corpuscle theory of a non-scientist

If you're in junior high, don't use this in a research paper. I am not a scientist. I make no claims about the validity or accuracy of this information.

A person has so many corpuscles. If a person focuses their corpuscles on brain activity they get smarter and remember things and speak articulately. If instead, a person focuses their corpuscles on physical activity, their brain stagnates and they become forgetful and woozy in the head. Since I started exercising on a regular basis, I have been the latter. Woozy in the head. Acupuncture has not helped my chi to flow to my brain. I like basking in the afternoon sun with a glass of wine instead of making lists and doing stuff.

I really loathe football on tv. How does this qualify as entertainment?

I almost told someone today to have a nice weekend but stopped just in the nick of time. How could I think it was the weekend when it's only Monday?

That's enough of my weird and cranky thinking for one day.

hummingbird by regis

Regis took this very lovely picture of our hummingbird in the canna lilies this afternoon.

lazy man's way of posting pictures

We had breakfast at Seven Mile Creek with Betty and Tom this morning. Nothing like the smell of a campfire and bacon on a fall morning!

question about twitter

To answer Jill's question about twitter. I'm no authority because I don't tweet although I did for a short time. I think twitter is one step down the social ladder from blogs and facebook. Shorter and more public. I think. It can go out over phones. Who would want to read anything that way? Here' an interesting article in Slate about what the author calls orphaned tweets, people who sign up for twitter, post once, and then are never heard from again. It's all very interesting.

Let's see. The ladder would go (top to bottom) epic novels, romance novels, literary journals, newspapers, tabloids, blogs, facebook, twitter. I have probably left out a few.

more pictures

afternoon at nana and popop's house

and don't put the details in the headline

As I was drifting off into my nap this afternoon, I was writing a blog post in my head. Unfortunately, it drifted away as I was sleeping and I could only remember what came after and. It might come back but then again, it might not.


We've had a wildlife haven here at the Ponderosa today. Regis took this picture of a hummingbird in the cannolis but he wasn't prepared with his long lens so he'll be ready tomorrow. I think it's a good shot of a hummingbird. Not like the little bastards sit down and pose for you.

In the other shots, there were rabbits, squirrels,and a plethora of finches. When I came home from the grocery store, there was, no shit, a red-tailed hawk sitting on the back gate. I almost died. Last winter, if you recall, we had a sharp-shinned hawk eating a mouse on the back fence. I'm almost scared to let the dog out.

Here's my main thought for the day. I've been neglectful of my blog this summer, mostly because I have been fascinated with the medium called Facebook. It's so fast and short that I can write a quick thought and move on. Most people must be lurkers, though, because I have to hold back, thinking my posts will be overwhelmiing to people who aren't that interested in my every move. Ha! The last few days, I've been thinking about what I write on The Blog and what I write on Facebook and why Facebook is fun, but gives me the creeps sometimes.

I don't watch the news on television because it's too hard to filter. They have all that murder and mayhem and if you're in listening disance, you get it. At least with a newspaper, you have a chance to filter out what you don't want to know about.

I think that's the difference between blogs and facebook. With a blog, there is more time to wade in and decide if this is something you want to read or know about...and you can stop if it isn't. I try to be a little circumspect (are there degrees of that?) when I'm writing on my blog. I wrote about my surgery in pretty good detail but I figure most folks knew it was coming and they could choose to skip those if they didn't want to know. If I had written those things on Facebook, they would have been right there, in the headlines, and readers would have gotten it before they had a chance to decide.

Facebook is like the headlines. If you write something there, it's too immediate and nobody gets to decide if they don't want to know about intimate details of your personal life. I've blocked a few people who keep doing that because it seems like the wrong venue for those kinds of things. It's too intimate and too painful to read in a place that's so public and it's the kind of information (revelations) that could be hurtful. Maybe I'm thinking like the 60s and anything is fair game for most people. It's just my opinion but I guess I get to make the rules for what I read.

Facebook can be like those reality shows that start out to be interesting but then become like voyeurism.

saturday as it should be

We had a great Saturday. Got some things done around the Ponderosa in the morning and had the afternoon to relax in the sun. Amber's mom and dad, Mike and Peggy, rode their Harley down from Grand Rapids and came to our house for dinner. They're always fun. We had Regis' tremendous ribs on the grill, sweet corn, beer bread, and cheesecake for dessert. It was such a nice evening that we sat on the patio until after 9:00.

Regis and Amber on the patio.

This is one of our canna leaves. They're huge and tropical looking and are starting to bloom now. The hummingbirds love them. I guess I don't know if that's plural hummingbirds since we only see one at a time. The plants give our yard a great jungle feel.

Regis is on laundry detail already this morning. What a guy.

We bought a solar address sign the other day. Ever since the incident where Regis had to be transported to the ER by ambulance in the dark of a winter night, I've worried about people being able to find our house. The first responder sort of chided me for having a wreath hung over the light. He said it was hard to see the house numbers and they don't like to waste time. Especially now in the summer with all the foliage, it's hard to see the house much less the numbers. This sits in front of the birch tree and lights up like the A&W at night. That should do it.

I'm working on my menu for the week. I can see the grilling coming to an end already. Regis will have a night class on Wednesday so that will have to be an easy, quick meal. Ugh. It's been so cool that it makes you think about soup and meatloaf and baked potatoes. We're making stuffed portobellas on the grill tonight with maybe a few shrimp and scallops. I have some mahi mahi (whatever that is) in the freezer, too. That would be an adventure. I've had shark a couple times this summer and liked it but they don't call it shark...and I can't remember the other name.

I finally finished that damn book. I skimmed the last few chapters. Ugh again. I should have quit in the middle of it. No recommendation on that one.

I'm going to sit in my flannel nightgown until about 11 this morning, when I will get dressed and go to Patrick's for breakfast. Then I'm going to come home and take a nap in the reclining lawn chair on the patio. That's Sunday as it should be.

nerve thing

I'm going to see a chiropractor tomorrow who does accupuncture. I have a funny pain in my upper left leg that feels like a nerve zinger. That's my diagnosis anyway. It hurts like hell when it hits. I don't want to fall down so we'll see what the doc has to say. It's probably all that exercise.

