You might be a Glee fan (a.k.a. Gleek) if a cartoon like this one reminds you of Rachel’s audition for Funny Girl.
You might be a Gleek if you see this sign and immediately think it must be a place for show choir support groups.
Hi, my name is Finn…
And on that note, we’ll take a bow and close the curtains.
I was browsing a list of inexpensive books for my Kindle, and I noticed some similarities. I mean, I noticed a lot of repetition.
The hero/heroine is either
As they meet, the main characters choose from these options.
As the review/summary ends, the reader is drawn in by a question or dilemma that will only resolve in the book itself.
Maybe. Maybe, just maybe, it’s not the novels. Maybe it’s the people who write the summaries. They could use an original thought, a chance to overcome their past and become reviewers that cause two worlds to collide – those of readers and writers.
Courtesy of his web site and records of his family history, someone found him in a search. The email they sent read something like this.
My husband picked up an old, old family bible in a batch of misc. from an estate sale. We have no need for it, and I feel that it should stay with family. Let me know if you want it; I’ll ship it to you.
Of course he said yes. The bible came to us, and we carefully, carefully opened the box.
binding – aged to perfection
the inscription
And finally, the inscription: this bible was presented to Elizabeth Dane in 1835, around the time she married Thomas Dane, from her parents, James and Frances Locke. These ancestors lead directly to Chuck’s family. In fact, we spent some time in Lockeport, Nova Scotia a few years ago to dig for more information about the Dane and Locke families.
Based on some investigation, we believe it was a Baptist bible of the time. And as we tenderly turned the pages, we found…. oh, that’s another post in itself.
Boston Strong. It’s the new tagline, but it’s much more than a slogan. Prior to the Red Sox – Royals game, the first at Fenway Park since Monday’s Marathon attack, MLB took time to remember the horrific event and praise those who contributed and helped.
The best part of the ceremony was – the whole thing. Those honored were marathon staff, those who were suddenly pressed into service at a level of first aid they’d never imagined. The FBI and supporting intelligence sources, who used both high tech and old-fashioned teamwork to catch those responsible. Police forces in and near Watertown, Massachusetts, who showed their dedication to protecting their citizens.
The announcer then listed the hospitals by name to recognize their contributions the day of the explosions and the high level of ongoing medical care as the severely injured continue to recover.
Fred Rogers used to remind the nation to “Look for the helpers.” Mr. Rogers would have looked toward those honored with throwing the first ceremonial pitch since the attack. He would have respected Steve Byrne, who shielded his friend’s sisters from the first blast and then was thrown over a fence and wounded by the second. Mr. Rogers would have appreciated firefighter Matt Patterson’s rescue of a young boy. Those at the game also recognized doctor/spectators along the race route, civilians who became heroes, and volunteers who lifted and pulled away a fence to speed access to the wounded. The list goes on, showing the strength and courage of those nearby.
“Boston Strong” indeed. I’ll go a step further and call the natives and visitors to the entire area resilient. They are survivors. They’ve been to hell and back, and with each other’s support, they’ll make it all the way back to everyday life.
Dear iHop;
We’ve been customers for years. In the beginning, you told us you didn’t have the Braille copy of the updated menu. Five years later, our local iHop still doesn’t have a Braille menu. Do you wonder why we continue to go to the neighboring pancake house, Blueberry Hill? If we can’t get a Braille menu at either place, we’ll choose local every time.
Dear Movie Theater;
You tried, and we appreciated it. The ad said that descriptive narration was available. A manager brought out a headset and receiver that would bring that narration to Amigo. It didn’t work. Fortunately, we’re well versed in sharing what’s purely visual on the screen, and Amigo is skilled at inferring.
Dear nearby public library:
You hearing loop in the conference room is terrific. We came to hear an author during the local book festival, and I sat in front, as usual. Then I set my hearing aids on telecoil to use the loop, and the author’s microphone was delivered directly into my ears. Wow. That was cool – very, very cool.
Dear Red Robin;
We make an exception to our “locals only” rule to visit you because you have a Braille menu. It’s an extra effort to make all customers happy, and Amigo and I appreciate it. By the way, those burgers? Mmmmm.
Dear business world;
There are a lot more hearing and vision impaired people out there who are potential customers. Take the extra step and make us welcome, and we’ll respond with our loyalty.
Mr. Rogers
Let’s join the helpers, support the helpers, and outnumber those who would hurt.
