hidden treasures

I heard a quick news blurb today about a couple who bought a crock pot at a Salvation Army store and found a treasure inside. I don't have any more details but it did remind me of the time my husband and I found a 'treasure' hidden in a crawl space accessed through the basement of an old house we bought on Lexington Avenue.  Our treasure was a bushel basket full of canning supplies and other glassware, covered by a piece of newspaper (the color comics to be specific) from 1935.  1935 happened to be the year my husband was born so he was quite excited by the newspaper.  I enjoyed the blue Ball jars with the wire wrap to hold the lids on.  Since I graduated from Ball State University I have a fondness for these early relics of our founding fathers and mothers.  The Ball brothers and sisters gave generously to the college over the years.  Since our discovery, I have given away most of the jars but I still have four.  I keep my tea bags in them and they are a sweet reminder of a time when we were young, energetic homeowners.  

calendar curiosities

Things I learned from my calendars today:
Today is "National Biscotti Day."  Who knew that biscotto has its own day?  I did not run out and buy biscotti.
September is "National Courtesy Month."  You have one more day to commmit some courtious acts.  I guess you don't need to worry about it the rest of the year,
2.97 million is the highest recorded mileage for a car.  It is a 1966 Volvo P1800-5 owned by retired science teacher Irv Gordon of Long Island, NY.  I'm not sure if this proves that this Volvo is a really good car or that teachers are rediculously underpaid. In case you're curious (I was) if this number is accurate, Irv had to drive 57,115 miles a year or 156 miles a day.  That is a lot of commuting.

business 101

I volunteered to help at Junior Acheivement Biz Town today.  Well, I'm not sure if it's really considered volunteering when a friend begs and pleads with you until you say yes.  Whatever, I was there.  I also helped with Biz Town last year.  I remember walking away then muttering "never again" but memories fade after a year,  It wasn't a bad experience today, just exhausting. 144 fifth and fourth graders milling around, some with purpose, some aimlessly, create a lot of noise and confusion without even trying. I did think it was interesting that much more of the process was done with computers and tablets than last year, and, as part of the shopping experience, the students were given debit cards to use for most of their shopping.  I was helping in the bank and was impressed especially with my tellers who quickly learned to enter account numbers and give citizens their spending money.  One teller was having so much fun that she told me she wants to be a teller when she grows up.  And that, I think, is the positive magic of Biz Town. Student citizens go away with some understanding of commerce, finance and possible future careers. I guess that makes it all worth it.

maybe I spoke too soon...

Yesterday I complained about political ads that spend all their money and air time panning their opponents, but today I actually heard a positive political commercial. I know that sounds like an oxymoron but it's true.  Of course, it was presented by a local hopeful, running for a state legislature position, and probably running on a tight budget so I may not hear it more that once or twice more before the election.  Too bad, it was quite refreshing.

early voting

I was talking with some friends earlier about the election coming up in November and the possibility of early voting.  I raised the question - if I vote early will all the political commercials disappear from my TV?  I am so tired of negative commercials.  Just once I would like to hear a one minute blurb from a hopeful politician telling me what he or she actually believes and wants to accomplish without bad mouthing the opponent. Sometimes I think that many of these negative ads will backfire. People hear a name mentioned over and over and over again without really listening to what's being said, go to the polls, look at the ballot, and think "Oh yeah, I've heard of him." and push the button. I really hope I'm wrong about that.  I'll let you know after the election if my fears were justified.

Seat belts on school busses?

