Archive for the ‘Musings’ category
January 9, 2014
The days are getting warmer. By the weekend we should be in the high 40’s and even the low 50’s. That sounds like deck weather after the cold spell we’ve all endured. Gracie is bored because of that cold. She goes out to do her business or to take one run around the backyard. This morning she was staring and growling at some of her toys. She brought a couple to me, and I threw them down the hall hoping for a game of fetch. She just stood looking at me and whining. Luckily she is now asleep, snoring of course. I have nothing to do today. Yesterday I was out and about, but today I am staying home. My groceries are arriving later, I have a few books to read on my iPad and the house is clean. I suppose I could do laundry, but I won’t.
The Edge of Dark Water by Joe R. Lansdale was the book I just finished. I liked it. The whole novel revolved around three young teens taking the ashes of their murdered friend to Hollywood where she always expected to go and become a star. The trip is on or around the Sabine River. Skunk, the legendary killer who cuts off the hands of his victims, is after them. I won’t give any more of the story in case you’re intrigued, but I refuse to be held responsible if you hate it. Tastes in books vary in as many ways as there are books. I had no expectations for this novel and how much I liked it surprised me. I had to read straight through. At the end I found out that Joe R. Lansdale has written and published hundreds of novels, novellas, novelettes, short stories, chapbooks, comic books, graphic novels, and collections. I also found out he wrote Bubba Ho-Tep which I didn’t read, but I did see and liked the movie made from it. IMDb had the best description of this film, “Elvis and JFK, both alive and in a nursing home, fight for the souls of their fellow residents as they battle an ancient Egyptian Mummy.” Okay, that description is more than enough. I’m going to read more by this author. Amazon here I come!
Reading has always been a joy for me. Trips to the library were every week when I was a kid. I’d haul home the limit I could take and read them in a few days. I used to hide a light under the covers so I could read at night after I was expected to be asleep. I’d spend my entire 50 cents allowance on a new book which always caused my father to give me the putting money away for a rainy day lecture. I didn’t take heed. I knew I’d made the best investment with my money. I still have some of those books I bought. They are about Donna Parker and Trixie Belden, amateur teenage detectives. The pages are yellow and sort of fragile now, but every now and then I pick one up and read a page or two just for the memories.
Categories: Musings
Tags: bored dog, Bubba Ho-Tep, fetch, getting warmer, groceries, Joe R. Lansdale, Laundry, new books, reading, reading at night, The Edge of Dark Water, the joy of reading, Trixie Belden
Comments: 5 Comments
January 7, 2014
Last night the wind and the heat blasting competed for noise. I woke up around 3, read until 5 then slept in late. My friend who has been hobbling for days with a bad knee called and asked if I wouldn’t mind doing an errand. Her husband, her go-to-it guy, has the flu. I’m thinking the house needs a quarantined sign, but I was more than happy to do a mission of mercy. I put Gracie’s coat on her and we went outside then ran to the car. The cold was pervasive. My car temperature gauge said 17˚ but that didn’t take into account the wind chill. I can’t remember when last it was so cold. My house is nice and warm because the heat seems to be blowing constantly. The back door is closed so Gracie has to ring her doggie bells to go outside. She’s not out for long. Gracie is no dumb animal.
I used to walk to school all the time. It didn’t matter how wet or cold the day was. The walk wasn’t all that long, maybe 15 or 20 minutes, but we had to pass by a field where the wind swept across in the same way I figure it blows on the Russian steppes. Our clothes billowed in the wind and our faces felt as if they were frost-bitten. I remember trying to fight that wind by walking backwards. I was bundled. We all were, but sometimes it just didn’t seem enough. I can’t imagine walking to school on a day as cold as this one.
Most of the snow is gone, melted by yesterday’s warmth. Piles left by the plow sit by the sides of the road and snow lies on lawns sheltered from the sun. The snow is crusty, and I crunched my way to the driveway to get the papers. It is one of my favorite sounds.
