Sunday, September 21, 2008
Friday, September 19, 2008
Cake Decorating
I went to a local church last night to watch one of the members decorate a cake. She had baked a large cake and surrounded it with numerous cupcakes. She explained that she had cut the top slightly to make the correct shape so that it would look like a tiger and had brought strips of licorice and numerous colored jelly beans, and some chocolate icing. The cake had already been decorated with yellow icing and she took a small brush and painted on some chocolate lines for whiskers and then pulled apart the licorice for decoration. After placing the first couple of licorice strings she licked her fingers. I thought it was done in a moment of absent mindedness, but amazingly each time she placed the licorice and jelly beans she would lick the stickiness off ! I looked at my neighbor and raised my eyebrows and she started to giggle slightly.
After the decorating was finished we all admired the cake and it did look very nice. I was new to the group so there was no way I was going to speak up, and in any case, the point was moot after the first few licks. I made up my mind there was nothing that would induce me to eat any of it. Apparently everyone else felt the same way. The woman who had done the decorating left after she had finished, while the rest of us stayed for another talk, and the cake remained untouched on the table. I joked to my neighbor, "Want some licky tiger cake ?" and we both had a good laugh. I imagine the cake ended up in the trash bin. What a waste !
After the decorating was finished we all admired the cake and it did look very nice. I was new to the group so there was no way I was going to speak up, and in any case, the point was moot after the first few licks. I made up my mind there was nothing that would induce me to eat any of it. Apparently everyone else felt the same way. The woman who had done the decorating left after she had finished, while the rest of us stayed for another talk, and the cake remained untouched on the table. I joked to my neighbor, "Want some licky tiger cake ?" and we both had a good laugh. I imagine the cake ended up in the trash bin. What a waste !
Wednesday, September 17, 2008
Politics, the government debt bailout
I just arrived home to find that my next door neighbors had a McCain, Palin sign posted on their front hillside. I was rather shocked !! It's the first one I've seen although there is an Obama sign just down the street. Actually I had not completely decided who I was going to vote for until McCain chose Palin. I am getting bad vibes from her, rather like I have been getting from President Bush so now have come down decisively on the side of Obama. It is unfortunate that the process of choosing a presidential candidate is decided the way it is. I don't think I would have chosen either candidate.
Of the two, Obama is a much more interesting speaker in my opinion. I've found McCain's speeches somewhat lacking on the whole and he is inclined to be repetitive. Obama has a great voice and knows how to project his personality to inspire people. Of course we all know they can rarely follow through on their campaign promises, maybe that's why they both seem to be avoiding policy speeches and concentrating on 'picking' on each other. With all the major problems facing this country their behavior is unbelievable.
Unfortunately President Bush has really divided this country. Even though I am a person who tries to be open minded I find it hard to feel any connection with anyone who admires him. I have a friend who is barely on speaking terms with her sister, since the sister still likes Bush and approves of his policies, whereas my friend is appalled and upset. She has said several times that she can't believe someone raised in her family can't see him for what he is !! When he was reelected 4 years ago it was unbelievable to me. How could someone I could see so clearly was a ghastly mistake get reelected ?! Even the word 'bush' gives me a bit of a start nowadays. That's another unfortunate thing, the way words get corrupted. The word 'gay' is a case in point. (I have a cousin in England called Gaye).
It appears that the government is doing a great job of destroying this country, particularly in the last 8 years. However, I don't mean just the present administration, since each seems to manage to make missteps, including Clinton with the Glass Seagal act. Of course it is easy to look back and see things in hindsight. Now we appear to be nationalizing debt while the fraudsters get away with millions.
I was reading that the wealthy are the ones who cause most of the earth's pollution, and I am not surprised. My handyman said he has seen numerous examples of the wealthy, who when they put their houses up for sale redo everything to appeal to a buyer. After the house sells, he is often referred by the previous owner and everything is torn out and redone.
Seems to me we would be better off without political parties - and instead each appointed lawmaker should be elected for their ability to represent the average Joe and Jane instead of the present situation where they seem mainly to represent wealthy businessmen.