Honestly, I don't understand why this is even still being debated. 42 states don't require seat belts on school buses, including Indiana.  One of the reasons I just heard mentioned on the news is a worry about kids not being able to release the seat belts quickly in case of an emergency evacuation. Really??? The children riding school buses these days have been strapped into car seats, and if they're older, car seat belts since they were newborn infants. Today, a Fort Wayne schools bus was involved in a relatively minor accident.  Evidently the driver lost control and the bus went off the road.  It didn't roll over or anything drastic but kids on the bus were bounced around a little bit. One child described being bounced off his seat, on to the floor and bumping his head.  Not a big deal injury but it didn't have to happen at all.  I would be willing to bet that, if put to the test, children of school age could unbuckle their seat belts as fast or faster than adults.  I've heard the same argument (can't get out fast enough) used by car drivers who don't want to buckle up and yet it's the law and studies show that the odds of surviving a car crash while wearing a seat belt are far, far better than if you aren't buckled up.  I am very pleased to know that the North West Allen school system has installed seat belts in some of their buses. At least it's a start.  Personally, if I was a school bus driver (note here: I would never turn my back on a bus full of kids and drive them anywhere.) I would much prefer to have all those little darlings buckled into their seats, instead of running around the bus. Just a thought.

Maybe she was right.

Yesterday I wrote, somewhat sceptically, about a newscaster who claimed that cows kill more people than sharks.  However, a news report this evening may support her claim.  The video showed a cow trying to climb into a farmer's truck.  It certainly looked like she (the cow) had mayhem on her mind.  Mind you, I have no idea how many cows may have killed people while driving a truck. It turns out she felt that her new calf was being threatened.  The farmer had taken it to clamp an ID tag in its ear.  Who knew that cows are "helicopter moms"?

As heard on TV

If you hear it on TV it must be true, right?  On the morning news this morning two reporters-in-training were presenting information about a fall festival being put on at a local farm.  One young reporter said that she would not be going out to the farm because in her words "I'm afraid of cows, they kill more people than sharks."  This may or may not be true.  I have not heard any news reports recently about deadly cow attacks, but the comment did remind me of one of my long ago boss's favorite comments "50% of all statistics are made up on the spot."  I'm pretty sure it was true in his case..  

lighten up..

On Sunday mornings I attend an adult Sunday school class that features materials made available on line. It's called the Wired Word.  Each week one of us takes a turn leading the discussion and tomorrow is my turn.  The topic tomorrow deals with the flooding that has been happening in the Carolinas this past week and making the decision to stay and rebuild or move away.  One of the questions included with the study material asks "Does God ever use disasters to send us a message?"
Personally, I don't think God works that way, and I know that having your home destroyed by a flood is no laughing matter but the question did remind me of my favorite flood related joke:
An old man, having decided not to evacuate, found himself trapped in his house as flood waters were starting to cover some roads.  His neighbor drove up in his truck and said "You'd better come with me before we can't get out of here." To which the old man replyed "No, I'm a good Christian and I trust God to save me." So the neighbor drove away.  Soon the water was rising fast and his yard was completely flooded.  A team of rescuers came by in a boat and said "Get in the boat, before it gets any deeper."  He refused again, giving the same answer he had given his neighbor.  By and by, the water had risen so high that the old man was forced to climb out on his roof to be above water.  As he sat there a helicopter flew over and someone lowered a rope ladder to him but he refused help again, still insisting that God would save him.  Eventually the old man was washed away and died in the flood.  When he stood before his maker he said "God, I have always believed in you. Why didn't you save me from the flood?" To which God replied "I sent you a truck, a boat and a helicopter.  What more did you need?"

well, I'm glad I didn't see that.

Yesterday I wrote about some curious things that I've seen along the river from my balcony.  Today, in the news, it was reported that the police pulled a dead body out of the St. Mary's River.  The report made it sound like it was right outside our building but it wasn't that close, which is just fine with me.  Interestingly, they said the body was in a tent.  So, now I'm wondering, was someone camping too close to the river's edge and got washed down stream? It's really not a very fast moving river.  Did the zipper get stuck on their sleeping bag? I know it's really not a joking matter but I'm just curious about how this happened. They said the autopsy results should be available tomorrow.  So we shall see. Stay tuned.

