A Bunch Of Thursdays

  

  February quote:" Life should be a little nuts, or else its just a bunch of Thursdays all strung together."
I heard this, yesterday, passing by the constantly on telly. It was a movie, don't know the name of it, but that one sentence caused me, to run for pen and paper.
     This late winter month, has been like a bunch of Thursdays, and I need a warm weekend! ( yes, I can complain! in Atlanta, even when I have kids in Boston and New Hampshire!)( Its cold here too!)
     AND I saw a snow flake.....
 
  I know the north east has been buried, and I sort of feel your pain, but....not really....That is why I choose the south! AND if the truth were to be told, I would choose waaayyyy south!

    Even during this drab season of gloom, I have had some fun. Its a job, this finding joy, but worth the search.
    I have read three books, and have three on the kindle, ready and waiting.
      1. Spool of Blue Thread by Anne Taylor
      2. Still Alice by Lisa Genova
      3. The Girl On The Train by Paula Hawkins
I wish I could say, go grab these, but I can not.
I read so much, I think that it most probably takes a gifted writer, and story for me to encourage you to also read, and these were not them. Note: The Girl On The Train has been at number one on the best seller list for weeks. I did not like Birdman either! You will be the first to know when I love and adore something.
      Maude by Donna Mabry
      Rebel Yell by S.C.. Gwynne
      Thirteen Days in September by Lawrence Wright
These three, very different kinds of books, are in the wings.

I can share with you, my love of the Irish and British series on Netflix.
      1. Peaky Blinders, blew me away, LOVED it!
      2. Broadchurch, amazing.
      3. The Fall, grand crime drama
Bloody Hell of a good groups of binge watching, eh!
I told my hubs that I was sure to begin speaking in their language. Irish and British slang, is fantastic.
I love how they use 'wee' for 'pee', sounds so much better. The loo, is much more delicate then toilet!
Arse, and bullocks, divine. Banger is an old car, and had a canary, is a fright!
"I'm in a wick" you must be joking!
"effin' and blindin' ", cursing and swearing!
 This language of our people across the pond, has brightened my spirits, this February of 2015.
Watch some of these jewels, and blather (talk) away.

I hope, if indeed your February has been a bunch of Thursdays, you find lovely things to to make it better.
Or as the Brits would say, " Get up off your sorry arse, and Bloody Hell make something happen!"
Iam so loving this new slang!!!
Cheerio!

Have Heater, Will Tavel

      There are not enough words to explain my bitter feelings toward cold air.
      In order to even begin to type, I had to bring a space heater with me, into the kitchen.
      I thrive on direct heat.
      Today, in not so hot, Atlanta, Georgia, it is raw, glacial, numbing, piercing, biting, frigid, Siberian COLD.
      I have drawn the drapes, and thrown in the towel.
      Late Winter yucks have jumped on me, with a smile on its face.
      So I decided to write.
      I sit here, waiting for a fence man, to come build us a new backyard fence. He is coming to view the property and give me some estimates. I hope he does not expect me, to follow him into the backyard, to show him, what I need done. Just in case the cold has snapped his brain, I drew him a picture and left my email address on the paper, and he will quickly find out, that I will not be joining him. Nor will I be opening the door again, he can wave, leave and email me the cost.
     I will have to spend a few minutes with him, to explain my situation.
     Growing up in Florida, married some man from New York, lived in Pennsylvania, bought a coat because I had to, and finally moved to Atlanta.
      I will tell him, that I have clothes claustrophobia, and will not layer, whatever does that mean?
      Later , he will hear stories of my skin burning and itching, if the temperature reads in the sixties.
      When I answer the door, with the space heater in my hand, he will probably have a clue.
      That is why, I will have to talk quickly and explain.
      ( Do serial killers carry space heaters? I don't want this man to freak!)
  
