Monday, September 19, 2016

Is Anyone Else Ready for the Election to be Over?

Here we are, it is about seven weeks until the November 8 election and it seems we have been blasted with political stuff for years.  I am not promoting any candidate or political party.  I also have voted every year since I was eligible to vote, so I am someone who participates in our civic responsibility to vote.

In Indiana we first had the innundation of ads for the presidential primary.  There were still many candidates so all were advertising.  It was after the Indiana primary that both party candidates became "presumptive" so later primaries were not as frantic.  Now we are in the midst of the main cycle of advertisements.

Indiana is not really a target for the presidential candidates, it is presumed that Donald Trump will take our state easily.  So they will focus their efforts elsewhere (whew!)  For Indiana the battle is between the parties for the open Senate seat (which is believed to be a priority for both parties) as well as for the governor's office (remember our sitting governor, Mike Pence is on the Republican ticket for Vice President).

So for weeks we have been pummeled with ads for the senate and governor's race.  They have been nasty, distasteful and just downright annoying.  Hardly any of them focus on the issues but mostly on how the other person is: (pick one or all): A. dishonest, B. unqualified, C.  not interested in the citizens of our state or D. other negative attributes.

I am over all of this.  At some point I hope the candidates quit pointing fingers at each other and just focus on what we need as a state or country.  I will just stay out of it until the election is over.  Right now I am just grateful for the fact that I do not live close to Ohio or Illinois.  It would be additional misery to get the Indiana ads in addition to either of those states.   I am also grateful for our DVR so we can just skip through all those commercials when we are watching our recorded shows. 

Tuesday, July 19, 2016

My Partner in Crime, 10,669 steps, and the Ugg Store

This last weekend Pack Rat, my husband, had a fraternity reunion.  Many of the guys who were at his fraternity in college were getting together for a weekend of catching up, dinner, brunch and a day of golf.  The reunion was in Columbus Ohio, where his youngest sister, Partner in Crime, lives.  He asked if I wanted to come with his for the weekend and I quickly agreed.  I told him while he was reconnecting with his college buddies I would do something with his sister. 

I contacted Partner in Crime and told her we were going to be in town last weekend and we both had the same idea:

Power Shopping!

We have not participated together in retail therapy for a while so we decided to check out the stores around Columbus.  I left it to her to plan our itinerary, she does a much better job than I do at that.

We first met for lunch so she could catch up with her brother before he joined the festivities with his college buddies.  Then Partner in Crime and I hit the stores.  First stop - a fashion warehouse.  This was no frills shopping but we dug in and found some great deals.  I got a dress and a top for a grand total of $4.20!

Next stop the new outlet mall north of Columbus.  It was packed!  After we found a parking space we hit the stores.  It was a beautiful day and we saw lots of people shopping also, many carrying lots of shopping bags.  The best part of spending the day with Partner in Crime is that we talk the entire time.  We catch up on family gossip, re-examine what is happening with everyone, talk about ourselves and plan our next get together.  Her brother and I have been together for over 40 years so I saw Partner in Crime grow up and we have a long history together.

After visiting every place we wanted to see at the outlet mall, some of them twice, we ended up at the UGG store.   This is where we found the holy grail of shopping - a clearance section with 70% off and then another 20% off!  I bought some boots and so did she.  In fact she loved it so much she went back on Sunday and bought three more pairs of boots!

It was a wonderful day.  We walked lots, ate several times, talked ourselves silly and found some great bargains.  But the best part was the chance to spend time with someone I like and who shares much of the same history I have.  It was a total success and I did not have to listen to all the stories from Pack Rat's college days(I was there, I lived them). 

Friday, July 8, 2016

July 4th Thoughts

I have a love/hate relationship with the 4th of July.  I love celebrating our country and July 4th is the perfect summer holiday.  Who can dislike cookouts, parades, family reunions, enjoying the summer weather and everything else we do in the middle of summer.

Living in Indiana the summers are hot and humid.  There is nothing like going to a picnic in the summer where the food is great and the weather is sultry.  We all sit in the shade, eating and talking.  Summer watermelons are my favorite, sweet, ripe and juicy.  Here is my grandson Ronan enjoying watermelon on the porch last summer.





