Welcome 2021...

Winter scene of Boise, Idaho. 
Free Image from jessbridgewater at Pixabay

Well, it's a brand new year, and I'm hoping for some better days ahead! Other than a couple necessary doctor appointments, I haven't left my home in months. I haven't seen family or friends in almost a year, except at a distance or over the internet. Covid has really changed our lives. 

So, in the meantime, I've spent more quality time with my immediate family, who are quarantined together and working from home. I've enjoyed some great TV series and movies, had long phone conversations with family and friends, and read a lot of books. 

My husband has taken over all of the meal prep, as I'm relegated to using the walker again. I help with what I can, but he says he enjoys doing the cooking and we certainly enjoy partaking of his creations. He is retired now, but everything planned for this time in our lives is, of course, on hold. In lieu of baseball games, camping, car shows, and travelling, he has returned to some old hobbies. He enjoys stamp and coin collecting. He's done some home and garden improvements, and works out daily. He is also giving himself time to watch the old Twilight Zones, the Red Green Show, and more. When he was working, he had little time for the fun stuff, so that has been nice. 

If you're reading this, I hope you are healthy and happy. I wish all the best for you in this new year! 

Happy 2021!!!

My Crazy Life...

This has been a long, crazy week. We rescued a runaway bunny, which was being attacked in our back yard by three mallards. Houdini is now safely back with his owner, a sweet little girl from the neighborhood. Apparently, he lives up to his name on a regular basis. He'll now be living in a rabbit hutch rather than roaming his back yard.

I had a quick trip to the emergency room, even got to take my first ambulance ride. It was not a heart attack, though it certainly felt bad enough to be one. Just another MS episode most likely. They took me off one med and put me on a different one. Just another minor bump in the road of my life.

On a completely random train of thought, it occurred to me I watch TV programs for more than one reason. I love dramas. While watching an episode of Rizzoli and Isles, I realized I wasn't just enjoying the story line, I was enjoying what the characters were wearing, how their apartments were furnished, and the look of certain city locations. In a really well done program, the personality of a character is further established by what they wear, what environment they live in and how their home is decorated. If I played a TV character, I'd be the eccentric, wild-haired hoarder dressed in t-shirts and blue jeans, with a wide variety of art and furniture styles. My show would be a family drama, where people make mistakes, but in the end they always love and support one another. It's a pretty good show! Don't forget to tune in again for another episode of my crazy life! :)

October begins...

I don't have a lot to share today, but I'm trying to keep myself writing a bit every few days.  It gets so easy to just let it slide and before I realize it, months have passed without a single word being written.

I was happy to flip all my calendars to October this morning.  My box of autumnal decorations has been found, and I plan to pull some out this afternoon. I have a very pretty banner I won a few years back, during a blog giveaway.  It's one of my favorite things!  I always hang it across the top of a mirror in my entryway.

I'm listening to the old Inspector Morse TV series this morning.  There's something rather comfortable about it.  Maybe it's the accents, the locations, the classical music, or the slower pace of the show, I'm not sure... it just makes me happy!

I'm suddenly longing for a cup of coffee... maybe a mocha, so it's goodbye for today!

Comfort Media...

When I'm cleaning, or doing little odd jobs around the house, I always turn to comfort media.  By that, I mean music, TV or movies which have a nostalgic feel to them.  Occasionally during the holidays, I tune into Days of Our Lives simply to see them decorate their tree.  The ornaments have each character's name on them, and they are placed on the tree during a big family party, including those of cast members who have long ago left the show or passed on.  I never watched soaps much but when I was living in Phoenix, before the days of the VCR, mom would have me watch her soaps for her.  She worked during the day and hated to miss them, so she'd call on the weekend and I'd fill her in on the antics of Marlena and Roman Brady, or what Grandma Alice Horton was up to.  I became a faithful viewer for a few years because of mom.

A lot of people dismiss soaps, as just so much fluff, naughtiness, and bad acting.  That doesn't bother me.  I watch them for the same reason I read comic book adventures as a child.  They were fun, imaginative, and quick.  They were for the days when I didn't want to dive into a Tom Sawyer or a Great Expectations.  It's the same reason I turn on easy listening music, or a light holiday musical, while doing my chores.  It takes my mind off the mundane tasks, without drawing me into something heavy or distracting.  So, it's time for me to tune into a classic movie and get back to my chores.  Until next time...

This free image is from My Vintage Studio.  Sharon has many wonderful images to share. 

© 11DEC2012 ajjahner

Dallas...

My husband is off to the Father's Day car shows, which is tradition for us.  We'll be celebrating with our sons, this evening, over dinner and a movie.