We went to Mankato last night with some crazy friends. We went to Pub 500...the on to Choppers, South Street, and Blue Bricks. Quite the evening. There is a different crowd coming out after dark in that town, let me tell you. One guy coming in the door of Choppers as we were going out, commented that we smell like we take showers. Hmmm.

We're on grill withdrawal today. Yesterday it poured rain all day and today it's been breezy, cold, and rainy so no grilling. We have a turkey breast brining and a hunk of beef waiting for a dry rub so looks like we're on for tomorrow. Big black clouds overhead again so maybe not...

We're watching I Love You, Man. Some good lines but a goofy plot.

middle of the week

I was sitting in the coffee shop this morning staring at my calendar, working on lists, and holding my head in my hands. A friend of mine walked by and asked what I was doing. Getting my marbles into the right slots so I can go to work, I said. I'm not sure I accomplished it. When a summer is as nice as this one was, it's hard to go back to rushing and list making and action plans.

Ella came for dinner. Regis picked her up and when she got in the car, she let out a big sigh and said, "Finally I get to see Nana!" We just went to the fair together Friday but it must be one of life's great pleasures to have someone miss you like that. We made burgers on the grill, she played with the cream pitchers, and we ate popsicles and toasted pink marshmallows on the patio.

I'm reading a book called The Women that was highly recommended as in "I can't put it down". I can put it down, believe me. I've been trudging through that damn book for two weeks and I'm only halfway done. I think I have to quit. While it's interesting that Frank Lloyd Wright hooked up with a few crazy women, I don't want to read 400 pages of little vinaigrettes about it. (I know...) On to something else. Like bad wine, bad books are just not worth consuming.

Sunday morning and making a plan for the week

Suddenly, making plans for the week is more difficult. Hard as we tried, we didn't win a lottery so I have to go to work. It doesn't leave as much time for play. Harrumph.

I worked in the house yesterday. We're clutter kind of folks so once in a while, you need to rearrange and find the piles and get rid of some crap.

I sold the piano and the very nice people who bought it came to pick it up in the morning. They have three children who want to learn to play, and as much as I loved that piano, nobody here ever played it. I have two songs in repertoire and it didn't make sense for it to live here and never be played, and we needed the space. But when I saw them getting ready to load it in the pickup, I was overcome with sadness. I went into the office to weep because I know crying makes men nervous. I'm better today.

I found another piano book after they left so I think I'll put it in the mail with a note about being glad our piano found a good home.

We went to Dino's for dinner last night for a tomato duet pizza and a Greek salad. That is the nicest place, truly. We love the atmosphere and the serving people are very friendly and the food is always beyond delicious. We're never disappointed.

A rumbling thunder storm woke us up this morning. I swilled a lot of coffee, then made cottage cheese pancakes. They have more protein and no white flour so they're a better option for me than the other kind. Regis is very accommodating and said he liked them.

Peter has to work today, I'm going to clean some more, and Regis is going to cook chicken thighs on the grill for dinner. That's our Sunday.

what we did at the fair

Regis at the end of the evening.

Amber at the beginning of the evening.

Teresa at the end of the evening. (I can't be responsible for the order of pictures.)

Regis, Bob, Ella, and Amber on the lawn tractor.

Amber and Ella in the bobcat...Regis getting in on the photo.

Regis and Teresa winning at bingo.

Bob and Ella on the merry-go-round.

Ella has a hand-squeezed lemonade.

Ella paints a picture.

Bob and Ella, Amber and Reg, and Regis and I went to the Nicollet County Fair. We had a grand time and these are some of the things we did:

• We won five dollars playing bingo.
• We ate at various junk food stands. I had a gyro that was only marginally good. Regis had a Chicago style hot dog.
  
• We went through the animal barns and saw alpacas, a calf, sheep, and baby pigs.
• Bob and Ella went on the merry-go-round.
• We talked to Kathy Sheran about her next campaign.
• Ella painted a picture at the early childhood booth.
• Ella sat on lots of lawn tractors and bobcats.
• Bob gathered food (ribs, cotton candy, lemonade) to take home to Emily who stayed home with baby Alex.
• We listened to, but did not attend, the demo derby.
• We had a cold beer at the Jaycees beer stand.
• Ella chose a duck at the duck pond and won a shiny plastic sword.
  

These are all part of the county fair summer ritual. Great fun.

mom has a martini without incident and jered allen cranks it up

On Monday night in Rochester, we were invited to a very nice martini party. My mom was warned by one of her more worrisome children to not drink any martinis. Of course, she decided that a martini was just the ticket so she had one, and told us later if she had know other people were having two, she would have had another. She behaved herself with decorum and the martini party went on without incident. Yay, Mom!

Other events from the day included a visit to Steve and Sherry's house where we were entertained by Pepsi, the ditch dog, a four mile walk around Rochester on Tuesday morning, a trip to TJ Maxx, and a stay at a nice new Hampton Inn where we had big white duvets and feather pillows. It was quite plush. It was great fun to see Deb and Larry again. We hope Larry is having a safe trip on his hundred mile bike trip.


Regis, Young Regis, and Tom went to see the Vikings practice on Wednesday. The picture above is some dude apparently, ummm, rearranging his parts...or making a rude gesture. Good grief. Don't they realize everyone has a camera? Apparently going to training camp is not what it was 30 years ago. I keep trying to come up with something witty and urbane to say about this but I can't. So moving on and scaling up.

As a hedge against going back to work, we bought two lottery tickets. When we didn't win, we bought ten dollars worth of pull-tabs. No luck there either. So I will be in on Monday.

Pictures from Rochester

monday

Mom's here so she slept in the king-size bed with me and Regis was reassigned to the couch. He insisted. What a nice guy.

We had a great summer dinner of steak, shrimp and scallop kabobs, sweet corn, and a salad with basil vinaigrette last night. Mom and Regis had some of Bruce's apple pie recipe for dessert. This is the apple pie you make with grain alcohol, not the kind you make with apples. It smells great, though, so I enjoy it from that angle.

I got up early and went to the Pulse where I watched an episode of Clean Sweep while I walked on the treadmill. The treadmill routine (is that the right word?) that I started a month ago and which nearly killed me is now easy. Funny how that happens. It's dark in the morning when I go and I hate that.

