Merry Christmas!

It's all bluster here, incredibly windy, a dusting of snow, our trees still sporting some withered brown leaves that never dropped. The warm spell we had fooled them.

Today will be a pleasant day of visiting family. This year, it's a relief to have our niece Sarah in town, staying with her grandparents for a few days. She's a saint to do this, leaving her home and friends for the holidays to make her grandparents' holiday more cheerful. And safer.

Last night, Mike and I took our customary walk around the neighborhood, light gazing, and found far less illumination than last year. For one thing, our neighbor two doors down, whose property used to be ablaze with lights and novelties, now has solar panels on the roof and has gone cold-turkey minimalist. In general, it was quiet out there, too. We came back and watched part of It's a Wonderful Life, and snacked around for a late dinner.

Oh, and before that, I had incredible luck in Scrabble and beat Mike. Really, I got all the s's and a blank, and got to play SLEAZES as a bingo, rather late in the game. That's always annoying, I know. Mike was able to console himself in the fact that it was definitely my turn to win a game. We played every day on the cruise, and he won every game--most were close, good games, and I was happy with that.
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Saturday's movie was The Founder, a movie about Ray Kroc, the man who founded the McDonald's franchise. Michael Keaton is always good, and he pretty much carried the movie. The McDonald brothers were also well played by Nick Offerman and John Carroll Lynch (who was cast as Drew Carey's brother on The Drew Carey Show).  The movie successfully depicts Kroc as a complex individual, and I felt nothing but sympathy for Dick and Mac McDonald, who had world views and values that clashed with Ray Kroc's. They were quiet geniuses.

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I've recently started enjoying a blog that should have been front and center in my life for a long time, but--well, without further ado, it's Book Riot. There are lots of good articles there!

And now, I should get off the computer and get some exercise before eating today.

Whatchaupto?  (IF you can comment. Blogger is having issues...)

White

On a gentle Thursday morning, in about an inch of snow, I added my prints to the ones of bunnies and kitties. Thankful for my energy and good mood, finally remembering to listen to some Christmas music...for only a few days a year.

It's been a busy week, it'll be a busy weekend, a busy season! But I will not fret about being tired, no. I'll rejoice in having these shared moments with others. Life is so fleeting.

Let me try to hold on to this invigorated, cheerful feeling.

Peace.

Holiday Cruise 2017

Our annual holiday cruise started in Miami this year, and we stayed at the YVE Hotel in a room that was extremely small, which in this case means smaller than the cabin we would have on the ship. It was almost all bed. I'm not complaining, we were only there for the night, but it's a testament to how precious space is in Miami. This hotel is very close to the Port of Miami, and the area has lots to offer. I was impressed by the fact that there is a local FREE monorail loop they call the people mover. Wish we had some free public transportation in our neck of the woods!




We found a nice place for dinner down by the water...

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The next day, we boarded Celebrity's Equinox and--I completely forgot to take pictures of our cabin. Since we were on a larger, newer ship, there were some nice upgrades. And we did have a little balcony. I took a fair amount of pictures there.



 


The first stop was Key West, where we decided to tour the Hemingway house again...










All the cats are named after famous people, and this here is Billie Holliday. She got to be The Cat on the Bed for this tour. Last time we were here, which must have been a decade ago, it was Archibald MacLeish--this time, we paid our respects...he was a lovely orange cat.

  A cat, just cuz...

It was, once again, a very entertaining and informative tour.







And before we leave, here is an obligatory photo of the ship docked at Key West.









My photos are all jumbled up, but no matter; this is our snorkeling day at Seven Mile Beach, Cayman Islands. It was a perfect day for it--clear water, pretty fish, fun boat ride. We also saw the Kittiwake Ship Wreck, where we swam with a school of very pretty purple fish and watched scuba divers get up close and personal with the retired ship below. The bubbles coming up from their tanks were as fascinating as the fish....








I know my mom wants to see a couple photos of us, dressed up, so here they are...the one on the top was taken in the library. The ship was adorned with many trees, very decked out. Heh, decked out...




See the butterfly in this picture, sitting next to a nice rust spot? It was vivid lime green and black. Some kind of swallowtail, I think. It didn't look real, but it was--I saw it fly.

Unfortunately, I'm having some trouble finding all my pictures; the computer did some kind of update, and...so yeah, it's not my fault. Actually, I don't take the best pics, anyway.

We had a great time--on Costa Maya, we went to a water park, and on Cozumel, we went to the beach.

The food was wonderful, as usual--wait, wait, I have a dessert picture. I never do this, but Sari, an assistant waiter, goaded me into it. She was way too cute..



This is what I'm going to be attempting to burn off in the weeks to come.

It's a hard knock life, getting off the ship and then having to fend for oneself.

Happy Holidays! Whatchaupto?

Rabbit, Rabbit!

Oh,  bother, I'm not good at mobile posting, but y'all know the drill...

Yay!

The picture is there...

Let's all have a happy lucky December!

*This was previously posted in the wrong place. I fixed it, a bit late :)

Another Black Friday

Happy Black Friday! I say, in the evening, after most of the day is done. Our job today was not too difficult. Oh, we had a couple of fast-paced times, but overall, it was quieter than our typical Friday. The party was elsewhere. I hope tomorrow's short work day will be as calm.

While I'm gone, Mike will deck our halls. It's really nice that he has time to do that, because I'm not so into it. He does the heavy lifting. Yay.

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Another Thanksgiving is gone, and now it's the second anniversary of my diagnosis. I must admit to having some fretful times this year. I've worried over little aches and pains, struggled to stay offline and keep busy, busy enough not to worry about insignificant physical issues--and not always winning. I've gained some confidence, finally. I am aging, there will be that, but there are good times to look forward to.

