Monday, March 8, 2010

Academy Awards

I loved the Academy Awards Sunday night. I loved the glamour and the excitement. I just can't help it. Politics is almost unbearable any more. So what else is left. Although I don't care to wear any of them, I loved all the beautiful dresses. I loved that Jeff Bridges won for best actor, and has been married to the same woman over 30 years. I loved that a woman, for the first time in Academy history, won best picture and best director. The real twist is that her ex-husband was nominated for the same awards. Barbra Streisand presented Katherine Bigelow with the first award and you could see the two of them put their heads together and giggle about this lovely twist of events. It was obvious that Barbra was excited to present the award to the first woman to win. I loved that a young black girl who had skipped school to audition for the part of Precious won the part, and was nominated for an Oscar. I loved the way she giggled when she talked about her experience. Although I have always loved Steve Martin as a comedian and actor, I did not love his performance Sunday night. It seemed he was trying too hard. I did love Steve Martin's line to Alec Baldwin, when introducing Miley Cyrus and another very young girl, "they have no idea who we are." All in all, it was a fun night. I am looking forward to seeing some good movies.

189 comments:

jan said...

I am still learning how to do this. I would love for someone to post some pictures.

Carol said...

Great post Jan. Don't worry about pics. Your words and ideas are more important.

Did anyone see that lady who interrupted that guy's documentary award. Larry King had him on last night to finish his acceptance speech. Joy Behar is going to have the woman on her show tonight. Don't really understand what that was all about.

Carol said...

Just heard on the news about another Prius that went out of control. I did get the answer to my, should you hit the emergency brake, question. The guy was able to call 911 and a cop got along side of him and told him to hit the emergency brake along with the brake. He hit both and his car only slowed down to 50. I don't know what finally got it to stop.

Carol said...

Anyone get any of Targ's books? I ordered two from Amazon and I see that they won't ship until mid March. By then my passion for the subject may have left. It didn't even say why. I still have time to cancel the order.

Jan, didn't you mention that John bought one? Has he read any of it and what does he think?

jan said...

I did see that woman interrupt the guy accepting the award. I taped the Larry King show to see what that was about - but have not watched it yet.

Interesting about the Prius. Good info to store away.

John bought the book at a local book store (chain).He bought it for me and then started it. He is into all the stuff Targ talks about. He likes the book.

I am still reading the book by Kingsolver, Lacuna, not exciting but helps put me to sleep at night. Very different from her early books. John read it and keeps telling me it gets interesting toward the middle. I am still waiting. I can only read about 10 pages at night before going to sleep. Better than ambien.

jan said...

Woke up at 2:30 this morn. I start a new student group today- my last one. It will finish in 7 weeks and then I start clearing my office.

Carol said...

I'm getting excited for ya Jan.

Carol said...

Which book did John get? Was it the End of Suffering one?

jan said...

Yes, The End of Suffering. I also want one of his earlier books but don't know which one to get.

jan said...

Carol, I am nervous about all this. I can't imagine right now what it will be like to not work or go to school.

jan said...

In the last 40 years the only time I have not worked or gone to school was when I was moving. Moving always takes a lot of energy and time. I am not moving this time. I hope I don't go into catatonia.

Carol said...

One problem I'd have if I was retiring Jan is losing my excuse for not doing stuff I don't want to do around the house. I doubt that would be your problem. I suffer enough of it on the weekends.

Also I'd have less time around people. They may not be my most favorite people to hang around but their are humans. If I didn't go to work, I'd have to work to find people to interact with. Maybe I'd be more motivated to find more people to hang around with if I wasn't so exhausted from all the people interaction. Right now, I like having the peace and quiet of home after the chaos at work.

jan said...

I too "love the peace and quiet of home after the chaos of work." I don't have any friends I talk with other than at work. I have family here, but they are busy so we only see each other for a meal on some weekends. I do have one DIL who I can talk with.

I do want to take some classes. I can take classes free as long as there is space available in the class. I may not do that until fall though.

I can spend the entire morning drinking tea, having breakfast and getting some exercise. It will be nice to just do that for a while. The garage needs cleaning and so do many closets and drawers. I will have to start that right away after retirement or I will find excuses not to do it.

Anonymous said...

Jan, I love this post of yours. What I like best is that you made it so personal, by pointing out all your favorites, as well as the things you were somewhat disappointed in or would change.

Needless to say, I agreed with most everything you said. Jeff Bridges has been a favorite of mine for so long, and I did see his movie, 'Crazy Heart' (which is one of the only movies up for an award that I did see). I didn't see Katherine Bigelow's movie yet, mainly because it was about Iraq, but I probably will now. I'm sure all the movies that won awards will be easier to find at a theater now.

I also found a site on line that has new movies that you can watch for free. Once I try it out, if it's what it says it is, I'll link it for you guys to take a look at. Also, we got a Blu Ray player around Christmas time, that will also download Netflix (and some others). I need to start watching more pics at home, especially since I usually most enjoy the ones that only play downtown (independent movies).

Anonymous said...

Carol, I don't know why Coreen is not around, but Ivy said last weekend that she wouldn't be here much for a while (I think just this week) - so I'm pretty sure she'll be back in a few days or so. Maybe you should email Coreen to see how's she's doing.

It's going to be 77 here today, a couple of degrees warmer than Houston - get ready for the heat, because it looks like we've got more to come. Some of my earliest blooming trees are finally starting to show a little new growth, so hopefully the rest will follow soon. It's just not very pretty here until things start to grow again.

When things start to really bloom and Emma starts to walk, I'm going to be one happy woman.

Anonymous said...

I did download 'Limitless Mind', but haven't dug into it yet. Did you ever see the post where I told you you can download Kindle books onto your computer. I downloaded one onto my laptop when I was without a Kindle for a couple of weeks, and it works great. They sent me a link that time, so I'd have to go to Amazon to see how it works again. Once I do, I'll link it.

Jan, I'm like you about getting sleepy when I read. A few pages and I'm usually out. Makes books last a long time.

Anonymous said...

Jan, It was fitting that Barbara Streisand was able to present Katherine Bigelow with her award. She is a talented movie maker also. My favorite of hers was 'Prince of Tides', but she had a couple of other excellent movies too.

Bigelow's Oscar called 'triumph for women.
"All of her movies, even her big action movies, are so intriguing not only because she does great technical work," McGurk said, "but because she never forgets that it's a story about people." http://news.cincinnati.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/AB/20100308/ENT02/3090345/

Anonymous said...

Carol, I hung a new hummer feeder that I like much better than my junky one that leaked (and was therefore dumped). That leak may have been there last year, and would explain why I went through so much nectar (although I never saw evidence of that on the ground below, like I did this year).

This new one is smaller, and ever so much cuter and well made. I'm still gong to hang my hot air balloon one too, when I actually start seeing hummers.

Anonymous said...

Jan, Don't worry about what you're going to do with yourself after you retire. This is an important phase of your life coming up, and you'll learn things about yourself that even you didn't know. It's important that you stay in a receptive mood and have good expectations of what's to come.

