flash back

I saw a report on the morning news today about the first landing on the moon 50 years ago in July.  That July my husband and I celebrated our first anniversary by buying (are you ready for this?) our first ever color TV.  We bought it specifically so we could watch the moon landing in color.  Only problem was there was not a lot of color, or color transmitting cameras, during that very exciting, and sometimes fuzzy transmission.  Those were the days when it took a lot of fine tuning and color adjustment to get almost realistic colors on our TV but we did discover, to our delight, that Saturday morning cartoons showed up in beautiful color.  We had a lot of fun watching such classics as "Bulwinkle", "George of Jungle", "Dudly Doright" and so much more.  Life was fun in 1969.

too easy

I heard a few more details on the news this evening about the new gambling law in Indiana.  If I understand correctly you can now bet on team sports using an app on your phone or computer.  I'm not worried about this on a personal level because I don't follow sports with enough interest to ever bet on the outcome of a game.  Although I will admit I'm pleased with how well the US womens soccer team has been doing this week. However, if I hear that I could buy Power Ball tickets  with my phone I might be tempted.  I have saved myself money by not being patient enough to stand in line at a grocery store to buy lottery tickets.  Since I am a person who appreciates the convenience of being able to buy a book through Kindle at 11:00pm, I can imagine being very tempted by easy access lottery tickets.  If you already know that this can be done, don't tell me.

New laws

I heard a recap on this evening's news of some new laws just passed for the state of Indiana.  First, growing hemp will now be legal. Can legalized marijuana be far behind?  I have mixed feelings about this.  I do think medical marijuana can be a real blessing for some people.
The second law says that 'revenge porn' is illegal, punishable by up to a year in jail.  In case you're not sure what 'revenge porn' is (I had never heard of this) it happens when one party, upset over a romatic break up, shares lewd, revealing pictures of his or , ex, intended for private viewing, with the cyber world.  I can't help wondering why anyone would send pictures like that to anyone else in the first place.  Use a little common sense people.
And finally the third new law that attracted my attention.  Evidently more types of sports betting and casino gambling are now legal. This really won't impact me much unless someone floats a casino boat on the St. Mary's or builds a casino as part of Headwater's Park.  Ah well, a girl can dream.

and even more confusion

In the interest of fairness and curiosity, I watched the second half of the Democratic candidates' debate this evening.  Lots of interesting comments and a lot more shouting and interrupting than last night. I find that I have three favorites from last night and three from tonight, four women, two men.  I don't know how the 2020 election will play out but I really do hope that the Democratic party is smart enough to nominate a young, articulate, smart, experienced, young, female candidate.  We shall see.  

more confusion

It will come as no surprise to most of my friends that I frequently find things confusing.  Things like the necessity for traffic circles leave me wondering.  But in the last few days a couple of new things have me scratching my head.  First, over the last several years I've heard that coffee is good for you and is not good for you.  Just yesterday I learned that coffee can help you loose weight by activating your brown fat. I didn't even know I have different colors of fat.  Over the last few years I've heard that people should take a baby aspirin every day.  Then, not long ago, I heard that if you're over 70 and don't have heart problems you should not take baby aspirins.  However, after my recent surgery, my doctor told me to take two baby aspirins every day.  And right now I'm watching the first of the debates between 10 of the hopeful Democratic candidates for president.  Ten more will debate tomorrow evening.  Talk about confusing.  All I know at this point is who I won''t be voting for in 2020.

Just for laughs

I've mentioned before that I get lots of interesting catalogs from time to time.  I think this is because the lady who lived in this apartment before me bought everything through catalogs.  Today, one of my favorites arrived in the mail.  Not surprisingly, the name of the publication is "Catalog Favorites."  I have bought a few gifts from this catalog but I particularly enjoy it for the clever captions on the T-shirts they sell.  Here are a few of my favorites from this issue: 
"I thought the dryer made my clothes shrink, turns our it was the refrigerator."
"I thought growing old would take longer."
"Dusted once, it came back.  Not falling for that again."
"The 12 step chocoholics program - never be more than 12 steps away from chocolate."
"If you can't remember my name, just say 'chocolate.'  I'll turn around."
And of course my all time favorite: "Being cremated is my last hope for a smoking hot body."