I am grateful for the sacrifice of those who have fought for, or who help to maintain our freedoms.   We should all express our gratitude to military veterans, police and first responders who have put their lives on the line so we can enjoy our freedom and celebrations.

There is nothing as heart rousing as patriotic American music being played for the 4th of July.  I love a concert of patriotic songs, the 1812 Overture (with cannons and fireworks) and John Phillips Sousa marches as much as the next person. 

Yet, I did mention love/hate.  The hate part of the holiday are the "personal fireworks."  Here in Indiana personal fireworks are legal.  So in our area people (who must spend a fortune on their personal fireworks) start exploding everything in site for days up to the Fourth and for days afterwards.

I don't understand the need to set off explosive devises for days and hours as a celebration of the birthday of our country.   The windows of my house rattle from the explosions.  My dogs will jump and bark at the explosions and bangs.



Every year there are reports of people ( and children) burned by exploding fireworks or fires started by them ( both structure fires and wild fires).  Come on!  Do we really need to set off explosions for days to celebrate the birth of the United States.

My guess is that the founding fathers would be totally baffled by the need of Americans to blow up things on this holiday.  I am not squelching this summer fun, but do we really need to have it for days prior to and after the holiday? 

Friday, June 24, 2016

"Wait! Back Up! I Saw Something!

Last weekend my husband and I traveled to Tennessee to see our grandson (and his dad, our son).  Between the work done by my husband and son, and with summer their busy work season, it is difficult to find a weekend when both are available.  Last weekend our son was in town but had rehearsals on both Saturday and Sunday.  He said if we would come to his house he would be able to have his son for the weekend if we would be there to watch him during the day.

My husband and I jumped at the chance to have two entire days with our grandson.  He is now three and is so much fun to be around.  We spent the time watching his favorite shows, running around the yard and playing with his toys.   Although he no longer takes an afternoon nap we were able to negotiate "quiet time" each afternoon.  That was at the request of Grandma (me) because, to be honest I needed it!

We also had the opportunity to take our grandson to the grocery store.  Our son had been traveling the last two weeks so he needed a few essentials from the store.  Taking Ronan was an experience I will not forget soon.

Ronan, our grandson, agreed to ride in the cart so we could keep him somewhat contained while shopping.  We did not remember that a child in a cart is at the right level to see all the things he most desires - based on the marketing geniuses who stock grocery stores.

So as we were traveling down the aisles we often heard, "Stop!  Back up!  I saw something!"  As we would back up the cart then we would begin the negotiations.

Ronan, "I need this!  It's perfect!"

Me, "Ronan, I don't think your dad would want  you to have this super soaker.  He will need to let us know if this is allowed."

Ronan, "Yes he will, I know"

Me, "If I call Daddy will he say yes to the super soaker?"

Ronan, "Well, maybe not."

As grandparents you have to find that delicate balance between saying yes to everything your grandchild wants and knowing what will never fly with his parents.  So you learn the fine art of negotiation.  Instead of the super soaker we decided on some mustaches.


So the mustaches were used on everyone, Ronan, me, the dog.  His grandpa did not get a mustache because he already has one.   Fortunately I got mine before it was used on the dog. 

Being a grandparent allows you to get in touch with your inner child.  I would not wear a mustache for anyone else but my grandson! 

Friday, June 17, 2016

Social Media Envy

Right now it is summer semester at the college where I work.  So I am teaching an advanced level psychology class online  - abnormal psychology.  Many of my students are from other colleges and are taking this class to pick up some credits toward their academic goals. 

As a professor I am always looking for timely material that will help me make psychology relevant to my students who are mostly millennials.  I often tell them that I am a digital immigrant so for me staying connected through social media is not intuitive.

So recently I have been reading about something called social media envy.  This is a condition, that has been studied in several research articles, where those who are active on social media can develop depression based on their envy of their friends seemingly perfect lives on social media.

You know what that is like, the friends who post photos of their wonderful vacations, their beautiful and delicious meals and who have perfect, photogenic children.  As people are lurking on social media they see their friends lives which are much more fun, beautiful and more perfect than theirs.  This envy can lead to depression, "Wow, ____'s life is so much better than mine!  What is wrong with my life that it is not as wonderful as ______'s?"

