Watching the Clock

Does time stand still at 5:00 pm, or is it my imagination? Every day at work from 5 pm until 5:15 pm when I can technically leave, those 15 minutes seem to pass by so slowly. The company where I work is in the business of wholesale flower bulbs, so our workload greatly fluctuates throughout the year. June and the first part of July are probably our most down months of the year. Then it’s craziness and overtime galore from August up to the end of November for the fall season. It slows down again around the holidays, and then we prepare for spring shipments in February, and the whole cycle repeats itself. I would always rather be busy than not, so this time of year is rough on me. Oh well, soon enough I’ll be complaining about working Saturdays.

The Bachelorette and Other Randomness

Woo hoo!! Jake is now revealing to Jillian that Wes has a girlfriend! How is that for an up to the minute news flash? I don't know why I keep watching this show....

I talked with my mother today, and the window installers installed all her windows in just one day. Given the number of windows in her house, that's pretting amazing.

I posted my Bob Dylan tickets on Craig's List today. If there are no bites there over the next couple days, then I'll post an auction on E-Bay. Worse comes to worst, I'll have Ed scalp them at the stadium.

We Should Have Taken Big Mine Road

• J says: Ed and I made a little day trip to Centralia, PA today. It is known as a ghost town in Pennsylvania, since it is the site of a mine fire that has been burning for over 40 years. It was kind of creepy, actually. It's just a grid of streets with vegetation growing over the streets and not much else. We didn't see anything like the steaming picture above, but you can certainly tell that there's something wrong in Centralia!

• E says: There is always a reason that JoAnn wants to go on these trips. It's a feeling that she wants to go to the end of things. Something that her father always did, thus the daughter. We went to easternmost point of the US in Maine. We just added Centralia to this list. Won't be the last either. Anyway, I did enjoy the drive; and didn't watch any sports today. But enjoyed the 4 hour trip, and the small conversation.

Bad Dream

I have been having a series of dreams recently where I'm much younger in my dream, and I'm with my parents, sometimes my sisters, and they are all much younger, too. Last night, actually this morning, the dream I was having woke me up.

I was in a house, not a familiar house, and the only detail I noticed was that there was a big picture window in the room. I was there along with my mom and my dad. Outside, I could see rolling hills and there was heavy snow falling--blizzard conditions with the snow drifting and the wind howling. The three of us were sitting around just talking, and all of a sudden I felt the room start moving. It was almost like being on a boat riding over the snow covered hills. I started getting scared, and my dad said we'd be okay once it stopped, but it didn't stop. It started picking up speed, and as I watched the hills go by faster and faster out the window, I knew in my gut this was going to end badly.

I realized that the room had detached from the house itself and we were headed for the ocean. Somehow at the last minute, I was able to escape out a window, and my dad also ended up standing on the beach with me. My mother was nowhere to be found, and I was so worried because I knew she couldn't swim and she was so fearful of the water. My dad and I stood there for a while watching the house sink into the water, and then we headed up the beach to another house, where my dad handed me silverware to set a table with...WTF?

Suddenly, I heard a commotion coming from the beach, and a little boy was screaming that my mother stepped on his head getting out of the floating room. I ran down to the beach, and there was my mother, standing soaking wet, smiling.

Weird dream.

They Come In Threes

It really is true that deaths come in threes. First, Ed McMahon on Tuesday, and then Farrah Fawcett and Michael Jackson yesterday. I almost feel that Farrah got short changed for news worthiness because of MJ dying on the same day. Not that she's around to worry about the media coverage, but I just think that she deserves more respect and attention than Michael because of the circumstances of her death. Farrah suffered for 2-1/2 years with cancer, and Michael Jackson probably just drugged himself up. We shall see what the autopsy report says.

R.I.P. Farrah and Michael

Junk TV

Tonight is elimination night on “So You Think You Can Dance”, one of my can’t-miss shows of the summer. I am hoping that the Asian chick and her partner go home. I just think they are the weakest couple, and if it’s not tonight it will be soon. It’s also part 2 of the reunion show for “Real Housewives of New Jersey”. I think I will DVR that one for later. Only the best trash TV for me.

