Friday, June 29, 2012

The Land of Dreamy Dreams by Ellen Gilchrist
Finished June 29, 2012

I am reading books like a machine. And I am making certain I do other things in my day besides read, like garden, visit the library, cook and then read. Cleaning? Not so much. Joe has been gone for a couple of days, since Tueday morning which has given me ample time to read and write my Mom a letter a day.

I have fallen in love with Ellen Gilchrist. I finished her book The Anna Papers the other day and it had an immense affect on me. I became possessed or in a state of grace. Something grabbed ahold of me and made me realize that one can not live ones life in the shadows of their true self. I am so afraid that someone will find me out. Aways have been that way. From stealing dimes and nickles from my parents pockets and pocker books to the stealing of a red cream soda for Nana from the corner store and the lady following me out of the store and just taking the bottle from the carton without a word and going back into the store. The humilation and the worry that someone would know.

But in all reality they probably all did know that Mary was a little theif. After all Brenda Angel and I had to run away from home rather than face the consquences of being caught stealing from the Five and Dime downtown. Oh the agony of that!!


Friday, January 7, 2011

Disclaimer

Disclaimer.

If you have arrived at this blog I need to explain that this is where I have been transferring my entries for 750 Word exercise - it is not my main blog. this is kind of a dumping ground for thoughts and what ever. I liked the idea of the 750 word exercise to kind of stretch-out the writing limbs. I have been having a terrible time writing this past year, taking up the Grace in Small things challenge. Been blogging since 2003 and feel that my "genre" is explaining my past. Or examining my past. There is so much left over, but it's so personal and I am not willing to put it out there for the world and any old body to run across. That will happen, trust me. Into my eight year of hanging out the laundry, I have had people stumble onto my blog and by golly I KNOW THEM! It's like being caught without any clothes on. At least that is how it seems now.

So if you make it here I actually write here at Just a Hippie Gypsy.>

That's where the filtered stuff lays.

Thursday, January 6, 2011

A new day! Last night I followed Joe to R-Ville. He drove the train and I picked him up. It was a nice break from the mundane day to day existence I have been having lately. I got off from the Bucket early, around 915 and headed home, hoping to make it to the Walmart in R-ville and p/u milk. I woke Joe and drove him t the engine and watched as he climbed on board thinking to myself, I need to watch to make sure he gets off OK - then I remembered that he probably knew what he was doing and if he had any troubles would call me. So I took off into the black black night, as if drenched in black ink, no stars, on this old country road witht the brights on hoping to scare off any deer that may want to jump the car or eat the car as the case may be. I made it to R-ville ahead of Joe listnening to the radio and the RR radio. It would crackle and I would jump trying to turn down the car radio to hear what was going on. After a trip to a closed Walmart (damn it) he called. I told him I heard some cracking on the radio "that was me" and he squawked me a couple of times to prove it. I ventured forth and found an open gas station that had beer but no milk. I went on and drove around R-ville w/o the lights on for some time, I was through downtown when I noticed they were out! My car they automatically come on so I am spoiled. I could not find the alternative gas station Joe told me about and ended up on a one way street facing the wrong way waiting for the light to change! I finally ran the light wondering how anybody gets out, not realizng that it was a one way and I was facing the wrong way. I broke so many laws last night I'm certain I would have gotten a ticket if the whole town was not closed up and asleep.
After many stops I finally found a store that sold both beer and milk and I made it back to the station in pleanty of time. I rolled down the window to listen for the train and heard just the yawn of the evening in R-ville. Then I heard him coming, the night took on a low rumble that was not there before. It seemed far away and headed towards me. Then in the distance Iheard the far away blast of the horn. He was coming. It was a little exciting and I was eager with anticipation to see the train pull in the station! Itgot louded and louder and swelled and then the light showed itself and there he was. The red engine roared into the track before me and came to a beautiful stop. I was hot, baby. What is about men and big machines! He emerged from the cab, locked the doors, checked out a few things and climbed down from the huge monster.
It was incredibly sexy. Joe will continue to surprise me over and over as the years g on. I knew he could do this, but seeing him do it. Wow.
I got a letter from Faye and it sounded good. I am going to write her one more note and then call her. Her b-day is approaching, Feb 9th maybe. 59 good lord, that means I will be 58. It's not that I feel old in spirit, its my body. I have been dieting for almost 10 days and have lost/gained lost/gained. Its frustrating. I guess the idea of eating a bag of fantastic nuts from Iran is not the best thing to do - pistascios. Oh I love them. I guess better them than the chocolate I was craving yesterday. I made a pudding the day before and it helped. I have been very good about avoiding carbs - so maybe I just need to be patient. Well, that is if you don't count the chineses noodles.
Yesterday was a pretty good day. The only bummer was talking to Shirley yesterday and hearing about her problems. HBTN told her that she is not call her co-workers and ask for rides to and from work. That five people came to her and said it was hard to say no to her. Number one, Heather is really out of line (isn't she) and why wouldn't people want to help Shirley. I gave her rides, I gave Mary Ann rides, I didn't like it much (my head lights were always out) but I did it and felt guilty.
I received my loupe and it isOK. I really have to bring the jewelry close to my eye to get a good look. I looked over my bracelet from Maura and Johnny when I graduated from grammar school and it looks to be gold plated! Bummer. No where can I find a caret stamp, so I guess I just got a pretty little bracelet that was pinched on the airplane when I flew to NYC for several weeks during the summer of 1967 - summer of love. lol. I just realized that! I have a few surviving pictures of our adventure to the Cafe Wha and the Washington Monument in the back ground. So many things I wish I had been aware of way back then. Take more pictures, learn the 35mm camera, and collect jewelry.