Of the two, Obama is a much more interesting speaker in my opinion. I've found McCain's speeches somewhat lacking on the whole and he is inclined to be repetitive. Obama has a great voice and knows how to project his personality to inspire people. Of course we all know they can rarely follow through on their campaign promises, maybe that's why they both seem to be avoiding policy speeches and concentrating on 'picking' on each other. With all the major problems facing this country their behavior is unbelievable.
Unfortunately President Bush has really divided this country. Even though I am a person who tries to be open minded I find it hard to feel any connection with anyone who admires him. I have a friend who is barely on speaking terms with her sister, since the sister still likes Bush and approves of his policies, whereas my friend is appalled and upset. She has said several times that she can't believe someone raised in her family can't see him for what he is !! When he was reelected 4 years ago it was unbelievable to me. How could someone I could see so clearly was a ghastly mistake get reelected ?! Even the word 'bush' gives me a bit of a start nowadays. That's another unfortunate thing, the way words get corrupted. The word 'gay' is a case in point. (I have a cousin in England called Gaye).
It appears that the government is doing a great job of destroying this country, particularly in the last 8 years. However, I don't mean just the present administration, since each seems to manage to make missteps, including Clinton with the Glass Seagal act. Of course it is easy to look back and see things in hindsight. Now we appear to be nationalizing debt while the fraudsters get away with millions.
I was reading that the wealthy are the ones who cause most of the earth's pollution, and I am not surprised. My handyman said he has seen numerous examples of the wealthy, who when they put their houses up for sale redo everything to appeal to a buyer. After the house sells, he is often referred by the previous owner and everything is torn out and redone.
Seems to me we would be better off without political parties - and instead each appointed lawmaker should be elected for their ability to represent the average Joe and Jane instead of the present situation where they seem mainly to represent wealthy businessmen.
Thursday, September 11, 2008
The Lost Art of Letter Writing
My mother will be 100 years old this year. Goodness, that makes me feel old too ! I have applied for a congratulatory letter from The White House and, since she was born in England, one from the Queen (actually my brother put in that application). I am not an admirer of President Bush, but have put aside my political feelings, since I know it will please my mother !!
Last year, when she was 98 1/2 (yes, as you get very old you go back to halves !!) I could no longer care for her, so with very mixed feelings, and a great deal of guilt, I found a small board and care home for her. After doing so I had to pack up all her possessions so her house could be rented out to provide income for her care. My mother had kept most of the letters sent to her over the last part of her life, and a few from earlier years, and they are all piled in a large purple plastic container. Yesterday I decided to go through them to discover any snippets of information about our family history, that they might contain.
That got me thinking about the fact that no one writes "real" letters any more. It used to be such a thrill to go to the mailbox and find a handwritten letter from one of the family, or an old friend. Even a typed letter, though not as personal, was exciting to receive. Sometimes I print out my own email letters, or email I receive, if I think they might be interesting for posterity, but somehow a handwritten letter is much nicer. Handwriting is so distinctive and just holding a handwritten letter brings strong memories of the person in a way that a typed letter doesn't. Just one glance and you can tell who it is from if you have seen their handwriting before. I have some books on handwriting analysis and it gives amazing insight into a person's personality.
The purple box is filled to the brim with letters from some of my mother's brothers and sisters (she had seven), letters from myself, my children, my brother, some of her old friends. There are letters from my stepfather, written in the early years of their relationship when my mother visited family in England on several occasions. Letters from an old boyfriend and his mother. It is sad to think that since the advent of email all that will be lost. I am just as guilty as the next person, since I haven't written a personal letter for some years and even when I do I almost never use a pen, since I have arthritis in both the middle fingers of each hand, which makes my writing look rather crabbed unless I am very careful. It also seems that writing a letter with a pen provokes more thought and brings forth more detail than one would write in an email. You have a piece of paper of a certain size to fill, so look for information that will fill it up.
Unfortunately over the past ten to 15 years all that has been lost. Time to rummage for some writing paper and start again !!
