If you have followed Ancora imparo for any length of time, you will know that I (a) long for a puppy (b) have little use for politicians of any party (c) adore the Three Musketeers (d) have trouble sleeping (e) miss my teaching job (f) am highly cynical (g) like coffee and chocolate (h) read the funnies (i) am learning how to live without my beloved daily newspaper (j) spent much of the summer being hot (k) disliked this summer's higher temperatures and humidity levels (l) and recently have determined that I am a dinosaur.
Knowing what you do about moi, you will understand that for me to be cold is a "Haley's-Comet" kind-of-moment for me, but that is exactly what I was this morning. Oh no......make no mistake.....I got cold.
After meeting with a friend and her husband for an early breakfast, I ventured out of the comfortable confines of the restaurant and immediately determined that the outside temperature seemed lower than when I had entered the restaurant at o'dark hundred - to quote a friend. (No matter that I was dressed in strapped sandals, capris and no coat.) It only took me a split-second to decide that one way to thaw out my feet and ankles was to pick up a hot coffee-to-go from another, nearby restaurant whose coffee I am always looking for an excuse to drink. The coffee offered a temporary relief from the cold, but by the time I reached my car, fitness-parked faaaar away, the cold had seeped back into my bones and under my skin.
I actually activated my car's heated seat.
Next I drove to a friend's home that is relatively close to the restaurant. She and I chatted and laughed for well over an hour......all the while my bare feet felt like frozen ice cream treats. Walking around the refrigerated sections of the grocery store didn't help the frozen-footsie situation and by the time I returned home, my feet and toes hurt.
I actually donned socks to warm my feet.
Socks, now. What next?
Wednesday, September 7, 2011
Tuesday, September 6, 2011
A Great Day...A Great Day, Indeed!
This morning has brought many changes, among the most obvious is the change in weather temperature. While Capt. SO and I walked this morning, we actually appreciated the sweatshirts and long pants we had earlier donned. Now as I sit at my desk, barefooted, I can gleefully report that my feet are cold. This pleasant sensation has not occurred for months now. I realize that some heat and humidity will surely return before the coolness of fall descends upon my area, but this is a momentary treat that I will relish. This may even call for socks on the feet!
When I turned on my computer today, I saw the Google Doodle and, curious, clicked on the picture. What, to my surprise, did I discover but the trivia that today would have been Freddie Mercury's sixty-fifth birthday. If you are not familiar with Freddie Mercury, he was the front-man and lead singer of the rock group, Queen. I was a big fan of Queen, in its heyday, and still am. Whatever your opinion of Freddie's life-style choice, his singing and showmanship talent was more blatantly obvious than his sexual orientation. Freddie could sing and Freddie knew how to entertain. I'm only sorry that I was never able to experience a live, Queen concert.
When I was teaching as a public, middle school band director, I came across an arranged medley of Queen tunes that laid perfectly within the skill range of a good middle school band. At that point in my career, I was a devotee of a concept called "Teaching Music Through Performance". The beauty of this idea is that by teaching what the music is about, as well as the technique, the result will be a higher level of performance skill and enjoyment for the musicians. Imagine my excitement when I found - and purchased - a DVD of a live, Queen concert. I just knew that watching Queen would inspire my young charges to bring the Queen medley to a whole new performance level! Fortunately - for my career, the school district, my principal, the students and their families, I previewed the DVD BEFORE I showed it in the band room. "Seedless to nay", as my good high school friends and I used to say, it was a providential save for me.
Freddie died the young and senseless death of demise by substance abuse and the world lost a great singer, musician, and showman. Happy Birthday, Freddie. The music world misses you.
Ancora imparo
When I turned on my computer today, I saw the Google Doodle and, curious, clicked on the picture. What, to my surprise, did I discover but the trivia that today would have been Freddie Mercury's sixty-fifth birthday. If you are not familiar with Freddie Mercury, he was the front-man and lead singer of the rock group, Queen. I was a big fan of Queen, in its heyday, and still am. Whatever your opinion of Freddie's life-style choice, his singing and showmanship talent was more blatantly obvious than his sexual orientation. Freddie could sing and Freddie knew how to entertain. I'm only sorry that I was never able to experience a live, Queen concert.
