Mixed Bag

I am still feeling that I not up to writing much but my spirits are in good shape and I except for a sore arm/shoulder I think I am very fortunate.  At least I still have a sense of humor.

Much of this posting is compiled from my friend John and I am tipping my hat to him for sharing most of the "stuff" on this posting.

My five-year old students are learning to read.
Yesterday one of them pointed at a picture in a zoo book and said,
"Look at this! It's a frickin' elephant!"

I took a deep breath, then asked..."What did you call it?"

"It's a frickin' elephant! It says so on the picture!"
And so it does...

" A f r i c a n Elephant "

Hooked on phonics! Ain't it wonderful?Now that's funny, I don't care who you are. 

DIRECTIONS

Probably only a senior citizen will appreciate and understand this e-mail.  Enjoy getting older.....we never had to practice!

I got a new stick deodorant today.

The instructions read: "Remove cap and push up bottom."

I can barely walk, but whenever I fart, it makes the room smell nice.

Toad Tripping

 Well it is Tuesday again and time to hop around with Mr. Toad. 

I went to the Movie on Friday.  The new Robert de Niro/Michelle Pfieffer film The Family was fun to watch - at times.  A violent film and predictable but I was in the mood for a movie so it did not bother me that I had gone.  If I had read the reviews I might not have.  

I am reading the book 1493 by Charles C. Mann. Mann talks about the Columbian Exchange set off by Christopher Columbus. It follows 1491 by the same author and both books are interesting to read although I must admit I enjoyed 1491 more.  I find the history of the indigenous people and the numbers that inhabited this hemisphere before Columbus.  Columbus is responsible for so much. The demise of the peoples of the Americas and the changes in the Ecology of the world.  It makes me wonder what the world will be like in 100 years. 

There is a new TV show that started tonight.  Set in Sleepy Hollow 

Ichabod Crane wakes up in 2013.  He must keep the Horseman 

from recovering his head.  I will watch it one more time

The Fall political season is beginning again. It shall be fun to watch and see if President Obama (I love saying that) will really hold his own with the Republiscums who want to negotiate the Debt Ceiling which he says is "off the Table." They are slated to try to repeal the Affordable Care Act for the 42nd time.  I do not understand why they want to do that.  I am in what is known as the "doughnut hole" according to my pharmacist.  I was told the medicine I was supposed to take would cost $120 and it is usually $40.  So I told him to "forget it."  I had to pay estimated taxes today. That is $450 so no pills. - I told the doctor he could find me a generic to take but he wanted me to stay on the ones I am taking so he gave me some samples.  This has never happened before so I think someone has been fucking around with Medicare. I think I may have to go back to C S.


I read this out loud and got them all right.  At least I think so.

This is so true.  I hang out around a lot of OLD people so I know.

The below was shared on Facebook.

The Badpiper

I had never seen a flame throwing bagpipe before.

I was sitting in the living room today and a flock of birds stopped by.  I got my camera out and got a movie.  As far as I know they could be sparrows but that would be all right I love sparrows. However they don't seem to be the right color for sparrows.  I thought they might be some sort of finch but when I looked finch up the only one that looks like these is the Greenfinch and they are found in Europe. So your guess is as good as mine. If you know leave a comment.  Can you identify them?

Mixed Bag

First of all a couple of "Masonic" memes that I was sent.  I guess it is all right to poke fun at ourselves.  

The Honorable Society of Past Masters

An alterenative to cancelling Saturday postal service.

The house at 1007 Douglas

This is a house which my great-aunt Kate McMichael's father built. (That is him in the picture.  His name was Matthew) We lived out North of town and my great-aunt sold the house to my grandfather so that he could move into town.  He wanted to do that because he knew that he wanted to leave a place for my mother after he was gone.  His wife had passed and mother took the major responsibility for taking care of him.  She was single and had Ginny living with her.  I had a room on the second floor in the back on the North.  You can see that there was a sleeping porch which was also off my room but it was gone by the time we moved in.  I had double doors that would open and it was really a very nice place to spend the summers.

The downstairs was basically four rooms. My grandfather had one room as a bed room and there was a living room, dining room and kitchen with a small lavatory under the stairs. Upstairs aside from my room there was a guest room and two large rooms one for my mother and another for my sister.  It was a really nice set up.  The wrap around porch had a part of it screened in by the time we were there.

