This weeks Ob-la-di meme asks.....
To dye or not to dye, that is the question. Do you dye your hair? To cover the gray or just for fun? Are you planning to stop dying it at some point, or if you don't dye it, have you ever? Tell me about how you want to dye.
The funny thing is I dyed my hair in my 30's and 40's. I stripped it wanting to go blond and ended up with the weirdest shade of red for awhile. So, I dyed it auburn over that and still it wasn't quite right. I have had my hair dark brown, ash brown, auburn, and highlighted and streaked in various shades. I stopped dying it in my 50's when I realized I liked the various shades of gray and white that were forming natural streaks in my brown hair. It looked cool! I am now 61 and while my hair gradually turns more and more gray and white I don't mind. I doubt I will ever dye it again. No, I know I will never dye it again. My hair has gotten quite long as I also tired of getting it cut. In the front it is past my shoulders and in the back it is almost to my waist. It is very fine so not thick. The long gray hairs and white hairs blending through the brown are more artistic to me than a sign of age. I like it!
Saturday, July 18, 2009
Sunday, July 12, 2009
Musical influence - Obladi meme
This weeks Obladi meme is about how music affected our generation. Do you think music influenced our feelings about the times or did the events influence the music? And what were some of the songs and singers that had the biggest impact on you or that you still enjoy today?
I think it might have been both of the answers. The songs reflected the mood and the passion of the times while at the same time the events gave birth to a lot of the songs. But the music and the words gave passion to the movements and I think that’s what draws me most to the 60’s and 70’s. We were passionate! Regardless of what side we were on we drew lines and marched and protested and made our voices heard. We were the young generation then and we were determined to make a difference. I don’t see that in today’s youth. I see a lot of selfish, spoiled, self centered children who care only about how the next minute effects them and not how anything affects the world as a whole. We cared and our songs gave voice to our feelings… like…
And it’s 1 2 3 what are we fighting for?
Don’t ask me I don’t give a damn!
Next stop is Viet Nam
And it’s 5 6 7 so open up them pearly gate
There aint no time to wonder why
Whoopee!
We’re all gonna die
And then more gentle songs but still with a powerful message
Blowing In the Wind – the answer my friend is blowing
Or Boy Dylan’s Rainy Day Women that reflected the drug movements of the times, yep, according to Bob Everybody must get stoned!
We carried our songs to the streets, to the coffee shops, to the city parks where we sat and sang and played guitars and tried to live for today because tomorrow you will die. We really believed our time was limited because our government was determined to kill all the young people in the Viet Nam war. Now it’s Iraq and Afghanistan but where are the songs protesting the wars? Where is the youth of today speaking out? They’re in Ipods, and cell phones, and texting LOL and BFF instead of taking a look at the world around them.
Yes, the music definitely helped form opinions and feelings and also informed us of events that may have gone unnoticed. The songs were our messengers.
We were the generation of sex, drugs and rock and roll and yet we were so innocent and so naïve. We really believed we could change the world and damn it! We tried. But when I look at the corruption in the government today and that regardless of promises made on the campaign trails all politicians are liars, cheats, and could care less about America and its people, but only what benefits them. Nothing has changed. We tried. And maybe for a moment…maybe for that moment in time we did make a difference. We certainly got people to notice us and hear our voices. Maybe if today’s youth were as involved as we were…well, maybe they could make a difference, too. But they will never have the passion and the depth of understanding we had then.
To list all the musicians and songs that influenced me during those years would take another two pages, at least! Some were Bob Dylan, Joan Baez, Tom Waits, Pete Seger, Simon and Garfunkel, Joni Mitchell, Arlo Guthrie, Janis Joplin, Janis Ian, and the list goes on. Each brought their own special personality and message and we listened.
We had Greenwich Village, Hait Ashbury, and Woodstock! We were one of the most eclectic, passionate, and politically active generation and I doubt there will ever be another generation to compare.
I think it might have been both of the answers. The songs reflected the mood and the passion of the times while at the same time the events gave birth to a lot of the songs. But the music and the words gave passion to the movements and I think that’s what draws me most to the 60’s and 70’s. We were passionate! Regardless of what side we were on we drew lines and marched and protested and made our voices heard. We were the young generation then and we were determined to make a difference. I don’t see that in today’s youth. I see a lot of selfish, spoiled, self centered children who care only about how the next minute effects them and not how anything affects the world as a whole. We cared and our songs gave voice to our feelings… like…
And it’s 1 2 3 what are we fighting for?
Don’t ask me I don’t give a damn!
Next stop is Viet Nam
And it’s 5 6 7 so open up them pearly gate
There aint no time to wonder why
Whoopee!