When I was teaching as a public, middle school band director, I came across an arranged medley of Queen tunes that laid perfectly within the skill range of a good middle school band. At that point in my career, I was a devotee of a concept called "Teaching Music Through Performance". The beauty of this idea is that by teaching what the music is about, as well as the technique, the result will be a higher level of performance skill and enjoyment for the musicians. Imagine my excitement when I found - and purchased - a DVD of a live, Queen concert. I just knew that watching Queen would inspire my young charges to bring the Queen medley to a whole new performance level! Fortunately - for my career, the school district, my principal, the students and their families, I previewed the DVD BEFORE I showed it in the band room. "Seedless to nay", as my good high school friends and I used to say, it was a providential save for me.
Freddie died the young and senseless death of demise by substance abuse and the world lost a great singer, musician, and showman. Happy Birthday, Freddie. The music world misses you.
Ancora imparo
Monday, September 5, 2011
Oxymoractions
I have just coined a new word: Oxymoraction, which is derived from the word and concept of oxymoron, which, according to my Merriam-Webster's Collegiate Dictionary, Eleventh Edition, is defined as a combination of contradictory or incongruous words. My new word - oxymoraction - would be defined as a combination of contradictory on incongruous actions, and I have plenty of those.
Let's take the concept and action of cleaning. There is no greater oxymoraction associated with cleaning than all of the cleaning that takes place BEFORE the cleaning lady arrives. You know what I mean. It is "Cleaning Lady" day and you are running around, picking up this, putting away that, sweeping up the crumbs from under the kitchen table so the cleaning lady can't see what your family left from all the previous meals since she had last visited, cleaning up the bathroom floors and counters......all because the cleaning lady is coming. This oxymoraction never made any sense to me and was one of the reasons, a number of years ago, that I stopped hiring a person to clean. I did so much cleaning prior to her arrival that there was truly little for her to do.
Another oxymoraction that continues to amaze, daze and confuse me is my irrepressible urge to thoroughly clean the condo upon arriving home from a time away. Theoretically speaking, if Capt. SO and I are gone, then there should be nothing getting dirty whilst we are away. But it seems that Cranky Kitty must hold parties - which I guess is where the old adage comes from: While the cat's away, the mice will play....except this is in reverse. "While the mice are away, the cat will play." There is cat litter EVERYWHERE, giant cat-hair fuzzballs, occasional stray Tootsie Rolls, and once in a while she will leave me "discarded" hairballs to clean up. Cranky Kitty can trash the place faster than "cat", otherwise known as "scat", and she leaves that, too. I even feel compelled to wash the unused towels before Capt. SO and I use them.
These are the oxymoractions that I am admitting to. The rest - and there are many more - will go with me to my grave.
Ancora imparo
Let's take the concept and action of cleaning. There is no greater oxymoraction associated with cleaning than all of the cleaning that takes place BEFORE the cleaning lady arrives. You know what I mean. It is "Cleaning Lady" day and you are running around, picking up this, putting away that, sweeping up the crumbs from under the kitchen table so the cleaning lady can't see what your family left from all the previous meals since she had last visited, cleaning up the bathroom floors and counters......all because the cleaning lady is coming. This oxymoraction never made any sense to me and was one of the reasons, a number of years ago, that I stopped hiring a person to clean. I did so much cleaning prior to her arrival that there was truly little for her to do.
Another oxymoraction that continues to amaze, daze and confuse me is my irrepressible urge to thoroughly clean the condo upon arriving home from a time away. Theoretically speaking, if Capt. SO and I are gone, then there should be nothing getting dirty whilst we are away. But it seems that Cranky Kitty must hold parties - which I guess is where the old adage comes from: While the cat's away, the mice will play....except this is in reverse. "While the mice are away, the cat will play." There is cat litter EVERYWHERE, giant cat-hair fuzzballs, occasional stray Tootsie Rolls, and once in a while she will leave me "discarded" hairballs to clean up. Cranky Kitty can trash the place faster than "cat", otherwise known as "scat", and she leaves that, too. I even feel compelled to wash the unused towels before Capt. SO and I use them.