It's like what Carol's older sister told her, that your more than your business card (can't remember her exact words, but that was the meaning). It would be sad if you never had this opportunity to try new things - a new you.. all you. Just have faith that everything will be better than ever, and then let go of any doubts you have.

Why don't you plan a little trip for the week you retire, just to make kinda of a 'quick break'? Then let things fall into place.

Anonymous said...

Carol (and anyone else that's interested), here is the link to the proper page (it took a while to find it, so bookmark it if you think you might want to try it ever):

Read Kindle Books on Your Computer

* Get the best reading experience available on your PC. No Kindle required
* Access your Kindle books even if you don't have your Kindle with you
* Automatically synchronizes your last page read and annotations between devices with Whispersync
* Create bookmarks and view the annotations you created on your Kindle
http://www.amazon.com/gp/feature.html/ref=kcp_pc_mkt_lnd?docId=1000426311

Carol said...

Jan, I want you to keep us filled in on
all the details and your feelings about you retirement. That way we can be ready when we are fortunate enough to be able to do it too. Just remember every day will be either Saturday or
Sunday, your choice.

Coreen said...

About the Academy Awards, didn't really watch it...saw some of the 'stars' walking on the 'red carpet' & realized really fast that I had no clue who most of them were...that was
it for me....boy I guess that means I am really
getting old....

Did any of you get the official 'Census' mailing today? Well, if you didn't though it looked like it could have been the census form...fear not...it wasn't...simply a letter
telling you, well "Resident" that in about a week the census form would be arriving....

And the denizens of D.C. wonder why more & more
the american people loath them....the cost of
preparing & mailing 'first class' this notice to multi-millions of households, borders not only on sheer incompetence & contempt for the taxpayer, but is sheer arrogance...will anyone be held responsible for
this bloated wasteful spending...not likely....

And yes it did have sentences in various languages at the bottom of the letter, I am told, russian, spanish, chinese, vietnamese & something else maybe indian...amazing waste of
$$$$....

Carol said...

Just got home. Checked in with Iphony earlier. Haven't had time to catch up but it shouldn't take long. I was making up that missed appointment at the bank.

Since it was a late day I stopped for some takee outee at the little Chinese joint. Got hot and sour soup and some egg rolls. Love that hot and sour soup but I can never identify what's floating around in it. Maybe it's best I can't.

Carol said...

Coreen, I saw that thin census thing in the mail, a little damp from the rain. I was thinking that it was a little too thin to hold a bunch of questions. I've already had a pre-visit also.

Carol said...

Anyone needing their sinuses opened up a little, try that hot and sour soup.

Anonymous said...

Coreen, You're right about the cost of the census being high Coreen. It's gone way up since 2000.

Why the 2010 Census costs 20,000% more than 1790's did

" KANSAS CITY, Mo. _ Benjamin Franklin, the father of the first U.S. census, which cost $44,000 in 1790, said that "a penny saved is a penny earned."

Were he alive today, Franklin might have a less flattering saying for the bureaucrats who are running the 2010 census, which is costing taxpayers $15 billion and rising.

That's $48 per person counted, compared to $16 in 2000 (about $20 adjusted for inflation) and about a penny in 1790 (or 24 cents after 220 years of inflation).

Adding to that expense, The Kansas City Star found, are 28 million Census mailings that bureau officials and the U.S. Postal Service have agreed will simply be thrown away.

That's right. Of the 425 million pieces of mail that began going out last month, as many as 28 million pieces, or about 7 percent, will end up in the nation’s recycling bins.

"That is waste at its worst, and we could have avoided it," said U.S. Rep. Jason Chaffetz, a Utah Republican who sleeps on a cot in his office to save money." http://www.mcclatchydc.com/2010/03/07/89956/why-this-years-census-costs-20000.html

Anonymous said...

Carol, I wish we had some good Chinese takeout here. The only one that's good here is P.F. Changs, but they're so expensive. I love it though.

Carol said...

Happy you checked in Coreen. Just need to let us know you are OK. Saw that your temps are starting to rise a little. So are Jan's and Solar's. Everyone seems to be getting some rain this week.

Now we need the Ive to check in. Don't have to hang out Ivy, just check in. I'll give you your absentee excuse. Won't need a Doc's excuse, the NP excuse will do just fine.

Ivy, I was looking at some state mitration data. I want to watch for some of the birds to move thru my area. The only thing I've seen different here are some black birds with the brown heads. When the light is just right they have some blue highlights. Cool. I never liked black birds but I need to learn to love them all. I actually need them to help clean up some of that milo.

I'm waiting for the Indigo buntings to come thru. Don't want to miss them. They are super beautiful. I read that they aren't really blue, they are actually black?? Look teal blue to me. They won't be thru until around April and I hope they drop by out here by the water.

Thanks for all the info today Chloe. I want you to check into the book. I'm curious. John likes it. Maybe it will keep you awake for 15 minutes.

Anonymous said...

... sorry I wrote your name twice in the same sentence Coreen. I think it's because I was so glad to see you back.

Anonymous said...

Carol, We seem to have quite a few of our song birds back already - mostly Cardinals. I've seen quite a few of the big Blue Jays too. I'm not sure how old they are when they get their color (or if they are that color when they young too), but the one's I see are so much bigger than the cardinals - they usually seem huge.

We've still got a lot of very tiny birds hanging around, but it's hard to know what they are, because the cardinals don't seem to have much of their color until they're a little older, and I'm assuming that's true of a lot of the other birds too.

It was 79 time on the thermostat in my car. It felt like it too.

Carol said...

And Ivy, I'm ashamed to admit that I got caught with only one roll of TP yesterday. That goes to show you that we haven't had any crises here that require an emergency run for it along with the bread and milk. I'm flush with the last two. I was going to grab it on the way home from the bank this evening but it was late and the Magster was waiting for her dinner. I'm just going to have to hoard bodily fluids and count squares. Good thing I buy the double ply, super absorbent brand.

Carol said...

I have lots of Cardinals all year round here. I bet your tiny birds are the same as mine, American Goldfinch, only they are olive with a pretty black and white tail this time of year, Carolina Chickadees, black little caps, and Chipping Sparrows, lots of brown mascara.

Coreen said...

Yes, the temps here have finally gotten above
40, actually close to 60 today & yesterday, &
sun, but a bit of a chilly breeze....and as
you said Carol, rain will be here for the weekend (but not snow)& finally there is just a small mound of snow left in the driveway from where it is plowed...But no way it will be in the 70s for quite sometime.

Have you noticed it is staying lighter longer, this weekend we switch back to daylight savings, like coming home from the office while
it is light out....

As far a our bird population, we don't seem to
get many transients...except when the mallards
return in the spring...which hopefully is just
around the proverbial corner...

Carol said...

Found a new nature website.

enature

Carol said...

My hot and sour soup was so good that I ate almost an entire quart of it. That's OK, it mostly liquid. Ut oh! Maybe not alright.

Carol said...

I decided to watch Idol tonight. I don't agree with the judges. Those girls are good. The judges stink. Vote them off.

Carol said...