We're heading to Rochester today to see the Norris cousins, their spouses, and kids. We've been invited to a cook-out at the home of a niece on Mr. Butler's side. I guess they like to serve martinis. My brother Pat warned Mom and said she shouldn't have one. What the hell. She isn't 90 years old. I think I'd have one just to see what happened.

Our garage is being painted starting tomorrow. We're so excited as it has looked pretty much like hell for ten years. It was the only garage in the neighborhood that survived the tornado but we think that was because the roof was full of holes. It got a new roof and a coat of paint thanks to volunteers. It wasn't scraped or primed so it never did look very good. It will have a whole new look by Wednesday and a picture may be featured right here.

We might make a stop at the Fleet Farm in Owatonna. Nothing we like better than a good deal.

a summer night by Kate Barnes

A summer night. The moon's face,
almost full now, comes and goes
through clouds. I can't see
any stars, but a late firefly
still flicks his green lamp on and off
by the fence.
In this light
that is more illusion
than light, I think of things
I can't make out: milkweed opening
its millions of flowerets, their heavy heads
smelling like dark honey in the night's
darkness; day lilies
crowding the ditch, their blossoms
closed tight; birds asleep with their small legs
locked on twigs; deer stealing
into the uncut hay; and the young bay mare
kneeling down in the pasture, composing herself
to rest, as rounded and strong
as a meant prayer.

"A Summer Night" by Kate Barnes, from Kneeling Orion

saturday observations

I had such good intentions of cleaning my house today. I have so little motivation, though, and finally just succumbed to laziness with a good sit on the patio and an hour long nap. Mom's coming to visit tomorrow but I know she doesn't care about a dust dragon or two.

I did get two things done that have been on my to-do list for several years. I called a cleaning person who will come on Thursday to see if she wants to take us on as an encumbrance in her life. She comes highly recommended and other people who have her say she doesn't need to be told what to do. A cleaning person who wants instructions would be like a hair dresser who needs directions. They're the professionals.

I also called a painter to come and take a look at our garage. He's been painting in town for forty years so when he asked if this part should be white and did this color match the siding of the house, I just shrugged and said, "You're the professional, Don." So by the end of the week, our garage will have a new coat of paint. Our neighbors will be relieved as our garage looks like something from the Dust Bowl.

I told the painter that I had been meaning to call for at least couple years. He laughed and said, "You probably thought you'd do it yourselves in a weekend." No, I said, that's not it. I've eliminated to-do lists from my life (too much pressure to perform) so it just kept getting forgotten.

Regis is pleased with the heat wave. He said, when asked for a quote, "It's almost hot enough." He likes beads of sweat to form immediately upon sitting down in his lawn chair. Me, not so much.

Regis has gotten some satisfaction from the dust-up he started at Podunk U. They agreed, in emails, that they had said it was a one-year course, that 18 months seems a bit longer than a year, that it might be inconvenient for people who are unemployed to lounge around for six months waiting to take six credits, and that yes, the website is inaccurate. It has since disappeared. Small victories. Tiny delights.

I read this somewhere this summer and posted it on facebook, which has been my guilty pleasure for the past few weeks.

Most of us miss out on life's big prizes. The Pulitzer. The Nobel. Oscars. Tonys. Emmys. But we're all eligible for life's small pleasures. A pat on the back. A kiss behind the ear. A four-pound bass. A full moon. An empty parking space. A crackling fire. A great meal. A glorious sunset. Hot soup. Cold beer. Don't fret about copping life's grand awards. Enjoy its tiny delights. There are plenty for all of us.

Here are some tiny delights, right here on the patio on a hot August afternoon:

• A breeze that keeps the bugs away.
• The smell of a charcoal fire.
• An almost fully-grown robin taking a bath.
• A woodpecker on the suet feeder.
• A few tomatoes (not many) ripening on the vines.
• Cumulus clouds rolling by in the sky.
• Waldo catching a frisbee across the street.

Make your own list. Be sure to write it down and leave a few in the comments section. I took out the moderation feature so it should be easier.

unintentional break from the blog

Regis reminded me tonight that it's been almost a week since my last post. I've composed a few in my head but nothing I got down on the screen. I'm back.

It's been a busy week, some of which I can't remember. Tiffany's car broke down and we decided to buy her an inexpensive car to help her make it through school. That's stressful stuff for a person who doesn't like to look at, think about, or shop for cars. I finally remembered that my cousin Mike sells cars in Winona. I checked out his website, then called him and bought a car sight unseen. It isn't the first time I've done that, by the way. Mike was a great help and has gone way out of his way to make sure Tiffany has wheels on Monday when she starts school. They're even delivering the car to her in Minneapolis.

Joanne came for coffee early Wednesday morning and we sat on the patio as the sun came up. There was a hummingbird in the garden so that was like a tiny gift. She left for Illinois the next morning to visit her dad so we had to connect before that. Our friends have been coming and going a lot lately (us, too) so it's hard to remember who's where and when they're coming back from wherever they were.

Regis and I are having trouble sleeping lately. Usually one or both of us are awake somewhere between 2 and 4 a.m. It's not such a problem when you don't have to be anywhere at any specific time. It gets more critical on days I work. Like today I wanted to be at the pulse at 5:15 and had to leave for work at 7:30. No time for insomnia.

Regis is a little disgusted with is impending school experience. They (Podunk U) have decided that he can only take 12 credits a semester and that he'll have to take 6 credits next fall. His advisor was unsympathetic and said that's just the way it is. This is a course designed for displaced workers? This might not matter if you're 18 and living in your parent's basement but it matters a lot if you're looking at the end of unemployment and COBRA benefits. I encouraged him to write a few letters and I'm sure he will. Burn.

We have some very bold rabbits in our neighborhood this summer. One fellow walks right up the sidewalk like he's coming to visit. We can come out the door, sit on the lawn chairs, talk in loud voices...nothing matters. He just keeps on coming. Then he takes a sharp left into the garden and commences munching plants. He is not afraid of us in the least.

It looks like we might get some rain tonight. That would be nice. The garden has managed with the sprinkling we give it, but it hasn't thrived. We don't believe too much in watering plants or grass, for that matter. We have a Darwin garden...survival of the fittest.