It’s finally starting to feel like summer here. I left the air conditioner on downstairs for Amber today. She really suffers from the heat, and especially at her old age of 12 going on 13, I want to make sure she’s always comfortable. Although we also got the unit in to the upstairs bedroom window last night (after much arguing over the installation!), I’m hoping we don’t have to use it tonight. I like sleeping with the big overhead fan going much more than listening to the air conditioner cycle on and off. It’s really time for a new, quieter, more energy efficient unit, but I think we’ll just deal with this one for one more season. It’s hard to stop using an appliance that still works.

Casino Royale

Ed and I went to the PA Sands casino last night. It still seems really strange to have a casino a 5 minute car ride away. Our plan was to have dinner, and play a little on the poker slots afterwards.

We ended up at the Irish pub restaurant, which turned out to be somewhat disappointing. I ordered the corned beef and cabbage, and Ed ordered the fish and chips---two dishes that you would expect an Irish pub would be capable of preparing well, no? The corned beef was tough, and I tasted Ed’s fish, and the crust tasted soggy to me. I think that will be our first and last visit to this particular restaurant.

After dinner, we figured out how to claim our “free play” money on the machines. We both had $5.00 to redeem based on our last visit there--this was only our second time at the casino. Then, I also had a voucher that we had cashed out on our last visit for $23.00. My big “hit” was 5 of a kind on a “deuces wild” game that paid out $50.00. Of course, I didn’t walk away with my winnings…. The damages weren’t too bad, though, maybe $35.00 lost between the two of us.

It’s interesting, because the Sands has a very catchy television commercial showing all the lights and music and excitement of the casino, with young, attractive couples dancing around with drinks in their hands.



In reality, the vast majority of the casino visitors couldn’t be of a more opposite demographic. Most people are my age or older, some much older. They are not dancing at all; on the contrary, many are moving around in those electrical carts or wheelchairs. It’s not even uncommon to see people toting their portable oxygen tanks. When I see people like that, I hope they aren’t hardcore gamblers, but are just there for a little fun and the possibility of forgetting about their physical ailments for a little while.

Mariposa Skies

I don’t have much to say today, so I think I will just post a pretty picture of a bearded iris.

Facebook Frenzy

Well, I suppose I survived yesterday. Father’s Day is over, and now I can move on until his birthday, Christmas… *Sigh*

It was such a relief to see the sun yesterday, and to see Ed finally able to mow the lawn (jungle!). Of course, this was after I performed a “turd patrol” to pick up Amber’s poops. Not my favorite task, but it genuinely makes Ed gag, so I decided to step up to the plate, or poop? and take care of it. Everything in the yard and garden seems to be growing somewhat poorly, but that is to be expected with the number of rainy days and lack of sun we’ve had over the past few weeks.

My mother has joined Facebook, and she added me as a friend. I had to reset my password, because I really don’t use it at all, to the point that I couldn’t log in. I’ll have to find out why she wanted to join when I talk with her. My nephew also added me. Then, that seemed to open the flood gates. In short order, I had requests from a cousin and both of her kids. All this for a program that is really not my thing, but I suppose it doesn’t hurt to accept my family as friends.

I didn’t even realize I had a request from Ed from some time ago, so I answered that one too. It’s probably considered poor form and bad Facebooketiquette to refuse to add your significant other as a friend.

Father's Day

Hi, Daddy,

Today is your special day, and you are not here. I miss you today, of course, but I miss you every day. You suffered so long, and were so weak at the end. Only because of the way it was in the end, do I know that you are now in a much better place.

Whenever I think about you, I still feel so sad and empty. Tears well up in my eyes right now. So, I just try to remember all the good things about you, what a wonderful husband, dad and man you were.

Thinking of you, today and always,

Your daughter

Guest What? The Blogger Is Brain Dead Tonight

I am sure it is the weather. Rainy, Seattle like. No sun. Didn't want to go shopping because of rain drops. Oh well. Today, I am the guest writer: sounds like a pinch hitter to me for this blog. Well, when she said she had nothing to write about, she was wrong. Nothing like going grocery shopping on a Saturday night, never did that before in my life. Kind of interesting watching Wegman's closing up for the night in the various departments after, I am sure , was a busy day. Overall, it felt right though. Saved some time for Sunday. Got to spend some time together after all. And it became a normal, but savored, night for the weekend. And, when the blogger comes back to edit this, I only wish that there be sub-footnotes to this entry. I enjoyed this guest appearance in an ongoing blog.

