Sort of like that old song. I can't remember the name but it was 60s or 70s. I can hear the melody in my head. It's keeping me waiting... ah ah oh something something something. Yeah, music and I aren't the best of friends. I love to listen but was born with a broken sense of rhythm or whatever you call it. My family and friends always say that I can't carry a tune in a bucket. Oh Yeah!
Anyway, I've been avoiding the basket full of bill copies, income statements, deductions, etc. for the .... taxes... Yeah! Yuck, it's that time again and I've been putting it off. Hoping my husband would suddenly learn TurboTax and say 'Honey, let me do it this year!" Yeah, that's NEVER going to happen. He says he's so bad with money that he won't even use an ATM. Just hands me any checks to deposit. I pay the bills, earn the paycheck etc. He gets Social Security disability finally after having a wait and a law firm and a judge... it's a long story. So he's a semi-retired journalist that can write well and cook well. Tool using that's a NO, Lawn work that's a NO, Financial stuff that's a NO, but he is a very good cook AND folds the laundry, keeps the cat & dog from killing each other and writes columns (for free) for the Dallas Morning News and anyone else that will publish his rather left of center, humourous, chatty columns. He's a GREAT writer and editor.
He knows trivia about sports, music, movies and other stuff that no one should know all there is to know about it. All the names of the high school sports teams in Texas. Not kidding... really. We drive through community XYZ and he says, oh, they are the Fighting Farmers of XYZ High School. It's quite amusing at times and annoying at others. I won't even try to guess the name of a singer or band when hearing a tune anymore because he always knows the answer. Always! And watching old movies is annoying because he says you know who that is.... and he/she was in x, y and z movies or on TV in what series? It's extremely annoying, really!
Oh, well time to sign off here, off Facebook and Farmville (my addiction of the last year) and buckle down to sort out a bushel basket of papers. Organization is not one of my strong suits... I used to be organized until I found out it's easier to do it in one fell swoop before tax time or a couple of times per year. That's it for my financial paper work and bill copies. Just semi-annually at most. No wonder I've got credit card debt, I can't find the checkbook either... Just kidding. No the credit card debt is another long story... for later.
This is your intrepid tax preparer, blogger, SAP configurator, Toastmaster, former Girl Scout, Ford owner, dog herder, human owned by a cat and hopeful eventual rose grower signing off after procrastinating my way through this blog posting.
Sunday, March 28, 2010
Sunday, December 27, 2009
Stove Top Bisquits
Post on Suzanne's blog... Chickens In The Road (the best farm blog)
I'll tell you my Dad's secret (he's long gone) for camp cooking bisquits on the stove top. In our case it was on an old two burner butane stove with exposed everything on case iron feet. It was at our antique former World War II quansit hut cabin in the woods, that had electric power but no running water or toliet.... just an outhouse. I'll take a photo of the old outhouse, if I get up there again. The cabin roof is falling in, so I've saved a few items but not the two burner butane stove. Some VANDAL destroyed my Dad's old handmade brick BBQ (it was HUGE with a chimney up the back) made in 1950 something by him, George A. Zoeller, and his best friend, Joe K., a polish bricklayer.
Anyway, he had a two sided omelet pan (plain steel, not cast iron). He put store bought bisquits into one side, squeezed together. Cooked them on top of the stove, as there was no oven in the cabin just the stove and the huge BBQ pit outside. When he thought one side was done, he flipped it over to cook the other side. That might work on a wood stove too.
I think I'll start posting again about my memories of growing up in the 60's and 70's and 80's in San Antonio and spending many weekends at the cabin at Medina Lake (Bandera County). I'm GOING TO DO IT! SOON!
Thanks to many of my favorite bloggers for inspiration: Chickens in the Road (Suzanne McMinn), Svensto (Mrs. G), Daily Coyote (Shreve Stockdon), Dooce (Heather Armstrong), Sweet Juniper, This Fish Needs a Bicycle (Heather Hunter) and many others.
I'll tell you my Dad's secret (he's long gone) for camp cooking bisquits on the stove top. In our case it was on an old two burner butane stove with exposed everything on case iron feet. It was at our antique former World War II quansit hut cabin in the woods, that had electric power but no running water or toliet.... just an outhouse. I'll take a photo of the old outhouse, if I get up there again. The cabin roof is falling in, so I've saved a few items but not the two burner butane stove. Some VANDAL destroyed my Dad's old handmade brick BBQ (it was HUGE with a chimney up the back) made in 1950 something by him, George A. Zoeller, and his best friend, Joe K., a polish bricklayer.