Constant comparison of our lives to those of our social media "friends" who seem to have everything going for them leads those of us with just regular lives to experience envy and depression.  Believe me this is a real condition!

So what can we do?  It is important to know that those people with the perfect lives are probably just a hum drum as the rest of us.  They are just better at navigating social media!   Just as college entrance exams don't really test your knowledge but your test-taking ability.  Extensive use of social media to broadcast your perfect life is more a measure of your use of social media, and comfort with sharing your life with your friends than the perfection of your life. 

So the rest of us who don't share every little nuance of our lives are not less perfect, we just don't feel the need to constantly share, tweet, snap or whatever. 

What do you think?  Do you get envious and depressed watching the perfection of your social media friends? 

Monday, June 6, 2016

Reciprocity and Social Contracts

One of the classes I teach at the community college where I work is Social Psychology.  It is one of my favorite classes where we explore humans as social beings and how we interact with each other.  One of the theories we explore is how relationships can be seen as social contracts.  Within this theory is the belief that all relationships exist for the people in the relationship to realize something.  That may include friendships that help those in the relationship overcome loneliness.  Another example is a romance based on great sex.  This theory sets forth that all relationships are based on a social exchange system where the individuals in the relationship enter to get something and when they are no longer realizing what they desire the relationship is over.

This theory came to mind recently when I was frustrated about a my relationship with a friend. This friend is someone I worked with at my previous employer.  While we worked together we became very close friends - or at least I thought that was so.  Our jobs overlapped so we often found ourselves working on projects together and depending on each other for results in our work assignments.  Several years ago I left that employer to pursue other interests.  I stayed in touch with my friend through email and Facebook.   When I was in the part of town where her office was located I would often take time to stop by and visit.  As time went on our communication became more sporadic and the time between visits lengthened.  She recently left that same employer and is now going through a career change herself.  I sent an email to her last week asking if we could meet.  So far no response.

Now I know people change and stuff happens.  We all move on in our lives and may lose touch with those people who we consider friends.  Yet in thinking about our relationship (or lack of one) I have come to the point where I am no longer going to reach out to her.  That does not mean that if she should reach out to me in the future I won't respond.  I just will not put any more energy into reaching out to her because it seems that staying in touch is not important to her.

How do you handle relationships that have run their course?  Do you just let them go - saying enough is enough?   I have started to look at relationships in terms of reciprocity.  What am I investing and what is the other person investing?  There seems a time when you just have to say "I'm done" and move on. 

Tuesday, May 24, 2016

I got nothing!

For the last few weeks I have been opening this blog and planning to write something.  Yet when I get to this item on my "to do" list I can't think of anything to write.  Is this writer's block or something else?

Right now things are difficult at work.  Decisions have been made regarding my work in which I am not in agreement.  Yet I have to do what I am told when the decision is taken out of my hands.  This week change and things will get better but right now it is pretty rocky.  I'm fighting hard not to end up in the pit of depression.  Even my smart phone is acting up, it is using the battery power really quickly so I have to charge it several times a day.  

I have checked with Google on how I can fix my cell phone but the instructions are pretty involved and I either don't have the energy or the time to go through all the steps that are recommended.  So I just hang on and hope things will be better, or I will end up getting a new phone. 

What do you do when you are just a a low ebb in life?  I need some boosters for my psyche right now.  I will work harder at eating right and getting some exercise every day.   That always seems to help me. 

So, I am sorry I am using this space to do a little whining.  I know things will change and turn around for the better.  Send some good thoughts and prayers my way. 

Tuesday, May 3, 2016

The Circus Leaves Town after Today

Today is the primary election in Indiana.  I got up early today to make sure I stopped to vote on my way to work.  For me (yes, I am old and traditional) it is an honor and a privilege to have the right to let my voice be heard in elections.  I am grateful to live in the United States and to enjoy the freedoms for which many people have made sacrifices.  I am grateful for all members of the military, past and present, who left their families and homes and fought in places not of their choosing to help support our freedom. 

