Kim's Thoughts
Just a few thoughts I feel worthy of jotting down!
Thoughts on Winter
Over the Christmas week and again this current week, I find myself thinking about a popular joke that has made its way around the internet via emails, Facebook, etc. for many years. You know the one. It is written in diary format by a guy/girl who moves to {insert city known for having very snowy winters} and starts out all excited about the snow, progressively loses that enthusiasm more and more each day, and finally ends up cursing the snow and the plow driver who inevitably comes along and buries the end of the driveway within minutes of them shoveling it out……yet, again! I started seeing that joke floating around when I lived in NC. I’d read it through, nod my head, laugh, and think “been there, done that, bought the t-shirt – glad I’m not there anymore!” And then, despite years of insisting I would never live where I had to deal with months of snow, I decided to move back home – to western NY – right smack dab in the Buffalo snow belt!
I was never a fan of winter. Didn’t care much for winter sports or being outside in the cold and snow. Yes, I occasionally enjoyed ice skating at Bullard Park – night skating was the most fun and the building where they had a heater and served hot chocolate made it easy to spend a few hours skating and hanging out with friends. I’ve also been known to bundle up and go sledding, make a few snow angels, and have a few snowball fights in my day. But, for the most part, I much preferred to stay inside in the winter. My brother, on the other hand, loved the snow and being out in it. I always did think he was a little whacky, but, to each his own, as they say. So, the winters in NC were my cup of tea! Just enough snow to remind me that it was pretty and go away before it got irritating. 🙂 We usually had a few days of snow each winter, but it would go away once the sun came out. There were a couple of winters (out of the 26 years I lived there) that brought some significant accumulation that lasted several days. I remember the first year we got buried with a huge snow fall. I didn’t have boots, gloves, or a really warm winter coat. I also didn’t have a snow shovel or other appropriate winter time tools. I had to shovel my deck, steps, and a path to the car. So, I got the dirt shovel out of the shed – learned quick that dirt shovels don’t work in snow – it just sticks to them! But, I am a creative sort……I duct taped a dust pan to the handle of a broom and went out with my shoes, bare hands, and a lightweight jacket and roughly – very roughly – cleared a path in the snow. After that, I bought a snow shovel that never got used. Luckily, if there was any hint of a snow flake in the forecast, the whole state shut down and I didn’t have to deal with it!
So, obviously, one of the things I gave a lot of thought and consideration to when deciding whether or not to move back home was having to deal with the winter months. I admit I was worried about it. I made sure the house I bought had an attached garage – I was determined to never have to clean off a car and carry groceries through the snow – that was the one main must have when it came to a house!!! But, that wasn’t all I worried about. I hadn’t driven in significant snow or ice in a lot of years! And I wasn’t sure how my Mustang would handle in the snow. I decided the benefits of moving far outweighed the concerns I had about the winters. So, here I am.
My first winter here was mild – we only had a couple good snow storms and they didn’t last long. For the most part, it was almost exactly like winters in NC, except it was colder…..and those couple of snow storms were more than I would have had to deal with in NC. I was pleasantly surprised and thought of it as a gift to help me ease into it. I bought a snow shovel called a “snow pusher” that made clearing my driveway and patio easy – I’d just walk behind it pushing the snow out of the way – no need to lift and throw the snow, like normal shovels. I got excited when it did snow and enjoyed watching the girls play and experience deep snow for the first time in their lives. I got right out there with them and played snowball catch and chased them around the yard. Since I didn’t work and there weren’t many bad days, it was easy to just stay home if the weather wasn’t good. It was a good first winter.
I knew I wasn’t lucky enough to get another mild winter, though. The pony didn’t do well driving in snow, so I got a second vehicle so I could take the old girl off the road during the winter months. I had my snow pusher and the cold weather clothes I bought the year before. I was ready! I was very happy that we got a white Christmas……but, then it kept on snowing……..and snowing……..and snowing! It snowed so much and the snow was so wet and heavy that my snow pusher was no longer an easy solution to clearing the driveway. I decided to get a snow blower. Once I got used to it, I liked it! So, we’ve had two major bouts of snow. And this one came with days of single digit temperatures and sub-zero wind chill factors!
But, you know what? I’m finding I don’t look at the snow in the same way I did when I lived here before. Then, I had to clean off cars and dig my way out to get to school or work every day. I had to drive no matter how bad the roads were – unless work, school, or the roads were closed. It was a chore to just survive the day-to-day necessities. But, now, I have very little that I HAVE to go out for. I clean the driveway out in case I need to go somewhere and to keep up with it so it doesn’t get too out of hand. I clear the patio off so the girls can easily get out to do the business. Other than that, I can sit and look out at it. I can appreciate the beauty of it. I can have fun with the girls and the snow blower. I don’t have to dread the snow. Sure, I still don’t LIKE it and I really wish it would snow for a day or two and then go away and I wish it would warm up – I don’t like being cold! But, I really don’t get all upset and irritated with it like I used to. Maybe it is because I don’t NEED to go out in it……..maybe I’m getting better at not letting things I can’t do anything about bother me…….who knows. All I know is I just plain don’t feel the same about winter and snow as I used to and that’s a good thing!
I ventured out yesterday and snapped some photos. Here is what January 2013 in Albion, NY looks like:
The girls playing in the snow – before the second wave came through and made it much deeper!
Don’t think I’ll be barbecuing any time soon!
Breakfast on the patio, anyone?
The canal is drained for the winter and the barges that are parked until spring look pretty sad stuck in the ice and snow!
Ducks out on the frozen river at Point Breeze
Lake Ontario at Point Breeze — icy waves!
Another shot of the frozen chunks covering Lake Ontario
The Black North Inn at Point Breeze looks pretty lonely!
Mount Albion Cemetery
Mount Albion Cemetery
Mount Albion Cemetery
And, finally…….this patio was all cleaned off just yesterday – this was taken this morning after the overnight lake effect snow dumped another load of snow on us!
