All the Rage

It was one of those days.  Been there before.  Will be there again.  Was looking back on my life in a nonserious way and thinking about the changes from days of yore and about which ones have made what seemed to me, at first, to be small improvements, but which have really turned out to be huge.

• automatic garage door openers
• ball point pens
• snow blowers
• remote control everything
• all weather tires
• personal computers, etc.
• permanent press clothing
• waterproof outerwear

The list could go on and on. Bet you could come up with a bunch more. 

Then I was thinking about bullet points. Look at them.  Fun, aren't they?  They make such a nice, clean list.  And ... they are so in the news these days... all the "rage". One day last week -- just for fun -- I made a bullet point list of what I had done around the house in what were the previous ten minutes and came up with seven relatively substantial accomplishments. Doesn't seem like it would be hard to come up with five things a person had accomplished in an entire week.  And ... bulllet points are such a good way to make a list ... easy peasy. 

Reminising again... back in the day when I worked as a teacher I was required to submit lesson plans each Friday that would account for how I planned to spend every minute of every work day for the following week -- listing each lesson for each class and how it would be accomplished... in some detail.  Then from time to time, I was observed by an administrator to make sure that I was doing what I said I was going to do. In contrast -- a five point bullet list covering an entire week seems like a piece of cake. Maybe the request is simply a "pulse check" after all. I am okay with that too. Nothing to whine about really. 

Not sure I am keeping up well with all the change, but - one thing for sure -- I am not going to make myself nuts about it. Whining seems to be all the rage these days too.  It's not just bullet point lists that are making the news.  The thing is -- I am just not into whining.  No one listens anyway -- except maybe other "high pitched constant complainers". Sometimes I wish they could hear themselves. I don't think the whiners listen well -- to themselves or to others.  It's sort of sad really. Maybe they should make a list of good things going on around them. I wish they could smile about something ... anything. 

Actually - after watching the behavior of the frowny faced, seemingly hateful Democrat "leadership" Tuesday evening during the President's Address to Congress,  I wish they could, not only hear themselves, but also see themselves. They seem to be caught in the Grinch mode or worse. It's not a good look ... tone deaf, self-servingly blind, rude and insensitive to others who have suffered greatly. As a writer friend of mine says -- like the Grinch, their hearts seemed 3 sizes too small. It's a bad combination of surly behaviors. It doesn't serve them well. It was ugly. They seem stuck somehow. Sad really. 

Snow Brownies

Was texting with one of my nephews a few days back.  He lives in the South and was on his way to get snow brownies as snow was on its way in.  Apparently when you live in the South and there is even a mere possibility of snow, school in cancelled -- sometimes at the point of the forecast of the possibility -- at least that is my understanding. This ready cancelling of school is something that people who live in the snow belt have difficulty understanding.  But -- one important consolation for some is -- snow brownies. Snow belters should borrow this tradition just in case they ever have a snow day.

The snow brownie "thing" is a family tradition that my sister started for her family.  I heartily recommend it and am pleased that my nephew is continuing the tradition.  On snow days -- Snow Brownies are mandatory.  I know my sister always kept a mix or brownie makings on hand just in case one snow flake had the audacity to appear anywhere near Richmond, VA. Snow brownies make a snow day even more special.

Now here in Northwest PA where we are now over 120" of the white stuff with more in the forecast, we would love to have a snow day and sometimes wonder what it would take to have one.  It seems that our school buses, however, can drive through three foot drifts and maneuver on unplowed roads. I sometimes wonder when the visibility is bad if they navigate by radar.  Nevertheless -- we keep waiting... ever hopeful... some of us craving snow brownies.  Then again -- we did have a mud day one spring because so many of the dirt roads were unpassable.  So there is that hope.   For those of you who are not rural -- mud days are similar to snow days, but are easier to manage unless you live on a dirt road. We have many, many dirt roads here in rural Northwest PA. Must also mention because it sort of fits in here -- we also know how to navigate by telephone pole.  If you live around here, you will know exactly what that means especially if you are driving in snow fog.  Telephone poles, if you can see them, can give a driver some idea of where the road is -- the one you are hoping that you are driving on.

Note: Four wheel and all wheel vehicles are very popular around here because they are needed, not just because they are "cool".  That is also why every other pick-up truck has a plow attached from October to May.