The birds must be sheltered somewhere as there are none at the feeders. Usually all four feeders are filled with birds, some holding on to their spots, like the gold finches at the thistle, and others flying in and out. Yesterday there were many.
I am going out this evening to have dinner with friends. The paper says it should be around 10˚ once the sun goes down. I’m going to bundle even though it’s house to car and vice versa. My phone is charged just in case. Knowing my luck sometimes, I like to prepare for any contingency.
Categories: Musings
Tags: birds sheltered, crunching sound, crusty snow, errands of mercy, flu, furnace overload, pervasive cold, quarantine, Russian steppes, walk to school
Comments: 21 Comments
January 6, 2014
Last night it poured. The snow looks beaten and more of the ground and road can be seen. It is so warm a morning that there is a hazy fog everywhere. The sky is grey. Tree branches are bending and swaying. I can the sound of the wind. It is supposed to be 50˚ today and 13˚ tonight when the cold settles back in for a while.
Grace just called me from Accra, and we chatted until her phone died. In Ghana you buy minutes for your phone and calls everywhere are the same whether it’s to the compound next to yours or to the US. Grace usually runs out of minutes. I called her back but didn’t get through. Grace’s call reminded me of when I called home during my Peace Corps days. The trunk call, the name for a long distance call, had to be set up at the telecommunications building in Accra a day ahead of time. The day of the call you were assigned a phone booth. I closed the door, sat down, picked up the phone and heard the operator from Ghana call London and that operator call White Plains then I heard ringing and my Dad answered the phone. He was shocked to hear me as I hadn’t told them I was calling. It had been over a year since we had last spoken. He was so stunned he must have told me three or four times he was shaving when the phone rang. I next spoke to my mother who told me she missed me and asked if I was really okay. I assured her I was doing just fine and I loved Ghana. You couldn’t say much in three minutes but hearing their voices was more than enough to hold me.
I wonder if staying so closely in touch with home as a volunteer now is a good thing or a bad thing. We wrote aerograms. Mine were filled on every surface with news and my daily doings. I wrote small. I told my family all about my day, the market, the weather and anything else I could think to say. What was routine for me was different and alien to them, and I kept that in mind very time I wrote. I thought my letters were boring, at least they were to me, but to my friends and family they were a look into a whole different world. I used adjectives as if I were being paid by the word. If I were there now, I could Skype and call them as often as I chose. One volunteer I met the second summer there told me she would not be in Ghana if she couldn’t Skype her family every week. That’s what got me to wondering.
Categories: Musings
Tags: aerograms, buying minutes, cold, Ghana calls, rain'fog, Skype, telecommunications building, trunk call, windy
Comments: 17 Comments
January 5, 2014
I have rejoined the world. My car is on the street should I choose to travel anywhere. The steps are shoveled as is the walkway. A path leads to the bird feeders so I can keep them filled with seed. Gracie hadn’t ventured further than the bottom of the steps where I had my little adventure the other day, but today she is roaming under the deck for a bit more privacy. Gracie is the mistress of all she surveys as she sits on the deck to keep an eye on the neighborhood. She has been outside most of the morning.
It is warmer than it has been. Icicles are hanging from my roof and getting longer from the drips. One is nearly to the ground. I put paw friendly de-icer on the front steps as they were slippery when I went to get the papers. With my history, a fall would have been inevitable, but I have saved myself from injury and indignity.
Fold laundry and vacuum pine needles are the only jobs on my to-do list. The day is a gray one and not at all inviting. Because I have no need to be out, I’ll shower and put on cozy clothes again.
If I were a kid again, I’d be out sledding. Around here the golf course is the big sledding spot, but where I grew up had plenty of choices. I did go to the Winchester Golf Club once when I was in high school. I was with my friends Bobby and Jimmy. We had a toboggan with wings. On the way down, we flew off the hills a couple of times and landed hard but never fell off. Jimmy, sitting on the end, almost did but I, in the middle, grabbed him. It was a spectacular run and we lugged the toboggan up the hill to take more flights. We were the only ones who dared to ride that hill.