Mike's parents are in a rough spot right now, and that is hard to watch, another reminder that time is precious. We are all so very mortal. We stopped to visit them after going out with the rest of the family, and were relieved that their caregiver had in fact prepared a very nice looking casserole for them, ahead of time. Bob had actually picked out this recipe online. We were very sorry that Bob and Sharon couldn't join the rest of us, so it was a relief that they got what they wanted: a tasty meal at home.

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We are leaving for our annual cruise shortly, and this year will be a different trip--different departure port, different ship, and a different itinerary. I'm looking forward to getting away, and being warm. It'll be fun to check out a new ship, too.

And since I work tomorrow, and want to get up early enough to get some exercise, I'd better end today's missive here.

Happy weekend, everyone! Whatchaupto?

Plenty

This morning, as I practiced my knitting, I listened to my younger sister's voice delivering a sermon based on a book called Breathing Under Water: Spirituality and the Twelve Steps, by Richard Rohr.
Lara started by stating that everyone is addicted to something--and not necessarily to drugs, alcohol, or gambling. Most of us are addicted to our way of thinking.

This sermon was especially relevant to me right now, as I've been examining my own habits and attitudes. For instance, I recently deactivated my Facebook account. Why? This may appear to be an unimportant step for someone who is not a public figure, who does not need to use social media as a tool. And yet...

Facebook employs this

e
n
d
l
e
s
s

scroll...where I see articles and blogs that would be worthy of my attention, IF ONLY I could stop scrolling. And look! Squirrel!

Yesterday, when it was raining and raining, I sat by our front window and watched the squirrels.

WAIT. That's not what I was writing about. I hate it when I do that.

Okay, so while I'm scrolling past items worth reading and reading items that are stupid, I am also picking up on other people's opinions about issues before I have the chance to read anything about these issues.

There is also the annoying aspect of the nagging invitations to come buy Thirty-One, or LuLaRue, or sign this petition because if you don't you just don't care, or I can tell how many friends I have by who reads this, etc etc etc.

I'm already easily distracted, and also prone to anxiety, as are many people. I was shocked and dismayed to learn how many of my millennial coworkers have been on some type of medication since childhood. It seems to me that Facebook is exploiting habits that most of us need to curb.

My Facebook account is not permanently deleted yet--oh, no--that takes fourteen days. Yep, a two-week cooling off period. Actually, I believe Zuckerberg and his ilk think most people are too addicted to really leave. C'mon...you'll log in sometime this week...we got what you want...

To that, I say...

It's hard enough for me to meditate, to keep my mind from scrolling through all the little aches and pains, all the conversations, all the trivia in my mind...and look, I've messed up my seed stitch. It's okay, I'll get back on track...one row at a time.

Be here now, pay attention, be grateful, and do the job or task ahead of you, one day at a time.

Have a wonderful Thanksgiving, week, everyone!

And now, I really should vacuum. It's the moral thing to do :)

Road to Nowhere

Kurt Vonnegut once said that we are here to fart around, and I'm beginning to realize that it's my only talent. If you are having a good time farting around, it's your special power, too.

This weekend has been splendid so far. Friday was Mike's 55th birthday, so we went out to his favorite Italian BYOB, which means he got exactly the wine and the comfort food he adores, and since I have similar taste, it was a double whammy of happiness.

Yesterday, I finally got to walk around with and visit with Mom. We discovered that the local mall is in High Christmas Mode. And just as I typed that, the voice of David Sedaris reading from his Santaland Diaries almost incapacitated me. Anyway, so then we went back and watched Penn State Football, along with Della and Mike. This little get together is a rare treat, actually. AND we got pizza! Good times.

The Christmas Thing that's going on already had me peeved last weekend, when I made my annual pilgrimage to Gertrude & Hawke's to buy Mike's birthday candy: the smidgens are all shaped like Santa, and they have been since the first week of November. Also, Mike's favorite flavor is not a Christmas offering. Interesting. Okay, so things change, and if nothing changed, what a boring world it would be. Christmas shopping and Christmas music start November 1st now. Noted. And the Macris chocolates were a big hit.

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I am doing my best to keep busy and not worry about anything. I knitted a scarf in earth tones with chunky yarn and bigger needles--I keep wanting to type "keep knitting with big kneedles." Knitting Kneedles: it's probably a yarn shop somewhere...wait, let me check...google doesn't give me anything, but Amazon lets me go with it. That's funny. Anyway, my chunky scarf is not a thing of beauty, but it's a first attempt. And it kept me focused on something whilst listening to some good radio.

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My refurbished Nook came quickly, and I'm enjoying it very much. There have been a couple of nice updates.  My present novel is Neverwhere, by Neil Gaiman. It's the lighter fantasy read after the dark and serious Homegoing, by Yaa Gyasi (which I highly recommend).

Last night's movie was Collateral Beauty, unusual and unlikely, but engaging and well-done. It sort of channels Dickens, and the cast is a collection of well-known thespians. I liked it.

Look! It's still only 8:00am. I've got all of Sunday ahead of me, and I'm looking forward to it. There is so much to be thankful for...

Whatchaupto?

Welcome to November

Hello there, how are you? Staying warm? Did you get as spoiled as I did by that long run of warmer weather? Goodness, I don't know what to wear anymore.

Yesterday was Rabbit Rabbit day, and I did say my rabbitses, but alas, I found my Nook lifeless after a whole night of charging. The screensaver has funky lines all over it, and it won't start. It's frozen. No, holding down the button for X seconds doesn't work. I cannot even turn it all the way off. And it's out of warranty. This is not a tragedy, but it's highly annoying. We have a tablet, and the Nook app works very well, so I do have a backup until I decide what to do...of course, Mike has offered to give me my OLD one back, but I'm too spoiled for that: it has no backlight! He is planning on upgrading, probably to the new Nook Glowlight 3 (coming out in a few days), and then he will understand. (I will probably do the same thing, since I am not inclined to buy this model again!)