Oh, I forgot I have some garden pictures to plant. We ordered a sign tht says HOWARD FRITSCH MEMORIAL PATIO and bought a big red ceramic pot that we had planted with a rosemary topiary and some herbs. It's really pretty. Since we used Howard's money to build the patio, we thought it was a fitting tribute. Thanks, Howard. We are enjoying the patio a lot.

Regis and Ella do lunch

I was out of town today and Regis went over to see the little kids. He offered to take Ella out for lunch and let her pick the place. She wanted to go to Patrick's of course, so off they went. They were having a conversation (language dancing) and she wanted to know where Nana was today. Regis explained that I had gone to a friends house in Minneapolis for lunch and that other friends were coming, too. Ella asked a few question, then the pieces fell into place and she said, "Oh! She's playing!"

We sat on the patio tonight for a while. I sat near the grill...the heat felt good. I lit a candle and it seemed right. Honestly, it's like October out there except it stays light longer. I read on some weather blog that temps for August through October are supposed to be more normal. More normal? The Trib says statewide, the average temperature in July of 64.4 degrees was the third lowest on record. I think it's been great but Regis and one other guy in town (that I know of) really crab about it. Such curmudgeons.

The reaction of my old friends to my recent weight loss was interesting but weird. I was kind of the show and tell project for a while and it was fun to experience the surprise and excitement. I was thinking on the way home that these friends of more than 40 years have only known my fat person self. Even if I weighed less at some point, I was never this thin in my head.

On my way to bed. I have a good book...The Women by T.C. Boyle. It's about the women in the life of Frank Lloyd Wright.

reality

Someone wrote a comment a couple posts ago about that finally being a realistic entry. I've pondered that comment for days. Really. It's kept me from writing. Out of almost 900 posts, this one is finally realistic? Here's my conclusion and I say this only with a sigh. I don't have any obligation to be realistic or really, even honest. It's my perceptions and my writing all filtered through my rosy little glasses and oddball sense of quirk and humor. Read at your own risk but don't write your middle school science paper based on things you read here because I may not be accurate and don't base your life's philosophy on my observations because reality is for novels and television shows and I don't have a very good sense of it. I prefer unreality.

surprise guests for dinner!

We had guests for dinner! Emily, Ella, and Alex joined us on the patio for brats and marshmallows. We had a few healthy things, too, but mostly we had fun. I painted Ella's nails bright red, we read a Clifford book, and Popop showed her how to toast giant pink marshmallows.

don't feel like writing

When I was a writing teacher, I always had my students write in a notebook at the start of class. Some days they didn't feel like it and said they didn't have anything to say. I always told them that it was most important to write on the days when they felt like that because that's when they might start to explore the thoughts that were on the dusty shelves. I don't feel like I have much to say tonight but I'm going to take my own advice.

I slept in this morning because I was awake a lot in the night. I sat around in my pajamas for most of the morning and took a long soaky bath while I made some phone calls. One to my cousin who is in danger of losing her job. Ah, life is hard sometimes and sometimes the hard parts make good opportunities. I hope this is an opportunity for you, Deb.

I talked to Tiffany several times today. She's trying to wrap up things for school in the fall. Things like financial aid and registration. They're hoops and you have to be persistent and just get through them. She's done a great job and is being thoughtful about her choices. I'm proud of her.

I didn't feel very good until mid-afternoon when I went to get a haircut. I stopped at one store to hunt up a good deal on a purse and found this great Sak bag:
Then I wandered down to the huge Barnes and Noble to buy a few books: The Women by T.C. Boyle and:
I don't know what made me buy American Lion, maybe the 40% off coupon I got in the mail. I'm not a big fan of non-fiction but we'll see. I was also in a vulnerable state due to my wakefulness and feeling poorly.

I just finished:
I liked this book but I didn't love it. I didn't love it like I loved So Brave, Young, and Handsome but I can't say why. Maybe that's what people talk about at book clubs to which I have never been a member. The writing was lovely which will almost always save a book for me and I liked the characters and the plot. It was absent some emotion, I think.

So, the day has felt flat. I don't know why. And I don't think I unearthed anything very interesting in my writing experiment.

regis and teresa go to the big city

We bought tickets to see Lyle Lovett a few months ago and decided since the show was downtown Minneapolis, we would spend the night rather than try to find our small town way out of the big city in the dark of night. I made a reservation at what turned out to be very swanky Hotel Minneapolis. We're such rubes. Here is the evidence:

• We had to pay 27 dollars for valet parking. 27 dollars? Gulp.
• We went into the elevator and pushed the floor for our room. Nothing happened. We pushed it again. Nothing happened. Then Regis remembered something from a Stephen King novel he just read...that you have to put your key card into the slot to make the elevator go. Ah ha. Thank God we didn't go to the desk and tell them the elevator was broken.
• We unpacked and left right away to see the sights. We got as far as Kieran's Irish Pub across the street where we enjoyed the company of the bartender named Morgan. He and a couple other patrons gave us some advice about getting to the theater and such.
• We walked down the Nicollet Mall where there was a farmer's market happening. Something we know about! Vegetables!
• We were taken to a booth in the Rockbottom Brewery and there at the next table was Billy Steiner of City Mouse. We chatted with him for a minute and met his wife, Patty. Small world even in the big city.
• Tiffany and Eric met us for dinner so I got to hold Elliot who was a good boy during dinner. It was nice to see them.
  
• Regis and I sat on a bench along Hennepin Avenue after dinner and watched the goings on of which there were many but we went in to the State Theater promptly at 7:30 for the 8:00 show. Our promptness was not rewarded: Many people were seated after 8:00 and people continued to come and go during the first hour. Too many beers with dinner or is this just bad manners?
• We walked home down Hennepin Avenue. I was nervous but we made it safely back to Kieran's where the wait person recognized us!
  
• We slept on a ritzy and very comfortable bed with a cotton duvet instead of a polyester bed spread. Nice.
• You could have a square dance in the shower stall.
  
• We were too cheap to pay for breakfast in the swanky hotel so we stopped at what we thought was Mystic Lake but turned out to be a much smaller minor casino. That's like a small city up there! We had a nice breakfast and went in to play some slot machines. Very unlike me to want to do that. Regis played a poker machine and I sat down at a slot machine and promptly won 90 bucks. We decided to hold on to our winnings and get the hell out of there.
• We're home again and Kramer is happy. We've had a busy couple weeks with lots of travel.
  

side effects of summer

One of the side effects of summer, especially July, and not looking at the calendar and the clock constantly, is that my brain sort of slows down. I can't remember if I have only composed mentally on a topic, or actually written about it. I've considered starting another anonymous blog so I don't bore people with the same crap over and over.