So, there are my thoughts on Winter and snow. I’m finally at a point in my life where I can actually enjoy it…..to a point! 🙂
Wonder Where The Wonder Bread Went
I love Wonder Bread! It is my very favorite brand of bread. The regular kind, the king sandwich loaf kind, the white wheat kind, the hotdog and hamburger buns. If it is Wonder Bread, I like it! I think it is the freshest tasting and softest of all the breads on the market. When I was a kid (and, yes, even as an adult….sometimes….OK a lot of times), I used to love to pinch it together between my fingers and roll it around to make dough balls out of it – it was so moist and fresh that it would get all doughy and…..hhmm – can’t really find the words to describe it. I love the way it sticks to the roof of my mouth when I eat a sandwich made with it. I love the smell of it. I love the way it toasts up. I just plain LOVE it!!! I grew up with the commercials that promised that Wonder Bread “builds strong bodies 12 ways” – it was not only good, it was good for you, too!
So, I was not happy when I started finding there was none on the shelves at the grocery store. At first, I thought it was just sold out. I wondered why they didn’t order more, since week after week they were running out. Then, it hit me. The light turned on. Wonder Bread is made by Hostess and Hostess has filed bankruptcy. Not sure why it took me so long to make the connection – sometimes I’m a little slow on the uptake! I heard all the news reports and all the jokes about how it won’t matter if they stop making Twinkies, Ding Dongs, and Ho-Ho’s because they never go stale and there is likely at least 50 years worth of stock in the warehouses. I guess I just didn’t make the connection because the reports and jokes all focused on Twinkies – which I really didn’t care about. I guess I just didn’t think about it impacting my ability to purchase Wonder Bread. I guess it may also be because I see some of the snack treats still on shelves that it just didn’t dawn on me that Wonder Bread would disappear quicker because it is fresher and won’t last as long as fruit cake, like Twinkies and Ding Dongs do. Who knows why I was shocked to find it not on the shelves and why it took me so long to stop looking for it! All I know is that it is gone! And that the other brands I’ve tried are FAR from fair comparisons – when I want white bread, I want Wonder Bread – not the dryer versions I’ve found. Oh, I like other kinds of breads – Italian bread, potato bread, whole grain breads, etc. But, for most sandwiches and toast, I usually want good old white bread. And, now my Wonder Bread is no more and I am not a happy camper about it!
I heard a week or so ago that the company that makes Nature’s Own bread brands is buying the Wonder Bread brand from the Hostess company. That is encouraging – I like some of the Nature’s Own breads. But, will they make it exactly like Hostess did? Will they continue to call it Wonder Bread so I can easily know that is what it is? Or will they mess with the recipe or call it something else? Will I ever have the Wonder Bread I love so much and have so many fond memories of from my childhood?
These are the things I wonder about…….I wonder where the Wonder Bread went and if it will ever be back. I also wonder why any self-respecting company would call their white bread “Bimbo” – just doesn’t bring the same mental picture as “Wonder Bread – builds strong bodies 12 ways”, does it? I guess I’ll go put my groceries away and try to find something else to wonder about.
Breaker, Breaker 1-9
Breaker, breaker 1-9. This here’s the Shortstuff leaving the salt mine. I’m just watchin’ the pavement, starvin’ the bears, and keepin’ the ole double nickel honest. Got any sandbaggers out there, come on? How ’bout it, Lady Luck, what’s your 20? Candy Man, you got your ears on? We’re clean and green so far, the bears must be hibernating. Made it to the home 20. Catch ya on the flip-flop. Keep your nose between the ditches and Smokey out of your britches. The Shortstuff is down and gone.
Yeah, I admit it. I was a CB (citizen band radio) junky in the 70s and early 80s! We had a home base unit and a mobile unit in every car in the family and all our friends did, too! I worked at GE in Brockport on the second shift for years. We’d all get on our CBs and talk all the way home – about a 30 minute drive, depending on traffic and weather. It was nice – like having a bunch of people in the car with you on a long, tiring drive home after midnight!
The “handles” in my opening paragraph belong to me (Shortstuff), Mom (Lady Luck), and my Dad (Candy Man). Funny thing – my Dad’s name was Charlie and his CB handle was Candy Man and, in CB lingo, both Charlie and Candy Man refer to the FCC! (I think he actually took the handle from the Sammy Davis Jr song Candy Man) 🙂 I don’t remember a lot of my friend’s handles – my brother was Muddog….I had a friend that went by Sparkplug (Sparkie)…..and my boyfriend, at the time, didn’t have a CB but we referred to him by his nickname – Beefy!
The problem with talking on a CB, though, was that nothing was private! Anyone tuned to that channel could listen in on your conversation and, if they never chimed in, you may never know they heard you! Sandbaggers, we called them – people who sat quietly and just listened in on other people’s conversations! That could prove risky! Case in point – I remember one night in the late-70s I left work at midnight, met up with some friends at the Barge Inn for whatever the special was that night (most likely either 3 OV splits for $1 or 3 shots of schnapps for $1 or 3 Miller ponies for $1……get the picture?), went to the Brockport Diner for breakfast and coffee after, and headed home about 3:00 or 4:00 am…..or so! I was on the CB chatting with the others that had been out with me and on their way home, as well. I told my friends, “I need to watch the pavement, I have a local smokey on my tail and I can’t afford to feed the bears” (translation: I need to drive carefully cause I have a town cop behind me and I don’t want a ticket). I then turned up the street that my grandparents lived on to jog around through town in hopes he wouldn’t follow me, but he did! So, I pulled in to my grandparents driveway and turned the car off. The cop drove right by – probably figuring I was home and off the road. I then told my friends what I did and that I was going to sit there a couple of minutes and then head on home once I felt the coast was clear! Well, the next response I heard was a voice I didn’t recognize that said “Watch it, this bear has ears” (translation: the cop that was following me had been sandbagging our conversation – OMG!). I made it home without a ticket, but I was much more careful about what I said on my CB after that! 🙂 I had my CB on while driving on a trip, once, and overheard some truckers talking about a woman in a mini-van full of kids weaving in and out around the trucks on the interstate – passing them, cutting in front of them, etc – they were just ahead of me – she passed me, too. They said they needed to “contain the kool-aid mom in the four-wheeler cause she’s on a suicide mission”. Within minutes, there was an 18-wheeler in front of her, beside her, and behind her – boxing her in and they rode like that for miles!!! It probably irritated her that these truckers had the nerve to block her in, like that! But, they may very well have saved her and her kids from a potentially deadly situation the way she was flitting around those trucks driving at high speeds with tons of weight behind them!