We had wooden sleds with metal runners. A rope was tied to the steering bar in the front so we could pull the sled up the hill. I remember that rope froze after only a couple of runs. We always rode down the hill on our stomachs. We’d hold the sled, run as fast as we could then jump on once we were at the start of the hill. We’d put our feet in the air so they wouldn’t stop us until we needed them as brakes. The steering was always iffy at best. It was a quick ride then a longer walk back up the hill. We’d sled all afternoon until we couldn’t feel our feet or hands. When it was time to go in, I’d jam my sled in the snow in the backyard, walk down the stairs to the cellar and take off all the wet clothes. Every so often my mother would make us cocoa, “…to warm the innards,” as she sometimes said, but more often I’d get into bed to read and get warm under the covers.
Getting a new sled for Christmas was always one of the great gifts.
Categories: Musings
Tags: cocoa, de-icer, dripping water, hills, icicles, icy rope, metal runners, plowed, shoveled, Sledding, steering, wooden sleds
Comments: 20 Comments
January 4, 2014
The snow fell all day into the night yesterday. The plow didn’t come until quite late and did only one sweep on each side of my street. My car and house are still buried. I can see my paper, but the snow is just too deep to make the trek to get it. My factotum, Skip, said he’d be here by nine but that’s nine Skip time so he’s not here yet. I need to be out in the next couple of hours so I hope he’s on his way.
Yesterday Gracie was smarter than I am. I let her out back and then noticed the snow had forced the back gate open and Gracie, being Gracie, went out. I called her and she came right back into the yard and the house. It was snowing, and the snow was so deep it was up to her belly so leaving the yard and walking in all that snow wasn’t attractive to her. When she next needed to go out, I attached two leashes together and let her out front. She wasn’t too happy as she never goes out there so it took a while for her to find the right spot. I held the leash and waited. My sister suggested that maybe I ought to try and shut the gate, and that’s where stupid comes in for me. I put on my shoes, rolled up my pants so they wouldn’t get wet and went out. I never gave a thought to my legs from the tops of my socks to where the pants started. The steps to the yard were covered in snow, and I had to hold on to the underneath rungs of the wooden handrail so I could use my foot to clear off each step before I got to it. When I got to the bottom of the steps, my legs were covered in snow as were my shoes and even the rolled up pants. The gate wouldn’t shut because of the show blown against it. I couldn’t get to the snow outside the gate because of the Christmas light wires so I reached with my leg as far as I could and cleared the snow with my foot. One section was beyond my reach so I shut the gate as far as I could and kicked it. The gate moved a little at a time until finally it shut. I worked my way up the stairs to the back door, but I couldn’t get inside: the button you push to open the door was frozen and wouldn’t move. Gracie went in the dog door and stood in the kitchen watching me. I banged that button with my fist so many times my hands were sore. I knew my only other recourse was to go out the gate, walk through all the snow to my friends’ house and get my spare key from them. No, I couldn’t bear it so I kept banging and cursing. Finally the button gave way, and I got into the house. I was covered with snow so I took off all the snowy stuff right there and then hung it up to dry. I put on warm socks, slippers, pants and a sweatshirt and was warm in no time. I think it will take me a lot longer to smarten up. That was about the dumbest thing I’ve done: bare skin, no hat, no coat, no boots and no gloves. What an idiot!
Categories: Musings
Tags: back gate, buried in snow, idiot, plow, smart dog, Snow, soaken wet
Comments: 12 Comments
January 3, 2014
The first thing I did when I woke up was check to see if the clock radio was still working. When I saw the red digital time, I knew I had electricity. After last year, that had been my biggest fear, but we are warm and cozy.
Some windows are so covered with snow I can’t see out. It is still snowing, and the storm won’t end until mid-afternoon. Everywhere else the snow ended this morning. My street isn’t even plowed. One plow went by early last night but none since then. I had trouble getting my back door open for Gracie who didn’t want to go out, but I pushed and out she went. It was then I noticed the back gate had come open and Gracie had run out of the yard. I yelled and she came right back into the house, a first for Gracie the runner because even an open gate wasn’t enough to keep her outside in the snow. I’ve decided to attach a couple of leashes to each other then to Gracie so she can go out the front door if she has to go. The snow is so deep it reaches to her belly.
