Good bye, March!

 Today was a chilly day; tomorrow looks like it will be even colder.  Possibly an April Fool's trick by Mother Nature.  But it might just work out alright for me.  A week ago I stopped by Kohl's in the hopes that I might find something springy to wear to church on Easter Sunday.  Instead, I walked out with a winter coat.  Well, I paid for it, and then I walked out with it.  For a couple of years now (I never rush into these things) I've been thinking that I could use a new winter coat.  My current coat has served me pretty well but it is about 15 years old and is beginning to look a lot like Colombo's old rain coat.  On elevator rides this winter I have admired the big puffy coats with fur edged hoods that several fellow tenants were wearing, so when I was strolling through Kohl's and saw a rack full of puffy coats with firm trimmed hoods I had to stop for a closer look.  That's when I discovered that they were wonderful warm Land's End coats marked down to half price.  They had my size in a color I like (charcoal) so I bought it, brought it home and hung it away in my coat closet, assuming that I wouldn't be wearing it until next winter.  But tomorrow I have a morning appointment and the temperature is supposed to be in the 30s.  Hello April!

Piano blues

 That 100 year old antique and antiqued piano traveled with us to Ohio and back to Fort Wayne, following in the track of my husband's career.  My son took piano lessons for a few years but his real interest was in the trombone and marching band.  While we were living in Ohio I decided to take piano lessons again.  After a few months I admitted that I still had no talent as a musician.  But we kept the piano and from time to time someone would play a Christmas carol or some other tune.  When we moved back to Fort Wayne we bought a house with a finished walk-out basement family room.  We decided that that was a good location for our piano, against an inside wall, on a solid foundation.  Did I mention it was really heavy?  Time passed, 30 some years worth, children grew, left home and married.  Grandchildren plunked on that old piano.  It lost a few ivories with the help of little fingers.  It was just there, not in the way, not a problem until I decided to downsize.  I hired a company to have an estate sale and they sold lots and lots of my stuff.  Do you know how many people need or want an old up-right piano? None.  Even the charities that I gave lots of unsold stuff to didn't want a piano.  But one of the charities, with a big moving truck, kindly moved the piano from the basement to the upstairs garage so whoever wanted it (I was still hopeful) would find it easier to move.  So there it sat while I wondered what to do with it.  The house sold quickly to a family with three teenage sons.  On one of their visits, I think it was during the home inspection, I casually asked the dad if they might want to keep the piano.  His face lit up like I had offered him a treasure.  Turns out one of his sons was in a band and would be thrilled to have a piano.  Problem solved.  I've often wondered if that piano is still in the garage of if they moved it inside but it's not my problem any more.

tickle those ivories

 Today is Piano Day.  It falls on the 88th day of the year for the number of keys on a piano.  I have had a long and checkered relationship with pianos.  When I was about 11, my mother bought an old upright piano and I took lessons.  She must have gotten a good deal on that piano because we certainly didn't have much money to spare.  My mom was  quite a good pianist.  Sadly, I was not.  I suspect it has something to do with having no sense of rhythm and being tone deaf.  That piano was put in my bedroom, the only place where there was room for it.  Later, my dad remodeled the house, creating a hallway but also making it impossible to move that piano out of the house.  Years later, when my father sold the house, the piano stayed until the buyers figured out how to get rid of it.  I was told they broke it into pieces and threw them out the window.  I don't know if that's true.  One summer (I must have been about 13) my glamorous cousin from Philadelphia came to visit.  She was a beautiful blonde who at one point in her young life played piano and sang in a night club.  While she was visiting she played that old piano like it had never been played before.  I think my father thought her music was a little too wild and loud but my brother and I thought it was wonderful.  Many years later I decided that my son should take piano lessons and I bought, you guessed it, an old heavy upright piano.  I clearly remember the language the movers used as they moved it into our house.  That was just the first of many moves and much strong language.  It actually was a good piano with a solid sound board and good tone.  Unfortunately, the former owner had decided it would be improved by being "antiqued."  It was a fad in the 70s.  To be continued.....