River Reflections

Interesting (well mildly interesting) things have been happening on my river this week.  It started early this week when I woke up to fog so thick I couldn't see the trees on the other side of the river,  When I turned on the morning news the weather man was saying that visibility was down to one tenth of a mile.  I knew that was true.  As the fog lifted, the trees across the river took on that lovely misty look of a Japanese painting.  Later, when the fog was all gone I discovered a long (20 ft. +/-) strip of wire or rope of some sort looped between two bushes hanging over the river in a long curve.  I have no idea what this wire is or if it was put there deliberately or landed there accidentally.  It seems precisely placed but I can't see any likely use for it.  
Mid-week my crane came back.  Each year, just about this time, a lovely graceful, long-necked white crane shows up swimming and wading along the north bank of the river.  I've only ever seen one.  Perhaps it's a mommy crane who needs a quiet retreat before she gathers up her flock and heads south. Or perhaps it's a scout sent out to see if the St. Mary's is a likely place for a rest stop for the flock.  Evidently my river doesn't meet requirements because after a day or two the crane will be gone until next year. But, any day now, the geese will be back.  They announce their return loudly and early in the morning.  Geese are not subtle.

congratulations

I am happy to announce that my daughter, having decided to make a mid-life career switch, has completed her training to become a surgical technolgist.  The course took her a little longer than it might have because she was delayed for six months last year while she was deployed with the Air National Guard.  Luckily, her course work was finished just before the college she had been attending, Harris College, was bought out by another college and closed.  The only effect this had on her is that they cancelled the scheduled graduation ceremony.  This wasn't a big deal for my daughter who had a ceremony when she graduated with her bachelor's degree 23 years ago, but was probably very disappointing for her younger classmates.  She finished her course work with a 3.98 average and has started her new job with Fort Wayne Orthopedics (her first choice).  This is a perfect job for her because her hours are 8-5 Monday thru Friday.  No weekend work, which means there are no conflicts with her Guard weekends and she gets to cheer on her kids in their marching band competitions.  If you haven't guessed, I'm very proud of my daughter as she starts this new phase in her life.

polish up your eye patch

I want to make sure that you don't miss the special day that happens tomorrow so I'm giving you advanced notice.  Tomorrow is "Talk Like a Pirate Day."  This happens to be one of my son's favorite holidays.  He doesn't look like a pirate and he doesn't wear an eye patch but he does seem to enjoy saying "Aarrrgh." I may not have the spelling  right on that but who really cares.  And speaking of spelling I guess spell check failed me yesterday (not for the first time).  I do know that aspirin is not spelled with an 'e'. 

Well, I'm really confused now.

For some time now I have been taking a 'baby' asperin as part of my daily dose of vitamins and suppliments with no  apparent ill effects.  However, today I heard a report that a new study indicates that people over 70 don't seem to derive any benefits from taking a daily dose. Earlier in life, in your 50s and 60s, there seem to be all kinds of benefits like reducing risks of some kinds of cancer and preventing heart problems.  One reporter even said that it can reduce the chance of death but I doubt that.  One of the reports this evening seemed to be saying that, while there don't seem to be any benefits for people over 70, if you've been taking asperin don't stop. Maybe I'll just keep taking the tiny pills until I run out and then decide.
While I was pondering the question of do I stop or not I heard another really disgusting health report (at least in my opinion).  Some women, after they give birth, are having their placenta processed into pills that they then take on a daily basis until they run out.  It's supposed to give them more energy and help avoid depression.  Honestly, I find the whole idea depressing. I'm glad I'm past that phase of my life. One less decision to consider.

Hair today, gone tomorrow??

My grandson, who is a senior in high school now, has very long - longer than shoulder length - hair.  It's beautiful dark almost black hair, nice and thick and he keeps it clean and neat but he does not tie it back in a man bun.  He has disliked having his hair cut since he was very young but I think his time is coming.  After he graduates his parents, both in the military, want him to join the Air Naional Guard.  There are all kinds of financial and educational benefits to this but it will mean the end of his flowing locks.  In the meantime though he's making the most of the hair situation.  He's in marching band and his band director informed him last year that he could not wear his hair down while he's marching in competitions.  I thought this might encourage him to get it cut but instead he has a cluster of (all girls) band members who pin his hair up for him before each performance. I think all that female attention is going to his head (pun intended).