Wednesday, January 5, 2011

750 words

Yesterday I wore one of my vintage necklaces. A little piece with different style beading - if you can call it beading - maybe baubles. They were solid and some were hollowed out. I should keep pictures to show my growing vintage stash. I won a lot of bangles - Bolywood style - for about $15 bucks. There are 80 of them. If I end up getting booths at these summer fairs and sell them for a buck apiece, it should work out good. I also coped a bib pearl necklace that is fantastic! All in all, with shipping fees added in, spent about 42 smackers.
I was having semi-nightmares dreams. One was walking into a house and finding two dead bodies in a bathtub/swimming area type - you know how dreams are, they do not have to make any sense. I called 911 "for the third time that day" and got hold of someone who sounded like my Mom. I called her Mom even though it was not. She was not a very good 911 operator. She was near hysteria. The dream consisted of a lot of other stuff, but I don't remember any of it. Except maybe gary S. was in it. I just got a flash of something, but it's gone now.
B. called this morning and missed the check in at the clinic. I feel for her, but she better hand that intake money over to Scott rather than spending it. She sounded very upset. She set her alarm for 6am and slept through it or it didn't go off.
Joe came home and went to sleep almost immediately. I was back in my "Woman cave"in the bed - man that thing calls to me, well I am sick and I am a self diagnosed SADD victim - reading the Rolling Stone. They interviews people about their favorite play lists from one individual and/or genre. It was a great article, or 50 pages of really great music that I wish the MC3 Suites tilled worked. Limewirte. Damn it all. Lot's of good vintage stuff. Keith and Mick referenced the old blues guys. And there were many mentions of stuff from the 1960's and doo wop, Bob Dylan, and Motown that I would love to download. Too bad. But I guess it's time to start paying for stuff.
My tummy hurts. I have taken some alka selser substitute on an empty tummy and have realized that is a no-no. After a cup of tea it settled, but it still is talking to me. Those naprozen are great. My hip doesn't feel so bad any more. Maybe it is bursitis and not arthritis.
Peggy emailed me about Hugh and how was our relationship. She read his explanation on Brents FB page and is cool with it now. I hope to load up pictures from Nana's family that Aunt Maureen gave me or that I stole from Mom's house. Theya re ver interesting, especially the one of Nana (Molly) and Margaret sitting on the beach with another lad - quite possibly a brother. Nana (Molly) was beautiful.
I put my make up on again this morning. I am using the lip gloss to tone down the red ip stick.Might need to purchase another shade of red that is not so "true" though it looks great when on. They were not kidding.
I am perplexed about Money again. I have to stop this with Bridget. How could she miss the intake this morning? Poor thing. SHe is a mess. I remember Mom telling me I was going to have to take care of her the rest of my life. Scott was such a god send. She just does not understand how life works.
I was reading Patti Smith's take on Bob Dylan and how he transcends the lust part and the missing part of love and takes it to new heights. that is my pharasing. I always loved his love songs. They are so full of pain and want and need. And they, naturally, have gotten different as he has aged. Haven't we all? So I understand what Patti meant. Love means so many things but it prevails, it endures. Like the psalm - " love is great love is kind...."
I tried to find some Bible study class in C-ville and ran across several. Many at the Baptist church in DT c-ville. Another one at the Episcopal church. I will continue to make plans to 1) go to church 2) find a bible study class. I have strong memories of the Bible study in Southland. I truly had a spiritual awakening about Chirst and the bible. I loved it and took it seriously. I did the work book, I participated in the exercises and I hung out with some of the people. Like helping Diane with her house in Harrodsburg. I had a wonderful book mark she gave me. I wonder where it went. Anyway I long for those experiences again. I am not much of a joiner but when I do find something I like, it's wonderful.
The little black dress club sure fell on it's face. Not so much because of the members but because of the restrictions that LBDC forces. In other workds it is very limiting. I want to go to HBB parties etc. No go. Now they are having Japanese party. Love that. I should sign up, it is on a Friday night Feb. 22nd. If I sign up it will give me time to experiment with my dish.

