BOOKS AND MOVIES
What will the genius and I watch on TV now that the college baseball world series is over and the football season hasn't started yet? We just can't seem to get together anymore on what we like to watch.
We recently looked at the movie Gran Torino, which I thought I would really like. But the language was more than I could bear, and there was definitely too much violence. Now I realize the violent scenes were short and far apart, but I can't stand ANY, especially when torture is involved. The only way I can get through a movie like that is to be on the computer or read a book the same time it's going on so I don't get too emotionally involved.
And therein lies the difference between the genius and me. He can watch exciting, suspenseful, even violent movies and really enjoy them, whereas I get so drawn into the characters and their lives that I can hardly stand anything painful to occur to them. I get these horrible images in my mind and they don't go away. And sleep is impossible without medical help after I watch.
He and I are the same way with books. He is now reading some of Alexander Solzhenitsyn's books, describing the Siberian work camps, etc. I know he is a great writer and very influential in the fall of communism in Russia, but I'm content to read about him and leave his books to others. I guess I'm just a wimp but after all these years of my love affair with reading, I know what I like: feel good stories with happy endings. Just give me Jane Austen or Jan Karon and I'm fine.
I'll leave the violence and gore and misery to the macho types!
Thursday, June 25, 2009
Wednesday, June 24, 2009
SUMMER ACTIVITIES
Sometime during the spring the genius informed me that we had $2800 in our flex-spending account for medical expenses and we would lose it if we didn't spend it. So I have been diligent to make all the appointments I have been putting off.
I have set up times to see the dentist, the eye doctor, the dermatologist, my internist, and the gastrointerologist (groan!). I think that about covers it. The last one is a week from today and boy, am I dreading it. Not the appointment, but the preparation.
They sent out a huge set of instructions for getting ready for the exam. I have to cut out aspirin and Advil for a week beforehand and three days prior to the test, no fruits or vegetables. Then of course, the real prep begins -- fluids, and the dreaded medication that goes with it. I vowed five years ago I would never do this again, but here I am getting ready for it.
Needless to say, nothing else is on the calendar for next Tuesday!
On another subject, the genius and I have never really cared for baseball. Very occasionally we have watched some games when Vanderbilt or Florida games were televised, but even then we can't seem to get excited about it.
Now we are really into the college World Series games being played in Omaha. We don't really care who wins -- Texas is where our great-nieces attend, and LSU is an SEC team. But it is just fun to watch this exciting series. Every game seems to bring surprises, and the players are just so talented. So every night we have been parked in front of the TV watching the games and enduring the same old commercials.
And I'm sure we will be there for the final game tonight.
BUT --- only a little over two months and we will be completely immersed in our favorite pasttime of all -- GATOR FOOTBALL!!!!
Sometime during the spring the genius informed me that we had $2800 in our flex-spending account for medical expenses and we would lose it if we didn't spend it. So I have been diligent to make all the appointments I have been putting off.
I have set up times to see the dentist, the eye doctor, the dermatologist, my internist, and the gastrointerologist (groan!). I think that about covers it. The last one is a week from today and boy, am I dreading it. Not the appointment, but the preparation.
They sent out a huge set of instructions for getting ready for the exam. I have to cut out aspirin and Advil for a week beforehand and three days prior to the test, no fruits or vegetables. Then of course, the real prep begins -- fluids, and the dreaded medication that goes with it. I vowed five years ago I would never do this again, but here I am getting ready for it.
Needless to say, nothing else is on the calendar for next Tuesday!
On another subject, the genius and I have never really cared for baseball. Very occasionally we have watched some games when Vanderbilt or Florida games were televised, but even then we can't seem to get excited about it.
Now we are really into the college World Series games being played in Omaha. We don't really care who wins -- Texas is where our great-nieces attend, and LSU is an SEC team. But it is just fun to watch this exciting series. Every game seems to bring surprises, and the players are just so talented. So every night we have been parked in front of the TV watching the games and enduring the same old commercials.