     Yesterday, I took the car to have the oil changed, in this Polar Vortex.
      I pulled up to the door, and ran inside. The sweet man, said, " Where are the keys?"
     ( I thought it was an odd question) I pointed, " They are in the car?"
      He then spoke softly, " Can you bring them to me?"
      Astonished I, " No, it's too cold, and the car is warm for you. I will not be returning to the car, until you are finished and leave it warm for me. Thank you so very much. The End"
   
      I do not play in this weather, and it makes me a little sassy.
      I read my book, and much later my repairman person came to tell me my car was ready, and he had pulled it so close to the door, I could just scoot into the car. We both smiled, we were both happy. I was warm, and he had done a good job for this young lady.
     Now if I can just get the fence man to be understanding.
     How long is this cold snap?
     It is just so tiring, and takes sooooo much explanation!!!!
     Stay warm!
    
     

Parts of The Whole

      When it rains, and the mouse wants to stir, you may stumble upon parts of the whole.
          You make banana bread, and the house smells delicious. Then you open a drawer.
      Before you pull it out, there is a brief second, that you think, maybe my old life is back in this drawer.
      Not that you want that life back, but your heart skips a beat. What in the world is knee deep in this cubby.
      If you are a collector of quotes and stories, you are bound to find some masterpieces. I hope you find what you are looking for and more. Its the more that fascinates me, and can bring me great pleasure or sadness in the looking.
     Memories stored on something you can touch, is always a plus. We are tactile animals, I think, at least this creature is. I love seeing people's handwriting and words, old stories torn out a magazines with a rusty staple holding the frail pages together. Old pens, and new,a folder filled with pieces of me, things to do and not to do!! scribbled on every surface.
      I blame the Rain, it speaks to you, and warns, slow down and look around.
    I found a lovely card, from one of my students, thanking me for her school life being good. She says that I taught her to not run away from hard things, and I made her laugh. She now lives in Japan, her home country, and I have kept a piece of her with me, on paper and in my heart.
   She came to us knowing no English, and left reading the classics.
   I hope she changes the world.
   Middle school age kids, not knowing their worth, and leaving feeling strong and beautiful. May be more powerful then the English language?
   I also found a couple of stories from 2009, by David Sedaris. He reminds me to laugh daily. He was my grief counselor after the loss of our son, when my life was crushed. He knows not our friendship, yet here again he has reached out of an old drawer and touched me.
  Then I saw some old blogs of mine, that I assume Bill must have printed at some time. He downloads all my blogs so that one day, the kids will have a book of moms thoughts, to take to the therapist office!!( you were loved to pieces, that is all you need to know!) ( I will save you some money) ( but go for it, if you feel the need)
    I was scared to read them, from 2007, because that pain, I can never visit again. However the titles, were so great, I gave it a whirl. I was happy they were fun to read, through the tears and very glad I started a blog almost 8 years ago. I encourage people to write things down, for the people who come after us.I also think we should save stuff, not hoarding tons, but if it causes you to grab your chest, put it in a drawer.
  We can all open a drawer and remember our parts of the whole, but we can never go back. And that is pretty near perfect, very much OK.
 


     

Thirty-Five Shades of Taupe

   It is February, the month of hearts and flowers, and Fifty Shades of Grey!
   I am tickled pink to discuss this book and upcoming movie.
   The books, have haters and lovers, and I fall in the last category. They were horrible pieces of writing, and maybe put the woman's movement back a few steps but......you had to read between the sheets!
   My group of girls, had a great time with them. We will meet for the probably terrible movie, and hoot out loud. We are all readers of good books, and we embraced this trash for all its glory. We overlooked the handcuffs and vanilla references.We knew that the young one, Anastassia, would not be helpless and would bring her Christian over to the side of Thirty-Five Shades of Taupe.
   It brought back memories of elevator encounters, or car escapades from long ago. And if it did not, I am sorry, just pretend.
   My girls range in age from late thirties, to very young sixties, a nice varied age of growth.
   Especially for girls born right into the pill generation, we have stories to tell.
   Some are in the vault, but when we get together, it all comes out, and that makes Fifty Shades of Grey cower in the corner! Strong beautiful women, gay, straight and crooked, with fun, sexy stories to tell.
   I have worked with the best women, had the top of the line, neighbors, grew up and remain friends with a group of creative, lovely, outrageous women, love, love, love my girls. We know how to laugh, even in the Red Room Of Pain!!! ( No woman would ever paint a room, that color, or have red satin sheets on a bed, that will probably get dirty! and the smell of Murphy Oil Soap, on all surfaces, come on, we would not go in there!) But......
   This year is my 45th high school reunion, and our card send out, invitation was titled, "45 Shades of Grey", I smiled and was reminded, Yes those are my buddies. Awesome, funny, creative, strong, loving men and women who know how to laugh, in all shades. 

