Another Maxine Cartoon - 9/20/07

Happy Birthday Grandma - 9/20/07

Something is reminding me that today was my paternal Grandmother's birthday. So Happy Birthday Grandma Isabel (pictured above). She's been gone since 1963. Its hard to believe that much time has passed.

Trash Talk - 9/18/07

I'm so irritated this afternoon I could spit nails. Somehow I have let the outside world intrude upon my serenity which should reassure some of you that I am human after all.

What has set me off is trash. Our community has outside dumpsters and for some reason the one that is nearest to our building has a habit of being overlooked by the waste management company. It was not emptied on Monday. I didn't know this yesterday afternoon when I took the trash out. I had a full trash bag, a bag of newspapers and a used furnace filter all of which needed to be disposed of. I opened the door to the dumpster enclosure and there were trash bags on the ground which is not a good sign. I then opened the side door to the dumpster and it was completely full. I was annoyed at this point, because I knew that we were missed again. However, being a civic minded owner I walked around the other building where there are two dumpsters that apparently had been emptied and put my trash in there. I then called the management company to let them know.

Today I went back out there to check and it still is not emptied but you'll be glad to know that enterprising lazy a** owners or tenants have managed to fill the entire enclosure around the dumpster with their trash. The trash company will not pick up this stuff on the ground. When they do finally come to empty this, they will put the dumpster back down on trash bags and they'll be stuck there indefinitely.

I so want to go put a sign on the dumpster that says "If the lady with muscular dystrophy can walk to the next building to throw her trash away, why can't you?"

The management company let me know a little while ago that the trash company is supposed to be here Wednesday to take care of this. Why bother? They're scheduled to come again on Thursday anyway. Will they miss us again then?

WHAT IS WRONG WITH PEOPLE TODAY?

Normally things like this don't bother me. Normally I don't take the trash out Warren does. Life isn't normal these days and I'm redirecting my anger and grief at trash. I know that. Just let me vent. You don't even have to comment on this post. I feel better already.

A Rare Day at Home - 9/16/07

Today is a day at home. This seems to be a rarity lately between my obligations to Warren, my Mother and myself. There is a lot of catch up domestic duties that need attending to, so the washer is running as well as the dishwasher. The bathrooms need cleaned and the furniture needs dusting, but some of that will have to wait for tomorrow. Chicken is thawing for dinner. I think I'll cook it with peppers and onions in tomato sauce with some pasta.

Its cool here today. Fall is definitely in the air. Autumn is my favorite time of year; it always has been. I love the crisp cool air and the colors of the leaves as the season moves forward.

I feel like I've taken down my sails today and am just floating on a calm, flat sea.

Enjoy your Sunday wherever you are.

Hysterical Historical Perspective - 9/13/07

I Hope You Dance - 9/2/07

"Meadowbrook Nursing Home" by Alice N. Persons, from Don't Be A Stranger. © Sheltering Pines Press, 2007. The Writer's Almanac

Meadowbrook Nursing Home

On our last visit, when Lucy was fifteen
And getting creaky herself,
One of the nurses said to me,
"Why don't you take the cat to Mrs. Harris' room
— poor thing lost her leg to diabetes last fall —
she's ninety, and blind, and no one comes to see her."

The door was open. I asked the tiny woman in the bed
if she would like me to bring Lucy in, and she turned her head
toward us. "Oh, yes, I want to touch her."

"I had a cat called Lily — she was so pretty, all white.
She was with me for twenty years, after my husband died too.
She slept with me every night — I loved her very much.
It's hard, in here, since I can't get around."

Lucy was settling in on the bed.
"You won't believe it, but I used to love to dance.
I was a fool for it! I even won contests.
I wish I had danced more.
It's funny, what you miss when everything.....is gone."
This last was a murmur. She'd fallen asleep.

I lifted the cat
from the bed, tiptoed out, and drove home.
I tried to do some desk work
but couldn't focus.

I went downstairs, pulled the shades,
put on Tina Turner
and cranked it up loud
and I danced.
I danced.