Last year, when she was 98 1/2 (yes, as you get very old you go back to halves !!) I could no longer care for her, so with very mixed feelings, and a great deal of guilt, I found a small board and care home for her. After doing so I had to pack up all her possessions so her house could be rented out to provide income for her care. My mother had kept most of the letters sent to her over the last part of her life, and a few from earlier years, and they are all piled in a large purple plastic container. Yesterday I decided to go through them to discover any snippets of information about our family history, that they might contain.
That got me thinking about the fact that no one writes "real" letters any more. It used to be such a thrill to go to the mailbox and find a handwritten letter from one of the family, or an old friend. Even a typed letter, though not as personal, was exciting to receive. Sometimes I print out my own email letters, or email I receive, if I think they might be interesting for posterity, but somehow a handwritten letter is much nicer. Handwriting is so distinctive and just holding a handwritten letter brings strong memories of the person in a way that a typed letter doesn't. Just one glance and you can tell who it is from if you have seen their handwriting before. I have some books on handwriting analysis and it gives amazing insight into a person's personality.
The purple box is filled to the brim with letters from some of my mother's brothers and sisters (she had seven), letters from myself, my children, my brother, some of her old friends. There are letters from my stepfather, written in the early years of their relationship when my mother visited family in England on several occasions. Letters from an old boyfriend and his mother. It is sad to think that since the advent of email all that will be lost. I am just as guilty as the next person, since I haven't written a personal letter for some years and even when I do I almost never use a pen, since I have arthritis in both the middle fingers of each hand, which makes my writing look rather crabbed unless I am very careful. It also seems that writing a letter with a pen provokes more thought and brings forth more detail than one would write in an email. You have a piece of paper of a certain size to fill, so look for information that will fill it up.
Unfortunately over the past ten to 15 years all that has been lost. Time to rummage for some writing paper and start again !!
Thursday, September 4, 2008
Grandchildren
Although I loved being a mother, I wouldn't want to do it again. Not for lack of physical energy, but the strain of being on call 24 hours a day and coping with all the traumas of childhood: falls, emotions, tantrums, illness, sibling rivalry, fights, etc. I have tremendous respect and admiration for grandparents who raise their grandchildren, often with the added burden of very little money.
I adore my own grandchildren and when they arrive for a visit I am delighted, but when they leave, it is so peaceful ! Something all my adult children expect me to do, is talk to their tiny children on the phone. I can seldom understand a word they say and what they do say is usually at full decibel. Rather the way the British were renowned in the mid 20th century for shouting at foreigners, as if that would make up for the lack of comprehension.
When my second child was born, I had the naive expectation that she, as a tiny baby, would be exactly the same as my firstborn. Nothing could have been further from the truth, but it still amazes me, with each baby born into the family, how each one differs so much, almost from the very first day. My firstborn, a son, was a screamer who had a hard time digesting his food even though he was being nursed. Until he was about two years old he hated to be cuddled, unless he was being fed, since he saw it as restrictive. At 6 months I stood him up in his crib to show him that he could see out the window into the garden, and after that nothing stopped him. He would haul himself up and stand there, shaking and wobbling until he fell over from exhaustion. He was a very quiet child, and would play for hours by himself. He didn't speak clearly until he was almost 5 years old, when he learned to read in just a few weeks. I had never taught a child to read before, so didn't realize how unusually fast he was learning. By the time he started school he was reading at a 6th grade level.
My second child, my first daughter, had to be woken for each meal. She slept almost round the clock for the first few months, and grew fat and sassy until she started crawling, when she slimmed down. She never sat down to play, but was always roaming about looking for mischief !!
I adore my own grandchildren and when they arrive for a visit I am delighted, but when they leave, it is so peaceful ! Something all my adult children expect me to do, is talk to their tiny children on the phone. I can seldom understand a word they say and what they do say is usually at full decibel. Rather the way the British were renowned in the mid 20th century for shouting at foreigners, as if that would make up for the lack of comprehension.