less paper

 Last Sunday I was very upset with the Journal Gazette because they announced that were not going to publish the weekly TV Journal as part of the Sunday paper anymore.  Now I must admit that one of the major reasons I subscribed to the Sunday paper was to get that weekly tv listing.  I also like the colored comics, the Sudoku puzzle and an occasional interesting article, but, if I'm being honest, I really kept subscribing for that weekly TV Journal.  I even called (and I bet I wasn't the only one) to express my displeasure.  It didn't change anything but I felt better.  But now, one week later, I've become so used to Googling the TV listings on my phone (yet another great use for my phone) that I'm not really missing the paper version.  Now I just need to decide if I want to keep getting the paper at all.  Perhaps I'll decide to save a tree, or at least a branch.  

family time

 Today is "Brother and Sister Day."  The very thought brings back lots of sweet memories and a few that are just weird.  For example, on the first day of my senior year in high school, and the first day of freshman year for my oldest brother, dear Mrs. Davis, who had been my math teacher all through high school, and who really liked me, looked at me when I walked into her class that afternoon, shook her finger at me and said "That Cohrs boy who's a freshman, he's not related to you, is he?"  I never learned exactly what he did, so early in the year, to earn her displeasure, but then I really didn't want to know.  I did admit that he was my brother and she just shook her head.  

And then there was my little brother, ten years younger than me.  When I was home for the summer after my first year of teaching, he surprised me one morning with a little gift in my car.  As I put my foot on the gas pedal, I felt something lumpy under my foot.  I took a good look and realized that there was a dead snake wrapped around the pedal.  I got out of that little old Corvair really fast.  And then I went in search of the little culprit.

Sweet memories.

What a Day!

 Today is Make Up Your Own Holiday Day.  And so I have decided, because I really didn't do anything very interesting today, that today is "Take a Break from Blogging Day."  See you tomorrow.

A great new invention??

 Today I was fitted for a new pair of glasses.  Even though my eyes are seeing so much better since my cataract surgery there is still some room for improvement, especially when it comes to help with close work.  With my daughter's help (she is always my fashion consultant when it comes to glasses) I looked at several pairs of glasses.  Because of Covid concerns they have a nifty system.  I was given a box in which to deposit the contaminated (ie. tried on) glasses so they could be sanitized before the next customer.  After trying on several pairs, one of which was cat eye shaped (shades of high school) I found a pair that I really like.  They're not that different than the glasses I was wearing before surgery but I liked those too.  After I made my selection I learned that these particular glasses come with magnetized sun glasses that fit perfectly on the glasses.  What a great idea.  So much better than drugstore clip-ons.  I was so excited about this marvelous new invention.  After I got home, a friend texted me to ask how my appointment went and I excitedly texted her back to tell her about the marvelous magnetized sun glasses.  Her response "Oh yes, I had a pair like that some years ago.  They were nice."  Well, I guess there really is nothing new under the sun, but I'm still excited.  I started wearing glasses when I was seven years old and it's still such fun to get a new pair.

a very positive experience

 I had my annual wellness check up today.  Not usually a particularly exciting event.  But today I met with a new doctor.  My previous GP took a new position out of state.  They seem to do that with some frequency.  I try not to take it personally.  What made today's appointment an interesting experience was the fact that my new doctor is a DO.  He's also young and cute which doesn't hurt.  Of course I could only guess at the good looks because of his mask but he does have nice eyes and good hair.  But back to his qualifications.  A DO or Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine is a "fully licensed physician...emphasizing a whole person approach to treatment and care.  (They are) trained to listen and partner with their patients....focus on prevention...strive to help you be truly healthy...not just free of symptoms."  It may sound a little "hippy dippy" but I really did appreciate the time he spent with me.  He asked lots of questions, answered my questions and generally seemed to take a real interest.  And then he recommended physical therapy for a neck problem I have, told me I was basically healthy and he would see me in a year.  I think I just enjoyed the fact that he took his time and didn't seem rushed at all.  Quite a nice change. 

