Friday Randomness
Oh look, it’s Friday again! I wonder what kind of Randomness I will come up with this week. I mean, I have some ideas when I start these posts, but then things pop into my mind and it gets unweildy.
Here’s your before and after of my book shelf. There is a second row of books in the back, behind these front books. That placement does not mean I don’t love them, just that space is limited and decisions must be made. For example, my Little House books are tucked back there, because they are a series and take up too much real estate. Similarly, the Neapolitan Quartet is in the back. The books in front are alphabetized (at least the fiction, not the non-fiction, I take no responsibility for that because I don’t read them). My alphabet begins with Things Fall Apart by Chinua Achebe and ends with The Book Thief, by Markus Zusak.
Here are the books that I’ll be donating to the library or putting in Little Free Libraries. I wonder if anyone at all wants my Latin dictionary? I know I don’t.
Hidden in amongst the books was my mom’s ‘50 state quarters’ collection. She got to 35 before she died. I also have a collection, and mine is complete, so I took all of hers out of this collection folder, and I will somehow spend them. That’s $8.75. By rights, half of that should be Richard’s I guess, but I’ m not going to tell him.
Remember Anastasia, the very shy cat at the rescue where I volunteer? I got the story behind her being surrendered. Turns out her people are in a very unhappy marriage. She was the husband’s cat, so the wife was abusing her. He surrendered her to keep her safe. He needs to get himself out of there too, I think. Last Friday I was petting her, and she seemed OK with that, until she wasn’t, and she bit me. She didn’t break skin, but it hurt. The director of the rescue said that we need to help her feel safe and comfortable with food rather than touch. So now we have Churu lickable treats, which she LOVES. On Wednesday, I started out giving her one, and talking to her, telling her what a good girl she was. Then I cleaned the other sections of her kennel, and when it was time to clean hers up, I lured her to her food dish with another Churu, squeezed it out into her food, and cleaned the section with her bed. She sheds a lot, it looked pretty messy. I was finished before she was, and when she came back she stopped and gave herself a little bath before going back into her den. This shows she felt safe and made me happy.
Wednesday morning, I grabbed my weekly gas price photo. $5.89, vs. $5.79 from last week. Imagine my surprise yesterday when I drove by and saw the price had gone up $0.20 overnight! You can’t really read the sign, I was driving, but it’s $6.09. I’m glad we don’t drive much, and I’m sorry to those of you who do.
I haven’t been taking many pictures on my walks for Elisabeth’s CBWC. I took this one the other morning, of the crane in the waterway. Engie shared a bunch of photos of the flooding in her area, which made me grateful that it doesn’t flood much around here. Part of that reason is because of this waterway, which was built by the Army Corps of Engineers after a particularly bad flood in the late 50’s. The sign says ‘DANGER Stay Out Stay Alive’, and they’re not kidding. The water goes really fast when it’s full, and the bottom can be slippery and there’s nothing to grab. I know of 4 fatalities – 1 was a man taking his parents to dinner, and he had a medical emergency on a bridge over the creek, and his car went into the water. He and his father both died, his mom was taken several miles downstream and rescued by helicopter. The other two were high school students who thought it would be fun to ride the little creek near their house in a raft. I don’t know whether they knew how complicated the system was, that is goes over cement waterfalls, and how dangerous it is. They both perished. All sad stories.
Wow, that got really dark really fast, didn’t it? On a lighter note, look at the downward trajectory of this poor dress. I spotted it in a little thrift store downtown. It looks like it was originally for sale at Nordstrom for $450. No one bought it, so it went to TJ Maxx, where it was on sale for $129.99. Now it’s for sale at the charity shop for $22. Did TJ Maxx donate it when it didn’t sell? Or did someone buy it at TJ Maxx and never wear it? We’ll never know, I guess.
Yesterday was my mom’s birthday, she would have been 84. I was fine in the morning, had a good cry in the shower about missing her, then was OK again. It will have been 18 years now since she died. SIGH. Sarah posted the other day about missing her dad, and Maya is in that first year of horrible grief missing her mom, and all I can say is that it gets easier but not better. If my mom were here, we would perhaps have gone for pedicures and Thai food. I debated buying an Angel Food Cake, her favorite. On the yes side, it makes me happy to think of her, and I also love Angel Food Cake. On the no side, that’s a lot of cake for just us. As you can see, I went for it. I’m giving the rest away, either to my neighbors, or to Buy Nothing if the neighbors don’t want it. Ted asked me last night, if she were still with us, what would I want to talk to her about. I struggled a bit, but came to it…what I want to talk to her about is of the daily stuff. Books and TV shows and life in general, I guess.
