In chatting with my granddaughter today, who is off for a day of fun at the local waterpark, I remembered my fear of roller coasters. Currently called Coasterphobic by the experts - it means a fear of falling, a fear of being out of control. People like me are the people who sheepishly hold your pocketbooks and the coats. We are the bench warmers. We are the coaster chickens. We are the white-knuckled, weak-kneed wimps who are looked upon with pity by those waiting in line.
Why am I this way? When I was a young girl, about 13, my mother and I and my younger siblings went to Cincinnati to see the zoo. Somewhere during that trip there were rides and I wanted to ride the Mickey Mouse wooden roller coaster. I had never been on a ride in a fair and that looked like the most fun to my immature eyes. Well, by the time I got off I was terrified and swore I'd never, ever again get on anything resembling that!! And I didn't.
UNTIL
A trip with my family to Disney World. Sonny was just a young lad then, tall enough to get onto Space Mountain. He didn't want to go with CD and Nelle as much as they tried to talk him into it. I didn't want to go. My palms were sweating, but as a mother - sometimes you do things to show your children how not to be frightened.
So I told Sonny, I'll go if you will. And it was agreed. DAMN. Where did they put this wimpy woman with coasterphobia? Front car, front seat. NOTHING IN FRONT OF ME!! NOTHING!!!!!! Scared the bejesus out of me! Ever wonder where my hair finished turning white? It was on Space Mountain.
And again I swore never to ride on one of those things again. So what happened? The family took a trip to Busch Gardens. Ever rode the "Lipton Tea Plunge"?? They didn't tell me what that ride was about!!! Every one of them was in on the secret, except me.
Whoopee, wheeeeeee they yell... as it goes over.
Wheeeeeee my ass!
Thursday, May 18, 2006
Wednesday, May 17, 2006
Women's Life - 1899
As you may know, I dabble in genealogy and as a result, review many old newspaper throughout the midwest. This was found in the Allen County (Ohio) Democrat - 1899 taken from Women's Life.
I wonder if they knew what letting women out of the house to exercise and have more communication with the outside world would lead to just 20 short years later?
In August of 1920, the 19th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution was finally ratified, allowing women to vote.
Why it is absolutely necessary for Women to come in frequent contact with others..
If a woman is to protect herself from the ravages of worry, and to retain her youth for a longer period, she must come into more frequent contact with other people - as her husband does - and read good books; she must relieve the monotony of her duties and the limiting influence of confinement within four walls by taking outdoor exercise --a walk every day, or a spin on the bicyle; in short, she must exercise the body and mind in a healthful manner, and she will find the bloom of youth and health remain with her for years after it has faded in other women of the same age.
"The ordinary woman," says a celebrated physician, "leads such a monotonous esistence that her mind has no occupation but worry."
"What she needs is to come out of herself much more than she does. She must have intercourse with more people and take more exercise."
"This she can do without neglecting home, and every right-minded man will do his best to secure for his mother, or his sister, or his wife, these aids to the retention of youthfulness of body and mind".
I wonder if they knew what letting women out of the house to exercise and have more communication with the outside world would lead to just 20 short years later?
In August of 1920, the 19th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution was finally ratified, allowing women to vote.
Friday, May 12, 2006
Thursday, May 11, 2006
Large TYPE
I know you can't see it but I recently increased the size of the font I read on the computer to LARGE. I kept getting a crick in my neck from trying to see the small print on the screen through the bottom of my progressive biofrigging lenses. Finally I thought enough was enough. BUT I HATE large print in my novels. That type of book is only going to be enjoyable for an hour or two. Harlequin Romances are out! I want a big tome-like novel that will keep me engrossed for a couple of days, one anyway.
When I was in junior high school, I was in a test class for reading. They would lock us in a dark room for an hour and we would read from the wall. They would take a line in a book, flip it up on the wall for a minute and on and on until you read the entire thing. Then we would take a test to see what our comprehension level was. As we got better they were flipping the words on the screen one at a time as fast as it could go. As a result, I read like an Evelyn Wood graduate. I can also enjoy a book two or three times because when you read fast you skip over the mundane items. By reading it again, you pick up things that you missed the first or second time. It makes this particular hobby a little cheaper too.
The price of books is incredible. Bought one lately? $6.99 for the small Large Print book, at least $7.99 for a regular size one. I recently purchased Volume III of a series I am reading by George R. R. Martin (A Song of Fire and Ice)and it was $7.99; they suckered you in by offering a reprint of his Volume I for $3.50. I expect Volume IV when it comes out to be $8.99. But then I just heard that the publishers took Volume IV and cut it in half to keep the price down. I think I'd rather pay $8.99 than $6.99 for Volume IV and $6.99 for Volume V...seems like they are cheating somehow.