These are the oxymoractions that I am admitting to. The rest - and there are many more - will go with me to my grave.
Ancora imparo
Sunday, September 4, 2011
Oh, Canada!
Canada. The United States' northern neighbor. Home to a beautiful and very singable national anthem, "O Canada". When I hear "O Canada", I always wonder why we adopted such a singer-unfriendly national anthem. I do not mean to be unpatriotic. I respect our national anthem, stand correctly (unlike many) when it is performed, and sing with gusto when I am supposed to sing along. But, if there was ever a devilish melody to sing, it is our national anthem. I did a little research into "The Star-Spangled Banner" and discovered that we have a Brit to blame for the disjointed melody. The Brits have long been a fly in America's ointment, since the 1700's, and now we will forever have to live with their musical legacy whenever we sing our national anthem.
It is widely known that Francis Scott Key is responsible for "The Star-Spangled Banner", but I, mistakenly, thought he wrote both the lyrics and music. The original poem, written by Key in 1814, was titled "Defence of Fort McHenry", after he witnessed the bombardment of Fort McHenry by British Royal Navy ships during the War of 1812. Key's poem was later set to the melody (by whom I could not discover) of a popular British song written by one John Stafford Smith, for the Anacreontic Society, a men's social club in London. "The Anacreontic Song" was already popular in America when it became "married" to Key's poem, "Defence of Fort McHenry". All I can say is that there had to have been a pub crawl involved somewhere in the joining of Key's poem to Smith's melody.
Back to Canada. While Canada has given the world some remarkable things, right now, what the country is sending the U.S. is some cold Canadian air. The temperature has dropped a good fifteen to twenty degrees in the last two hours AND a strong and stiff Canadian blast of wind is accompanying the cold air. While others are cursing Canada right now, I am relishing the absence of heat and humidity. Besides, were it not for Canada, the world would not have had Wayne Gretzky, fabulous chocolate, some very funny comedians, maple syrup to die for, geese, and, most importantly, bacon.
Oh, Canada! I am forever grateful!
Ancora imparo
It is widely known that Francis Scott Key is responsible for "The Star-Spangled Banner", but I, mistakenly, thought he wrote both the lyrics and music. The original poem, written by Key in 1814, was titled "Defence of Fort McHenry", after he witnessed the bombardment of Fort McHenry by British Royal Navy ships during the War of 1812. Key's poem was later set to the melody (by whom I could not discover) of a popular British song written by one John Stafford Smith, for the Anacreontic Society, a men's social club in London. "The Anacreontic Song" was already popular in America when it became "married" to Key's poem, "Defence of Fort McHenry". All I can say is that there had to have been a pub crawl involved somewhere in the joining of Key's poem to Smith's melody.
Back to Canada. While Canada has given the world some remarkable things, right now, what the country is sending the U.S. is some cold Canadian air. The temperature has dropped a good fifteen to twenty degrees in the last two hours AND a strong and stiff Canadian blast of wind is accompanying the cold air. While others are cursing Canada right now, I am relishing the absence of heat and humidity. Besides, were it not for Canada, the world would not have had Wayne Gretzky, fabulous chocolate, some very funny comedians, maple syrup to die for, geese, and, most importantly, bacon.
Oh, Canada! I am forever grateful!
Ancora imparo
Saturday, September 3, 2011
Farmers' Market - Take Five
Ancora imparo readers know that I love a good Farmers' Market and seldom miss an opportunity to check one out if I am "in range". My favorite market is on Saturday mornings in Beloit, Wisconsin. It has been a joy to see it expand and improve over the years since we discovered its existence. When we are not able to visit Beloit's market, we try to find a local one in order to purchase our favored in-season fruits and vegetables. When we are staying on our Aqua RV, there is a local, Saturday morning market that is just a short walk away.
Today, in spite of the rain, almost all of the vendors had set up shop. Shoppers were in slightly less supply than normal, but, from our perspective, that was OK because it was less crowded in front of the more popular stands. We came away with lots of tomatoes, some beets, cucumbers and three ears of sweet corn. The sweet corn will not last this day! As we were returning to the marina, others boaters, who also like to check out the Saturday Farmers' Market, would inquire "what's in your bags?" and we'd compare what each of us purchased.