CBs were very popular in the 70s and a little into the 80s. There were several movies made about truckers and CBs (Convoy, Smokey and the Bandit – and multiple sequels, etc.) and TONS of trucking related songs. And the lingo took on a life of its own! It was a whole separate language of 10-codes and phrases that were usually longer to say than just saying what they meant in the first place! They were meant to only make sense to truckers, but so many people had CBs and watched the movies and listened to the songs, that it wasn’t such a secret language anymore! 🙂 But, it did help me have a lot of fun with truckers when I was a shipping/receiving supervisor and saw several truckers on a daily basis!
So, I’ll close with this classic trucker song…….enjoy!
(Translation for opening paragraph: Permission to speak on channel 19. My handle is Shortsuff and I just left work. I’m driving carefully, avoiding a ticket, and keeping my speed at 55 mph. Is there anyone out there listening, but not talking? Mom – where are you? Charlie – are you on your CB? There are no cops or obstacles along the way. I made it home. Talk to you on the return trip. Drive safe. I’m signing off.)
Time for a Brain Dump!
It has been a while since I just rambled on about a variety of topics that are totally unrelated, except that they are all stuck in my head together. So, yes, it is time to spill my guts, purge my thoughts, make room for new thoughts, get it all out……..a good old-fashioned Brain Dump!
First up…..I went to the book store in town, yesterday, to pick up a book by a local author (and former teacher of mine) and left with four books by local authors – including the latest book by a life-long friend of mine, Bonnie. I had been meaning to order her book – a collection of poetry called Dancing with the Spirits of Shadowplay – the third in a series of books she has had published. So, when I walked in the store and turned left to the “Local Authors” shelf, it reached out and grabbed me from the top shelf! Happy for the reminder and excited to see it there, I snatched it off the shelf and continued to look for the one I went in to get and also decided on the others, as well. I paid for my purchases and left the store. Later, I sent a note to Bonnie on Facebook to let her know I found her book in the book store. She was SO excited to hear it! All her previous books were only available via mail order – none had been displayed on a shelf in a brick and mortar store! Her comment was, “I wish I could have seen it!” My heart sank! I missed an opportunity to do something nice for someone I care about – I never even thought about taking my phone out of my purse and snapping a photo of it! I started to comment back with “Crap! Sorry, I should have taken a pic for you” when I stopped myself and realized I could fix it! Today, I took the book back to the book store and told the owner the story and asked for a favor — she laughed and not only let me put it back on the shelf and snap some photos, she also helped me move another book to make room for it right where it was when I found it the day before! Soon thereafter, the photos were posted and tagged for Bonnie on FB! YAY! There is a solution for everything……if you think about it and make it happen! 🙂
I watched two movies on pay-per-view in the last couple of weeks. One that utterly disturbed me – it was called Compliance. I really wish I hadn’t watched it, but I did and once I got into it, despite the bad acting and incredibly unbelievable story (which they implied at the end was a true story that happened in multiple states across the country), I could not stop myself from sitting there in shock through the whole thing! I could not believe that several grown adults would do such horrible things to an innocent teenager just because a twisted man claiming to be a police detective on the phone tells them to do it! The story is that a manager at a fast food restaurant gets a prank call from this guy saying he is a police detective investigating a theft claim at their restaurant by a young teenage employee. They strip search her, inspect every inch of her body, and the male non-employee the female manager gets to “watch” her does far worse than that at the instruction of the caller until another male – an off shift janitor – comes in and is the only adult who thinks for himself and puts an end to it all and calls the REAL cops! I just can’t believe there are people out there (if it really was a true story and not a work of fiction) that are so stupid, gullible, or whatever you want to call it, to just blindly do whatever they are told just because someone claims to have authority over them! Unbelievable!!!!
The second movie I saw was The Words with Bradley Cooper, Jeremy Irons, and Dennis Quaid – very good! This was about a writer who can’t get anything published until he happens on a handwritten manuscript with no author credit that is so good, so intriguing, that he publishes it with his own name as the author! The real author reads the book and knows that it is the story he wrote and frantically lost so many years ago! He confronts the young writer, who is now faced with a moral dilemma. I very much enjoyed this movie!
The weather has been CRAZY lately! We had a TON of snow over Christmas and the week or so following. Then, it stayed really cold for a while, so the snow wouldn’t melt. Then, all of a sudden – in mid-January – in Western NY – it warmed up……..into the 60s and even hit 70+!!! WOW – SPRING!!! Well, spring for a day or two or three…….then, yesterday and today it was super cold, again, and that awful four-letter word that starts with “S” is expected to be back by the end of the week and into next week!
With the heavy snow over Christmas and some predictions of a rough winter this year, I bought myself a snow blower! I got one that is self-propelled and has an electric start so it would be easy to handle. The day I got it, I went out to learn how to use it……what a riot!!! The driveway had been plowed and packed down and rutted, so there was uneven ice and packed snow under the new layers I was trying to blow away. That made it difficult to operate the snow blower – I kept having to wiggle it and maneuver it to get it over the hard ruts and ice. But, I did it – I learned how to use it! It took a little time for me to get used to it, though! I couldn’t seem to make myself remember that all I had to do was let go of the throttle handle and the machine would stop! Instead, I was practically running behind it, holding it at arm’s length, trying to keep up with it! Must have been a hoot to watch me! 🙂 So, now I think I’m used it it! And since the snow has all melted, I will be able to start fresh and run it before the driveway gets all packed down and rough to run over!
When the snow is fresh and soft and fluffy and deep, the girls LOVE it! They don’t want to stay out too long (they are still southern girls, you know) and they don’t like it once it freezes and gets hard to walk on, but when it is fresh and fluffy, they get out there and roll around in it and leap around in it and run all over the yard and bury their noses and faces in it! It is so fun to watch them play and wrestle in it!