Anyway -- there is something tremendously special about a snow day - snow brownies or not.  Maybe because it is the unexpected -- a nice surprise to find out you can stay a bit longer in your warm bed.  Even  the rare two hour delay is a nice treat. The three hour delay is even rarer, but possible and also a gift of time. You find yourself with unplanned, unscheduled hours ahead of you. You can do whatever you want.  It is a surprise gift of free time with the added benefit of choice .. and maybe snow brownies.

The thing is that at this point in my life -- every day is sort of a Snow Day for me.  I like that a lot -- and even thinking about snow brownies makes me smile.  I could make them any day I wanted.  Wonder why I don't? Can't even remember the last time I had a warm chocolaty brownie -- snow or otherwise.

Okay -- am off now.  I need to spread some salt to hopefully melt enough ice and snow that I can get out of my garage in 4-wheel drive. I shoveled and the plow guy came yesterday... but guess what... the snow is back. So is the ice -- on top and underneath the snow. It's the double whammy. Maybe it will be a snow brownie day. Just need to find my way to a store.  Good thing I drive a vehicle with the 4-wheel drive option.  Yay Jeep Wrangler!  It gets me where I need to go for sure -- just wish these days that my trusty Wrangler was easier to get in and out of.  It is especially hard to maneuver with big boots, and my bulky floor length winter coat. Ah Spring...  when are you headed this way?  

Throw a Stone...

My Great Uncle Bert, of the wise and twinkly eyes, sometimes said if you throw a stone into a pack of dogs, the one that yelped the loudest was the one you hit. 

Then there is the oft repeated --  "The lady doth protest too much, methinks." (Hamlet)

The list of quotations about this sort of thing could go on and on.  Apparently these are, once again, the times to witness what happens when the guilty know they are going down.  The stone hits. In response -- protests, trying to divert attention away from the source of crimes with vulgar language, name calling, false accusations, and off key singing.   Then there is my least favorite -- screaming from a lectern/pulpit in feigned righteous indignation. In response, other well used sentences:   Follow the money. The truth will out.

Most adults know that you do not command respect by screaming -- no one listens. The recipient just watches the ugliness of the open mouth ... of flailing arms and fists ... of the nasty name calling ...  and -- puts up barriers in response. It's not going to work. Crying, stomping feet and pouting are machinations somewhat like the behavior of toddlers -- only toddlers soon figure out that those behaviors do not work and ... toddlers are not evil trying to accuse others of doing what they have been doing all along.  

Progress will not be stopped. The American people voted for an honest and smaller government. The American people voted for justification of the spending of their tax dollars.  The swamp is being drained -- finally.  Mistakes will be made and corrections will be put into place. Eventually the dust will settle in a new world of less bureaucracy, less graft and fraud... and a new beginning. Americans have been trying to do this for years.  Now is the time.  It's a process. It is sometimes painful.  I am sad for all those who will suffer the disillusionment that comes with revelation of the truth.  It's hard when the trusted fall off their pedestals.  We have all been there at some point in time. It's a part of it all.  It's a human thing.  Sad but true.  

We Americans are in this together. Hopefully we can move on together in a better, stronger United States.  Hopefully we now have a government that will tell us where our hard earned tax money goes and not try to hide it. The popular word here is transparancy. So far so good. Hopefully we will soon be headed away from the dangers of bankrupcy.  It's painful but necessary.  A country needs to run on a budget too. Our government, as Abraham Lincoln said,  is of, by and for the people. We need to get back there.  It's past time. I am quite certain that Great Uncle Bert would agree.

It's okay not to "get it".

Sometimes things move so quickly that I have a hard time keeping up. I admit it. I am behind the times.  I confess that I have not followed Rap or any contemporary music for that matter.  I wouldn't recognize Taylor Swift or Sabrina Carpenter if I were in line behind them at Walmart.  I even had to ask around to get the names of contemporary singers to mention in this blog. 