Superstitions are not one of my foibles, so I didn't attach any ominous thoughts to the fact that later that morning, whilst trotting back and forth at work, I realized that my right shoe had come apart at one side. Some days have themes, huh? I found some (clear) strapping tape in the supply closet that did the trick for the day, if one didn't notice the slight sound I was making...Mike has some special epoxy and vice, and I believe these shoes will walk again. 

Yesterday was super busy at work because it was the first of the month, when so many people come in to withdraw funds that have just hit their accounts. And we are short staffed, and will be for the rest of this year. Today is the last day for one of our tellers...she got a job working for one of our customers. And we all have vacation time planned in the next two months! Good times.

Whatchaupto?

Ides of October...Or Something Like That

One of my coworkers remarked, the other day, that as soon as a month starts, it's over. I don't want October to march off too quickly. Let's have some fall in our lives before winter, I always hope. And so far, so good. 

And speaking of work, there have been some changes, most of which I regard favorably, mostly because change decreases boredom. For one thing, after years of working the drive-thru almost all the time, I'm now working the lobby most of the time. I like the drive-thru, but change is good. Either way, the entertainment can be free. For instance,  in the drive-thru, we have an older gent who starts his day off at the grocery store, riding around in one of those battery operated scooters...then, he comes through the bank's drive-thru--in his battery operated grocery store scooter, and when he's done with us, he gets into the Arby's drive-thru queue in his battery operated grocery store scooter. He eventually returns it...I'm sure people who are not used to seeing him tsk about those big letters on the side of said scooter that say something about not leaving the grocery store, but whatever.

In the lobby, there is much variety...every day, around 4:00pm, Ed comes in, whether he has banking business or not, to trade out his bad blue money for better money, and by "better" he means bills minted in Republican states. He makes quite the impression on the other customers because he has no volume control.  And my manager is not very good at being dignified around him. 

The other change is, we all have phone calls to make, and that is not fun, but--having obligations does pass the time. And honestly, some of the people on these lists can be crossed off right away...and then we have compliance courses, another obligation that does keep us engaged and busy on days that are otherwise not too hectic. Lately, our branch has become busier--but somehow, we're making do with a smaller staff AND these added tasks. And eventually, the branches will be remodeled so as not to have a separate drive-thru, and that will make things easier on us, too. 

Enough of that.

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The last movie we borrowed from Netflix (we still have the snail mail version) was We Need to Talk about Kevin, which is also a novel by Lionel Shriver, one that I've had on my virtual TBR list for quite some time. It's a haunting movie and now I'm even more motivated to move that up on my list. At the end of the movie, I had questions, and I hope the book illuminates some things...it's a heartbreaking story. During the movie, my tears were for Kevin's mother, who did not seem to be getting any sympathy from many others.

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Speaking of books and such, 3D and I got to see Salman Rushdie at The Midtown Scholar, and thoroughly enjoyed it. Mr. Rushdie was very charming and read the first chapter of his new book to us. I'm in the middle of The Golden House and loving it.

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Good news: I got new running shoes, and I love them. After spending weeks walking, my left foot finally feels better...I did see a podiatrist, who diagnosed my problem as extensor tendonitis, and suggested these shoes. Of course, I am now walk-jogging: being very careful, since I am ever so good at irritating myself. Without further ado, here they are!*

Aren't they wild??? Very cushiony, intended for people with knee pain and problematic feet. That's me. They are expensive, but there are better deals to be had online. I ordered my usual size, and they fit perfectly, big toe box and all. The laces are elastic! I mentioned them to my oncologist and he googled them right away--I thought that was funny.

Speaking of my oncologist, I just had my last three-month appointment and have graduated to seeing him every six months. Yay, fewer doctor appointments. I think the blood draws might be over, too; those numbers were simply checking my recovery from treatment, and I have been recovered from treatment. 

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This coming weekend might feel like a study in opposites. Before the word bipolar was used to describe a certain type of depression, I might have used it here...but anyway: on Saturday, we are going to a wedding, which will be a joyous occasion, but it will also be sad, since the bride's father is gone. Her father was Mike's best friend, and her mother has already cried at the sight of her daughter's dress, and I'm sure this will be an especially loaded event for her. But it will mostly be happy! These young'uns are great people and well-matched. Their children are doing well. 

On Sunday, we will go visit Mike's family. Our niece is driving all the way from Minnesota to see her grandparents. Mike's mother is now in palliative care at the nursing home, where they are now acknowledging that she will not be going home. It will be wonderful to see Niece, but in general, the mood will be melancholy. 

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It's My Blog and I'll Cry if I Want To!

And then, there's politics. The backdrop to all of our lives right now is the dumpster in chief, and how in the world we are to recover from this. Puerto Rico! If his base still thinks his words are okay...then there are no words. 

Okay, I won't start. Besides, I need to get ready for work...

Cheers! I read some study that stated that Americans are drinking more. Really?? 

Whatchaupto?

*Hoka One One Gaviota. 

Lovely Weekend before September's Last Week

Yes, this is the last week of September, and I am still reeling from the realization that summer is over.

This was a nice weekend for me; I stayed pleasantly busy walking, reading, talking, eating, playing Scrabble, watching a movie and some magic, as well.

Our Saturday movie was Nocturnal Animals, a thought-provoking, sad film starring Amy Adams and Jake Gyllenhaal. It's so dark and scary that I would not recommend watching it alone. I'm glad we saw it, though--it's well done.

My weekend mediation....

delighting in
a beautiful day
taking a walk
feeling good
my family
my home
having a job
having health insurance
good times
beer
future plans
good memories
books
music

Goal: stay busy, using my time, my precious life, for peaceful enjoyments

Speaking of future plans, Della is coming to An Evening with Salman Rushdie with me--and it's THIS Friday! Dates do sneak up on me so...And after I come home with The Golden House, I must make a point of reading reading reading...it's up next for discussion.

Speaking of staying busy.

May my motivation get me exercising after work, as I did not get up early enough this morning!

