Category Archives: Editorial

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Playtime/Bedtime for Bonzo

Posted on October 27, 2015 | Leave a comment

You may not remember Bedtime for Bonzo, I’ve never seen it either but it was actor/president Ronald Reagan’s most famous B-movie.

Every once in a while I say “bedtime for bonzo” when it’s time for Zoe to lead me to bed. She always does. At night Zoe the dog needs her beauty sleep so she can be a neighborhood mascot during the day. No, I don’t give her cucumber slices for her eyes.

Our canine friend L is coming over to spend a few days with us. They get along, have similar schedules and chase a bit but normally just steal a toy and play keep-away until they tire.

I believe it is healthy for old dogs like Zoe and younger ones to spend time together, as long as Zoe doesn’t teach her too many bad habits! Arf! Dee

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Caring

Posted on October 24, 2015 | Leave a comment

That’s so important to me. Caring for and loving my family. My husband is here two days a week. I make menus, trying to eat healthily and make his favorite dishes while he’s with us.

While he is away our only connection is our cell phones and computers. Yesterday someone reported that our cell phones were lost so our provider cut off service while still making us pay the bill. Great move, loser. I’ve the number on the call you made.

I’m still dealing with this issue. I care about Sir W who went to the vet for an ear infection yesterday, I care about Mrs. P whose granddaughters want a date with my dog this weekend (I’ll have to comb her out). Yes, Zoe has play dates. Kids and grandkids. She should be the official elder mascot. The hip-less wonder dog!

Hunger, war, crime, I care. People don’t use me to my full potential. Dee

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Sleep

Posted on October 24, 2015 | Leave a comment

I cannot sleep. My husband and dog are snoring and dreaming the night away and I’ll bet dog Zoe has my pillows by now.

Family is so important. It is good to have mine together for a few days. Poems, prayers and promises is what it’s all about.

I’ve recently seen documentaries about the great Glen Campbell, and the late great John Denver and Johnny Cash. I grew up with these songs, from the north, and didn’t appreciate them until later years. Johnny Cash, Peter Paul and Mary, Bob Dylan taught me basic guitar.

I wake with a song in my mind every morning that I sing to myself while I prepare to take Zoe outside. This morning as I prepared for my husband’s return it was PPM’s “Stewball” was a racehorse, I wish that he were mine…..

My mother, dead seven years now, said I always liked dirges, which is why I loved folk music and rock that evoked it (Dave Mason) and lyrics. My challenge with the guitar these days is keeping it hydrated. Then I like to find lyrics and work my way through a song without musical notations.

Joan Baez, I love you but your chords are outside my repertoire and I haven’t taken private lessons for years. All I wanted to do is sing for my family and even Beatles Rock Band is in storage along with my keyboard.

Wake up and sing! Sometimes my husband sings something silly and it stays in my head for days. Invasive! I know. Welcome the sleeping man and dog in my bedroom. It’s always great to have family together. Cheers! Dee

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AT&T Cell Phone “Security”

Posted on October 23, 2015 | Leave a comment

Yesterday a stalker called AT&T, a provider we’ve had for years, and told them both our phones were lost. That was untrue, but AT&T suspended our service.

It took me four hours to work this out online and on others’ land lines. Then, after four hours AT&T told me a new password to use. They then told me that while I am on the account I am not the account holder so cannot protect us from further theft of service on our dime.

So, let’s get this straight. I give a guy a bad review for kicking me out of his daddy’s auto shop. He cuts off our phones, and “just the wife” who pays the bills is unable to change the password, even though there’s a death threat and after-hours motorcyle club a few hundred yards away.

Add to that, Security couldn’t talk to me after waiting 1/2 hour. They had a noise complaint that was more pressing than bikers coming here to kill me and Zoe. What will they think of the noise with bikers next door until all hours?

There are four things I hear from upstairs. Sirens, screeching brakes, blaring horns (a favorite thing to do here) and motorcycles. Talk about noise violations.

Verizon and a different home are looking better every day. Dee

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Priorities

Posted on October 22, 2015 | 4 comments

My life was threatened today. Someone told our phone provider our phones were lost so there was no service but we still have to pay the bill. I don’t have a land line and my husband is out of town. It took me hours to take care of this.

The thief  is a mechanic down the road who’s father has done work for us for years but now he’s kicking women out of the shop. His fellow mechanics around town say he bragged about kicking me out for no reason, so he could have an after-hours biker bar. I gave him a bad review not for former car service, but for current customer service.