I’ve been working on finding all my high school classmates so I can compile a mailing list to prepare for our 40th class reunion! FOURTY YEARS! WOW! It has been fun searching for them all. I’ve found probably two-thirds or more of them, but still have some to find. The reunion will be in 2014, so we need to start figuring out what we’re going to do, where we’re going to have it, and all those details. So far, just me and a couple of others have been kicking around some preliminary thoughts, but I’m working on a survey and planning a meeting to get more ideas and helpers. This is going to be so much fun — planning the event and then seeing all the ones I haven’t reconnected with, yet! I’m excited!
Well, speaking of meetings, I have one to get to……so, this is all I’ll dump out of my brain, for now!
The BEST Day
OK, so take a picture of today and put it with a notation of today’s date in the dictionary under “The BEST Day” – it is all you will need to effectively define that particular phrase. Because, today truly was THE best day! I enjoyed every minute of it and am kinda bummed that it has to end!
To start, it was a lovely day – weather-wise. Mid-40s – which is a welcome break for what has been a cold January, so far – sunny, and not at all windy (unlike yesterday, which was so windy I could barely stand up). I spent the morning walking all over downtown and driving to a few other spots in and just outside of town distributing posters for an upcoming church fundraiser – our annual lasagna dinner next Thursday. It was such a pretty day that it made for a very pleasant stroll up and down the streets of downtown stopping in at every store, shop, and office that was open. I had some very nice conversations and even ran into an old friend and took the time for a little “catch up” chat!
*** Shameless Plug Alert ***
Then, I had plans to meet up with a couple of friends I went to school with for lunch. We were going to talk about how to go about getting started planning our 40th class reunion. Now, every time I get together with any of my high school friends I have a GREAT time! And this was no exception. One of the friends, Linda, and I have seen each other several times since I’ve been back home and some before I moved back and we’re friends on Facebook…….so, we know what we look like now that we’re no longer teenagers! 🙂 But, I literally have not seen Pam since we graduated and we planned to meet in a restaurant where it may have been awkward if we didn’t recognize each other. So, last night, I had a dream that we were both sitting at separate tables just a few feet apart thinking the other was a “no-show”! But, I was worried for nothing – I was already seated and she walked in and we knew each other right away! I told her of my fear that we might not recognize each other and she laughed and said she had the same concern and that, in her mind, I looked like the girl with the long blonde hair in our year book! Which I totally understand, because having been away for so many years and not watching my friends age along with me, I still “see” them in my mind as the same as they were when we were in school – so, I was picturing her as she was in the year book, too!
*** I Wish ***
Yeah, the years may have caused some changes, but the face and eyes were a dead give away for both of us! And then, Linda arrived and the three of us had a wonderful lunch and conversation for over three hours!!! We talked, caught up, laughed, reminisced, and – yes – discussed how we go about getting started planning for our reunion. I had so much fun! One of my favorite things to do is getting reconnected with old friends – I just love it!
Then, I spent the evening with new friends. I participated in our weekly Bible Study class at the church, which is always filled with interesting conversations with people I have come to really enjoy being with. Afterwards, one of my new friends – Cathy – and I went to the elementary school and walked the halls. The elementary school opens up after all the children have left for the day for the community to use as an indoor walking trail – 4.4 times around the trail is one mile and it is a safe, temperature controlled environment to walk in. I have heard others talk about it and even thought about joining other friends, but this is the first time I actually went through with it. Cathy and I walked and talked and it was, yet another, great part of an already amazing day!
And to top it off, I came home and the girls were so very happy to see me!!! 🙂 I had been in and out all day, so it wasn’t like they were left alone all day…….but, I was gone the majority of the day and I’m sure they thought I had abandoned them. So, when I came home, it was like they hadn’t seen me in FOREVER and they whined and jumped and barked and kissed and practically knocked me to the floor to get a hug! What joy!
I think I’ll sleep pretty good tonight – once I unwind, I’ll likely be ready to crash after all that laughing, talking, fresh air, walking, and excitement! 🙂
And on to 2013
Well, today is the last day of yet another year that seemed to simply flash before my eyes and is gone! Where does the time go? They say that the older you get, the faster the years fly by. Does that seem fair to you? You finally get to a stage in your life when you can really enjoy it and it starts moving at the speed of light – don’t blink, you’ll miss something important! I barely put a dent in my wish list of stuff to do in 2012 and I’ve run out of time! Oh, well, I had a great year, anyway, and if I missed something really special last year, it will just roll over to my to-do list for 2013! How’s that?
Yes, 2012 was a great year. My first full calendar year back home in Albion – YAY! I reconnected with old friends, ventured out to explore old favorite spots and found some new ones, made some new friends, finished some major renovation projects on my house, got to know some of my amazing neighbors, rejoined the church I attended with my family as a child, and – most importantly – spent a ton of wonderful time with my family! Only down side was Mom being sick – she was very ill all year (still is, but we’re hoping she’s on the road to recovery). We weren’t able to get out together much, but we still spent a lot of time together. What you do together isn’t the important thing…..the important part is that you’re together! I am so happy I’ve been here to be with her and help her as much as I could.
Doesn’t sound like I missed much as the year raced by, does it? I sure was busy all year! I often wonder, where is this “retirement” that I’ve read and heard about? The one where people sit in rocking chairs and get bored? I definitely wouldn’t enjoy that kind of retirement for very long, but short periods of it from time to time would be nice! 🙂 I had lots of plans to help ward off the boredom I was sure would set in after I got settled. I downloaded a bunch of books onto my Kindle……I did make time to set out on the patio or up in the lovely sitting area in my bedroom dormer to read a few books, but still haven’t finished the last one I started a few months ago. I started a list of places I wanted to go visit near by……I got through several of them, but still have a bunch to shoot for this coming year. I (with Mom’s help) re-taught myself how to knit and crochet so that I could join the Prayer Shawl group at church……..I crocheted one beautiful shawl for the group and started to knit another one, but the holidays have slowed progress on that one down. I promised myself I would write on here more often, too……..I have written more than in the past few years and I also started a new blog devoted to church news, but still haven’t written as much as I would like to. I enjoy all these things and deliberately make or find time to do them as I can, but since they were meant to ward off boredom and boredom never came, I haven’t devoted as much time to them as I would like.