I weighed myself this morning, something I was loathe to do before the incident. This morning, I was officially not in the obese category anymore but merely in the overweight category. My goal has been to reach, at some point, the normal BMI category but both doctors were discouraging of that notion. They said that BMI is figured on bone to muscle to fat ratios and once a person has been overweight, the numbers are off. They doubted that I could reach the normal BMI without looking like a survivor of some disaster. I guess I'll take them at their word and won't worry about that.

I remember the first time I saw obese on a medical chart. Nobody explained that it was a medical data thing and not a value judgement. Whoa. Harsh, I thought. So many head things to work out here in this process of losing weight.

I went back to bed this morning because it's one of the few days this summer I don't have to rush off somewhere. My neighbor is having his house roofed so all my dreams had barking dogs and nail pounding in them. Not very restful sleep and probably a sign.

Regis is smoking a beef roast on the grill today. He worried about disturbing the roofers with the smell and the smoke but decided hell, they're pounding at 7 a.m. so wtf.

On our way to Marshall, we stopped at a Super America to use the facilities. They had a picture on the wall of the restroom of a lovely pastoral scene and it was entitled Friendship. The frame was bolted to the wall with big ass screws. There's some irony for you.

More later, no doubt.

visiting mom

There is some family resemblance, I'd say. Regis and I went to see Mom in Canby yesterday. We had a nice visit and did a lot of stuff in the time we were there. We went to Buffalo Ridge in Gary, South Dakota...a convention center and resort being developed at the site of the old School for the Blind. It's beautiful. We had visits from old friends and some ladies of the book club. Very nice time.

Deb, I gleaned some clothes from the distribution center and have on one of your sweaters! It's been so cool here that sweaters feel good. I bet that sounds repulsive to you when it's been 114 in Arizona.

It rained here before we got home today and two times since we got home. We barely made it in the house before a torrential downpour. We needed rain.

I have a book that I am so close to finishing, but I saved the ending for tonight. Can't wait.

displeasure with the weather or Regis enjoys a july afternoon on the patio

Regis is demonstrating his displeasure with the coolish temperatures in Minnesota lately. He claims that the only reason we live here in the winter, contrary to popular thinking which is that we are waiting for the beautiful spring and summer, is that we stay during the extensive winters to protect our state from migrating bands of Canadians who would be glad to leave their cold climes for something more temperate. Summer is our reward for protecting the borders in the winter and this year, we're facing a Canadian offensive. I know...it's obscure.

It wasn't cold enough for a parka but it was cold. I tried working in the garden but my hands got cold so I would pop into the house periodically to warm up. It warmed up enough so we could cook a beer can chicken on the grill but we scooted back in the house shortly after it was done.

We're having company for dinner tomorrow night (you know who you are) and I am concerned abuot my lack of concern over house cleaning. I am a notorious bad housekeeper and I have written about it here many times. I'm not as bad as some people (garbage houses) and I once read a book about a couple who had gaping holes in their walls and animals went freely in and out. I'm not that bad. I avoid anti-bacterial cleaners, I don't have a need for an immaculate kitchen floor and I don't mind a few piles of stuff around. I've decided when I invite people over, they probably won't mind if the house isn't spotless if we have a little wine and the food is good.

Cooler weather and more time in the house= more time to post on the blog and more time to reflect on house cleaning.

I Was Always Leaving by Jean Nordhaus: American Life in Poetry

I Was Always Leaving by Jean Nordhaus: American Life in Poetry

I Was Always Leaving

I was always leaving, I was
about to get up and go, I was
on my way, not sure where.
Somewhere else. Not here.
Nothing here was good enough.

It would be better there, where I
was going. Not sure how or why.
The dome I cowered under
would be raised, and I would be released
into my true life. I would meet there

the ones I was destined to meet.
They would make an opening for me
among the flutes and boulders,
and I would be taken up. That this
might be a form of death

did not occur to me. I only know
that something held me back,
a doubt, a debt, a face I could not
leave behind. When the door
fell open, I did not go through.


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and this is the last one...

Regis on the patio at Morgan Creek. He thinks a sweatshirt on July 17th is an abomination but honestly, the warm clothes felt good.

It was such a friendly crowd at Morgan Creek. This picture was taken by a woman at the next table. I took several pictures of other tables as I walked through the garden area.

These are the women at the next table. They were very friendly. The woman in the white hat shares a birthday with Tom which tickled us immensely.

This picture was taken by one of the women in the photo above, Terri, I think. She thought it would be clever to tilt the camera and I do like it.

Our final stop of the evening was at the Preri Bach Saloon in Cambria. Preri Bach is a phrase used by the Welsh people when they settled here years ago and it refers to the beautiful prairie. It is indeed. The saloon was a fitting end to our evening of revelry. The bartender and wait person were very friendly and brought the men tap beers and big burgers. A group of people came in while we were waiting and like people in tiny towns, they wanted to talk. The driver had a baby blue cadillac convertible that she wanted us to see and we shared information like birthdays and hometowns. They waved and shouted and wished us safe travels as we left for home.


Here's the famous Cambria burger. Reports are that it was delicious.

I delivered Tom safely at his door about 10:00 and Regis and I arrived home shortly after. We agreed it was a night we'll remember.

this is the second post...

Tom and I enjoy a bottle of St. John Reserve, a nice dry red wine. I was very conservative with the wine consumption since I was the designated driver.

This was one of our favorite wines. Our other favorites were the Gewurztraminer and a red called Red Ridge.

This is the bruschetta with fresh salsa and basil pesto. We didn't get a picture of the Greek pizza but it was wonderful. The cook in a wood-fired brick oven on one side of the patio. The smell of wood fires wafts across the patio. In the dusk of a cool summer night, it was just lovely.

Ben Marti played the music of German composers Bach, Beethoven, and Brahms. The music added to the magic.

german winefest at morgan creek vineyard

Regis, Tom, and I went to the German Wine Tasting Festival at Morgan Creek last night. It was such a lovely, magical night that I'm going to post all the photos with my comments. This is the front door of the tasting room. It opens onto a patio and the garden area. We ordered a bottle of the new Gewurztraminer and a Greek pizza. Oh, my. Both were like heaven.