Next he messed with my computer. I went downstairs to tell the guard while he dealt with other issues. Finally it was my turn to have a minute. He got a noise call and that was a priority over a motorcycle gang trying to get in here to kill me.

Noise. Do you know what we pay to live here? Death. On a scale of 1-10 I’d probably but death at the top. But here, noise complaints are more important.

Yeah, that’s where we live. Or die. This will be on record tomorrow if I’m dead, and Zoe is dead. She won’t get to meet Peggy’s grand-daughters. I won’t get to see my husband ever again.

But no-one cares, because there’s a noise complaint and that comes first according to the rules. Hey, they’re not my rules. I just pay to live here and hope to have a safe and happy life. If it ends tonight, it was a good one. I love my husband, dog and our families and friends.

Cheers, Dee

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Fun

Posted on October 22, 2015 | Leave a comment

I hate to shop. OK, I like to shop at Whole Foods because the butchers treat me well. Shopping online for others is a different story. I like that, just not shopping for myself.

Dog bowls are coming, Zoe. They sent you cat bowls instead and your set has been rusting away for nearly 12 years. I got you a stand so you won’t have to bend down to eat. I’ll keep the perfectly intact bowls in the car tub (jumper cables, mylar blanket et al) for you.

My husband has worn a really nice shirt, gabardine trousers and exquisite shoes to work for years. Then he did what I call “Utah formal” for a few years which could include very nice corduroy slacks and an expensive cowboy shirt, no snaps, only buttons. The shirt could be Stetson, Resistol or George Strait.

Now he has to make a statement in a suit, same level shirt. But he needs long ties because he’s tall. Usually he only wore suit and tie to funerals, but now he has to do it every day.

We started with ties and found a company that makes wonderful silk ties that fit. Then I decided to give him a signature piece for everyone to see at work, on the plane, in a seminar.

It is a tie bar or clip. As of end of the week he will have six of them to use as he deems appropriate. They are designed to get positive attention and motivate teams.

He grew up on a dairy farm so I got him a Euclid tractor clip circa 1960’s. Off road vehicles, dump trucks, after many years now owned by Volvo. He drives an old Volvo so it’s appropriate.

He is the son and I am the granddaughter of a carpenter, so a level. Yes, in the tie bar. A real level.

Loves machinery so I found a steampunk watch mechanism.

Science, An Erienmeyer flask for physics and chemistry, his college degree.

A hand-stamped clip that says MAY THE FORCE BE WITH YOU for his love of Star Wars and sci-fi.

Then for his ability to play well with others, a tie bar with DNA.

I’m also saving his life. He is at airport gates with crying kids all the time and keeps Swedish balloons in his pockets and his hat. Once he makes a dog or pirate sword from a balloon the kid is happy, everyone wins. He usually has pumps for this but in airport lounges he only can blow. I can’t blow one up or twist a dog or his favorite, Wyle E Coyote. Wyle takes time and he’s out of practice.

A tie statement with quality tie and interesting embellishment is easier. More fun as I got to make a statement, shop for my husband and write to you, Dee

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Kitchens

Posted on October 21, 2015 | Leave a comment

We met 14 years ago, three weeks after 9/11. That is what all of us talked about. An epic tragedy.

Three thousand miles away he was a living casualty of the dot-bomb era so he moved home three weeks after we met. In two weeks he braved Thanksgiving with my mother and he was back and staying with relatives for a month. I found him a home 1,000 feet from mine.

We moved him in, mostly computer, and got him an air bed that leaked. He tried to come to my place for dinner early on but I had a cat and he’s deathly allergic. He bought a gas mask beforehand so all he could say sounded like “Luke, I am your father.” Ten minutes later we were out of there to buy dinner.

Fourteen years later I knew we were in it for the long haul, he didn’t, so I decided I had enough stuff in my kitchen that I could cook for myself, and give him some essential items to use at his place as well. He brought one thing to his new kitchen, a colander. Before he started eating string cheese he may have made pasta once or twice. His mother gave this to him for college and we still have it. I went to cooking school and have every necessary tool known to humankind.

Funny story. I walked to Pier 1, 1/2 mile away and saw glasses. Six small, medium and large Picardie glasses for juice and beverages. It was $18. I got it immediately for him and tried to lug it home. One glass is light, 18 are heavy! I stopped every 300 feet and put the box down. Then I crossed the park. I went to his place and left them upstairs on the doorstep.  At that point I didn’t care if anyone stole them. I went through the bushes and home and there was a note. “Home sick from work and have aspirin. Do you have a glass?” Marriage made in heaven. Fate.