I found a great new veterinarian for the girls – Dr. Mary Neilans! We LOVE her! I also found a dentist I really like in nearby Batavia – Dr. Krough at Genesee Dental – and he got me set up with Invisalign teeth aligners (invisible braces) to solve some concerns I have with my teeth. It took just about 11 months, but my house in NC finally sold!!!! I spent quite a bit of time enjoying beautiful Lake Ontario – mostly at Point Breeze with a couple of days at Olcott Beach and Charlotte. And, something I never thought I’d hear myself say, I bought and learned how to use a snow blower!
WOW – I sure packed a lot into a year that seemed to only last a split second!
Reflecting on some of the simple JOYS 2012 brought:
-
Watching the girls learn to love playing in the snow – leaping around through snow that was nearly shoulder deep on them, trying to catch snowballs I would throw at them, wrestling and rolling around in the fluffy cold stuff!
-
Riding my lawn mower around the yard with my iTunes blaring classic rock and singing along at the top of my lungs!
- Joining the choir at church – I’ve found (to my great surprise) that when I’m not singing rock and roll along with the radio or dancing through the house singing Broadway show tunes to entertain the girls and let my “smile” shine, that I actually don’t have a half bad singing voice – if I concentrate on singing properly! 🙂
- Sitting on my patio or in my dormer looking out over the lovely neighborhood I live in!
- Meeting so many great new people!
- Welcoming a new member of our family – my beautiful Great Niece, Taryn!
So, now on to 2013! Life is pretty darned good and I’m blessed with family, friends, a great house, and three amazing dogs – the girls – my sweet companions! So, I don’t have much that I would resolve to improve or change. But, I guess there are a few things I could work on this coming year, so here are my New Year’s Resolutions for 2013:
- I really need to get hooked up with a good doctor and start taking better care of my health! I have one in the works – hope I like her – if not, I’ll keep looking!
- Yeah, OK – along with that, I will work on losing some weight!
- I will continue to work hard at being the person my dogs think I am…….loving, caring, supportive, and kind to others!
Some of the highlights on my “2013 To Do” list:
- I will plan a trip to AZ to see Ronald and Lisa this spring – and, yes, Bonnie, I’ll be sure to spend some time with you, too!
- Day or overnight trips to: Baseball Hall of Fame, Corning Glass Museum, and a few other points of interest!
- New countertops in the kitchen!
- Find more time for creative outlets for myself — knitting, crocheting, writing, etc.
So, there you have it! My past year in a nutshell and my predictions for the year to come. I wish everyone a happy, healthy, joyous, and prosperous New Year!
“Dream as if you’ll live forever. Live as if you’ll die today!”
~ James Dean
FaLaLa…Bah Humbug…FaLaLa
Somehow I was under the impression that when I retired, I’d have all this time to do all kinds of things in a more leisurely fashion than I was able to when I tried to do them while working! Um, my mistake! I find myself again and again thinking, “how in the world did I do all this and work, too?” Case in point: I actually started thinking about Christmas shopping back in October and even picked up a couple of small things….it ended there! Oh, I didn’t just forget about it. I tried and tried to tell myself that I’d better get it done, but there just didn’t seem to be the time for it and, after all, I was starting to think about it early. Then, Thanksgiving came and went. And, all of a sudden, I was faced with a list that I had barely made a dent in and only FIVE days until Christmas Eve (the date that all my family will be at my house for dinner and exchanging of gifts…….the gifts I hadn’t even bought, yet, let alone had wrapped and ready to be passed out).
So, today, December 19th, I headed out shopping. The day started out fabulously! I got up early, took care of a few things around the house, and was on my way. I tuned the radio in the Equinox to a station that is currently playing only Christmas music. I gayly sang loud and proud along with every song I knew and hummed shyly to the ones I didn’t recognize or forgot the words to. I was beaming with Christmas Spirit and excited about a day of shopping! I decided I was not going to quit until every gift was bought and every name on my list was accounted for. My first stop was Kohls on the Ridge in Greece – I found one item I wanted in there. Then, I went to The Shops On West Ridge – I knew they had one specific item I wanted to get and figured I could find something for at least a couple more on my list while I was there. I did get the one specific item, but nothing else caught my eye! The last time I was there, I could have easily spent $1000 if I had it and allowed myself to spend it. But, not today! But, the day was young and it was just a minor set back. Besides, there was an Irish singer performing live while I was there and that was not only very enjoyable, it also put a little extra spring in my step! I stopped at a restaurant to get a gift card to check one more gift off my list.
The restaurant got me thinking and checking my watch. I decided it was time for lunch. I was in the mood for some seafood, so I went to Red Lobster and had a fantastic meal of shrimp, crab, and lobster! YUM! Refueled and reenergized, I was ready to continue on my quest to shop till I was done……or till I dropped, whichever came first.
To the mall, I commanded my trusty Equinox, to the mall! And off I went!
Defeat soon set in. Parking spots were scarce. Stores were packed with other last-minute shoppers, some of whom were not on their best “Christmas-like” behavior. When I found what I wanted, it wasn’t available in the size or other specific criteria I needed. I got lost in stores I’m not familiar with and couldn’t find the departments I was looking for or couldn’t find my way out! My knee was screaming at me. My back was working hard to convince me to just go home. But, I was determined to get the job done….even if it meant fighting through my last nerve! I started thinking that whatever I could get my hands on would be better than nothing at all. But, even though I was dangerously close to a full-blown “Bah Humbug” tantrum, I knew that was wrong – I had put a lot of thought into what I was looking for and I really didn’t want to “settle” for anything less.
So, I went out to the car to take a break. Once my knee and back stopped rebelling against me and I gulped down a cold coke to quench my parched mouth and throat, I was able to relax a few minutes and my mind became clearer…..I got my second wind…..I knew what I needed to do to finish the goal I set out to achieve…..I refocused and went back in with a better game plan! A woman who looked about as irritated as I was just a short time prior (maybe more so) gave me a “what planet are you from” look when she caught me singing along with the rendition of “Here Comes Santa Claus” on the loud speakers, but it didn’t faze me in the least – I just smiled at her and never missed a beat of the song! 🙂 I got a few things at the mall and headed to Home Depot and then Ridgemont Plaza. I was in and out of the stores like a ninja on a mission. And I got it all done! And I didn’t settle for anything I wasn’t planning on getting! I achieved victory!
