Thursday Ramble

 Be on the alert to recognize your prime at whatever time of your life it may occur. 

Muriel Spark

Good morning, everyone.  They are calling for some rain today, but that won't keep me in today.  Mother's Day will be celebrated at the Center with a fantastic meal--stuffed shells, meatball, salad, and if they follow the protocol for other holidays, a very special cupcake.  And best of all, on Thursday lunch is only fifty cents.  Can't beat that for an Italian meal.  The cooks at the Center may not vary their menu much (which is one of the biggest complaints), but they sure do know how to cook.  

Speaking of lunches.  Sat with Annie again yesterday, and more and more I grow to love and admire this woman.  She brings a special aura to the lunchroom table. I must get a picture.  Soon to be 99, she lives each day to the fullest and focuses on the positive.  She is bouncy and bright and never has an unkind word for anyone. And her sense of humor?  Oh my, does she make us laugh.  For example, yesterday was her day to utter the fruit juice toast we give each other before lunch begins... 

"Here's to those who wish us well

and those that don't can go to hell."

I absolutely love her.

Yesterday was the last day for the social work intern who facilitated our ladies group.  To show our gratitude we got together and gave her a card and a small party during our last group. I, for one, will definitely miss her.  It was a tough crowd, and she really did her best.  Next week a summer intern will be starting and will pick up the group.  This one has more clinical experience in running groups.  I am anxious to see how she handles the group. 

Last month I had been approached about running it, but after years of running so many groups a week, I am totally grouped out.  Teaching  my peers about genealogy and helping them find their ancestors is about all I care to do.  

I've been wanting Mexican food in the worst way so last night I made a pot of chili and yellow rice.   With a slice of avocado, it sure tasted good. 

Later I watched the season finale of Criminal Minds.  Another favorite show. Actually, I loved the show so much that when I was studying for my degree I took courses such as Deviant Behavior, Abnormal Psychology, etc.  I wanted to be a behavioral analyst, but it was not the sort of career that one starts at age 50.  So, I became a substance abuse counselor and worked, originally, only with clients on parole.  That was about the closest I was going to get. 

Well, that's about it. Nothing much of sustenance here. I don't want to start rambling so badly it gets boring.  Hoping you all have a great day.

Spring may boast her flow'ry prime,

Yet the vineyard's ruby treasures

Brighten autumn's sob'rer time.

So life's year begins and closes;

Days, though short'ning, still can shine;

What, though youth gave loves and roses,

Age still leaves us friends and wine....

Thus may we, as years are flying,

To their flight our pleasures suit,

Nor regret the blossoms dying,

While we still can taste the fruit.

Thomas Moore, "Spring and Autumn"

Wednesday This and That

 Nothing that is can pause or stay;
The moon will wax, the moon will wane,
The mist and cloud will turn to rain,
The rain to mist and cloud again,
Tomorrow be today.

Henry Wadsworth Longfellow

Good morning, everyone. Looks like it's going to be another great day. No issues with the buses yesterday, and I made it in time to pick up my meds and get my requested seat at the Center. Actually, it was quite funny yesterday.  The girlfriend of the man who started the argument over my seat was there and busy in conversation with someone when I walked in.  I stopped to ask a friend how her eye surgery went, and the girlfriend happened to glance over and see me.  She abruptly ended her conversation and rushed over to Table 13.  The funny part was that once she got there it was apparent that she was trying to figure out how to save MY seat for him. (He hadn't arrived yet).  What was funny to me was that this was the first time they had been back since that day so she didn't know that I know longer sat there.  All this was for nothing.  

I am actually quite happy that the incident happened. I tend to get 'stuck'.  Sitting in the same spot for months on end was comfortable to me.  I realize now that I wasn't expanding.  Oh, I knew people to acknowledge with a smile and 'hello', but that was all.  I didn't really know them.  And although I got to know those in my groups, one doesn't really know someone until they socialize and 'really' get to know them. 