This is so interesting and it wasn't that long ago that my neighbor pointed it out to me on some pine trees in my yard. If you have those pines trees, look for them.

Check it out. Did you know about this??

Pine Tree Crosses

Carol said...

Oh poopy doo, I'm not ready for daylight savings time yet. It's been really easy getting up lately.

jan said...

Carol, How interesting the pine tree crosses are. Makes me want to check em out. We had a bunch of pine trees in the part of Arkansas close to Louisiana.

jan said...

I am not ready for the time change either. I dislike the change very much and wonder why we keep doing it. Arizona and Hawaii have the right idea.

jan said...

Carol, I thought the girls did well tonight too. I do have my favorites. I like Lilly, Bobbisox and Sioban. I also liked the little red-headed girl.

jan said...

I think we are supposed to have a storm tonight.

Coreen, good to hear from you. Temps here are similar to yours.

Ivy and Mary, I miss you.

"It's important that you stay in a receptive mood and have good expectations of what's to come."
Chloe, I am writing this and putting it by my computer so I will see it every day. Thank you for your wonderful encouragement. My granddaughter wrote me today and told me how she has always thought of me more as a mother than a grandmother and that she wants Abigail to get to know me like she knows me. My Amie is back.

Carol said...

I think it is strange that Linsey L. thought that etrade baby commercial, milk-a-holic, was talking about her. That's a symptom of a psychiatric disorder. Delusion of reference.

I heard something interesting on the radio yesterday. Some study reported that women who have 1-2 drinks a day, are less likely to gain weight than those who don't drink at all. It was from some 10 year study. I didn't get all the details.

Carol said...

Thought I would share something my older sister wrote me in an email:

"Just wanted to let you know about a little synchronicity. On the basis of the entry in your blog (which I found quite fascinating) I found three Russell Targ books at my local library. I'm already halfway into The End of Suffering and I recommend the book. It's short and full of interesting and inspiring thoughts. I have the other two books on order at the library (one came in today) and I plan to read them all. I've just become active in the local Institute of Noetic Sciences chapter and they are studying the same kind of ideas: the power of our unlimited mind, the oneness of all life, all manner of mind over matter questions, and many aspects of quantum physics and spirituality. It's all fascinating and inspiring. Please thank your blog friend for her lovely entry on the topic."

Anonymous said...

Jan, I have been thinking a lot about what you're going through right now, trying to put myself in your place. In doing so, I've been able to look at things from your point of view, and realize what a tremendous adjustment you're going through. Doing that has made me realize how 'empty' my words must sound. At the same time, I absolutely know that things will work out well for you. When you make a 'space' in your life, something else always comes along to fill in that space. Of this I have no doubt.

If you really love teaching, you can always do that again, even after retiring. With the degrees you have, you'd have no problem getting a job at a trade school (or training at a hospital... even with new borns), teaching nursing or medical assistants, or whatever other kinds of classes they offer. You could do it part time too.

Or, if you just want to get into traveling, and family, and other things you can't even imagine right now, then there'll be all those things to choose from too. I just hope that you can begin to see it as a brand new 'adventure', filled with hope and promise, instead of a threat. This will be a beginning Jan, 'not' an end.

One thing I am experiencing at the same time as you is how difficult our society can make aging. I think it's much more so for women than men though, and that people treat aging women much differently than aging men. I see it all the time. Maybe it's our attitude. I think I'm going to work more on not expecting (or accepting) anything other than respect from people I come in contact with. I think the main difference for the difference is that women have less confidence than men, as a general rule.

We have to remember what Targ is going to teach us: We get what we expect, we are what we think.

Anonymous said...

"... the power of our unlimited mind, the oneness of all life, all manner of mind over matter questions, and many aspects of quantum physics and spirituality. It's all fascinating and inspiring."

Carol, Your sister has inspired me all over again regarding Russell Targ and his wonderful ideas.

Why did you and I think of going to the library for the books? What a great idea.

I mean, I want to own them, for future reference, and I love having them stored on my Kindle (as well as my computer), but it would solve your problem of waiting to get started before Amazon can send them out.

Anonymous said...

Carol, Your sister is a doer, and here I am still sitting around just 'talking' about what I'm going to do.

I'll dig into the book today.

Anonymous said...

.. not 'Why 'did' you and I', but it should have been, 'Why 'didn't' you and I think of the library'.

Solar said...

Chloe,

Im almost finished with a cpl of books that Im reading now...and will be getting to know Mr. Targ. It looks like he just got another great review. Like U and the others have said...it is right up my alley....so far every thing that u have said about him is in line with what I believe.....

Your getting temps of 77 dgrees already...thats a good sign...still raining over here, and a little nippy. Im in no hurry to get into the 80's or above....another 20 degrees and it will be perfect working weather...

Solar said...

I know that this is repeating my self...but how would U like someone like Targ running for potus..someone that truly (not that he doesn't) believe in these things..the belief in the synergy of the world....When I say that I want to look into the teachings of Targ ( just like i did before when I heard about dr. John Hagelin, he did run for potus, in order to help us and the world)...that doesn't mean that I don't believe in the words that he is teaching...I want to see the consistency of those words...when did he start believing them...why, teaches us the reasons to start teaching those things ourselves...and most of all feeling those things....not just intellectually, but emotionally......this is what Ivy tries to do with her list.....

Im looking forward to reading Targ, and see if I can combine his thoughts with others( very few) that I have convinced me of their intent...the benefit of mankind...not just hallmark cards...im sure that U R all correct...Yes I do identify with what he says already...and repeating myself once again....i want to see if I can feel what he says...the differences in what his critics say about him....are they original thoughts ...

If we would combine the thoughts of Spinoza in his books..specially the ethics....the thoughts of some of the books that Anotonio Damasio wrote, and some others...I haven't read too much of Mark Twain...but know that he fits into this group of thinkers that brings out a feeling of world synergy to me.......thats the feeling that I look for....not just the words....

Solar said...

Looks like I keep missing when someone is around...Craig had a very interesting thread about the mind...a few threads ago....going to get some exercises into day.....

Solar said...

