Some Thoughts About Christmas 2013

       I thought it was about time to get a blog post in. I've been busy lately, as usual.  Whenever I go a long time between posts, I have a bunch of ideas and don't know which topic to write about first. When I first started writing this, it was Christmas Eve-now it's the 29th, and I still haven't finished it yet.

    1.  I went Christmas shopping for the first time on the 23rd, and  must have made five stops-first in vain to find a copy of "It's a Wonderful Life" on DVD to show at work. I tried to get it at the library, and it was checked out, and this was three weeks ago. I tried to buy it at Newbury Comics, and they didn't have it either. I have it on VHS, but that doesn't help much if you don't have a working VCR! Fortunately, nobody seemed to notice when I changed it to a different Christmas movie.

   2. I went to CVS, to pick up some blue lights for the miniature tinsel tree I bought last week. I know some people think silver trees are gaudy, and maybe they are. But I love them, always have. I like the white trees, too.  Unfortunately, the tree is so small and fragile that the only light sets that don't weigh down the tree are a string of 20.  Tonight I found a string that small at a different CVS, and connected the white and blue sets, and have the blue lights underneath the tree, it's real pretty! There's something about the lights that "make" the season for me.  I've been dealing with Christmas since the day after Thanksgiving at work, but have once again neglected decorating my own house until the last minute. Better late than never!

    3.   I got out of work early on the 24th, so I took advantage of a chance to do some last minute shopping. I went to my old haunts, 7-11, Trader Joe's and the Needham Heights CVS, which has more stuff than the others around here.  Needham was getting like a ghost town, even though it was only 5:30. Christmas Eve after 6:00 is one of the rare occasions all year when time is suspended, and everything stops, because it's a special occasion. Cool! In this day and age where commerce happens 24/7 (I used to hate that figure of speech, but it's grown on me)  it's kind of a nice novelty to see the stores closed. True, it can be inconvenient, but it makes me appreciate how easy life is most of the time when the buses are running and the stores are open.

    4. One of my favorite things about Christmas is the wrapping paper! There are so many beautiful patterns. I've always been one to carefully unwrap gifts to save the paper, which then collects dust because I never get around to using it for other craft projects. I'm glad I still have some of the best wrapping paper from gifts my grandmother gave me over the years. 

    5. I managed to make it through the holiday season without once hearing the worst Christmas song- Bruce Springsteen's "Santa Claus is coming to Town".  The all-Christmas music was on a different radio station this year, so I wasn't exposed to it much. I don't think Christmas got as much publicity or hype this year as it usually does.    

    6. Don't get the wrong idea, that I don't like Christmas music--I do! I just prefer the traditional songs, and the "pop" ones from the 50's and 60's. The Phil Spector Christmas album is really good, and Johnny Mathis is great too.  Still, I like two songs about Christmas you never hear- Jethro Tull's  "Christmas Song" and The Kink's "Father Christmas". Both songs are pretty cynical, but have a ring of truth to them that's hard to deny. I'll try to include them at the end here.

    7. At the risk of being repetitious, I will say that I love Christmas, but I never seem to capture the spirit quite the way I want to. I always put things off, and never make my special cookies and fruitcake (I should call it my macadamia/pineapple bread, so people won't be afraid to eat it- fruitcake has a negative connotation to it.) People think of that yucky tub of green and red bits that get mixed into cake batter. Nasty, sour, and  not too appetizing.   For the life of me I can't remember what its called.  I just went downstairs and looked at the container that my Mom bought at least five years ago. It's called candied fruit and peel mix- but I know they call it something else, I just can't think of it. My internet search didn't tell me anything.

     8. I haven't done any after Christmas bargain hunting this year, it's probably too late now. I barely focused on gift giving this year, outside of doing so for the residents at work. I still have to get gifts for my parents. 

    9. What about the snow? We had a lot of snow the week before Christmas, but most of it melted when we had a wonderful warm spell-I'll take that over a white Christmas any day! I became tired of ice and snow pretty quickly. At least I sent away for one of those ice carpets that you can put over the icy walkway, to make it safe. 

     So, Christmas is over for another year, and I'm glad. But as I say every year, I'm going to start planning now to make the next one the best over!! I hope your holiday season was a happy one, and may you have a prosperous New Year! Please take a few minutes to listen to the songs, and tell me what you think.

Here are the trees at Needham Center, where I wait for the bus at night. They did a nice job on them.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                       

    

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                           

New Job, Many Adjustments

     So, two weeks have passed since I started my new job. So far, so good! It sure is different than what I've been used to.