The garden is beautiful. I walked up the steps and took this picture of the patio and fire ring from the top of the hill.

Here I am on the patio with a glass of the new wine. It got to be a full crowd but not horrible. We were worried about the chilly weather but being in the valley, we were protected from the wind.

Another view of the garden and patio area. The fire was popular last night!

Happy Birthday, Patrick!

cold in july

It is unseasonably and unnaturally cold here in southern Minnesota today. We had a brisk wind all day and it was cold enough to wear a sweatshirt although I did see people in sleeveless things. I had a sweater and a jean jacket on when we went out and about. Tomorrow is supposed to be colder yet and we have plans to go to Morgan Creek for the release of their signature German white wine, Gewurztraminer. It's an outdoor event, though, so we'll have to bundle up.

I suggested to Regis that we turn on the furnace but he gave me a look of scorn. It's July, he said. At least we could close the windows, I said. I stopped at the garden center on my way back from the doctor's office today and I swear Fred was as grouchy about the weather as Regis is. He went on a rant about how hot it's supposed to be but isn't. I figure any day without the AC is a good one.

I worked out with Rachel today and I think I'm getting stronger. It doesn't kill me to do 45 minutes with her anymore and I can still do the treadmill when I'm done without curling up in a fetal position. When I started, she had me standing on this half-ball thing below for 60 seconds. I was miserable at it and wobbled like I had been drinking. When I got better, she pushed me to do squats on it. Man. It's not so bad if nobody's looking but it's harder than it appears it should be. This is the balance thing that will keep me from falling down and hitting my head on the toilet when I get old.

i'm an author in the dreams of Regis

Regis dreamed last night that I wrote a book called In Defense of Inarticulate Home Bodies. The premise of the book was that too many people don't venture out of their own spheres to find information and therefore, are inarticulate home bodies. It was a series of little vignettes. Or vinaigrettes, if you prefer. This is my second dream book, the first being The Party What Started Out as Jumping Around. Quite a body of work I am amassing.

writing

I've been writing some pretty short and fairly lame blog posts lately. I know it. I'm going to blame it on anesthesia as I hear that can mess up your brain cells. Laughing. I'm not really blaming it on a loss of brain cells; more like a lack of persistence. In the winter, I hunker down in my flannels with the laptop and spend the evening writing and watching mindless television or movies. In the summer, we're outside and I just don't spend enough time doing it. The less I do, the less inclined I am to do it. The less I think about what I'm going to write and the less I see things that might be interesting topics. It's a vicious cycle that may not improve until winter, flannels, and wine return.

There are so many very brief ways to communicate now. Twitter, which I don't like, and facebook, which I am getting to like, both require few words. I've noticed that lots of people on facebook don't write anything at all...they just click that they like something you wrote. Hey, the lazy man's way! Could we at least write a comment? Text messaging, which I suck at, takes so long that by the time a guy gets int he capital letters and paragraphs, the time is gone for what he had to say. I guess it's all an improvement over the pony express, but not much. Faster but not nearly as interesting.

For anybody who is interested in my eating habits (lots of people ask me what I can eat now, as if I can't eat anything): I had halibut and tuna on the grill for dinner with a few springs of asparagus and three strawberries. I had cottage cheese for lunch and a bowl of blueberries and All Bran for breakfast. There you have it. Very satisfying. I might have a small glass of white wine for dessert.

Regis and I ventured downtown this afternoon to do a few errands. For those of you who are not from here, our main street is all torn up as it's in the midst of beautification thanks to the Reinvestment Act. We stopped in the Swedish Kontur where the fragile glass was teetering on its little shelves. It looks like a bomb went off in front of the stores...half the sidewalks are gone, all the trees are gone, and the street is full of heavy equipment. Reminds a guy of the tornado after-math. We're pretty loyal in-town shoppers, though, so I'm sure we'll brave it again.

I have gotten into the morning exercise habit. Today I realized that even though I did my 45 minutes of cardio and 30 minutes of weights, by this afternoon I didn't remember doing it. That's what I liked about swimming...it sort of faded into my memory. Nice.

It's beautiful outside tonight but cool. I had to put a jacket on. I wrote somewhere that we were outside last night and we saw fireflies. I was enchanted with them in Iowa but we're rarely outside after dark when we're home and I had never seen them in the garden. Magical!

Dick had such a pretty garden that I was inspired to plan a new project for my garden. I want to put a small patio in the center where the joe pye weed is and have a table and two chairs there. I found a table and chair set that I like. It has substantial chairs and a stone tile top. I lose plants all the time in the center of the garden because it's a production to get out there when the plants get big.

Regis asked me tonight if I wanted to go to Philadelphia this fall. Then he told me about a plane in which a football-sized hole appeared in flight. Uh huh. Bad timing on that story.

Out to find my dessert.

bottle lanterns and fireflies

The other day when we were snooping around TJ Maxx in Rochester, Regis found these cool bottle lanterns. Tonight we made a deliberate trip outside to see how they looked after dark since we're hardly ever out after dark by accident. The lanterns were lovely and we saw fireflies! We saw lots of them in Iowa and we were enchanted by their tiny lights flitting around Dick's garden. Apparently we have them here, too!

Jill's helping me track down a picture book about fireflies and northern lights. I gave it to her grandbaby, Hannah, a few years ago but can't remember the title now that I want it again.

Speaking of a crappy memory....when I was sitting outside, I had three things I was writing in my head but now I've forgotten the other two.

pictures from a trip

headed to iowa tomorrow

This is the Sutliff Store as seen from the Sutliff Bridge which washed away in the flood last year. We're headed to Iowa on a road trip with Tom and Betty, destination Sutliff Store tomorrow in time for happy hour. Stories and pictures will be posted.

having a chat with the brothers mayo

We had to be at Mayo at 6:40 this morning. We walked out the doors at the end of the day at 5:15. Regis might be complaining about it but I'm not: I got great care there and everyone is so nice. It's the price you pay. I've always admired the statues of the brothers Mayo so had Regis bring the camera and take a picture of me with them this afternoon. This was during the only five minutes of sunshine we had all day. It was like being in a giant cloud...misty, cold rain. We made a few stops...Cabella's, TJ Maxx, Barnes and Noble...all the old favorites.

