Archive for the ‘Musings’ category
October 20, 2013
We’re going to the World Series! We’re going to the World Series! Shane Victorino hit a grand slam in the bottom of the 7th which put the Sox ahead 5-2, and that’s all they needed. Shane was amazing running the bases. He was like a little kid on Christmas morning who got the present he really wanted. My friends and I were in touch by phone, and Rod, my brother-in-law, and I were iPad buddies. Now we wait until Wednesday for the first of the Series.
I was awakened early this morning. Okay, at eight, which I know isn’t really all that early, but I went to bed late. The Sox game didn’t end until 11:30 or so, and I was too pumped for bed so I stayed up until close to 2:30. Well, anyway, what woke me up was Fern being sick. She started on the down comforter, which I didn’t hear, then she turned to the floor from the bed. That’s what I heard. The bed is high. She continued in the hall. I dragged myself out of bed and cleaned up the mess. That started laundry day. I folded the clothes which had been sitting in the dryer for a week then washed the down comforter. It’s now in the dryer with a few tennis balls to fluff the down. I can hear the banging noise up here. I had no excuse so I started the rest of the laundry. I already hate today.
There is, however, a redeeming factor about the day. Syfy is showing movies about creatures gone amok. Right now flesh-eating locusts are meeting their doom; however, they did manage to dine al-fresco at a carnival. It was a tough time to be on a ride. Next up is the movie Bats: Human Harvest. I doubt you need any clarification about the plot. Genetically enhanced wasps will be a bit later. That one makes me wonder. I can’t imagine the value of wasps being genetically enhanced.
The day is sunny and bright with a blue sky. It’s still pretty warm, but that will change by Wednesday when the temperatures will drop possibly as low as the 30’s. It will time to turn on the heat.
Categories: Musings
Tags: down comforter, early rising, Fern, flesh-eating locusts and bats, grand slam, Laundry, lovely day, Red Sox, syfy insects, throwing up cat, warm, wasps, World Series
Comments: 25 Comments
October 19, 2013
Last night Morpheus grabbed hold, and I slept for twelve hours. My mother would have said I needed it, and I agree. I woke up not feeling up to par (another one of my mother’s sayings) so I’ll just sort of wait around and see what happens. The TV is filled with aliens and monsters so I’ll have plenty of entertainment.
I can hear leaf blowers and mowers, the sounds of Saturday. I went out on the deck and the air smells fresh, of cut grass and fall flowers. There is a morning chill I expect will be gone by afternoon.
I do have a couple of errands today and laundry to wash. I don’t feel like doing either, but I did finish the last of my bread for toast this morning, and I’m out of cheese, two good reasons to get out and refill the larder.
My mother shopped every Friday evening. My father drove her to the supermarket as she didn’t drive, but he never went shopping with her. When they got home, we all helped to unload the trunk. It was filled with paper grocery bags. The next few days were bountiful as cookies and snacks were back in the house though some snacks were untouchables as they were for lunches. Oreos were always a standard. They were everyone’s favorite cookie, even the dog’s. My sisters used to feed him the sides once they’d eaten the middle. He sat right by them on the steps while they snacked. He knew what was coming. My mother always warned us to go slowly because once the cookies were gone, that was it until the next shopping day. We were kids: slowly wasn’t in our vocabulary.
We used to pop corn on the stove in a pan with a lid. It was less expensive than Jiffy Pop, but it took more attention and constant shaking of the pan or the popcorn would burn. My father made the best popcorn. He never burned a single kernel. My mother would melt butter and put it on the top then mix the popcorn around to spread the butter. She then sprinkle a bit of salt. The popcorn was served in a huge bowl. In my mind’s eye, I see a green bowl, but I’m not sure as my mother also had a set of white bowls with tulips, and that set also had a large bowl. When I was shopping with my mother once, we found a set just like it at an antique store and I bought the set. It sits on my fridge and holds all sort of memories.