    First, the site of the facility itself. It's in a residential neighborhood, rather than in the middle of the town square. The building itself is a converted house, which makes it homey and quaint. It took me awhile to adjust. My old building is a converted factory, which is much roomier.

   I have to remember to bring my lunch, because I don't have Trader Joe's, CVS, 7-11, Starbucks, and two sub shops within walking difference of my new job. So I've been taking leftovers, and microwavable soups and ramen noodles. 

    The atmosphere is entirely different from what I'm accustomed to. It's busy, considering that it's a much smaller number of residents (50 when full, rather than 142). But the pace is much slower. At my old building, it was rush rush rush, and the day went by quickly.

    Somehow, at my new place, even though the day is busy, time moves at a much slower rate. When I go home at night, it seems like the morning was a couple of days ago! I don't know what to make of it. I guess you could say the mood here is laid back, where I'm used to frantic!

   I've also been getting used to my daily Monday through Friday routine. I guess most people prefer to work five days then have the weekend off. I'm used to working most of the weekends and having Monday and Friday off. I'd still do that if I could. But I only have one assistant, since my place is so small. So I need to be there to run the activities. I enjoy doing them.

   In my opinion, the weekends are too quiet. So Ill   be adding more activity there. I'm working on that now. We do have a volunteer, but I haven't met her yet. It's on my long to-do list.

   My office is in the basement, rather than the third floor. I'll always have a special place in my heart for my old office, since I was the one who convinced the administrator at that time to give it to my department  back in 2003. I spent ten wonderful years there. With a great view at sunset, and a sink, something the old office didn't have, I loved being there.

   My current office isn't bad, though. True, it's window-less. And there's no sink. But when I'm done cleaning it up, it'll be fine. There's a computer desk that my assistant uses when she's there. There's the   "Director's" desk, but I don't like it much. It's kind of dumpy. Then there's a long counter top that looks like marble. Above it are two long shelves mounted to the wall.  I managed to clear off the counter, and now it's my beautiful desktop. Now I just have to find time to clean off the junk that I put on the other desk!!

   Originally, when I heard my office was in the basement, I envisioned being down there all by myself, and lots of cobwebs, like a real cellar. Fortunately, that's not the case. I share the basement with the kitchen, the staff break room, the laundry, and the rehab gym. I like it! Another plus is the storage closet to the right of the office. It's a walk-in closet, really. This space desperately needs weeding out. Once I do that, I'll be satisfied.

   The atmosphere I like the most is the feeling of support. Here I have the full blessing of the Administrator and Nursing Director. They believe in my ability, and it feels like a real team! That makes a world of difference. 

     I guess the biggest difference in being director here than at my old building is the amount of managing I have. Most of the time I'm a department of one- myself. I'm lucky to be able to manage my time because I have the help of the aides. One of them runs an exercise program twice a week. Others pitch in without being asked, to help me pass out food, do manicures, and transport residents to the activities. It's great!

    Luckily for me, we don't have a lot of admissions. That makes it easier to keep up with the quarterly and annual progress notes and care plans, not to mention meetings.

    Still, I have a lot of work to do, and I'm not satisfied yet with what I've accomplished. I have to schedule more activities for the dementia unit, and add more on the weekends. I'm lucky to have a weekend volunteer-I still have to meet her.  

    It's the holiday season, which finds me in the thick of planning parties with the team for the staff, residents and family members.  I'm also decorating, planning a trip to see the holiday lights, ordering supplies, booking my entertainers for next year. Plenty busy. Most importantly, I'm learning who my residents are and what they like to do.

   I have to say a special thank you to my drivers who are getting me back and forth to work. I need to get started on my driving ASAP! 

  The only complaint I have is that my cell phone barely works in this area. On my first day, the land lines were down, so it was an act of congress calling home! I felt a little lonely and isolated my first week when my phone didn't work. But it's been a little better lately.

    I haven't been back to my old job yet, though I will try to get back soon. I hear the residents miss me, and of course I miss them. I have to admit the day went a lot faster there, and maybe it was more "exciting" because there was so much drama. I don't miss the B.S., but I'm still interested in what goes on. I miss my co-workers (most if them, anyway!)

   So, when I'm settled in, and I make this place my own, and I know the residents are happy and we're living up to our full potential, I'll be satisfied.

   

   

         

Let's Go Red Sox!!

   The new century has been good to the Red Sox.  They conquered the past by winning a Championship in 2004, after 82 long years, with three near-misses that went seven games.  They swept the Cardinals in four games, winning it all on the road. It was something many Bostonians thought they would never see.  