Now I am having so much fun.  I that I moving about I find myself meeting so many new and interesting people.  I think my favorite is Annie.  Soon to turn 99, she is such a joy.  She walks about with no problem, dances, tells jokes, and just yesterday she serenaded us with a WW2 song.  I absolutely love this lady. She puts me to shame.

I know I said I was going to stay out of the store, but Sunday I early for church and had nothing to do so I figured it would be okay to just walk around.  Not a good idea.  Meet the newest addition to my collection--Our Lady of the Miraculous Medal.  With my collection of statues, one would never guess that I am not a Catholic.  But I view Mary as a manifestation of the Divine Feminine.  She is the goddess who never truly disappeared. 

And then when I enter the church there is a man in the lobby selling items made in Jerusalem. There was a fantastic wood carved Angel that I wanted so badly, but $50 was far above my budget. But, I am never one to leave a place empty handed.  That is not a good trait for someone on a limited income to have, and I really have to work harder at it.  There are times I am very good, and other times I buy just to buy.

Tabgha is the traditional site of the Miracle of the Multiplication of the Loaves and the Fishes. The above contains Holy Water from the Jordan River, Holy Oil from the Virgin olives of old Bethlehem olive trees, and Holy Soil from Jerusalem.  It cost me $7, not bad. But I am still thinking about that Angel.  (Sigh)

Outside the open window
The morning air is all awash with angels.

Richard Purdy Wilbur

Tuesday Ramble

Look at the stream, there are rocks in its way. Does it slam into them
out of frustration? It simply flows over and around them and
moves on! Be like the water and you will know what harmony is.

Zen saying

What a gorgeous Tuesday morning it is.  Clear skies, warm temperatures.  Nothing will keep me in today, and I refuse to let anything stress me on a beautiful day like this.  Even New York City buses.  My day yesterday started out fine...until I left the house to catch the bus.  I left the house early because I wanted to stop at Pathmark before going to the Center.  I only had a small bit of tonic with quinine left and was having a hard time finding it.  I've not found it anywhere but Pathmark, and it does seem to be working. Someone mentioned that it might be nothing more than a placebo effect.  I don't think so.  I did a bit of research and discovered that quinine was once used for muscle spasms until taken off the market.  They don't feel that the amount found in tonic is dangerous.  But even if it is a placebo, it is working and that is what counts.  

So, back to my story.  When I step out of the house, I see that the bus is down the block so I pick up my step.  When I reach the corner, the bus passes me by, but there are three ladies waiting to board.  "Hold the bus, please," I cry out as I hurry across the street, but as soon as I reach the opposite corner, the driver closes the doors and begins to pull out. But then he stops, and I think he is stopping for me so I pick up my pace again.  Just as I get two feet from the door, the driver pulls out.  I was furious.  I know that at least ONE person on that bus had to have seen me and didn't say a word. Even moreso I'd hate to think that the bus driver saw me through one of his many mirrors and taunted me like that.

I made this for dinner last night...Peruvian chicken, rice, beans, and veggies.  This was hubby's plate.  Mine was not so full.  And mine was already eaten. I don't play when it comes to food.  Seriously though, I like to eat early.  Gain too much weight by eating late.  Hubby, on the other hand, eats about 8 pm, and he can use the weight.

Anyone catch the season finale of Vikings?  I don't think I have ever enjoyed a finale so much.  Kudos to the writers for catching us all off guard.  Such a surprise ending to a great season.  I've already watched it three times. I think one of my favorite parts was when Ragnar asked Athelstan to teach him one of his prayers and as they knelt and recited the Lord's Prayer as the scene shifts to the landing of the ships that carry warriors who have come to wipe out everything and everyone related to Ragnar.  Kudos to the actors who do such a great job of bringing the ancient Vikings back to life and the directors and everyone else involved who have made this one of the greatest series on television.