And I'm sure we will be there for the final game tonight.
BUT --- only a little over two months and we will be completely immersed in our favorite pasttime of all -- GATOR FOOTBALL!!!!
Tuesday, June 23, 2009
TRIP TIDBITS
I promise that this will be the last blog about the trip West; I just had to record a few little items or incidents we saw that were interesting or amusing.
A couple of intriguing signs:
1) STATE PRISON! DO NOT PICK UP HITCHHIKERS (As if we ever would!)
2) FALLING ROCK EXISTS HERE Are they dead elsewhere? I just thought "exists" was a funny word to use.
And then there were the towns of stars that we passed through.
In Texas:
1) Roger Miller's hometown (wasn't that "King of the Road"?) (taught both of his children)
2) Astronaut Tom Stafford
In Oklahoma:
1) Garth Brooks
2) Troy Aikmann
3) Carrie Underwood
Then finally, when we were almost home, we passed a big truck with a Gator license plate. As we went by, I gave the Gator chomp with my arms, then did a thumbs up. He honked, then the genius honked and we went on, pleased to have made that small contact with another member of the Gator Nation.
Little things, but meaningful!
I promise that this will be the last blog about the trip West; I just had to record a few little items or incidents we saw that were interesting or amusing.
A couple of intriguing signs:
1) STATE PRISON! DO NOT PICK UP HITCHHIKERS (As if we ever would!)
2) FALLING ROCK EXISTS HERE Are they dead elsewhere? I just thought "exists" was a funny word to use.
And then there were the towns of stars that we passed through.
In Texas:
1) Roger Miller's hometown (wasn't that "King of the Road"?) (taught both of his children)
2) Astronaut Tom Stafford
In Oklahoma:
1) Garth Brooks
2) Troy Aikmann
3) Carrie Underwood
Then finally, when we were almost home, we passed a big truck with a Gator license plate. As we went by, I gave the Gator chomp with my arms, then did a thumbs up. He honked, then the genius honked and we went on, pleased to have made that small contact with another member of the Gator Nation.
Little things, but meaningful!
Friday, June 19, 2009
VIEWS FROM OUR SHANGRI LA
Here is the view we have out of the front of our house. Because the bamboo is an evergreen, it stays this way all winter.
This is another angle out of the front window.
A view from the side window. Essentially, we are surrounded by greenery until the leaves fall off the trees.
A bouquet of hydrangeas from the bush in the front yard. Both flowers are from the same bush.
These are some of the reasons we love living here. It's like being in the country even though we are in Green Hills, a section not far from the downtown. Very convenient to everything, including the interstate. But we have lots of privacy at the end of our little dead end street.
Here is the view we have out of the front of our house. Because the bamboo is an evergreen, it stays this way all winter.
This is another angle out of the front window.
A view from the side window. Essentially, we are surrounded by greenery until the leaves fall off the trees.
A bouquet of hydrangeas from the bush in the front yard. Both flowers are from the same bush.
These are some of the reasons we love living here. It's like being in the country even though we are in Green Hills, a section not far from the downtown. Very convenient to everything, including the interstate. But we have lots of privacy at the end of our little dead end street.
Thursday, June 18, 2009
HOME, HOME, AT LAST
We arrived last night to our Shangri La, and it was great to be back. We had a wonderful time, but to quote Dorothy, "There's no place like home!" We had some glitches this morning (overflowing AC drain into the kitchen and no internet) but both are fixed now and all is well.
People have been emailing me wanting to know why we didn't get a ticket when we were pulled over last week, so here's the story: First, the trooper informed us that we were going 83 in a 70 mph zone, and asked to see the genius's license. As the genius was handing it over to him, he said (as he had been instructed to do}, "There's something I need to tell you. I have a right-to-carry license (and he whipped it out) and there's a loaded .38 in the glove compartment."
