#132-TRY DE-STUFFING

I don't want to disparage the ingenuity or hard work that this inventor went through to develop this product, but... ... ... ISN'T THIS WHAT I WRONG WITH OUR WORLD?


Not only do we have to have two cars in every garage (and a trailer, truck, Sea-Do, and more) but we feel the need to secure all kinds of gismos to make life easier.  


COME ON NOW!  I hope I don't offend anyone by saying, "Can't you crack and separate your own eggs?"  Is it all that hard?  I am a number one klutz; an accident waiting to happen.  Just read other posts if you don't believe me, but, I CAN CRACK AN EGG!  Sure I get a piece of the shell in the scrambled eggs, sometime (ok, usually).  I do one of two things.  I either fish it out with the pancake turner or smash it into several smaller pieces so it's not as noticeable (great source of calcium).


With one hand my grandmother could crack, separate, and dispose of the shells of a dozen eggs in (as she would say) "In the shake of a lamb's tail."  


Why do gadgets like this even whisper,  "Buy me!"  Some very enterprising person is getting rich off of items like this.  Impulsive people have drawers full of these kinds of things which they can't find (because of the sheer number) until after the need has passed.  My aunt Zelda was like that.  She had a plethora (another word I love see #44) of gimmicks and gadgets lining her drawers and spilling out of containers on her counter tops.  She had an orange peeler, a mini paper shredder (and I mean wee), a butter pad slicer, a prune pitter, and an apple corer, all neatly arranged around her air fern (which could, conveniently enough be ordered out of the same catalogue).  The above list is just a small accounting of the 50 or more items that she had laying around.  She sat in her chair with her pen, check book, and about a dozen or so of THOSE catalogues; ordering regularly.


WE NEED STUFF!  WE NEED ALL KINDS OF STUFF! AND WE NEED OUR STUFF NOW (as evidenced by the offer of speedier delivery for only $4.00 on the order sheet)!  We don't seem to be satisfied with just having the basics.  We are spoiled, wasteful, and unashamed of our gluttony for STUFF.  Ok, this probably does not apply to everyone (how many of you go by the name of Mother Theresa... I thought not).  I have been as guilty as the next person.  HOWEVER, THIS IS THE BASIS FOR ONE OF MY NEW YEAR'S RESOLUTIONS to DE-STUFF (or should it be UN-STUFF)!  Join me why don't you!

kt 2/2011

#131-TOTALLY TUBULAR TUESDAY (MY TOBY)

This blog is about my (not so new any more) puppy TOTALLY TUBULAR TOBY.  I promised to tell you why Toby, has been banned from the bathrooms in my house.  However, I can't begin to explain, in words, what this picture shows:

This little squirt has decided that toilet paper rolls are "the bomb."  One day I was in the den when I heard a funny thrumming sound.  I turned in time to see Toby sprinting though the kitchen with the end of the toilet paper roll in his mouth.  He was running like a bat out of hell,his ears were flying, and his toenails were clicking on the floor.  The unusually strong TP just reeled on out.   I hollered 'TOBY, NO!" But, he flew into the front room still clutching his prize.  By the time I caught him the entire roll had been strung throughout the kitchen and front room.  I couldn't find my camera, but as luck (if you want to call it that) would have it he did it again.  Only, this time I thought to stop the unraveling before the whole role was exhausted, grabbed my camera, and caught the little bugger making confetti out of his new toy.  While I was taking the picture he abandoned his prize and headed back into the bathroom to grab the end of what was left and he took off again.  I was not about to let him continue with his new game so I started keeping the doors shut to the bathrooms.

That worked until my grandson came by and used the restroom.  As I heard him leave I yelled from the front room, "Be sure and close..." but, before I could finish my sentence I heard the thrumming noise and then saw Toby busting around the corner headed to the front room.  I swear he was smiling!  When he saw me he screeched to an abrupt halt, then bolted to the right and into the hall.  And, there went another roll of TP.  Now, I have to keep the rolls up on the sink.  Hopefully he will out grow this game soon.  However, I notice he still checks the empty spindle frequently, then looks up at me as if to say, "killjoy!"

But that is not the end of the TP saga.  My son came by and while he was here used the restroom.  Being a nice helpful guy he took the roll from the sink and installed it on the spindle.  I didn't realize what had happened until I heard the thrummmmmmmmm  and another roll bit the dust.  Now, I have EVERYONE on full alert.  Toby is a force to be reckoned with!