Be Careful Who You Show Your Crazy To?

    For me, the above title is not an option! I share it all. So just jump on this pony and ride.
    Crazy is an overused word, I prefer to call my unbridled joy, " Just Me"
 
     Just yesterday, I hobbled to the deli for breakfast with my girl, E, and intended to hop along and do a little shopping. I was going to wait for Bill to meet me for a movie, and had timed everything so perfectly, but....what to do when the stores are not open, and you have finished eating, plus your broken foot is worthless for walking. I decided the sun was shinning, we would just sit for two hours and watch people and little kids ice skate, we would do that in Paris! but in Georgia, not so much.
    I combed my purse for some Advil, to buy me some time, and watched Bill eat the rest of my breakfast for his lunch. We were all on different schedules, crazyville. Finally I asked ( OK I told him) to go inside the movie and just sit in a nice chair for the remainder of our hot mess adventure. So we did, 45 minutes before the movie, we reclined in our chairs. Bill went to sleep, I think because I was sharing my crazy! Us being the only people in the movie theater,  I said, " This reminds me of rich people who rent out entire places to view films." Bill mumbled, " They do?" ( He was not listening, but that has never stopped me from talking!) Me, " Of course they do, Elvis use to do it all the time, he could not go anywhere." Now this is where, I think most people may have stopped talking or thinking? Me, " I feel so bad for Elvis, he was high on uppers and lowers, and surrounded by simple minded people. I think they took advantage of him." " Just like Whitney!" " I just feel terrible about their problems, and short lives." Bill is starting to semi-snore, I know he is doing it on purpose, how can a person go to sleep so fast! So I continue, " We are like Hollywood people, minus the booze, drugs and loser wanta-be people! Bill is stirring, " and all this has to do with what?" I knew he was awake, sort of. me, " It has to do with thinking Mr. Princeton Scientist person.You did not even know Elvis rented out places to view films, and had a hard life." We both laughed, and I think at that time I realized the coffee was talking. ( Note this deli has a walk up coffee window also, genius!)
 We watched The Imitation Game, which was divine. On the way home, I knew Bill would do his research and find out that the main character went to Princeton and worked a little at Bell Labs, which made him proud. He also noticed that Mr. Alan Turing, got his PHD at Princeton when he was 26 ( he is the main character) Bill was happy to tell me, he received his at 25.I, on the other hand, went to the dermatologist this morn and said, " I want that main characters lips in The Imitation Game, they were perfect! ( I did not get lip injections, but I thought about it!)
  My crazy is simple, find the small joys that make you whole. AND don't be afraid to share!
 
  Look at these lips!! perfect!!!

A Calamity of Missed Steps!