The snow flies from all directions blown by the wind. We are still in blizzard conditions. The birds are at the feeders, including a woodpecker at the suet. I am glad I filled all those feeders yesterday. When Skip finally comes to plow, I’ll have him shovel a path to the feeders so I can keep them filled.
We are warmer than Boston by eight or ten degrees. I guess that’s the silver lining, but not one I’ll enjoy as I don’t envision leaving the house for any reason. The roads here on the Cape are not treated with salt, just sand, because of the water table so they usually have a layer of snow even after being plowed. It takes a sunny day or lots of traffic to melt that snow. Driving around corners is tricky.
I have everything I need to wait out the storm. It has to stop sometime!
Categories: Musings
Tags: blizzard, plows, Snow, storm, Wind
Comments: 25 Comments
January 2, 2014
Gracie and I were intrepid travelers, and we just got back from facing the elements head-on. The main roads are clear just from traffic, but the side roads, including mine, are snow-covered. I slid a bit going around the corner, but I expected I might and was going very slowly just in case. First I got cat food, litter and dog treats. Next I provisioned for me. I bought a pizza made by my favorite place but not yet cooked, a couple of very small meatloaves, cheddar and jalapeño dip, a quesadilla needing to be re-heated, cream for my coffee and dark chocolate nonpareils for my soul. Being in storm mode means treating myself to good food. I have a book I haven’t finished and one waiting to be started. The house is warm.
This morning I noticed the feeders were half empty. I figured there might be enough, but then I thought not through tomorrow so out I went to the deck and filled four feeders: two sunflower and two thistle. I didn’t want my birds to be hungry.
The snow is more intense now than it was earlier when the flakes were small. Schools are all closed and many have already announced they’d be closed tomorrow because the storm is supposed to last all night into tomorrow afternoon. It is the height of high tide now so the waves are huge and rough. They hit the sea walls with such force the tops of the waves flow over the walls. The news said the storm will last so long they’d be three high tides. We are expected to get between 8-12 inches leaning toward the higher amount. One weather man described the nighttime part of the storm as coming down like gangbusters. I liked that description though I’m not liking the snow.
I expect to be snowed-in until Friday. It makes no sense to plow before the storm ends. Meanwhile, I’ll enjoy the day and keep an eye on the snow. It is pretty.
Categories: Musings
Tags: 8-12 inches, all night strom, bird feeders, comfort foods, high tides, no school, Pizza, shopping in the snow, slippery roads, snow storm
Comments: 18 Comments
December 31, 2013
A dusting of snow was the surprise this morning. I first noticed it on the tree branches outside my bedroom window. The weatherman must have been so intent on the Thursday-Friday storm he forgot to mention this dusting, probably too little to notice.
It is cold. We have no sun for the third day in a row, and I’m beginning to forget what it looks like. All I see is a foreboding sky with dark, bare branches silhouetted against it.
I intent to stay inside all day today. Yesterday I did a couple of errands so I’m all set. Warmth and comfort are all I seek. I have a book to keep me occupied and laundry to do if I feel any need to be industrious, but the laundry has been sitting in plain sight a couple of days so that’s not likely. I am in my coziest clothes, the coffee is freshly brewed and the larder is sufficient.
I have no plans for tonight. When I was younger, I always celebrated on New Year’s Eve, usually at a party with a few friends. A couple of times I went to First Night in Boston and once in Reading, a town north of Boston. More than not, though, I just stayed home. My mother always called to wish me a Happy New Year.
I don’t make resolutions. I used to but was horrific at keeping them. Now I just hope that every new year is better than the last and that I stay healthy and happy. That seems to be more than enough.
I wish you all the happiest of new year’s and thanks for hanging around for another year!