Toby, helps me with a lot of things like:......

........checking for boogie men under my bed......

..........cleaning up for me while he is under there......

.........he helps me make my bed......

..........helps me get undressed..........

..........fetches my clothes..........

..........picks up the trash..........

......and would help dry the dishes if he could get that dang hand towel down.....

..........keeps me company when I'm blogging..........

..........and lets me know when it is time to stop..........

He is already well trained because he will do ANYTHING for food.  He will come when I say, "Toby, come!"  He will sit when I say, "Toby, sit!" Right now we are working on, "Toby, stay!"  See:

Awh, mannnnn, where'd he go?   "Toby, come!"

(By the way, the above is my "Runaway Rug."  See #97 to if you don't know what I am talking about). 

Next Tuesday will feature Toby and some of his TOBYISMS.

kt2011

#130-WE'RE NOT STOPPING, PERIOD!

When I read "OFF THE BEATEN TRACK 1 and  2 (Jan 22 ans 23) by Deseree, I remembered that I have always had a thing for ruins.  (And by the way if you want a fantastic virtual tour of everything beautiful and wonderful in South Africa then visit her site driftwoodramblings.blogspot.com.)

From my 5th grade year on my parents (with me in tow) would make a trip from California to Missouri (to visit family) every August. On the way we would always pass a road to ancient Indian cliff dwellings. Every year I would beg my father to stop and look at the ruins. At that time people could actually enter the ruins. He would always say NO to ALL nonessential stops.

Kinda looks like us, but Mom was definitely NOT smiling!

You see, my father looked upon this trip as a personal challenge.  Each year he tried to get there in less time (usually driving straight though).  That meant getting up at an awful hour so we could get through the worst part of the desert at night.  He also did not believe in speeding (it was against the law and he is a rule follower as well as a rule maker).  So he made the rule...We will only stop to get gas!  And while we are getting gas everyone  WILL eat and use the restroom.

Unfortunately I was like a little kitten (...garbage in...garbage out).  If I ate or drank anything I would have to go in the near future.  Only by the time the near future got there we were miles beyond the gas station!

Years later, when I was relocating myself and my children to from Ca. to Mo. I was determined to stop and finally get to see those ruins.  I turned onto the road.  Drove for about 20 miles and came to a large chain link fence WITH AN EVEN LARGER LOCK.  Boy was I mad at my dad.  A tremendous opportunity lost forever.  So you can see the magnitude of my loss I looked the place up on the internet.

 http://www.faculty.de.gcsu.edu/%7Edvess/ids/amtours/anawciv.htm

“The Anasazi (Hisatsinom) were likely the descendants of an Archaic Desert culture in the southwest from 6,000 B.C.E. known as the Basketmaker I culture, or from the Mogollon. They first appeared in the Four Corners region (the intersection of New Mexico, Arizona, Utah, and Colorado) around the time of the historic Christ. The ruins of the Anasazi (Hisatsinom) culture are the best-preserved ruins in North America. The word "Anasazi" is a later Navajo word which means "ancient people who are not us" or "ancient enemies." The Hopi consider themselves to be descendants of the Anasazi (Hisatsinom), and prefer that their ancestors be called the Hisatsinom, which means "people of long ago." The Anasazi (Hisatsinom) did not build cliff dwellings for the first 1,000 years of their history, but rather lived in open communities or in caves. They lived near fields where they grew corn, squash, and beans. They also gathered nuts and other wild foods and hunted game. Given the very open nature of their lifestyle, archaeologists argue that the Anasazi (Hisatsinom) had few enemies in their early history.”

 

“Mesa Verde contains some of the best-preserved cliff dwellings in the southwest. This is Cliff Palace, which is the largest cliff dwelling in North America. It has 217 rooms and twenty-three kivas, and probably had a population of 200-250 people. The kivas here were sunk into the ground, and one entered them by climbing down a ladder.”

