Woe is Me...

You are invited to my pity party.....but I promise not to let it go on too long!!

In the past 7-10 days, the garage fluorescent ceiling lights burned out, and now the kitchen lights are flickering, which necessitates a trip to Home Depot to buy the U-shaped rods. Next time I buy a ceiling fixture, it will hold regular light bulbs!! In the past 10 days, at least 4 other bulbs have burned out. 

Last week, half of the 4-slice toaster gave up the ghost. Only 2 slots work and I cannot get the other side to catch and hold when I press the lever down. Ordinarily, I just have to shake out the crumbs and it will work, but not this time.  

Another leaky pipe has made its presence known; mr. kenju heard the spray  (either under the house or in the wall) and I found moist evidence. We turned off the breaker to the water pump  (which also controls the heat pump on the lower level), so we have no water and no heat on the first floor. When there is no water, we cannot flush toilets - so after three days - the bathrooms are getting rank. 

We called a plumber on Friday, who didn't return our calls and still hasn't. The last time we had him here, he was efficient, pleasant and cost-effective. We were disappointed when he didn't call. We called another plumber, recommended by a friend, who also didn't return our calls. A third call to a large plumbing concern elicited the same response. It is as if the world has decided to give us a very loud and messy raspberry. So, we called Bennie  (not his real name.) He said he would be here at 9am Sunday. 

Bennie is very nice "good old WV boy", who has fixed many a problem here. His specialty is heating and air, but like many of the good old WV boys I grew up with, including my dad, he can fix almost anything - and does it well. He takes pride in his work, plus he is kind and compassionate to older people. I was watching as his truck approached our driveway. He stopped and got out to get our newspaper. I was so pleased, since the driveway is likely slippery and I wouldn't have chanced going out to get the paper until I knew for certain I wouldn't fall. 

See, in all this mess, it decided to snow. We had been told that there would be no accumulation and it wouldn't stick on the roads, since our temperatures were up to 70* on Friday. The weather people predicted that the snow would start at 4 pm on Saturday, but it made its first appearance about 9 am. Fluffy large flakes of wet and messy snow that, as our temperatures dropped, turned to frozen slush on the roads. I left on a errand with my daughter about 10 am and saw first hand that the roads, especially in little-used areas were becoming slush-filled. 

We thought we might not get any plumber to come until all the snow was gone, but we should have known that a good old WV boy wouldn't let a 1" glazing of snow and ice bother him!! He thinks the leak is in the wall, but it is (past) time for that bathroom to be redecorated anyway, so if he has to tear out part of the wall, it gives me a perfect excuse to repaint and change the color scheme. (Not that I'm looking for things to keep me busier.....lol)

In the middle of all this, I worked five days straight for Valentine's Day. I only lasted 5-6 hours each day, but I loved being there and I hope that I helped ease the stress of the busiest week in a florists's life. I even made it on TV. A local news anchor came to the shop with her camera man to interview the owner for a spot on Valentine's Day flowers. I thought the camera man was just setting up the camera for that, but when I saw it on TV, he was filming me.....lol  (I'll sign autographs later......maybe.)

So, that's what's going on with me......what's happening in your neighborhood?  

Happy Valentine's
           Day!!

Judge and Jury

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  A long-time blog-writer friend of mine, with whom I was also friends on Facebook, has been deleted from my friends list and I want you to know that I didn't take that step lightly. 

  
  

  I used to marvel at her blog posts telling what she accomplished over the past day or week. She seemed to have an inexhaustible supply of energy and an excellent work ethic, which I admired. She started a farm with her husband and together they have transformed it into a showplace. She grows the food she cooks, bakes, sews, crafts, quilts, raises horses, and decorates every room in her home at Christmas time. I don't aspire to most of that, but I can admire it in those who do - and put it into practice. 

  
  

  Over the past year, I have watched Sue  (not her real name) get more and more narrow-minded about many things; namely politics and personal conduct. She wrote a post on Facebook earlier this week about not supporting actors, musicians, artists, etc. unless their personal lives reflect her moral code.  It sounded very self-righteous to me, and I said as much, trying to keep it less of a personal attack on her and more of a statement of my beliefs. My point was that you can sometimes enjoy a performance without having to reflect on or judge the person's private life.  It was not well-received. Apparently, you are not allowed to disagree with Sue. The responses to my comments had  Biblical references** (several of which were interpreted very strictly to agree with her statements, in reference to "casting the first stone.") One of her children also posted a similar comment. 