That said, this election cycle has been the most distasteful and divisive I can remember.  Maybe part of the problem is that unlike in the past, Indiana's primary results will play a major role in the final decision for each party's candidate.  We have been inundated with political television ads, negative candidate ads, extremely negative PAC (Political Action Committees) ads, piles of mailings and phone calls.  To be honest I am already tired of all of it. 

So I was telling Pack Rat and my friends I will be very glad when this circus folds up its tents and moves on after the polls close for the Indiana primary today.  They can take this show on the road and move onto the next stop, wherever it happens to be. 

Unfortunately I do not see this campaign getting any more civil as we move to the general election.  The only redeeming virtue is that we will probably get a little reprieve before things heat up again  closer to November. 

Monday, April 25, 2016

You know you have been married for a long time...

This week was Pack Rat's and my anniversary.  It was definitely an exciting event.  On Tuesday night after we both got home from work we were watching the news.  The announcer recounted that April 19 was the anniversary of the Oklahoma City bombing.

"Wait a minute!" said Pack Rat, "Is today April 19?"

Me, "Yes, oh my goodness, it's our anniversary"  So you see Pack Rat is not the only clueless person in the family.

"Happy Anniversary" we say to each other.

Not exactly the exciting, romantic type of anniversary celebration many people experience.  When you have been married 41 years like we have I guess it is just another day.

To be honest I had thought about it a few days earlier and had planned to make a nice dinner so we can have a quiet evening at home.  We are going into Pack Rat's busy time of the year with work so for him it is hard to find a weekend or an evening that he is free for dinner out. 

I have had the honor and blessing to have been married to my best friend as well as a wonderful husband.  Yes, we have our squabbles but overall it has been a wonderful journey and I hope we have many more years together. 

Happy Anniversary, Pack Rat! 

Monday, April 18, 2016

A blessing and a curse.

Being a writer I am often playing out scenarios in my head.  I may see something during the day and all of a sudden I am thinking, "Wow, I need to remember that for a book."  Sometimes I write the ideas down to pull out later.  More often I think of writing them down and then they are lost in the many things that happen throughout the day.  This can be a blessing or a curse. 

Last week I was at the physical therapist's starting some treatment for a sore shoulder. (the reason for the sore shoulder is another story I won't share here)   There was a high school age girl there working on some exercises.  I don't know anything about her other than she was very cute, very high energy and very talkative.  As she was leaving she mentioned that the prom was that weekend.  The physical therapist mentioned, as a joke, that he hoped her date did not cancel on her.  Then he said, "wait, you would drag his dead body to the prom with you!"

I was not included in the conversation but once I heard that I started laughing.  In my mind I saw this beautiful girl all dressed up in her prom garb dragging the dead body of her boyfriend (also dressed up in his tux or whatever they wear now) to the prom with her.  I thought what a great story title,  Zombie Prom! 

That is the blessing of having a writer's mind.  The curse is that sometimes I come up with stories about people that are no where close to the truth.

Recently our neighbor, who is a woman who lives alone because her children are all grown, had a younger man move in with her.  My husband and I were speculating about their relationship.  Well, I was thinking,  "Good for her, a younger man!"  My mind immediately in the gutter (hubba! hubba!).

We were both far from the truth.  Last weekend she was out working in her yard and her head had been shaved.  We asked and she said that she had been treated for breast cancer seven years ago and it had gone into remission.  Recently it returned, with a vengeance, and she was suffering from an extremely aggressive form of cancer.  Although she is getting treatment the doctors said that she will not go back into remission again.  The treatment may help give her a little more time but she is facing the day soon when treatments will end and she will just be waiting for the cancer to end her life.  

My internal stories of an older woman with a younger man were so wrong.  The man is a friend who is there to help her with everyday tasks so she can continue to function as well as she can right now.  Her children are all grown and she lives alone so he will be helping her through her final days.

A blessing and a curse.  Sometimes my flights of fancy can be funny and give me a visual of the "Zombie Prom"  Other times I am completely wrong and someone is just trying to get through this life as best as they can.  Lesson learned - don't judge so quickly. 


Monday, April 11, 2016

Water for a Millennium!

Recently I have found that I do not like the taste of diet drinks.  I usually drink water but when I want something a little fizzy I will turn to sparkling water, with a wedge of lemon or lime in it.  Now I know that dentists say that anything that has carbonation is bad for your teeth but sometimes only something a little fizzy will do.