 “Other large dwellings include Spruce Tree House which has 144 rooms and eight kivas. There are over 600 cliff dwellings in Mesa Verde and, although there are other large villages such as this in Mesa Verde, 75 percent contain only one to five rooms. Balcony House is another famous dwelling in Mesa Verde, and is located high on the cliffs 600 feet above the canyon floor. Through tree-ring dating, its first timbers have been dated to 1190 C.E., and its latest timbers to 1290. The Anasazi (Hisatsinom) abandoned most cliff dwellings in Mesa Verde around 1270 C.E., and Balcony House was among the last places to be abandoned. “

All of the above came from the website (I certainly didn’t get to take these lovely pictures myself. THANKS DAD!)

kt 2/02/2011

#129- SUNDAY'S SONG (Held)

THIS ONE IS MY ALL TIME FAVORITE:  I HEARD ON THE RADIO DURING A SAD PERIOD OF MY LIFE.  I HAD JUST LOST MY MOTHER AND SHORTY THEREAFTER,  I LOST MY BEST FRIEND, LUKE (my German Shepherd).   I PLAYED THIS SONG OVER AND OVER UNTIL THE PAIN WAS HEALED SOFTENED.  kt 2/12/2011

#128-THE REVEALING TRUTH

THE REVEALING TRUTH

I promised to reveal the truth today to the 4 lies and a truth meme.

1. Yes, there was a worm laboratory just west of south/east of Stockton.  No, we didn't even go in! 
2. Yes, I have been in several car accidents but only (if I dare use that word) seven.  I did total five different cars, and on that fateful August day I did almost die.
3. Yes, my father did meet Harry, and my grandmother did cook for Pendergst, and the guard did call Harry Ass Truman.  SO THIS IS THE 100% TRUE ONE.
4. Yes, I save my toenail clippings IN THE TRASH CAN.  This one almost grossed me out writing it.
5. Yes, I had a pot-bellied pig for about 3 days.  I rescued her from the middle of the road and then put an add in the paper.  Her owner came to pick her up and you should have seen the two rushing to greet each other (like two lovers running into each others arms(?).  Any way the pig's name was Ariel (and that ungrateful porker bit me on the ankle three times.  One more bite and she would have been renamed Bacon). 

#126-THURSDAY'S PICKS (All from Clenna)

FOR ALL OF YOU CONFUSED OUT THERE...WELCOME TO MY WORLD.  I OFTEN HAVE DAYS WHEN SOMETHING WIERD HAPPENS.  (And it gets worse if I happen to be working on a project).  But this one takes the cake!

.

The entry below showed up on my post Tuesday, January 11th in error.  I was working on it ( for February 10th and apparently C.R.A.P. (Computer Related Attack by Polterguists) struck again and posted it in error.  (See blogs #48 and# 58 for C.R.A.P.)

[By the way.  Thanks, jhitomi, for alerting me to the mix up] .

So, I removed it because it was put in the wrong place.  Now, I have a delima and I am confusing myself. (and you thought to yourself, not hard for HER to do) because did everyone get to read the one that was pushed down a spot (#96 A Short(s) Story)?  Should I re-post it?

Did everyone get to read this one?  Should I re-post this it also???   Should I go to bed and forget it?  Awhhh, heck!  I think the dog is cute so I am re-posting, but following up with more of Clenna's that I have on deck (particularly since I am getting so far behind).

(1/16/11) OK...SO, YOU DON'T BELIEVE THAT I HAVE C.R.A.P. IN MY COMPUTER.  WELL THEY STRUCK AGAIN!  NO SHIT!  SORRY, MEANT TO SAY "YES, THEY DID!"  AS USUAL I GOT UP, HAD BREAKFAST, DRESSED, AND THEN CHECKED MY BLOG.  AND HERE WAS THIS POST AGAIN.  THE POSTING DATE EVEN READ 2/10/11 WHAT THE #%!! (h e doubletouthpicks).  AT LEAST I CAUGHT IT BEFORE IT WAS ON TOO LONG.  CAN'T WAIT TO SEE HOW MANY TIMES IT POSTS BEFORE THE SCHEDULED POST DATE OF 2/10/11!

And for those of you just joining this program already in progress stay tuned and it will soon become appearant (if it hasn't already) that I live up to the name of my blog!

TODAY'S PICK:  To #65 Clenna said...Wow - no wonder she was called Crazy Daisy. We have a Golden called Mazie but we often call her Crazy Mazie. She's a funny dog but nothing like yours. I will ask her what's 1 + 2 (of course I have a treat) and she'll bark 3 times, then I tell her if she makes a mistake I'll have to get rid of her. (The grandkids and some of their friends are watching this play out) I then ask her 2 + 2, she might or might not bark the correct number of times. If she's wrong, I point my finger at her and say BANG! She promptly falls over onto her side. I then say BANG a second time and she rolls onto her back with paws in the air.