     My grandchildren live in Boston. I love Boston, and surrounding areas. The only thing is Boston has winter, and that is a big deal breaker. However I venture up several times a year and they haul the babies ( young men ) down south a couple times. When they were little, we were up there all the time, or Boston Barons in Atlanta. Now the boys are young men, and in every activity known to man. School and sports, are there nirvana for the moment, so it seems we don't see them as often. Social media, keeps us connected but there is something lost in translation.
    January is their birthdays, and we try to, despite the cold, go see the loves. This January was planned and I was packed to go. I just needed to go grab some birthday gifts for the boys, who have everything! I picked up my purse ( that I love and weighs twenty pounds) and the recycle bin, and out the back door I went. Then I was laying on top of the recycled materials on the concrete garage floor. My favorite purse, under my car and my cell phone within reach. I had missed a step! One step, that I use daily. and my foot is facing the other direction. This is the same thing that happened four years ago in January, in Boston, missed a step and broke my leg. So, of course, I was out of my mind with fear. The pain was bad, but not nearly as, pounding in my heart. was the fear. I called Hart to come get me, and  laid still. I felt like I could moved my knees, so that was a good sign. I called Hart back, and said, I think I can make it inside, and I will keep you in my pain loop. I crawled inside, sat in the kitchen, and watched my foot turn, black, green, yellow and red. The size had doubled and I knew I was cooked. There would be no trip for me this January to Boston, and for this Uma, that was worse than a broken foot. Bill came home, and took me to the pretend Emergency Room, Urgent Care, I just wanted a quick xray. So they told me, what I knew, it was broken and I needed to see my Orthopedic surgeon. ( The fact that I have one, tells you all you need to know)
    I knew my Bill would want to take care of me, but He had to go see the kids. These things are important for little children and big children too. I had Emma and Hart and Nicole( new Baron soon-to-be) Things would be OK.
  And they were until Emma missed the same step I had, the next day. Now we were two pitiful hurt people, with animals that need attention! We hunkered down with meds and the clicker, crutches and boots all over the den. We laughed until we cried, you can not make this misfortune up. ( Emma was taking out the trash also)
 A few days have passed, and we are marching a little slower, but  our twist of fate, seems to be turning. I hope so.Life is so full of turns, you have to be ready for the good and the bad. Cursing with a delightful attitude, is important.
  Even when you are super careful, there can be a missed step.
  Thank you Boston and New Hampshire Barons for taking care of dad, Adrian and Finn, Uma has something in the mail for you. I love you more then football! Emma, Hart and Nicole, thank you for being sweet ( Hart I do not have bird bones!) and having food and flowers around the clock.
 The sun is shinning, its all good.

Some Doors Are Suppose To Stay Closed

 I take many photographs of doors, doorknobs and windows. They fascinate me, I wonder how many people have opened or closed these doors and windows. Who looked far and long outside the windows, that I have passed. Especially if you ever get to travel, look around, there are doors and windows in each city that I hope will peak your interest also. Never in all my days, have I uttered the words in the title of my blog, "Some doors are suppose to stay closed."
   I heard this phrase this week, in passing by the telly. I do not know if it were a movie, or a commercial, I only know that I stopped in my tracks, to write it down.
   Certainly I have seen closed signs on old buildings, or maybe if someone is cleaning a bathroom and you have to wait. I don't think the doors, have to stay closed.
  Even the doors to your heart, or to your past, or to stories that need to be told.
  I think many doctors offices are filled with people to whom, have kept their doors closed.
  Throw open the shutters, and open the doors, for goodness sakes.

  Another thing I heard last week, was that the most searched terms in 2014 were, Ebola and Banana Bread! Are you kidding me? Ebola, I understand, in fear we search. Panic sets in, after the idiot news people hang on to bad news, and we hear nothing else for weeks on end. Wash your hands, and maybe don't travel to the area that is quarantined. Also send money to Doctors Without Borders, they do good work for all people. They are fearless, wonderful humans who need out support. Stop watching the news, all day and night. Banana Bread, this can not be the truth. Who needs to research this. Every home has a recipe, or a cookbook with several in its pages. I believe you could make up a banana bread recipe and be successful. People use your time wisely, read  and read some more. Talk to your friends and relatives, they have a banana bread recipe for you. I quote my father so many times, he needs a blog of his own. Homer would say, " Bonnie, Do you think we have evolved? Think again, we still may have tails, and have to research banana bread!" ( I appreciate the stories I get out of all this material!)

And the last thing I wrote down before the weekend, was " I'm trying to keep the psychological vampires from sapping my life force!" from an entry on Humans of New York.
 People are the best, their words, fill me up. Life stories feed me, being observant fuels me. Paying attention to things all around you, be it open or closed doors, deserve to be thought about, maybe even painted, or written about.
   These are just a few of my pearls, that made me smile.
   If you smiled also, I have done my job.