Immediately, the trooper's stern attitude relaxed and he said, "Oh, that's ok. I'll just give you a warning then. Just slow down." We were both flabbergasted! It was so obvious that he changed as soon as he heard about have the r-t-c license. We discussed it for a long time afterwards trying to figure it out. We never did work it out. If you have any ideas, please comment or email me.
Needless to say, we were very grateful. We also didn't speed (at least not much), especially after we got out of Tennessee.
We actually enjoyed our long ride, believe it or not. There was lots of scenery to see, we had some great music I had purchased for the trip, and we discovered a game to play that had us laughing a lot. We would take a name of a town (especially if it was a Native American name) and try to make up a sentence with it. Example: Tucumcari (New Mexico) -- "'two cum carry' a lot more than one." Very corny, I know, but we enjoyed it. The genius especially liked it because he would somehow work in the "peeing on foot" incident into his. We became very creative and it kept us from getting too cranky with each other. (I must admit, though, having that .38 in the glove compartment right in front of me tempted me a few times when he got testy.)
Overall, I highly recommend what we did, with the possible exception of taking a pet along. But even that was enjoyable because we could have the peace of mind that nothing could happen to our little darling. And I must admit he was a trooper on the road.
And --- by the way, it's our 49th anniversary today. Get ready for next year, everyone! There's no telling WHAT we'll do to celebrate!
We arrived last night to our Shangri La, and it was great to be back. We had a wonderful time, but to quote Dorothy, "There's no place like home!" We had some glitches this morning (overflowing AC drain into the kitchen and no internet) but both are fixed now and all is well.
People have been emailing me wanting to know why we didn't get a ticket when we were pulled over last week, so here's the story: First, the trooper informed us that we were going 83 in a 70 mph zone, and asked to see the genius's license. As the genius was handing it over to him, he said (as he had been instructed to do}, "There's something I need to tell you. I have a right-to-carry license (and he whipped it out) and there's a loaded .38 in the glove compartment."
Immediately, the trooper's stern attitude relaxed and he said, "Oh, that's ok. I'll just give you a warning then. Just slow down." We were both flabbergasted! It was so obvious that he changed as soon as he heard about have the r-t-c license. We discussed it for a long time afterwards trying to figure it out. We never did work it out. If you have any ideas, please comment or email me.
Needless to say, we were very grateful. We also didn't speed (at least not much), especially after we got out of Tennessee.
We actually enjoyed our long ride, believe it or not. There was lots of scenery to see, we had some great music I had purchased for the trip, and we discovered a game to play that had us laughing a lot. We would take a name of a town (especially if it was a Native American name) and try to make up a sentence with it. Example: Tucumcari (New Mexico) -- "'two cum carry' a lot more than one." Very corny, I know, but we enjoyed it. The genius especially liked it because he would somehow work in the "peeing on foot" incident into his. We became very creative and it kept us from getting too cranky with each other. (I must admit, though, having that .38 in the glove compartment right in front of me tempted me a few times when he got testy.)
Overall, I highly recommend what we did, with the possible exception of taking a pet along. But even that was enjoyable because we could have the peace of mind that nothing could happen to our little darling. And I must admit he was a trooper on the road.
And --- by the way, it's our 49th anniversary today. Get ready for next year, everyone! There's no telling WHAT we'll do to celebrate!
Monday, June 15, 2009
PICTURES OF NEW MEXICO AND ARIZONA
This is a picture of the highest mountain in Socorro, NM, where we spent two nights on the way to Phoenix. The white speck on top of the mountain is a big M painted on each year by the freshman at New Mexico Tech. It stands for miners because it was originally a school for mining engineers (and still is a major, actually).
Here is a shot of the mountains on Arizona's "scenic route" which I loved and the genius hated.
We're pretty high up (almost 8000 ft.) in the "scenic" mountains of Arizona.
If you look across the valley to the left of the sign, you can see the road where we had just been. The genius was freaking out at this point.