Gary Papa

Gary Papa died today. I feel like I've watched him my whole life, although that's not quite correct. He didn't become the ABC sportscaster in Philadelphia until 1981. In fact, he's only a year and a half older than me. Anyway, it's been a very long time that he's been the face of sports in Philly. Many people, I'm sure, will feel like they've lost a family member. He fought a very public battle against prostate cancer, and he sadly lost the battle today.

Sometimes I think my dad is gathering his favorite people to surround him in the after life--first Harry Kalas (the voice of the Phillies) and now Gary Papa.

Another Rainy Day

My boss was back from her two-day business trip meeting with one of our best customers in New England. As usual, she always comes back in a more sour mood than when she left. I know she really just needs to get laid in the worst way, but I don't see that happening anytime too soon. She will be forty in August, never married, no kids, no life outside of work. I was happy to see 5:15 roll around, and be out the door.

I stopped at KFC tonight on the way home and picked up a 2 piece grilled chicken meal. I really like the grilled version. I haven't eaten the fried in years, and although I'm sure the sodium is still through the roof, the grilled is good once in a while.

I wasn't following the news much today, but I did catch the story of pilot who died while flying a trans-atlantic flight for Continental. The media keeps making such a big deal about the co-pilot making a safe landing. I would certainly hope that the co-pilot on any flight could fly just as well as the pilot.

So, I think this makes about 2 weeks since we've seen the sun around here? It rained all day.

Rolling In It

My mom gave me a check for $6000.00 last Sunday. It was the second installment on my birthday money. She usually gives me $10,000.00 twice a year---birthday and Christmas. Her theory is that it's better to filter it down while she's alive, rather than be stuck with inheritance taxes after she's gone. Trust me, I am not complaining.

Ed works for a new car dealership, and things on that front have been very slow, so this money is very welcome. I think I'm going to pay off my car. I have $2900 or so to go, and I think it would be nice to know that I own the car outright.

Decisions, decisions.

In other news, I have a crockpot of pork barbecue going for dinner, and I'm looking forward to "So You Think You Can Dance" this evening. Simple pleasures!

Triggers

It was such a small thing, and yet it happens all the time, some little thing that triggers my thoughts about my dad. I printed packing slips today for the company that must not be named...my workplace, and there it was in the packing slip notes: Happy Father's Day, Dad.

This will be my first Father's Day without my dad. We always joked that it was a "Hallmark holiday", but my dad never failed to tell me what a nice card I sent him.

He died on December 5, 2008, and it still feels so fresh and raw to me. I miss him every day.

Sunday will be difficult.

Swingtown

I was really hoping that the show "Swingtown" was going to be renewed by CBS this summer. Apparently not....

http://tvseriesfinale.com/articles/swingtown-bravo-picks-ups-cbs-drama-good-news-for-season-two/

It always seems like the shows I fall in love with get canceled in short order. This season alone, "Life on Mars" and "The Unusuals" were two of my favorites. Canceled!

I may have to buy the "Swingtown" DVD when it comes out and torture Ed with it. He absolutely hated the show. I think my reasons for liking the show so much had to do more with the 70's soundtrack and set design than anything else. It was *my* period of time, my formative years.

All I can say is don't go cancel "Madmen" on me. I will cry.

Computer Guru

We just got home from a trip to see my mom. She lives about an hour and quarter south of our home firmly ensconced in New Jersey suburbia. The last time we were down to see her, I tried to update her computer with the windows service packs, and thoroughly mucked things up. Her machine was trashed anyway, so this time I brought recovery discs and managed to get her up and running. Go me!

Inertia, or what the heck am I doing with my life?

Well, day 2. I am hoping I will be able to write something, anything, every day. I really don't know where my life has gone. I wish now, that I had made some effort to document. I only have memories to rely on, and at 53 my memory is not as good as it used to be.

Today, I sit here at my computer, vaguely watching the Food Network out of the corner of my eye, and contemplate taking a shower and getting to the grocery store. I suppose you could set a clock to my Saturday routine. It doesn't vary much. I try to sleep in as late as possible (because I can!). Then I have coffee, a litte breakfast, shower and off to Wegmans. For people that don't have a Wegmans, you are really missing out. But, I guess that is a story for another day.

I remember when I used to do so much more on Saturdays than grocery shopping. I just feel like it's so hard to do anything anymore.

Today

Wow, it feels great to be on the tail end of Friday. Work was frustrating today. Unfortunately there is no cure for stupid.