Categories: Musings
Tags: aliens and mosters, bowls of popcorn, Cookies, errands, grocery shopping, Jiffy Pop, Laundry, lawns, left bloers, morning chill, Morpheus, oreos, popcorn, tulip bowls
Comments: 21 Comments
October 18, 2013
Today was a break in routine, an out to breakfast morning. My friend and I decided to celebrate the Sox winning the game last night with breakfast. In the old days, I would have celebrated during the whole game and suffered for it this morning. I can remember going to work barely able to open my eyes and with a headache which made me think the top of my head had erupted. I was a whole lot younger then.
When I was in elementary school, my friend I walked to school together every day. She lived at the top of the hill facing the small rotary in the cul-de-sac. She lived on the same side of the duplex where we once had lived. I remember that house really well. The kitchen was small, the spot for the table was by the window and there were only two bedrooms. The stairs were the best part as there was a small landing, and I used to arrange pillows and sit there and read. We moved from there when my sister was born as we needed more space. We moved down the hill to a bigger duplex apartment, one with three bedrooms.
They called where we lived the project. It was composed of wooden duplexes, either twelve or fourteen of them; I don’t remember which. We lived in the first set almost at the top of the hill. Ours was on a corner and angled to face the street. All the rest were square to the road. We had the biggest lawn in front which we shared with our neighbor. Their side of the duplex was the mirror image of ours. We also had a lawn on the side of the house which was sacred to my father. I remember it was always green and always well-trimmed. My father prided himself on his grass no matter where he lived. He swore by a hand lawn mower. He claimed it did the best job. I loved the sound of him mowing the lawn, the clicking of the blades as he moved up and down in the same pattern he always used. We weren’t ever allowed to mow the lawn. We didn’t follow the pattern right.
The cellar in that duplex was where we played a lot. The big toys were kept down there as were our bicycles in winter or summer rain. Next to the back wall was where the wringer washing machine stood next to a sink. Later on, my brother turned part of the cellar into his bedroom. He didn’t like rooming with my youngest sister. I understood that. One of the lures for our cooperation in moving down to the Cape was that he and I would each have our own bedroom. They were both on the first floor, and he used to sneak out his window late at night. I never did though I did sneak in a couple of times.
A few weeks ago my sister and I drove by our duplex. We both noticed how big the trees were but we especially noticed how awful the lawns looked, especially the one at our old house. My father would never have allowed that.
Categories: Musings
Tags: breakfast out, cellar, cul-de-sac, hand lawn mowers, lawns, moving, p;aying downstairs, project, small house, stair landing, walking to school duplexes
Comments: 12 Comments
October 17, 2013
When I went to get the papers, I was surprised by how warm the morning is. The sun is shining but not with much enthusiasm. I am still struck by how much the light has changed with the season. Gracie and I will go out today and one of our stops will be the dump. Right now she’s enjoying her morning nap.
The Sox-Tigers game on Tuesday was the stuff of legend. The Sox managed to win with a single home-run being the only score on both sides, a 1-0 game. Last night was awful. The Sox lost 7-3. I’m still dealing with the horror of it all. The series is tied 2-2.
I saw a clip from a recent Celts’ game, and Paul Pierce was on the opposing team. It was strange to see him in other than Celtic green. I have been a fan of the Celts since I was young. Back then few games were on TV so I got to listen to Johnny Most on the radio. He had this raspy voice, and it filled with emotion when he was describing spectacular plays. He was a screamer: sometimes in joy and sometimes in indignation. I remember hiding my head under the covers so I wouldn’t get caught listening to the games from the West Coast on my transistor radio. I used to try to visualize the plays as Johnny described them. He had names for all the players like Jumping John Havlicek and Leaping Larry Siegfried. He was such a Celtics fan himself he never once criticized the team. He even had nicknames for opposing players but they weren’t complimentary. Magic Johnson was Cry-Baby Johnson so named when he disputed a call so all that season he was just called Cry when Johnny described the action. Even when the games were on TV, I always turned down the volume and listened instead to Johnny on the radio. His most famous line is “Havlicek stole the ball!” and I can remember him screaming that into the mike. That steal gave the Celts the series against Philadelphia, and they went on to beat LA for the championship. I still watch the Celts once in a while now and even took in a game a couple of years ago. Tommy Heinsohn, a former Celtic from the glory days, is the TV announcer, and he’s pretty good, but I miss the Johnny Most days. He made basketball, even on the radio, colorful and fun.