We had a great visit with Ashley and are now on our way back. I'm sure all of that part of the family was glad when we left because of the disturbance Rufus caused several times either with the dogs or the cats. Ash said she had never seen her overweight kitty move so fast up the steps when Rufus chased her. And I never saw Rufus move so fast when the two big dogs chased him one afternoon!
Tonight we are in Albuquerque and plan to be home Wednesday night.
This is a picture of the highest mountain in Socorro, NM, where we spent two nights on the way to Phoenix. The white speck on top of the mountain is a big M painted on each year by the freshman at New Mexico Tech. It stands for miners because it was originally a school for mining engineers (and still is a major, actually).
Here is a shot of the mountains on Arizona's "scenic route" which I loved and the genius hated.
We're pretty high up (almost 8000 ft.) in the "scenic" mountains of Arizona.
If you look across the valley to the left of the sign, you can see the road where we had just been. The genius was freaking out at this point.
We had a great visit with Ashley and are now on our way back. I'm sure all of that part of the family was glad when we left because of the disturbance Rufus caused several times either with the dogs or the cats. Ash said she had never seen her overweight kitty move so fast up the steps when Rufus chased her. And I never saw Rufus move so fast when the two big dogs chased him one afternoon!
Tonight we are in Albuquerque and plan to be home Wednesday night.
Sunday, June 14, 2009
ON THE BACK ROAD TO PHOENIX
The following story is true, I'm ashamed to say. I don't know why I'm telling on myself this way, but the genius thought it was funny. So here goes.
On Friday we were tooling across Arizona after having driven through New Mexico. The road we were on was the "scenic route" which translated means winding two laner with many switch backs and sheer drop-offs on the side of the road. Of course, I thought it was beautiful, and of course, the genius was cursing the whole way, vowing never to take a back road again, no matter how short it was. "Enjoy it while you can because I will NEVER do this again."
So you get the idea what kind of mood he was in. We really needed to stop and let Rufus relieve himself, and there were NO rest areas or gas stations. So we pulled off at a scenic overlook to let him go do his business. As soon as I stood up, I realized that I couldn't wait either, so opted to go in a little ditch that was hidden from the road.
I got "in the position" and was starting to go when I felt my foot being splashed. I tried to maneuver around to get the appendage out of the way but to no avail. Modest as I am and considering the mood the genius was in, I decided not to say anything and just go straight to the car and get out the handy wipes. He was impatient and was standing behind me waiting to hand Rufus to me. So I finally said, "I peed on my foot and need to clean it up, okay?"
Incredulous, he asked me, "How did you manage to do?"
When I tried to explain, he was laughing so hard he couldn't hear me.
Oh well, at least I managed to cheer him up for a few miles. The things I do for that man!
The following story is true, I'm ashamed to say. I don't know why I'm telling on myself this way, but the genius thought it was funny. So here goes.
On Friday we were tooling across Arizona after having driven through New Mexico. The road we were on was the "scenic route" which translated means winding two laner with many switch backs and sheer drop-offs on the side of the road. Of course, I thought it was beautiful, and of course, the genius was cursing the whole way, vowing never to take a back road again, no matter how short it was. "Enjoy it while you can because I will NEVER do this again."
So you get the idea what kind of mood he was in. We really needed to stop and let Rufus relieve himself, and there were NO rest areas or gas stations. So we pulled off at a scenic overlook to let him go do his business. As soon as I stood up, I realized that I couldn't wait either, so opted to go in a little ditch that was hidden from the road.
I got "in the position" and was starting to go when I felt my foot being splashed. I tried to maneuver around to get the appendage out of the way but to no avail. Modest as I am and considering the mood the genius was in, I decided not to say anything and just go straight to the car and get out the handy wipes. He was impatient and was standing behind me waiting to hand Rufus to me. So I finally said, "I peed on my foot and need to clean it up, okay?"