We’re all gonna die
And then more gentle songs but still with a powerful message
Blowing In the Wind – the answer my friend is blowing
Or Boy Dylan’s Rainy Day Women that reflected the drug movements of the times, yep, according to Bob Everybody must get stoned!
We carried our songs to the streets, to the coffee shops, to the city parks where we sat and sang and played guitars and tried to live for today because tomorrow you will die. We really believed our time was limited because our government was determined to kill all the young people in the Viet Nam war. Now it’s Iraq and Afghanistan but where are the songs protesting the wars? Where is the youth of today speaking out? They’re in Ipods, and cell phones, and texting LOL and BFF instead of taking a look at the world around them.
Yes, the music definitely helped form opinions and feelings and also informed us of events that may have gone unnoticed. The songs were our messengers.
We were the generation of sex, drugs and rock and roll and yet we were so innocent and so naïve. We really believed we could change the world and damn it! We tried. But when I look at the corruption in the government today and that regardless of promises made on the campaign trails all politicians are liars, cheats, and could care less about America and its people, but only what benefits them. Nothing has changed. We tried. And maybe for a moment…maybe for that moment in time we did make a difference. We certainly got people to notice us and hear our voices. Maybe if today’s youth were as involved as we were…well, maybe they could make a difference, too. But they will never have the passion and the depth of understanding we had then.
To list all the musicians and songs that influenced me during those years would take another two pages, at least! Some were Bob Dylan, Joan Baez, Tom Waits, Pete Seger, Simon and Garfunkel, Joni Mitchell, Arlo Guthrie, Janis Joplin, Janis Ian, and the list goes on. Each brought their own special personality and message and we listened.
We had Greenwich Village, Hait Ashbury, and Woodstock! We were one of the most eclectic, passionate, and politically active generation and I doubt there will ever be another generation to compare.
Friday, July 10, 2009
Fly Ribbon
We have flies in the house. Mainly in the downstairs room and they seem to come in from the door that leads to the outside. So, my husband says get some fly strips to hang up and get rid of the flies. I went to Walgreen's to see what they had and all I could find was something called Fly Ribbon. So, I buy it and take it home.
The instructions are easy enough. Pull out cord slowly with twirling motion until thumbtack is exposed. Remove and place the thumbtack to a secured position for later use. Hang the ribbon using the thumbtack away from the sunshine. (okay, that last line needs some rework but who am I to tell them how to write instructions. Sounds to me as if we are to use the thumbtack away from the sunshine. I think they meant to hang the ribbon away from the sunshine.
Anyway, I do as the instructions said. I pulled the cord with a twirling motion until the thumbtack was exposed. I then removed it, but in the process the ribbon part stuck to my fingers and I ended up with sticky gunk on my fingers. I pull them away and the ribbon flies! And not on the flies! I ends up stuck under my arm. I had on short sleeves so the ribbon was literally stuck to my arm pit! I managed to pull it off, but in the meantime it had moved to my shirt! So, now I had gunk on my fingers, under my arm and down the side of my shirt! Okay..deep breath! I get the tack and stick the strip on the side of the door frame and some how manage to get my hair stuck to the ribbon! It is now hung so I head to the bathroom to wash the gunk off fingers, arm pit and hair and change my shirt. Well, regular hand soap had no effect on the sticky stuff except to make it stickier! I ended up getting detergent to wash it off after I had removed the shirt. I am now stick-um free but still have three more ribbons to hang! And you wonder why my mother calls me Lucy!
Oh, and it's been hanging for half a day now and not a single fly is stuck to it! Maybe I'll try to hang another one tomorrow.
The instructions are easy enough. Pull out cord slowly with twirling motion until thumbtack is exposed. Remove and place the thumbtack to a secured position for later use. Hang the ribbon using the thumbtack away from the sunshine. (okay, that last line needs some rework but who am I to tell them how to write instructions. Sounds to me as if we are to use the thumbtack away from the sunshine. I think they meant to hang the ribbon away from the sunshine.
Anyway, I do as the instructions said. I pulled the cord with a twirling motion until the thumbtack was exposed. I then removed it, but in the process the ribbon part stuck to my fingers and I ended up with sticky gunk on my fingers. I pull them away and the ribbon flies! And not on the flies! I ends up stuck under my arm. I had on short sleeves so the ribbon was literally stuck to my arm pit! I managed to pull it off, but in the meantime it had moved to my shirt! So, now I had gunk on my fingers, under my arm and down the side of my shirt! Okay..deep breath! I get the tack and stick the strip on the side of the door frame and some how manage to get my hair stuck to the ribbon! It is now hung so I head to the bathroom to wash the gunk off fingers, arm pit and hair and change my shirt. Well, regular hand soap had no effect on the sticky stuff except to make it stickier! I ended up getting detergent to wash it off after I had removed the shirt. I am now stick-um free but still have three more ribbons to hang! And you wonder why my mother calls me Lucy!