Nine full hours after I left the house this morning, I returned home in one piece and the cargo section of the Equinox full of goodies, including a few things I treated myself to! I sang along with the Christmas song station all the way home! The day that started out all “FaLaLa” and turned into a “Bah Humbug” ended up in full “FaLaLa”, again! And then, after I took care of the girls – let them take care of business and eat some supper, I went to choir practice and sang some more! I got there early enough to enjoy listening to the Bell Choir practice before time to join the Chancel Choir practice. Aahh…….peace!
I’m done! I can relax and enjoy what is left of the week leading up to Christmas…….oh, wait…….all those bags on my den floor need to be sorted out, wrapped, and placed under the tree! Well, I’ll tell you what………I’m not going to think about that, now – it is time for a much needed and well deserved good night’s sleep! I’ll get on all that tomorrow!
FaLaLa LaLa LaLa LA LAAAAAAAA!!!!!!!!!
Merry Christmas!
My Smile
I took a step towards making a big change in my appearance, today. No, I didn’t have any “work” done and don’t plan to. And, given the title of this post, I should add that I didn’t go all “Joker” with a permanent smile – not Caesar Romero’s version or Jack Nicholson’s version and definitely not Heath Ledger’s version! No, I have never given any thought to any physical changes, like plastic surgery…….well, except for the many times I’ve thought it might be nice if I had the option to remove my arms and put them aside at certain times – like when I’m trying to get comfortable in bed and they are just plain “in the way” or when I wake up all twisted and they are dead asleep on me! I’ve often thought if I could just take them off, like a doll’s arms, that I’d be able to sleep so much more comfortably! But, that thought always tends to lead me to wondering how I’d get the second arm off once I removed the first one and didn’t have an arm to remove the second one and if I did have a trick for how to get the second one off, how would I get them back on with no arms to pick them up and reconnect them………WOW, did that get me off track or what?
Nope – my change won’t be that obvious, but it will be quite noticeable to those who know my smile well. I have always had an over-bite – front teeth come out over the top of the bottom teeth more than they should. Mom took me to an orthodontist when I was a child, but he said I didn’t need braces. I used to be very self-conscious about it. It is rare to see a posed photo of me with my teeth showing – I perfected a smile that kept them hidden or partially hidden. And, I would usually put my hand in front of my mouth when I laughed. I didn’t HATE it or the way it made me look when I’d laugh or smile – in fact, I would say that if Bobby Sherman and Susan Dey could have over-bites and look as gorgeous as they did, then I can, too! But, to be honest, I was still self-conscious about it. I’ve thought over the years about getting braces and even talked to a couple of dentists about it. But, decided that it really wasn’t something I was soooooo self-conscious about that I needed to wear metal in my mouth as an adult! So, I just worked at not being so self-conscious and I was successful! The only problem they ever really caused was when I bit into something – my teeth didn’t come together right and my bite was difficult with some things – but, again, not a really big problem, so no need to do anything drastic about it. But, recently, my top teeth have started to shift a little, causing some gaps that concerned me and making my two front teeth look like they were flaring out more than before. So, I figured I should look into fixing that before it got worse! My dentist hooked me up with the good people at Genesee Dental and we talked about Invisalign teeth aligners! By the end of the consultation, I decided to go with them and badda-bing, badda-boom, I’m on my way to straighter teeth!
Invisaligns are molded plastic trays that fit over your teeth and slowly pull them into alignment. Each set stays on for two weeks, at which time you change to the next set to move the teeth to the next phase of the process. Dentist visits are scheduled every six weeks to assess the progress and get the next three sets of trays. They don’t look like they would do anything but cover your teeth, but they do – it is like magic! They are virtually invisible until you look closely, so, if I wasn’t on here telling the world, most people wouldn’t even know I am wearing them. But, I wanted to write about the experience, so here I go!
The consultation went well – they explained how they work and what they look like and the dentist examined me and said I was a good candidate for them! They talked about cost – which is significant – and that my insurance wouldn’t cover them! OUCH! I understand that it is a cosmetic thing, but it isn’t like years ago when I would have done it purely for cosmetic reasons – now, my teeth are shifting and will likely cause problems and dental bills down the road – pay me now or pay me later, you know? But, I went in assuming my insurance probably wouldn’t cover most of the cost, anyway, so I didn’t let that rock me. Other than the insurance news, I liked what I heard, so I said, “let’s do it”! And we got started right then and there! They took tons of photos – most with a plastic frame in my mouth to hold my lips out of the way so they could get every inch and angle of my teeth and gums – and some just of my face with and without a smile. (when the dentist came in and asked how the photos went, I responded with, “well, they sure aren’t anything I’d post on Facebook”! HA!) And, then they took impressions and sent me on my way.
A couple of weeks later, I went back to find out the results of the photos and impressions that were sent off for review. They had a computer animation of my actual teeth showing how they will change over time and what they will look like when we’re done! WOW – was that cool to watch!!! They told me what my specific process would be like – it should take my teeth about 8-10 months to align – and asked if I was happy with the projected results. I was, so I signed off on the proposal and they said my first set will be ready in a couple of weeks.
Yesterday, Dec 10th, I went in and got my first set. They tried them on to be sure they fit correctly and then took them out to put little grabber thingys on my teeth – 5 on top and 5 on the bottom. These will secure the trays and help with the process. That wasn’t pleasant, but wasn’t too bad. When they put the Invisalign trays in, they really hurt – I was told that is due to the trays moving the teeth and that each new set could cause some pain for a couple of days and some patients use ibuprofen to help that. They were very uncomfortable for about 1/2 hour and then the pain stopped, so no need for the ibuprofen. They told me to leave them on for at least a couple of hours before taking them out for the first time. I panicked at that – you mean I can’t practice taking them out and putting them in while I was there and had help if needed??? I couldn’t see what she was doing, but she did a good job of explaining what to do, so I was more comfortable with that by the time I left. They were in, I was given some instructions, and I was on my way!