So much so that I am currently going through withdrawal, and the thought of waiting until 2015?  I've decided that I am going to use this time wisely.  I hope to watch the entire series over again from Day 1.  There are always things we miss the first time around.   I also plan to read up on the history of the characters as well as learn more about  Germanic religion and mythology.  These were my ancestors.  They lived in violent times, yes, but they lived, and they survived, and because they survived I am here today.  

First stop for me is 'Travels Through Middle Earth: The Path of a Saxon Pagan' by Alaric Albertsson.  From the description:

Tolkien's enduring vision of Middle Earth was largely inspired by the worldview of ancient Saxon Pagans. In this pagan guidebook, Alaric Albertsson presents a complete introduction to Anglo-Saxon cosmology, deities, spirits, and rituals.

Travels Through Middle Earth offers practical information about the Saxon Pagan path, including many ways to incorporate Saxon rituals into contemporary spiritual life. Discover the húsel, a basic ritual for honoring personal ancestors, the Gods, and dwarves and elves. Learn how to set up a wéofod, the Saxon altar, to connect with the Gods. Also covered in this handbook: the concept of wyrd and how it shapes your destiny, the holy tides and how to celebrate them, rites of passage, worship, magic, and even instructions for making mead.

Needless to say, I find that once I pick it up, I cannot stop reading.  A very good starting point and highly recommended.

And with that, it is time to head on into the shower.  Hoping today to make it to Pathmark so I have to get out of here early again.  Be safe and have a wonderful day.

Monday Morning This and That

How beautiful, buoyant, and glad is morning! The first sunshine on the leaves: the first wind, laden with the first breath of the flowers—that deep sigh with which they seem to waken from sleep; the first dew, untouched even by the light foot of the early hare; the first chirping of the rousing birds, as if eager to begin song and flight; all is redolent of the strength given by rest, and the joy of conscious life. 

Letitia Elizabeth Landon

Happy Monday morning.  And, oh what a weekend it was!  On Friday I did my food shopping.  I just cannot believe how food prices are rising. Meats have shot up $2 in two weeks. Wondering how we will be able to afford to eat in the future.  Saturday was a nice warm day so I took a walk to CVS and sat in the park for awhile.  It was such a lovely morning, and after having been cooped up for so long during the winter, it felt wonderful to get back to nature.  As you can see, there is not much greenery in the park yet, but in another month it will be a whole other world.

This gnome sits near the entrance of the park.  Not the best photo. I had lots of trouble taking pictures with the sun glaring on my screen. Couldn't see the pictures as I took them so had to guess I had it right.

This is a huge silver replica of a Viking ship. Sorry the photo is not clear.

Well, Friday evening's dinner wasn't as chaotic as I originally thought it would be.  Fortunately, Miss Minga was actually quite  pleased with her tuna treat and forgot all about the liver. Whew!!!  Now Fancy Feast Appetizers have become her regular treat. Makes me happy because they are not so bad for her.  Only problem is  that  they are so expensive, but my little girl  is so worth it. 

Speaking of Friday evening...boy, did I have a scare.  I turned on my computer, and it would boot up, but the monitor would go blank after a second. Played with it for awhile turning off and on, and finally it worked.  Saturday morning it went on without a hitch.  Then, Saturday afternoon it wouldn't stay on again.  I couldn't believe it.  This computer is only three months old.  But then, for some unknown reason, I decided to turn the monitor off and on manually just to see what happened.  And, lo and behold, for the second it stayed on I saw that everything was on the screen. Turned out to be the monitor.  We bought a new one and all is fine.

This was taken after church on Sunday while I was waiting for the bus. It was downright chilly, and I ended up catching a cold chill that took til late afternoon to go away. 

And finally, while the park may not look much like Spring yet, but the trees and ground in front of my house do.

They are predicting some nice warm temperatures for next Saturday.  That calls for a trip out to Coney Island.  I live so close yet never seem to get there.  Laziness on my part? 

Well, that's about it for my weekend.  Not too many words, I know.  Thanks for joining me on my weekend tour.

Friday Roundup

I suddenly realized how grateful I was for the absence of pain in my feet.