I'll bet the grandkids get a real kick out of the show.  The dog probably has fun too; most dogs enjoy showing off for their owners. You need to take a picture of her in both poses.  

Ok, so it isn't a Golden Retriever!  At least it's a female!

HERE ARE SOME OF CLENN'S OTHER COMMENTS: Read them all and then respond to the request at the bottom!

By clenna on #97-RUNAWAY RUG aka CAVORTING CARPET at 7:59 AM

Or ...... you are really in the land of Lilliput. And those little people don't like change!! Smarten up girl!

Awh, mannnnn, TMI...I walk on that carpet every day and the thought of all of those little crushed Lillipution bodies made me shutter.  So, I ran the vaccum and shoved the darned rug under my bed.

By clenna on #96-A SHORT(S) STORY on 1/11/11

Since I'm color blind I often mix up my colors, shoes, sox etc. Sometimes I forget to put on the second earring - oh my, I am a mess. (of course the earring part has nothing to do with colors but I thought I'd throw that in for ha has) But I'm happy and I laugh at myself. (imagine if I didn't - I'd be miserable!!) I just keep telling myself it's a sign of a creative mind.

I think you're lookin good, girl!

By clenna on #95-THE DAY AFTER "FLU?" on 1/10/11

Been there, done that! But not as bad. I only felt exhausted the next day. I also vowed not to have so much punch ever again. How can a mother actually take care of her kids when she feels so rotten? So I didn't. I switched to one or two (at most) then to either water or coke. Guilt can do wonders.

A little birdie told me this is Clenna on 2 rum and cokes!

By clenna on #92-FRIDAY FLASHBACKS (I've Got Ants) on 1/7/11

I hate ants in my house. Step on 'em, whack 'em, poison 'em - anyway I can get rid of them.

Woah, stop right there!  I have an oral contract with the author of this blog.  Re-read this post and see!

By clenna on #92-FRIDAY FLASHBACKS (I've Got Ants) on 1/7/11

Try planting spearmint near your doors and along the edge of your house - outside your kitchen.

Ok, follow me.  I swear I found some stuff that tastes just like the gum we found yesterday.

By clenna on #90-FROM THE FRING PAN INTO THE FIRE on 1/5/11

Too funny. I hope you now have fire alarms and CO 2 detectors.

By clenna on #88-HEY ELMER, WHO'S THE NUT WITH THE LIGHT? on 1/3/11

Maybe they were as fascinated with you as you were with them! I always loved the lightning bugs when I lived in Indiana. Don't see too much around these parts, though.

Ok, Winkey!  Is this what you had i mind when you told us to humor the nut with the light?

By clenna on #83-OH CHRISTMAS TREE; OH, Noooooo, THE CHRISTMAS ... on 12/31/10

My mother was so proud when she bought a silver tree. We all thought she'd lost her mind. And those rotating color lights - ugh! My first year married we got a real tree - scrawny tree. (all that we could afford). The water stand broke the first day, so we just leaned it against the wall. Do you know that a year later we were still finding pine needles in the carpet (last year that I had a real one!)

Thanks, Clenna, for sharing a picture of your poor tree.

By clenna on #74-THE LAST SANTA on 12/20/10

When I was about 7 or 8 I found out about the 'real' Santa. We lived in an old two story home. My brother (5 years older) and I had bedrooms on either side of the bathroom. The heater was in the middle of the house on the first floor directly under the upstairs bathroom. In the bathroom was a grate/vent in the floor to let the hot air in. Christmas Eve comes around, I'm in bed, asleep, when my brother wakes me up. He tells me to follow him so I can see Santa. Well, I wasn't going to miss that! So we go into the bathroom and watch through the grate. I waited and waited - all I could see were my parents going back and forth with packages. Then it dawned on me! My brother said I couldn't tell or my parents wouldn't bring me anymore gifts. So Mom and Dad never knew how I found out the real secret of Santa. I wasn't crushed, it was one of those ah-ha moments.

Let me guess, while you were peeking you also learned about the birds and the bees?

By clenna on #68-WHAT'S WHOOPEE ANYWAY? on 12/14/10

You're right about choosing who would do the pat downs but I think if I picked him (he wouldn't have picked me!) So it might be enjoyable for me but the poor guy - I'm sure he'd go home and say OMG I had to pat down this old broad and she certainly didn't look or feel like any 30 yr old chick!