I'm sitting here watching the pilot of Dallas.  JR is back!  Yes, I was a huge fan of the show back in the day.  I still remember where I was when I watched the episode, "Who Done It?" revealing the question millions had been waiting to see the answer to... "Who Shot JR?"  It was being shown on a big screen TV, in the upstairs room of a local pub.  I was with a group of friends, and it was definitely the big deal of the day.

According to Wikipedia, The "Who Done It?" episode received the highest domestic ratings at that point, with over 90 million American viewers tuning in for the answer.  That record was broken only by the last episode of M*A*S*H in 1983. Wikipedia states that internationally, Dallas still holds the record for the most-watched episode, with nearly 360 million viewers tuning in to see who shot J.R.

I'm enjoying this new episode so far, but I don't know if it can pull me in like the original series did.  That was a different time for me.  I was totally wrapped up in Country Music, cowboys, and the fantasy of striking it rich.  Youthful fantasies.  It is fun looking back and remembering who I was, or at least who I thought I was.  I always got a kick out of Larry Hagman, from the time he was Captain/Major Anthony "Tony" Nelson on I Dream of Jeannie, until the iconic roll of J. R. Ewing on Dallas.  Larry's definitely looking his age.  In fact, a lot of my favorite stars and musicians are either older, very elderly, or have passed on.  I guess that means I'm not as young as I think I am.  I still have "young" thoughts, and then I catch a glimpse of an older, greying woman and realize that's my reflection looking back at me.  I'm not complaining, it just still surprises me a little bit.

I hope you're all having a wonderful Father's Day weekend, I certainly am!

Whether To... Or Not...

I made an uncomfortable choice yesterday, which I completely regret.  Watching my morning news program, I heard a very loud "boom" that rattled my front door.  Making my front door, or even my house rattle, is a thing even a loud car stereo can do.  I assumed it was kids hitting the front of my house with something.  That is an occasional occurrence, since the bus stop is on our corner.  I'd forgotten it was spring break.

I went to the front door, opened it, and looked out.  Nothing.  Oh well.  I walked into the front room and began opening my curtains, that's when I saw them.  I could see two Police vehicles blocking my street and two further north.  Then I realized all the activity was just south of my home, across the street.  I could see at least three more cars, and men in Police vests on a neighbors front porch.  I phoned a neighbor directly across the street from me and asked if she knew what had happened, and if she'd heard the "boom".  She had.  She thought it had been a sonic boom until she spotted the police.  She had trouble getting her little dog calmed down, so we could talk.

Some time passed, the mail came and they were still out there.  The street was no longer blocked and it didn't look threatening, so I went out to get my mail.  My neighbor came out and chatted a minute.  Worry and curiosity were probably the main things we were feeling.  Not knowing if someone was hurt inside or what the noise had been.   About that time, I decided to contact a family member, who works for a local news station, to see if he had heard anything.  He hadn't.  Before long, I was asked if I would send a photo.  I waited a bit, then reluctantly walked out and snapped two photos.  I can tell you I felt like some kind of snoop, a Mrs. Kravitz.  I never did send the photos.

As I walked back up my drive, the news van pulled around the corner and waved me down.  They wanted an interview and I declined.  I used conflict of interest... family member employed with you... they jokingly offered to fire him and laughed.  They asked again, and I reluctantly agreed.  When asked what my worst concern about this event was, I stated "That one of my neighbors is hurt or worse."  That didn't make it on air, just a brief statement about the noise, which was fine except for this terrible feeling I can't shake.  My neighbors were having, perhaps, one of their worst days.  I was chatting to a news anchor about it.  It just felt wrong.

I believe in the value of news coverage, but I'm thinking if I had to do it again, I would probably just close the curtains and check with my neighbors after the fact.  I am definitely not cut out for a job in news or as any kind of detective, no matter how much I enjoy a good mystery novel.  The reality is, no matter what was happening, it was happening to people, to my neighbors.  Neighbors I don't know well, but who I care about because they are part of my little community, my world. 


© 30MAR2012 aj

Day 19 - Beginnings, Stories via Television

I have always loved stories.  It started with hearing family tales and having books read to me; progressed to doing my own reading and creating my imaginary worlds; then moved into television and movies.  I love all forms of story telling, but today I'm taking a look back at television.

The very earliest programs I remember were Romper Room and Captain Kangaroo.  The Captain was a particular favorite of mine, and of the characters on his program, I remember Mr. Green Jeans and Mr. Moose the best.  It had stories, skits, songs and more, and was fuel for my already active imagination.

