Rambles April 2018

The one wedding present that Marv and I both agreed we wanted was a cuckoo clock. So his mom gave us one when we got married. That clock has been going since May 22, 1976. A couple of times we’ve had to get it cleaned and repaired a bit, but it’s been a pretty steady little companion. There is only one quirk that showed up several months ago…when it’s 1 o’clock it will cuckoo 11 times. All the other hours are done correctly, and of course when it really is 11, it’s right on the money. After so many years, I guess it’s entitled to do what it wants.

When I was in 9^th grade, we got to make collages in English class. It was a homework assignment. I don’t recall any parameters being mentioned, or any particular book to be referenced. I think it was in 8^th grade that we read Romeo and Juliet for English class, so I know that wasn’t a current book for 9^th grade. About that time the movie starring Olivia Hussey and Leonard Whiting was in the theaters. I wasn’t allowed to go see it because of a supposed nude scene. I did my collage with flowers cut out from several Sunset Magazines that my grandmother had. I covered a large sheet of paper with flowers overlapping each other. In the middle I glued a picture of Romeo and Juliet from the movie that I got out of Life magazine. I LOVED that collage. This was all toward the end of the school year. When it came time to get our collages back to take home, mine was missing. I was so upset. The teacher said she’d keep an eye out for it, but of course it never showed up. I was going to tack it up on the wall of my bedroom. The space was all ready and waiting for it. *sigh*

I’ve always been a Trekkie, and proud of it. I’ve seen all the various TV versions and all the movies. What made the biggest impression on me was the fabulous earrings the Bajorans wore in Deep Space Nine. Both men and women wore them. And they were only worn on one ear. I really, really wanted a Bajoran earring. I finally found something similar at Claire’s on the Mall, but I was never brave enough to wear it in public. But it’s there, hanging along with my other dangly earrings in my bedroom…

The other day I was looking for a liner for the waste basket in the downstairs bathroom. I opened the drawer where I usually keep them, and saw a small white hair dryer. Where did it come from? I don’t remember ever having a small white hair dryer. We have the big one in the closet in the hallway by the other bathroom. This one looks a bit like the ones you’d find in a motel room. (I have NEVER stolen a motel hair dryer!!) Where did this little one come from??

IT’S A MYSTERY!!!

March 2018 Book Report

The Lavender Dragon (1923) by Eden Phillpotts

Sir Jasper and his squire George seek to destroy the dragon that has been taking people from a small village, only to find that the dragon has rescued these people from living a sad and unfulfilling life. Lots of philosophy in this book pushing the idea of idyllic communes where everyone shares everything and everybody is happy. Meh.

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Can’t Wait to Get to Heaven (2006) by Fannie Flagg

I love her books. They are so well written and you can easily imagine yourself living amongst the people. Elner Shimfissle dies and visits heaven for a while before returning back to earth. Meanwhile, all the people in her hometown mourn the loss of this wonderful woman.

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Jeremy Poldark (1950) by Winston Graham

Ross is tried and found not guilty of wrecking two ships. A new mine is started. Ross and Francis reconcile. Son Jeremy is born. The books in this series are NOT a fast read. You need to take your time with them. But they are worth it.

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Mystery and Macarons (2017) by Elizabeth Adams

A Tearoom Mystery. A purse thief is going around Lancaster. The cousins try to set a trap for him/her. Bob proposes to Jan, but it involves a move to a new city.

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Dr. Syn alias The Scarecrow (1975) by Vic Crume

YA novel based on the Disney movie starring Patrick McGoohan. Vicar Dr. Syn helps the downtrodden in his village in 1775 England. None suspect him of being the fierce Scarecrow who steals shipments meant for the King, in order to get money for the townspeople.

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A Star is Born (1976) by Alexander Edwards

Based on the earlier movies, this one is a novelization of the 1976 movie starring Kris Kristofferson and Barbra Streisand. Washed-up rock star John Norman Howard takes an interest in upcoming singer Esther Hoffman. As his star fades and burns out, hers takes off.

Inane Questions part 3

Here’s the final group of questions I answered. I didn’t get a chance to post them because of my illness. So here they are. Hope you enjoyed this little series.

I have a fixation with:

Books. I can’t stand the thought of being without something to read at any given time. Since my youth, reading has been my escape from the life around me. I felt more at home in Victorian England with Sherlock Holmes than I did in my own home. And sci-fi! I really, really wanted to step foot on another planet. Asimov, Heinlein, Bradbury, Clarke…they made the worlds I wanted to be in, not my own world.

A good piece of advice is:

Measure twice, cut once. In other words, THINK about what you are about to do and the ramifications of your decision. I’ve done things that I KNEW were wrong while I was doing them, but didn’t care at the time. I sure did later.

If I could travel back to the past:

I would find out who my half-brother is, so I could find him later.

If I had to keep only three pieces of my wardrobe, I’d pick:

My standard uniform…jeans, t-shirt, light sweater.

When I don’t know the answer:

I ask someone, go to Google, go to Wikipedia.

Social media has helped me:

Get outside of myself more. It would be very easy to become a total hermit, which is where I was heading before I met Marv. With MySpace and then Facebook I was able to connect with people from all over the world. Yes, it’s not personal, but it’s a heck of a lot better than total isolation. I’ve been able to share some of my life on my blog.

The best thing about the Internet:

It’s FUN!!! I LOVE talking to people on Facebook! I LOVE looking up stuff on Google and Wikipedia! I have become more artistic with all the websites and videos available.

One of the best things in my life is:

The most important thing: my relationship with my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. I am nothing without Him. He has blessed me beyond all imagining. Even in my darkest times, I knew He was with me. And He is with me still…