Selective recuoeration

It's been almost two weeks now since I had my hip replacement surgery and I'm healing very well. I still use a walker some and my cane some, but more and more often I find myself walking around my apartment with no help at all.  However, I've noticed a strange phenomenon in my recovery process.  I seem to be able to find the energy I need to do the things I want to do and yet totally lack the ability to do anything unpleasant.  For example this past weekend I spent four hours in the library on Saturday, mostly sitting I admit, and about four hours at a graduation party on Sunday, again mostly sitting.  However today, when I had no appointments or committments, I convinced myself that I should spend the day pretty much just lying around, reading a good book and playing computer games.  I was sure I absolutely am not strong enough yet to vacuum the livingroom.  I love this selective recuperation.  Don't tell.

It was a good party

Today family and friends gathered to celebrate my grandson's graduation.  It was a very good party.  We "oldsters" - grandparents, uncle, parents and friends of parents spent a delightful few hours in the shady back yard in the gazebo, talking, laughing, eating and drinking and generally having a good time.  It was a beautiful afternoon weather wise.  Meanwhile the 20 or so high school friends gathered in the basement family room. From the sounds floating out the windows, they were having a very good time.  It is quite a good family room with a big screen TV, pool table, air hockey table, arcade games and more.  This was all very nice, as you can imagine, but one highlight for me was meeting my grandson's new girlfriend.  They have been dating for a month and a half now.  She's very cute and seemed quite nice.  I'm so happy for them but it was news to me. I know full well that first loves don't always last but isn't it fun to be in love? And speaking of loves, I also met my granddaughter's girfriend.  I knew about her but we had not yet met.  Also very cute and very nice.  Love is in the air.

Motherly pride

I spent part of today at the library with my son and granddaughter.  It was the annual "Local Artist Fair" and the second year that my son participated.  You have to submit work and be invited to participate. He does mostly pen and ink drawings, with a few watercolors.  It was fun to sit there with him and watch people stop, look at his work, enjoy the humor in many of his drawings and generally say really nice things about his art.  And even buy something.  He did learn a few things about marketing at last year's show.  First, he had business cards to pass out (he had neglected this last year), but not just any cards.  His cards had all the usual information on one side - name, website, phone number, etc.  What made the cards unique were the pictures on the flip side.  Instead of one design he had printed several different backs, each one a copy of one of his drawings.  People spent a lot of time trying to decide which card they wanted (the giraffe ballerina was very popular) and while they looked at the business cards they would talk, ask questions and gradually look at all of his work that was on display.  It was fun for me to hear all the positive comments.  I know that art isn't his 'real job' but he is talented and I am pleased that he continues to practice his art.  That's my boy!

I don't think so

I'll admit I'm watching more TV than usual these days, and shows that I don't always watch.  Right now I'm watching Master Chef.  I am, or have been over the years when I had a family to cook for, a competent cook.  I can make a lot of good crock pot meals, make really good spaghetti sauce (almost from scratch) and can bake cookies with the best of them, but I don't work well under pressure.  As their first challenge, the contestants had 10 minutes to perfectly chop three large onions, fillet a fish, and separate two dozen eggs.  Of course Chef Gordon demonstrated all of this in under six minutes.  It was interesting to see how to fillet a fish, not that I have any intention of ever filleting a fish but it's interesting to see how it's done.  As far as chopping onion, I really don't care if every little piece is the same size.  Who's going to be measuring onion cubes?  The part I really found interesting though was how the chef separated eggs.  My high school home ec teacher would be appalled.  She taught us to carefully crack the shell, split the shell, hold the yolk in one half, let all the white gooey stuff spill down out of the shell and into the bowl.  You can pour that yolk back and forth a few times to get all the white out.  Some years later, as a newly wed who cared about such things, I discovered that you can buy egg separators - clever little gadgets that hold the yolk while the white runs out.  All very nice.  That's not how Chef Ramsey does it.  He cracks an egg, spills the whole gooey mess into one "very clean" hand, lets the white run through his fingers into one bowl and plops the yolk into another.  I must admit it's fast but I'm not sure I will be adopting that technique.  