Need some bunnies here, no?

While I sit in the lap of luxury, I am troubled by the news of people in Texas, parts of Florida, Puerto Rico, St. Croix, and Mexico--and every place where people's lives have been upended by nature's forces--and global warming.  That is one thing most of us can agree on.

Whatchaupto?

September's Little Getaway and Some Half-Baked Notions

Home again, home again...taking the train to Atlantic City to get a peek at the ocean was relaxing, and we did have nice weather...

My pictures tend to look like Monets...good for an overall impression. Since we don't gamble at all, this was all about walking up and down the boardwalk and eating. Drinking. And since this was the off season, it wasn't at all crowded.

One thing I must say that perturbed me a little was the constant noise coming from the casinos along the ocean front. In some areas, the music videos and advertisements completely drown out the noise of the surf. That seems to violate the beauty of being at the shore. If listening to the sound of the waves is the point, it's necessary to either walk all the way down to the beach, or walk more to the end of the boardwalk. Both are quite expansive.

It's a lovely beach, such a juxtaposition with so much tackiness. But then, casinos are tacky. There's simply no way around it.

On Tuesday night, we walked quite a ways, over a mile, to reach The Tun Tavern, but unfortunately, it was closed for a private party.  Fortunately, we found another charming place--

I took a picture of the back wall, so as not to forget this place. Wingcraft Kitchen & Beer Bar has a stunning microbrew menu. The food is good, too. Yes, they have wings, but we had some very good pizza.

Two smiling people who arrived very hungry and relieved to find this place! 

On Wednesday, we visited The Havana Tower, where we had dinner at an Italian place called Il Verde. It was wonderful. I ate too much, something I find myself doing lately...

This section is referred to as The Quarter, and the fake sky overhead is reminiscent of something I remember from Vegas (at The Venetian? Not sure). Another impressionist picture, no? The Tropicana is lovely.

The next morning, I rented a bike and rode up and down the long boardwalk for an entire hour, but did not see all of it! I was surprised that there is a very long, very quiet residential section. Who knew? 

On taking the train: honestly, the only hassle is finding a parking space, and we agreed that we wouldn't be parking again--we'll get a ride. And I was thinking that someday, if we have more time, this might be an alternative to flying to Florida before cruising. I was noticing that both these train stations do have escalators or elevators for people who are schlepping more than a carry-on, but if that is a problem, Amtrak will ship stuff from one station to another. Of course, there is a fee for this. I don't expect it's prohibitive.  Just a thought, if air travel gets more expensive and/or onerous...

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Now, for the weekend...whatchaupto?

September again!

Yes, I'm late. Yes, this blog is, indeed, called September's Rabbit in Argyle. I was in such a rush that I forgot the argyle. 

What's happening? Hmm, the school buses are back in the 'hood, it's not as warm as it was (downright chilly, at times), and it's Labor Day.

This and that: This weekend, we watched a movie called Damsels in Distress, which was interesting, quirky, and had some funny moments. I picked it out on a whim, and consider it a successful one. You never know, with me...I also finished reading  The Golem and the Jinni, by Helene Wecker, and enjoyed it very much. And it makes me feel like going to New York City and walking all over the place.

Also, I've been making an effort to meditate for a little over a month now, and believe it's made a difference, that it's helping me stay calm and keep perspective. And stop fretting about issues out of my control. My life is good--and pretty easy.

It's hard to read the news these days and not feel muscles tightening...people in and around Houston: what will they do? Lives have been lost. Then, there are people who are sick or on treatment without their meds...mortgages due on houses that are now uninhabitable or gone, schools closed indefinitely...so many issues, it hurts to think....

And here I sit...distracting myself.

Mom and I checked out Bedford Street Antiques in Carlisle yesterday, and were blown away by the volume and variety of stuff--beautiful china that--no one wants anymore, vintage clothing too small for people today, records, books, all kinds of tools from a by gone era that had to be labeled for a millennial population, old sewing machines, jars, hats, jewelry, luggage, shoes, lamps, cabinets, tables, shelves, and--gossip chairs. Mom figured out what they were called. On Pinterest, I learned that they are sometimes called tête-à-tête chairs, which means the same thing, only in French, so it's more...refined.

I did not take these pictures. Obviously.

You get the idea. And here's a more modern and very practical version...

I

The lever-thing almost looks steam punk, no? I found it on a site called: Chairish. It's sold. Too expensive, anyway. 

Newsflash! Mike and I actually got into a pool before August ended, at the home of one of our book group friends. It was a very fun evening. 

Also, we are both taking off the week of September 10th, and will spend a couple nights in Atlantic City. We're taking the train down. I enjoy train rides...and we'll be lunching at Bridgewater's, a pub at the 30th Street station, on the way down. We always enjoy the place. With the balance of our time, we may go hiking somewhere...

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Today is the first Labor Day that we will not spend eating with Mike's parents in their backyard. Unfortunately, my mother-in-law is now in a nursing home, where the staff are helping her regain some strength so she can go home. She is very sick with pneumonia, and we believe that she had a mild stroke before that. Her rehabilitation is going to be quite a challenge. 

And now it's time to get up and move. I get all kind of stiff very quickly these days!

Whatchaupto?

Uphill Downhill Monday

Happy Monday! Another weekend gone, another week ahead. And so it goes...

It was a better than expected one, as far as the weather goes. On Saturday, I sat out on the patio for awhile, vegging out and reading.  Gradually, a storm happened, and at first, I sat outside and watched it rain for the first time since childhood. It thundered. When it became chilly, and the wind started, I decided it was time for me to retreat, and just as I did so, there was a tremendous thunderclap.

Yesterday, Mom and I strolled through the borough, and met a couple sweet dogs. We also gazed at the grassy lot that had been the elementary school we'd attended years ago, and noticed all the mushrooms that have sprouted here and there because of all the rain. I don't remember seeing mushrooms around here before, but then, I can't remember such a rainy time, either...