Anyway, he had a two sided omelet pan (plain steel, not cast iron). He put store bought bisquits into one side, squeezed together. Cooked them on top of the stove, as there was no oven in the cabin just the stove and the huge BBQ pit outside. When he thought one side was done, he flipped it over to cook the other side. That might work on a wood stove too.
I think I'll start posting again about my memories of growing up in the 60's and 70's and 80's in San Antonio and spending many weekends at the cabin at Medina Lake (Bandera County). I'm GOING TO DO IT! SOON!
Thanks to many of my favorite bloggers for inspiration: Chickens in the Road (Suzanne McMinn), Svensto (Mrs. G), Daily Coyote (Shreve Stockdon), Dooce (Heather Armstrong), Sweet Juniper, This Fish Needs a Bicycle (Heather Hunter) and many others.
Monday, August 31, 2009
A Really Rambling Story Tonight
Tonight, I'm unable to sleep. I took 3 risperdal and that hasn't helped. My doctor said to take 2 in the morning and two at night but last night 3 helped me to sleep. Not happening tonight.
I'm listening to my iPod nano. Something that I always find soothing when I'm experiencing a manic episode. My music collection includes Sky Prayer by Alice Gomez. It's native american flute music and more. Very moving and soothing. She went to high school with me at Edison HS in San Antonio.
Alice is an amazing talented woman. I knew her back in the high school days. We were classmates in Mr. Jordan's 10th grade English class. It takes me back to think of Alice. She was a drummer and precussionist back then. Played in the marching band and stage band. And she was great! Her father had organized the Gomez family into a band also. All were gifted musicians.
Alice is now Dr. Gomez at San Antonio College as an assistant professor. I hope to go and see her live when I next visit San Antonio to see my new niece Victoria Lynn.
I'm listening to my iPod nano. Something that I always find soothing when I'm experiencing a manic episode. My music collection includes Sky Prayer by Alice Gomez. It's native american flute music and more. Very moving and soothing. She went to high school with me at Edison HS in San Antonio.
Alice is an amazing talented woman. I knew her back in the high school days. We were classmates in Mr. Jordan's 10th grade English class. It takes me back to think of Alice. She was a drummer and precussionist back then. Played in the marching band and stage band. And she was great! Her father had organized the Gomez family into a band also. All were gifted musicians.
Alice is now Dr. Gomez at San Antonio College as an assistant professor. I hope to go and see her live when I next visit San Antonio to see my new niece Victoria Lynn.
Friday, August 28, 2009
Family... is there a gene I didn't get?
Sometimes family can be annoying. Like when they try to tell you that you are wrong. Wrong. Wrong. Those photos, letters, stuff that your Dad left you in his garage that you cleaned out when he had a stroke and left you in charge... well they aren't yours. No they belong to the "family". What about the stuff that those family members' have, do I get to take their stuff? NO. It's a big fat smelly mess. I just wrote a two page letter to my two Aunts who are trying to bully me into giving my family history inheritance away because the letters were from my grandmother to my grandfather and vice versa. So they have more rights to them, even though most people would have tossed that stuff 50 years ago. My Dad didn't, he just put those two old trunks in the garage and they stayed there for 30 plus years. I rescued the stuff from the trash that it could have become. It's MINE! So there!!!! MINE!!!!
I didn't get any inheritance except a couple of trunks, a bit of china, some immediate family memorabilia and photos, my mom's jewelry that my sister hocked once upon a time in 1994, and that's about it. No millions no thousands no hundreds, just lots of bills in 1994. Then I paid for 5 years of many visits to the nursing home with blood, sweat and miles on my Saab. Then I paid for his cremation and burial (in the Sunset mauseleum with my mom). Then I cried alot. That was my inheritance.
My sister... nothing else needs to be said about her... She has been my Chinese obligation from my mother. Take care of your sister she said in 1987 when she was dying. Beckie was 11, I was 22... January 1983. My father became an alcholic and retired to take care of my sister. He lived on SS plus a small IRA, rent house from my grandmother and what I gave him. I bought him a house when my sister was starting high school so that she wouldn't go to high school in the barrio that our neighborhood was turning into. My Jr. High school had knife fights when I went there. My high school had security guards. I grew up in a working class neighborhood that has gone down hill, way down hill.