A case in point is the half-time show of the 2025 Super Bowl which was totally over my head. Thankfully my Granddaughter, who recently turned 14, (two days ago) was able to help me understand it. (Not really, but sort of.) She patiently asked if I noticed the geometric shapes of the stage and then explained that it was the same design as a PlayStation controller. (I've never seen a PlayStation controller, but I my think I know what she means.) Further she explained that the music was more than one song when I thought it was just one excessively long one.  She sighed in despair, but did not roll her eyes, when I told her that I didn't understand one single word, had never head of the Rapper himself, and I that I caught a couple of words that I recognized as English when the girl was singing.  She just looked at me patiently when I compared the "dancing" to Stomp only with no garbage cans. She mentioned something about the Rapper "dissing" another rapper.  Totally don't get it. Was too kerflummoxed to ask for an explanation. I would rather just put it all on a shelf somewhere and move on -- except for one thing. What were the letters on the rapper's jacket?  I watched the entire show trying to figure that out.  Should have asked my granddaughter about that. Bet she would know.

One last thing.  As I mentioned before, I am not comfortable with change, but I think it is important to note that sometimes I am okay with it -- if I think it is working in my favor and if it is fun to watch.  There are at least two sides to response to change. A case in point, on the positive side, is a President, older than I am, who has more energy than I  can imagine.  It's exhausting to even watch ... and... at the same time ... entertaining.  I think some people are uncomfortable with it because no one is used to anyone in Washington getting things done and now there is an entire team of go getters driven to improve American lives -- you know --people who are determined to be a positive force in making difficult situations better for the American people. American people are tired of big government, incompetence and dishonesty. This is a good change from that statue quo. 

Change is often very scary and not only for those who don't want their mistakes to surface, but also for all the innocent bystander (taxpayers in this case).  Three weeks in office and our world is changing very rapidly.  I think we better get used to the pace and maybe buy some popcorn. We also need to notice that there are more important things in the world than a Super Bowl half-time show.  It's okay if we don't get everything. 

PETA and Punxsutawney Phil

So as I write today, Punxsutawney Phil is getting ready to see if he can see his shadow and a small town in Northwestern Pennsylvania continues a time honored and fun tradition of making the harsh winter season just a bit more tolerable and more fun. 

So, of course, in come the nasty, frowny faces to try to spoil the fun -- not to mention to try to exert control over others.   Enter PETA who want to end it all for everyone.  Now if you are from NW PA you know that, as a writer friend of mine says, "Phil is the most pampered groundhog ever...."  PETA doesn't care.  They have gone over the edge.  With that in mind ...

I perhaps have never mentioned in this blog that I wore a 100+ year old mink coat during the winters of upstate NY during my last two years of college in Saratoga Springs, NY.  My mom mailed the coat to me as a surprise and ... to keep me from freezing as I trudged through the snow and wind there.  This treasure of a coat had been discovered in an attic somewhere and belonged to someone from from long ago.  Can't remember how it came into my Mom's hands... but it was incredibly warm and wonderful -- even in 28º below zero weather.  

Later-- the coat moved on through two other college students -- one of whom named it Fiona.  I wonder where that lovely, albeit shedding, coat is now? I was so thankful for the warmth the mink provided.  Fiona wasn't in the best shape in 1970-71, so am thinking she is long gone now, but I remember her fondly.  

Anyway -- PETA would have protested me, but then again -- the only protestors in fashion back then were "anti-war".  I didn't fit in with them either. I had too many friends in the military sacrificing their own lives to protect our country .. including the protestors who had no qualms about crushing the rights of others. Case in point -- some of these foul mouthed screamers,  trapped me in an elevator for over an hour during the Vietnam moratorium to yell and spit at me because I was carrying a text book -- so obviously was going to underground classes and trying to get an education. They apparently opposed my right to getting an education as well.   They were about as open-minded, self-righteous and tolerant as PETA is today.  They wore the same nasty, frowny faces as well.  So sad really. I wish that people could find their way to joyful at least sometimes -- or/and let other people live their own lives in peace. The thing is -- I bet I was way warmer than they were.  So there is that.  

Note... PETA did not stop Phil.  He saw his shadow and continues to be pampered in Punxsutawney ... and so it goes.

Boomers Will Get This

 There were standard shift vehicles, phones attached to walls, and no remote control of televisions.  There were plastic bread bags inside boots, no permanent press shirts and people walked places.  And ... there was Alfred E Neuman.  Remember Mad magazine?  I read every single one I could get my hands on.  It was sort of a quiet rebellion. Can't imagine where I found them -- maybe at Al's Dairy Bar on Columbus Avenue (Corry PA people will get that).  