the perfect lunch

 I don't usually do menu reviews in this blog but I had such a good lunch that I think it's worth mentioning.  A friend and I had lunch at Pastor's today.  I know it's still considered risky to eat in restaurants but we hadn't seen each other in months and we've both had our shots.  She's also full of chemo so she's feeling invincible.  But about my lunch, I like fresh vegetables and cheese and other goodies but I don't like lettuce.  So today I spotted something on the menu that I hadn't tried before, the hummus plate.  It was beautiful.  The lunch was presented on a large platter.  There were mounds of chopped tomatoes, hummus (of course), black olives, chopped cucumber, feta cheese and pita chips.  It was everything a person would want in a salad, without lettuce.  Excellent.  I think a person is expected to pile a little dab of everything on a pita chip (really a nice little square of chewy bread) and eat it like a little open faced sandwich.  I, however, mushed everything together, except the bread of course, and it made the best salad ever. I recommend it.

a Covid Consequence

 This morning, immediately after our church service, we held our annual meeting, which, as you may have guessed, we are required to have once a year.  Because of ongoing pandemic precautions, we held the meeting in the sanctuary (plenty of space) and did not have our usual meal.  With lunch and everything, our annual meetings typically run about an hour and a half to two hours.  Today we set a new record.  Start to finish, including a special award, we were finished in 25 minutes.  I have a feeling this might become the new normal.

Reliving my youth?

 This morning I participated in a protest.  It wasn't a huge protest but it was heartfelt.  There were about 50 of us from First Pres standing in front of the courthouse waving signs that said things like "stop Asian hate" and "love your Asian neighbors."  We were demonstrating in support of the Korean members of our congregation.  Lots and lots of drivers beeped in what sounded like a friendly way as they drove by.  As I stood there waving my sign I remembered other protests long long ago.  Now, lest you think I was a wild youth protesting the Vietnam War, I really only remember two demonstrations from back in the day.  The first one was a 'sit in,' actually a sit out, when George Wallace came to give a speech at Ball State during the height of the de-segregation, which he was against.  Many of us sat on the lawn and refused to go inside to hear his rant.  The only other time I remember demonstrating was at a Lutheran Women's regional gathering in Loiusville.  We all walked several blocks in a large group singing hymns.  Such a wild and crazy life I've had.

laugh out loud

 According to a list I sometimes consult, today is Let's Laugh Day and also Poultry Day.  I don't believe this is a coincidence.  To make it even better my west coast brother informed me that it is also National Chocolate Caramel Day and National Backyard Day.  So enjoy a caramel, and laugh at those people who still think it's a great idea to raise poultry in their backyards.  And, oh yes, happy First Day of Spring Eve.  

so daring...

 Today was a rainy blah day.  I mean really blah.  It rained all day.  However some really good things came out of it.  First, early in the day I had an appointment with my eye doctor.  The report was good, everything has healed just fine since my cataract surgery.  But the best part was when I walked across the parking lot, still in the pouring rain, got in my car, ready to leave and realized that I didn't need to clean raindrops off my glasses.  This is almost as good as not having glasses steam up when I'm wearing a mask.  This being able to see without glasses is really fun.  But the very best thing I did all day, the one and only sure cure for a gloomy blah day, came this evening.  I met some friends at my favorite Mexican restaurant.  We filled up on hot spicy food, celebrated the fact that we've all had our shots (that sounds a little like dogs, doesn't it?), and, just to make sure we were over the blahs, tried a delicious new dessert.  When I walked out of the restaurant it had stopped raining and "the sun will come out tomorrow."

A new concept

 Today I had my taxes "done." I go to the same tax guy every year but this year was different.  I handed him all my paperwork and he got to work.  He sorted through all the papers, typed in lots of numbers, let the computer do it's computing and finally turned to me with a smile.  Yes a smile.  At least I think he was smiling, it's hard to tell with masks.  His eyes seemed to be smiling.  Then he spoke those magical words "Your refund will be $........"  REFUND!!! Did someone say refund?  It's a concept that's pretty foreign to me.  This is the first time in at least five years that I've had a refund.  Mind you, it wasn't a huge refund.  I spent about half the amount in the grocery store later today. The reason for this largess from Uncle Sam is simple.  In 2020, the year of the pandemic, I didn't go anywhere.  No flights to see family.  No great vacation in some far away place.  I was supposed to go to Switzerland but that didn't happen.  So now I know, if I want refunds I simply need to stop digging into my savings to finance trips.  Sorry, that's not going to happen.

avoiding the danger

 Today is the 15th of March, otherwise known as The Ides of March.   It has the reputation of being a bad luck day, a little like Friday the 13th.  The Ides of March in 44AD was certainly a bad day for Julius Caesar since he was assassinated on that day.  But for me it just means that we are half way through March,  Hooray!  Today was the kind of day, icy and slushy, that makes me really look forward to April.  Only sixteen days to go.  Hang in there.