When my second child was born, I had the naive expectation that she, as a tiny baby, would be exactly the same as my firstborn. Nothing could have been further from the truth, but it still amazes me, with each baby born into the family, how each one differs so much, almost from the very first day. My firstborn, a son, was a screamer who had a hard time digesting his food even though he was being nursed. Until he was about two years old he hated to be cuddled, unless he was being fed, since he saw it as restrictive. At 6 months I stood him up in his crib to show him that he could see out the window into the garden, and after that nothing stopped him. He would haul himself up and stand there, shaking and wobbling until he fell over from exhaustion. He was a very quiet child, and would play for hours by himself. He didn't speak clearly until he was almost 5 years old, when he learned to read in just a few weeks. I had never taught a child to read before, so didn't realize how unusually fast he was learning. By the time he started school he was reading at a 6th grade level.
My second child, my first daughter, had to be woken for each meal. She slept almost round the clock for the first few months, and grew fat and sassy until she started crawling, when she slimmed down. She never sat down to play, but was always roaming about looking for mischief !!
Thursday, August 28, 2008
The Road to Health
I wrote this article some time back, when I applied for a job writing articles for a local magazine. I didn't get the job, although I was told I was second choice !
****************************
The discovery of glyconutrients in 1996 was hailed as the 'Discovery of the Century' by the American Naturopathic Medical Association. Glyconutrients are the 'essential sugars' found in foods. There are 8 of these sugars and only two are easily obtained from food. The other six are found only in organically grown food, fully ripened on the plant/tree and then picked and eaten within approximately 24 hours. Four of the remaining six can be manufactured by the body fairly easily, but the remaining two are more difficult to manufacture and it's an energy and time consuming process fraught with the possibility of error. Many informed scientists believe that lack of these essential sugars is the reason for ill health, particularly immune system illnesses.
Fortunately it is fairly easy to provide your own glyconutrients as only tiny amounts are needed. One way is to grow potted herbs, such as chives, parsley or basil that can be eaten uncooked, in organic soil. Depending on the weather these can be in grown in pots outside, or on a sunny windowsill. The soil should be kept healthy with the addition of organic supplements, including kelp.
Another way is to grow sprouted seeds. You can use either a glass jar or a special sprouting container. Both seeds and containers are available at most farm markets and nurseries, or they can be bought on the internet. Alfalfa are my favorite, but there are many other seeds that can be sprouted. Keep unused seeds in a tightly covered jar in the fridge. Growing sprouts in a clean kitchen avoids any chance of contamination with salmonella, as has occasionally been the case with commercially purchased sprouts.
Other benefits of sprouting your own seeds are several: complete cleanliness, availability, freshness and variety. In addition, freshly sprouted seeds contain enzymes which are necessary to your overall health, since they enable your body to process the foods you eat and keep your digestive system working at par. This is especially important if you have allergies. All raw food contains enzymes but sprouted seeds increase their enzyme content as much as 43 times. The enzymes aid in digesting fats, protein and starch, when eaten during the same meal, as they interact with saliva and the upper part of the stomach. Without enzymes from food the body must produce its own copious amount, but as people age their ability to produce concentrated digestive enzymes is lost, leaving the body unable to utilize vitamins, minerals and other nutrients effectively.
If you use a jar for your sprouts, find a large glass jam jar or canning jar (quart size). You will also need a piece of tulle or cheesecloth 8 inches square for the mouth of the jar. Tulle will last much longer and is available at fabric stores. Then choose the seeds you like. A large packet of alfalfa is fairly expensive but since you only sprout 1 or 2 tablespoons at a time, the packet will last for weeks. Other seeds that make great sprouts are mung beans, radish seeds, lentils and, rye. You can also sprout wheat but so many people are allergic to wheat without even realizing it so might be best to avoid it.
If using beans measure about half a cup, depending on family size. You can also experiment with other seeds to find the ones you prefer. I recently bought some cranberry beans to try and liked those.