      In 2007, the Sox did it again, sweeping the World Series this time against the Colorado Rockies. I almost felt sorry for the opposition, but I was thrilled to have won it all twice within three years.

      The Red Sox have been to the playoffs several times since, but finally we are back, on the cusp of winning the World Series again.  This time it's been a little bit harder. We have played five games, and are ahead three games to two. We blew out the Cardinals 8-1 in the first game.  We left Fenway with the series tied at one game apiece. Then we lost game three with a controversial and strange play at third base. The ump ruled that one of the Cardinals was obstructed on his way home, after tripping over our third baseman. He was on his stomach, and clearly didn't have intent on tripping up the runner, or at least it didn't appear so. At any rate, we lost that game since it was the bottom of the ninth on their field.

     I didn't like the feeling of losing that way, and felt concern about being behind with two more games to go in Saint Louie. I shouldn't have worried. We won the next two games with timely hitting, unlikely heroes, and a great pick off throw by our closer.

     I think most of our town believes The Red Sox will win on Wednesday night. If we do, it will be the first World Series clinching at Fenway Park since 1918, the year my grandmother was born. Think about it.  Win or lose, I'll be back with a follow-up post when the Series is over.

LET'S GO RED SOX!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Making Lemonade Out Of Sour Lemons

   Life is funny, and sometimes things happen that you have to react to. The key is to react in a way that helps you, not hurt you. That's what I've been dealing with the past few weeks.

   First, I found out my boss was resigning. This meant I could  apply for her position, which I held in the past. I have to admit I wanted my old job back pretty badly, for a variety of reasons I won't get into here. 

   The bottom line, I got my certification for just this occasion, so I'd be ready to become a director once again. I liked to think hiring me would be a no-brainer. I know the building and the residents, and what changes the administrator was looking for. 

    To make a long story short, I didn't get the promotion. I was told it was a hard decision, but they hired someone with more experience. If I want to be a director, I should apply at this place or that place (facilities the other candidate had applied that had openings).   

    Maybe it wasn't intended that way, but to me, this was a slap in the face. I was more than devastated and disappointed, I was insulted.  I felt hurt that I was being told to go apply somewhere else. My thinking was, if I'm not good enough for the place I've been over 13 years, why would I be good enough anywhere else? I knew I was  the best person for the job, but my confidence took a hit. 

    So, I immediately began looking online for another job. That's when I realized it was better to be lucky than good. I found a perfect job. Small building, family owned,  and I knew the director of nurses. I called her, and inquired. She told me to get there quick for an interview, and she'd love to have me join the team as the activity director. 

   I overlooked the only obstacle, which would be the inconvenience of getting to the place. It's only 15 minutes away, rather than the five minute commute I have now. But it's not accessible by public transportation.  I figured if I got the job, I would get something else that was very overdue in my life: my driver's license.

   Well, I got the job! I start in early November. So my life will be changing a lot.  It's a change I will embrace. The best part of this was finding out how much support I had from the people I deal with every day, especially the two  co-workers I would've been managing. Co-workers, family members and outside people who come in were as outraged as I was that I wasn't promoted. Just knowing they had confidence in me and my abilities took the sting out of the loss. And every one of them is thrilled that not only am I doing the right thing by moving on, I'm empowering myself in the process!

  Change is difficult for some people, especially me. Normally,  I don't think there's anything wrong with being comfortable, and being satisfied with what you have. In the past I considered new jobs. But after going to apply and seeing the hassle it would be to my quality of life, I was happy to stay where I was. This time, I resisted the temptation to play it safe. 
    This time I knew leaving was the only decision I should make. Why? Because it would be the only way to prove my worth, to show management they made a mistake. Not that they would ever admit it. 
   In the past I was more stubborn, and stayed because I thought they wanted me to leave, and I wasn't going to give them that satisfaction. Not to mention the economy was bad, and there wasn't a job out there with comparable pay. I was vindicated then when my  replacement did crazy things and got herself fired. But I still wasn't certified, so I wasn't able to get my job back. That was three years ago, and here we are.
    So,I'm finally moving on. I made lemonade from sour lemons  when I found a new job doing what I do best, in a smaller setting. I know already I'll be appreciated. And that makes all the difference in the world.
   

   
     

     

It's No Fun Getting Caught in the Rain!

   I had an aggravating experience a few Sundays ago. I had to work, and it was a rainy morning. I didn't know we were about to have a tropical depression though!

