October 2013 – The Dackel Princess

Reminicing

I guess I have always been affected by music. Some people can hear songs and are not affected. Me? I listen to songs, hear the lyrics and feel the rhythm. In 1976 I was singing along with everyone else to the song “Mandy”. And when my first daughter was born, sure enough she got that beautiful name!

In 1978 I was expecting my second child. Back then, no one could tell you what you were having, and either way, I didn’t really care, as long as the baby was healthy.

I went into labor in the early hours of November 8th with Katie arriving only 4 hours after hard labor began.

On the way to the hospital this song was playing. It was very popular back then.

It still is played a lot and every time I hear it, I recall driving from our home in Teaticket, Massachusetts to Falmouth Hospital.

What song was playing when you delivered your baby, or met your husband? What song is your special song?

Wednesday Hodgepodge

1. What’s something you’re dealing with that might be described as tricky?

Mmmmmm. Let me see. This morning I woke to Arnie acting strangely. I took him out to monitor his bodily functions, and all was well. I took his temperature, and that was normal. Yet he is walking about with a hang dog look, and occasionally stops and his whole body shakes. As I write, he is still not 100% and I am worried, but I think (fingers crossed) that he is a bit better.

2. What’s your treat of choice?

Oh easy, anything dark chocolate! It’s my favorite. But really sweetness in general. I’m basically a sugar-a-holic! Cakes, cookies, danish, donuts, anything that is sweet can be craved by yours truly!

3. Did you/will you carve a jack-o-lantern this month? Which real (living or dead) or fictional ‘Jack’ would you most like to meet in person? Why?

No. I didn’t carve a Pumpkin. I hate to watch them die. Perhaps when Savannah is older I can do it with her. This year, her Daddy did it with her.

Isn’t this adorable?

Now as far as Jack’s go, finally after all these years I will tell you that Hubby’s name is Jack! Actually John, but no one has ever called him John. Including me. So, he is my Jack!

4. In your opinion, what’s the grossest sounding word in the English language?

Now there ‘s a question. There are several swear words I find very distasteful, but just plain words, I guess something like puke.

5. When did your heart last skip a beat?

It actually skips them all the time as I have a slight heart palpitation. A normal heart goes beat…beat…beat…beat. Mine goes beat…beat…beatbeat…beat. Then it repeats after that. It’s quite odd and did not start until after menopause. Oh, the joy!

6. Monster Mash by Bobby ‘Boris’ Picket, Michael Jackson’s Thriller, Werewolves of London by Warren Zevon, or Ray Parker Jr.’s Ghostbusters…your favorite ‘scary’ tune?

Michael Jackson’s “Thriller”. Yeah well, what can I say. I would have been a peer of Michael’s had he lived.

7. It was a dark and stormy night when..

the monster at the end of the street came to call, taking all the pumpkins and candy that he found along the roadside!

8. Insert your own random thought here.

Here is my darling, my heart, my little Bumble Bee. She is just precious, yes?

This & That Tuesday

Today I’ll be seeing my other eye doctor about a new prescription and also getting new glasses. Ah what to get, what to get?

For a while, earlier this year, I thought perhaps a pair of Harry Potter glasses would be appropriate. You know, scar on the forehead…

Now, with the scars mostly fading on my face, but the ones on my nose actually being sensitive, I need to find glasses that are light weight and soft against my nose.

I may do the frame-less glasses, Then the only weight would be the prescription lenses. And then, I would try to order the lightest weight possible ones.

Do any of you watch, “The Good Wife”. I sort of started watching at the end of last season. What a great show! Last nights episode was outstanding! Fortunately for me, I can watch the first 5 years free on Amazon Prime. I think I’ll try to watch an episode a day until I am caught up.

When The Lights Went Out

Back on November 9, 1965, about 5:17 pm, the Great Northeast Blackout occurred here in the USA. This was just before I turned nine years old.

Most people were unaware that lights were flickering and power was failing in areas of upstate New York. A long series of power plant switches were being tripped, and by 5:27 PM, most of New York City went dark. Only Staten Island and part of Brooklyn were unaffected. The power outage spread into Massachusetts, Connecticut and the northern New England states as well as Long Island, New Jersey and parts of Pennsylvania.

The blue area shows where the blackout occurred.

My mother always cooked dinner early, as my Dad worked most nights and had to be out he door by 5:30 or 6:00. So as usual, she put out the dinner on the table at 5:15 and then the lights went out.

Having grown up on Cape Cod, we had a large stash of candles. It seemed that we lost our power pretty frequently. High winds. So mom went to the cupboard and brought out the candles.

I remember thinking how fun it was to eat by candle light…again!

The power outage would last for thirteen hours. Through these thirteen hours, a night of almost complete darkness many citizens of the northeastern United States banded together. Considering that nearly a million New Yorkers and Bostonians were trapped during this time, either on subways, office buildings or in elevators, it was a remarkable triumph.

Of course, to a little girl on Cape Cod it meant candles, my sister’s Ghost stories, and probably a slightly earlier bedtime for me.

By the next morning the lights were on, Mom was cooking breakfast in the kitchen and the excitement was over.

Anyone out there remember the Blackout besides me? Or am I the only oldster out here?

Time Goes On

Suddenly it is late Autumn!

I woke up on Saturday to below freezing temperatures and a brisk wind. The skies were gray and it just had that look about it.

I now need my fall jacket on when I go outside, as well as my hat and gloves. I’ve also added a warm blanket to my side of the bed to keep me and the dackels warm.

We’ve had three fires in the hearth, and I’ve worn my heavy bathrobe the last week in the morning.

Yes, we’re on the cusp of the seasons changing from summer to winter.

The clocks fall back next Saturday and then we count the days down to the winter solstice and the darkest days of our year.