I do have a question.

 Today is International Ask a Question Day and I do have a question.  Who invented Daylight Savings Time?  Actually I have another question.  Why?  Maybe, when farmers needed more daylight hours in the field it was a good idea, although I really never bought that explanation.  I mean it's still the same number of hours of daylight, no matter what time you say it is.  For years Indiana got along without springing forward and falling back.  I am happy to report though that I did remember to set all of my clocks forward before I went to bed last night, at least the ones that don't do it themselves.  And then, and this is even more exciting, when I got in my car today (yes, I actually did go to real church this morning) I was able to reset my car clock on the first try.  This was no small feat.  It's taken me five years, twice a year, to learn how to do that.  

Oh, by the way, happy Pi Day.  I could go for some pie right now. 

The saga continues.

 I know I said I would stop writing about disconnecting my landline, but you will need to indulge me for one more day.  A package arrived for me this afternoon from UPS and that was good because I got to use our new high security system for accessing packages that are safely stored in a locked room.  I was emailed a code which I entered on the touch pad by the door.  The door opened and I walked right in.  Very nice. The package was right on the shelf indicated.  It wasn't until I got to my apartment and looked it over carefully that I realized it was from Frontier.  They had promised me some upgraded internet equipment (at no cost) and surprise, surprise, instead of sending someone to install it they sent me the do-it-yourself kit, with careful instructions of course.  Unfortunately the instructions seem to be written in Greek.  There are lots of words I don't understand.  Now I did manage to install my own Roku stick some months ago, but this seems a little more challenging.  So I did what any self-respecting person who knows their limits would do.  I called for tech support.  My son will be over tomorrow.  

still learning

 I was told by Frontier that they would turn off my landline and upgrade my internet service between 8 and 12 this morning.  Silly me, I assumed that meant someone would be coming to my apartment to work on the equipment.  I knew how to unplug my landline phones and delete all the stored information (just names and numbers, we're not talking high tech here) so I did that and waited and waited.  Not to worry, I had plenty to do but still I wondered.  Noon came and went and no one came to my door.  I usually text my west coast brother around noon each day so, today in my text, I mentioned that the Frontier person was running late.  He pointed out that no one was likely to show up and suggested that I check to see if my phone had been disconnected.  He also said I should check my internet connection because when he and his wife tried the same thing a couple of years ago, the company cancelled his internet instead of his landline.  So I dialed my old number and got the message that it was no longer a working number.  Then I checked my email on my laptop and saw that I had received some new messages so I guess all is well and I can stop writing about this silliness.

Wouldn't you know it?

 Today is Landline Telephone Day.  Tomorrow I'm having my landline disconnected.  How's that for timing?  Since I use my cell phone for 95% of all my communication needs, at least if you don't count email (I do use my laptop for some of those), I think I'll get along OK.  It's actually a logical progression in my phone journey through the years.  When I was very young I had a story book with a picture of a candle stick phone and I always thought it would be great to have a phone like that.  I never got that phone but over the years our family had an old time crank phone (a big box that hung on the wall), a phone on the wall in the kitchen with a long cord, a princess phone in my New York apartment, and finally, after I was married, two phones, one in the kitchen and one in our bedroom.  Car phones the size of a shoe box, and office phones with multiple extensions were also part of my life.  At home we evolved to cordless phones - such a convenience.  The landline phones I have now, one in the living room and one in the bedroom, are the last ones my husband ever bought and they came from Radio Shack.  Do you remember Radio Shack?  So now my,  phone will be a little rectangular slab, unlike anything I could have imagined as a child, that lets me type messages, listen to recorded books, play games, google information, order groceries, reserve library books, and yes even make phone calls.  Life is such fun.  