fun connections

I've known for some time that the oboe player in the Fort Wayne Philharmonic is a neighbor of mine on the 10th floor of my apartment building. Tonight I made some new connections.  Some weeks ago we were having an elevator conversation and he mentioned that his girlfirend was moving to Fort Wayne and was interested in acting at First Pres Theater. This came up after I told him that I had a small part in a play this summer.  Tonight I was doing volunteer work at FPT selling concessions, etc, and the oboe player came to the play.  As we were talking he said that his girlfirend was one of the leads in the play - the young lady who opens the play - very funny.  After the play, he introduced me to her and, when I saw her close up, I realized that we had had some elevator conversations over the last few weeks but I didn't know they were a couple.  So now I know.  Also, this evening, another old friend, who I have acted with a couple of times, told me that he has just moved into my apartment building, but on the other side, with the view of the fireworks. He's also a friend of the Oboe player who decided that my friend's city side apartment will be the perfect place for parties.  Time will tell.  But it's fun to make new connections. 

Yet another thing I didn't knoe.

This evening a friend and I went across the street to Headwaters Park to enjoy the free performances at the Middle Waves Festival.  It was fun and I enjoyed the bands I heard. I liked "Sad Gravity" for the name but the best I heard was "Bodega," a group from New York City.  I knew there were also supposed to be some exhibits of visual arts but what I didn't know was that this included examples of knitting and crocheting displayed in remarkably untraditional ways.  Everywhere we walked, as we moved from one stage area to another, we saw trees with their trunks wrapped in crocheted blankets. Some of these were wraps of solid colors but many included lots of colors, a variety of stitches and fancy granny squares.  There were also knitted covers draped on the backs, seats, and arm rests of park benches.  It was all very festive in a down home, middle America kind of way.

Happy Birthday.

Today is my son's (my oldest child's) birthday.  He is now 47.  His wife turned 47 in July.  They don't seem at all bothered about their age.  They just wonder when they can start getting senior discounts.  I'm a little perplexed about their age.  I don't understan how my son can be 47 when I still feel 47 inside (until I catch a glimpse of my reflection, of course). When I gave birth to my son I only had six hours of labor. I credit the Mexican food I had eaten the night before for such a quick delivery.  In honor of that occasion, the family gathered this evening for dinner in a Mexican restaurant.  How very appropriate.
Happy Birthday, dear son, happy birthday to you.

Staying put.

Hurricane Florence is currently still many miles off the Carolina coast but expected to make landfall by Friday.  I've heard reports that it's a catagory 4 hurricane, although this evening a weather reporter said it may slow down to a catagory 2.  One report said there could be as much as 35 inches of rain.  
However, we're in a good situation here in Indiana with sunshine predicted.  
Some years ago when I was selling real estate, I worked with a lady moving with her family from California.  She insisted that the house they buy have a basement because she was terrified that tornadoes would be swooping down on them frequently.  She wasn't comforted when I told her that I have lived in Indiana all my life and never actually seen a tornado.  
Considering the hurricane on its way, the other flooding issues that have happened recently along the east and gulf coasts and the fires that continue to burn in California, (not to mention potential earth quakes) I think I'll stay right where I am.  
Yes, we have four seasons, with some snow in winter, but I think that's a fair price to pay for home stability.  Snow doesn't typically destroy homes.
Sooner or later the country will wake up to the fact that the midwest is actually the best place to live.  You heard it here first.

remembering 9=11

Today is September 11, a day that almost anyone born in the last century remembers clearly.  Hard to believe that my oldest grandson was only three months old when the 9-11 attacks happened.  I think it's interesting how clearly a person remembers certain events.  For me, the two most memorable national events in my lifetime were the assassination of President Kennedy and 9-11.  By memorable I mean that I can remember exactly where I was and what I was doing when I heard the news.  When the assassination happened I was working in the basement of the Ball State University library.  (More about that creepy place another time.) When the first plane hit on 9-11, I was running around getting ready for work while my husband watched the morning news.  I remember him calling me into the family room to see something big that was happening in New York.  I told him I didn't have time but he insisted saying he thought this might be really important.  Needless to say, I didn't make it in to work until much later that day. 