I don’t mind this time of year, really. After all my birthday is next month. And I will be 55. I don’t feel that is tremendously old, but I am thrilled that many places give you a senior citizen discount!

I am all for free coffee, or saving 25 cents on my Chinese Buffet meal.

There are benefits of age! lol!

Movies, Books, & Remarkable People

Hubby and I decided to take some time and go off to see “Captain Phillips”. All I can say is that I was literally on the edge of my seat throughout the entire film! The movie is two hours and fifteen minutes long, and usually I’m not one to want to commit to that much time in an uncomfortable seat, but this movie went so fast, that it did not seem like I was in the theater that long!

I don’t go to the movies a lot, but this year there have been a few that I have actually wanted to see. As well as a few books too! I must finish up the book I am reading now so I can start a biography of a writer I truly admire. He is Pulitzer Prize winning author, and has led a truly remarkable life after he was paralyzed in a diving accident, in his first year of medical school.

He went on to finish medical school and eventually became a Board Certified Psychiatrist, before embarking on a writing career. A truly amazing man

Thoughts on Friday

Next week I go for my annual eye exam and to get new glasses. I need to get very light weight frames and lenses, as my nose gets irritated from my current glasses. I hope I can find something I like.

It is so cold here tonight, I think I will be breaking out my winter pajamas! Of course I am lucky to have three dackels to cuddle with in bed.

I’m enjoying my book “The Husband’s Secret” by Liane Moriarty. It is totally not what I expected! (In a very interesting way!)

I went to visit my neighbor today. I decided to take Greta with me and all I said was, “Greta, let’s go see, Aglaia” and she raced up the hill! Greta adores Aglaia!

I found a great recipe for schnitzel and I went to take out some pork to make it on Thursday, only to find, I have no pork in the freezer! I need to get some soon so I can make the recipe!

To you all I wish you a happy Friday and a great weekend!

The Elephant Woman

I stopped at Dunkin’ Donuts to get a coffee on my way to the retinal surgeon’s office on Wednesday and I was in line. The man at the counter (another patron) said, “you can come up next to me, I won’t bite!”

I laughed, smiled and came up and said, “promise?”

So, I’m standing there and he’s sort of looking my way and he says, “what are you making for dinner tonight?”

I said, “Well if I get home early, I hope to make lasagna.”

He smiled at me and said in such a nice voice, “Think there would be enough for me?”

I smiled and (hopefully I was super nice) said, that there probably would be, but my husband might not think it was a good thing for me to bring home a date!

I have to tell you all, this man made my day!!!!! He thought I was pretty!!!!!

Now I know many of my family and friends have told me I look wonderful. However, inside I felt that perhaps they were being kind because they all love me.

But here was this man, who didn’t know me at all, and he was flirting with me because he thought I was pretty!

It made me realize that I needed to rethink my self image! I am doing great. Dr. P. is one heck of a plastic surgeon and I am coming back to the woman I was before this all started.

I’m no longer the “Elephant Woman“!

Wednesday Hodgepodge

1. When it comes to good manners, what two top your list of most important?

Always saying “please and thank you” with a smile. I also hold the door for the elderly, and smile at people as they come my way. You never know when your smile might just be the only one a person gets that day.

2. Let’s open a proverbial can of worms…Common Core. Are you familiar with the term (talking education reform in the USA)? If so, care to share your thoughts? In your opinion, what is one of the biggest issues schools (in your home country) face today?

This is an issue I’d just like to step away from. I am not impressed with our local public schools.

3. Name a celebrity whose fashion sense you admire and share why.

Princess Kate. Also known as Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge. She is so good at mixing and matching and wears outfits again and again. I also like the fact that she always looks easily put together.

4. How are you affected by the changing seasons?

Love them. Each season in their own way makes me happy. Right now we are at the end of Autumn and the leaves are falling from the trees. I can hardly wait for the first snow. After winter, I love the spring, with blossoming trees and flowers and summer is the growing season and canning for me. Yes so many great things, year round to look forward to!

5. Scariest book you’ve ever read?

Nope, don’t read them. In fact my cousin, Janet will tell me not to read this or that book because of the scare or gore!

6. What time of day are you most hungry? What’s your go-to snack?

2PM. My go to snacks are apple, popcorn, rice cakes, or bananas.

7. Do you lean more towards being too needy or too independent? Which do you find harder to deal with in others?

Oh, I am definitely way too needy. I’m working on it all the time. I try not to be, but it is hard. I think it’s difficult for me to handle other needy people, as I cannot give to them all that they need.

8. Insert your own random thought here.

I had my retinas examined today. All went well, and I am good for another six months. I have known this marvelous surgeon for eleven years. He is a very rigid and precise man, but after this long, and so many surgeries, we have become friends. Which is so nice. It’s also great to know that all is well with my eyes.

On A Cleaning Jag

Monday went by at a flying pace. I was up long before Hubby and drank three cups of coffee before he emerged from our bedroom cocoon!

I made a lovely breakfast for him and then he started working on some paperwork he needs to get done.

So while he sat at the kitchen table writing, I busied myself folding laundry, cleaning our bedroom, and then I decided to clean out my two bathroom vanity drawers.

I know! What is this sudden spurt of cleaning I have been doing? I’m not one of those super neat people, and yet lately I want to get it all cleaned up in here. I guess it’s because I know that soon it will get very cold and we will have to shut up the house for the winter.

In fact on Thursday I want Hubby to help me get the window air conditioners out of the windows and put away for another year.

I also need to do my science project to clear my bathroom vanity drain. I love having long hair, but my drain sure doesn’t!

I’m off to my retinal surgeon today. It’s my six month check up. I don’t expect anything dramatic. Just a routine appointment where I will be given a clean bill of health for my eyes!