Is there a family gene that I didn't get? Insanity? Irrationalness? Spite? ??? LOL I'm keeping the f-ing letters, so there!
I didn't get any inheritance except a couple of trunks, a bit of china, some immediate family memorabilia and photos, my mom's jewelry that my sister hocked once upon a time in 1994, and that's about it. No millions no thousands no hundreds, just lots of bills in 1994. Then I paid for 5 years of many visits to the nursing home with blood, sweat and miles on my Saab. Then I paid for his cremation and burial (in the Sunset mauseleum with my mom). Then I cried alot. That was my inheritance.
My sister... nothing else needs to be said about her... She has been my Chinese obligation from my mother. Take care of your sister she said in 1987 when she was dying. Beckie was 11, I was 22... January 1983. My father became an alcholic and retired to take care of my sister. He lived on SS plus a small IRA, rent house from my grandmother and what I gave him. I bought him a house when my sister was starting high school so that she wouldn't go to high school in the barrio that our neighborhood was turning into. My Jr. High school had knife fights when I went there. My high school had security guards. I grew up in a working class neighborhood that has gone down hill, way down hill.
Is there a family gene that I didn't get? Insanity? Irrationalness? Spite? ??? LOL I'm keeping the f-ing letters, so there!
Monday, July 13, 2009
Our Trip West
I'm not yet up to writing much more about the trip. If you want to see photos, then take a look at my Facebook page or Chuck's blog http://chuckbloom.blogspot.com. I especially recommend his entries up to the last one http://chuckbloom.blogspot.com/2009/07/day-19-plano-home-is-where-la-z-boy-is.html Home is where the la-z-boy is! It sure is and now I have 1/2 of the pet population back home with us. We picked up BeeGee the cat from the vet a bit ago. She's starved for attention and rubbing my legs as I type. I'm giving her some solo time before I pickup her nemeisis, the dog Seamus, from 4 Paws Inn. The inn is a great dog B&B with A/C for the dogs in individual dog runs, walks 4 times per day, grooming and personal attention to the canine residents.
Thursday, July 9, 2009
California Dreamin'
I wasn’t dreaming of going to California much. It was a few days with my husband, Chuck’s, family, period, end of story. Not prepared to have fun, experience community, feel love, enjoy myself much or have a wonderful time. It was all of that and more.
My husband’s only sister, Vicki, and her 12 year old daughter, Alissa, live in Southern California, in Riverside. Riverside is a wonderful place, especially since it is NOT L.A. I had one visit to L.A. a few years ago, and it was enough to last me for my lifetime. Not that L.A. is bad or anything, it’s just too big, too polluted, too hot in the summer and not very friendly to visitors. Riverside is friendly. Riverside is easy to get around and close to other places including one hour to the beach, if there is no traffic.
Speaking of the beach, I had a lovely afternoon, at Laguna Beach on July 3rd. But the traffic was bumper to bumper when we got within a few miles of it. We travelled there on some rather expensive toll roads, but then had to get on a smaller four lane road that went down to two lanes. Not tourist friendly but it was a beautiful cool day and the beach was full of people enjoying themselves. We did too. Ending the visit with a trip to a cute little ice cream shop. A mango-orange-banana smoothie hit the spot after being in the sun for several hours. I had the sunburn to remember it by.
Speaking of food, we had a memorable meal at The Mission Inn in downtown Riverside. The inn has several restaurants with the best having an inside courtyard which reminded me of Mexico City or being in Europe. The seafood buffet was gourmet quality and the service rivaled the best restaurants that I’ve experienced in the past. Lovely company of Chuck, Vicki and Alissa; incredible food and desserts!; a beautiful evening with cool weather and an almost full moon in the night sky.
Speaking of the night sky, it was of course not too clear it being still near to Los Angeles. We visit three evening minor league baseball fans. Chuck is a die-hard baseball fanatic. Especially for visiting minor league teams on our vacations. He’s attended six games so far… Oklahoma City, Albuquerque, Las Vegas, San Bernardino, Rancho Cucamonga and Lake Elsinore. He has enjoyed every minute of every game. On the 4th of July, we saw the Inland Empire 66ers play and then a wonderful fireworks display. A day full of patriotic symbols that I hold dear. Baseball being one of them, at least as far as Chuck is concerned. It’s almost a religion to him.