Another author just purchased for the first time, Tad Williams, his book "Otherland" Volume I was a cool $8.50. So he is on my list for the next trip to the book store.
Luckily I have my Robert Jordan's Wheel of Time series to reread and also my other favorite, Terry Gookind's Sword of Truth series. There is enough meat in those books to keep me busy for a while. And when I get tired of this type of fantasy there is always Christine Feehan.
Have a safe day.
When I was in junior high school, I was in a test class for reading. They would lock us in a dark room for an hour and we would read from the wall. They would take a line in a book, flip it up on the wall for a minute and on and on until you read the entire thing. Then we would take a test to see what our comprehension level was. As we got better they were flipping the words on the screen one at a time as fast as it could go. As a result, I read like an Evelyn Wood graduate. I can also enjoy a book two or three times because when you read fast you skip over the mundane items. By reading it again, you pick up things that you missed the first or second time. It makes this particular hobby a little cheaper too.
The price of books is incredible. Bought one lately? $6.99 for the small Large Print book, at least $7.99 for a regular size one. I recently purchased Volume III of a series I am reading by George R. R. Martin (A Song of Fire and Ice)and it was $7.99; they suckered you in by offering a reprint of his Volume I for $3.50. I expect Volume IV when it comes out to be $8.99. But then I just heard that the publishers took Volume IV and cut it in half to keep the price down. I think I'd rather pay $8.99 than $6.99 for Volume IV and $6.99 for Volume V...seems like they are cheating somehow.
Another author just purchased for the first time, Tad Williams, his book "Otherland" Volume I was a cool $8.50. So he is on my list for the next trip to the book store.
Luckily I have my Robert Jordan's Wheel of Time series to reread and also my other favorite, Terry Gookind's Sword of Truth series. There is enough meat in those books to keep me busy for a while. And when I get tired of this type of fantasy there is always Christine Feehan.
Have a safe day.
Tuesday, May 09, 2006
Gonna live!
So I went to my doctor yesterday and she tells me I'm healthy as a horse for my age. Take a bone density test and the answer is average, for your age. Problems with blood pressure and cholesterol are due to your age. What's up with that?
I've been doing some genealogy again. I had let it slide for a while but am feeling the need to get the facts I have in order. I'm trying to get a book done for my Dad but somehow there are not enough hours in the day anymore. If you want a copy let me know I'll print out an extra.
Being retired I should not need a calendar but find it is more important than ever. I used to have a mind like a steel trap, but now it is a bit rusted and leaky. I find that if I don't write things down I'm a day late and a dollar short when they are due. That must be due to my age, too!! So as of today my calendar is up to date, all important information such as doctor and dentist appointments are listed, and my grandchildren's birthdays too.
My sister-in-law and I have a date later this month to clean Grandma's house of years of clutter. It must be on my mind because as I've been cleaning my house, I've picked up several things in closets and hidden places and put them in a box. The Shriner's have an annual yard sale in June and we have a good neighbor that belongs to them. I've told him to stop by one day on his way there and I've got several things for them. Twofold purpose....gets them out of my house and helps out the children..it works for me.
Update on Joe Beegle. He is doing great. He thinks he has been let out of prison sine he got that collar off and he is as frisky as a pup. So it looks like they ended up doing a good job even if it took them a while to get it straight. He'll have a new vet when he has to go for shots or whatever, we're done with that place. Cousin Sue's dog had the same operation on his foot and it cost her $150 at the vet in town. It cost us $500 just for the foot, never mind the ear. The price of living on the beach is ridiculous - so I'll drive over the bridge next time.
I've been doing some genealogy again. I had let it slide for a while but am feeling the need to get the facts I have in order. I'm trying to get a book done for my Dad but somehow there are not enough hours in the day anymore. If you want a copy let me know I'll print out an extra.
Being retired I should not need a calendar but find it is more important than ever. I used to have a mind like a steel trap, but now it is a bit rusted and leaky. I find that if I don't write things down I'm a day late and a dollar short when they are due. That must be due to my age, too!! So as of today my calendar is up to date, all important information such as doctor and dentist appointments are listed, and my grandchildren's birthdays too.
My sister-in-law and I have a date later this month to clean Grandma's house of years of clutter. It must be on my mind because as I've been cleaning my house, I've picked up several things in closets and hidden places and put them in a box. The Shriner's have an annual yard sale in June and we have a good neighbor that belongs to them. I've told him to stop by one day on his way there and I've got several things for them. Twofold purpose....gets them out of my house and helps out the children..it works for me.