Something I didn't know.

I am interested in the project called Electric Works that will involve the transformation of some of the fine old buildings on the abandoned GE campus into residential, commercial and retail spaces.  I understand from someone who toured there recently that after WWII, the GE plant here employed 20,000 people.  The facility included a gymnasium and a bowling alley. Like many people in this area I knew people who worked there.  My mother-in-law worked there during the war, and my uncle worked there for his entire working life.  I remember being envious that my cousin's family always had the newest TV set and other GE appliances. 
I was discussing all this with a friend from my home town who told me that her aunt and grandmother also worked at GE and used to ride to work with my uncle. She also told me that, on one of their drives into Fort Wayne, their car was hit by a train and dragged down the track for a long way before it got shaken loose.  It must have been a glancing blow because they all lived to tell about it.  I don't remember ever hearing this story before, which is pretty surprising considering all the family stories that got repeated over and over.  My aunt used to be quite a worrier. Perhaps she had reason.

dodging raindrops

This weekend was one of running through raindrops to get to special events.  Yesterday, two friends and I attended the Korean Festival at the public library.  Thankfully, because of the rainy weather, most of the events and presentations had been moved inside. The highlight was the dance competition. Young people danced to popular K-Pop music and were judged on their performances.  My youngest granddaughter was one of the dancers and, while she didn't place in the top three, she really did very well. Today, after a very well attended picnic at our church, which was wisely moved inside, I passed on playing in the adult size bounce house.  Instead, a friend and I drove out to see MamaJo, the hugh new drill (1 1/2 football fields long) that will soon be lowered deep under the city to drill a 5-mile long tunnel to carry away sewage and keep it out of the rivers.  Sadly, the line was very long and the air quite chilly so we didn't see MamaJo.  Instead we opted to go out to the art fair at Jefferson Point.  There were supposed to be 40 vendors selling their art but many had packed up early because of the weather.  We ended the afternoon drinking hot chocolate at DeBrands.  Actually, not a bad way to end the weekend.

I'm not too impressed

The other day I heard a report on TV about a weight loss drug that had been approved by the FDA.  I don't remember all the specifics but, supposedly, this wonder weight loss aid didn't have bad side effects.  Like most of my friends, I'm always thinking about dropping five pounds or maybe ten so my interest was caught. Until, that is, I heard their wonderful weight-loss statistic.  People using this drug lost an average of nine pounds in 42 months.  What?? That's an average of two-tenths of a pound per month. Really?  I can loose that much by skipping dessert once in a while and I guarantee that doesn't have any nasty side effects - except for the occasional craving for chocolate.  

another train tale

Writing about trains yesterday reminded me of a story my mother used to tell.  When my father was coming home from Brazil as WWII wound down, she/they decided to move from their temporary housing in Maryland to Fort Wayne to be nearer my father's family. To make this move, my mother packed up all their worldly goods in 10 military footlockers and with them and me, less than a year old at the time, took the train from Havre de Grace, Maryland to Fort Wayne, Indiana.  It was a long train ride but mom said she didn't have to hold me the entire way.  That may have been an exaggeration but the truth was that train was full of soldiers heading home after a long separation from their families. They were eager to see their children, delighted with the idea that a baby was on the train, and took turns holding me all the way to Fort Wayne. 