Place the seeds in the jar and cover with water. Leave the jar upright, cover with the cheesecloth and allow to soak for 24 hours. Then drain the water by tipping the jar on its side with the cheesecloth held tightly in place by a rubber band. Pour several ounces of fresh water into the jar and put the jar in a medium size bowl, tilted slightly so it will drain slowly, with the cheesecloth over the neck and rubber band replaced. At this point you may notice that the seeds are already sprouting, especially in the case of alfalfa. Twice each day repeat that step, until the seeds are the desired length. Alfalfa will be about one inch long and takes approximately 4 to 5 days, depending on room temperature. Don't let alfalfa get longer than 2 inches. Mung beans take 2 or 3 days to reach their best length and can be used when they are between one quarter and a half inch long. Never put the jar in the sun - the heat might kill the unprotected seedlings. I personally use tap water that has been filtered, just to be extra careful.
To preserve the enzymes, do not cook the sprouts. Use them on sandwiches, in salads or stirred into cooked food just as you are about to serve, only long enough to warm them. They should never exceed 145 degrees Fahrenheit if they are to retain their enzymes. Keep the sprouts in a covered container in the refrigerator, where they will remain fresh and delicious for one week. If you choose to sprout beans rather than seeds, eat only small quantities at first, while your system gets used to them. They contain large amounts of roughage and can cause an 'upset stomach' in people who have sensitive intestines ! Make sure the sprouting container is well scrubbed and dried prior to reuse.
Sprouts are fun to grow and if there are children in the family they will be particularly interested to watch the process. It might even help them eat - and enjoy - their vegetables !!
**********************************
The supplement industries have jumped on the bandwagon now, with glyconutrient supplements, but speaking as a relatively uninformed 'layman' I should think that obtaining glyconutrients from food is much more sensible and natural. Nowadays if you google in 'glyconutrients' most of the links will be to the supplements and it takes more of a search to discover the real facts.
For more information this link will take you to a more detailed explanation of glyconutrients:
http://www.nutrientsforhealth.com/glyconutrients/glyconutrients/41/glyconutrients-what-they-do/
****************************
The discovery of glyconutrients in 1996 was hailed as the 'Discovery of the Century' by the American Naturopathic Medical Association. Glyconutrients are the 'essential sugars' found in foods. There are 8 of these sugars and only two are easily obtained from food. The other six are found only in organically grown food, fully ripened on the plant/tree and then picked and eaten within approximately 24 hours. Four of the remaining six can be manufactured by the body fairly easily, but the remaining two are more difficult to manufacture and it's an energy and time consuming process fraught with the possibility of error. Many informed scientists believe that lack of these essential sugars is the reason for ill health, particularly immune system illnesses.
Fortunately it is fairly easy to provide your own glyconutrients as only tiny amounts are needed. One way is to grow potted herbs, such as chives, parsley or basil that can be eaten uncooked, in organic soil. Depending on the weather these can be in grown in pots outside, or on a sunny windowsill. The soil should be kept healthy with the addition of organic supplements, including kelp.
Another way is to grow sprouted seeds. You can use either a glass jar or a special sprouting container. Both seeds and containers are available at most farm markets and nurseries, or they can be bought on the internet. Alfalfa are my favorite, but there are many other seeds that can be sprouted. Keep unused seeds in a tightly covered jar in the fridge. Growing sprouts in a clean kitchen avoids any chance of contamination with salmonella, as has occasionally been the case with commercially purchased sprouts.
Other benefits of sprouting your own seeds are several: complete cleanliness, availability, freshness and variety. In addition, freshly sprouted seeds contain enzymes which are necessary to your overall health, since they enable your body to process the foods you eat and keep your digestive system working at par. This is especially important if you have allergies. All raw food contains enzymes but sprouted seeds increase their enzyme content as much as 43 times. The enzymes aid in digesting fats, protein and starch, when eaten during the same meal, as they interact with saliva and the upper part of the stomach. Without enzymes from food the body must produce its own copious amount, but as people age their ability to produce concentrated digestive enzymes is lost, leaving the body unable to utilize vitamins, minerals and other nutrients effectively.