   The rain was pouring down, but I had to go out in it anyway, to wait for the bus. On the weekend, buses only run every hour and a half, so I had to make sure I didn't miss it. It usually goes by at 8:55, even though it's supposed to go by at 8:45. I went out at 8:40.

   I had my umbrella, but didn't dare use it. There was thunder and lightning all around, and since that tree outside my house was struck by lightning in July, I wasn't taking any chances.

    I wore my leather jacket, and my canvas hat. I don't have a raincoat or poncho. Guess it's time I get one. If I had it to do over again, I would've put a plastic trash bag on.

    Within five minutes, the rain had completely soaked through my coat and hat. And my pants? Forget it.  If you're wondering why I didn't go back inside, believe me, I considered it a few times. The reasons I didn't: I'm dedicated to my job, and I was already so wet, and the bus was supposed to be coming soon. 
   I had the brains to bring an extra shirt in my backpack, but I didn't put it in plastic. My backpack wasn't waterproof either, so my dry shirt was wet by the time I put it on. But it wasn't soaked, so it was a major improvement.

    While the rain continued to pour in buckets, I think I saw a cat and dog come down, too! I paced back and forth, but by now the sidewalk was flooded, and wherever I walked, my shoes were wading through puddles of water. I opened my umbrella momentarily, but thought the better of it as the thunder boomed overhead, and I decided I'd rather be wet than paralyzed lying on the ground. To add insult to injury, there was so much water in the street that the cars going by inevitably splashed me.

   I had to go to work, since nobody else was there to cover for me, it being the weekend. Mercifully, the bus finally showed up, at 9:15, only about 30 minutes late. All I can say is, standing in the pouring rain for that long can really get you soaked. I got on the bus, and then you should have seen the rain gushing in from a trap door on the floor! 
  When I arrived at the stop, I had new problems. Where do I walk, with all these huge moving puddles of water? There was no way around it, my shoes were going to get soaked again. It was an all day "squish" fest, walking in wet socks and shoes. Yuck.
    Once I actually set foot in the building, I saw a waterfall flowing into the front lobby! The flood ruined a lot of the carpeting in the lobby, and three offices. Luckily, it didn't damage the rehab gym or get into the elevator shaft! Housekeeping did a nice job keeping it soaked up with towels and water vacuum.
    The day got better after that, but it took all day for my pants to completely dry. Within a couple of hours, the sun was out. 
    It's taken them all this time to replace the carpeting (a new color, that makes the hallway look much wider) and they've been painting the baseboards. 
     I'm not even sure why I'm writing this, when I started writing this article it was the same day, and it seemed important. Now it's just a distant memory.  I think I'm going to buy myself a raincoat. Stay dry!
     
    

   

Breaking Bad is Back! But Not For Long....

   After waiting almost a year, Breaking Bad  finally resumed  last night.  In the final scene of last year's cliffhanger, Walt's brother- in- law is putting two and two together, realizing that it's Walt who's been committing crimes right under his nose all this time. In real time, it's been since 2008. On the show, it's only been about two years, if that.  

    I guess I have mixed feelings about the show coming to an end. I'm looking forward to seeing what happens, but then it's over for good.   I still think they should've gotten it over with last year, as a full length season. But where they were on hiatus for so long, maybe the outcome of the show was changed because they had more time to work on it.  

     I guess what I wonder most is: Will Walt's son find out what's been going on? How will he feel knowing his dad and his mom both deceived him? Who will survive the show? I'm betting on Jesse.  I almost forgot that Mike was killed off last season-which is actually not very plausible given how trigger happy his character was.

     It's been so long, I forgot a lot of the details--I'm assuming the murder of the kid on the bike will resurface. The idiot that killed the kid (who witnessed them stealing the chemicals from the train) kept the boy's pet tarantula. If they let that loose end go, I'll be surprised. 

     I'd forgotten how edgy I am when I watch this show. There's always an underlying feeling of impending doom. Tonight's episode started off with a flash forward, presumably to the final episode. By then, Walt has a beard, and hair, his home is trashed (where's his family?) and he goes in to retrieve the famous ricin cigarette out of hiding from a light socket.

     I was surprised that Walt and Hank had a confrontation this soon- Walt realized the damning piece of evidence was missing from the bathroom. Then he looked and found a GPS tracker on his car, and asked Hank if he had anything to do with it. Hank put down the garage door, and punched Walt in the face. Of course, Walt denied any wrongdoing, and revealed his cancer is back, and he'll be dead within six months.  Can't wait to see what happens next! I don't want this column to be full of spoilers, in case you decide to start watching.