Enter "Bob", I'll call him. "Bob" is a great guy, a fun-loving, hard-hitting, party-hearty kind of fellow, and a good conversationalist. "Bob" and his wife "Marge", I'll call her, have a boat-full of guests this weekend and the guys went over to the Farmers' Market. With laughter and mirth, "Bob" explained that "the guys" didn't buy a single vegetable or fruit but managed to spend $75.00 on pastries, bar-b-que ribs, and brats. These guys know how to enjoy a Farmers' Market! None of this purchasing healthy fruits and veggies. Just go for the flavor and fun of grease and sugar. My kind of guy! My palette will live vicariously through "Bob" and his "guys".
Go find a good Farmers' Market today. You will not be disappointed!
Ancora imparo
Today, in spite of the rain, almost all of the vendors had set up shop. Shoppers were in slightly less supply than normal, but, from our perspective, that was OK because it was less crowded in front of the more popular stands. We came away with lots of tomatoes, some beets, cucumbers and three ears of sweet corn. The sweet corn will not last this day! As we were returning to the marina, others boaters, who also like to check out the Saturday Farmers' Market, would inquire "what's in your bags?" and we'd compare what each of us purchased.
Enter "Bob", I'll call him. "Bob" is a great guy, a fun-loving, hard-hitting, party-hearty kind of fellow, and a good conversationalist. "Bob" and his wife "Marge", I'll call her, have a boat-full of guests this weekend and the guys went over to the Farmers' Market. With laughter and mirth, "Bob" explained that "the guys" didn't buy a single vegetable or fruit but managed to spend $75.00 on pastries, bar-b-que ribs, and brats. These guys know how to enjoy a Farmers' Market! None of this purchasing healthy fruits and veggies. Just go for the flavor and fun of grease and sugar. My kind of guy! My palette will live vicariously through "Bob" and his "guys".
Go find a good Farmers' Market today. You will not be disappointed!
Ancora imparo
Friday, September 2, 2011
The Times, They Are A-Changin'
There is so much change in the air, I feel as if I am a stationary island, with a hurricane blowing three-hundred and sixty degrees around me at a Category Five force. Places that were once stable are now wobbly and filled with vacillation. My life chess pieces feel as if they have been thrown into the space station, with zero gravity forces at play.
I need a puppy.
I have been writing about Mother Nature's impending change and how the geese are demonstrating behaviors that clearly say, "Fall is approaching." The past twenty-four hours have shown that Mother Nature can and does change her mind on a whim, with little or no advance warning. Checking the weather forecast for the next three days reveals a totally different outlook than just twelve hours ago.
I recently overheard another woman announce, "I am a very important person." She was not kidding. I thought a lot about this statement and I realized, two nights ago, that is one of the things I missed the most about being employed with a resultant paycheck.......the feeling of importance. Even now, places in my life where I once had influence are now, naturally, closing their doors to the need - or maybe even desire - for input from me. I guess this is a natural flow of life. Consequently, and conversely from the woman's statement the other night, I am becoming less important.
Even in areas where I am still involved, I can feel my importance and influence waning. New sheriffs are in town, with new and different ideas, and I am realizing that ideals and ideas that I have long held as dear and vital are no longer seen as crucial, necessary, or desirable. I feel like the last brontosaurus on earth, watching the landscape morph into one that is foreign and unfriendly to me and those of my age and ilk.
The times they are a-changin'. I would get on board the new train, but they are not selling tickets to brontosauri like me. Perhaps I should start a sanctuary for brontosauruses.
Ancora imparo
I need a puppy.
I have been writing about Mother Nature's impending change and how the geese are demonstrating behaviors that clearly say, "Fall is approaching." The past twenty-four hours have shown that Mother Nature can and does change her mind on a whim, with little or no advance warning. Checking the weather forecast for the next three days reveals a totally different outlook than just twelve hours ago.