My instructions were to remove them whenever I eat anything, but I can drink with them in – although, if I drink tea or other potentially staining drinks to take them out after and rinse them off. Also, to brush my teeth normally and rinse the trays whenever they come out and before they go back in. I am to wear them at least 20-22 hours out of every 24 hours to get the best and quickest results and to keep them in their protective case when they are out to keep them from getting damaged.
The rest of the evening was interesting……..HA! I was told my mouth would have to adjust to them – the pain wasn’t a problem, it went away pretty quickly, but the saliva was a hoot! I kept sucking them to remove the excess saliva and found myself drooling like a baby a few times! But, that, too, went away after a couple of hours. I was told that the inside of my lips may need to get toughened up some and I may experience some abrasions until they do, but so far, that isn’t a problem, either. The other possible adjustment is in my speech – they said I may have a little bit of a lisp until my tongue gets used to them being there (I was told this at the first consultation and mentioned that I sing in the choir on Sundays and was assured I could take them out for that, if it was a problem) – but, again, that doesn’t seem to be a problem – I had a slight issue with the letter S for a little while, but that went away quickly. Then came time to eat dinner. I had a little trouble figuring out how to remove them – getting them started was a little bit of a challenge, but they finally snapped right out. I rinsed them off and put them in their case. The grabber thingys on the outside of my teeth created some problems – they are rough on the inside of my lips and the food felt like it was clinging to them, so I kept running my tongue on them and that was rough, too. Also, I had to chew more deliberately because I kept biting the inside of my lips and cheeks. But, I got the hang of it. I brushed my teeth, rinsed the trays, and put them back in — they were tight and uncomfortable again for a few minutes, but then all was fine. I removed them again to brush my teeth before bed – they came out and went back in much easier this time. Each time I take them out, my teeth ache a little and then, again, when I put them back in, but it doesn’t last long and isn’t what I would call painful – just uncomfortable. They didn’t bother me at all during the night, but I did have a dream that they came loose and I swallowed them! Leave it to me and my dreams! 🙂
So………I’m off and running with them! They will take some getting used to, but I think I’m already adjusting nicely with them. I change trays on Dec 24th and again on Jan 7th and go back for my six-week check up and next set of trays on Jan 21st. Before I know it, I’ll be done and have a very different smile than I’ve had all my life. This is exciting for me – I can’t wait to see how it all progresses! Maybe at the end, I’ll post some before and after photos! For now, I’m just happy to be started and looking forward to the results.
Restaurant Review – Ho-Jacks
I went to Ho-Jacks restaurant in Carlton yesterday. Ho-Jacks is a new restaurant that recently opened up in the building where the old Carlton Grill used to be on 98 on the way to the lake. I heard several people say that the food is amazing, so I have been itching to go try it out. I wasn’t disappointed!
The Carlton Grill was always a favorite spot – fun place to hang out with friends, good food, and a great snowmobile destination. I was never much of a snowmobiler – never really liked being out in the snow – but, when I did go on a night trail run, it was fun to meet up with other snowmobilers at the Carlton Grill for a little something to warm the innards! I remember the Carlton Grill fondly, which is why I was so disappointed to find out it was closed and had been idle for some time when I moved back home. I understand there were a couple of owners who gave it a shot, but didn’t make it. Until now……..
The restaurant is now open and called Ho-Jacks! It is a family run business and seems to be doing very well (knock on wood – definitely don’t want to send any jinx vibes, here)! They make everything in-house and to order – in fact, one of the specials was a linguine dish that my waitress said was made with linguine pasta made fresh on the premises! Impressive! I found it to be comfortable and quaint – a nice homey country bar and grill ambience with a variety of food that ranges from good old comfort food to fine dining worthy delights. I found the prices to be quite reasonable, as well.
So, I decided to finally pop in for dinner yesterday. I arrived about 4:00, hoping to avoid the Friday night crowd. There was just one other table of diners when I was seated, but it wasn’t long before a steady stream of people started to enter and be seated. Before I knew it, the dining room was packed and there were people waiting at the bar for a table! I was so pleased to see the waitresses so busy with a nice dinner crowd – love to see a good new restaurant do well. Before the room began to fill up, I overheard the other couple say that they were there just the night before and were back because of how much they enjoyed the food. When the two tables beside me filled in with people who appeared to know each other, the man at one table asked the man at the other if he’d ever been here before. When he said, no, the first man said they come all the time and the food is always incredible! Good to know! As I watched other meals coming out to the tables, I didn’t see anything that I wouldn’t be delighted to have delivered to my table! A burger being served to a nearby table caught my eye – I definitely need to order a burger on a return visit!
Ok, so let’s back up. I was seated and my waitress came up and very passionately described the list of daily soups, appetizers, and specials…..and she did so in such detail that I felt like I could actually “see” everything she was describing…….and without reading it from a piece of paper! It all sounded sooooo good and at least one dish stood out, but I wanted to review the menu and see what else I had to choose from. The first thing I noticed on the menu was Fried Pickles – I smiled – I like Fried Pickles and haven’t seen them on a menu since I left the south! As I continued to scan the menu, I noticed it was full of comfort foods and burgers and dishes that sounded wonderful. But, I couldn’t stop thinking about one of the specials, so my mind was distracted. The specials of the night included, among other things, ribs and the standard Friday night Fish Fry with THREE preparation options – beer battered, corn flake encrusted, or broiled with a house rub. But, the special that got my mouth watering was the Beef Tenderloin – it was described as two four ounce filets sandwiched between grilled portabella mushrooms placed on top of garlic mashed potatoes and topped with shredded fried onion rings and a demi glaze! Now, I don’t really care for mushrooms and I was told that everything is made to order and can be requested anyway I want, but I let it come the way it was intended – I just removed the mushrooms. I know, what a waste, but I didn’t want to spoil the presentation because the description sounded so perfect! (and, no, I didn’t order the Fried Pickles – maybe next time – they are better with a sandwich, anyway!) It came with a salad of spring greens and some veggies on top – very nice salad! They also brought me a basket of bread and butter – several warm slices of a fabulously dense homemade bread with a crispy crust and herbs all through it. The butter was pretty special, too – one little cup with whipped regular butter and one with whipped butterscotch butter – YUMMO – a very pleasant discovery!!! And then came my dinner………I was so overwhelmed by the presentation and so anxious to taste it that I didn’t even think of taking a picture! I really wish I had, though – it was a beautiful work of art – a sculpture made of potatoes and beef! I sat there looking at it for all of about a minute and then dove in! I have to say that “delicious” is NOT a word I would use, here! Sorry, but I have to be truthful……..the word I would use is “OMG AMAZING”! No way would “delicious” do it justice! The demi glaze was rich and perfectly seasoned. The beef was tender, juicy, and bursting with flavor – and perfectly cooked! I am a real snob when it comes to my steak – I want it medium rare and any little bit over cooked can ruin a whole meal for me – with a few exceptions. This was perfect!