My neighborhood is so quiet now. The storm doors are up so I don’t ever hear voices anymore. The kids are in school. Every now and then I hear a dog bark, and if Gracie is outside, she’ll carry on the conversation, but most dogs are inside until their people come home from work. It is getting to be isolation time.
Categories: Musings
Tags: ALCS series, barking dogs, Celtics, dump run, Havlicek stole the ball!, isolation time, Johnny Most, quiet, radio, warm day
Comments: 19 Comments
October 15, 2013
The night was chilly so the house was cold again this morning. I threw on my sweatshirt and started the heat. The house is now cozy and warm. The sun is streaming through the front door and Fern has staked her spot. Gracie is having her morning nap. All is right with my world.
I have a few errands today then I get to watch Red Sox baseball at four. I think that’s a strange time for any game, let alone an ALCS game.
The Lone Ranger and Roy Rogers were on this morning, and I watched them both with the critical eye of an adult. Poor Tonto was simply the “Injun” and was told to be out-of-town before nightfall. The town set was composed of building facades though a few long shots were filmed outside. The Lone Ranger explained as he did on every show that he was on the side of the law despite his mask. He and Tonto fought, defeated and captured the bad guys as they always did. The Lone Ranger and Tonto said good-bye, and as they were leaving, someone wanted to know who that masked man was. The sheriff said, “That was The Lone Ranger.” The end of the program was the familiar scene of the Lone Ranger and Tonto riding out-of-town on that dirt road with rocks on each side. The Lone Ranger shouted,” Hi-ho, Silver, away,” as our two heroes rode off side by side.
Roy Rogers was actually filmed outside, no fake scenes there. Roy had his whole crew: Dale on Buttercup, Pat driving Nellybelle, Bullet running along side and Trigger. Dale wore great outfits with lots of fringe. I chuckled at hearing little lady and old-timer being used. When I was a kid, I never thought about this program as being modern, 50’s modern. It was just a western to me despite the jeep. In this episode, a fake federal agent even wore a suit and tie, but Roy and Dale were faithful to their western roots. Roy wore his two-gun holster while Dale’s had only one gun. They both wore tooled boots, and Roy wore his cowboy hat. At the end of the program, I got to sing along with Roy and Dale. “Happy trails to you until we meet again.”
Categories: Musings
Tags: ALCS, Bad guys, Baseball, Bullet, chilly, Dale Evans, jeep, Lone Ranger, old-timer, pretty day, Roy Rogers, sun, Tonto
Comments: 38 Comments
October 14, 2013
Today is a click your heels in the air day for local sports. The Patriots won their game in the last few seconds, and the Sox came from a five run deficit to win 6-5 at the bottom of the ninth. It was late, around 11:30, when the winning run crossed the plate, and I wanted to celebrate so I called my friend. He had stopped watching when the Sox were losing 5-0 and had gone bed. I woke him up with my call. I think he was sorry for giving up on the Sox. I then called Colorado, and they celebrated with me. It was David Ortiz who had hit a grand slam in dramatic fashion to tie the game. I jumped up from the couch, clapped my hands and cheered. Fenway went wild and David had to take a curtain call. Saltalamacchia’s single was the walk-off winning hit. I love October baseball when anything can happen.
The Sox left this morning for Detroit. The next game is tomorrow afternoon. Go Sox!!
My sister was born on the real Columbus Day, not the excuse of a long weekend Monday. When she was young, she thought we got the day off from school because it was her birthday. Everybody celebrated Sheila’s birthday!
Gracie has been outside all morning. The day is cool with lots of sun so she’s enjoying the yard. My house was only 61˚ when I woke up so I delayed my shower and turned on the heat. I see no reason to be cold.
I loved the sounds of the radiators in the house where I grew up. One was on the wall opposite the foot of my bed. I could hear the hiss of the steam when the heat was radiating, and I could hear the water moving through the pipes. On a really cold day, I’d get home from school and sit with my back to the radiator for as long as I could stand the heat. Some days I’d put my hands on the top of it so I could feel my fingers again. The radiator served as a dryer. We’d put our mittens on the top, and they’d steam as they dried. My wet shoes went underneath and they usually curled from the heat. It was fun walking in them the first time after the radiator treatment. It was always sort of comforting to fall asleep to the familiar sounds of the radiator.