I cannot explain why some things pop into my head, but Alfred E Neuman suddenly dropped in the other day and I Googled him just to see his silly grin once again -- tooth missing and looking a lot like my neighbor Harrison -- at least as far as smile and attitude goes. Hard to believe that this "mascot' of Mad is now almost 70 years old.  "Good grief, Charlie Brown". Once again --- where did the time go?  Do you know/remember that he was even a write-in candidate for President one time? His relaxed "devil-may-care" attitude was somehow refreshing in the 50's and on for a long time. Maybe I wish I had some of that attitude these days. 

Anyway -- then this happened -- totally unrelated but not.  My son texted me a link to Oddly History on Instagram where they had posted photos of famous people when they were young. There were photos of Donald Trump, Joe Biden, Abraham Lincoln, Hillary Clinton in hippy garb, JFK,  Stalin, and Teddy Roosevelt .  Now here's the thing -- I cannot see even a hint of today's Joe Biden in the young Joe Biden photo, but 10 year old JFK bears a striking, and I mean an uncannily striking, resemblance to Alfred E Neuman.  Seriously -- check it out.  I certainly do not mean any disrespect to JFK... but at age ten he could have been on the cover of Mad as Alfred's twin brother.  It's a chuckle of the day.

By the way -- the younger generation seems to have no idea of what I am talking about in the whole Alfred E Neuman and Mad thing. But then -- sometimes (often) I don't get what they are saying either.  So we are even.

Memes of the Week

 Memes sometimes just make my day.  I wish I were one of those people who thought of them and knew how to "make" them.  May have to do some research on that process. I did run across a free Meme Generator once. Will have to go back to that - if I can find it. Plus -- wish I knew how the term Meme even came to be. Guess I will look for that as well.

To get closer to today's topic -- there are two memes that are in competition for the best that I encountered this past week.  This first is

                    Dear Winter... 

                        Stop it.   (from @anxiousandy!)

The second is a photo of a smiling Lawrence Welk with his conducting baton in hand. (I have no idea who created this meme, but it is great!) The words superimposed at the top -- "If you were forced to watch this as a child, you may be entitled to compensation."  I so remember sitting on the floor in front of my Grandma Bessie's TV watching The Lawrence Welk Show on her little TV that could receive two channels on a good day,  and ... cannot forget the Ed Sullivan Show while I am at it. They are not my most painful of childhood memories for sure ... but -- they are on the list. Anyway -- back to the topic -- The Welk meme dropped in and all I could hear in my head was "and a one and a two..."  

Have to mention though that although I was never a Welk fan, I always wished I knew how to dance the polka.  Still do. Am I alone in this? I do think I am now a bit past the point of donning a full skirt with high heels, and certainly should not attempt the swirling even in my bare feet.  I missed the opportunity on that one.  I will deal with it.  I do know how to square dance though - or at least I used to.  That was taught in fifth grade at my elementary school. It was mandatory and I was totally freaked about it. I recall that was the first time I had to dance with a boy ...  back in the days when I thought all boys had cooties.  His name was Harold Eddy. He did not have cooties.  Odd that I can remember that and not where I put my phone.  Is there a meme brewing in all of this? Perhaps....

Derp

 I am a septuagenarian (over half way through that decade now), and I know how to do a lot of things.  I cook, clean, drive, write, read, mend, crochet, knit, do some lawn chores, saw small branches and ... fight with technology and keeping up with things.  All in all - I think I do a pretty fair job of it.   So... needless to say when I found it difficult to figure out how to plug and unplug the extension cord that I was using for my Christmas tree, I was flummoxed and somewhat appalled really. The things we do for holidays.

The thing is, I had complicated the situation by thinking that the only place for it to plug into was a power bar on the floor under my desk.  The choice of location was the issue - or at least that is what I tell myself. 

Getting the extension cord to reach that spot was no problem.  Neither was getting to the floor.  It was the reaching the power bar that was the main problem and I immediately regretted my initial decision when I realized that I am not nearly as limber as I had thought.  I mean I knew the getting back up might be a challenge, but I had not anticipated the under the desk floor maneuvering would be so difficult.  I am just thankful that no one was there to make a video of the process.