Categories: Musings
Tags: cold, cold day, dusting of snow, laundry to do, new years eve, resolutions, warm and cozy
Comments: 30 Comments
December 30, 2013
Monday means breakfast at the diner. My diner is a small place with only 12 or so booths and some stools at the counter. A few regulars were there and the owners are always at the front of the house doing whatever needs to be done. They greet all the regulars and stop at the booths to chat a bit. It wasn’t too busy when I first arrived but all the booths were taken by the time I left.
The morning is cold. Yesterday throughout the day and night we had torrential rain and late last night the wind began to roar. I imagined the pine trees bending and swaying with loud creaks of protest, and when I let Gracie out this morning, I noticed a few branches, smaller ones, had fallen in the backyard. My outside Christmas lights died around 8, and the back dog lights blinked on and off for a long while. For my neighbors’ sake, I kept hoping the lights would stop blinking. They did and the yard went dark. This morning I turned on the timer for the outside lights, and nothing tripped so I guess all is well.
When I was a kid, I didn’t know anyone who traveled during Christmas vacation, and I didn’t know anyone who skied. Both of those would have been far too expensive for our family and for my neighbors. We had sleds and ice skates, and they provided winter amusement. My friends and I would skate at the swamp or on the rink at the park. That rink was put up every winter and taken down in the spring. The small building at the rink had wooden planks for seats, and we’d put our shoes, tied together, underneath the planks. The building was always warmed by a pot-bellied stove. One man worked there, and he was in charge of keeping the stove going. The skating was free, provided for by the town. I’d skate until my feet hurt.
Sometimes my mother would give us bus fare and entrance money for the MDC rink over the line in Medford, the next town. We had to walk up-town to catch the bus as it was really to far to walk. On Saturdays and school vacations, the bus was filled with skaters. The MDC rink had two fenced-in skating circles and a building with lots of seating and a refreshment stand. We’d skate a while then take a break in the warmth of the building then go back outside for more skating. We’d be there most of the day. I remember taking off my skates and how strange my feet felt. It was as if they had forgotten how to walk. We’d buy a hot chocolate then go outside and wait for the bus. I remember standing on the sidewalk and looking down the street hoping to see it coming our way. We were cold and tired and more than ready to go home.
Categories: Musings
Tags: booths, branches, breakfast, bus, cold day, diner, dog lights, hot cocoa, ice skating, MDC rink, outside lights', pine tree
Comments: 12 Comments
December 29, 2013
Today is dreary with a damp cold that seeps to my bones. It is dump day for Gracie and me, and we’re going to Agway where dogs are welcome, even Gracie who jumps on the counter to say hello.
Days like today make me want to be lazy. When the sun is out, even in the dead of winter, it seems a sin to waste all that light so I go out for a ride or to do a couple of errands. It may still be cold but sunlight gives me an interest in the day. Today is more of a sit around and read day, but I’m stuck doing those errands. My new book, the Stephen King, will sit unopened for a while longer.
These days after Christmas are for winding down, for enjoying a bit of quiet. The tree is still lit casting its glow on the walls and even on the cat lying below it. I sit and read in the living room where I can still enjoy the aroma of the pine and watch the bubble lights. My gifts are opened and under the tree. I’ll put them away in the next couple of days. A few need to be hung on the walls so I’ll walk around with them until I find the right spots. My new DVD player needs to be connected so I’ll give that a try hoping the directions are written for the electronically challenged. My sister gave me an old bride and groom cake topper for another one of my collections. The bride has material around her skirt which is a bit different from most. She also gave me four really ugly elves with cardboard tops and pine cone bodies. I love them in their ugliness. My sister shops at an antique warehouse for me. She finds neat stuff. I also got a really old red tin for my kitchen and a Mammy note holder from the 1940’s. It is not at all PC. Something Red Sox is always one of my presents so she gave me a red B sweatshirt, a color I didn’t have. It will be fun going through my gifts again.
Well, time to get dressed and face the elements.
Categories: Musings
Comments: 35 Comments
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