Tuesday, January 4, 2011

750 Jan 4

OK Let's keep it going.
At work at the Mall and it is afternoon and I have just wolfed down lunch. I bought a can of soup from Walmart and dumped it into a plastic container. It was very good, but from the factory not from the farm! Also a salad covered in Chinese noodles, raisins and sunflower kernels. Yum yum. A great diet. Last night I drove to the Bucket only to find out that I do not work! I bolted out of there and headed down Wilma Rudolph in search of somewhere to spend some cash. I was dying to get a milk shake, but in the end I went home and had a hot chocolate. I figured with the marshmallows it was about 180 calories. Then I had three ghram crackers and some (awful) gummi bears. I laid on the couch and watched the traveling antique show on NPTV. The grandaddy of all these shows, Pickers & Pawn stars. I guess it was inevitable.
And it's inevitable that if I skip milkshakes and candy bars and cookies and cakes that I will loose weight. This morning I came in at 160. That's down 4lbs since I started and I like it. I feel better I think, though I woke up with a sore throat.. Third day in a row. Yuck.
I am wondering about the way things are going to go. I was reading all the S&D buzz on /from the newsletter (via e-amil) that Michele is rocking it baby. Top dog in KY and just behind Alex. She sold around 8 grand of jewelry and from my estimations made about $1600 dollars. Of course she will have to pay her taxes etc out of that so lets be realistic and back out her taxes say she netted $1300. Good for her. And how much did she spend to make that? I know I had to give her $100 or $10/hr for the place in Nashville - mama that was intense. I was so angry in a weird way b/c I knew nothing about the jewelry and that is my fault. I was mad at myself and transferred it to her. People came in and looked and asked questions like "how much" and if I tried to look it up I had no idea where to look!!lol. The people would pick something up and head towards "check out" to buy. It was terrible. But she did the right thing and split some sales with me. Made certain I made enough to qualify her for Star Stylist or what ever. Can you decider that I don't care much for her. I don't know what it is. She seems okay but there is something sort of Sarah Palin about her. And she does not seem to want to help much. She is not all that good at it. lol. Anyway - her daughter was a sweetheart. Maybe it was just the drive and ambition that turned me off. And it was convert. And she does not answer emails - lol.But odds are I will give it another try in time. I just want to know if I get any jewelry from the $875 (bottom of the barrel) lol that I sold.What else - I sent Bridget some money in the hopes that she can pick herself up. She wants to go fix herself up ie get her hair done, nails etc. I hope to God that this helps her out. If all her money is going for pills then it has to really be expensive. Hopefully this way she will save a lot of money in the long run.ANd Joe is working his butt off. I think I enjoyed not having a lot of time on my hands with nothing to do. Go from one job to the other and then sleep and then get back up and do it all over again. Not a lot of time to lay on the couch and day dream while watching movies or DWTS or Survivor. Which I usually taped anyway.Joe as playing with the wii when I left this morning. It looks like a bunch of fun. I hope to get that wii fitness is as much fun as it this sports dvd looks.Linda has gone to lunch and the door keeps opening and dinging. Everyone wants something. It's not too bad, reminds me of when I covered for that month in between. It was so great when she returned.I am not going to buy anything more on the Goodwill site for awhile. I have a collection building and guess what? Today I am wearing one of the necklaces. It is a mixture of designs. I think it is so much more fun to sell stuff like this than that manufactured stuff. This stuff is classic and fun.I need to stop with the Goodwill/c the shipping is crazy! I see something I like and its $13 to ship! Some of the stuff is lower but not often. I like the stuff that is vintage and I hope that it will parlay into something else.Well, I paid the BofA credit card bill this afternoon b/f Linda went off to lunch. I have a ot of stuff to pay here in the next couple of days. Rent mortgage. Bummer. But we both get paid and then the mortgage drops.I am so psydhed about maybe going to Tupelo and starting again. Maybe a different area will break the blah's I have about something. It was funny but I was so high until the holidays came around. I definitely think that I have SADD. I hate walking out of here and it is pitch black/dark out there. Jimmy Crickets! I am over the 750 by a bunch!

Monday, January 3, 2011

Jan 3 -750

I'm on a roll with 750 words and I don't want to screw it up now!
Back at work and it is OK. I am working on the gift card report and it is a pain in the butt b/c of the enormous amt. we sold for the holidays. I went to work at the Bucket yesterday and it was terrible. In the respect that it was packed and no one was buying. After the holidays no one was much in the mood. They didn't want to chat either, or maybe that was me! lol. I am burnt out at the Bucket, but I know that I prefer working nights vrs. days. The customers/guests stand around in packs looking at the dining room and counting the minutes until it is time to enter the dining room. Our new collections are nice, but nothing like the Xmas displays. People grabbing and buying and wrapping and kids everywhere. They were everywhere this week end. Kara and I had a nice morning together moaning and groaning about how boring it all is!
then Emilia came and I made some snide comment about her getting off early on NYE w/o doing any work. She bent batso and I knew I had/shouldn't have crossed that line with her. Shouldn't have said a thing. I just don't like Emilia much. especially after the Candi fiasco. She should have been gone and not C. But that's the way the ball bounces. E. will play the race card. She might pull it with HBTN about my remarks. You know what? I didn't say another word after she got started, "i don't need this job!' etc. etc. etc. She also went on and on about Kim and should have said it to her face and not to her co-workers and I felt like saying "Write a letter" but I literally bit my tongue. I did another time too when something she was yammering about was just too rich to pass over, but I did. She is a semi-lazy worker. She does not want to do much other than bull and shoot the breeze with the customers. I saw her in action the day she spilt the ice tea and spend a good hour or so farting around while I was going crazy running the floor. I hope she goes to the grill. I for one will not miss her. The kitchen will eat her up. She is funny, but not a good worker in my opinion, IMO.
Bridget wants me to front her her income tax money. I may do it, who knows. She certainly made more money that she ever has before. Good for her and I'm certain its even more since only tips on credit cards are reported. I am proud of her. But, she still should get the majority of her money back. I hope.
I wish more things exciting happened or are on my brain. Misplaced my Manifesto and now I have to recreate it from the picture I took for the Manifesto SS entry. And I am going to try and hold myself accountable for the list. I recall when we once all got together for Coke and wrote down our goals for the coming year. Then we wrote how we planned to get there. The steps needed and back up plans in case it did not work. Liked that and it really helped to achieve the goals that year. It gave yo focus.
Like How am I going to find another job/#1) where am I going to be? If its here, then I need to look here. If its there then I need to look there. I have a list somewhere of major employers in the area of Tupelo and I will tailor make my resume - or at least t sounds good to me.
#2) Jewelry - the loupe is on the way. Ineed to beef up my inventory for on-line selling. I want to be in some festivals and or road side shows like the 127 show and or Court Days. Those are fun. Also I need to jump start the S&D thing.
3) Senior Citizen interviews. I just need to contact the nursing homes and make some volunteer overtures. It's that simple. I could join a writing group. meet-up. Add in the paper - online groups.
4) CSA -here or MS we will find out
5) Make more time for letter writing and note card sending. I should just wake up earlier. I have been sleeping like a log for nights now!I have to be near 750 words and whoop there it is!