This morning, I rode my bike around the neighborhood for half an hour. It looked like it was going to be a wimpy workout, but actually, if I use my brakes to slow the downhill coast before pedaling up these little inclines, it actually turns out to feel like interval training. It caused me to break a sweat and breathe hard, so it was worth the time. I have an unspecified soreness in my foot, and whatever it is, the answer is to stop pounding for awhile. I needed a change, anyway; jogging laps was getting boring and I was uninspired. (The traffic around here is too scary to wander very far. Really. It's either drive somewhere else first, or--join the army doing laps.)

For some reason, I feel a little silly. Oh, well. It's probably congenital. 

So, the solar eclipse is happening one week from now! And around these parts, we should see the maximum effect around 2:30pm. I work in a place that is basically all windows, so perhaps I should go to Lowe's and get some shades, if they are not already sold out....Evidently, there will be another eclipse seven (7) years from now, and we will actually be in the right place! Something to look forward to...

Whatchaupto?

Monday of Mondays

Today must be the coolest day I can remember experiencing in August. And it's raining.


That is in the forefront. In the background, which in this case means all around, everywhere, is the fact that my brother has now been gone as long as he was here. Twenty-six years. I am thankful that my younger, out of town sister is visiting, at home with Mom today. Twenty-six years...so much has happened. I remember where I was, for that first somber anniversary. Was that really twenty-five years ago?


The internet, Bill Clinton, the Oklahoma City bombing, 9/11, the 2004 Tsunami, Barack Obama, social media, cell phones...there's probably something huge and glaring I'm not even thinking of.


I am thinking of Kevin. Quite often, actually. Today is a day that must be acknowledged.

Let the week begin.

Beautiful Sunday

It's a perfect day.
Now that I have a smart phone, I can simply take a picture of my husband enjoying one of his magic books outside and email it to myself. No more hunting for a USB cable for a camera, or plugging in an SD card. Voila.

From now on, I've decided to think twice before posting some silly image from the interwebs, too. Well, until I cave on that...another epiphany from the smart phone world: my phone's gallery, which is a built in app, contains ALL my google-related pictures--anything I've posted on one of my blogs or facebook or whatnot, it's there. And when I started to delete some of them (cuz I don't need ALL my pictures on my phone), guess what? I also deleted them from my blog entries. And since we got a new computer earlier this year, there were some pictures that are not on our back-up stick. . So--they are lost. Slipped through the cracks.  Not many. Live and learn.

Last night's movie was Florence Foster Jenkins, starring Meryl Streep and Hugh Grant. It was excellent. I knew nothing about it before we started watching (Mike picked it), and was delighted that it was serious and poignant as well as funny and improbable. It's a true story, as counterintuitive as that is...

Here I sit, forgetting what I was going to write...this reminds me of that first time we were upgraded to an ocean-front room at that special resort in the Riviera Maya and I just plopped down on the swinging lounger on the patio, a little tipsy from the arrival champagne the staff handed us, and thought, it's all too beautiful. And I just veg out on lovely sunny weightlessness. What have I done today? Some housework, ran an errand, practiced knitting (trying to be patient), read a novel on the couch upstairs, then downstairs, then outside (but not inside out). Onlined--there should be a verb for that time we enjoy/lose/waste doing stuff that involves being connected.

And it's late afternoon on Sunday...almost gin-and-tonic Scrabble time. I enjoy blaming my games on the cocktail. Some of these weekends are fabulous.

Mike will be flying to Bangalore, India in just a couple weeks. One week left in June. Tempest fugit, indeed.

This just in: it's okay that I don't know what frim fram sauce with oss and fay and shifafa on the side is. It's just silly lyrics. Aren't you glad I looked that up?

Whatchaupto?

Happiness Is...

"And I urge you to please notice when you are happy, and exclaim or murmur or think at some point, 'If this isn't nice, I don't know what is."