   Two things that bothered me: they had a commercial after the opening sequence, and now if you want to see scenes for next week's episode, you have to wait until the first break of the new show they're pushing. No thanks, I'll wait.  If I was smart, I'd videotape the show and fast forward the commercials.  

    If you haven't tried an episode, I highly recommend you do!  I came across the show by accident. I hate hype, and I never would've sat down to watch it myself after listening to all the critical acclaim. It's certainly not for everybody, but if you like suspense and a highly intricate thoughtful plot, and good acting, you may really like it. Just be sure to start from the beginning. If you see it without the ads, it won't take that long to catch up! 

    AMC has added a half-hour talk show about "BB", but since it's not on right afterward, I didn't watch it.  Maybe I'll catch a re-run.  

  

     

    

My New Tablet is Very App-ealing!

  I finally broke down and bought myself a tablet. I spent months trying to decide what I wanted: another laptop, a netbook, a Kindle Fire, an iPad, etc.

  I didn't want to spend a lot of money, and I wanted something portable. So I went online and found tablets dirt cheap. I got an Android because I wanted some fun applications that I couldn't get on my computer.  Someone should explain to me why you can't get "apps" on a regular computer. I don't have a smartphone, and I don't really need one, so a tablet was my best option.
  The app I was most interested in is one that let's you know if your bus is on schedule, and how late it's going to be. But it's not compatible with my tablet. Oh well, I've lived without it this long. 

  It took a little getting used to a touchscreen. I like it. I'm just disappointed that my favorite game on the computer, Majongg Dimensions, isn't "supported" by my Andoid tablet. How I can get that support, I don't know. I want to know if I can do better with it with the touchscreen. Anyway, it doesn't matter that much because I've downloaded several great games, almost all of them free. 

   Amazon gives away a free application every day, and most of them are games. I've had lots of fun with various word games, ones where you find hidden numbers or objects, and arcade style games. It's nice to have a variety.

  I got my tablet also because the size is good for traveling, and I can access the web and my e-mail. The only drawbacks I've had so far is that the internet seems to cut out for no apparent reason sometimes. I'm also not crazy about the typing on a touchscreen. I make a lot more typos. But I suppose it's a trade off for not having to have a real keyboard.

  If you're thinking about getting a tablet, go for it.  Well, I'm off to go play some games! 

Cindy is 9 Today!!

Hard to believe, but my Cindy is nine years old today!

There isn't much I haven't already said about my wonderful Australian Cattle Dog/Collie mix.

She's a great companion, smart, cute, friendly.

Sometimes she barks a little too much, but other than that, she's a model citizen.

Cindy loves to go for walks, and especially enjoys riding in the car with her head out the window.

Naturally, her favorite hobby is eating. She'll be getting some special scraps today.

Here's young Cindy with Octoboy

Knawing on a rawhide; she's a few months old here.

Isn't she sweet?! This is when Cindy was a couple months old. We were at the playground, and I think she found the baseball.

I like to take photos of Cindy where her head looks bigger.

I was sitting right next to her when I took this one-she's a happy dog!

This is from late 2005. I'm not sure why her eyes are closed, but  it's one of my favorite shots.

From 2005 also. Boy, was she skinny then! Look at the intensity in her eyes.

This is 2006, after I returned from vacation. Cindy looked extra spiffy after having had a shampoo at the Doggie Spa.

I'm very proud of Cindy, and I'm so grateful she's my dog. She is very intelligent. And I guarantee she can understand every word I say!

She's now considered a "senior" dog, and she may be slowing down a little bit.  Her eyesight doesn't seem as sharp, and maybe she isn't as fast running up and down the stairs as she used to be. But she's still young at heart, and her heart is made of gold.  

I LOVE YOU CINDY!   HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!!!

It's Been an Eventful June!

   How is your summer going? It seems like the time is flying by, and before we know it, summer will be over. I've been busy with many projects, and haven't had much time to write.

    I'm afraid the ambition I had at the novelty of spring has worn off. Maybe I should've thought twice before starting my yard and garden blog. First of all, I haven't done diddly in the yard for a few weeks now. It got hot, it rained a lot, and the yard is now looking like the Amazon rain forest. Overgrown, with lots of hungry mosquitoes ready to attack me every time I go through there with the dog. Better save the rest of this commentary for that blog, so I don't repeat myself! To  make matters worse, I didn't even give the right URL in the blog post. It should be karinsyard2013.blogspot.com  .Check it out.

    I had a lot to say, now let's see if I can remember any of it!