If I could ever feel the total synergy of the whole concept that only a few % of people feel...I would be ready for my next adventure.....just picture myself like that person in my avatar....he is going to a place that no person has ever stepped foot on.....he is going there only after learning about this place...after knowing that it is the place that he wanted to be.....it took him a while to make this decision on his own...he looked for it...did not find it on a post card, or from some travel agency.....that is what I want to do with the information that Targ has to offer..study it..and see if I want to travel with him.....it will be a life long travel...just like I do with Spinoza, Anthropology of Alan Watts, Darwin, I highly recommend the book of Antonio Damasio...Joy, Sorrow, and the feeling brain...books by Richard Dawkins...along with a little geology, Astrology, etc, etc.....If I had started to read these types of books early on in my life....maybe by now I would know what Im talking about......so I just talk about the little that I know about these things.....the sciences are the only way to resolve our problems..and these people mentioned try to explain how we arrived to where we are...mentally, emotionally, and evolutionarily.........the politics that go on....are just battles to control how we accept or don't accept things....like religion...all the create is in groups and out groups.....there are no exceptions to this rule...it is part of our evolution to have tribal conflicts...group survival was the only way to survive....now it is not.....but during all of this time that we were evolving...there were first hominids that felt the synergy of the earth...then when we were the only surviving hominids...the majority of all things living....felt the same love for Mother Earth......Nomadic peoples will feel the synergy of all things.....they knew that all things came from the earth...not from some book....they felt the spiritual world....the brain....not the creator...not some ominous God...they did feel the need to understand the self...the brain...in order to protect it' self...the organism.....that is still the way that the brain protects us..we still need to understand...in order to survive...it is still evolving...we have some part of our body die every day..and other part become new...our brain is growing new parts for us all of the time.........sorry just started to type and kept going....now for some pancakes, with frozen strawberries, and pineapple, with whip cream, and honey.....later

ps Farming was the start of the end for these feeling...after we stopped being nomadic...we had so much more to protect from those that wanted to take it from us...that is when the true arms race started........and I also think the start of when the women of the groups were started to be treated unequally......Anthropology shows that they were/are the better sex..but not the strongest...that won out...cos the strongest, could protect themselves the best....they, the women made the choice to be in the place where they are...they could have controlled the male population...but needed to raise...mean, strong man child...so they could be protected...from the same of other tribes....during all of this time....there were some..that practiced the feelings of synergy......


Reciprocity......
mutual dependence.....Greed got in the way....ok for sure now......shutting up.!!

Anonymous said...

"If I had started to read these types of books early on in my life....maybe by now I would know what I'm talking about...."

Hi Solar, Now that made me smile. You already know what you're talking about. All these guys do for us is inspire us, make us think about things, and give us some ideas we can try.

Inspiration alone is worth a lot to me. As far as the ideas, the only way I completely believe them, is if they eventually work for me. Even then, I can believe they work for some people, and not others though (or me). I think you're a little more cautious than I am, is all. I admit to being impulsive sometimes.

I don't feel the need to trust Targ, or to agree with everything he says. I just will take the ideas I like, and try to apply them to my life. Parts of them I already agreed with before I even read them, and that's why I was so receptive. I have no doubt that the abilities of our minds are far beyond what we realize. I also know that I'll never be able to completely understand how everything works, and that's OK too. I don't think we're meant to understand 'everything' on the level we exist on here on earth.

Faith that there's more is good enough for me (and I'm NOT talking about religion). You can assume that I'm not, when you hear me say faith, something about being blessed, having gratitude, a higher being, etc. You know where I stand on that.

I saw the post where Craig mentioned the amygdala the other day. We had discussed that ourselves here at the Swamp a while back. Do you remember Carol called it Amy (which is my daughters name). Ha! It'll be the way I always remember it now.

Solar said...

Chloe

U still here?

Anonymous said...

I loved hearing about all the things that picture of yours represents Solar. That was beautifully said.

You know, you can go there in your mind any time you want. That's why leaning from these people that practice a little mind control can improve our lives so much. Like Targ said, it's all about improving ourselves (paraphrasing), making ourselves more aware, becoming aware of our abilities. To me, it's all about being happy. That's our job! That's the way we show gratitude for being given the experience of this life we got into, from no effort of our own - we say thank you, by being the most that we can be, and by being happy and content. Not every minute of every day, but as often as possible.

"Farming was the start of the end for these feeling...after we stopped being nomadic...we had so much more to protect from those that wanted to take it from us"

... that's why so many promote the benefits of meditation and controlling our thinking - we we can get those feelings back (at least once an a while, for a limited time).

Then, those times we can feel like that for a while, those are the times we can accomplish great things. The only one who can measure our accomplishments... well, it has to be in the mind of the one doing it.

Anonymous said...

Ok. blah, blah, blah - I never stop!
Now I need to get to work.

Anonymous said...

Solar, Are you here?

Solar said...

yes im here......now just look over at Emma, standing by the something that she is using to balance...close your eyes....now can U both feel the hug that im sending......sometimes its best to be on at the same t ime.....U can feel it...not just the words....

Anonymous said...

You're right, Magic Man - I can feel you. Thanks.

Emma's napping, but I'm sure she can too. Glad you got here before I left.

Anonymous said...

... see Solar, you can do wonders with your mind. You're a natural, a sender - ESP.

Anonymous said...

Male witchcraft... is that legal?

Anonymous said...

... Solar, I'm sending that hug back. Can you feel it?

Solar said...

Sure it is....but we don't use brooms....we use.......

Solar said...

Yes...that was what I was waiting for...later

Anonymous said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Anonymous said...

oops, wrong link... this one:

Magic Man

Anonymous said...

"My granddaughter wrote me today and told me how she has always thought of me more as a mother than a grandmother and that she wants Abigail to get to know me like she knows me. My Amie is back."

Jan, For some reason I didn't respond to this important comment when I was here earlier. What a wonderful relationship you two have - and just as wonderful, that you're going to get to spend lots of quality time with your new grand baby. So glad the lines of communication have freed up again for you two. That visit the other day must have been a good one.

Anonymous said...

Carol, Been wondering if you have been able to find those Gold Brick eggs you were looking for a while back. If WM doesn't have them, you might try Walgreen's - they have the best selection of Easter Candy. Not necessarily as much, but a lot, and usually very high quality.

Anonymous said...

... an article I ran across a couple of days ago (we've made it past 6 months): The life and death of online communities

Carol said...

Yep Chloe, I will have to check out Walgreens for the eggs. I did get some there last year. Walmart didn't get them until late and then as soon as I got a taste and realized I liked them, they were out.

I looked again last weekend and Walmart didn't really have very many of the boxes of the eggs like the Gold Bricks at all. They had lots of peeps but I'm not into peeps.

As far as using the library to get the book, it is not on my beaten path and as slow as I read, it wouldn't work out very well anyway. If you think you read slow, my read to sleep ratio is 2 pages to ZZZZZ. My vision gets blurry, then my eyes cross and I still might get one more page if I hold one eyelid up. Doesn't matter how interesting it is.

Carol said...

Hope the Ive is OK. I couldn't even draw her out with my TP comment yesterday and you know how anxious she gets about running out of that. I managed to conserve enought to still have a half of my one roll left. I was square counting. I still haven't been able to get to the store but I stopped by my other place and borrowed some from there. I'm glad I had a stash there. I think I'm now good until grocery day. Whew.

Carol said...

Interesting study/article you linked there Chloe about life and death of online communities. I think we might be considered a homo group. Don't get scared there, it refers to member turn over not sexual preference. Homo groups didn't survive as long.

I wonder if we might be worth their studying. I think we might be. One interesting variable was"

"the higher the number of messages between members over the following three time phases, the higher the chances of the community's survival over time"

Carol said...

In other words, those who tend to ramble, survive!

Carol said...

http://www.learner.org/cgi-bin/jnorth/jn-query-byday

Ruby throated hummers have been spotted in southern states. Check out my lazy link.

I put out my juice today. Nada seen here yet.

Carol said...