Sunday, January 2, 2011

750 words jan 2nd style

Hey cool. I am on a six day streak! It's closing in on 6am and I have been up for a little while now, since about 515ish. I remember all those years where 5am was the norm for a wake up call. I used the alarm clock back then - had to. Over none years with Coke and I miss it still three and 1/2 years later. It will stay with me forever, once a Coke girl always. I did like Home Market because I was always busy. I had a structure that I need. I need structure. I love being able to fly my own plane, but I need structure. One of my manifesto's is to take my job seriously. In a nutshell,t his means structure. Having a plan every day! And I could go it and still have my "day dreaming time"

Yesterday I posted the pictures of the Fitz Xmas and had a nice back and forth with Laura Burke and Hugh commented on one of the photo's - the one with Dan putting the drawers on over his pants. Mom has been giving Dan a set of Boxers for many years. Always fun. This year the Zink kids go a box on moldy bread. Man oh man was that funny. Priceless picture of their reaction. Laura tells me that they are having an 85th for her Mom in April. Could we possible get Mom to go? Maybe - but traveling is so hard on her. We'll see.

Woke up with a little sore throat. Yuck. Is my body's immune system in disarray since the stomach virus? I bought a bottle of Naproxen yesterday b/c my hip hurts so much and I think its a reoccurred of the bursitis and fear that it is arthritis and or my hip needs replacements. lol. The naproxen seems to help more than the ibprophen for sure.

Spoke to Bridgt 2X yesterday and both times she was upset distraught and crying. I try to coach her to help her util Wednesday when she gets the methodone clinic under her belt and life will be back to the way it was three years ago. At least I understand she needs the structure and the support she will get at the clinic. I hate to think she is in the midst of a life long addiction and treatment program. The money she will shell out - here is where I need to say that Ineed to go to Al-Anon so that it is not me shelling it out. I think she wants to change and become responsible and have a new set of friends but how she is to do it? Don't know.

I miss my GiSt writing. What wonderful things happened yesterday?

1) Had a whole afternoon to myself. Joe home at 8ish and I home at 2ish. Read the InStyle mag and posted pictures on FB and just farted around a little.
2) Drank three beers and they were delish. Woke up w/o hangover!
3) The simplicity of two boiled eggs. Since I am becoming obsesses with food since I am trying to follow this WW core diet it is becoming abundantly (lol) clear that simplicity is where it's at. From the farm not the factory. I have beans soaking for a bean soup, and the carcass of the chicken is in the refrigerator for soup stock for the next killer squash soup!
4) The petite fours from Figi. I was chowing down on them and then I let Joe take them off with him. Those rail roader's will love them!
5) FB in general. Sometimes I love it, sometimes I just am an outsider looking in and not really participating - but the fact that I am able to connect with my cousins (thought Laura is really kind of a 2nd cousin) and Hugh - definitely a 2nd cousin, it's just marvelous!

I woke up early so that I could do some things around the house that I normally would not do later in the day. I found it unrealistic that I would clean the kitchen or the living room in the late afternoon. Or do the taxes for the IRS though I better and I better start sending them money!

I need now to purchase a micro lens for the camera to photograph the jewelry that I hope to sell on ESTY. I have no idea what to price the pixies but I am certain trial and error will ensue. We will see.

Happy second day in January, first day of the GiSt 2011 style.

I also need a lap top - hmmmmmmmmm.

Friday, December 31, 2010

750 words December 31

New Years Eve! And I have it off. And so I am up an hour earlier than usual. And I laid in bed for at least 1/2 hour and marveled at my good fortune at not having to work. Have a full day planned with going to the library, getting my hair done, getting further in debt with purchasing the wii and at least one game for Joe.

Yesterday I arrived home, after shopping at Kohls and the liquor store, and had a letter from Debbie waiting for me. She thanked me for the angel ornament iI sent and it was waiting for her on her return from Key West. Then she told me everything that was going on in her life and how things had taken certain twists and turns. It was heaven getting a letter and on my manifesto for 2011 I have written that I want to keep in touch with people more thru the mail than I have previously. I use to send cards on a weekly basis to several people. I sent Bridget a card a week when she was with Scott. I sent Deb and email a day when she was in the midst of the break up with her husband. I sent cards to everyone. I stopped be cause I was not with Coke any longer and not on the road, stopped at shopping centers that had Hallmark stores and Dollar stores or Target's. Target was a good source for cards.