It worked out for the best. His mother and I cook together for days every holiday and I know now why he married me 12 years ago: I cook; write and edit; take good care of the dog; and when we walked on the beach that first date and looked at the sunset he held me and I was the perfect chin rest.  That’s love.

Oh, he also built me a pantry (I designed and helped). We’ve dishes for 18 and a table that seats four. Tomorrow is another day! Dee

Jim's Colander

Jim’s Colander

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Making Fun

Posted on October 21, 2015 | Leave a comment

We always did that as kids at home and neighborhood and school. Parents taught us to get along and play and have after-school activities.

I had extra violin, dance and piano after school hours that meant I was busy and happy. Not necessarily with the “job jar” which was our weekend chores.

Learning about oneself takes time, much time on my part. But I can laugh at myself and tell funny stories about childhood and stupid mistakes I’ve made. I really think the difference with criminals and everyday folks is that normal people remember the day they did that dumb thing and everyone laughs together. Not at someone, together.

In hopes that I did not make one grade school person miserable, I was always a bit of a geek and did not fit in.  If I did hurt anyone’s feelings, I apologize. Making fun can turn brutal when it is done, as it has been to me on occasion in childhood and adulthood in nasty and vindictive ways.

Bullying should be stopped and I’m glad it’s finally beginning in grade school when a professional may be able to prevent a kid from becoming a serial killer, and especially save classmates and others through life.

Yes, our govermnent has a trillion dollars to lends to banks, stock brokerages and insurance companies but not to upgrade education. Bring back music and art and it’ll be a different world. We know where our money is going. Now, let’s change it. Just my opinion. Dee

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Breakfast

Posted on October 20, 2015 | Leave a comment

I’ve been dreaming at night of having to come up with menus to suit many varieties of guests. I awaken suddenly before I have to finish the menu while things are already cooking and things are going awry. Probably like falling off cliff dreams. So here’s a non-scary thought:

Maple cinnamon bacon, two slices only, each, with a homemade sweet roll of a sort or a toasted homemade cranberry bread, eggs coddled in the oven. I’ve never done that but have the ramekins for it. Yes, of course I do!

Some thoughts. My dog is imperative that I “Otis” her to the bed and join her now. She’s quite peeved I’ve stayed up until midnight and am interrupting her beauty sleep. ‘night, now, Dee

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Cook Much?

Posted on October 20, 2015 | 1 comment

I always keep a fresh French pop-up sponge on my kitchen sink for dishes. Two weeks later it went to floor spills then bathroom cleaning then litter box then trash. We cannot have cats so eliminate the litter box step.

Then I’ve an old dish scrubber and one small, very useful small plastic scraper. A couple of weeks ago I found part of the thin part of the scraper in between the sink and counter. We’ve a double undermount stainless sink under a granite countertop. I was concerned so asked someone to come in and look at it. T put a little weight on it and our sink was about to fall under the counter!

He got to it right away, silicone and wood underneath to hold up the sink for 24 hours. Most people don’t cook where we live. I’ve never seen more pizza or Chinese food or other deliveries anywhere. My husband and I like to eat lunch out on weekends but it’s pretty much been Dee cooking 19 meals, good ones, each week using this sink for several years.

Today, T was placing the final silicone coating on the inside of the sink between sink and granite, which I cannot get wet for 12 hours.

I remembered a trick from Hurricane Ike, years ago in Houston. I placed an X of moving tape across the sink to remind me to not use it!

During Ike, a Category 5 Hurricane that took out power, water, trees, and food supplies we had to make do. Luckily we had a hurricane kit.  Food and emergency supplies. Plus three hard-sided six gallon water containers and three plastic “blobs” at about five gallons apiece. We filled the blobs with potable water in the tub and luckily kept them there because they leaked!

Because we started out with so much potable water we made one of the six-gallon containers for potable water and the other two for flushing the toilet. Just like the current “X” over the kitchen sink, there were many marked masking tape x’s taped to the toilet and wall above it saying “do not flush.” And my husband did, every time. Methodical he is would say Yoda.

We had a 1.5 gallon tank, so four flushes per tank. Then he’d have to go down to the pool and lug up 53 lbs. of water. He still did it. I even added a sign that said what they used to tell us at camp as kids, “if it’s yellow let it mellow, if it’s brown, flush it down.” To no avail.

Tomorrow I’ll have a kitchen sink and it’s sturdy for our meals for another few years. Thanks, T, for bring to mind my Ike trick to use today. Cheers! Dee

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