Speaking of religion, I had the opportunity to visit a local Riverside church… All Souls Unitarian Universalist Church. I’ve been a practicing UU since 1993 when I joined a local Plano church. It’s a church that believes in community, service to others and being a welcoming place for people of all faiths, those searching for their religious home or just a place to be themselves. It’s a place that like Toastmasters, where I can be true self. The Riverside UU church was a welcoming place full of friendly folks that were happy to have a Texas visitor. I listened to an uplifting service with good music and a diversity that’s nice to find at any church. I hope that they continue to bring a sense of justice, service, love and community to people entering their doors.
I walked through a door to California and found love, community, fun, good food and cool weather. I’ve been California dreaming’ and it was good.
My husband’s only sister, Vicki, and her 12 year old daughter, Alissa, live in Southern California, in Riverside. Riverside is a wonderful place, especially since it is NOT L.A. I had one visit to L.A. a few years ago, and it was enough to last me for my lifetime. Not that L.A. is bad or anything, it’s just too big, too polluted, too hot in the summer and not very friendly to visitors. Riverside is friendly. Riverside is easy to get around and close to other places including one hour to the beach, if there is no traffic.
Speaking of the beach, I had a lovely afternoon, at Laguna Beach on July 3rd. But the traffic was bumper to bumper when we got within a few miles of it. We travelled there on some rather expensive toll roads, but then had to get on a smaller four lane road that went down to two lanes. Not tourist friendly but it was a beautiful cool day and the beach was full of people enjoying themselves. We did too. Ending the visit with a trip to a cute little ice cream shop. A mango-orange-banana smoothie hit the spot after being in the sun for several hours. I had the sunburn to remember it by.
Speaking of food, we had a memorable meal at The Mission Inn in downtown Riverside. The inn has several restaurants with the best having an inside courtyard which reminded me of Mexico City or being in Europe. The seafood buffet was gourmet quality and the service rivaled the best restaurants that I’ve experienced in the past. Lovely company of Chuck, Vicki and Alissa; incredible food and desserts!; a beautiful evening with cool weather and an almost full moon in the night sky.
Speaking of the night sky, it was of course not too clear it being still near to Los Angeles. We visit three evening minor league baseball fans. Chuck is a die-hard baseball fanatic. Especially for visiting minor league teams on our vacations. He’s attended six games so far… Oklahoma City, Albuquerque, Las Vegas, San Bernardino, Rancho Cucamonga and Lake Elsinore. He has enjoyed every minute of every game. On the 4th of July, we saw the Inland Empire 66ers play and then a wonderful fireworks display. A day full of patriotic symbols that I hold dear. Baseball being one of them, at least as far as Chuck is concerned. It’s almost a religion to him.
Speaking of religion, I had the opportunity to visit a local Riverside church… All Souls Unitarian Universalist Church. I’ve been a practicing UU since 1993 when I joined a local Plano church. It’s a church that believes in community, service to others and being a welcoming place for people of all faiths, those searching for their religious home or just a place to be themselves. It’s a place that like Toastmasters, where I can be true self. The Riverside UU church was a welcoming place full of friendly folks that were happy to have a Texas visitor. I listened to an uplifting service with good music and a diversity that’s nice to find at any church. I hope that they continue to bring a sense of justice, service, love and community to people entering their doors.
I walked through a door to California and found love, community, fun, good food and cool weather. I’ve been California dreaming’ and it was good.
Tuesday, June 30, 2009
Sunday, June 21, 2009
Seamus Shortcake, Media Darling
The dog is in the news today! Click the link in the title... Chuck has immortalized him in print in the Dallas Morning News.
Tuesday, April 14, 2009
We Adopted a GOAT
Seamus once again lived up to his shelter name today. I came home to find a cardboard box destroyed on the living room floor with styrofoam blocks chewed to bits. He's a goat in dog's clothing. His shelter name was RIGHT. What do we do now???
Sunday, April 12, 2009
Happy Easter!
I wish I had some great wisdom to impart. I've been silent for way too long. Seamus is stealing all my spare moments. That and commuting. I can zone out now with the best of them. I take mini-naps on the way to downtown. Then on the way home I look out the window and listen to people or my iPod. I like to look for the funky boxy cliff houses just south of the Forest Lane station. They lean precariously over a cliff looking so out of place. I've got to find out what neighborhood that is and go see their fronts.
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