Later on, there was I Love Lucy, Walt Disney's Wonderful World of Color, Lassie, Art Linkletter, and more.  There weren't endless hours of TV viewing in my childhood.  Time in front of the set was limited and many programs were watched by the whole family.  My love for comedy, animal stories, mysteries, and action films started back then.  Television expanded my universe, much the same as radio did for the previous generation, and the Internet has for today's youth.  Television sometimes gets a bad rap, but for me it provided a forum for entertainment, learning, and keeping in touch with the big world that existed beyond my little town.

Farewell to Oprah...

I haven't tuned in every day, but I have to admit that Oprah has had an impact on my life over the past 25 years.  My oldest son said she's been on the air all his life... he turns 25 this year.

Oprah turned a light on and exposed a lot of inhumanity in our world.  She gave a voice to people who had lost their voice to violence, fear, sickness, prejudice...  She provided a platform for music and literature and laughter.  Oprah added a wonderful diversity to the mundane programming that had been on in the afternoons.  It had the feel of those old-time variety shows that I loved as a kid.

She introduced me to many writers, including one of my favorites, Maya Angelou.  When I was too ill to do much of anything, I looked forward to what new surprises Oprah would bring. 

Whether you loved her, hated her, or were indifferent, there is no denying she will forever remain an iconic figure to a generation.  Oprah, I will miss you.

Christ Is All, All Is Good...

Hello Friends, before I get to my update I have a prayer request.  Those of you who know Pam Warden at Pam Warden Art and Faith Folk Cafe will be familiar with her husband John's situation with his lung transplant, and the ongoing struggles of her children, Toby and Jessie who both have MS (multiple sclerosis).  Tuesday Pam posted the following on her Facebook page:

John is in the hospital, I'm at a hotel in Madison. They will be doing a bronch in the morning to see what is going on. He is the very sick. Thank you for praying. Also for Jessie and Toby ♥

And yesterday...

Bronchoscopy this a.m. for biopsy's on John's lung. Can they find and stop what ever is causing this? We pray. This was sent to me today...so simple so absolute "Christ is all, all is good."

Pam's faith in God is amazing!  She has so much going on in her family, but she takes time to reach out to others.  She has been such a support for me.  Please pray for her and her family.  Pray prayers for healing, strength, and peace.

As for me...
It's been a busy couple of weeks since my last post.  For those who contacted me expressing concern, Thank You!  There have been some health issues for Lucky 13 and for myself.  I won't go into lengthy details... I'll just say more of the same.  I haven't driven since sometime in late November, so I've been here at home.

I've had some old friends get in touch with me, and through that I regained contact with more friends I hadn't heard from in years.  That has been so much fun. 

The past three days I've been having a nightmarish time with my Facebook account.  Each time I go to sign in, I find my account suspended again!  I have spent hours trying to fix this.  It keeps telling me that I've been hacked, but no matter what I try I cannot clear it up.  As soon as I leave the page it locks me out again!  *sigh*

I have been catching up with some of my blogger friends, going through the posts I didn't get around to reading during the holidays.  What a busy, interesting bunch of people you all are!  It is so much fun to leave my little world for a while and see what is going on "out there".

I've been listening to some "new to me" artists on YouTube.  I love music of all kinds, so this has been a lot of fun.

I participated in a "Daniel Fast" with my church.  My Pastor mailed me the materials so I would know what was being done.  I chose to do a partial fast of eliminating a couple of my favorites that it would be hard doing without... for me that was 21 days of no fast food and no chocolate.  That was extremely hard for me.  I also increased my intake of fruits, nuts, and vegetables.  Even without doing the strict version of the fast, I found I got a lot out of it. I've tried a new variety of leafy greens.  I regained my love of salads! 

I spent more time in prayer and meditation.  I cut back on my TV time, also very hard for me.  I tend to put in Mary Tyler Moore, Bob Newhart, Frasier, etc. or tune in to HGTV as background noise when I'm doing other stuff.  I hadn't realized how many hours the TV is actually going.  It helps drown out the constant traffic noise from the street and the persistant barking of my neighbors dog.  It also drowns out the sound of bird songs, squirrel chatter, wind, rain... all sounds I love.  I'd almost forgotten the joy of the simple sounds of life.

The past few weeks, I found myself taking another look at my life.  My thoughts, my deepest beliefs, my dreams.  It's good to "shake the dust off" what and who we believe ourselves to be; to re-examine our goals, our strengths, and our weaknesses.  To search deeper into our spiritual lives.  It's been a great way to begin this new year.  For me, it is a beginning full of hope and anticipation.  Great things are coming.  I really believe it.