--Kurt Vonnegut
~~~~~~~~~~~


It's a beautiful day, not a cloud in the sky, some breeze, warm but not oppressive...




Happiness is getting the night deposits done before opening time.




Happiness is a little alone time in the drive-thru




Happiness is finally catching on to the seed stitch. And a new hobby.




Happiness is the ability to get up at 5:30am, drink a cup of coffee, and jog three miles before work.




Happiness is being injury and cold-free.




Happiness is expecting fun stuff in the mail.


Happiness is the very first day of summer! The sun is out there spreading happiness, even if we're not going to the beach.


Whatchaupto?

Jubilee

It does happen to be Jubilee Day here, but I'm not going. It makes a nice title for today's installment and is also very temporally descriptive.

So, what has happened in the past month? I'll start typing, order doesn't count...

Mike's mother was in the hospital with an ailment that has not been definitively diagnosed, but she's been discharged with several medications that are treating her symptoms. Her symptoms were very scary; she seemed to be out of her mind. An MRI ruled out a stroke, but there was blood in her spinal fluid (poor MIL had two spinal taps). We will see them this weekend, and see how things are going. It might be best if Mike's parents move closer to us, since they both have health conditions that will eventually make them seem too isolated out there in Annville.

In other news, Mike is definitely going to Bangalore in about three weeks to help train the people who will be taking care of his creation and taking his job. He will be there for two weeks, with that middle weekend off, and I hope he can do some sightseeing. It's a lengthy period, to be all alone on the other side of the world.

In a little less than a month, my bank's hours will be shortened and so we'll all be working pretty much the same hours. Change is afoot in more than one way, and all I need to do is roll with it, hoping to stay employed full time for about five or six more years. Our present staff will change, too: one of our long time tellers is at a point where she really needs to move on, and another plans to move out of the area sometime this fall. (And another wants to go part time, but that's no longer on offer, so she'll probably stick around and be unreliable and annoying. And our last part timer will continue to call off and ride the skinny line that separates her from being fired. But enough drama, it makes me feel petty.)

My current obsession is knitting. After hours of watching YouTube videos, reading my how to book, and practice, I can finally cast on, knit, purl, and cast off. Not well. Slow as molasses, plodding. It would be nice to have some talent, but then--it wouldn't be as epic. I'm not sure what I'm going to do with this knitting thing, and yes, I did choose the hottest time of year to do it. That was random, but that is the nature of inspiration and motivation. Learning to knit was something I'd always wanted to learn, and I've learned that it is not outside the realm of possibilities.



I should put so much time into Spanish.

There is enough national news to make my head explode. So, instead of hurting my head, I'll go for my morning jog. Soon, I will not have any of these later-start days...

Happy Thursday, have a gentle one...whatchaupto?

Last of May

We had a delightful time at The Magic Collector's Convention in Montreal. Overall, the presentations were unusually well done, in my opinion. The museum tour was fabulous, and we got a special look behind the scenes, especially in the museum's vault.

The way the exhibit was laid out was clever and attractive, and I'm sure the donor was very happy with it. We're not supposed to know who that is, but of course we do. He's getting on in age, as are many of these (mostly) men, and he didn't want to stick his children with a complicated inheritance. Speaking of aging, it's good that we made it to this convention, because the future of MCCs is very much up in the air...they are a lot of work for the organizers and the audience is dwindling.

Of course, one of the highlights of the trip was eating out, and I wish we'd had more time to just sit and enjoy the Resto House of Jazz...the convention had us very scheduled in a way that I found strangely tiring.

I need to learn how to put the pictures on my cell phone onto the pc...actually, I need to learn how to use my cell phone camera. The above picture was taken by a friend--she got a much better shot. And about half of my photos are a tad blurry.

We walked miles...all over the historic part of Montreal, over cobblestones and through streets that looked very European and where the predominant language was French.  We found a microbrasserie--I think the place was called Les 3 Brasseurs, on Sainte-Catherine Ouest. If there's a microbrewery, we'll find it! Mike mentioned that we collect beer coasters, so the waiter gave us several, and they are really cool, as is everything about this place.

We, the conventioneers, also received a special surprise gift: a large hardback book called The Art of Magic from the McCord Museum, a wonderful book of prints. There are two versions, English and French, so of course we got one of each, so that Mike has both for his collection. We are tickled pink with these.

It was fun catching up with people we don't see often, and perhaps we'll eventually make arrangements to get together, convention or no. We've gotten to know a couple from Texas who own one of the largest Houdini collections in the world...it would be mighty interesting to see it.

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In other news, I'm trying to learn how to knit by watching YouTube videos. It's driving me crazy, but I will keep trying.

Whatchaupto?

May the Force Be with You!

I did not post a May rabbit on the first, so--

Today was just a half-day for me at work, compensation for working this Saturday, so like the lazy procrastinator I know how to be, I did my jog thing after work. Hey, I've got all afternoon. Well, I did when I started--but anyway, seeing Dingy (honestly, that's what he goes by) reminded me of how wonderful it is to enjoy a day. Not everyone can do that--enjoy a day--and it is not to be taken for granted. Dingy has asbestosis, so is easily winded, and his wife has had a stroke. She was able to come back home, so he is not living alone. But still--he always has a smile, socializes with everyone, and gets out to fish (hence the nickname) many mornings. Probably most mornings. I can't imagine him crabby. A good outlook is a golden egg that not everyone is able to find...

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On April 21st, I took a day off work and celebrated the first anniversary of my last chemo treatment with Mom. We had pizza for lunch and then went to see Beauty and the Beast on the big screen and both enjoyed it. Going to the movies is a rare treat, especially in the middle of the afternoon, when there are very few other people there. Just a few of us adults, hiding there in the dark...it was fun!

And...the Monday after that, I damaged the house. Yep. I was backing out of the driveway, on my way to work, when I decided to run back in the house to get something. Put the car in park. Open the garage door. Run in, put my hands on said object, run out. I came out just in time to see my car come sailing (?) into the garage and crash into Mike's tool chest. It demolished the tool chest, but the big news is, it damaged the back of the garage. Lovely. The good news is, the damage is not profound, and our insurance agents were very, very nice to us. And we found a good handyman service that I will gladly use again. So, it's fixed!  And from now on, I will shut off my car if I need to get out for any reason. It's just a better policy.