Update on Joe Beegle. He is doing great. He thinks he has been let out of prison sine he got that collar off and he is as frisky as a pup. So it looks like they ended up doing a good job even if it took them a while to get it straight. He'll have a new vet when he has to go for shots or whatever, we're done with that place. Cousin Sue's dog had the same operation on his foot and it cost her $150 at the vet in town. It cost us $500 just for the foot, never mind the ear. The price of living on the beach is ridiculous - so I'll drive over the bridge next time.
Thursday, May 04, 2006
Kissable face
I was looking at pictures of my grandchildren today and they are all so cute!! J is becoming a beautiful woman and the men of the world should watch out!! S and O are adorable. Here's their CD and he is what made them so kissable.
Wednesday, May 03, 2006
Patio dress vs Muumuus
1.If a person says the word "muumuu" to you what is the first image you see?
2.If a person says the word "duster" to you what is the first image you see?
3.If a person says the word "caftan" to you what is the first image you see?
4.If a person says the word "patio dress" to you what is the first image you see?
I see
1. Grandma when visiting other people, goes into her room after dinner and changes into her muumuu. When she does that you know you are in trouble because she is now comfortable and prepared to talk (more, sometimes for hours)!
2. My mother putting her duster when she gets up in the morning. Then she prepares breakfast, starts laundry, and does her daily chores before her bath.
3. Me. Home from work, take a shower and don't want to dirty any more clothing when I'll be putting my pj's on in a couple hours.
4. My daughter. Wait, nope, that image goes fuzzy.
Why am I writing about this? Well let me tell you. Last year my lovely daughter, J, bought me a "caftan" to wear after my shower so that when I am on my patio I look dressed. When Our neighbor looks over the fence (as he often does when he hears us talking), I appear dressed. And if the doorbell rings, I can answer it and appear dressed. I love my caftan and can be seen floating about my backyard in blue.
Problem is with the Widows Club. They wear Muu-Muus that look suspiciously like my caftan. Now a muu-muu is fine in the over-70 women's wear section. I don't want to look like the Widows Club. I may be over 50, ok ok over 55, but I am a youngster compared to them. For the 10 days they were here, my caftan was in my closet - I didn't want CD to do any comparisons between my caftan and their muumuu's.
Today in the newspaper is an advertisement for Patio Dresses. Same general idea as the muu-muu but the marketeers have discovered that muu-muu has a negative trailer park grandma meaning. So they changed the name to appeal to the younger generation, that's you.
Problem is I see that the younger generation change into a t-shirt and boxers or comfortable knit bottoms. This is their pajamas. They are comfortable and ready to bed or pop out to the local convenience store for ice cream. They don't do dresses of any type. Of course, my experience is limited, mind you.
Now I'm curious, would you buy a Patio dress?
Reminder:
For those of you who wait until the last day to buy your Mother's Day card, the time to shop is now. Mother's Day is Sunday, May 14th.
2.If a person says the word "duster" to you what is the first image you see?
3.If a person says the word "caftan" to you what is the first image you see?
4.If a person says the word "patio dress" to you what is the first image you see?
I see
1. Grandma when visiting other people, goes into her room after dinner and changes into her muumuu. When she does that you know you are in trouble because she is now comfortable and prepared to talk (more, sometimes for hours)!
2. My mother putting her duster when she gets up in the morning. Then she prepares breakfast, starts laundry, and does her daily chores before her bath.
3. Me. Home from work, take a shower and don't want to dirty any more clothing when I'll be putting my pj's on in a couple hours.
4. My daughter. Wait, nope, that image goes fuzzy.
Why am I writing about this? Well let me tell you. Last year my lovely daughter, J, bought me a "caftan" to wear after my shower so that when I am on my patio I look dressed. When Our neighbor looks over the fence (as he often does when he hears us talking), I appear dressed. And if the doorbell rings, I can answer it and appear dressed. I love my caftan and can be seen floating about my backyard in blue.
Problem is with the Widows Club. They wear Muu-Muus that look suspiciously like my caftan. Now a muu-muu is fine in the over-70 women's wear section. I don't want to look like the Widows Club. I may be over 50, ok ok over 55, but I am a youngster compared to them. For the 10 days they were here, my caftan was in my closet - I didn't want CD to do any comparisons between my caftan and their muumuu's.
Today in the newspaper is an advertisement for Patio Dresses. Same general idea as the muu-muu but the marketeers have discovered that muu-muu has a negative trailer park grandma meaning. So they changed the name to appeal to the younger generation, that's you.
Problem is I see that the younger generation change into a t-shirt and boxers or comfortable knit bottoms. This is their pajamas. They are comfortable and ready to bed or pop out to the local convenience store for ice cream. They don't do dresses of any type. Of course, my experience is limited, mind you.
Now I'm curious, would you buy a Patio dress?
Reminder:
For those of you who wait until the last day to buy your Mother's Day card, the time to shop is now. Mother's Day is Sunday, May 14th.
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