TV time! Is anyone else watching the new seasons of Drops of God and Beef? Drops of God takes place all over, but mostly in France. It’s in English, French, and Japanese, about a competition between a woman and a man regarding an inheritance and great wine. We are watching both. Beef is a show about grudges and pettiness and so far I don’t think I’ve seen any likable characters. So far I am enjoying both shows, but neither have the urgency of their first seasons. We’re also watching Testaments, which is bleak and difficult, as is appropriate for the sequel to The Handmaid’s Tale. I read the book when it came out, but it didn’t stick and I remember very little. Also on the docket are Rooster and Hacks. There’s a lot of TV going on, is what I’m saying.
When we’re not watching scripted TV shows, we peruse YouTube. I got a kick out of this video, with 12 country’s very different versions of pancakes. The one from Brazil was the most different, I think.
Final bit of randomness, specially for Nance.
40 Comments
AC
The river absolutely rages through the centre part of our town and there has been a death. But before it gets to theat part it is both swimmnble and boatable. Then, on our side of town it gets shallow enough that you can walk a long way out if you choose, which people don’t.
I remember your mother. My mother passed away 23 years ago this month.
J
Inconvenient for the raging part of the river to be in the center of town! I’m sorry about your mom. The milestones are rough.
Nicole MacPherson
Yay, you got your cake!
That first cartoon, lol. So I have had the most intense perimenopausal symptoms I have ever had, for the past…eleven days straight? I think it’s eleven, I’ll have to check. One of them is that my RHR is 10 BPM higher than normal. So usually it’s like 55, and now it’s 65. According to my watch, my body isn’t at rest, it’s been at a medium-to-high level of stress for the past eleven days. I mean, I have literally no stress in my life, so this is all hormonally based. I think. I just got blood work done so let’s hope this is an easy hormonal fix. Anyway, my watch tells me my “daily report” at the end of each day and usually it’s like “you balanced rest with exercise well today.” For the past eleven days it’s “you had no rest today, and extremely high levels of stress, which is detrimental to your health. Try to get some rest.” I AM TRYING, WATCH. I AM TRYING. It kind of cracks me up because even when I’m sitting and reading my watch is saying that I’m stressed. I AM TRYING TO BE CALM, IT’S MY LACK OF ESTROGEN. (I have an appt with my doctor next week and omg, I am going to go on HRT because THIS CANNOT STAND).
StephLove
Whenever I’m sick my heartrarte goes very high and my FitBit keeps warning me about overtraining after a leisurely stroll.
J
Fitbit knows you’re not well, I guess, just not WHY.
J
I hope your doctor can help, because that sucks. I stayed on the pill until I was in menopause – fibroids run in my family, so it seemed like a great way to avoid that. Even so, I remember a time when I felt like I was churning, and looking back, I’ll bet it was hormones. I didn’t think to check my pulse or have a Fitbit or anything, I just felt all keyed up and like I couldn’t settle for a while there. IT SUCKED.
nance
Thank you for the cows! On our drive to the lakehouse yesterday, I saw SEVEN Hereford calves and I was in heaven. Well, almost. It would have really been heaven if I could have gotten out of the car and given them a hug.
My bookshelves are also two deep. I have four very tall ones–almost to the ceiling. I don’t think I’ll ever truly organize them. One shelf is designated for my Absolute Faves, and I may have all my old Stephen King books in another. Bravo to you for alphabetizing, and I love that you gave us the titles and authors of A and Z. I may dig in and find my A and Z books now, just for fun.
Remember how I “met” your mom online, confusing your blog and hers? I still kept reading hers and really appreciated her perspectives and stories. Of course you miss her terribly, and I think your angel food cake tribute is perfect.
J
I can’t tell you how much better it makes me feel that I am not the only one with bookshelves that are two deep. SERIOUSLY. I’d love to know your A and Z books! What if they were the same as mine???