My doctor (who is quite a character) was pleased with my progress and said I'm doing exactly what I should be doing and that's why I haven't had ill effects. Yay. I forgot to tell him that I have lost the equivalent of a two month old horse. He'd like that. I go back in October for more extensive blood work and to see him again. I might have to leave my driver at home for that trip as he got a tiny bit owly with the long waits.

So, there's the update and the photos to prove it.

on the road

Regis and I are on the road to Mayo today for my 3-month check-up. My first appointment is at 6:40 for blood work then nothing until 2:00. I should have called Sherry to see if we could nap on their couches! We're anxious to take the new ride out and see how it goes. More later.

new car!

Regis and I spent most of today doing the deal on this car. It's a Honda Accord and is quite a change from my rattly old Beetle with the lights flashing and the oil alerts sounding. I feel like a queen in this ride even though there's no moon roof and no ass heater. It was a less stressful day than some car purchasing days in the past because the salesman was quite a character. If you're in the market for a car, let us know and we'll pass on his name.

birthday event

We had gorgeous weather, the food was delicious, and everyone seemed to have a good time. I was too tired to serve dessert to most people but those who hung around until I had time to recharge got some. Good for them, too bad for the rest. Never leave a party early is the lesson.

We have a busy week. Car shopping tomorrow. Work Tuesday. Mayo Wednesday. Joanne to out-patient surgery on Thursday. Iowa Friday. We'll need a vacation from our vacation.

Here's a slideshow from the party. Regis is opening a present from Betty and Tom in one picture: a lunchbox for his return to school containing a Batman thermos, a PBJ sandwich wrapped in wax paper, an apple, pencils, and a box of Swisher Sweets among many other things. What a hoot.

more saturday

I'm sure because I write here so often it seems as if I have nothing to do. Ummm, that's not true. It's a nice distraction from more productive endeavors like doing dishes and cleaning.

I was thinking about the menu for tomorrow. Here it is:

Appetizers~
Chili cheese dip
Shrimp

Smoked pork butt sandwiches
Cowboy beans
Cole slaw
Chips
Melon and berries

Peanut buster parfait dessert
Puppy chow

The meat was cooked yesterday so only has to be heated tomorrow. I'm making the beans, the fruit tray, and the dessert. Easy. We're hoping for nice weather. Happy birthday to Regis.

We came inside to a less stimulating environment to watch the Boston Pops and their fireworks which you can do with fewer exploding noises. Much to our chagrin, they are playing country music. Country music. I like most kinds of music except that whiny country crap and of course, rap. Regis says this is what happens when they move the Boston Pops from PBS to ABC. Sure enough, we went back to PBS and there was the 1812 Overture.

On to the next celebration.

highlights of the parade

It's been a peculiar 4th of July. We took jackets and a huge umbrella to the parade and needed all of it. The people who sold cold drinks and freezies didn't do so well but there was a great crowd in spite of the rain.

We saw the usual DFL politicians: Kathy Sheran, Terry Morrow, Tim Walz and lots of people holding signs and passing out stickers. No Al Franken or his kid this year but they're probably busy moving to new digs. The Republicans came a few units later and they had one miserable looking guy in a pickup pulling a float. That's it. What's up with that? The Sarah Palin news probably has them all in a dither.

There was a non-English speaking family in front of us by the end of the parade. The little kids were darling and sure got in the spirit of the candy tossing!

We stopped at Bob's for a while after I had a nap to warm up and re-charge. Nice to visit with people there.

Regis and I came home to sit on the patio. We had to pull our chairs under the tree to keep dry as it keeps sprinkling. (And the neighbor kid is playing loud rap music on some outdoor speakers.) We're getting like my dad: we sit outside every minute we can in any kind of weather. We like to watch people go by and we like to watch the birds.

We're going to cook a steak and a piece of halibut on the grill for dinner. And we're going to attempt to stay awake for the fireworks.

Enjoy the slideshow! Be sure to read the captions.

Happy 4th of July!

Safe and happy 4th of July! We're heading to the parade early and will stop at the park on our way home. I'll post parade and party pictures sometime tomorrow.

Friday evening update

Busy day.

Pork butts on the grill all day. I had to be responsible for the charcoal while Regis went car shopping with Reg and Amber. They bought a pretty silver Honda Accord. I think we're going to make a deal on an Accord Monday. This will be my car to drive but I'm not too interested in most of the details. I don't care about cruise control but I wanted a seat heater. It has the former but not the latter.

Kathy came and helped me clean today. I'm a pretty worthless cleaner because I get distracted. She bossed me around (in a good way) and scrubbed my kitchen floor on her hands and knees. I paid her extra for that, believe me.

We went to Patrick's for dinner. Nice time...bad bench. Made my legs numb.

We sat outside this evening even though it rained ever so lightly from time to time. A few fireworks in the neighborhood that made the dog very nervous. I don't get the attraction to fireworks myself. I like them on television when you don't hear the sound of exploding.

Happy almost 4th of July. Be careful.

short list of cars

The Honda Fit is off the short list of cars. I think it's too small and the cup holder thing is so weird. One drove past our house last night and it was a really ugly color.

I just found something interesting on the internet. I've lost between the weight of a newborn calf and a two-month old horse. Man. That's funny. And scary.

We invited Bob and Emily for dinner tonight so Regis is cooking ribs and sweet corn. A true summer meal. I hope it's warm enough to be outside.

Regis helped Tom build an arbor on the back side of his garage. They finished yesterday and last night Regis had a dream that is so funny and weird that I won't even write about it here. You'll have to ask sometime when you see us.

garden photos

Here are some garden photos that I took tonight. It was a cool day but Regis and I loyally donned sweatshirts and cooked on the grill. We had two orioles come to the grape jelly so we were rewarded for our efforts.

Hey, we finally have a senator! Looks like the governor signed the certificate and it's over. We're going to look for Franken's kid at the 4th of July parade.

