocents.


"The fault, dear Brutus, lies not in our stars, but in ourselves.."
~ William Shakespeare

Power on Persuasion by Miss Austen

Well. I finished Pride and Prejudice, and I guess alone, as my partners have been very quiet on the topic. But I can't say I enjoyed the assignment. I think I saw the A & E version too much. I would so suggest reading the book first ...

So I picked up Persuasion by Jane Austen. I finished Chapter One. The last word in the first chapter is 'pride'...and it seems the story might be centered around a bit of it with some vanity thrown in the mix. I'm not familiar with the story, so this is all news to me.

So here are my Spunk Notes ~

We open with Sir Elliot bragging on his bad self, thinking himself quite special and handsome, and he sees a lot of himself in his oldest daughter Elizabeth, so I'm figuring we might find her as quiet doomed.

His lovely wife, Lady Elliot, has died 13 years prior to the place we are now. I thought a particular line regarding Lady Elliot's death quite odd..."and make it no matter of indifference to her when she was called upon to quit them." The 'them' is her three girls. She doesn't sound like she was a very happy woman. She was probably pretty, but not happy, just dutiful ...probably didn't care much living with Mr. Vanity there. But we'll see.

The oldest Elizabeth is now 29, (yikes!), and unmarried (yikes!), and so is looking for a suitor, finds one suitable, but he blows her off! Dad is not happy and neither she, because it seems, she really did like the guy as she found him "extremely agreeable". He not only fit everything they needed for honor and style, but Elizabeth was attracted to him, also.

Seems he was a baronet - which I thought was a weapon at first, but that's a bayonet - and that ‘baronet thing’ was necessary for something very important to her and her father, something about blood lines, but I got confused here. Seems the rouge who threw her over was named William Walter Elliot, Esq. And her father is Walter Elliot. So. Ummm, he was related in some way, and this, perhaps not being all to unusual back then was okay with them. A little too close to home for me, maybe Elizabeth should count herself lucky.

So, anyway, the rouge married a wealthy woman whose birth was counted for nothing important, but this move, you see, guaranteed his own independence. Because had he married Elizabeth, then the other Walter Elliot would have been in charge of the money.

But the William Walter’s wife apparently died. I'm not sure exactly, but it seems that Elizabeth wore "black ribbons for his wife", so I can only think that be a custom should one be dead. But what do I know? I'm just ending Chapter One.

Let’s see, the middle sister, Mary, married a regular guy. No one was impressed even though he's rich.. I hope we learn that Mary was in love and lives a happy life. The father refers to her as "coarse'. He just sounds like maybe we are not going to like this guy unless this is a book about redemption, and I don't think it is because it's called Persuasion. Persuading and Redeeming are different, I suppose.

I haven't mentioned Anne yet. This will be our heroine. Apparently a sensible girl, so far, but her father has referred to her as 'haggard'. Probably wore out from putting up with his painfully silly vanities, and takes a lot of deep breathes before speaking and shakes her head a lot in disbelief so this makes her haggard looking to him.

There is also the character of Lady Russell. You get the idea that 'maybe' Lady Elliot had thought that Lady Russell and Sir Vanity Elliot would have married upon Lady Elliot’s death. But because Lady Russell did not follow through on that, you get the idea that she might be no fool, and might be an independent woman with some means. Her husband passed so maybe a rich widow.

So jumping to the end of chapter, the Elliot's are near broke and have been advised by their friends to "retrench", which basically means stop overspending people. Oh and just to let you in on Elizabeth’s character a tad, when she saw this as a good possible choice, she choose to stop ‘unnecessary charities’, not buy new dining room furniture and skip giving Anne a birthday present that year. Sweet girl, huh?

So here’s a great line for the end of the chapter…

okay, they, Sir Vanity and Elizabeth, have called in their two closest friends to advise them and they say they want a suggestion that will “remove their embarrassment and reduce their expenditure, without involving the loss of any indulgence of taste or pride.”

Right. Good luck with that.