Incredulous, he asked me, "How did you manage to do?"
When I tried to explain, he was laughing so hard he couldn't hear me.
Oh well, at least I managed to cheer him up for a few miles. The things I do for that man!
Wednesday, June 10, 2009
WEST, DAY TWO
The genius and I made our way across the plains today and on into New Mexico by 5:30, Mtn. Time Zone. This was in spite of lots of construction and about an hour of rain in Texas. But we love the scenery of New Mexico and enjoyed our ride.
I was struck by the color of the sky as we rode and tried to capture it in the picture below. Near the earth it is a pale blue, almost turquoise, actually, and then it gets darker blue up above us. The clouds looked 3 dimensional and were really fascinating.
The second picture is of an overpass that is painted that same light blue and also a coral color. There were lots of other artistic touches everywhere: on water tanks, bridges, buildings, etc. I tried to get a shot of a storage tank that was covered in tiger stripes and then the front had the tiger's face on it, but I was too late. (The speed limit in New Mexico is 75 and the genius was going at least that.)
The third is Rufus who was not the least bit interested in all the scenery.
Tomorrow we will spend the day here and then go over to Phoenix on Friday.
The genius and I made our way across the plains today and on into New Mexico by 5:30, Mtn. Time Zone. This was in spite of lots of construction and about an hour of rain in Texas. But we love the scenery of New Mexico and enjoyed our ride.
I was struck by the color of the sky as we rode and tried to capture it in the picture below. Near the earth it is a pale blue, almost turquoise, actually, and then it gets darker blue up above us. The clouds looked 3 dimensional and were really fascinating.
The second picture is of an overpass that is painted that same light blue and also a coral color. There were lots of other artistic touches everywhere: on water tanks, bridges, buildings, etc. I tried to get a shot of a storage tank that was covered in tiger stripes and then the front had the tiger's face on it, but I was too late. (The speed limit in New Mexico is 75 and the genius was going at least that.)
The third is Rufus who was not the least bit interested in all the scenery.
Tomorrow we will spend the day here and then go over to Phoenix on Friday.
Tuesday, June 9, 2009
DAY ONE OF THE WAY WEST
The first day was somewhat uneventful considering that we drove 693 miles. We did get stopped by a Highway Patrolman and the genius was able to get out of it. I can't tell you how until we get back, however. Right now it is a secret that will be revealed whenever we return next week.
We left early this morning -- well, early for the genius and me. He went out and took a ride on his bike, came back, showered, and finished packing. We were still able to get on the road by 7:20. (Brenda and I have been known to leave before 6:00 on our trips together.) About an hour out we were stopped by our friendly cop.
And speaking of them, they were patrolling the highway in great numbers from Nashville to Jackson. I don't know why or what was going on. After that town, we hardly saw any all the way to our final destination.
The genius heartily dislikes Arkansas and driving through it. He began complaining as soon as we crossed the river about the construction that started and made a bet with me that there would be at least seven more construction areas to go through before we reached the OK border. So I took him up on it. There were only two very minor places that we didn't even slow down for, so I won. Then when we hit OK, a state he likes, there were miles of one lane traffic in one place and several other spots as well. He actually tried to cheat on the bet by saying that this construction counted as Arkansas, but of course, he didn't get away with it.
Rufus has been a little nervous about the whole travel thing, beginning when we were packing the car. He was very afraid he was going to be left behind -- so much so that he got between me and the back door and wouldn't move. We finally made it and he has traveled pretty well. Every now and then he would get restless and move around the car, but eventually he became used to the moving and settled down. He is now on my bed happily gnawing on a bone.
Tomorrow we are hoping to reach Socorro, NM. The distance is also over 600 miles so it will be another long day of driving.
But then we will spend a day exploring that interesting little town!
The first day was somewhat uneventful considering that we drove 693 miles. We did get stopped by a Highway Patrolman and the genius was able to get out of it. I can't tell you how until we get back, however. Right now it is a secret that will be revealed whenever we return next week.