My aim today after the library is to head to Tuesday morning and see if they are carrying any not cards. They use to have the most wonderful selection. At least at the stores in Lex and Ft WAyne. The one in lou is where I found that beautiful gossamer paper that I ended up making X-mas cards with. They were very cool cards if I do say so.

I woke up several times during the night in a semi panic. I told myself that everything was going to be OK and went back to sleep. I had a couple, maybe 3 1/2 drinks of the run last night and then devoured a box of cereal! Not much left. There goes my whole diet for the day and I was doing so good. I had even passed up french fries. And I was so hungry yesterday afternoon. I don't know if I was really hungry or just wanting to eat. I had a clementine from the stash that Chris had in the refrid and it was delish! I had a couple of nuts once I arrived home and then a little bit of the left over chili and I was find until I was drinking and then almost polished off the box of cereal. It would of been ok but it had 6g of sugar so the rule is in Weight WAtchers, no sugar. Rats.

Heard from Bridget a little bit yesterday and she seemed better.

I received my beautiful green bead necklace from Goodwill in the mail and man oh man is it every a beauty. I need to locate a Loupe today and a micro/macro lens for the camera so that I can set myself up on ESTY. I left my list of books at the office so I need to drop in and get that so that I can continue to list them in case I find a buyer.

I also need to get my hair cut today! And send off the 2006 taxes - again! ANd find those 2004. They are in the garage some where.

Paul's party is tonight and I had committed to go. I have a room booked at the Inn by the Lake, which is that super funky place that Joe and I found 1/2 way in between Lou and Memphis and stayed at least two times. I want to say three, but I think it was only tow times. I have stayed three times when you count in the Sig Ep reunion party.

It should be a great party and I have a new pair of pants I picked up at Khols. With the Sonicare tooth brush. Once you use a Sonic there is no going back. This is my third one. The first I got after the much cheaper Oral B broke. The sonic is a dream. I have had this second one since 2005, I got it right after landing the job with Coke in FW. My first paycheck I ran into Sam's and renewed my cues and picked up a Sonic for around $80. Last night I paid $129 maybe, could have been more and the nice woman in front of me handed over a coupon printed from the internet for 20% off. So I guess I paid $105. $25 dollars more in five years. Hmmmm. ANd it was not Sam's Club.

Well there is my 750 word dump.

Thursday, December 30, 2010

750 Words Dec 30th

Another day another dollar. At least I made it to work on time, clocked in on the dot! I have a bunch of things to do today before leaving for the week-end, extended week-end. I don't know if we will get to go to Paul's because Joe has to work. A grain train or some such crap. If he doesn't go, then maybe I will but I doubt it. A reunion of 40 guys verses a small intimate party is going to be a different story.
Yesterday was a good day. I broke out my little pad and wrote "what wonderful things happened today" and was able to jot a few down. It's much easier when it is the day! Trying to reach back is difficult at the least. I believe that I played on the computer and found the Manifesto challenge with Sunday Scribbling and so I began to jot down a ton of things I would like to pursue or continue in 2011. I lifted another Dionis lip balm as Ihavve lost the other two. Good lord. I walked the Mall and said hi to everyone. I met some nice people at the Bucket and helped them purchase a musical box for $30. It is beautiful and I wish I had the gumption to buy the bears, but I'm certain they will be gone today. I bought the thrid sweater in that style that I love, the purple one this time. I think I may pick up a second black one. They re old women stuff, but nice. I am eating healthier and made a second batch of Squash soup which is the balm! I need to put a little ginger in the next batch and maybe some other eye opener taste. Curry? haha. But I felt so much better when I woke up this morning thinking, No candy and chips!
Manifesto.....I want to read more books, take more photo's, send more note cards and letters, make more telephone calls, tell people why I cherish them, go to AlAnon, pay off the IRS in record breaking time, start that Vintage Jewelry business, go to church, pray more, eat less, drink less, eat healthy, buy from the farm not the factory, join a CSA, be kinder to people, stop criticising people if only in my head, continue to learn with books on tape, buy Tony Robbins tapes on line, buy the Dale Caragie on line, sell my books, start a business on line (ESTY), volunteer at the senior sitizin home and conduct those interviews and write that book!, learn to work smarter ask myself How Can I Do THis Better, make more phone calls to friends, exercise more swim again and maybe take running seriously again, go to the doctor for my women things and get my teeth cleaned!, go on that cruise with Joe, be certain to give more to the needy and not judge, carry $5 with me to give away always when asked, visit more flea markets, buy local, save more money, write more and then write more again, go to the Farmers Market on a weekly basis, be kinder to people, watch less TV, get up earlier in the morning, make time to love Joe, smile more and mean it, help Bridget more in a way that will help her, make Alaynon a reality...
More to come as I think of them. As I grow older I realize how much I love and cherish my Mom. One day on the ride to Versailles I was listening to a Tony Robbins tape and wanted to tell her how blessed I was to have had her not only as a Mother but as a role model and that I missed living so close to her that I could come running over whenever she needed me, how much I missed that and wanted to be there. I think she heard me, because she is deaf on that side of her head and she changed the subject. She must have heard how it was coming from the heart because she mentioned Bridget and how she wanted so much for B to finish high school.
Speaking of B she called me again crying last night. I don't know how to help her. You know how you give advice and then they do not take it. I have mentioned that time and time again in this 750 word dump. They don't listen, maybe she enjoys her misery. Iknow it makes you feel much more alive. Funny how you go on and on taking everything for granted and suddenly you are faced with an earth shattering life changing experience and suddenly everything feels different more intensely and deeply. Well, she is fixated on this guy (who I would love to call a name but I will not!) and helping here is difficult. I offered to let her come down here and I would find her a place with Candi or someone from The Bucket. They are younger! But it would be a change.
We find out about Tupelo in a week or so. Looks good, but I am not going to count on it.

