Archive for February 2011
“Guard against the impostures of pretended patriotism.”
February 21, 2011The snow is gently falling in tiny flakes. It’s leaving a coating on the lawns but not the roads. I think it’s pretty. Today is cold but without a wind it seems warmer. Finches have taken over my feeders. Most are goldfinches, but I did see a house finch. A nuthatch flew in quickly, grabbed a seed and settled on a branch to enjoy it. I haven’t seen a chickadee in a while. They used to be my most frequent visitors, and I miss them. The suet feeder is empty. I’ll have to brave the elements later and fill it. I have a couple of woodpeckers who drop by all the time to dine at that feeder.
Today is called Presidents’ Day. It didn’t exist when I was young. We observed Washington’s birthday, February 22nd, as a holiday and always had it off from school because it usually fell during our February vacation. Lincoln’s birthday was February 12th, and we had that off from school too. Later, the powers that be tinkered with the birthdays and decided a Monday holiday combining both was the best idea so today unofficially celebrates Lincoln and Washington. There is no official federal holiday called Presidents’ Day. The federal government celebrates today as Washington’s Birthday and that’s it, nothing else. The other presidents were tossed by the wayside.
I’m okay with recognizing Washington. He was, after all, the first president, and there are some great myths associated with him like his wooden teeth and the chopping of the cherry tree. I went looking and found some facts I didn’t know about Washington. He was the only Founding Father to free his slaves; he is credited with introducing the mule to America; his second inaugural address was the shortest ever given, and he grew marijuana on his farm, never smoked it though, didn’t even inhale. He used it for hemp.
I figure lots of presidents belong by the wayside and ought not to be celebrated so, like the federal government, I’m sticking with Washington.
Those Lazy, Hazy, Crazy Days of Summer: Nat King Cole
February 20, 2011Don’t I wish it!
Lazy Susan: Laura Nyro
February 20, 2011Lazy: Ella Fitzgerald
February 20, 2011Lazy Bones: Hoagy Carmichael
February 20, 2011
“You can’t teach people to be lazy – either they have it, or they don’t.”
February 20, 2011Here I sit wearing a sweatshirt, flannel pants and socks with my slippers. It’s cold out, 28°. Earlier, Gracie and I braved the elements so I could get coffee at Dunkin’ Donuts. I like my coffee with cream, and I had none so we bundled up, Gracie and I, and made the trek. Newspapers read best with coffee in hand.
The air is clear, the way it is on cold days in winter. The sun is shining and the sky is the bluest of blues. Goldfinches are at my feeders. The wind is blowing, and one of the feeders is swaying. The birds sway with it. Brown leaves at the end of branches do their own winter dance and blow in all directions. Today is a day best enjoyed inside the house with a book and some music.
Some days I’m lazy. I don’t make my bed because I already know I’ll take a nap. The only cleaning I do is with the sleeve of my sweatshirt. Dinner is often crackers and cheese or a melted cheese sandwich. Often I spend most of the day curled on the couch with a good book. Once I start reading a book which grabs my attention, I can’t stop. I resent any intrusion such as a phone call or a knock at the door.
At Border’s, I bought a couple of books, an old scifi movie, a CD, a game and a few stocking stuffers for next Christmas. All of them help define me in some way. Reading has been one of my greatest pleasures since the words finally made sense to me when I was little. The scifi movie is from the 50’s, The Invaders from Mars, one of my all time favorites. I bought the most recent Carolina Chocolate Drop CD, the one which won the Grammy for most traditional folk album. The game is a word game, Pairs in Pears, a game similar to Bananagrams. I love word games and have for as long as I can remember. The stocking stuffers I won’t mention as they are destined for the stockings of some of my family and friends who read Coffee every day. Each year I start my hunt for the best stocking stuffers right after Christmas. I’m behind this year because of the surgery but I’m working on catching up. It was from my mother I got the Christmas shop all year gene, and I always think of her when I buy a stocking stuffer in January or February.
Well, I’m done. I have a book waiting.
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