I didn’t know that you confused our blogs (easy to do, since hers had Maya’s name in it), and I didn’t remember how you came to mine initially. Maybe through V-Grrrl or something. So many bloggers have quit. I love that my mom had her blog. It was such a different way of knowing her than talking on the phone or in person or even letters. She only had it for 2 years, but I learned a lot about her. I’m so thankful for this medium and community.
I’m sorry you didn’t get to hug the cows. Is Rick a monster, or were they too far back from the fence? I always want to stop and pet horses when I see them, but I rarely do. (I can’t say never, because if they are close to the fence and traffic is perfect and I’m alone…sometimes.)
Jenny
Someone is going to get a real bargain on that dress! It’s funny because $129 is what I paid for the dress I recently bought at TJMaxx (for my son’s wedding). $22 would have been even better, but I was really happy with the quality and prices of the TJ Maxx dresses- I should shop there more often. Or, the thrift store.
Yes, it definitely gets easier but not better. It’s been 16 years since my mom died, and I still think about her every day and if I think about her too much, my eyes will well up with tears. But I always like to say, it’s a sadness that’s woven into an overall happy life. Big occasions are especially hard though.
J
The anniversaries, Mother’s Day, Father’s Day, birthdays, those are the most difficult for me. You’re right though, it’s sadness at missing someone we dearly loved, which is a gift indeed.
I rarely think to shop at TJ Maxx or Marshalls or whatever, but when I do I find some great deals!
nance
The cows were all on a very high pasture well away from the road. There’s also a culvert on each side of the road, so it’s not a good place to pull off. Rick would absolutely pull over to encourage my cow obsession. I was with him when I first hugged a cow!
J
All the heart eyes that you have indeed gotten to hug a cow IRL! I wonder what the farmer would have thought?
StephLove
I really wish my books were organized. Life goals.
I find it so hard to understand how anyone could abuse an innocent animal. I hope she keeps learning to trust again.
I just re-read the Testaments in preparation for watching the show with Noah, but we haven’t started it yet.
J
I’ll be interested to know your thoughts on the book vs the show. My daughter has an excellent memory for books, and will pop up with ‘this is just like in the book’ or ‘this is different from the book’, and I’m sitting there thinking, ‘I don’t remember the book at all….’
ccr in MA
Ohh, yeah, “it gets easier but not better” is exactly right. My dad died in 2009 and I still think of things I want to tell him, or ask him. Or just to get a hug, he gave good hugs. Sigh.
J
Sigh is right. My mom was a good hugger too, though I’m not a really touchy person, and they sometimes went on too long and made me feel claustrophobic. Thankfully my brother is more kinistetic and gave her the long hugs she wanted.
Margaret
The place that John and I are going camping is next to the Green River and there are many warnings on the website that kayaking and water craft are dangerous in that area due to white water. I intend to sit by the water with a book and go no where near the river! 🙂 The bookcase looks great! Gas (and everything else) has gotten SO much more expensive. I can afford it but I worry about those who can’t.
J
I think your time near but not in the river sounds WONDERFUL. Just relaxing, with the sound of the water in the background. Heaven.
PocoBrat
The bookshelves look lovely, J. (I resorted to double shelving too… I hoard books and there was no other option.)
Thank you for sharing your mom’s birthday cake… It gives me the courage to celebrate my mom’s birthday instead of trying to hide from it.
It always surprises me a little that you’re so into cats because I think of you as a dog person!
J
Just between you and me, Maya, I’m not really into cats. Someone asked for help on a local Facebook group and I signed up. I like them, I get attached and hope for happy endings, but I wouldn’t really want one. I’m afraid if I did a similar gig with dogs, we would have 15 in our little condo and Ted would divorce me.
Hang in there, your mom’s birthday will likely be rough, but maybe you can make/buy a cake or something, and bring some joy to it in among the pain. And if not, that’s OK too.
coco
Anastasia’s story is so sad!!! it’s great that one gets to understand why she was at the rescue center and be able to provide some comfort. My daughter would love to work there.
Pedi and thai as birthday tradition sounds lovely. I can’t imagine losing my mom, no matter how long.
J
It’s a singular loss for sure Coco. I’ve had other singular losses, so I guess every one is different than the next. But your mom…oof.
NGS
I only have one bookshelf and my books are two deep, as well. Fantasy series are long and thick and I NEED all of them.