I have a few seemingly random “rules” in my life’s routine. I keep my minivan’s gas tank at least half full. I like all my electronics to be charged or close to fully charged at all times. The gas tank is mainly because it’s such sticker shock to fill it. That vehicle has a big tank, and when gas gets close to $4 a gallon – let’s just say it’s not good for the blood pressure. I like the laptop computer and my phone and my camera to have a charge in case I need them – and I need them a lot.
Wednesday, that icy weather day, I failed. My minivan had a quarter of a tank of gas in it. Ironically, I’d kept putting it off because of the weather. It was cold. It was windy. It was just not self-service gas station friendly weather. Note to self: it might get worse before it gets better. Fill the tank.
My phone wasn’t charged. I often charge it under my desk at work or in the kitchen overnight. This particular morning, my phone had no charge whatsoever. I went in to school after the two-hour delay (the delay I saw on TV before the power crashed) with my dead phone in hand. I was greeted by two teachers saying, “Oh, Daisy didn’t get the phone call. We’re closed. Too many schools have no power.” Note to self: charge it. Always. On this day, after charging the phone in the minivan (the one with a near-empty gas tank), I found the voice mail from my boss saying “We’re closed! Don’t come in!”
My camera had a little charge left, so I took a few pictures. A few, I said. When the power came back to us that night, I plugged in the camera battery.
Procuring fuel was harder than we thought. We passed three shuttered gas stations on the road and several of our favorite restaurants totally in the dark. We eventually ended up at iHop, and then with full stomachs headed down the road again to feed the minivan. We picked up batteries for the boom box so we’d have radio if we needed it, invested in a Hershey’s chocolate bar with almonds and a Reese’s peanut butter cup for our mid-afternoon snack, and charged our phones in the van.
And here we sit, a few days later, reminiscing and making notes. Note to self: keep phone charged no matter what the weather. Keep minivan at least half full of gas – also no matter what the weather. As for the camera, well, if the phone is charged, the camera isn’t necessary, but let’s not waste phone time on pictures. The ice day was more of a tough spot and less than a true emergency, and I felt the lack of preparedness. Note to self: tornado season is on the way. No more excuses: channel that inner Girl Scout and Be Prepared.
We joke about our football team playing on Frozen Tundra. In reality grass does grow here. It’s also reality that we can see schools close due to winter weather – in April.
We had no power that day, which was also the case for several school buildings in my town. Ice, ice, and more ice coated the trees, wires, and anything else.
Icy Cherries
Home for oregano – later.
And finally, we really enjoy our neighbor’s sculptures. When coated with ice, they were even more lovely.
The unique beauty of an ice storm is fleeting. Fortunately, the powerless state was also temporary. Power came on just in time to cook a warm supper, simple though it was.
Now, Mother Nature, can we please have spring?
The majority of these conversation starters turn up on Facebook or Plurk. If it makes me laugh out loud, it’s good. If it makes me think, it’s even better.
delicious
I’m growing a few of these. Rosemary, Dill, Sage, Basil, Oregano, Thyme, and unintentionally, mint. Believe me, the mint is tenacious. The others are either in my spice cabinet or could get there on my next trip to Penzey’s.
Ah, yes, the quotable unquote.
My fair state’s standardized tests will be changing dramatically in 2014. I’ll reserve judgment until I see how well the new creation assesses my students.
living art frame
Meanwhile, I’ll resist signing up for Pinterest. I might find something like the living art frame above. And if I find the directions, I might feel like I really need one. Or two. Resist, Daisy, resist!
The remnants of snow, I should add. We had a soggy inch or two on the deck and driveway a few days ago, followed by a little rain-mixed-with precipitation. Cold, damp, and just not feeling like spring, this weather.
I take a little encouragement from the green that’s popping up on my shelves. The seedlings are trying. They’re really trying.
Tomatoes, can’t you tell?
The others are struggling a little. They’re starting to get the typical indoor stems – weak and thin, that is – and leaning desperately toward the window in hopes of capturing a little sunlight.
Lean to the left!
I do have a few solutions to this problem. Watering takes place in the kitchen to minimize dripping on the wood floor. When I’m done watering, I rearrange the containers so they get a different angle at the available sunlight. Don’t laugh – it works, sort of.
As for the wimpy indoor stems, they’ll strengthen when the weather improves and the temperatures go up. The plants will take daily “field trips” outside to build strength and adjust to outdoor conditions, including developing stronger stems. Barring warmer temperatures, a fellow gardener recommended setting a fan to blow on the seedlings. I’ve never tried this, but it makes sense. The breeze will simulate outdoor conditions and stimulate thicker stem growth. Right? Maybe. I’ll try it.
For now, it’s watering time. Just think of those mouthwatering tomatoes that’ll be here in late summer.