My lettuce bowl container gardens were growing sooooo slow over the winter. They survived the deep freeze but only grew in millimeters. With this warmer weather we're having, the lettuce is growing fast, now inches a day.

Solar said...

Chloe,

I wouldn't worry about the community..as long as there are computer, there will be communities.....they will evolve just like the brain does ....I always think about the brain, and the computer as the same....they seem to work the same..all of the brain mappings, the hardware, and the software...the only thing is that the pc doesn't last as long.....

Carol said...

Enjoyed your conversation today Solar. Hope you do check out the books. They do sound like they include things you talk about and believe. One of mine has finally been shipped. I'm looking forward to getting it so I can read two pages a day. Good thing they are short.

Anonymous said...

Carol, I laughed my way all the way through your comments, homo group and all. I was thinking about the amount of messages we have some days too. I think I've been known to leave about 100 here by myself some days. I remember someone actually started counting our messages at TM once. Gave me a complex. Ha...

Also, the pages you read per night sounds about like me. I was going to read some today, but Emma kept me on my toes (her and Solar both did).

Anonymous said...

... oh, and your link showed they've had a couple of the hummer sightings in Corpus Christi, so it may not be long before they get here and there. I bet those early ones are scouts (or whatever they call the first ones) though, so it'll be a while before we start seeing the masses. There sure have been plenty of every other type of bird - a busy bird year.

Anonymous said...

"I always think about the brain, and the computer as the same"

What you said is so right Solar. That, and when you talk to someone on the computer, that's what you're dealing with: brains - and we have some very interesting ones here at the Swamp. Solar's brain, Carol's brain, Jan's brain, Coreen's brain, Ivy's brain, Mary's brain, and Chloe's half brain - who did I forget?.

Solar said...

U forgot the half brain....Don 1 .....

Solar said...

Sea,

just lost her kittle the other day, and could use some nice words from us indies..she also is having what looks like some fun...

New Moon Magick presents...

Body Mind Spirit Fair



When: Mar. 13th. 2010
Where: Oak Bluffs, Massachusetts

Come join us for a spirit raising day!

Event Details: A fun and inspirational day focusing on tools to enhance your physical and spiritual well being. Free workshops throughout the day. Private individual metaphysical readings and healing sessions available: Psychic tarot card readings, clairvoyant psychic readings, astrological chart readings, tea leaf readings, palm readings, reiki healing and massage therapy. Also offering: Delicious baked goods from Orange Peel Bakery, Enchanted Chocolates, lotions, potions, crystals, books and jewelry from New Moon Magick. Check back soon to see free workshops and discussions. We all could use a boost in the last weeks of winter- come join us for an uplifting day and beat the winter blues away!

http://www.witchvox.com/vn/vn_detail/dt_ev.html?a=usma&id=69061

Carol said...

I'd go if it was here or within a two hour drive. Looks like it will be lots of fun.

Carol said...

The addition to my life line seems to be healing well.(hand laceration) That's one way I found to change my life, with a sharp filet knife.

Carol said...

Chloe, since I can't find the candy I like, I make my own. Walmart had this CandiQuik. Of all the chocolate I've tried, it makes the best tasting chocolate candy. I like chocolate pecan clusters. I toast small pecans at 200 degrees for 10 minutes and let them cool. Then I melt some of that chocolate in a small glass dish in the microwave. Start at a minute and then at intervals of 15 more seconds until it all melts with stirring. Doesn't usually take more than 1 and 3/4 minutes. Don't overcook it. I stir in my toasted pecans, spoon out portions on parchment paper and within a short time, I'm eating my yummy candy. Usually overeating.

Solar said...

Forgot to link her chocolate menu site...

www.moonmagic.net

Solar said...

Carol, I think that it will be a blog type of thing...but will see take a look and see.

Carol said...

I put it in the frig to hasten the cooling/hardening process. Cold candy is better anyway.

Anonymous said...

Carol, The only candy I ever make is fudge, and that's only once every several years. One Christmas season, a while back, I decided I was going to try to make the perfect fudge, so I made fudge every day for a week or so. I never found the perfect recipe, but I sure had a lot of fun trying.

I never plan on making candy again. There are so many of the commercial candies that I just love beyond belief, that I don't need to. I'm talking about mostly candy bars, but there are some See's candies that I love so much, that it's lucky they don't sell it here in Texas, except a a couple places downtown. I have been known to order it by mail though. I try to stay away from candy as much as possible, because I'm a junky, but usually have some a bar a couple of times a week. I don't usually like pure chocolate though. I prefer a combination of caramel, among other things.

Anonymous said...

That candy you made Carol, sounds so good though. I love almonds (and other nuts), and I considered using your recipe while I was reading it. I'll hang onto the recipe until the next Christmas season (or ask you for it then).

Carol said...

Chloe from start to eating the candy is less than an hour. Can't beat that. And I can't find chocolate with pecans anywhere.

Carol said...

And Chloe, they've already seen some of the hummers in San Antonio. They have to be close to you also.

Anonymous said...

Carol, I need to find out what section to buy the CandiQuik in (by the cocoa?).

Don't worry about Ivy - she did pre-warn us that she'd not be around for a while. When she gets back, I have something to ask her about the Alabama constitution.

Solar, Sorry to hear about Sea's kitty - it's hard for me to even think about someone losing a pet. I love kittens so much, and have had my heart broken many times.

See ya all tomorrow.

jan said...

I am enjoying reading the comments from the past couple of days. I have had 2 very busy days getting my new group of students oriented and up and running (literally).

I love candy but don't dare make some that I would be keeping around. John and I are both addicted to sweet stuff so can't keep it around.

Carol, so glad to hear your sister likes the book by Targ. John is hogging and loving our book. Its ok with me though. I have only had time to read before I go to bed.

Chloe, thank you for your kind words about my granddaughter. I feel things are going in a healthier direction (communication-wise). I am fine with where I am now with retirement. I think I was working through a process.

jan said...

Carol, I too have found the easter candy in Walgreens. They carry those foil covered egges and other candy.

I miss bluebell ice cream. We have not been able to get it here. I was addicted to bluebell IC when living in TX and ARk.

Carol said...

CandiQuik is in the baking section. By the Almond bark but don't buy that, it's not as good. This one comes in a tray. Comes in chocolate and vanilla.

Remember everyday is either Saturday or Sunday Jan. Doesn't that sound good? Or it can be a weekday when that works. Some things you can only do on weekdays and when you have to work, it's hard to get those things done.

jan said...

"Doing that has made me realize how 'empty' my words must sound"

Chloe, your words never sound empty. It is clear to me that you put a lot of thought into what you say here- especially when responding to one of us.

I have been giving a lot of thought to what I have been doing (at work) for the past 3 years - b/c I feel like I am pretty burned out. I am tired of teaching students right now. I don't want to grade papers any longer - or do grades or do all that goes into teaching classes. Teaching is what I am tired of. I most enjoy working with the families in the agency that I do some nursing-practice with. I do take students with me in my work with families and that is fine. I enjoy that part. So, I might later - find something part-time like I am doing there. One of the great things about being a nurse - is that you can always find something to do.

jan said...