another day, another walk

 I need to stop walking like this.  Walking is supposed to be good for my health, but walking followed by a carrot cake chaser (see yesterday's blog) seems to defeat the purpose.  Once again today it was a lovely balmy day and I felt compelled to take another walk, but this time south out of my parking lot, avoiding Hall's completely.  I strolled through Freimann Square, past Anthony Wayne's statue, across the street; and wouldn't you know it, Pembroke Bakery opened its door and sucked me in.  Since I really did need some bread it wasn't a wasted trip.  I bought a loaf of sourdough and a loaf of their wonderful apple bread.  While I was waiting for it to be sliced, I happened to spy a little package of chocolate chip cookies on the shelf, and, wouldn't you know it, that little package hopped right into my hand.  It's a mystery how that happens.  I've noticed it in grocery stores also.  Mystery items, usually sweet, seem to find their way into my cart.  I was thinking that tomorrow I'm just taking a walk to church to pick up some stuff.  Then I remembered, the stuff I'm picking up is a lunch from Casa's. It's a charity lunch for SCAN so it's for a good cause, but that doesn't make it low calorie.  I may be the only person ever to gain 10 pounds taking walks.

The best of intentions

Today was a lovely 60 something degree day (rare in March) so I decided to take a walk.  I walked one of my favorite one mile routes around the Old Fort.  I know walking is good for me so I was feeling pretty virtuous as I started out.  At the end of my walk I passed Hall's Gas House and decided to pick up some of their yummy seared tuna for supper.  Still feeling ok, it's a fairly low carb meal.  Then as I was waiting for my order the lady ahead of me ordered carrot cake and that sounded so good.  I asked if they could add a piece of carrot cake to my order and they were happy to do so.  In my defense, I only ate half of the piece tonight.  Those slices are huge and slathered in cream cheese frosting.  The weather is supposed to be warm again tomorrow so I will probably take another walk but by another route.  Another of my favorites takes me through a park and around the courthouse.  Of course if I go that way I'll pass a bakery on my way home.  This city is fraught with perils.

It's a fine line.

 I had my second Covid shot yesterday and, really, I haven't had any problems.  My arm is a little bit sore and I have felt very tired all day, but certainly not incapacitated.  About that tiredness, I must admit that I may be "milking" the situation.  I opted for couch church this morning because I just felt too tired to get dressed up and drive the eight blocks to church.  Or, did I use that perceived weariness as an excuse to stay at home?  Oh well, that's enough soul searching for one night.  I had my second Covid shot yesterday and I'm really tired.  

cutting the cord

 I decided today, after a lengthy conversation with Manny (yes a real live person) at Frontier, that I will discontinue my land line service. This is a bit of a jolt since I have had this land line number for 39 years but I think I will adjust. A Frontier service person is coming on Thursday to update, at no charge, my internet service and my land line won't be disconnected until then, so I have a little time to consider my decision.  I have, however, been considering this move for some time.  When I asked my daughter for advice she just said keep your cell phone charged.  Not a problem.  My son's reaction was "I didn't know you still had the land line."  The truth is the vast majority of my phone-type communications are done on my cell phone, often by text.  As I said, I have been considering this for some time and not just because I can save $50 a month.  I had been sensing for some time that my land line was becoming more of an irritant than a convenience.  So I did a little survey. Over the last two weeks my land line has rung 62 times.  Of those calls I only answered three, because I knew who was calling. None of the other calls left messages.  Several of them showed "possible scam" in the caller ID line or the name of a city.  That one always makes me laugh.  It's hard to imagine a whole city calling me.  Do I really need this service?  I think not.

Show Choir then and now

 This evening I attended a performance of the Carroll Show Choir which is quite good and has won several awards this year.  My granddaughter is in the show choir band which means I couldn't see her but I could hear her clarinet solo.  From Girl Scouts to Batman, I enjoyed the whole show.  I did have to reflect though on how things have changed.  When I was in high school I sang in the choir.  They didn't call it show choir, just choir. I stood in the back row because I was one of the tallest and we all stood still in rows and sang show tunes.  One year it was My Fair Lady and another year it was The Music Man.  We didn't move, we certainly weren't choreographed.  We just stood in rows and sang. 28 years later I watched the Carroll Show Choir perform when my son was in the show choir band.  They were already winning prizes and moving in nice dance moves around the stage but nothing like tonight.  I came away feeling like I had been watching a Broadway show.  Between the rap tunes, the rapid costume changes, the constant movement on stage, and some great solo voices it was "a really good show."