Enough already

I applaud physical fitness, within reason, but was hit with another (to me) impossible goal during a news report this evening.  It seems that after hearing about the 103 year old track star yesterday reporters were inspired to look for other late-in-life athletes.  Today it was an 85 year old pole vaulter who was applauded.  The report reminded me of a very funny line I read recently in a Phillip Gulley book.  He was describing the problems a new pastor was having trying to get his congregation to make changes.  In describing their response to what the pastor thougth was a great new innovation he had proposed, he said "that went over like a pregnant pole vaulter."  
On the other hand, I have a perfect excuse not to take up pole vaulting.  On my discharge after hip surgery I was given a list of activities I should no longer engage in.  Included on the list were things like down-hill skiing and marathon racing.  (Really not breaking my heart to give these up). While pole vaulting wasn't specifically mentioned, I'm going to assume it would qualify as a forbidden activity.  That's my excuse and I'm sticking to it.  

a challenge?

I am a person who enjoys a challenge, within reason.  I like to win at card games and mental challenges, but I've never been big on physical games.  A glaring lack of coordination contributes to that fact.  So today, one week after hip surgery, when I'm still using a walker to go farther than across the room, I was not as inspired as I should have been by the morning news report about a 103 year old woman who just won two gold medals in her age group in running.  She did the 100 yard dash in 50 seconds.  I'm not sure I could ever do that.  So I refuse to consider running races when I'm 103.  I even refuse to consider being 103.

a new favorite

Fort Wayne has many festivals during the summer and because I live downtown, I get to enjoy bits and pieces of all of them.  For me the food is a big part of the pleasure. Greek Fest, German Fest, Arab Fest, Rib Fest, Three Rivers Festival, and on and on; they all have delicious treats.  But recently I heard that in 2020 we will be blessed with another festival called (if I remember correctly) Pastry Fest.  The idea is that restaurants around town that specialize in sweets will offer special drink and dessert combos. Coffee and donuts, milk and cookies, tea and crumpets, you get the idea. Actually I have no idea what a crumpet is but I do like scones so maybe tea and scones.  Sounds good to me.  Everybody knows that dessert is the best part of a meal so why not celebrate it.  I will keep you posted as I learn more details of this excellent festival idea.  

Back again

Last Wednesday I had hip replacement surgery to repair damage from the half hip replacement surgery done when I broke my hip eight years ago. Exciting X-ray available upon request. The surgery went well, I was able to come home on Thursday and my daughter stayed with me for the last several days.  I really don't have any excuse for the long delay in getting back to blogging except that I keep falling asleep.  While I habitually stay up until at least 11pm, my daughter is used to going to bed at 9pm.  I was happy to adjust to her schedule.  You would think that, with all that extra sleep at night I would have been wide awake during the day but not so.  It seems I can fall asleep during a TV show, while reading or while having a conversation.  I blame it on the drugs but now I'm just taking Tylenol so I've run out of excuses.  But then, who needs excuses?  Zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz

I'm back

Actually, I've been here all along but my internet has been missing.  After lengthy phone conversations during which I finally convinced the sweet young thing on the other end that I was not going to climb up on a ladder to take apart the battery box up high in my hall closet she agreed to send someone out.  The soonest they could get someone here was today (5 days later).  I was told that the technician would be here sometime between 9am and 1pm.  He arrived at 12:15, figured out the problem very quickly and assured me that it was not something I could have fixed myself.  Also there was no charge.  One of the voices (I talked with four over a very long day) told me there might be a charge if I couldn't fix it myself. I asked the tech what the average life was for the big battery he replaced.  He said 3-5 years.  I've been here almost four years so that was pretty average.  So now my internet woes are over but I will not be blogging for a couple of days because I'm having hip replacement (actually re-replacement but that's a different story) surgery tomorrow morning.  Happily it won't impact my fingers so I'll be blogging again in a couple of days.  Stay tuned.