     Now that summer is in full swing, I have to admit that I'm not the hardy soul I used to be. It hasn't been an unbearable summer, we've had two hot spells with humidity, and I'm already pining for cooler weather. I'm sure I'll change my mind when it does cool off, though!

   I'm disappointed the Bruins were unable to win the Stanley Cup. Any time you come that close, it's a letdown not to succeed. However, I must say there were so many exciting games over the course of the playoffs! The Bruins were able to stave off elimination in the first round in a historic comeback, beat Toronto, then the Rangers,  and sweep the Penguins. It took six games for Chicago to beat us.

  Think of how intensive and difficult it is playing hockey every other day. The Bruins played with a lot of heart, and Tukka Rask made us forget about Tim Thomas.  The way the Bruins lost game six of the finals was heartbreaking. If we had been able to hold the lead for just over another minute we would've made it to game 7. Then it would've been tough to win in Chicago, but I sure believed in them. I'm proud of the Bruins, win or lose.  Now that hockey season is over, all I have left is the Red Sox. Luckily they've been playing pretty well.

   Have you seen a rainbow recently? I was lucky last week to see an amazing one that lasted over 20 minutes.  I came home from work, we got a thunderstorm, and seconds after I walked in the door, a tree right outside my house was struck by lightning! The top of the tree lay in the street for a couple of hours while a cop directed traffic around it. I'm always careful about lightning, but having it hit so close to home was sobering.

   The sun came out, and we knew the conditions for a rainbow were prime, since it was still raining. I protected my camera as best I could, since I ruined my original Nikon in a rainstorm a few years ago. The double rainbow was spectacular!! I took many pictures. I told myself it would be good luck for the Bruins, and they did tie the Finals series that night.

  

The best shots are in my other camera- will show those another day!

  For some reason, I have a summer bug. I've lost my voice! So writing this post made me feel better. You don't realize how much you take speaking for granted until you can't do it.

Have a great night. I'll be doing a post on my other two blogs soon!

THE BOSTON BRUINS HAVE MADE ME PROUD! NOW LET'S WIN THE CUP!!!!

   I'm really proud of the Bruins. They've made it all the way to the Stanley Cup Finals, and tonight they'll be on the road against a tough opponent, the Chicago Blackhawks. 

   Do I think we're going to win the series? You bet. But I know it won't be easy. Then again, we weren't supposed to be able to beat the Penguins, and we swept them. It was pretty exciting!

   I think the shortened season may have helped the Bruins. We aren't as worn out as we'd be if we'd played an 80 game schedule. We've still had our share of injuries, and that will be a factor. I really don't know how many injuries the Blackhawks have.

   I do know they won 24 straight games during the regular season, which is pretty impressive. Because of the shortened season, we haven't faced them yet this year. 

    At any rate, we have at least four more hockey games left to play this year. I'm confident the Bruins can pull it off. I'm still enjoying the fact that we won the Cup in 2011, so this will be icing on the cake if we can do it again.

LET'S GO, BRUINS!!! BRING HOME THE CUP!!!

May Musings

     

     May I say a few words about May? It is a merry month if you enjoy watching the landscape transform from drab to divine. I haven't written in a while, I've just been so busy and too tired to write. I've fallen behind in my journals, and since I've expanded to three blogs, I feel a little pressure to do more.

     Anyway, I have to say a few words about how lovely May is- my favorite month. The weather warms up enough to make you realize that winter really is over. But it's usually not too hot. I'm definitely not ready for that yet.

      The best part for me is the flowery aroma wafting through the air. I'm lucky there's lots of blooming trees in my yard. Not only are they beautiful, they smell SO GOOD!!! I love the way the petals blow around lightly like snowflakes, sometimes in pink.  I take pictures every year, and I'm trying to find creative new ways to capture the beauty.

        Ever since I found a nest in the yard in 2008, I'm always on the lookout for another. It's so neat! I was lucky enough to have a very short video of the babies. 

      I also feel inspired listening to the birds sing. I love to hear them really early in the morning, when it's still dark. Nothing is better than the still of the night,  pierced by the urgent tweets and melodies of a songbird. I'm going to try and post an audio recording from a few years ago of a mockingbird that was singing in my yard-it's a video, but you can't see anything-just listen.

I uploaded the video, but I don't think it's going to play-I might have to convert it to you tube first. We'll see. 

     Well, I'll close for now and try to be back soon-in the meantime, enjoy the onset of spring! It'll be over before we know it.

     This sure has been a crazy week. To be honest, last Monday isn't even a whole week ago, but it seems like it's been two or three.  One thing I can say for sure is, I hope the worst is over.