Then I started ticking off other absences for which I was grateful--

the absence of certain very difficult people in my life, the absence of feelings

of resentment toward those who have "wronged" me, the absence of feelings

of loss for relationships and things long gone--and on and on.

We have such a range of gratitude possibilities.

Anne Wilson Schaef

   

A visit to the fruit stand yesterday.

Good morning.  Another Friday has rolled around, and boy what a week it was.  Monday and Tuesday were fairly normal days.  I went to the Center, played Bingo for an hour, went to group, talked about the plane.  Good news is that I seem to be on the right track when it comes to alleviate those painful muscle cramps that keep me from my sleep.  Pressing the spot between my upper lip and nose has alleviated my foot cramps entirely and the tonic water with quinine seems to be working on my calve muscles.  Of course, it hasn't been a week yet, but I am feeling hopeful.  The foot cramps when I climb into bed are downright annoying, but there is no description for being woken from a sound sleep by a painful muscle spasm in the calf muscle.  Anyone who has experienced this knows exactly what I am talking about.

Received a wee bit of extra cash this week from an unexpected tax check and purchased three books for my Kindle which had been on my wish list--'The Way of Four: Create Elemental Balance in Your Life' by Deborah Lipp (shows you how to keep balance in your life by using the four elements; 'North Node Astrology: Rediscovering Your Life Direction and Soul Purpose' by Elizabeth Spring (examines the astrological North and South Node to discover purpose and soul direction.  Chapters on planets are also included); and 'Lessons in Astrology as Magic' by Dana Gerhardt. Problem was I couldn't figure out what to read first.  Eventually, I chose 'North Node Astrology' and am enjoying every page.

Wasn't that rain something?  My goodness, it started in the morning and was still coming down when I went to bed.  I can't remember a day where it rained so many hours without a break.  

I feel so bad.  Inadvertently I made Miss Minga sick.  On Easter Sunday my sons visited, and I made a Pernil for us.  Now, there are two things that drive Miss Minga crazy.  The smell of turkey roasting in the oven and pernil.  I always boil up the turkey livers for her, and whenever I make a pernil, she gets a few tiny pieces.  But, with her age, I was a bit concerned about the pernil so I bought some chicken livers and boiled them.  She gobbled them up like there was no tomorrow. I had some left over so I heated them and gave them to her the next day.

Needless to say, that started a trend.  Whenever I had dinner she would begin crying for liver, and I gave her what was left.  When the liver was gone I bought more.  It became her every night treat, and she expected it.  Well last night she came down with diarrhea.  She actually couldn't even make it to her box.  Immediately I was terrified.  After all, my little girl will be 22 in July, and immediately I thought the worst. Luckily it didn't last very long, and when I went online to research, I discovered I had been overfeeding the liver.  A little as a treat now and again is fine, but not every night. 

I've spoiled her terribly.  I know her time is short,  and I am doing my best to make sure she is happy.  But, sometimes we do the wrong things for the right reason.  Now I know I am going to pay the price. Miss Minga has always been very vocal, and in her old age, she has gotten VERY loud.  Tonight's dinner will probably be miserable.  She doesn't know any better. She can't see the connection between her upset tummy and the liver, so when she sees it is not forthcoming, I just know she is going to be very vocal.  For tonight I bought her one of those expensive seafood dishes for cats, but I know my Miss Minga.  It is not going to do the trick.  That's why I only bought one.  

Well, I guess that's about it.  Going food shopping today and church on Sunday.  That is my only weekend plans.  Of course, there is always room for changes.

Wishing you all a wonderful, joy-filled weekend.  See you on Monday.

Blogger's Block

To say "too busy" is merely
to say "confused priorities."