Wednesday, December 29, 2010

750 words December 29

I am not very good at the dump game. I am at work already and checking out Goodwill site to bid on anything that catches my fancy with these delusions of gradure that I somehow ill set up a web site, maybe Alphawoman's Vintage and sell it on ESTY or on the street corner. Heck, you never know do you? I do know that I am ga-ga over this jewelry phase of my life. Have I mentioned that I wish I had started it in the 1970's hell the 1960's? I saw a nice ittle bracelet that has multi colored gems in it and it reminded me of something I use to have when I was a kid! Anyway, I am now going to set my sites on these huge bbags of stuff and its just like a treasure hunt! One is out of Ft. Wayne and looks fabulous with a lot of turquoise.
I overslept today and woke up around 730am. I had been having this dream that a movie group came to the farm and wanted to film a documentary. Julu 22nd. But the next morning they were setting up camp for the shoot! I ran out there and told them that they had yet to get permission. They balked and told me that I had given them the word. I walked them into the parlor to meet the owner of the property, a little old woman who was dressed up like a princess and getting ballet lessons. The instructor was holding her as she extended her leg. I told this young pup that he had to ask her and that I did not appreciate his leaving last night (the day before?) without saying good bye. And there was this bull in the back field who noticed me looking out the window. I crouched down but the bull made like he was ready to charge (Hemingway yesterday?) and then my kitty got outside! Black and white. We know that old Blackie won't go outside. And it ws Missy Dotson's house from Big Sink Pike. After I thought about it I recognized the house. How long has that memory floated around in my brain?
I bought the kitty some balls to play with. They are smaller than a ping pong ball and have a ittle bell in the middle. Eight of them. They scared him to death. He crouched under his chair and looked at them. Good lord, this is such a pussy cat. I played with the dancing mouse. The one that we use to sit on Indika's head and he would look at us like we were crazy "Like this? You really want me to let this mouse sit on my head?"
I am at work and it is Linda and I and she has not been in a good mood for the past tow days. Probably because Adam is not here. Even when he is here he is not here. lol. Yesterday he brought in child #3 who was sick. Linda says we are all going to be sick because of it.
I am starting the Weight Watchers diet. Slowly at first - yea that's right, slow. I am going to go with the core thing. You eat everything you want from a certain group of food. There are no cookies or snacks in this group. Just from the farm! Fruits veggies and chicken and fish, that sort of stuff. I think I can do it as long as I remember to buy lots of veggies for variety. Right now all I have is a lot of fruit. I brought a banana and orange and an apple. I should be OK with digestion - lol.
Made the butternut squash soup again last night. It is delish but is missing just a little something. I might try a hint of fresh ginger the next batch I make. I was in Walmart last night because Emilia told me she would close the Bucket. her boyfriend got called into work and she did not have a ride home and so it goes. Heck yes! So I headed over to Walmart and finally found the X,as stuff, hidden in the garden section. It looked like the Grinch had been to walmart and taken it all away. Not a single bag of peppermint Hershey kisses remained. Glad I found two bags for Bridgie for Christmas. I ran into Suzy and Darien and Mindy at the Walmart. We stood in the aisle and talked for a good long while. I truly like them all! Honest. Then I went down to get some milk, since I am drinking the hell out of it with my hot chocolate and there was Adam's wife. She is not very friendly. She smiled but it was one of those smiles that is not warm or guinine (unlike my smile that is the exact opposite).
Well, the 750 words have passed me by and I guess that I have dumped what ever it is that needs to fly out of these finger tips.
Chis told me that the guy who had the heart attack did not make it. He died from a massive heart attack and that the flight surgeon nurse knew what she was doing by rolling him on his side to get a ittle bit of a pulse. But he did not make it. I searched the papers for some obit but did not find it. It happened Friday, New Years eve. Certainly it would have made the SUnday paper? We did not receive many papers at the office or Mindy took them and I did not get my copy. So I briefly scanned linda's and did not see it. I prayed for him, such a terrible time to go. He was 68 I thin Chris said.
So you never know, do you? I also say on tv this morning the best thing you can do for yourself is to eat from the Farm not from the Factory. to eat 1 2/2 serving of fruits and many veggies daily. To floss - and to sleep 7 - 9 hours a night. I certainly have the sleep down!