I'll take the train

A local politician is trying to get train service established from Fort Wayne to Chicago (and back again, of course). I think this is a grand idea. I would take the train to Chicago.  In fact, given the opportunity, I will take a train just about anywhere. The last train ride I took was from King's Cross Station in London to Gretna Green in Scotland.  Some years earlier, a friend and I took the train from Venice to Milan and that was a lot of fun.  But the most exciting train ride I ever took was when I was about five years old. It was my second train ride but the first one that I remember.  The very first one was when my mother and I traveled to Fort Wayne from Baltimore, when I was 18 months old, to be with my father who was on his way home from Brazil, having been stationed there during the late stages of WWII.  What I remember about the train ride when I was five was that it was an overnight trip (Fort Wayne to Philadelphia) and that I stayed awake all night.  I remember loving the whole experience and watching with awe as we went around a horseshoe curve where I could see the engine of our train way up in front of us.  What I didn't appreciate at the time was that my parents, who were also dealing with my three year old brother, were probably really hoping that the 'rhythm of the rails' would lull me to sleep. Nope, didn't happen. 

sharing some laughs

I'm pretty sure that the lady who lived in my apartment before me bought everything through catalogs.  Over the years that I've lived here I've received an amazing variety of catalogs.  The most unique was the Horse Fanciers catalog.  The one with the two pages of sex toys was also pretty interesting.  But my favorite is called "Catalog Favorites" because it always has pages of witty tee-shirts.  So here are a few of my favorite tee-shirt jokes from the catalog that arrived today. 
"Patience is a virtue. It's just not one of my virtues."
"If I'm ever on life support, unplug me, then plug me back in. See if that works."
"I'd grow my own food if I could only find bacon seeds."
"If I say I will do it, I will do it. No need to remind me every six months."
"Not to brag, but I can forget what I'm doing while I'm doing it."
"Another wine bottle with no genie at the bottom.  I'll keep looking."
And last, in honor of a good friend...
"Yes, I'm an nurse.  NO, I don't want to look at it."

Been there, seen that.

The week before last, I spent a lovely few days visiting with family in Gulfport, Mississippi. Note - I do know that the abbreviation for Mississippi is Ms. but it's so much fun to spell Mississippi. It's one of those silly childhood memories.  I know that I know how to spell M I SS I SS I PP I,  Anyway, while we were there we were shown signs that still exist of the damage done by Hurricane Katrina some years ago.  High water marks on some buildings, etc.  It was all very interesting but definitely in the past.  Today, however, I learned that it looks like Tropical Storm Gordon is gearing up to become a hurricane and, at least according to some models, heading straight for the Louisiana/Mississippi coast. It should be there within the next couple of days. That's right where Gulfport is located, and suddenly I find myself picturing the very nice house that we stayed in, the neighborhoods and shoreline that we drove by, even the fun casino and fancy restaurants, and I'm wondering if there will be serious damage.  Having been there so recently, the whole situation seems so much more real than just hearing weather reports of far away places. If my great nephew and niece should need to evacute, it would be an interesting situation since they would have to deal with two bunnies, two cats, and one dog.  Let's hope it doesn't come to that.

I knew that.

Here's a fun fact I read today - the first of September and the first of December land on the same day of the week every year.  I know this because my birthday is on December 13 and my son's birthday is on September 13 and every year they are on the same day of the week.  This year it's Thursday.  Just coincidentally, my 'out-law' (my daughter-in-law's mother) has her birthday on the same day.  My son-in-law's birthday is one week later. It appears I had better start making some birthday plans. This year almost everyone in my family will be getting something hand wovenon my nifty lap loom.  It's the penalty they will pay for my new hobby. It's OK though.  Family has to love you anyway.  

Take me out to the ball game...

Yesterday evening my friends and I went to see the Tin Caps play here in Fort Wayne.  Due to a number of reasons, this was the only game I was able to attend this year.  As always, it was a fun experience.  If you take your eyes off the game, there are so many interesting people to watch.  I particularly enjoyed the beer, peanuts and crackerjack vendor, who looked like he had been enjoying his products way too much.  That was either one of the biggest beer bellies I have ever seen or a miracle pregnancy.  But, about the game, it was sad.  The Tin Caps were down 3-0 after the first inning, but pulled close later, bringing the score to 4-3.  Then, one of those moments you dream of happened.  The Tin Caps managed to load the bases. Sadly, they couldn't manage to get another hit.  Ah well, there's always next year.