motivation

 I admit I am a less than zealous housekeeper.  I don't feel compelled to keep the place looking perfect all the time.  Life is too short.  However, with the proper motivation, I can spring into action.  Today for example a friend was planning to stop over about 4:00 this afternoon, so I got busy and did some dusting and vacuuming (well actually Rhoda the Roomba did the vacuuming) and picking up.  By 3:00 things were looking good.  At 3:30 my friend called and cancelled.  She had a valid reason and we will reschedule so I was not upset.  In fact, as I looked around the living room I was impressed by how nice it looked.  I really should do this more often (have company I mean).  Happily many of my friends have now had both of their shots so maybe, just maybe, having company will become part of the new normal.  Hold that thought.

I don't usually hold a grudge.

 About 15 years ago I had a frustrating experience at Meijers and I haven't shopped there since, until today.  It was Christmas time, my first Christmas as a widow, and two of my grandchildren, ages three and five, were living with me while their mother was deployed in Iraq.  So yes, looking back on it, I was probably feeling a little stressed.  I had selected some really great gifts for my grandchildren, including one very large package, a foosball table, and was in line to check out.  During the check out process I was asked if I wanted to apply for a Meijer's credit card.  I was assured that I could save 10% on my purchase. I thought ok, I'll save a little money and pay it off next month and it was a large enough purchase that 10% would make a difference.  So I said "Sure, sign me up."  Then I was told that I would need to go to the service desk to do the paper work.  So I did, pushing my very bulky overflowing shopping cart, filled out the paperwork, was assured that I was approved, got back in line and finally made it to check out where the cute young clerk told me that I could not use my new credit card for more than $60 on my first use.  It was a rule.  No one had mentioned that little fact.  have you heard of seeing red?  It really happens.  I wasn't about to put back that foosball table so I paid for my purchases on another card, walked out, loaded my car, and never went back to Meijers again.  I guess you might say I've been holding a grudge and I supposed I was for the first several years then I just got out of the habit of going there.  Today, though, I went to Meijers.  Only because a friend who doesn't drive needed a ride.  Since I was there I actually went inside for a while.  I bought three items, did self checkout (not taking any chances on someone offering me a credit card) and walked out.  I think I'm good for another 15 years.  

Too much of a good thing?

Today is Read Across America Day.  It's also National Old Stuff Day.  That seems like an appropriate combination since my shelves are filled with old books.  Not antiques mind you, just old, some that get re-read and others that are simply kept for sentimental reasons.  But back to this idea of reading across America.  I know that for some it means bringing celebrities into classrooms to read to the students, which is a great idea, but I have a friend who has a different interpretation. She is a travel buddy of mine and I have watched her read not only across America but also across a good part of the world.  This lady always has a book in her purse and on busses, ships, trains or planes, while others are sleeping, enjoying exotic or dramatic scenery or taking pictures she's reading.  She always packs seven or eight paperback books for any trip and reads them all.  Now I will admit that I have read books in airports on four different continents but there really isn't that much to see in airports unless you like to shop, and that's a whole other story.  I guess the moral of this ramble is moderation.  Reading is wonderful, but there is a time and a place for everything.  

not such a great idea

 The idea of legally raising chickens in your back yard, in town, seems to have come up again.  They call them 'urban chickens.'  They are talking about it on the evening news.  My question is why?  I know that the idea of "free range" chickens roaming around you (hopefully fenced) back yard sounds enticing.  Fresh eggs whenever you want them, well whenever you want them if the chickens are laying.  Did you know that eggs don't come out of the chicken all clean and candled (if you don't know what that is you should learn)?  And, if these are truly free range chickens, they won't always lay their eggs in the cozy little coop you have built for them to keep them alive during Indiana winters. In the hot summer they can get quite smelly if you don't find them hidden in the grass, and inspire  your father to say some colorful words if he runs over them with his lawnmower (the eggs not the chickens). And then, of course, there is the lure of roasting your own home grown chickens, that is if you haven't made pets of them.  If you plan to eat them, don't name your chickens.   You probably should practice plucking a friend's chicken before you invest in a flock of your own. Did you know that they really do run around after their heads are cut off?  My husband's mother raised chickens in their backyard when he was very young and he was allowed to play with those cute little chicks.  He never could stand to eat chicken.