I recently overheard another woman announce, "I am a very important person." She was not kidding. I thought a lot about this statement and I realized, two nights ago, that is one of the things I missed the most about being employed with a resultant paycheck.......the feeling of importance. Even now, places in my life where I once had influence are now, naturally, closing their doors to the need - or maybe even desire - for input from me. I guess this is a natural flow of life. Consequently, and conversely from the woman's statement the other night, I am becoming less important.
Even in areas where I am still involved, I can feel my importance and influence waning. New sheriffs are in town, with new and different ideas, and I am realizing that ideals and ideas that I have long held as dear and vital are no longer seen as crucial, necessary, or desirable. I feel like the last brontosaurus on earth, watching the landscape morph into one that is foreign and unfriendly to me and those of my age and ilk.
The times they are a-changin'. I would get on board the new train, but they are not selling tickets to brontosauri like me. Perhaps I should start a sanctuary for brontosauruses.
Ancora imparo
Thursday, September 1, 2011
Headline News
Yesterday was a little heavy. Everywhere I turned, bad, sad, or frustrating news was lurking behind every corner, niche, door, and conversation. Even the roadside produce stand's cucumbers were rotten inside. By the end of the day, I just wanted to bury my head in my crime-solving, best-selling novel or watch a few episodes of Criminal Minds. Today, when I awakened, knew I was in need of lighter-fare news and the HLN morning show did not disappoint. I thought I would share three of the more important news items I heard.
Did you know that the government relies on the Waffle House nationwide chain to act as a barometer on how "bad" a natural disaster really is? According to the report, Waffle House restaurants are famous for staying open no matter how bad the weather situation is. If a Waffle House closes, then the situation is dire. No CIA, FBI or FEMA needed to determine seriousness.
It seems that if you are in the child-care industry, specifically a babysitter, then California is the place to be. California parents may soon be required to pay baby sitters overtime, workman's comp and -this is the really good tidbit of information - provide breaks. Just how fitting breaks into a babysitter's time will work remains a mystery to me. Imagine having to procure a relief babysitter to give your scheduled babysitter a break. What.....fifteen minutes every three hours? Perhaps parents can simply put a lock on a door somewhere, to keep the child safe, and the sitter can excuse him or herself for fifteen minutes of "freedom" from work?
Finally, Lancaster, Ohio has a verifiable who-done-it on its hands. Over the weekend, hundreds of womens' panties turned up along a stretch of highway in the Lancaster area. Local law enforcement officials are puzzled as to how and why this has happened and are determined, so they say, to get to the "bottom" of this. I'd say there may be many bottoms to get to! A further detail about the purloined panties was this: Some were "used" and others were new.
I am now ready to receive any and all news today. I just have to think about Waffle House restaurants, babysitters taking breaks, and panties. I'll be smiling when my head hits my pillow tonight.
Ancora imparo
Did you know that the government relies on the Waffle House nationwide chain to act as a barometer on how "bad" a natural disaster really is? According to the report, Waffle House restaurants are famous for staying open no matter how bad the weather situation is. If a Waffle House closes, then the situation is dire. No CIA, FBI or FEMA needed to determine seriousness.
It seems that if you are in the child-care industry, specifically a babysitter, then California is the place to be. California parents may soon be required to pay baby sitters overtime, workman's comp and -this is the really good tidbit of information - provide breaks. Just how fitting breaks into a babysitter's time will work remains a mystery to me. Imagine having to procure a relief babysitter to give your scheduled babysitter a break. What.....fifteen minutes every three hours? Perhaps parents can simply put a lock on a door somewhere, to keep the child safe, and the sitter can excuse him or herself for fifteen minutes of "freedom" from work?
Finally, Lancaster, Ohio has a verifiable who-done-it on its hands. Over the weekend, hundreds of womens' panties turned up along a stretch of highway in the Lancaster area. Local law enforcement officials are puzzled as to how and why this has happened and are determined, so they say, to get to the "bottom" of this. I'd say there may be many bottoms to get to! A further detail about the purloined panties was this: Some were "used" and others were new.
I am now ready to receive any and all news today. I just have to think about Waffle House restaurants, babysitters taking breaks, and panties. I'll be smiling when my head hits my pillow tonight.
Ancora imparo
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