    Unless you've been living in a cave somewhere, you've probably heard about all the crazy doo-doo that's been going on around the Boston area. First the bombings at the marathon, then on Thursday night, all heck broke loose, and another police officer lost his life in the line of duty, as the bombers tried to get away. To be honest, I don't even know all the details. If you want to know the facts, I'll post some news clips at the end of this for you to watch if you want.

     It was just unsettling to realize that anything can happen, and close to home.  I couldn't believe that the whole world was watching what was going on just a few miles away from where I live. It was just luck they didn't drive through my neighborhood.  They shut down public transportation and I had to get a ride to work, which was promptly put in lock-down for a couple of hours. In Newton, all the businesses were closed and people were advised not to leave the house or go out in the car.

     The suspect was finally captured when the homeowner was allowed to come out of his house, and then he saw the tarp on his boat was ripped and had blood on it. Too bad he hadn't seen it from the house, and it all would've ended a lot  sooner!

    Even though this is a "happy ending", there's still a lot more to come, and many lives ruined. I guess I just want to know what prompted this crime.

     What else is going on this week? I got a lot done in the yard, as we've had nice weather. I also started a new blog, specifically about my yard and future garden. It's more for me than anybody, but if you're interested, the site is http://www.karin'syardandgarden2013.blogspot.com/  . Hope you like it!

   I've been trying unsuccessfully to add another counter statistic widget to this blog. I have it all set up, but still don't know how to "cut and paste" it to my page! Even with the help info I can't do it. I think I've given up for tonight. 

     Guess I better go, but let's hope there are better days ahead, and the unity, and spirit of helping one another will continue.

Have a great week!

      

You Never Know What the Day Will Bring

  This post was originally going to be titled "Three ways I know it's Spring". One of the ways happened to be the running of the Boston Marathon.  As it turns out, this was a day that will change things forever.
   I don't pay much attention to the marathon, especially in recent years, since it became a "world class" event, and fewer local runners were "in the running", so to speak, to win the race. Aside from that, you just don't hear much about it anymore.
   Today I happened to have the day off because I worked the weekend. I had been watching the other Patriot's Day event, the Red Sox game. It starts at 11 am. It was around 3:00 when I turned on another channel, and the breaking news of an explosion at the finish line came on.
   Initially, I didn't think anything of it. I didn't think it was a terrorist act, or even a domestic crime. I thought maybe it was an accident of some kind. Then they announced two people were dead and many injured. 
   Since then, the coverage has been nonstop on the local stations, with disturbing images of injured and scared people, and a smashed landscape.  Naturally, it's being covered on a worldwide level too. I never saw any coverage of the race itself, nor did I see who won. There hasn't been time to go into it, either. 
    The runners who had yet to finish the race were diverted to safety, and the first responders did a great job. But the whole thing is creepy. I don't really want to think about the ramifications. And I feel terrible for the innocent people whose lives are ruined. For what? What did they do to deserve this? I know life's not fair, but this is ridiculous.
   I went outside to walk the dog tonight, and everything looked the same. But it's not. It's only the beginning of the end of life as we know it. There's nothing left to do but to get on with your life. Live every day as if it's your last, because it very well could be.
  
  

Happy Birthday Bootsie & Chester (a day late)

   I've had computer trouble the past day or two, so this annual tribute to my departed darlings is a day late.  They came into the world on March 26, 1991. I already told the story of their early days in last year's birthday post. So this time, I'll just post some pictures and include some short memories.

 

Here's Bootsie--This is after his Mom Willamina moved them from under the rabbit hutch to this dugout next to one of the cellar windows. I think the black blob next to him is Priscilla. When it started raining, I brought the kittens in the house, forcing Willamina, who was feral, to come inside for a few months (she of course went outside, but up until that point was afraid to come in.

Not sure how old they were here, but they were just starting to eat solid food. It was a nice day, so we brought them outside. This cage was originally for a rabbit we inherited. Chester is on the far left, next to him is Bootsie, the two gray and white ones are next, and Priscilla. You can't see the other adorable kitten I named Mandy.

Here's Bootsie. he hasn't grown into his ears yet!

I always loved the way he folded his paws under. So cute!!

Here's Chester-he loved to tuck his legs under too. For some reason I can't enlarge the pix, but you can still see how handsome he was!

This was one of the few times I used a prop in my pictures. Since the ceramic cat was black and white also, I showed it to Priscilla, and she came through. We wanted to keep her too, but they didn't get along (she and Grace hated eachother). We gave her to someone at my Mom's work at the time.

I just love this picture--Prissy is gorgeous, and Bootsie is adorable!