Oh, and it's been hanging for half a day now and not a single fly is stuck to it! Maybe I'll try to hang another one tomorrow.
Tuesday, July 7, 2009
Tuesday Newsday July 7th
This weeks tuesday newsday, and yes I am doing it on the right day for a change, asks about the prolonged media attention on 2008 candidates.
The last Senatorial election is finally decided. The Governor of Alaska, former Vice Presidential candidate, resigns. Franken and Palin. Do you find it strange that two people from the LAST election are still making news?
I find it more strange that Michael Jackson, a self proclaimed king of pop (coke maybe?) is getting all this attention. Okay, he died. It's sad when anyone dies, but what makes him so special? Jesse Jackson says it's because he had more international influence than any president and he said it with a straight face! Everyone is acting as if this man was a great war hero or something instead of a pedophile and drug addict! If this is what black people honor and feel is worthy of a media circus then I have to wonder about how they form their ethics and morals.
But as for Franken, well there's another laughing stock. He sure played up his comedic talent and stole that election. I am glad Norm Coleman finally had enough class to realize it was a lost cause and move on to bigger and better things. Sarah Palin will always be in the news regardless of what she does or doesn't do. She was fresh, unique, and very off the wall and no one knew what to make of her. She could have chosen a better time to resign, but from what I understand she did it at that time AFTER talking with republican leaders and her Lt. Governor Sean Parnell. So, it wasn't as if she just woke up and said this is it.
But, no I'm not surprised the media is still focusing on the 2008 election and it's candidates long after it should have been over. It was one of the most disgusting as well as interesting elections I've ever witnessed. Hopefully we will never see the likes of it again and hopefully by the end of this year the fascination with all the crap will be over.
The last Senatorial election is finally decided. The Governor of Alaska, former Vice Presidential candidate, resigns. Franken and Palin. Do you find it strange that two people from the LAST election are still making news?
I find it more strange that Michael Jackson, a self proclaimed king of pop (coke maybe?) is getting all this attention. Okay, he died. It's sad when anyone dies, but what makes him so special? Jesse Jackson says it's because he had more international influence than any president and he said it with a straight face! Everyone is acting as if this man was a great war hero or something instead of a pedophile and drug addict! If this is what black people honor and feel is worthy of a media circus then I have to wonder about how they form their ethics and morals.
But as for Franken, well there's another laughing stock. He sure played up his comedic talent and stole that election. I am glad Norm Coleman finally had enough class to realize it was a lost cause and move on to bigger and better things. Sarah Palin will always be in the news regardless of what she does or doesn't do. She was fresh, unique, and very off the wall and no one knew what to make of her. She could have chosen a better time to resign, but from what I understand she did it at that time AFTER talking with republican leaders and her Lt. Governor Sean Parnell. So, it wasn't as if she just woke up and said this is it.
But, no I'm not surprised the media is still focusing on the 2008 election and it's candidates long after it should have been over. It was one of the most disgusting as well as interesting elections I've ever witnessed. Hopefully we will never see the likes of it again and hopefully by the end of this year the fascination with all the crap will be over.
Monday, July 6, 2009
Tuesday newsday June 30th
Yea, this was my post and yes I did forget to go back later and put in a response. So here is my response to my last tuesday newsday post that dealt with the cap and trade tax... I mean bill :-).
The question is not whether we need a cap and trade bill. How do you feel about this new bill?
There's an old line that a rose by any other name will smell as sweet and that holds true here as well. A tax by any other name still stinks. Yes, they are making it look good on paper that it's the big businesses that will be taxed... I mean will be capped on the emissions they are allowed to emit, but the costs to them will be astronomical even with the trade for greenhouse gas credits. And who will end up paying? Not the businesses? They will simply do what they have always done and pass the additional charges onto the us...the public. And who will be hurt most by these increases for products and services? The poor and the lower middle class! The ones Obama said he would not put any additional burden on during his reign of terror... I mean power. Yet, every time we turn around the changes he is making are hurting mainly the poor and lower middle class. Can we afford to do this now with the economy sinking into a swamp of deficits, out of control spending, bailing out of banks and auto makers who end up squandering the money? The answer to anyone with common sense is of course not! No, not now Mr (p)Resident. As I said anyone with common sense would see the disastrous outcome this would have right now.
The question is not whether we need a cap and trade bill. How do you feel about this new bill?