Tuesday, December 28, 2010

750 words dec 28th

I'm going to try and do this daily and then I am going to try and copy it. Did I say this yesterday? Well today it is going to happen!Spoke to Bridget before going to sleep last night and she hung up on me. Made me feel awful because I know she needs help and for someone to just listen to her. Today I called her back to see how she was doing and she told me that Scott had hung up on her also! I told her it might be her addiction and that she is not getting past it. When she says, "why doesn't he love me" and we say because he is a selfish asshole, and she says, why doesn't he love me? It gets a little old and I made her promise that she would begin to listen to people. When she says she does not know what to do and is asking for help then she needs to listen to the advice. The instruction. She is a mess and I told her that she could come down and stay with Joe and me. I don't know if this will work and I am certain it will kill Joe but it is just so that she will feel better and maybe I could find somewhere for her to stay. I know a lot of people from the CB and maybe one of them has a place. I think that Christa needs a place and a job - maybe her and B could get it together. Not that I would ever think B would act on it, but it could happen.
Then Heather be they name was in a mood last night and gave me a semi-lecture on how to fold bags and lay them just so in the box so that she could get couble the amount in there. And that I could just not throw them in there. God, I hate working when she is around. Geez. Kim just stood around acting sort of weird. I guess Kim is worn out and H puts so much pressure on her to perform and carry the load with her. Problem is that Kim is being paid $8.50/hr and Heather gets all the bonus etc. You think she shares any of that with Kim? Hell no. I have come to the place in my tenure with CB that it barely bothers me anymore. She is just not a very good manager and loves to tell people how to do things the way she wants them done. Lately she has been good about thanking us, but not recently.
It is a job that I can take with me if I go elsewhere. I am thinking about wandering in there Friday and taking the PAR II test. If we go to Tupelo, I would like to be a PAR III. I don't look forward to working at a CB, but at least I will have a job.
I cleaned the house yesterday. Well, washed dishes and tidies up the kitchen, took stuff to the garage. I tackled the bedroom and made some great progress. I like a clean orderly house. We have such little room!!
I forgot that at the Barrel a gentleman came up to me and told me that my smile was genuine and from the heart. That he could tell it was not fake but that I meant it. "You hav made my day" I told him. He vanished into the crowd.
I made butternut squash soup in the afternoon and it was so good. Was it healthy? Probably. All I added was about 2 tbls of cream cheese. I added some orange rind and a bay leaf. Imagine if I had used home made chicken stock. Hmmmmmmmm.
I am distressed both over Bridget and Danielle. I feel helpless to do a thing. Throwing money will not be the answer but actually enabling. I decided that I would be the one to go to Alanon for us all. Will I?
And I found the weight watcher stuff and I will look it over today and begin to eat healty - healthier. I woke up this morning feeling bad. Could it be because I ate potato chips and 4 magnetics and a handful of chocolate covered cherries from 2pm onward. And a cup of hot chocolate before bed? What a diet. I also want to start swimming and doing some yoga. To run again would be devine. I know I could do it as the shoe inserts make walking and standing on my feel about as simple as it was 20 years ago - lol.
I bought a white sweater yesterday along with a jasamine candle and two CD's at the bucket. I put my check in the mail to Citizens. I may be overdrawn. I just hope it gets there fast.
i miss reading and taking care of the house and all that jazz. Oh yea, I found the list of books I have! Should I scan it in or should I type them in?I had three hits on the selling the books. I could maybe unload the whole batch. But, I must remember that it would be for resale and that I can not hope too much for the IRS to back off!

Thursday, December 17, 2009

Thirteen Moons by Charles Frazier

First off, let me began by saying that I read Cold Mountain twice. I remember in great detail laying in bed while I lived on Sutherland Dr., recuperating from a D&C and reading the book in one long drink, and crying out loud, sobbing at the enc.

As with Cold Mountain, I did not want Thirteen Moons to end.

A magical book, but I read it in one long week. I found the book in the Goodwill on Madison, the clerk was putting up all the books from those large canvas carriers that I love so dearly. He allowed me to dive in and wade among the books he had yet to shelve and there it was!

I grabbed it and clutched it to my breast and knew that I had a book that was going to be a treasure if remotely akin to CM.

And was it? It was like magic. I could not rip through the pages as I am prone to doing. I did not skip, skim or grow bored at any time of the week's read. Last evening as the last pages loomed ahead of me, I laid down the book and thought, "I'll finish it in the morning..."

I loved it. Magic on the pages.

Wednesday, December 9, 2009

Travel Writing - Peter Ferry

I liked this book quite a bit. I have a few questions about the plot, like I couldn't grasp why the Doc killed the girl. I assume it was a crime of passion due to two lovers (or patients) finding out about each other and the one who was offed would have done something about the betrayal. It never was exactlly explained. Nor why the victim's sister also was a patient (lover) of the evil Doc.

And the travel pieces were just thrown in. The Mexico picies were OK. The canoe piece was so boring. The Mexico piece brought us and introduced the character Charlie to us, who traveled to IL on a bus and stayed one day. That made no sense whatsoever. He could have stayed logner, but then another story would have emerged and I guess that Peter had little use for him then killed him off.

The Irelenad piece was good only because Ihave been in those places! County Clare. I know he called some other city the musical hot spot of Clare, but in fact it is Ennis. Anyway, the little trip back to memory lane was nice, but uneccessary.

Still, I enjoyed the writing if the story was a bit too male fantasyish.

Tuesday, December 1, 2009

Bordeaux - paul torday

At times I will call up Amazon and read the reviews before finishing a book. I was not certain what I was feeling reading Bordeaux. Perhaps a bit of confusion. The reviews compared it to Memento a disjointed film from the 90's that had no linear path through the story.

I never understood the motivation behind the character until the very last pages, which quite honestly I skimmed over. The people he was so enamoured with bored me to tears.

yet, the total outline for my own "novel" (god help me) was revealed to me during those last paragraphs.

i guess to say I finished the novel ant at times the prose was wonderful, the images were very satisfying. But I'm glad it's over and that it's time to move on to another story, maybe this one with more sympathetic characters.