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Mom and I also stepped out to join an anti-45 march. It was a lovely evening for a walk, actually! We marched until we came up against a diligently prepared barrier: three cop cars, cops, and lots of road block thingies. Two secret service men watched the fun, too. The media was not there. Actually, there wasn't much coverage of the rally, either. 45 was...not such a big event.  My favorite sign read, "Twinkle twinkle little czar, Putin put you where you are."  It was a better sized crowd than I thought we'd get.

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In better news, I did enjoy reading Lincoln in the Bardo, by George Saunders. Since then, I've read a Terry Pratchett book (everyone needs a vacation to Discworld now and then), and am now reading a thriller by Tana French called In the Woods. (bwaaahhaha)

It's not the biggest news, but it's all mine! And I'm enjoying my day.


How 'bout you--whatchaupto?

Rabbit, rabbit, happy lucky April!

April is peeking its head out--so rabbit, rabbit, happy lucky April, everyone...I must confess that I have mixed feelings about April Fools' jokes. And I'm working on April Fools' Day, and hoping that not too many customers have the urge to be obnoxious. There is some mighty unrest out there, these days. The latest changes at New Bank are actually omissions. The famous coin machine is gone, and I have felt punished for that, since people are bringing in copious amounts of rolled coin that we must check at some point before handing out to others, sometimes fifteen minutes before we close...good times. And there are other changes coming, as well.

Luckily, my life is such that staying a bit later than scheduled is usually not a problem. And I'm not being bothered by any coworkers, either. It does make me feel icky when a couple of them whisper in front of me, but it's groovy that I'm not involved.  Oh, the drama...(not to mention bad manners.)



March 31st :  a special morning: I jogged three miles without walking breaks. This is a light of hope; my oncologist had said something like 'three miles is enough,' after citing some study that concluded that distance training was harder after adriamycin. HE DIDN'T HAVE TO SAY THAT, I was paranoid enough. And me and my joints have no intention of ever doing that again, anyway. So there. And distance training is harder on the over-50 crowd, too. I am so happy to be tendonitis-free...


So much for my little world. The bigger world is always charging in, scaring the hell out of me. Oh, another thing about my coworkers: they are naïve. Since they have no memories of life without the internet, they are not bothered by any changes that take place there...and honestly, they are so busy shopping and buying stuff that who cares? Hey, whatcha doing for lunch? Sometimes, I fear that  they're right: go ahead, spend your paycheck on lunches, expensive phones, and clothes, because if the government collapses, at least you'd have enjoyed all your stuff. Eat all your nuts TODAY, before Russia completely destabilizes our trees.

April Fools' Day!

Sorry, that came from a dark spot in my brain. Facebook is becoming such an echo-chamber, I need to limit my viewing habits, or I'll become obsessed with scary news.

This weekend has almost pre-filled for me...working Saturday, and then on Sunday, one of Mike's long distance friends, and his wife, will be in town. This is turning  Sunday afternoon into quite the party, and I'm looking forward to it. As usual, we'll try not to get political.

In other social-crowd news, we will be taking a Gettysburg ghost tour in June, in conjunction with our reading of Lincoln in the Bardo, by George Saunders. Mike is reading it now, and (so far) thinks it's way weird. I haven't gotten to it, yet. We often read stuff at the same time, but I'm still finishing Absurdistan, by Gary Shteyngart,  on loan from someone in our group. Both our Nooks are registered to me, so everything I buy is on both devices (and the tablet), which is very convenient.

Mike is doing an admirable job staying calm, with all the uncertainty at his place of work. We all need to stay hopeful. It's hard to balance enjoying life with planning for the future, sometimes.


Interesting article : http://www.iasc-culture.org/THR/THR_article_2014_Fall_McPherson.php

Anyway. It's the weekend! Let's all drink, be merry, and lose at Scrabble!

Whatchaupto?

March Came Quickly, and...

Trying to Save Piggy Sneed was an interesting memoir penned by John Irving, back when he was my age.  It's actually a compilation of memories, short stories, essays, and anecdotes from his life.  The title of this work lets it masquerade as a novel, and I must confess it tricked me. (Even its spine classifies it as fiction!)  Piggy is a cruel nickname for an unfortunate man Irving knew in his childhood, whose life comes to a sad end.  Since this collection of stuff starts with him, I expected it to end with giving Mr. Sneed a better ending, because that is what writers do. If I were to put my hand up in Mr. Irving's class and say, but what about Piggy Sneed, weren't you gonna save him? He'd peer at me over his half-specs, suppress an eye roll, and tell me to use my imagination.

Well, my imagination says that Piggy was way smarter than he let on, and those bones you found after the fire weren't his. He'd been stashing cash somewhere else forever and retired to a warm place, way way out of Maine, where people don't make fun of him. The End.

This is why I am not a writer. But still, I must persist, it would have made for a nice symmetry to end it all with Piggy Sneed--not ending it all.

Seriously, though, I stand in wonder of how Irving is able to effectively proselytize* about any subject that strikes his fancy; I know nothing about wrestling, it all looks like rolling around to me, but his wrestling stories are great, especially the ones involving refereeing. Yes, the famous author refed, and got screamed at by some of the strangest people I never want to meet. Great material...

Another subject Irving proselytizes about is literature. Yes, yes, it's true. He's part teacher. After reading his rhapsodies (the h filled in for me, love that) about certain authors and books, I picked up The End of the Affair, my first Graham Greene book. I know that we saw the movie years ago, but it's not memorable. This short novel is. The whole of this sad narrative is told in first person, takes place in one mind, and it is riveting and thought provoking.

After the end of  The End of the Affair, I picked up a novel that's been in my queue for awhile, one that's gotten a lot of buzz. It's called The Nightingale, by Kristin Hannah. It's a tall order to follow Irving and Graham, and at first, I thought her style seemed thin, but that might be me acclimating to  different prose. Readers have to do that. I am getting into the story, which involves two very different sisters. Lately, I feel as though the two-sister theme is a strong one. Another book awaiting me is Homegoing, by Yaa Gyasi. I'm digressing. A much more common theme is World War II. The End of the Affair and The Nightingale both take place during WWII.

WAIT....I forgot to do a Rabbit Rabbit post. March came so quickly, hopped right in after what must have been the warmest February ever. We are experiencing cold and windy sensations right now, but this shall pass very soon. And California has gotten multiple inches of rain. I remember watching it rain from the porch or "the old old house" with Granny, that's how unusual it was (Pasadena, long ago).
I do not have anything to report that would be exciting to anyone else...to me, it's exciting that I'm not working this weekend, and I get to sit and bask in the fact that I get to bask. And feel well. My parts are feeling better than ever, even my tendonitis seems to be gone, I can do the snow angel thing, and I'm sleeping better. Not to brag.

Yeah, yeah.

So. Whatchaupto? I'm all ears!



*Mike and I recently watched a spelling bee. That word did not come up. I was so far off that Blogger had nothing. I love google.