  
  

  I never got into a discussion with Sue about politics; especially during this last campaign. She was so very much against one of the candidates. Many of her posts during that time were similar to conspiracy theories and the like. I didn't un-friend her, but I didn't say much about it. After all, I can be friends with someone who doesn't agree with me on all aspects of life - we just agree not to discuss those things. She had many things about her personality and writings that were valuable and just because we didn't agree about some things didn't mean I had to "toss the baby out with the bathwater."

  
  

  During that time, a mutual friend sent a message (to me) about Sue's increasingly weird political/survivalist opinions, and before long, that friend "un-friended" Sue.  Recently, another FB friend sent a private message asking me about Sue, whom she felt was "going over the edge" in her rants about current events, including gun control issues.

  
  

  Today Sue posted about addressing envelopes and how it is becoming a lost art. Specifically, she had been receiving invitations to the events of friends and family that were so poorly addressed she had made the decision to "not only not attend the event, but not send a present either" unless the invitation was addressed in a perfectly correct manner. It bothered me, and her earlier rants about morals compounded it. 

  
  

  Here is what I wrote to her:

  
  

  "I agree with part of what you said. Most people are getting less and less formal with their writing, as well as their speech, and it doesn't portend well for the future. However, saying that you won't attend a function (or even send a gift) JUST because the invitation envelope was not addressed correctly? Another example of your self-righteousness. Who made you the judge and jury of all, Sue? God forbid one of your children ever makes a mistake. I can't imagine what the punishment would be."

  
  

  On re-reading my response, it sounds a wee bit harsh to me - but had you read her posts and FB updates over the past few weeks, you would have noticed a clear progression toward little to no tolerance of other people's shortcomings. Think about it. If we decided not to support any person who had ever made a moral mistake in life, who would be left??? Someone under the age of five, I'll wager.  I will not argue that some actors, musicians and other public figures are alley cats in their personal lives, and they do not seem to want to alter their actions in the hopes of becoming a better person. I don't buy their CD's or attend their movies (mostly) but who among us is without sin?  Their performances, music or art have value that we can enjoy and learn from without always having to dwell on their morals. 
  
  **Don't get me wrong; I am far from being anti-religious; nor am I against reading and quoting the Bible (or any other religious book). But if you quote it, you ought to be living it (or trying hard to) in my opinion. You can't select parts of it to prove your points and leave out other verses that would prove you wrong or misguided. 
  
  I can quote the Bible too - and the quote that most often springs to my mind is "Judge not, lest ye be judged."  
  
  

  
  

  
  

  
  

  
  

  
  

  
  

  
  

  
  

  
  

  
  

  
  

  
  

Are You Tired Yet?

I mean, are you tired of hearing about Sammy, the vagabond neighborhood visiting cat?  Sorry, but you'll need to skip this post. 

Early this morning as I entered the kitchen, mr. kenju told me that Sammy had just walked by the kitchen windows on the deck. I opened the door and called to him, but he didn't appear. A few minutes later, I opened the front door and saw him sitting on my neighbor's front porch. I called the familiar "Here, kitty, kitty and he ran across the street lickety -split and came inside. I put food out and he turned up his nose and walked into the guest room, where he took his always popular nap on the wool coverlet. 

About three hours later, he appeared again, nibbled a bit of food and asked to go out. As the temps had risen to the mid 50's, I went out too. Sammy followed me all around the deck as I picked up fallen branches and tossed them into the woods; pausing to lie in the sun for a few minutes, until some wind-blown leaf caught his eye, sending him on a wild-goose chase. He'd soon lose interest and resume following me. Eventually, I came back inside and he wandered away. 

Late afternoon found me going to the flower shop I work for on a part-time basis. They have monthly classes and I went in to help with that. As I came back into my street on the way home, I saw Sammy sitting in the grass between my house and the house next-door. I rolled down the window and told him to come home with me and get warm and cozy. Sure enough, he was waiting on the front porch by the time I got into the garage. He wasn't hungry tonight either, but he went off upstairs to sleep and I haven't seen him since 8:15. 

He really is the perfect pet. He's fully house-broken, he doesn't eat much here  (because at least two other women feed him) and he hardly ever meows - although when he does - it sounds like a young baby crying. Luckily, he's seldom noisy. The only problem is that when he is not here, I worry about him, and wonder if he is cold and damp or hungry.

On another note, when I was at the flower shop class tonight, I ran into a bride for whom I had done wedding flowers 5-6 years ago. She and her mom left her children with their dad and granddaddy and came for a "girl's night out". I was gratified to hear that they had loved their wedding flowers and were still pleased with them. I never tire of hearing that!