We left early this morning -- well, early for the genius and me. He went out and took a ride on his bike, came back, showered, and finished packing. We were still able to get on the road by 7:20. (Brenda and I have been known to leave before 6:00 on our trips together.) About an hour out we were stopped by our friendly cop.
And speaking of them, they were patrolling the highway in great numbers from Nashville to Jackson. I don't know why or what was going on. After that town, we hardly saw any all the way to our final destination.
The genius heartily dislikes Arkansas and driving through it. He began complaining as soon as we crossed the river about the construction that started and made a bet with me that there would be at least seven more construction areas to go through before we reached the OK border. So I took him up on it. There were only two very minor places that we didn't even slow down for, so I won. Then when we hit OK, a state he likes, there were miles of one lane traffic in one place and several other spots as well. He actually tried to cheat on the bet by saying that this construction counted as Arkansas, but of course, he didn't get away with it.
Rufus has been a little nervous about the whole travel thing, beginning when we were packing the car. He was very afraid he was going to be left behind -- so much so that he got between me and the back door and wouldn't move. We finally made it and he has traveled pretty well. Every now and then he would get restless and move around the car, but eventually he became used to the moving and settled down. He is now on my bed happily gnawing on a bone.
Tomorrow we are hoping to reach Socorro, NM. The distance is also over 600 miles so it will be another long day of driving.
But then we will spend a day exploring that interesting little town!
Monday, June 8, 2009
GETTING READY TO GO WEST!!
OK, I admit I have been very remiss about keeping the blog up to date. I have a semi-good reason -- we are leaving tomorrow to drive out West. The genius, Rufus, and I will trek across the country, sight-seeing along the way and ending up in Phoenix to see Ashley and family.
Last week the sisters and I spent our night at Center Hill Lake together. This is an annual affair with each one of us supplying a meal. We had a great time getting caught up on our news and generally praising ourselves for living this long. I learned from MA that she knew from years ago one of the ladies in my bridge club (the five karat diamond one).
So today I went to bridge club and told the lady and of course, she remembered MA. She was very surprised to learn that we were sisters. But then she said that now that she knew she could see the resemblance. Lucky you, MA!
I've also been busy helping to plan our high school birthday bash to be held in July. We have decided on two nights instead of one and I offered our club for the first night. They took me up on it and I've had to go round and round trying to get it just right. Remember the time I spent so much money having my bridge club there? Well, I have become quite the bargainer and keep telling them to cut it down -- cut it down. I think we are finally there. I so look forward to seeing everyone again.
Since I have done very little packing, and it's almost 3:00, I must cut this short and get to it.
I'll try to send pictures along the way.
OK, I admit I have been very remiss about keeping the blog up to date. I have a semi-good reason -- we are leaving tomorrow to drive out West. The genius, Rufus, and I will trek across the country, sight-seeing along the way and ending up in Phoenix to see Ashley and family.
Last week the sisters and I spent our night at Center Hill Lake together. This is an annual affair with each one of us supplying a meal. We had a great time getting caught up on our news and generally praising ourselves for living this long. I learned from MA that she knew from years ago one of the ladies in my bridge club (the five karat diamond one).
So today I went to bridge club and told the lady and of course, she remembered MA. She was very surprised to learn that we were sisters. But then she said that now that she knew she could see the resemblance. Lucky you, MA!
I've also been busy helping to plan our high school birthday bash to be held in July. We have decided on two nights instead of one and I offered our club for the first night. They took me up on it and I've had to go round and round trying to get it just right. Remember the time I spent so much money having my bridge club there? Well, I have become quite the bargainer and keep telling them to cut it down -- cut it down. I think we are finally there. I so look forward to seeing everyone again.
Since I have done very little packing, and it's almost 3:00, I must cut this short and get to it.
I'll try to send pictures along the way.
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