February Distractions

On a rather dreary but unusually balmy February morning, our Sunday paper arrives in its electric orange sheath, just before we arise. That's one of the little things in life I enjoy--the paper, yes, but especially that orange contrasting with the lack of color around it.

Last night, we watched a documentary called Wiener. Yes, Wiener--it's all about Anthony Wiener. And he participated, and let the camera roll behind the scenes. It's a fascinating train wreck. I highly recommend it. I have so many thoughts regarding this film, especially because of what's happening right now in our nation's capital. Anthony Wiener was a talented politician, brought down because of a weird online obsession. Many of Wiener's constituents felt betrayed that he'd lied about his actions, though that would appear to be the least surprising thing about his behavior.  Allowing this film to be made might qualify as astounding behavior, but then, Wiener is obviously an exhibitionist.

Does it take an exhibitionist to run for public office?  An important part of honing one's public image is now taking place online, and perhaps it's exacerbating some people's inner tendencies.

Okay, enough about the Wiener, except to point out that some emails that turned up on his computer helped to bring down Hillary Clinton, too.
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And now a break to sit here, and be here, and experience the moment...

More than just a moment...I went for a three mile walk in my nifty yellow raincoat. Yes, it's raining, and there is a treadmill in the basement, but I can't pass up the opportunity to be The Girl in the Yellow Raincoat experiencing the rain, the slight breeze, the dog barking, and--the sirens. I spend enough time indoors.
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This is the week of Valentine's Day, and next weekend will be our 28th wedding anniversary. Last year, on our anniversary, I was unfortunately unable to eat, which bothered and disappointed me, but this year, I'm worried that I've been eating too much, which does not stop me from looking forward to it! What difference a year makes.

In other ME news, I've been spending a little time in physical therapy--nothing serious, just learning some exercises to control some symptoms that will probably come and go. My therapist referred to it as cording syndrome, and I suspect a bad head cold brought it on. That probably sounds strange, but colds do put one's lymph nodes to work. Anyway, I was at first concerned that it was something that might get worse, but that is not the case. It's almost completely gone now, but I'm glad I met someone who knows what it is.

After this week, I won't have any appointments for awhile. Ahh, almost three months until the next oncologist appointment, six months until I see the dentist, eight months until the next GP visit, and NINE months until the next radiologist appointment (still looking for side effects, apparently).  Life is good.

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My younger sister and her wife are in India now, and have shared some beautiful pictures of Taj Mahal. It's always a good time to see a masterpiece, but it seems especially wonderful to be there so close to a romantic holiday. A trip of a lifetime...

And now, I must spend some time reading...


Whatchaupto?






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Interesting:
http://www.politico.com/magazine/story/2016/08/internet-online-exhibitionist-anthony-weiner-psychology-mental-214201

New Era

Facebook was supposed to be fun, a word here that means, posting funny memes and keeping up with your peeps.  Peeps: people you actually know, or at least pen pals with common interests.

Unfortunately, I've let it become a major time waster, sometimes a stressful one. My newsfeed has become all about politics, and I've contributed to it. It's not my intention to be thin-skinned, and I certainly don't think anyone is trying to upset me, but I find that some of the links shared by people I barely know from high school  are--upsetting me. So, I've unfollowed and made up a restricted list, because I'm sure I've upset them, too.

It's become a belated resolution for 2017: spend less time on Facebook. Look to see what specific friends are up to, then get off.

An example of newsfeed mania: President Trump Declares 20 January 2017 "National Day of Patriotic Devotion."  Yes, it's hilarious because it sounds just like him, but according to Snopes, this is just fancy verbiage, and President Obama also had a special name for his inauguration date.

The Women's March in Washington was a meaningful experience, and people everywhere were very nice and friendly. I enjoyed the speakers I was able to hear. Most of them I caught later. Gloria Steinem was, as usual--well, The Bomb. Michael Moore was excellent, and there were a couple young celebrities who were charmingly earnest. The only one who annoyed me was Madonna. We all know who she is, but it's not cool to mention bombing The White House, even in jest.  Also, I'm not offended by The F Word, but I thought the idea was to out-class Trump. Still, her heart is in the right place.

SO. It's back to reading my mountain of books--and yes, calling my representatives, because I can do that. It's our civic duty. Even those who voted for Barack Obama sent him petitions about drone strikes and Chelsea Manning. I want to participate in our democracy, not obsess over it. It cannot be my new hobby.

And now for something completely different:

It made me laugh, so here it is.

Happy Tuesday!

Dreary Day

Last night, my sisters and I went to the movies. This is news, because I hardly ever do that. We saw Lion, a film that follows a little boy's life after he becomes lost and separated from his family in India. It's based on a true story, and it's moving and parts of it are particularly sad and hard to watch--it's especially hard to watch adults shooing away homeless children, as if they were vermin.

This particular story reminds me a bit of Dickens; the boy, Saroo,  has a few misadventures until he is adopted by a nice Australian couple and gets to live a more privileged life. Still, memories haunt him, and the second part of the story is about how Saroo discovers who he is and just how far he's traveled.

Lion is the latest big film that reminds us of the more typical life much of the world experiences. India, in particular, has so many messy problems--population, sanitation, missing and homeless children, and extreme poverty, just to name a few.

Today seems like a dark day in more than one way, and yet--we are not India. With all the graphic news we receive online every day, we should cherish all we have, and all we stand to lose, instead of feeling that our "middle class" lives are normal. I know young people who seem to think that there is some law that would prevent congress from taking certain actions, such as repealing ACA without a replacement. See? Naïve. For granted. Not paying attention.

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MY CORNER: I'm feeling well, walking about three miles most mornings...I do plan to start physical therapy, aimed at treating lymphedema, in the near future. At this point, nothing is visually obvious, but I have a lot of tightness in my arm, and some spots, especially around my wrist, are feeling sensitive. I'm able to stretch the arm and live normally, but I do want to learn how to manage the symptoms as early as possible. I've been referred to a practice very close by, just down the street from my oncologist's, so if they don't receive my faxed script in a couple days, I'll have time on Tuesday to simply be my own messenger...

AND tomorrow, we'll go to Washington, D.C., and yell. Democracy is messy, indeed, and it will me messy in many places tomorrow.

And look! It's finally time for me to get dressed and go into work. What a shame, it's raining on a parade somewhere...