No Dog in the Fight

Football and I don't get along. I don't like the game and while I knew all about scoring in high school, I have forgotten more than I ever knew.  But, we were invited (more like barged our way in) to my daughter's yesterday, so we/mr. kenju could see the game on their big HD TV. 

Ever the  good hostess, she and her newish husband plied us with wings, sausage balls, Palmetto cheese and crackers, pizza and best of all - Molten Lava cake - a chocolate concoction that defies description. Suffice it to say it was goooooooooood. 

I had not picked a team (I never do) but geography aside, I just like the name "Ravens" better - so while I had my nose buried in my laptop and Facebook, I was quietly pulling for the Ravens to win. Mr. kenju said the black out would mean a loss of momentum and that the other team had a chance of pulling along-side, if not ahead. For a while it appeared as though he may be right. But the Ravens prevailed. We left early; while the blackout was still going on, and missed a few good commercials. Luckily, they are being shown on FB, so I can catch up. None of them appealed greatly to me, but the Clydesdale commercial tugged at my heartstrings. 

Speaking of blackouts, what the heck happened?  Wouldn't you think that a place like that would have in-house generators? They should. It is unthinkable that the possibility of a blackout during the biggest game of the year could be allowed. Shame on whomever. 

I'm off to the ophthalmologist this morning. My glasses are about four years old and the fine print is eluding me. I wish I was a candidate for surgery, but I would still have to wear glasses or contacts (they tell me). I know one thing; if my eyelids droop on my lashes any further, I'll be blind. Wish me luck.

My Mother, My Roommate and the Beatles

Back in the early 60's when the Beatles first came on the music scene, I instantly fell  in love with their music and I wanted to share it with my mom. She and Dad came to visit me and I played "Meet the Beatles" for them. The reaction was not good, of course. She didn't like them any better than she had the down and dirty rhythm and blues I preferred earlier in my life. My dad was noncommittal. (He didn't have opinions in those days, since my mom had them all.)

I was determined to sway her, so in the 70's, when I found an album of the Beatles music played by a string orchestra, I nearly wore it out, playing it while they were again visiting. She was not told whose music it was, and after she had heard it  (and not complained) several times, I told her where the music came from. You should have seen the look on her face!  She was so surprised, and she admitted that perhaps I had been right about the Beatles abilities after all. 

The same thing happened with my roommate the first time we heard "I Want to Hold Your Hand" on the car radio in 1963 or 4. She changed the station almost immediately, and I asked her to change it back so I could hear that song. I loved it and she hated it from the start. She said,  "Who the heck are those guys? They will never be popular! I don't know how you can stand to listen to that!!"

She is the same roommate who said my marriage to mr. kenju would never last. I have not seen her since 1965, and I wish I knew how to contact her. I would say ".....funny how that 

Beatles thing worked out, huh? and by the way, we are going to celebrate our 49th anniversary this year."  I'd love to see the look on her face....lol  

Ranting (but Quietly)

Risking the chance that I may make some enemies, this post is directed more toward Facebook than bloggers. But this venue is better for longer statements, so I am writing it here and posting a link there. 

I was raised in a Methodist church and I consider myself a Christian, even though I don't go to church on a regular basis. I have attended often for 7 out of the last 10 years, but not now. I affirm our Lord and his Son as my Savior - but I do not feel the need to tell people that every day of my life. Showing by example is far more important than talking about it. I may fall short in that, but I try. 

I love my husband, my son and my two daughters and all my grandchildren, cousins, etc.  and if I had a brother or sister I am sure I would love them too.

I hate cancer and all other insidious diseases, even those that are invisible, such as chronic fatigue syndrome and Lupus. 

I love animals and I do what I can to nurture, rescue, feed, shelter and love some.

My parents and grandparents are in Heaven (presumably) and I miss them every day.


SO, people, I would be pleased if you would quit posting on Facebook and asking me to

click "like" or "share"    IF:

I love Jesus.  (I don't honk at the bumper stickers, either.)
If I have someone in Heaven whom I love.
If I know someone with cancer or an invisible disease.
If I love animals.

Often, the requests say to click like within a few seconds. 

Please tell me how that can help anyone or anything???  Do you know anyone who admits to hating animals, loving cancer, not minding that a loved one is dead? I don't. I do know people who don't care a whit about Jesus, but they have their own religions and I am not bothered about that. But I often feel a bit guilty if I don't immediately click 'like', so I'd be much obliged if you would refrain from posting such stuff. You can ask for prayers - I am happy to do that - and it might do some good. I am fairly sure that clicking "like" has no effect.