Science Project Grade - *A*

In this post I mentioned my nephew's Science Project and the fact that I helped ~ and now I want to report ---

HE GOT AN "A" !!!!

Hooray for Nathan and Mom and Dad. They had quite an experience with the experiment, as well. So everyone gets an "A" ...

Vegan Cookies!

We thinks Madam Blueberry has created her first Vegan Cookie ~ butterless, eggless ~ We are still working on the flours to use but this is the first success and not bad, I might add, not bad at all:

Madam B's Vegan Cookies

2 cups Unbleached Flour
1/2 Cup Wheat Flour
1/2 Cup Oatmeal
1 cup of Applesauce
1/2 Brown Sugar
1/2 White Sugar
4 1/2 tsps Baking Soda
1/4 tsp Salt
4 TBSPs Water
1 tsp vanilla
1/2 cup raisins

(We used organic sugar, but know we can't afford that for the long haul of cooking. Need to work on our budget for that change!)

Mix the wet stuff. Then add the dry stuff.

Oven Temperature was 350 and then check them in 9 minutes. We thought ours were done.

They are a lovely little cake like cookie. It's a cookie you can do a lot of things with as far as what you might add for the next time, such as dried cranberries, or pecans (that might be really good), or even the infamous chocolate chips that finds it's way into everything sooner or later for me.

So enjoy!

Just Here For Now...and then gone

I deleted a blog I had named Just Here For Now....I had created that blog for photos, but life got so life-ishly sped up that there became no time for extras. So I am just at Sunny Day ~

Just Here For Now is what I have always thought of myself as ~ as in, my family has always moved (military brat), and then,I am a believer in a greater place after this life ~ so I'm just passing through and am just here for now ...

And Sunny Day? Well, why not? Who doesn't love a Sunny Day?

And, if you enter Sunny Day Shakepeare in Google, you will find me about 2/3 down the page. Who ever knew, you know...?

Have a sunny day!!

Tu Tranquilo,

Miss Roxie

Update then good nite

1. My dad's good. Two stints ~ still bossy .... ummmm, just because the blood flows better to the heart doesn't mean the patient changes personality. Oh, well.

2. Grapeseed oil is better to use instead of olive oil if you need to stir fry with heat. (Never used it. too expensive.)

3. I need to lose 5 pounds. So, I'm making the announcement and giving it a serious go starting tomorrow. Actually, I thought I was doing everything just fine, but this last 5 pounds my doctor says I would have to lipo off, and I'm not doing that ~ unless someone wants to pay the $4500.00,hahahahaha, - just kidding ~ New shoes that don't hurt my ankle will have to be involved so I can begin walking...Committment coming.

4. Another open house on Sunday. This will be four. Seems like a lot. Time to get down to it. There's a buyer for my house out there. They just need to come here and make the deal soon.

Maybe some laughter would be good; it's supposed to help in weight loss. I don't know if you have to be holding a twenty pound weight while laughing though.~~~

Here's some actual Things Said in actual court rooms.

Questions asked of Park Rangers.

Church Bulletin Quotations

The Immagration March

Honestly, I'm not sure what is going on and what should be done about this whole thing.

First, I don't think someone who has lived here and was born here, and done things by the rules should feel that they are being dissed. But then again, don't people who play by the rules sometimes always get dissed?

There are different opinions on all sides ~ Illegals want to be safe, and have a better life, Corporations are taking advantage of the situation, Other people are being straight and paying for it through the nose ... Risk.

I don't know what to think ...
What is fair?
I think of little children growing up safe and healthy. It's not all about what you have. But a child deserves some kind of safety and security and a good meal and the love of his family.

I see those people running across the boarder and I think, they must be doing that because they want something better than what they have.

But yet, I know people and have employeed people who did it the right way. It was hard for them. It cost them money and more time (they came from El Salvador, and what a story they have), so it's not that it can't be done...but why? Why isn't it being done right in the first place?

New News Old news crash

Oh it's always something!

Today on Oprah I heard that I am burning oil! I have been Sautéing my veggies in Olive Oil and thought I was doing a good thing. Now I hear that I am burning oil! Fudge! And burning oil is not good for you.