There's an old line that a rose by any other name will smell as sweet and that holds true here as well. A tax by any other name still stinks. Yes, they are making it look good on paper that it's the big businesses that will be taxed... I mean will be capped on the emissions they are allowed to emit, but the costs to them will be astronomical even with the trade for greenhouse gas credits. And who will end up paying? Not the businesses? They will simply do what they have always done and pass the additional charges onto the us...the public. And who will be hurt most by these increases for products and services? The poor and the lower middle class! The ones Obama said he would not put any additional burden on during his reign of terror... I mean power. Yet, every time we turn around the changes he is making are hurting mainly the poor and lower middle class. Can we afford to do this now with the economy sinking into a swamp of deficits, out of control spending, bailing out of banks and auto makers who end up squandering the money? The answer to anyone with common sense is of course not! No, not now Mr (p)Resident. As I said anyone with common sense would see the disastrous outcome this would have right now.
Friday, July 3, 2009
Friday - Ob-la-di meme
This weeks Ob-la-di meme asks if we are more or less active as we get older?
"If you were retired (or are retired) are you planning to take it easy, lay back and do nothing, or are you looking forward to doing all those things you've been waiting your whole life to do? Will you slow down? Will you speed up? (I feel like going into a "Green Eggs and Ham" parody here, but I will refrain.)"
I don't like going slow
I don't like it, no! no! no!
I don't like the arthritic pains
I don't like it more when it rains
okay...my little bit of fun. But there is a serious side to that goofy poem. At 35 I was diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis. In a nutshell this is an autoimmune disease that causes inflammation of the joints.I was told at that time I would be in a wheelchair by age 50. I am now 61 and am still walking. But, yes, it has slowed me down. The pain can be so excruciating at times I have to stop what I'm doing and sit down. I find myself cleaning house in spurts rather than one long cleaning session. There are nights when sleeping becomes almost impossible due to the pain in my knees, left hip, and back. Yes, it affects many parts of the body. My hands show it the most with my fingers twisting and the joints swelling. There are medications, which I take with care, and only when the pain gets beyond what I can endure. The side effects of the medications are often worse than the disease and my asthma can react badly to the meds.
This is not the type of pain I used to get when over extending myself skiing or bike riding or playing tennis. Those pains could be relieved by stretching exercises and making myself get moving. Unfortunately with RA you just have to deal with it. There are good days when I am pretty much pain free and I take real advantage by getting outside to prune and trim. I will mop floors and scrub the tub on those days. So, it's not all bad. But when it strikes I am at the mercy of the pain.
But the point is I don't give into it. I learned years ago I could let the pain control me or I could control the pain. So, even on my worst days I am up and moving and getting things done. It takes me four times as long on those days and I can work in 15 to 20 minute spurts before I need to sit for awhile and let the pain in my spine let up. But I am not going to stop living because of it. As long as I refuse to give into the pain it cannot control me.
And I still dream and still have ambitions and yes, I do look forward to doing things I had planned on doing when I retired. And someday I'll actually do them!
"If you were retired (or are retired) are you planning to take it easy, lay back and do nothing, or are you looking forward to doing all those things you've been waiting your whole life to do? Will you slow down? Will you speed up? (I feel like going into a "Green Eggs and Ham" parody here, but I will refrain.)"
I don't like going slow
I don't like it, no! no! no!
I don't like the arthritic pains
I don't like it more when it rains
okay...my little bit of fun. But there is a serious side to that goofy poem. At 35 I was diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis. In a nutshell this is an autoimmune disease that causes inflammation of the joints.I was told at that time I would be in a wheelchair by age 50. I am now 61 and am still walking. But, yes, it has slowed me down. The pain can be so excruciating at times I have to stop what I'm doing and sit down. I find myself cleaning house in spurts rather than one long cleaning session. There are nights when sleeping becomes almost impossible due to the pain in my knees, left hip, and back. Yes, it affects many parts of the body. My hands show it the most with my fingers twisting and the joints swelling. There are medications, which I take with care, and only when the pain gets beyond what I can endure. The side effects of the medications are often worse than the disease and my asthma can react badly to the meds.
This is not the type of pain I used to get when over extending myself skiing or bike riding or playing tennis. Those pains could be relieved by stretching exercises and making myself get moving. Unfortunately with RA you just have to deal with it. There are good days when I am pretty much pain free and I take real advantage by getting outside to prune and trim. I will mop floors and scrub the tub on those days. So, it's not all bad. But when it strikes I am at the mercy of the pain.
But the point is I don't give into it. I learned years ago I could let the pain control me or I could control the pain. So, even on my worst days I am up and moving and getting things done. It takes me four times as long on those days and I can work in 15 to 20 minute spurts before I need to sit for awhile and let the pain in my spine let up. But I am not going to stop living because of it. As long as I refuse to give into the pain it cannot control me.
And I still dream and still have ambitions and yes, I do look forward to doing things I had planned on doing when I retired. And someday I'll actually do them!
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