It was a LOT of food, though. Two four-ounce filets and a huge mound of mashed potatoes was more than I could handle. And I really wanted to see what they offered for dessert. So, the way I decided if I wanted to finish the meal or take part of it home and save room for dessert was to ask what they had for desserts. The waitress read a list of assorted pies and cheese cakes, all of which sounded delightful, but she had me at Lemon Meringue! I asked if the pies were made in-house and was told that the desserts were made by employees, family members of employees, and other local sources – all definitely homemade! So, I ordered the Lemon Meringue pie and a box for the rest of the dinner. Now, that right there is another testament of how good the meal was: I don’t usually take leftovers home – just don’t – I eat and enjoy what I can and leave what I can’t finish. I generally don’t want to eat it again after it has been sitting and reheated – absolutely doesn’t mean it wasn’t delicious and thoroughly enjoyable, I just don’t care for leftovers. It is rare that I take home leftovers – only when it is so good it is worth it! In the box, I put one of the filets, a little of the remaining mashed potatoes, two slices of that wonderful bread, and what was left of the butterscotch butter!
The pie came………it took my breath away! Again, I am so sorry I didn’t take a photo – it was a thing of beauty! I’m not a good judge of measurements, but I’ll venture to guess it was somewhere in the vicinity of three inches high! The lemon filling was smooth, creamy, and just the right mix of tart and sweet! The meringue was light, airy, fluffy, and ever so lightly toasted on the top – a good way to judge the perfectness of meringue is to put it in your mouth and press it between your tongue and the roof of your mouth, if it feels like little bubbles bursting, it is perfect! And this was just that and not too sweet!
So, Ho-Jacks is definitely on my list of favorite local restaurants! A little out-of-the-way, but so worth it! I give this restaurant a full FIVE stars and a big two thumbs up! I can’t wait to go again and I’m already thinking about what I might order……..hhhmmm, maybe one of those luscious looking burgers with an order of fried pickles!
Christmas 1912
Yes, you read the title correctly……Christmas 1912! On Tuesday, I went to a monthly event called “Tea with Dee” at the Hoag Library in Albion. The first Tuesday of each month at noon, Delia Robinson, the Gaines Town Historian, gives a talk and serves tea. Her talks are usually focused on a historical female figure from our area and are so interesting……if you haven’t attended one of her sessions, you really should! She is an amazing speaker and finds the most interesting and entertaining facts on the subjects of her talks. Anyway, as usual, I digress…… This month, she didn’t talk about a person, she talked about how Christmas was 100 years ago – in 1912. As usual, it was very interesting and entertaining, but this particular talk also brought back so many memories for me! No……I wasn’t actually here in 1912, so don’t go there! There were several things she mentioned, though, that were still around when I was growing up in Albion and I found myself thinking of them the rest of the day.
She researched the local newspapers from December 1912 and read us tidbits of information and advertisements from that time. She mentioned Dugan’s Shoe Store. I remember going to Dugan’s for my shoes. It was an experience, not like going to a shoe store today where you pretty much help yourself and have to know what size you wear. When I was little, it was a big deal to go in, look at the displays, and then sit down and be waited on – like you see in the movies! The salesman would measure my feet with those big metal foot measurer thingys and bring out a selection of boxes in the perfect size for me to try on. He would help me put them on, tie them up, and have me walk around in them to see how they felt! I remember getting my first tap shoes there and my shiny black patent leather “Mary Jane’s” and my beloved saddle shoes! I would bet the farm that the saddle shoes in this photo came from Dugan’s!
She also mentioned sale ads for Landauer’s Department Store! I remember Landauer’s, too! I graduated with John Landauer, who sadly is no longer with us, and thinking of the store always makes me think of John. My Great Aunt Margaret worked at Landauer’s for several years, so when we shopped there, chances were that Aunt Margaret would be our sales lady. Landauer’s was a little pricey for us to shop there on a regular basis, so it was a real treat to go there for something special. Mom would always take us for one or two special outfits for back to school. It was the best place to go, if you needed a wedding, shower, or baby gift. Mom would get her “unmentionables” there. And, it was the only place in town where you could get official Girl Scout and Boy Scout uniforms and accessories! Yes, it was a special adventure to shop at Landauer’s – when you bought something, they wouldn’t roll it up and put it in a bag, they would fold it beautifully and put it in a box with tissue paper!
Dee talked about Christmas ornaments from 1912 – there were no advertisements for store-bought ornaments because people made their own, but there were articles in the ladies magazines of the time with tips and ideas for making new and different decorations. I instantly remembered the construction paper chains we made as children that Mom would hang proudly on our tree! People now would think that is tacky, but we thought it was wonderful!!! 🙂 One particular tip she read to us out of a magazine sounded like a great idea to me! They suggested you put a small white tree (they told how to make a real tree white and sparkly, but you could use an artificial white tree, now) as the center piece for a holiday table and to decorate it with small wrapped gifts for each of the dinner guests and to attach a ribbon from the gift to the place card at each guest’s place setting around the table. What a great idea!!!!!
She talked about the recipes of the time, as well…….some that might still go over well today…..some that didn’t sound like they’d be very popular if served in 2012! 🙂
So, I got a lot out of this month’s talk and am still thinking about the wonderful memories it sparked and the ideas it put in my head for the holiday season! And, as usual, I am looking forward to next month’s topic! Come join us – you’ll surely enjoy it!
Kim's Thoughts 
Recent Comments