After my grandfather passed on my Uncle Dave helped my mother get the place made into apartments and my mother and my sister moved downstairs and they rented out the top floor and the basement to renters. I was teaching in Marion, Iowa at the time.  Then mother had some difficulties and I needed to move back to Ames so I came back and set up a bed on the screened in porch.  I slept out there until the snow came and then I moved inside. I had a single bed in what had been the living room, my sister had the northeast room that had been my grandfathers and mom took over the dining room.  I am not sure how we managed, but we did.  We lived there for several years and managed nicely.  I remember one time we had a large Spaghetti party on the front porch.  I painted a large trash can red and filled it with ice and water for the beer. We rocked.

Eventually I inherited some money from my great aunt Erma who lived in California.  With that money we (mother and I) purchased a much larger more modern split foyer home in the "presidential"area of town.  It was a really nice place.  I had the bottom floor and it was a really good set up. My bedroom wall had mirror tiles, orange shag carpeting and enough room to live in if I had wanted to.  I also had a family room with a fire place and a guest room and a refrigerator in the laundry room.  Oh and a full bath with a shower. I loved that.

Mixed Bag

Wicked Hot-Bon-Bon
That is my nick-name generated by the Nick-name generator.

One of my friends comes out as
Loveheart Red Hot-Lush Lips
His wife is
Cuddle cakes Red Hot-Pooh Peepers

Personally I think it is just stupid but you might get a kick out of it.

This is a picture of the Princess with the t-shirt I brought her back from Oklahoma. It is a little big but the important thing is she likes it.



I got this meme from Anne - It seems like I could do it so if you want you can do it also.



1. What time did you get up this morning?
6:55
2. Diamonds or pearls
Diamonds
3. What was the last film you saw at the cinema?
Easy Virtue
4. What is your favorite TV show?
The Mentalist
5. What do you usually have for breakfast?
4 pills - breakfast, what is Breakfast?
6. What is your middle name?
Cole
7. What food do you dislike?
Sushi
8. What is your favorite CD at moment?
New one - Black Dyke Band - Brass from England
9. What kind of car do you drive?
99 Jeep Grand Cherokee
10. Favorite sandwich?
Patty Melt
11. What characteristic do you despise?
Lying
12. Favorite item of clothing?
My robe
13. If you could go anywhere in the world on vacation, where would you go?
Paris
14 .. Favorite brand of clothing?
Enro
15. Where would you retire to?
Savannah, GA (But I am still in Ames)
16. What was your most recent memorable birthday?
60th - I became a Sexygenerian
17. Favorite sport to watch?
I don't watch sports
18. Furthest place you are sending this
my blog
19. Person you expect to send it back first?
I don't
20. When is your birthday?
November 13
21. Are you a morning person or a night person?
Night
22. What is your shoe size?
I have no idea
23. Pets?
2 Dogs 1 Cat
25. What did you want to be when you were little?
I didn't think about it.
26. How are you today?
lethargic
27. What is your favorite type of candy?
Chocolate & mint

This and That

This was the sky on my way home from dinner with Kurt and kids last night. We ate at Ruby Tuesday - Tomorrow is the boy's birthday and I had t-shirts for the kids from the Cowboy Museum. We went there because Lyssa works there and this way she could be in on it also. I had a great time.

There is a man who lives in my town. I have seen him all over town. He wears a dress. He also has a full beard. He obviously is shunned by most people. But I have seen him at the Library and walking down the street and sometime he eats at the Grove Cafe. I have generally just ignored him and looked away. Yesterday while I was at the cafe the waitress gave me his poem. I don't know the man's name but he wrote this. - It says:

I need a family would you please be part of it Lets sit down together and share and love and care Build a world with clean water earth sea air be made of warm smiles hugs love eyes smile brighter than all the stars above if You are tired lonely or beat take off your shoes pull up a seat dream nice dreams I'll kiss your feet I am here to love you be loved by you you to I :---: You :---: Fondest loves come true whether our time together be short or long thanks be my poem PLEASE be my song PEACE be our union our kinship be strong
We are a family can I please be apart of it.