Here's Chester when he was older. He was a real ham!

One thing I loved about the Tiger Boys was that they hung out together alot!

Here's the last picture I have of Bootsiehewent to kitty heaven. I sure miss him. I was lucky the bright sun made an interesting shot on the stairs.

This is the last picture I took of Chester. He was an indoor cat, but in his later years, we let him go outside.

 

 

Well, I hope you enjoyed seeing my boys. They were a part of my life for fifteen years, and I cherish the memories of them.

Enjoy the time you have with your pets!

 

MARCHING INTO SPRING

   I can hardly believe spring is almost here, like next week!  I usually write a post about daylight savings, which started this past Sunday. I was working the weekend, so I really did lose an hour of sleep (it seemed like more!) 

    Regaining the hour of light seems to signal that spring is really going to happen.  The weather was fairly warm for a few days, but it's been chilly this week. We're supposed to be getting another snow storm tomorrow, but even if we do, at least it doesn't last too long!
      I'll tell you one thing, the winter leaves behind a big mess (no pun intended).  The yard is a disaster area, between the dead leaves, broken tree branches, sunflower seed shells from birdseed, litter blown around from other people's trash, etc. 
    Now that it stays light out until after 7 pm, it's a lot easier to spend time cleaning up after work. Getting a little bit done each day is a good strategy, since it's such a big project. 
    Last year I planted a bunch of mini daffodils, and they're starting to sprout. I really have to plant more bulbs in the yard. It makes winter seem worthwhile when you have a beautiful flowery spring to look forward to.
    I'm going to start putting my thistle seed out now, so I'll get my goldfinches established earlier in the season. They aren't easy to get a picture of, because they move so fast.
     I've been talking about getting more "stuff" for the yard for years, but maybe this year it'll happen. I would love a fountain that cascades water. They recirculate the water, so it's not wasting water.  Not only are they beautiful, they attract birds. I love watching my birds drink and bathe. We have a huge puddle in my parking lot at work (well, only when it rains, or if the sprinklers were on in the AM).  I have to get a movie of the little birdies splashing around in the water, it's so cute!
   I also would like to get a nice bench, and an archway where I can plant my favorite morning glories, heavenly blue.  Ocean State Job Lot sells really nice planter pots at reasonable prices, of heavy glazed ceramic. I plan on treating myself to a few of those. I definitely want a rain barrel, too. 
   The other thing we really need is a table/chair/umbrella set for the yard. For years I wanted a picnic table, but I think I'd rather have a more comfortable set with chair cushions, and a huge umbrella.  If we can keep the mosquitoes  away, it'll be grand to eat outside on hot nights, and enjoy breakfast in the morning before it gets too hot.  I'd also like a fire pit, to stay warm on the chilly nights, and toast marshmallows.  
   We already have at least two brand new BBQ grills, we just have to set one of them up. I can't wait for some barbecued food, even if it is a pain sometimes.

 HERE'S A FLOWER THAT'S BEEN ON OUR PROPERTY FOR DECADES-DON'T KNOW WHAT THEY ARE, BUT THEY SURE ARE PRETTY!

THESE ROSES ARE ANCIENT, TOO.  THEY NEED SOME SERIOUS TLC.  I'D HATE FOR THEM TO DIE WHEN THEY'VE BEEN AROUND SINCE THE LAST CENTURY!

THIS IS MY CLEMATIS VINE WHEN IT WAS DOING MUCH BETTER.  IT NEEDS FERTILIZER AND I SHOULD PROBABLY GET ANOTHER COUPLE OF NEW VINES TO PLANT NEXT TO IT.  IT GOT GOBBLED UP BY  POISON IVY VINES.

I'M HAPPY WITH MY LILAC BUSH- I'D LIKE TO ADD MORE OF THOSE TO THE YARD, ESPECIALLY NOW THAT THEY HAVE  RE-BLOOMING  VARIETIES

THIS IS ONE OF THE LAST ORIGINAL IRIS' FROM THE 1960'S OR MAYBE EARLIER.  I LOVE THE OLDER VARIETIES OF IRIS-AND THEY SMELL SO GOOD, TOO!

    For some reason, I fantasize about what I'd like to do in the yard, and most of it doesn't get done.  Not from lack of hard work, mind you.  Keeping up  with the yard is a full time job in itself, not even counting planting a garden.  Maybe people who can afford a landscaper have the right idea.  But I prefer to do the work myself. Maybe I'd better schedule another vacation soon, so I can get started on it and finish the job!
    Enjoy the final days of winter!