If you use a jar for your sprouts, find a large glass jam jar or canning jar (quart size). You will also need a piece of tulle or cheesecloth 8 inches square for the mouth of the jar. Tulle will last much longer and is available at fabric stores. Then choose the seeds you like. A large packet of alfalfa is fairly expensive but since you only sprout 1 or 2 tablespoons at a time, the packet will last for weeks. Other seeds that make great sprouts are mung beans, radish seeds, lentils and, rye. You can also sprout wheat but so many people are allergic to wheat without even realizing it so might be best to avoid it.
If using beans measure about half a cup, depending on family size. You can also experiment with other seeds to find the ones you prefer. I recently bought some cranberry beans to try and liked those.
Place the seeds in the jar and cover with water. Leave the jar upright, cover with the cheesecloth and allow to soak for 24 hours. Then drain the water by tipping the jar on its side with the cheesecloth held tightly in place by a rubber band. Pour several ounces of fresh water into the jar and put the jar in a medium size bowl, tilted slightly so it will drain slowly, with the cheesecloth over the neck and rubber band replaced. At this point you may notice that the seeds are already sprouting, especially in the case of alfalfa. Twice each day repeat that step, until the seeds are the desired length. Alfalfa will be about one inch long and takes approximately 4 to 5 days, depending on room temperature. Don't let alfalfa get longer than 2 inches. Mung beans take 2 or 3 days to reach their best length and can be used when they are between one quarter and a half inch long. Never put the jar in the sun - the heat might kill the unprotected seedlings. I personally use tap water that has been filtered, just to be extra careful.
To preserve the enzymes, do not cook the sprouts. Use them on sandwiches, in salads or stirred into cooked food just as you are about to serve, only long enough to warm them. They should never exceed 145 degrees Fahrenheit if they are to retain their enzymes. Keep the sprouts in a covered container in the refrigerator, where they will remain fresh and delicious for one week. If you choose to sprout beans rather than seeds, eat only small quantities at first, while your system gets used to them. They contain large amounts of roughage and can cause an 'upset stomach' in people who have sensitive intestines ! Make sure the sprouting container is well scrubbed and dried prior to reuse.
Sprouts are fun to grow and if there are children in the family they will be particularly interested to watch the process. It might even help them eat - and enjoy - their vegetables !!
**********************************
The supplement industries have jumped on the bandwagon now, with glyconutrient supplements, but speaking as a relatively uninformed 'layman' I should think that obtaining glyconutrients from food is much more sensible and natural. Nowadays if you google in 'glyconutrients' most of the links will be to the supplements and it takes more of a search to discover the real facts.
For more information this link will take you to a more detailed explanation of glyconutrients:
http://www.nutrientsforhealth.com/glyconutrients/glyconutrients/41/glyconutrients-what-they-do/
Saturday, August 23, 2008
Thoughts on Friday Night
I live on a long street, but the top part, which is a cul de sac, is separated from the rest by a busy cross street, so we seem isolated from the rest of the residents. There are seven houses in the cul de sac, and on the weekends I am often the only person at home. All the other homes are dark and deserted, except for an occasional low lamp left on for a late return. It is rather depressing and tonight I even considered going to a local pub, however I am a little too shy to do so. Instead I have put on the television for company and have the weather channel in the background as I write this. There is a program about tropical storm Fay, back in the 1920's which caused heavy rain for 5 months. I had not heard about it before.
My handyman called today to see if I had any work, so I asked him to come over to repair the side gate which has some termite damage. Unfortunately it occupied him for more than 7
hours !! If I had known that beforehand I would have had him build a completely new one. That is the problem with not being very savvy about repairs. I also had to listen to a lecture about cleaning up my garage, since he wanted to do it. However, that is my next major project and I need to figure out what to keep and what to throw away, without any outside advice !! The painters never came back to do the things they missed, so I have begun to do it myself.