So. Tonight here's what I did ~

I mixed together garlic, onions, mushrooms, red and yellow peppers with the oil, and placed them in a pan on a low temperature. Then I topped that with sliced tomatoes that I sprinkled with basil and oregano and Nature's Seasoning salt, and sea salt and pepper. Then I topped that with mozzeralla cheese and spinach and let it steam until pretty. It was brilliant! It was so good! You could put that on anything or nothing! Madam B ate hers on a pita bread, and I just ate mine.

What I did for Mr. B, who is not quite the vegetarian that Madam B and I try to be, is put that concoction on top of two all beef patties that I had made earlier. He loved it! Now, also, for his, I added more sliced onion because he loves onion, and he thought the whole thing was great!

And cheap also! The peppers were on sale today, lucky us!

Be creative! Build something good and let me know what you made! Put it in your blog! Share with us and eat healthy!

Can you read your heart?

Well, here we are ~ The First Monday in May

My dad's in the hospital. He went to the doctor for his scheduled check up on Friday, and had some chest pains that day, so he mentioned it to the doctor, who set him up with tests on Monday. He had more chest pains, very slight, on Saturday, so he went to the emergency room and the doctor decided to keep him. They went ahead and completed all his tests, found he had a blockage and are inserting a stint this morning.

I saw my dad last Monday He was laying down and had covered himself with a blanket and had been resting for awhile. I told him he looked really pale. And he did look really, really pale to me, almost ashen. I don’t have that great a relationship with my dad, though I think albeit unspoken we are both working on it ~ my point in bringing that up is that ~ I wonder, had my mother looked that pale, I would have been more forceful in asking a battery of questions? ….oh well …

He said to me, ‘well, I’ve been sick! And I played golf today!” I couldn’t tell if he was annoyed with me or not for mentioning his pale appearance, as his voice tone is never a clear indicator to me what he is thinking about anything I have said. (I remember standing there and thinking to myself, ‘he really doesn’t look good.’) But, I just said to him, ‘well, as long as you’re taking care of yourself…’ and I drifted off the rest of my sentence.

It sounds routine, the stint procedure, and it sounds as if he will be the better for it after it is done. I’m sure he will be fine. He does eat well, and he plays golf twice a week, and even though my mother says he doesn’t do all that much, this may be the reason why. Perhaps he has been more tired from the blockage, and healthy people sometimes don’t think they are having trouble with their heart.

I looked up all the symptoms for a heart attack and even though they sound simple; I think they are not. I think they can be ignored or over looked very easily by anyone of any age. A word to the wise on that one: We really need to be in tune with our bodies to know when something might be wrong.

Some warning signs of a heart attack are pasted below. I did notice though that not all the symptoms listed on all the sites are listed here:

The American Heart Association and other medical experts say the body likely will send one or more of these warning signals of a heart attack:

• Uncomfortable pressure, fullness, squeezing or pain in the center of the chest lasting more than a few minutes.
• Pain spreading to the shoulders, neck or arms. The pain may be mild to intense. It may feel like pressure, tightness, burning, or heavy weight. It may be located in the chest, upper abdomen, neck, jaw, or inside the arms or shoulders.
• Chest discomfort with lightheadedness, fainting, sweating, nausea or shortness of breath.
• Anxiety, nervousness and/or cold, sweaty skin.
• Paleness or pallor.
• Increased or irregular heart rate.
• Feeling of impending doom.

Some links for information:

http://www.heartinfo.org/hrtatkang.html

http://www.americanheart.org/presenter.jhtml?identifier=4595

http://www.holistic-online.com/Remedies/Heart/heart_attack_identifying.htm

On that third link, they mention indigestion, if that is unfamiliar to you as a symptom for your body. And that symtom is not listed in the list by the American Heart Association. See what I mean? In my opinion it can get confusing, and I can see why a heart attack, or heart problems, can easily be overlooked.

Take care ~ be aware of yourself. If you can't read your body, start now to get to know yourself better, body, mind and spirit.