I bought some sparkling water from Meijer last week, where I usually shop.  It was on sale so I thought it would be fine.  Now the obsessive compulsive side of me always looks at the dates on any food.  I want to know the date for ... Use by:  Sell by:  or Best by:

Here is what the label on my sparkling water has on it:





OK, this water is Best By: May 3016!  I guess I don't have to worry about hurrying up and drinking this water right away!

I have never seen any product that is good for 1,000 years!  Will the bottle hold up that long?  Will it still be carbonated for a millennium?   Will people (if there are still people around) be drinking water in the year 3016.  Where will they store water that is good for 1,000 years?  All these thoughts just boggle my mind. 

My husband, the Pack Rat, said that it must be a misprint.  Someone at the bottling plant just keyed in the wrong number.  I find thinking about thousand year old sparkling water just staggering.

What do you think?  Is it a mistake or will this bottle be around for a thousand years? 

Friday, March 18, 2016

Phone Calls from Nashville - Priceless



One of the highlights of my week is the occasional phone call I get from Nashville, TN.  It usually goes like this,

"Hi Grandma!" says my grandson.

"Hi honey, how are you?"

"Fine Grandma, is Grandpa there?"

So usually when Ronan calls he immediately asks for the other person.  One day he called me while I was driving to work.  So I answered the phone and told him I was so happy to hear from him.  When he asked for Grandpa I told him,

"Grandpa is not with me, honey.  I am on my way to work and Grandpa is at home getting ready for work."

That call ended quickly because Ronan really wanted to talk to his grandpa.  I think he just enjoys directing the conversation and being in charge of who is on the other end.

During one conversation Ronan had talked to me and then asked to talk to his grandpa.  Then when the phone was handed back to me my husband said he thought Ronan as done.  I checked by asking for him and no one answered, so I hung up.

The phone rang immediately after that and I heard Ronan say, "Grandma, you hung up on me!"
Oh boy, was I in trouble.  I tried to explain that when I did not hear him say anything when I checked I thought he was gone.  I have now learned to wait until I am absolutely sure he has moved on before I hang up. 

Most recently we were talking to him and he proudly told us that he had "Green Coke" that day.  My husband and I thought since it was St. Patrick's Day maybe that is how he celebrated at day care.  We later found out that "Green Coke" is Sprite.  Makes sense.

The phone calls are always fun, short and a learning experience.  They are also priceless. 

Wednesday, March 9, 2016

The Never Ending "To Do" List

One thing that happens when you have been married forever like Pack Rat, my husband, and me is that you fall into roles within your relationship.  We each have certain jobs we have taken on as ours in the running of our house and our day to day activities.

This was brought home to my thinking because as Pack Rat was recovering and rehabbing from his total knee replacement all of the daily tasks fell on my shoulders.  For the past two months my evenings after work have consisted of walk the dogs, feed the dogs, make dinner, eat dinner, clean up dinner, do a few tasks such as a load of laundry, walk the dogs again, watch a little television, walk the dogs again, give pills to the dogs and then go to bed.  Well, in reality it has been go upstairs and fall into bed exhausted.

Pack Rat, "See, you think I do nothing but you can see that I do much more than that when you have to do it all."

Me, "Yes, I get it, no wonder I'm exhausted at the end of the day."

Pack Rat, "Maybe you will appreciate me more when I am back to full activities."

As I tell my friends, it's a good thing he had the knee replacement in the winter.  The ground was frozen and it was too much work to dig a grave in the backyard.

All kidding aside I do know that the days of me doing everything will be coming to an end.  He will soon be back to doing his tasks within our household.  I will have a new appreciation for what he does.

I am grateful that we are coming to an end of this part of our lives.   We will be back to normal and he will have the benefits of his new knee.

So we don't realize all the little things that our partners in life do daily to help things go smoothly within the workings of our households or relationships.  I do know that I am grateful for everything he does do and I am grateful for him. 

Wednesday, March 2, 2016

Reinvented - Steven Tyler Style!