Carol, do you ever want to teach again? what did you like and dislike about teaching?

jan said...

Carol, so true that some things you can only do on weekdays and then when I get home at 5 or 6, the grocery stores are packed.

Carol said...

Jan, there is always something that you can do. It seems you do have your foot in the door with those programs you work with when you have students. Do you still want to work or do you fear all that free time because your not used to it??

Did you get summers off? How long is that time for you? Did you enjoy having that time off? I always taught in the summer so I don't know how it would feel to have much time off. I had to work summers just to make enough to get by. And I worked many of my weekends and holidays for the same reason.

Even though I worked many of my holidays, it was a choice and it took years to get over the loss of having that time off.

I can't say that I miss teaching because I seem to do it wherever I am. I do a lot of it now but some of my students aren't as smart as the ones who were in college. And I don't have to have any lesson plans or write tests. That will certainly be a plus for you.

Carol said...

Well, both of my Targ books have finally been shipped. I will soon be more enlightened.

And Jan, my students now aren't always motivated to learn what I'm trying to teach. In college they have to be. Now it's a challenge to come up with creative ways to motivate my learners or present a concept.

My peeps don't respect health care. If something is screaming at them, they worry about it. Some, I can tell, are surprised that someone would take the time to try to explain something to them. Some are irritated that I do.

jan said...

"Do you still want to work or do you fear all that free time because your not used to it?? "

Carol, A very good question!

The agency where I take students for their clinical experience is losing their part-time nurse (30 hrs/week). I could apply for the job. I know her job - I would be working with families and I would also be able to work with students in the ways I like working with students. On the other hand. It might be a way to work into retirement without going "cold turkey." I don't know if I want to work 30 hrs/week. Of course now I probably work 50-60 hrs/week - so that would be an improvement. In nursing educ., as you know, the job encroaches on so much more of your time than 40 hrs/wk.

I have taught summers, except for one, for the past 24 years.

Carol, What I hear from you about your job is that although you may spend 8 hours (maybe more) on site in your job - you are not able to get away from it, since you are on call during your off time. Over time, the stress of being on call like that wears you out, body, mind and spirit.

jan said...

Guess what, it is snowing here like it has not snowed all winter. I could go out and cross country ski here right now - if I had the skis. It is beautiful.

jan said...

Well, I may have exaggerated a bit. The snow is collecting on the ground but melting on the streets - so cross country skiing may be a bit difficult in my part of town.

jan said...

A really cute dancing dog
http://www.familytiez.com/video/gin.htm

Coreen said...

I know you are waiting patiently for the appearance of your first hummingbird, so while you wait you might like this PBS Nature episode that was recently on PBS & sure it will be on again...but in the meantime, some of the most incredible images of those tiny little creatures...(and just because I am not always present, doesn't mean I'm not watching you---remember that giant blond pony-tailed head is always close by)



Hummingbirds Magic In the Air

Coreen said...

And you might want to check the PBS/Nature site for when it will be on in your area....actually it will be on here this
Sunday, March 14, at 7:30 p.m. on the NY PBS
channel....

Carol said...

Sitting in the court house with Iphony
waiting to be a witness. Glad to have company. Hate to wait. Some inmate called me for some reason. Beautiful
day and was planning on getting off
early. Too bad they caught me. So nice
that I'm taking off tomorrow.

Carol said...

First day that I noticed anoles
are out in full force. Red bud trees
are blooming. Definitely Spring here.

Coreen said...

My oh my...So if this does come to pass...I get to be Kreskin or more likely Carnac...

British researchers using functional MRI claim they can differentiate brain activity linked to
different memories, thus identifying thought patterns for specific events.

Brain scan can read people's thoughts say researchers

Carol said...

And waiting ......

Coreen said...

And on the Tiger front....report from NY Post
that he will return to golf at the Arnold Palmer Invitational at Bay Hill, Orlando, FL
on March 25....

Also, that he has hired Ari Fleischer former Bush advisor to 'help' rebuild his 'image'....

If he plays, I really hope he does well....that
will silence a lot of those ready to bury him...& as many have thought, it sounds like he
is gearing up to play in the Masters, which if you are in any way familiar with golf...is well...like playing in Yankee Stadium (the cathedral in the Bronx) for golfers...
Tiger Woods will be back in 2 weeks

Coreen said...

And before I forget...there is an absolutely
fantastic basketball documentary on HBO...if you were ever interested in basketball....
"Magic & Bird"...which obviously is about the
rivalry between Magic Johnson (one of my favorites) & Larry Bird...

Not a fan of today's NBA teams, but have to say
that I did really like it when these guys played...

Solar, no offense, but was never a Michael Jordan fan....

Carol said...

And waiting.

Carol said...

If this case
cuts into my vacation day tomorrow
they had better list me as a hostile witness.

Solar said...

Coreen-

"Solar, no offense, but was never a Michael Jordan fan...."

Thats ok. I was not either...yes he was considered one of the best...but I don't put any player of any sport up on a pedestal...not even Walter Payton, or the 85 Bears...they performed. ...received big $ for doing it; I enjoyed watching them...that's the end of it for m e......I have never cared who was the best in any sport..at any time...probable y could not name more than a cpl of players on the Sox, or the Cubs now....what I did/loved to do was to play sports...all of them...my favorite one was basketball.....but only to play....I would rather watch Billiards.....Tiger again? he is on my list of who cares now...but I do like to play golf...Raining a lot over here..but getting better all of the t i me...

Chloe,

After having windows 7, I can now say that I like it very much....maybe it is my processor that is supper fast now...but I do like it....

Anonymous said...

Solar, I like Windows 7 much better too. Not that it's all that different, but it's faster - mainly it loads a lot faster when you turn it on - and it's a lot more intelligent, so easy to communicate with, and does a lot of things for you automatically. The more you use it, the more you'll like it.

Anonymous said...

Carol, you know you can never get in and out of court fast, at least I've never done it. Sorry to hear about the annoyance, but glad that you have a three day weekend coming up. It'll give you a head start.

Anonymous said...

Coreen, I read that piece you linked on Brain scanning/memory. Very interesting. Next thing you know they're going to be reading our minds - plant a little chip in our brain and always know what's going on. Ha... whoever reads my chip is going to be pretty bored.

I think Tiger may be a better golfer than ever. I can't imagine he's lost any of his confidence, and he'll have a lot easier time keeping his mind on the game, if those sex addiction courses did him any good.

Anonymous said...

Jan, I really loved that dog video you linked - really amazing. I'm sending it to everyone I email. Thanks!

Carol said...

Three day weekend my A-- Chloe. After sitting out waiting to be called for over 3 hours, they recessed for the day and I have to go back tomorrow, a beautiful day that I was taking for a vacation. I just hope nothing can read my mind right now and if it is a chip, it's melted!

All this just to read my intake assessment report which I can't see being of any help to the inmate. This particular inmate has harassed me, our department and the entire jail for 4 years and now this, and I'm a witness for the defense?? I hope his time is almost up. Now I could understand the need for all this if there was anything that could be useful in his defense.