By clenna on #61-PARANIOA (The "Tighty Whities" Story) on 12/7/10

jhitomi My mother always called it "sunning" - if you could see through a skirt - you were sunning. ( So Karen has the moon story and I have a sun story!!!) Remember the early pix of Princess Diana before she was married? She was standing so the sun could shine through her skirt. My Mother was shocked. I thought it was a riot.

It only took me a minute to find the picture on the web.

By clenna on #61-PARANIOA (The "Tighty Whities" Story) on 12/7/10

When I was young (in the 60's) my mother drilled into me to always wear a slip and it should never hang lower than my skirt. A lady never let her slip show. OMG did I worry about that. Now I don't ever wear slips (sorry, Mom!)

By clenna on #55-THE NOT SO SWEET SMELL OF SUCCESS (part 2) on 12/1/10

You are killing me! The trouble you get into!!!

Ok, I don't want to take any unnecessary risks, so here are three medical professionals stnding by to help.  Apparently the thought this post was funny, too!

By clenna on #43 - PAPER or PLASTIC? on 11/16/10

And she looks so angelic! My daughter used to eat about a half pound of mud because she was making 'mud pies' I guess, no one ever told her that you don't 'really eat' them! Jeez.

I hear mud pies were a happening business.  The problem is, now they are FROZEN  assets!

AND THIS IS NOT EVEN CLOSE TO ALL OF HER COMMENTS.  SHE IS A REAL PROLIFIC COMMENTER.   I THINK SHE SHOULD START HER OWN BLOG, DON'T YOU?  

THEN, HELP ME CONVINENCE HER!  DIRECT YOUR COMMENTS TO HER!

LOVE YA CLENNA.

Clenna is!

kt2011

#125-GETTING OLDER, WE ALL DO IT

I found this a couple of months ago and I immediately knew I had to use it!

Ok, I turned 70 on February 4th and I am "supposed" to be old by a lot of peoples standards.  In fact, I found out that most "old folks" like me don't even have a computer.  And if they do, they mostly use it to send and receive Emails.  When trying to find bloggers 6o and over I came up with very few.  So, you can see why I was a little bit reluctant to divulge my age.  Readers, might be turned off by this OLD GEEZER'S writings.

Nobody said getting old would be easy.  But it is easy.  It is too easy, and happens too fast.  In fact I do not consider myself old, even when I look in the mirror.  What's not easy is trying to grow old gracefully.  There are daily reminders that pop up when you least expect them (like the mirror).  The other day I passed the bathroom mirror and was startled to see my mother's reflection.  Mannn, when did I start to look like her?

Then, there are friends who remind me what a joke life can be.  And, there are a lot of funny things that happen at each stage of life, even old age.  A friend sent me these cartoons.

Yes, I have already gone through three of the four stages of aging!

And, this IS an accurate diagram of my day!

I was almost this bad before my cataract surgery!

Finally,  I do consider this one as too close to the truth.

(the caption reads, "I'm getting so old that all my friends in heaven will think I didn't make it!")

The thing is the older I get the closer to God I get and that's something to look forward to.  So, here is some advice from this OLD GEEZER... ... ... easy to give, but hard to follow... ... ... 

• turn your troubles over to God  (talk to him) 
• follow God's commandments (read His word)
• laugh as often as possible, and carry a smile on your face (even when you don't feel like it)
• don't hold grudges (forgive easily) 
• tell loved ones (and friends) daily, how much you care for them
• respect yourself (but put others first)
• do your best at everything you do  (but don't try to please everyone)
• reward yourself when you have done well (because others often forget to)
• be honest with yourself (and others)
• make sure your words are nurturing (not hurtful)
• hug a lot (the person standing next to you may not show it, but probably needs one too)
• do something positive to help the environment (every little bit helps)
• eat your prunes (just threw that in there to make sure you were paying attention, I can't stand those things and don't eat them).
• remember that movie "Pay It Forward?" (Well, we all need to do a lot of small pay it forwards!)

Nothing new or mind blowing here.  Just plan ole common sense.  The more you follow these simple suggestions the happier you are with yourself.  The happier you are with yourself the better you treat others.  The better you treat others, the better they treat you and... ... ... 

However, there is one I forgot to put down: 

• There are jerks in this world (the trick is to learn to ignore them,  forgive them and try not to be like them).

I DID SAY IT WOULDN'T BE EASY.  Lord knows I haven't mastered them.  But I try!  I really try! 

kt2/2011