Recently I have been fascinated with people who are in the process of reinventing themselves.  Last Sunday at church I was talking to a young couple we know. They were telling me that they are selling their house in the suburbs and moving to a condo in the city.  One reason for the move is they will be closer to work, within walking distance.  The other reason is that the move brings them closer to the people they serve through a local organization that works with homeless youth.  Their work with this group has become so important to them that they changed their entire lifestyle to devote more time to what they love doing.  This young couple is reinventing their lives to be able to provide service to a group of individuals in need. 

It seems I have been surrounded by people who are in the process of reinventing themselves recently.  Some are making changes to simplify their lives.  Others have reached the end of a career and are taking what they know to develop new jobs or work in other fields.

Last weekend I was working around the house and my husband, the Pack Rat, called me.

"Carolyn, there is a new show with Steven Tyler on it.  You should come and watch this!" 

Now I am probably a marginal Aerosmith fan.  I have seen them several times in person but have never been a raving fan of the band or Steven Tyler, their front man. 

"OK, I'm coming."  I reluctantly said.  So I joined the Pack Rat thinking I would watch maybe one song and move on. 

The show was the CMA songwriters series, Front and Center.

(http://www.frontandcenter.com/cma-songwriters-series-steven-tyler/)  Steven Tyler was performing his body of songwriting work but in an unplugged format.  He was backed by a group of young musicians and the songs had a definite country music bent.  

So watching maybe one song ended with me sitting through the entire show and loving it!  I have told several people about it and now am writing about it.  What really struck me was hearing those songs in a new format, performed by wonderful musicians.  Steven seemed to be having a great time working with this group.  Overall it was an experience where I realized that here is someone else who has reinvented himself, and has done it quite well. 

So reinvention is happening all around us.  It can be a young couple changing their lifestyle to better serve their community.  It can be a baby boomer like me who left one career, went back to school and now works with college students, loving every minute of it.  It can be an old rocker, like Steven Tyler, who re-imagines his music in a new format making it fresh again.  

How will you reinvent yourself.  Think about it.  Change is happening all around us.  You can choose to be part of the change. 

Friday, February 12, 2016

Pack Rat has met his match

As I mentioned in an earlier post (Pack Rat gets replacement parts) my husband, Pack Rat, had knee replacement surgery a few weeks ago.  The surgery went well and his recovery, although slower than he wanted, is progressing.  One of the people involved in his recovery is Kelly his physical therapist.

Kelly has come to the house three times a week for the last few weeks working Pack Rat through a series of exercises to help him build strength, flexibility and mobility in his knee with the replacement part.  I have been around for a few of those sessions and have had reports about the others.

Last Friday after adding some new exercises and working Pack Rat a little harder than the previous session he was reporting that he was in pain that night.  He called Kelly to tell her what was happening and asked if he should see the doctor.

Pack Rat, "Kelly, I am in more pain than usual tonight.  I am having trouble resting. Should I call the doctor."

Kelly, "Give me the number for your pain from 1 - 10."

Pack Rat, "It's probably between a 4 to a 6"

Kelly, "I can live with pain from 4 - 6.  We worked a little harder today so it probably will be a little more painful.  Just put an ice pack on it and you will feel better."

Pack Rat, "Ok"  Grumbling of course you can live with pain from 4 - 6, it's not your pain!

I know I really liked Kelly but she won my undying appreciation that evening.  Pack Rat took his pain pills and iced his knee.  It was much better later.

So in Kelly the physical therapist, Pack Rat has met his match.  She will not allow him to give in to pain but work through it.  Good for both of them!

I was thinking after doing this post what does this have to do with technology.  My generation (those of us who are Baby Boomers) are now one of the largest consumers of the medical technology of replacement parts.  Go to dinner with a group of our friends and the talk always turns to who has had what part replaced, knees, hips, shoulders, thumb joints.  Even though the mechanics (the ortho docs) are the ones who do the surgery and real heroes (and heroines) of this work are the physical therapists.  They are the ones who push the patients into healing and getting back to their regular lives. So a big shout out to the physical therapists (like Kelly) who are helping those who have replacement parts get back on their feet.  You all are wonderful! 