I went by my house to see if my Targ book arrived. It would have been nice to have it to read tomorrow while I wait, especially that End of Suffering book. Maybe it would adjust my attitude. No such luck. I guess I'm clearing some more bad karma.

Carol said...

Jan, I couldn't get that Dancing with Gin to play on my Iphone earlier today. For some reason it wants me to sign in to watch Youtube and I don't have a sign in.

I just watched it now and it might have saved my day earlier if I could have seen it. I would have played it over and over. I loved it.

Carol said...

I don't see how Ari is going to do much for Tiger. I don't think he really needs any help. He'll have a crowd. I wonder how many hookers and waitresses are trying to get in to see his debut.

Anonymous said...

... might be worth checking this out Carol (?).

Amazon's Kindle for iPhone could be a free hardware alternative to the Kindle device for casual readers who intend to read slimmer works, or those in short bursts. For voracious readers, the iPhone version is a nice companion app for when you want to pick up where you left off in a story without taking the Kindle out of your home, but not a replacement for the full-featured Kindle 2 http://download.cnet.com/Kindle-for-iPhone/3000-2125_4-10909801.html

Carol said...

I wouldn't want to have to read a lot from the Iphone Chloe. It's too small for my taste but good in a pinch.

Anonymous said...

Carol, Why don't you go to youtube and set up an account. I'm pretty sure it's free (there's an option at the top of the youtube page). Then if iphoney requires a password, you'll be ready.

Anonymous said...

Yeah, I agree. I wouldn't want to either. I have the ipod touch, and it'll do this stuff, but it's too small to bother. Just was thinking about you being so bored in court tomorrow.

Anonymous said...

Can you take your laptop in there?

Mary said...

Coreen,
Thanks for linking that hummingbird video. That was very interesting.

Jan,
Have you seen the vote off for American Idol yet? All the people are so talented now, I hate to see any of them voted off. I think they lost some good talent tonight. I won't mention names now in case you haven't seen it yet.

Carol said...

I'm enjoying the hummingbird video also. With all the talk about how much food they need, I went to check to see how many feeders I have. Now, I have 7. Can't wait for the birdies to get here. I have only one out now until the crowd arrives.

Carol said...

Chloe, I did go get a subscription. You can use your google ID but you have to register it. Now I can watch Youtube tomorrow. I'll just have to remember my earphones. I'll just find some fishing videos and pretend I'm on vacation.

jan said...

Hi Mary, we just got home from eating pizza out. Yes, Idol is on later here. Thanks for not telling me who gets booted off. I am off to watch it now. I will write later.

jan said...

That dog Gin is so cute and talented.

Carol said...

I have loaded my Iphone Youtube with some crappy, I mean Crappy videos and my neighbor just called to say he was going to get on my boats tomorrow morning to get them sea ready. It just might turn out to be an alright weekend afterall. End of suffering. Now if that dang defense attorney doesn't get to me early, I might just get nurstal on him. That's worse than going postal. I'll slime him or something.

jan said...

Mary, wow! some real surprises on Idol tonight. Lilly was one of my favorites - I thought she would go all the way. I was not as surprised about the others - but America voted.

jan said...

Carol, LOL - hope you have a great weekend. Show us some fish.

jan said...

Coreen, the hummingbird video is amazing. I am going to keep it. What beautiful amazing creatures. I am more in awe of hummingbirds after watching the video. Thank you.

Mary said...

Jan,
Lilly was one of my favs. also. Todrick(that black guy) sang really good tonight, also.

Carol said...

Just finished watching the rest of the hummingbird video. It's neat that some of that research is done down here by LSU in La. Neat to know that more hummers are starting to Winter down along the Gulf coast. I have seen hummers here thru out the winter before but not this winter. I wonder if it was because they knew it was going to be a nastier winter than usual. We may have to start having our feeders available in the winter also. I'm game. I keep my other bird feeders going strong all winter. Got to take care of my little family.

jan said...

I thought Todrick was amazing this week- the best he has done. I think he will have a career on broadway.

Carol said...

Since we are about to switch over to Daylight savings time, I thought this article might be of interest:

Daylight Saving Time Costs Us More Than Sleep

"Beyond the annoyance of losing an hour of sleep each spring, experts also say moving clocks ahead may also leave people drowsy"

Even one hour of sleep loss can affect some people," says Dr. Ronald Chervin, professor of neurology at the University of Michigan and director of its Sleep Disorders Center. More people have serious crashes in the days immediately following the spring change in time, Chervin says, likely attributable to sleep loss and adjustments the body's own clock has yet to fully make to a new schedule"

" One expert argues that daylight saving time actually increases gasoline consumption, since Americans spend the additional daylight in their cars going shopping or running other errands"

Carol said...

Since it's light for much later in the day, we think it's still early so we usually end up going to bed later. We don't only lose that hour of sleep in the morning but another hour or so at night.

Solar said...

Carol,

What I do to make up that sleep, until im adjusted to it...is to go to be 1/2 hr earlier than usual..or the full hr...i listen to my body....and phase in....or just ignore the whole thing, cos I have poor sleeping patterns anyway.

I keep telling the story about when the British government decided to adjust their calender for financial reasons..by 15 or 18 days......the people were furious...they actually thought that the government stole 15 or 18 days off of their lives...time as we make it out to be really doesn't exist so much..I don't think that Im 60...i know that my body, and mind is around.......well my body......guess how old is my mind?

Solar said...

Funny how we keep doing things against our selves, for the sake of money....like this time thing...mostly a feeling in the organism..but we have figured out how to make $ from it by changing the times at will.

Time is an emotion-feeling type of thing also...some don't have it at all..some mentally sick people don't have it...they do have it in their subconscious which makes them go to sleep....but not on the conscious levels that they need function during the day..with out this feeling that they can't see how the causative object effects the persons that feels, what are the persons feeling in real time. What are his thoughts now? Occurring in an autobiographical setting....feelings generate a concern for the individual experiencing them. The past, the now, and the anticipated future are put in order....this helps the chance to influence the reasoning and decision making process....

Carol said...

Well, 4 and 1/2 hours of waiting over the two days to give about 4 minutes of testimony. Couldn't have been much help but I wish I could have talked to the prosecution ahead of time because the defense illicited info which was misleading and I couldn't offer anything to help them out without going beyond the scope of the question. I don't think a witness calling a side bar with the prosecution would have pleased the Judge. I'm curious to see how this case turns out.

Update. Just heard, he was found guilty on all counts! Justice was served.

Carol said...

Both of my boat motors are humming. I think I may try to go out tomorrow at high period. If the wind is not too bad and there will be someone around here to call in case of problem.

Carol said...

Your mind is 18 Solar?

Carol said...

Saw big daddy owl looking down at me today. My neighbor was telling that he was watching this squirrel going in and out of the owl hole. He thought ut oh, dinner, but the squirrel went in with the owl and came out again, intact.