Poor Anastasia. If it makes you feel better, Zelda also only takes pets for a certain amount of time. Then her tail starts flicking and I know if I continue, she’s going to either bite or scratch me. Ha! But I still love her. And someone will come and save Anastasia for her sad caged life and love her and talk about her endlessly on the internet, too.
J
Oh goodness, I HOPE SO! I want her to have as many blog fans as Zelda has!
Hearing that other folks have resorted to books behind books has made me feel SO much better, thank you.
Michelle G.
The quarters! I have a collection of them in a book just like that! It was such a thing at that time, and now they just sit there. I should spend them!
I also appreciated the cow joke!
J
I remember it being a thing to collect the quarters. Then they came up with a series for the National Parks, I think, and people probably got overwhelmed. At least, it wasn’t as much of a THING.
DB Stewart
I’m not going to tell him, lol.
A good cry can be medicine.
J
A good cry IS medicine, you are right. It helped me to get it out so I could go on with my day.
Lisa’s Yarns
Buying the cake was the absolute right decision! I dread losing my parents and just try not to think about it. It does inspire me to see them as often as I can, though.
That poor kitty! 🙁
J
Well, thinking about losing your parents now is useless, right? I mean, why suck the joy out of now for something in the future that cannot be helped? I’m glad that you see them as often as you can.
I went to see kitty yesterday, and she is doing even better than Wednesday. I didn’t have to lure her out with a treat, she came right out looking for it. There’s hope for her, and I think she’s starting to feel more safe, which is big considering she is currently in a kennel at a pet store, with strangers looking at her, and dogs walking by every day to get to the grooming section.
Daria
that is SO SAD about that kitty! What kind of person do you have to be to hurt an innocent pet? Sheesh, I hope Anastasia finds comfort at the rescue where you volunteer.
Happy birthday in heaven, mom.
J
I hate people.
Melissa
I have a bookshelf that is two deep as well. I kind of feel like I should put the books that I love on the back row because those ones I’m going to remember, I have and go looking for them.
There is something wrong with that wife. Why is she abusing a cat? That is nuts.
I’ve been watching The Testaments too and enjoying it. I love seeing Daisy’s reaction to the atrocities compared to the other girls.
J
I like that mindset, yes, some books can go in the back and not be forgotten. Others if they were back there, I would not know. I feel so good knowing that there are so many ‘2 deep’ with books.
You know what’s wrong with people? PEOPLE SUCK.
Now I’ve started listening to The Testaments audio book, since I remember so little about the book.
Stephany
I am slightly twitchy about your two-deep bookshelves. All of mine are one-deep so I can see everything. And once they get full, I either decide it’s time for another bookshelf or I start culling the collection to give away some of my books. But I’m glad it works for you!
June is my hardest month, as it holds my dad’s birthday AND Father’s Day so it’s just one of those months I have to ]o9white-knuckle my way through. I’m glad you bought the cake.
J
The two-deep bookshelves used to bother me, but not as much as culling, and we don’t have room for more bookshelves.
I’m sorry June is hard for you. It is the hardest for me too. My mom died June 15th, which was Father’s Day that year. Then the last time I talked to my dad before he died was the day after Father’s Day (different year). He died at the beginning of July. Then his birthday is August. And Mulder died in May. April – August are full of landmines, is what I’m saying.
K @ TS
Is that the Iron Horse Trail!? I think that sometimes when I walk there the waterway is empty! I am glad to see it has water, and birds! I remember a friend from Mexico telling me about how they get flash floods there which can take people out in a heartbeat and I think the same happens in the Southwest. I can’t imagine one day flat land, the next, a raging river!
J
Not the Iron Horse Trai, but this is the same river that goes downtown. Flash floods are no joke!
Gina
Your mom was so, so wonderful. Hugs to you, I can only imgaine how much you miss her.
I considered watching Beef, but didn’t pull the trigger. There is still time! We are watching Brockmire before it goes away in early June. It’s great! I love Hank Azaria and baseball so it’s a win.
I like cats, but am not a Cat Person. But give me a chill cat and I am all good.
J
I’m not a cat person either. Much more of a dog person. Volunteering with cats is better than volunteering with dogs though, because I can’t adopt cats. I’m afraid we would have a lot of dogs if I worked with them at all.