As you can see it was written in a circular pattern. I had to turn it around and around. No punctuation - but what a message! I had never thought of him as being anything other than a strange man with a beard who wore a dress. Someone told me that he had told them he dressed that way because he wanted to be a woman. Someone else said it was because he wore them in memory of a young girl. I doubt that I will ever know but I do know this. There is a spark of the divinity in him and a yearning and a need - the same as there is in all of us and I will never look at him the same way again. He is a part of our family - most of us ignore him and look the other way. I will speak to him and say hello and send loving thoughts his way. I will not judge or condemn. He is a person and as such entitled to my respect and my love. Just as everyone is.
****************************************************************************************

My Vet comes to the house. Brenda Bright is a super vet and a great person. She comes out to the house and takes care of the animals.

Brenda was here today and Max got a distemper shot and I had her give Cassie a rabies shot. She is going to call to set up a time to have Max's teeth cleaned. They need it. She is also going to check to see what is causing him to limp. He was limping when I got back. Jon thinks that it was probably because he jumped off the davenport (sofa).

Cassie was so cute while Brenda was here and snuggled up next to her and was sweet. Bailey was over sniffing and hanging around. Usually she comes for him and he runs. Max was perfect. Came and sat right in front of me and was perfect. He did try to go to "his" room when he saw her but came to me when I called and did not try to run away.

We got to talking and we talked about Ned the elephant. She won't go to the circus because of the way the animals are treated. I won't either. She told me a horror story which I won't repeat because it is too hard. We both had tears in our eyes while we were talking.

I had a dog - A beautiful black Sheltie who had been used for stud. He and I bonded when some friends of mine came down to look for a dog and I got him as an adult dog. He had been in a kennel and he ran in circles. When we went out for Mary and Morrie to look for a dog he and I started looking at each other. He just stared at me. (I can still see him) and would not look away. I told my mom and my sister that I really wanted that dog but did not think it would be fair to our older Sheltie mix that we had rescued. They said go ahead and get him and I am so glad we did.

He lived with me a long time and I loved him. He was absolutely elegant and beautiful and loving. He was with us when Jon was born and for several years until Jon was old enough to talk.

Eventually he got older and life was just not good for him. You could tell that he was not in good shape and he became incontinent and ill. It is the hardest thing in the world to do but my sister once said that it was the "last thing you can do for your pet." See that they do not have to suffer. Brenda came out to the house and I held him in my lap and petted him while she administered the shot that ended his life. His passing was peaceful in the home that he was used to and my mother (who was in the back room) came out and I had her get in the car and we left. Mom was on oxygen then and not doing so well herself) - We went for a drive and when I came back home I swear that I walked in the door and I caught a glimpse of Kelsey and he greeted me and jumped around like he had done as a younger dog. I mean it I actually saw him. (Just as I saw my mother after she had passed and reached out to touch her.)

I used to have to take the dogs to the vet and they hated it. With Brenda coming to the house they are never traumatized and it is so much nicer for them. And Brenda is so very nice to them and with them. And she gives them their shots and they never seem to feel it. She lives just up the street from me and even picks up the dogs to take them to the clinic when they have to have their teeth cleaned. - Max has that in his future. I asked Jon whether he wanted it done and he gave permission. Max is his dog.. He just lives with me. And I am glad to have him.

That is enough for tonight. Thanks for stopping by. ARTYAL - Always Remember That You Are Loved. Hugs - j

Robert Earl Keene's Merry Christmas from the Family/Mixed bag

h/t Firedoglake

And go look at Chris' Cute with Chris Christmas Message. (Warning not so cute cats barfing)

And you can play the new "shoe toss" game here. Thanks Dom.

Lodge Night/ Mixed Bag

Once again Thursday has rolled around and we had Lodge tonight. It was a Fellowcraft Degree and I thought that is was excellent. But then who am I to judge?

Bryce Hildreth came up from Ankeny to do the Stair Lecture and I have never heard him do it better. He got his lecture from Jerry Marsengill who got it from Ralston James and it is really a nice one. The lecture is not really set in stone (read that Ritual) and can be changed. I have heard many different ones and enjoy them all.

On another note I got this poem in an e-mail today. It seems to fit our weather.

Hello boys and girls.
Today, the story lady will read you a poem about wintertime!