 Jonathan Lockwood Huie

It's one of those days.  We all have them.  Can't think of a darn thing to say.  Didn't accomplish a thing yesterday.  Just drifted in and out of sleep.  Tried to read, but couldn't concentrate so kept moving on from book to book.   Perhaps my brain is in overload.  I've so many thoughts rushing through it, so many things that I want to do--read a new evolutionary astrology book I just purchased, set up a soul based numerology chart, learn more about acupressure, delve deeper into Germanic ancestry--while writing a book report for my Druid trainings. Then, there is the household to run, the care of an aging cat, and the important need to find time for socialization.  And the problem with me  is, when I have too many things on your list, nothing gets accomplished.  I tend to start one, stop, pick up another one, then another, then back to the first.  And that burns me out. 

So, for today I am going to take a blogging break while I set my priorities in order.  I'll be back tomorrow.  

I am so busy doing nothing...
that the idea of doing anything - which as you know,
always leads to something - cuts into the nothing and
then forces me to have to drop everything.

Jerry Seinfeld

Wednesday Ramble

 And at last it comes. You hear a patter... you see a leaf here and there bob and blink about you; you feel a spot on your face, on your hand. And then the gracious rain comes, gathering its forces—steady, close, abundant. Lean out of window, and watch, and listen. How delicious!... the verandah beneath losing its scattered spots in a sheet of luminous wet; and, never pausing, the close, heavy, soft-rushing noise... 

John Richard Vernon,

Good morning on this not so springlike day. Actually, it seems almost like winter out.  Yesterday it was pretty darn cold, and today the  rain is coming down and torrents. No way am I stepping outdoors today.  No need to.  Retirement brings choices, and I choose to stay in my jammies and watch the rain from my window. 

Women's group no longer holds my interest as it once did, and I don't see much sense in getting drenched to play an hour of Bingo.  It's not like I ever win.  I've been attending the Center for about a year now, and I can count on my right hand the number of times I won.  I am not very lucky in Bingo, but I don't care.  It just gives me something to do.

But yesterday Lady Luck hit me in another way. When I got home I found my bank statement in the mail, and boy, was I ever in for a surprise.  The first thing I always check is the deposits to make sure Social Security and my pension have been credited. I was also anxious to check on my federal refund as each time I tried to check online I was told to try back again.  I was beginning to get anxious.  That was not a very good sign.  Well, it turns out it had already been deposited.  The reason I couldn't find it online was because you have to enter the exact amount. I had entered what I thought I was getting back--$628.  Instead, my refund was $613. The tax preparer had gotten it wrong.

But that was not the only thing he got wrong.  If you remember, I posted my disappointment that I owed the State and how unfair it was that I was on Social Security but had to pay.  You can imagine how surprised I was to find that the state had deposited a $421 refund into my account.  They had reimbursed me and then some.  Wow!!!  Wasn't expecting that.  Needless to say, I will not return to that place if I have to do taxes next year.

I spent the whole evening last night watching a marathan of the entire season of Vikings.  I could watch these shows over and over again.  It is history.  I think that's why I love it so much.  I learn something new every time I re-watch something.  Sad that tomorrow night is the season finale and will be anxiously waiting for the new episodes.

Yesterday was a busy day at the Center, and I didn't get there early enough to get a seat as my usual table so I was seated at the table just behind it.  That was okay.  I was close enough to talk to my friends, and I got a chance to meet some new people.  Oh, we'd known each other enough to say hello, but that was about it.  Well, I always say that everything happens for a reason.  There was an elder gentlemen seated with us, and he began talking about the muscle spasms he has at night.  I mentioned that I had the same thing and asked if he was on blood pressure medication.  Indeed he was.  Then, another lady at the table spoke up and said that she used to struggle with spasms but began drinking some tonic water with added quinine at night, and it has been stopping her spasms.  

I came home and, of course, did some research.  I never take anything, even something so seemingly harmless, without doing some investigation.  Indeed, quinine does cure muscle cramps, but has been banned by the FDA because some people have had side effects.  However, the amount in tonic water does the job and is relatively harmless. 

On an added note, I found that when your foot or calve muscles spasm, press on your upper lip.  I tried it last night, and it actually works.  Who would have thought?

Off now to prepare something to eat.   Wishing you all a great Tuesday.