None of my neighbors are married, except for the ones at the top of the cul de sac, and I am not too sure about their relationship as she got pregnant when they first met. After the baby was born he brought her over to see me and commented "She was a mistake", which is not something you usually say after the baby is born, in my opinion. That side of the street has 3 other houses: the 2nd house from the top is a rental, with a young couple who are rarely home and keep very strange hours. When they do come in, they drive straight into the garage with their clicker, so are rarely seen. The next house has 3 middle aged men, all single. There is a lot of laughter in the evenings when they are there, encouraged by alcohol consumption, but even so I am a little envious of the camaraderie. The corner house is owned by a woman who has had a succession of abusive boyfriends. She meets them in bars and the last 3 have ended up in jail for being violent to her !!
On my side of the street, there is a duplex rented to two couples in their late 30's or early 40's. (I have written previously about the tenant in the back), but the ones in the front have a large balcony which looks very attractive, with lots of plants and patio furniture, barbecue etc. When they first moved in they used to have parties on the balcony, and it was rather fun since I could lie in bed and listen to them play the guitar and sing. Even though it often kept me awake I enjoyed it. However, the man has lost his job and the parties have come to an end. In addition the building is in foreclosure and they are not sure what is going to happen when the bank takes it over.
The only other house, besides mine, is another rental which contains a young single man in the lower studio unit and a lesbian couple in the upper unit. I will write about them another time.
I talk to all the neighbors, not regularly, but if we happen to be outside and not in a hurry. I enjoy talking to people and find them interesting.
I have become rather addicted to playing Word Whomp on pogo.com but have discovered that if I play it too much my brain won't stop. Last night I played till about 8.30, but that was apparently too late, since I woke up about midnight with words churning about in my brain and had a terrible time going back to sleep. Tonight I am being very circumspect and going to read before bed.
My handyman called today to see if I had any work, so I asked him to come over to repair the side gate which has some termite damage. Unfortunately it occupied him for more than 7
hours !! If I had known that beforehand I would have had him build a completely new one. That is the problem with not being very savvy about repairs. I also had to listen to a lecture about cleaning up my garage, since he wanted to do it. However, that is my next major project and I need to figure out what to keep and what to throw away, without any outside advice !! The painters never came back to do the things they missed, so I have begun to do it myself.
None of my neighbors are married, except for the ones at the top of the cul de sac, and I am not too sure about their relationship as she got pregnant when they first met. After the baby was born he brought her over to see me and commented "She was a mistake", which is not something you usually say after the baby is born, in my opinion. That side of the street has 3 other houses: the 2nd house from the top is a rental, with a young couple who are rarely home and keep very strange hours. When they do come in, they drive straight into the garage with their clicker, so are rarely seen. The next house has 3 middle aged men, all single. There is a lot of laughter in the evenings when they are there, encouraged by alcohol consumption, but even so I am a little envious of the camaraderie. The corner house is owned by a woman who has had a succession of abusive boyfriends. She meets them in bars and the last 3 have ended up in jail for being violent to her !!
On my side of the street, there is a duplex rented to two couples in their late 30's or early 40's. (I have written previously about the tenant in the back), but the ones in the front have a large balcony which looks very attractive, with lots of plants and patio furniture, barbecue etc. When they first moved in they used to have parties on the balcony, and it was rather fun since I could lie in bed and listen to them play the guitar and sing. Even though it often kept me awake I enjoyed it. However, the man has lost his job and the parties have come to an end. In addition the building is in foreclosure and they are not sure what is going to happen when the bank takes it over.
The only other house, besides mine, is another rental which contains a young single man in the lower studio unit and a lesbian couple in the upper unit. I will write about them another time.
I talk to all the neighbors, not regularly, but if we happen to be outside and not in a hurry. I enjoy talking to people and find them interesting.
I have become rather addicted to playing Word Whomp on pogo.com but have discovered that if I play it too much my brain won't stop. Last night I played till about 8.30, but that was apparently too late, since I woke up about midnight with words churning about in my brain and had a terrible time going back to sleep. Tonight I am being very circumspect and going to read before bed.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)