It's winter time in Iowa
And the gentle breezes blow
Seventy miles an hour
At twenty-five below.

Oh, how I love my Iowa
When the snow's up to your butt
You take a breath of winter
And your nose gets frozen shut.

Yes, the weather here is wonderful
So I guess I'll "stick" around
I could never leave my Iowa
'Cause I'm frozen to the ground!

And I also got an e-mail with pictures from Eagle River, Alaska where the temperature gets to -54 degrees and the eagles are more common than crows. PGHP Jim Nagel sent them to me. I think they are worth sharing. You can click on them to see them larger.







































And finally this awful picture entitled Hill-Billy. People who do this sort of thing have way too much time on their hands. ARTYAL, Hugs, j

A Mixed Bag

Ok, It is a snowy day and while the snow has stopped I am not ready to venture out. Found some things to share.

This was on a listserve I belong to. It fits my feelings exactly.

Let no religious rite be done or read
In any place for me when I am dead,
But burn my body into ash, and scatter
The ash in secret into running water,
Or on the windy down, and let none see;
And then thank God that there’s an end of me.

John Masefield

Yes, I know that may be somewhat of a downer for some of you but I agree with Masefield. Unfortunately they did not follow his wishes: "On May 12, 1967, John Masefield died, after having suffered through a spread of gangrene up his leg. According to his wishes, he was cremated and his ashes placed in the Poets’ Corner at Westminster Abbey. Later, the verse was discovered, written by Masefield, addressed to his ‘Heirs, Administrators, and Assigns’'

Next over at Non Sequitor they had this cartoon today. (Click on the cartoon to see it larger.)

I hope they don't mind that I "borrowed " it. It is too much like what happens at my house. And I love it. So there!

I found this article - Feel Like a Fraud? At Times, Maybe You Should - from the New York Times to be interesting. Here is the beginning:

Stare into a mirror long enough and it’s hard not to wonder whether that’s a mask staring back, and if so, who’s really behind it.

A similar self-doubt can cloud a public identity as well, especially for anyone who has just stepped into a new role. College graduate. New mother. Medical doctor. Even, for that matter, presidential nominee.

Presidents and parents, after all, are expected to make crucial decisions on a dime. Doctors are being asked to save lives, and graduate students to know how Aristotle’s conception of virtue differed from Aquinas’s conception of — uh-oh.

Who’s kidding whom?

Social psychologists have studied what they call the impostor phenomenon since at least the 1970s, when a pair of therapists at Georgia State University used the phrase to describe the internal experience of a group of high-achieving women who had a secret sense they were not as capable as others thought. Since then researchers have documented such fears in adults of all ages, as well as adolescents

Anyway I can certainly identify with the article. Lots of times I feel like a fraud. When I try to open up to some people they pull away so I don't. I hate it when I feel like that. All it take is a little rejection and I make that my entire being so I pull away. Go figure. I guess I just don't feel like I want to force myself on anyone. Anyway I got some insights into me by reading it. Maybe you will also.





Next the Scottish Rite is organizing a Knights of St. Andrew.
You can read about it and other events coming up at the consistory at the Des Moines Consistory Blog.


And finally (for now) Brother Tim Bonney wrote a comment on the Philalathes:

Freemasonry is not entirely a democracy. Freemasonry in fact is not a free society. It is a society of obligated men. That obligation circumscribes our freedoms. And, we chose to do so of our own free will and accord. The ancient structure of the craft does not entirely match the structure of our modern society. Even just looking at the powers of an elected Master, once elected in many jurisdictions he has very wide powers in his lodge beyond what many would see as democratic

I really like that statement "a society of obligated men." We are under an obligation. In fact those of us who belong to many Masonic Organizations are under many obligations. Before we take these obligations we do not know what they are but we are told that they contain "nothing that will conflict with our duty to God, our country, our neighbor or ourselves." (I am paraphrasing from memory here those may not be the exact words but they are substantively the same.) And they don't. There is no conflict. If we live up to our obligations we will be better because of it. For so many the idea of the obligation as just keeping the "secrets" is all there is to them but if you listen to and think about the rest of them they give you pretty good rules to govern your life by. So a society of obligated men appeals to me. Thanks Tim, your thoughts are always insightful.

As always - ARYAL, Hugs, j-bear