I wonder if the squirrel is doing something for the owl?? Maybe some housework? On that hummer video Coreen linked for us they talked about the hummers sharing territory with those hawks. You'd think that would be a bad idea but they theorized that the hawks feed on things that feed on hummers.

My neighbor guys have a better bird's eye view of the owl hole than I do. And they love the owl like I do. I sure do like my neighbor guys.

Carol said...

Chloe, this morning I got to the courthouse and got comfortable in my chair and thought this won't be so bad today because I have my Youtube videos to keep me company. I put my little ear phones on and punched the Youtube button and nada. My Internet connection wouldn't work. Couldn't pull up the blog either. I had plenty of bars so it wasn't the reception. I thought, gosh, I can't really win in this situation. Thankfully, I didn't get stuck there for that long.

It turned out that I just needed to reset my Iphone. Turn it completely off and back on again. After getting back home and trying that, it worked. Didn't need those videos then.

Carol said...

And Walmart has their Gold Brick eggs in. Lots of them.

Ivy Green said...

If a man were to transcend to the very highest and most noble level of existence, would there be enough fishing poles to go around?

Carol said...

Oh Ivy. You're home. Welcome home little lamb.

Carol said...

I love that statement you left. I don't know if there would be enough of those poles to go around but you can bet I would have snagged me one before they ran out.

Did you see that cool hummingbird video Coreen found for us? After finishing it last night, I started watching another nature video at the same place. That's the kind of stuff I love to go to bed with.

Maggie and I just went to the house to see if the mailman left us anything. I finally got my End of Suffering book. It looks kind of easy to read.

Ivy Green said...

Thanks, Carol. I'm not caught up on the comments yet.

Ivy Green said...

I'm watching that family history search-for-your-roots show on NBC. Who's your daddy?

Carol said...

Take your time Ivy. I want you to know that I feel an empty place in my heart when your not around. I understand you do have more important things to do but I just wanted to tell you that.

Carol said...

Speaking of that program, do you remember when water fountains and bathrooms used to have "colored" labeled on them. As a child, that always confused me since neither had much color to them.

Ivy Green said...

Carol,
Are you watching it? Emmitt Smith is tracing his slave family history in Alabama. I am so glad I just read that book about slavery, "The Known World."

I recall my grandmother's quiet defiance of segregation's "rules" by seating everyone in her household at the same dining table without regard to race. I didn't understand the defiance of that act until later in life. I thought it was "normal."

The first time I encountered the remnants of segregation was when I moved to Texas in the late-70s.

Carol said...

Where was your grandmother living at that time Ivy?

Anonymous said...

Yay Carol, You got your Gold Brick eggs, your boats are both ready to go (and no more court). Life is good!

Anonymous said...

I bet ya that squirrel went in there looking for eggs, at least that's the first thing that came to mind for me.

"Occasionally they will take bird eggs or nestlings and have even been known to pounce on and kill small birds at feeders." http://www.pleasebekind.com/squirrel.html

Ivy Green said...

Ironically, about 2 miles south of the Mason-Dixon Line.

Anonymous said...

Ivy, Glad you're back. We missed you.

Carol said...

Chloe, did you get a chance to enjoy the beautiful day today?

Ivy Green said...

A comment I heard made this week was "we are a culture born of trauma." They were speaking specifically of September 11, but I say it reaches deeper and longer than that. How many of our ancestors either boarded or were forced onto boats, arrived here, but never would speak of the lives they left behind.

Carol said...

Maybe it is best that they left it behind.

"Almost all of our suffering is in our mind: guilt or depression over things that have occurred in the past, or anxiety over things that might or might not happen in the future"

We need to stay in the present! I think someone may have already mentioned this but it's worth mentioning again.

Ivy Green said...

Carol,
It is good they left it behind, but it is not good they never spoke of it. They "acted it out" in ways that were baffling, unhealthy, and established often-confusing legacies of pain to succeeding generations of their families. Speaking it, and then leaving it is a healthier way.

Carol said...

You're probably right. It's the same for those men and women who are involved in wars. Many came home and never talked about their experience but it affected them.

Carol said...

Even here at the Swamp. I know many of you have had some painful experiences in the past but don't know exactly what they were but sense some of the scars they have left behind.

Ivy Green said...

That's exactly right, Carol. We are still suffering from many of those effects which today we call PTSD.

Anonymous said...

Yes Carol, I did enjoy the beautiful day, and am so happy to see that things are to bloom so beautifully.

Carol said...

I have a mission if anyone wishes or has the time to participate. Why don't we each take a pic tomorrow or Sunday of something that represents that Spring has sprung in your area and send it to someone who wants to volunteer to put a post together. Any volunteers?

I am going to suggest that Ivy come up with a nice Spring pome for the post. What ya think? A group project?

Ivy Green said...

In Europe during WWII, the populace was as affected by the war experience as much as as the soldiers. In spite of deprivations such as rationing, American citizens were spared the effects on the general population...dislocation, starvation, and death including genocide on a massive scale. Russia alone (old Soviet U) lost 20 million people.

Anonymous said...

Ivy could come up with a beautiful Spring Poem.

Ivy Green said...

I guess you guys are not going to tolerate me in my cynical mood. lol

Anonymous said...

Before we run out of room for more comments (25 or so to go), I have a quote by Robert Blake to put up (just a short quote only though) to hold us long enough to get our Spring post going.

Carol, Could we send our pics to you. Then if you do the post, you'll have them - if not, I think you have everyone's email to forward them to, if Ivy or someone else puts up the post.

Anonymous said...

Ivy, I didn't even know you were in a cynical mood.

Carol said...

Want to talk about it Ivy? Has it been a tough week for you?

Carol said...

Our couch is open.

Ivy Green said...

Chloe,
"Cynical" is probably not the right word, or even accurate. I am actually feeling very "spiritual" even if vulnerable and overwhelmed by the world's problems. Problems that seem far and distant, yet so real and present, and manifested in our personal lives. I must be experiencing some "boundary issues" at the moment.

Carol said...

Do you want to elaborate on that? Boundary issues?

Anonymous said...

I'm sorry to hear you're feeling vulnerable Ivy. That's not a good feeling, but feeling spiritual is a good thing, so I know you'll work your way through it.

When you say you're experiencing boundary issues, I know the feeling. But that's usually when I'm having trouble setting boundaries.

Carol said...

And am I stepping on those boundaries?

Anonymous said...

Ivy, It's so great when you're here, because you make the rest of us think. You're 'good' for us.

Ivy Green said...

Boundaries could be a whole 'nother topic discussion. I would have to "rest up" for that.

Anonymous said...

You're right, boundaries would be a great topic.

Carol, showing concern is never stepping on boundaries, imo.

Ivy Green said...

I think a hot bath will help...I'm off to it. I have a friend whose prescription for whatever ails her is a take a bath, eat a banana, and read a page from the spiritual literature, any page will do.

lol

Carol said...

That does sound therapeutic. No bathtub out here. I miss that.

Anonymous said...

I put that quote up as a new post, then quickly looked for a little something on boundaries, and added that to the post. It may not be the kind of boundaries you're talking about though Ivy.

Jan has already left a comment on the new one to you.