Friday, February 5, 2016

Carla Hall, my partner in crime and a welcoming spirit

My sister-in-law, Marty, is my partner in crime.  We both love shopping, cooking and just hanging out with each other.  We have been to New York City, Chicago, Cleveland, Nashville and New Pittsburgh TN (to visit the Lodge Cast Iron Skillet Outlet).  Last week was her birthday.  I happened to see that Carla Hall, chef and TV host, was going to be at the Carmel IN Market District to sign books and meet fans.  I ordered tickets and called Marty to suggest she plan a road trip for her birthday weekend.

So in the midst of cooking, talking and spending time with Pack Rat, who is recovering from knee replacement surgery, Marty and I went to see Carla Hall.  We had seen her do a cooking presentation at the Fabulous Food Show in Cleveland in 2014.  It was so much fun and prompted me to purchase one of her cookbooks.  We knew that this was just a meet and greet and book signing, no cooking involved

We arrived at Market District in Carmel IN at about 12:40.  Our tickets were for 1:00.  There were probably 150 people in line already, holding their cookbooks and waiting to see Carla Hall.  She arrived right on time at 1:00 and started greeting people.



Now I would expect a famous chef who bases out of New York to be somewhat stand-offish with us Mid-westerners.  Carla was exactly the opposite.  She laughed, hugged, embraced and was totally charming to this very diverse crowd of fans.  I was totally enthralled by her charm and welcoming spirit.  Within the crowd there were several people in wheelchairs and she was as charming with them as she could be.  She sat on the arms of wheelchairs for photos, she got on the floor to talk to young children again as photos were being taken.

I was completely blown away by her charm and ability to make everyone there feel welcome.  When I had a minute with her we talked about making biscuits.  I am trying to master them.  She told me she had made a video on her method during the recent snow storm in New York and to check it out.

Wow, what a wonderful lady.  Marty and I were both totally thrilled to meet her.  She has two fans for life.  If you have a chance to see Carla Hall in person do it! 

Friday, January 29, 2016

Pack Rat gets replacement parts

This week my husband, Pack Rat, went in for knee replacement surgery.  He had been having difficulty with pain in his knees for several years.  In the last year it has become increasingly more difficult for him to walk.  So after a year of seeing an ortho doctor (who I say is a highly trained, highly paid mechanic) he made an appointment for the surgery. 

The surgery was on Monday about mid day.  He did all the prep and was following instructions for not eating or drinking prior to surgery.  As we were driving to the hospital he almost told me to turn around and go home. 

Pack Rat, "Let's just forget this."

Me, "But we are on the way to the hospital.  Everything is ready to go"

Pack Rat, "I'm not sure if I can do this"

Me, "You told everyone you were having surgery today.  Do you want to tell them you chickened out?"

Pack Rat, "Well, if you put it that way I guess not.  We can keep on driving"

He had the surgery and everything went fine.  The Mechanic (his ortho doctor) said the surgery went beautifully and he definitely needed it.  He would feel so much better once he completes physical therapy and is all healed up.

So now we are in the midst of physical therapy, lots of drugs for pain and other things and he is enjoying all the attention of the people who are calling him and visiting. 

To be truthful I am exhausted.  I came out of this with a renewed appreciation for nurses and the wonderful care they give patients.  (A shout out to the IU Health Saxony Hospital nurses - you are the best!).

We are making it through the week and each day is getting better.  Hopefully I can hold on until Pack Rat is mobile again and back to work. 

Friday, January 22, 2016

Honor and Love

"There is nothing so sacred as honor, and nothing so loyal as love"

Inscription on the headstone of Wyatt and Josie Earp

This inscription was posted on Facebook by another one of my writer friends and I wrote it down to remember.  It seems so fitting to be on the headstone of Wyatt Earp, one of history's great honorable men and his wife Josie.  Wyatt and Josie were one of the celebrated love stories at the ending of the western/cowboy era in the United States.

Pack Rat, otherwise known as my husband, loves the entire Tombstone/Shootout at the OK Corral legend.  He has watched the movie Tombstone (the Kurt Russell version, not the Kevin Costner version) so many times I have lost count.  Often I will walk into the family room while he is watching television and see a scene from the movie,

"Watching Tombstone again?" I say.

"Yep" he replies.  "It's not to my favorite part yet"  His favorite part is the shootout.