Categories: Musings
Tags: Columbus Day birthday, comforting hiss, cool sunny day, David Ortoz, grand slam, hissing steam, October baseball, Patriots, radiatiors, Red Sox, walk-off win, wet mittens
Comments: 20 Comments
October 13, 2013
Well, my boys of summer lost 1-0 last night. It was a one hitter and that hit didn’t come until the last of the ninth when Nava, the $1.00 wonder, hit a single. Pitching duels are well-played games but are boring for spectators. We love to see balls, hit by the good guys, sail out of the park. We want a show.
Today has a chilly breeze with a here again gone again sun. I went out for brunch then waited around for two hours for the Seaside Festival parade to begin. I had my iPad so I was content just sitting and waiting. The road was filled with cars, and the line looked endless. This holiday weekend is the last hurrah for the Cape, and it seems as if much of the world has come to enjoy it.
The parade was so hometown. The only outside music came from UMass Lowell’s band, and they must have thought they’d taken a wrong turn somewhere. St. Pius Elementary School had a small band, and I didn’t recognize what they were playing. The local high school sounded good as did the two pipe and drum units, both local. The floats defied description, but I was able to figure out the theme It had something to do with summer as all the floats had umbrellas, beach toys and blown up sharks or whales. Most of the floats seemed to be filled with people throwing candy. There were several antique cars and, of course, the girl scouts and boy scouts. No hometown parade is worth its salt without scouts. A cheerleading school strutted its stuff and cheered their way passed me. The fire department started and ended the parade with sirens and bells.
The crowd seemed pleased, and I really enjoyed the parade as it reminded me of my hometown’s Memorial Day parade which hasn’t changed a bit in all these years. Today I got to wave at the people I know who were riding on floats or in cars. My friends and I chatted as they marched by me. I clapped for the bands and the floats. It wasn’t a long parade, but it was my childhood revisited, and I was happy.
Categories: Musings
Tags: bands, brunch, cheerleaders, chilly breeze, floats, girl scouts, pipes and drums, Seaside Festivalparade
Comments: 14 Comments
October 12, 2013
The day is cloudy and fall cool. Later, I am going to put the storm door on the front. I hate to admit it, but the time has come. The days are only in the 60’s at best and the nights are even cooler. I put the comforter on my bed last night because I’ve been leaving the window open. The night air is sweet and still has a few summer sounds so I’ll enjoy it as long as I can.
The ALCS begins tonight. Our heroes play the kitties from Detroit. I get a chuckle out of some of the players on that team. Having an infielder named Fielder seems a bit much, especially a fielder of such girth. I always want to tell him to tuck in his shirt; slovenly is not fashionable even on the baseball field. What amazes me is that these two teams have never faced each other in a playoff but have played almost 2000 games against each other since the beginning of time. Fenway Park, voted the best park in baseball, was opened the same day and year as the Tiger’s park, now torn down. No sense of history in Detroit I suppose. I checked all the predictions and many favor the Kitties in a long series; the Sox are favored for a short series. That’s just the incentive the Sox need. Those bearded wonders love to beat the odds. After all, they came from last to first. Okay, I’ll admit Mr. V is the best pitcher, but the Sox got to him once and maybe are set to do it again. I wouldn’t bet against them. I suggest the Kitties adopt It’s Crying Time Again as their theme song. Go Red Sox!
My sister and I went to an Indian restaurant yesterday in Stoneham, where she still lives and where I grew up. The restaurant is at the site of what was The Children’s Corner. My sister’s memory of that is a bit hazy. She thought the store was in a different part of the square. Our table faced the street so I gave her a run-down of what used to be in the square. She was a bit amazed about the small restaurant, longer than it was wide, and the Spa with its lime rickeys, neither of which exist any more. She remembered Finnegan’s, a men’s store. Members of the same family were also morticians but out of the square, near all the churches. Later she went hunting on-line for a picture of the square and found one with the Children’s Corner and the old police booth. That was my up-town a long, long time ago.