Friday, November 20, 2009

Eventide

by Evan Haruf

Did not read his first book Plainsong which this book is a continuation of the town and the caharacters....I suspect that only the outlines and smoke shadows of the characters of the last book are here.

A very sad book. One that I read hoping for an ending that would be satisfying and give hope for the lives of those who begin to matter to us.

But, like real life, there are no truly happy endings. People do not learn from their mistakes and children get raw deals.

My heart broke and every time the chapters were about the two children of the seemingly mentally challenged parents I held my breath. Nothing good ever happened for them. They ended up in a foster home, maybe with better haircuts, but with nothing.

How empty and sad.

I realize a whole lot of people compare this type/style of writing with Hemingway...sparce bare boned. But the hoplesness of the children left me empty at the end.

Monday, November 9, 2009

Bastard out of Carolina

by Dorothy Allison

It seems I am reading a certain kind of formula book these days. Or perhaps I am just seeing the pattern finally. Have a protagonist and then then have one hateful character the reader can focus on. The villain. It's the perfect formula.

I have read two books with similar themes, the sexual abuse of children, incest and out and out child abuse. It makes my stomach ball up in a knot and I want to choke the stupid characters who allow this kind of cruelty to go on.

The Bastard out of Carolina did not satisfy in a way that made the ride worthwhile. I wanted justice and justice was not given. I want to know what happened to the mother, why the mother did not pick up the butter knife after witnessing the step father raping her 12 year old daughter. I don't care. I just don't care. I would have killed him. I just don't care.

I did not find it sitting well with me that he was not beat within an inch of his life for what he did. The uncles beat the hell out of him when he beat her, why not kill him for raping her?

the mother should have gone to jail for her part of it.

I read it with anxiety building hoping that I would feel redeemed in the end, but it just made me sad.

Wednesday, November 4, 2009

A Parchment of Leaves

by Silas House

Beautiful prose that wind around you like a spiders web spinning the story. This was his second novel...I did not read the first, but have read one after this. I love any novels about Kentucky. The especially good ones are always written by and about Eastern KY and the mountains.

Just gives itself to stories of ghosts, the supernatural, family, unspoken secrets.

Long live Silas House.

Saturday, October 31, 2009

Fall on your knees - by ann-marie macdonald

This book became a little ponderous at times. Yet, it was an Oprah Book club choice. As all Oprah's book seem to have a particular theme, so does this one and that theme is children.

Three "sister" and then a fourth. The book winds it's way through the tale of the Piper's and the ytragic life of the Mom. It was easy to hate the father, and the sister Kathleen - on man, I did not warm to that character at all. Was I suppose to? And the final chapters when all is revealed, yawn yawn. Another character introduced, Rose. And then another, Anthony. The "diary" of Kathleen brings it all together, but it sits like an unbaked lump dough in the mouth. Why are we suppose to care?

I would have like the "child" Lily to have ended up differently, exepted by the "other" side of the family.

Oh well, most of Oprahs books hit the mark.

Will I stop reading them? Hell no. Thought it took me all week to read the 500 pages and at times I fell asleep, it was a good story.

Saturday, October 24, 2009

The patience of Rivers

by Joseph Freda

It took me about 10 days to finish this book. I was excited to read it at the beginning because of the subject material. The summer of 1969. Viet nam War. Walking on the Moon. Woodstock. The protagonist was a teenage, just graduated from high school and facing the draft, college, going to Woodstock...

But I could never ever warm to the characters and just plugged along. Woodstock was a back drop, the Moon walk was a paragraph that was also a setting for sitting on some canoes and some moon watching, the Viet Nam war was thrown in as sort of an afterthought another back story that really made little to no substance to the story. It just sat there like an elephant in the room.

And the heart of the story just made my teeth ache. His parents go into business with a real shit head. He puts up nothing, but they put up the family farm!! It made not one iota of sense to me that these people could be so daft! And int he end, the grand parents loose their land and their home. But his family comes out smelling like a rose...

An interesting angle was the mafia coming in and putting the squeeze on the shit heads son....

Drinking at a bar at all ages???WTF!! Even in 1969 this seems a far stretch. I remember my swimming coach taking us into a bar (what was he thinking!!!) and we got thrown out. That would have been around that time...

An okay book, Really wanted much much more out of it. Written too much like an adult remembering his childhood than a book written from the view point of a kid.

Just went to Amazon for the review and I am trulyin the minority. Every reviewer loved the book. Oh well...

Thursday, October 15, 2009

The Divide

I have to admit, it took me a long time to get into the swing of things with this book. I did not care for any of the characters for a long time. I could have done without all the sympathy for poor Ben. His wife Sarah seemed an ice queen for most the novel.

Yet, as it progressed I became more interested and wanted to learn how the daughters body was found at the bottom of a mountain frozen forever in youth and pregnancy to be found by two skiers who also almost met their demise at the bottom of a long fall..

Anyway, an okay book. I have read all of Nicholas Evans' books and I think I enjoyed this one the least. For some reason - because I do not remember much of the story lines - the vast outdoors played more of a character than in this book. The Rocky Mountains were just a back drop, like necessary for the frozen grave rather than any other purpose.

Finished with a marathon read this morning, had to find out who killed her and every thing fell into place easily, except how he found them, in the dark, in a place he had never been before in a cabin that was totally unassociated with any of them.

Go figure, but it had to end that way.