I don't think I have ever seen "Tombstone" in its entirety. I have watched portions of the movie and then I usually get distracted or go and do something else and then return later.

Together the Pack Rat and I have visited Tombstone Arizona several times.  We love walking the streets where Wyatt Earp and his brothers walked.   We have watched the re-enactment of the gun fight.  We have also mingled with many other fans, spending the day in the Arizona high desert soaking up the history.  Over the years I have purchased him an entire western outfit, including the hat, sheriff's badge and long duster similar to those worn by Wyatt Earp.

So back to the inscription, I love the words honor and love.   With the addition of the word, faith, they probably can encompass the philosophy of my life.  Treat others with honor, love the people in my life and have faith in the power of God.

It was probably Josie who had the words put on the headstone (because Wyatt passed away before she did) but it is a fitting tribute to two very fascinating people.  I hope I can live my life so well. 

Tuesday, January 12, 2016

Mucinex has stolen my creativity!

Since returning from Tennessee after Christmas I have been sick with the sneezing/coughing/sinus crud that seems to be going around.  I have been coughing so much that my brain hurts!  The only thing that seems to help - other than lots of sleep and possibly alcohol - is Mucinex.  It dulls my cough and has me feeling like I am slowly on the mend.

The only problem is that Mucinex makes me feel somewhat out of touch with myself.  My mind feels mushy and sluggish and I seem to have lost my creative edge.  I was going to write about this yesterday then read a blog written by several writer friends of mine (www.wordwrangers.blogspot.com) and Liz Flaherty beat me to the punch.  She did a great post about being sick with the same thing and how it was affecting her.  Liz is one of my favorite authors and I have had the opportunity to meet her at a few Indiana Romance Writers of America events.  After reading her post I thought, "I have nothing to add to that!"

So then after hearing about the death of David Bowie I thought I would write about that until I read a post by J. T. Ellison (another of my favorite authors) and her love for David Bowie.  She did such a wonderful recollection of her love for that performer that I thought there was nothing more I could say that would be any better.   Although he has not been in the limelight much in the last few years David Bowie was a pioneer in living on the edge and pushing boundaries with his music and his life.

This morning I was going through YouTube looking for videos for the class I teach and I ran across the video of David Bowie and Freddie Mercury singing Under Pressure.  It took a moment to reflect on these two quirky and eccentric yet very talented performers who are no longer with us.  It just makes the world a little less musical to realize that we are losing many of those very talented people from the 1980's as they are aging.

So back to the Mucinex - I am finding that my mushy, cold medicine soaked brain is just not working right now.  So I will continue to enjoy the work of others who are much more creative and make more sense than I am able to at the moment.  Hopefully next week I will be thinking more clearly.  I just hope I have not lost my creativity totally.  No, it is still there just hiding behind a wall of cold medicine. 

Wednesday, January 6, 2016

Starting a new year!

I love the holidays.  For me everything surrounding the holidays is wonderful.  I love the decorating, the lights, the food and the events.  I especially love getting together with family and having time to enjoy some time to visit with those people who I love and don't get to see very often.

Yet, once the holidays are over I am over them.  The tree comes down, the decorations get put away.  I clean up the house and get rid of things I am not using.  I was telling a friend that as of right now I am tired of the celebrating, all the hurry, hurry to get things done and all the rich food.  I am ready to burrow in and make it through winter as best I can.

One thing that picks me up is that my seed catalogs start arriving right after Christmas.  So while I am making it though winter I can also look at the photos of beautiful gardens and plan mine for the summer.  Last year we grew cucumbers for the first time and they were wonderful.  This year I plan to expand the garden beds so I can plant more! 

Don't you just love new years also? It is a great time to make resolutions and start fresh.  My husband and I have been on a clean out spree recently.  Yes, the Pack Rat (that's my husband) is on board with simplifying our lives and getting rid of the things we don't use.  I will try to get rid of as much as I can until he starts to get stressed because his stuff is leaving the house.  (Shh, don't tell him that).

How do you embrace the new year?  Resolutions?  Get fit?  I will spend my new year hopefully cleaning out the house and preparing for a garage sale to get rid of stuff we are not using.