Germanfest

They tapped the keg today and by this evening Germanfest was in full swing.  All summer long I can sit on my balcony on weekend evenings and hear music from one festival or another.  There will be a festival every weekend from now through most of September.  I must say Germanfest music is my favorite, probably because I recognize much of the music.  I can't say the same about most of the other festivals.  I will be attending Germanfest, but not until Saturday.  I'll have lunch and my annual dark beer with friends and maybe, just maybe, weather permitting, I'll get to see some of the weiner dog races.  You've got to love those speedy, stubby legs and floppy ears.  

good intentions

I want to write a fascinating blog this evening but I keep falling asleep.  I think it's due to all the fresh air and exercise earlier today.  I've always wondered if that stuff is good for you.  What exercise you ask.  I walked a block this morning from my parking spot to the new YMCA in the Ash building downtown, so I could have a therapy session.  My insurance company would not pay for my upcoming surgery unless I had at least one therapy session  within the last six months.  It was a positive experience, unless you count the sight of me in some old exercise tights I found tucked away in my dresser drawer.  Not a pretty sight.  I did learn how to corectly do the series of exercises I'm supposed to be doing twice a day from now until forever. I also learned how my walker and cane (hopefully very temporary aids) should be adjusted to be the right height for me and how to walk with them.  So, lessons learned, I'm one step closer to surgery day.  

a new experience

I had a CT scan today.  This was a new experience for me and I didn't know what to expect.  I arrived early for my 3:30 appointment and was taken into the scan room by 3:25.  I laid down on the movable bed, was slid a little way into a big tube, and had my feet tied together to hold them in position. By 3:36 it was all over.  The hardest part was holding still. I also had to hold my breath briefly, three times when a weird voice sounded over a speaker saying "Hold your breath." and then "Breathe." in a Darth Vaderish sort of voice (if Darth was a woman). All in all, not too bad.  Tomorrow another step in my surgery prep - I'll be in a physical therapy session.  I suspect that won't be as much fun. 

Cruising

Ovee the years that I've been traveling outside the United States, about 12 years now, I've gone on five cruises on large cruise ships.  All of those trips were pleasantly uneventful (except for the ship that almost tipped over - but that's another story).  I've also gone on one river cruise and I really enjoyed that more than traveling on any of the large ships.  I think perhaps I find it reassuring to see land and feel like I could swim to shore in an emergency.  I have no idea if I could really do that but there's a lot better chance on a river than an ocean.  I started thinking about the pros and cons of cruise ship travel after seeing a story on this evening's news.  A huge (from the picture) cruise ship couldn't stop in time and plowed into a small boat and a pier in Venice.  There were several injuries on the small boat and pier and I expect that people on the big boat were pretty shaken up too, although they might not have felt a thing.  Evidently the impact sent some pretty powerful water surges through the canals also.  Poor Venice, it is such a beautiful city, one of my favorites, but it does have water problems.  So now my dilemma is do I go on a cruise on a river boat and risk being run down by a big boat, or go on one of the mega-cruisers?  For now I think I'll stick to flying and land travel.  Of course I have heard some scary stories about pilots and bus drivers.  But then again, statistically, most fatal accidents happen within 25 miles of home, so long distance travel is obviously safer.  This reminds me of a joke I heard recently.  A 102 year old man was asked if he thought he would live to be 103.  His response was "Oh yes, statistically very few people die between the ages of 102 and 103."

Wow!

That was some storm that just rolled through here.  Thunder and lightning don't scare me, at least when I'm inside.  But there was quite a lot of hail bouncing around on my balcony and banging against the glass doors. Nothing broke but I was beginning to wonder.  Through it all I could hear people under the canopy across the river celebrating a festival.  They were either having a great time or screaming hysterically.  I couldn't tell.