Categories: Musings
Tags: ALCS, Baseball, Children's Corner, cool weather, Detroit, Indian food, Red Sox, Stoneham Square, storm doors
Comments: 48 Comments
October 11, 2013
Today is cloudy with a chance of rain. We have been and will be in the 60’s the whole of the week. This is fall.
I never learned to play the piano though I took lessons for a short time when I was in the second grade. A nun was my teacher, and I used to walk across the street to one end of the convent for lessons. But because we didn’t have a piano, I could never practice. The nun suggested I might want to explore other interests. I figure she must have told me delicately as my psyche remained unscathed. I never did try another instrument, and a year later my singing career ended when the nun told me to lip sing. I became a listener of music instead of a participant. I have never been disappointed.
I have the soul of a wanderer. Even since I was really young, books of faraway places held my imagination. When I was eleven, I vowed to travel the world. I knew I’d go to South American, the Sahara Desert, markets in African and places where not a soul spoke English. I was never afraid but self-assured. I knew what I was meant to do.
During my senior year in college, I pursued a few different future avenues. I applied to law school and got accepted, and I was even offered a teaching job, but neither of those fit where I saw myself in the future. They were too staid, floating too much in the mainstream. I applied to the Peace Corps in October. That’s how soon I knew what I wanted to do. Where I went wasn’t important. It was the going that counted. That I ended up in Africa was like a dream, a wish come true. After all these years, my heart is still filled with a love for Ghana, for its people, its sounds and smells, its sights and amazing colors. My old vow, my promise, the one I made when I was eleven has been fulfilled not only in Ghana but also in so many other places.
I have always been an idealist. I consider it one of my best traits. I took tap dancing lessons a while back. I’m still filled with dreams.
Categories: Musings
Tags: Africa, fulfilling a dream, Ghana, Peace Corps, piano playing, poor singing voice, promise of an eleven year old, soul of a wanderer, tap dancing, the going counts, travle the world
Comments: 17 Comments
October 10, 2013
It has been a fruitful morning. The plants have been watered, the bed made, the laundry washed and the bills paid. I feel quite accomplished, and it isn’t even noon. On second thought, though, it does seem sort of silly to feel accomplished at the completion of such mundane tasks. People are getting Nobel Prizes, and I’m making my bed.
Nothing to do today so I figure to stay around and go through the thousands of catalogues I received the last couple of days. Maybe I can get some Christmas presents bought. I love shopping at the touch of a mouse.
Yesterday I saw Gravity in 3D. I thought about the 3D glasses we all wore when we were kids, the cardboard ones with red and blue plastic lenses. Now they have been replaced by plastic ones which look like real glasses. You don’t have to hold them: they even stay behind your ears. The old ones never did. The coming attractions were also in 3D. The Hobbit preview reminded me of the Viewmaster slides when one character seemed to stand out from the background.
I really liked the movie. The special effects were amazing. At one point I swore a bubble was about to hit me, but I think it hit the guy at the end of the row. Space was magnificent. The movie is short, only around 90 minutes, but after seeing the movie, I understand why. It couldn’t be any longer.
I remember watching The House of Wax on TV when I was a kid. It scared the heck out of me at the end when Vincent Price’s face fell apart after our heroine hit him. That outer face had been made of wax to cover the horrific scars from burns which had pretty much obliterated his face.
The House of Wax was the first movie released in 3D, but I only saw it on television. I remember one effect which I figured had been 3D. A ball on a string came right at you, and I’m suspecting people in the theater moved back the same way people do behind glass if water is thrown at it. Warner Brothers called it NaturalVision 3 dimension.
I always hesitate recommending movies to people. Because I like a movie doesn’t mean someone else will. I always cringe when I’m told a friend hated a movie I recommended so now I avoid doing that. When asked how the movie was, I just say I liked it and leave it at that.
Categories: Musings
Tags: 3d glasses, bubble, catalogues, gravity, House of Wax, morning chores, NaturalVision 3 dimension, Shopping, special effects
Comments: 10 Comments
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