Enjoy the garden. Jill, do you recognize the big metal daisy?

ten cup holders

Regis and I are looking for a new car. We sort of like the VW, but we worry that one day the electronics will just flame out and we'll be left on the side of the road. We're looking at a Honda Fit which ranks really high in all the things that matter to men most of which are in consumer reports and do not include size. It comes in red and that's all I care about. One thing is very curious about this tiny car: it has ten cup holders. Ten cup holders. Ten people wouldn't fit in this car much less ten people with their drinks. I would be surprised if five people would fit in this car. Maybe that's why they call it the Fit...nobody fits. Hahahaha.

I advised Regis to not let me make any decisions about cars as I can't be trusted. As I said, I care about the color...and the radio a little. The other stuff not so much. It's a lot of money for something to just drive around in. Those necessities of life should be free: cars and toilet paper.

Here's an interesting newsflash. I checked our cell phone bill online today since it's due on the 9th and found, much to my chagrin and amazement that it was double and then some what it usually is. More investigation led me to the conclusion that Peter had committed what they call overages in text messages. I called Alltel to see if we could get unlimited text messages going back to the date of this apparent change in his love life. Don't tell him I said that as he would keel over of mortification.

That all makes a good story but the better one is, the customer service person asked me, did the owner of the 4864 number meant to sign up for Premier Text Messaging. I said I didn't know what that was. It's the one you always see on tv, she said. Hmmm. The plot thickens. I ask Regis and he flips a wig and calls Alltel. Here's where you have to pay attention.

Apparently, a THIRD PARTY VENDOR attached itself to his phone and allowed Alltel to charge him ten bucks a month for the last six months for some service he has never used and didn't even know he had. I pay the bill online and as long as it's in the ballpark, I don't examine it too closely. This seems like a real load of BS to me. Alltel has to know this company is doing this because Alltel generates the bill. What the hell. The CS person said yes, many people were upset about it. She refunded our 60 bucks but I'm writing to the Attorney General. I have experience with that sort of thing. Stories for another day.

Calling cell phone companies generally makes me weep and that's why I avoid it. They talk too fast like the old grifters. I don't like going into their stores either. The store gives me the willies.

So, there you have it. The end of another day.

wizards

My friends, Bob Bengtson and Mike Hazard are truly wizards of words and images. This is one of their latest video poems.

sunday in pictures

Johann, former neighbor and son of my former teaching partner, Peter, came by to visit today with his girlfriend Georgia. We miss his family down the street and it was very good to see him.


I have lots of pictures of the garden but we're over at Bob and Em's keeping care of Alex (as Ella said) while the rest of the family attends a Moondogs game. So I'll have to post the garden pictures later. Wait. They're on my facebook page. Ah, it's too much technology to keep track of in my muddled brain. I just added the last three words to that sentence to avoid ending it with a preposition.

Our garden is beautiful this year, in its usual random way. I moved some perennials today...a hosta here, a cone flower there. Some things end up in the back and get no attention. I have an astilbe that rarely gets watered and has only managed to hang on for dear life the past few years. I'm going to move it into a more prominent spot tomorrow.

The cannoli count is now 40! They pop through the ground and grow several inches a day. It looks like our tobacco crop.

I made the menu and grocery list for the week. That's a job with two holidays (4th of July and Regis' birthday) and a dinner for Bob and Em. I've been encouraging Peter to eat at home more as part of an austerity program and we like to fire up the grill in the afternoon so it's more like fun than work.

I'm going to play with Sir Alex His Babiness. Regis brought the camera but forgot the card so we won't have evidence of this part of Sunday.

Hey, that cat video in the Youtube segment below is a hoot.

good, sunny morning!

friday night tuna on the grill

It was a lazy Friday afternoon and evening. I did a little housecleaning (damn little) and a little shopping and a little sitting in a lawn chair. Two boys here for brats on the grill. I had a tuna steak marinated in a thai sauce. Delicious.

I went to Mankato this morning for a meeting. As I was turning onto Adams from Highway 22, there was a clean-cut guy standing there, as if waiting for a bus. He was wearing surgical scrubs and carrying a battered brief case and a big chunk of rusty metal. Now, what's up with that? It's puzzled me all day.

I visited the bargain table at B&N again today. Bought another Jeffrey Archer book.

Regis is watching a boxing match. Eeeeeishhhh. That is a brutal sport. I'm outta here.

The weather forecast is for storms tomorrow. That will keep me out of the garden. Don't know if that's good or bad.

brief update

A good time was had by all at the Legion.

Regis and I sat on the patio until 9:00 tonight. That's about 5 hours past sunset in the dead of winter. Imagine that.

One of my neighbors is blasting Michael Jackson music out over the area tonight. Oh please.

I feel like my nerves are sticking outside my body today. Two neighbors mowing lawns with big and loud lawn mowers. One shrill barking dog. This is why I don't keep dangerous weapons in the house. Ha! Actually that's the title of a poem by Billy Collins but I think he used the word gun. I should live in the country.

I'm on my way to bed and I don't have a book to read having finished False Impression by Jeffrey Archer. It's a suspense book which is outside my zone of comfort but it was so good I finished it in three days. He's a good writer.

Good night.

dollar burgers and waiting for my mousse to dry

I went to the pulse and worked out with Rachel. That girl can put you through your paces. I sweat more (in a good way) than I have in my life. I always avoided things that produced sweat and now, honestly, I can see it drip from my forehead. She tried to convince me that I won't get big muscles from lifting weights. I laughed and said I haven't spent 10 seconds worrying about that...ever.

We're going to the Legion down town for dollar burgers, which I can't eat, and dollar beers, which I won't drink. It's going to be a happening, though, and that appeals to me on a hot summer afternoon.

More later...

cannolis

My friend, Ann, gave me a dog food bag full of canna lily bulbs. Regis was intrigued by them but wasn't familiar with the name so he started calling them cannolis with which he has great familiarity. Cannoli is an Italian pastry rolled around a tube and deep fried before being stuffed with a sweet ricotta cheese mixture. The cannas kind of look like cannoli when they first come out of the ground...rolled up like, you know. We planted about 30 of them in front of the west window and covered them with mulch. About three days later, we noticed a pattern of burrows going from bulb to bulb in a criss-cross fashion. I thought they had been consumed by moles or pocket gophers or chipmunks of which I have seen many darting around the garden. Today we counted eight cannas, or cannolis, maybe four to five inches high. So either the rodents only ate a few or didn't eat enough of any of them to keep them from growing. Pictures of the cannolis in a month.