Anyway -- I managed to move the foot massager that has a permanent home under my desk with no problem and then dragged myself closer to the power bar only to find that every plug had to be moved to make room for the extension cord thingy. I mean try to do that when you are holding yourself up on your elbows and bumping your head on the underside of a desk. Plus it is difficult to see what you are doing! After much struggle and coming to the conclusion that not all plugs fit right, I realized that I would have to do this process again every Christmas season.  No  -- not going to do that ... so I reversed the process only to discover/remember that the chair I was counting on to help me get back up swivels -- freely and easily because of the WD 40 "thing".  I know. right? 

I made it eventually and as I sat in that chair sweating and wondering if I had pulled every single muscle in my body, I rethought the whole idea and wished I had run through the whole process in my head before I even began.  I am too old for this foolishness. I do find it sort of amusing though and realize that I may/probably, in fact, do the same thing again. It's not too hard to laugh at myself. Further -- I don't think I am alone in this sort of thing.  I also find that possibility amusing and sort of nice really.  It's a special club.     Derp!

Blast From The Past

Recently I ran across a story slide show written by Barrie Davenport entitled 12 Things Boomers Learned In School That Are Totally Irrelevant Today.  Of course I was intrigued. He offered wonderful descriptions, but I will just offer you the basics as I am certain that you have your own memories of every item on the list.  I will put my own thoughts/memories in parentheses next to each item. Please feel free to share yours if you are so inclined.  Would love to hear from you.

1. Cursive (Use your whole arm, not just your fingers.  Make those ovals -- round, and round. I can hear the teacher's voice in my head.)
2. How to use a slide rule (I cried more over math issues than I did about boys when I was in school.  Still cannot do anything with 9's. Failed slide rule. The mere thought of one still gives me the heebie-jeebies.)
3. Typing on a Typewriter (Wish computers were available when I was in school or a young teacher -- although -- it helps develop patience when one has to retype an entire page to get rid of one error.)
4. Diagramming sentences (no comment, but I think I still know how to do this. I know someone who actually likes/liked doing diagramming. We are friends in spite of this.)
5. Home Economics (no comment - other than I also know a person who still uses individual envelopes for budgeting -- not the same person who likes diagramming sentences.)
6. Memorizing State Capitals (I still try to recall them once in a while. I cannot, but my grandkids area able to fill in the blanks.)
7. Balancing a checkbook (I am still compulsive about doing this.  Not sure I understand why.)
8. Spelling Bee (I was always impressed with people who could spell.  Still am. I am not a good speller, but am a whiz with spell check.)
9. Dewey Decimal System (I loved the little wooden card holding drawers.)
10. Reciting poetry by heart. (I can still recite most of "Little Orphant Annie" that I learned in 5th grade.  I used to recite it to my grandkids when they were wee ones.)
11. Mastering penmanship (Never did learn that.)
12. Preparing for nuclear war drills (I never did understand how crawling under a desk or crouching in a hallway with a book over your head would do the trick.)

Shared memories for sure.  

Ah ... the Memories

I know that you already know what I am about to write, but just want to share a couple of ideas with you so you know that we are together in this.  Companionship is sometimes a very good thing... especially on a cold winter's day when few are moving about and a short day seems long.  So .. here we go....

From time to time I enjoy looking through a small basket of my favorite photos.  I have a couple of these baskets in my home. I also have boxes full of photographs and even a few albums from before I realized that I didn't have to put everything in chronological order.  I am just not an album person, I guess, but I do admire those who are.  I do print out photos from my phone.  Not a fan of digital. I just like holding photos (and books) in my hands. I am , after all, a old-fashioned Boomer. Anyway - I was looking through one such basket the other day and saw photos of me laughing with old friends and realized that I had laughed with them perhaps more than with anyone else in my life - other than family, of course. The memories were so good.  Some of these friends have passed on and others I have not seen in a long time and may never see again.  I just hope that if they run across old photos they also will relive the fun times in their minds and smile. There comes a time when memories are all you have of someone. At this stage of the game, we all know that.  It's nice to hang on to the good ones.

The other idea, and along similar lines, is that situation when you have a question that no one can answer because anyone who might know the answer is gone.  It's a part of it all really, but is underlined when you become a part of the oldest generation of a family. You remember some of the story, but need to fill in the details or confirm something...and you cannot. So frustrating.

All that being said...    things you already know  ....

In my humble opinion -- that is why old photos and personal journals and writings in general area very good thing.  Just sayin'. 

Happy 2025!  Wishing you a lot more good memories...   Maybe take pictures to capture the moment -- and write them down....