by jphilo | Aug 29, 2013 | Three Thoughts for Thursday
- The big news in our state last week was that an “elderly couple” outsmarted and killed an armed, escaped convict who had held them hostage for several hours. I’m not sure which horrified me more: the ordeal they endured or the fact that in 10 years I’ll be the same age as the woman the media described as “elderly.”
- A new study found that the best way to lower college costs is to graduate in 4 years. My guess is that smart parents have been telling their college students that for a long time already.
- According to recent reports, driverless smart cars will be ready for the marketplace and the road…once engineers solve a few teeny-tiny problems like jack rabbit starts and braking late. Which means driverless smart cars are the electronic version of teen drivers. So why are they called smart cars?
What’s making you feel smart this week? Leave a comment.
by jphilo | Aug 16, 2013 | Current Events
Yesterday was one of those days when this old gray mare knew her memory ain’t what it used it be. The epic memory failure began when I discovered I’d purchased the wrong kind of puff pastry for the new dish on the supper menu.
What to do?
Thanks to improvisation techniques honed by many years of practice, the meal was saved. Hiram liked the new dish so much, he said it deserved to be photographed and put on the blog, improvisations and all. But the camera was missing.
Nowhere to be found.
Eventually, I realized I must have forgotten it at last week’s family reunion. So, no picture of last night’s yummy meal. And the evening was spent sending a series of emails to cousins trying to locate the camera. (Janet, if you read this, check your email and reply asap!)
This morning I remembered the iPad.
Why hadn’t it come to mind last night? But no worries! I could use it to photograph the left overs. Except by then, the leftovers were gone. Hiram had taken them to work.
Rats!
That’s when I knew my memory ain’t what it uses to be. So I was very pleased to discover the article 10 Ways We Get Smarter As We Age at the Time website. Those of you who share my age bracket will appreciate them, I’m sure.
- Your hemispheres sync up. That sounds awfully high tech, doesn’t it?
- Your brain never stops growing. So, should we worry about exploding heads?
- Your reasoning and problem-solving skills get sharper. Sharper than what?
- You can focus on the upside. That’s why this list is showcased today.
- Your people skills are constantly improving. Compared to what?
- Your priorities become clearer. What’s for dinner and where’s the bathroom?
- You’re always adding to your knowledge and abilities. Though you’ll constantly forget where you put them.
- You can see the big picture. In that case, new glasses may be in order.
- You gain control of your emotions. Then why did a cardinal singing make me cry the other day?
- You become an instant expert, even in new situations. Since we’re instant experts, this expert recommendation is that you copy the list, tie it around your neck so you don’t forget where it is, and read it daily as a reminder of how smart you are.
Just sayin’.
Photo credit: www.freedigitalphotos.net
by jphilo | Mar 21, 2013 | Three Thoughts for Thursday
Sis, me, Cousin Nell, and Bro (partially hidden) a few years before the Remsen Pool days
- I heard Yummy, Yummy, Yummy, I Got Love in My Tummy on the radio yesterday. It took me straight back to childhood, dancing to the tune with my sibs and cousins in the Remsen pool in the 60s. Suddenly, I felt young again.
- But the Remsen pool is gone now, along with most pools from my childhood–the Le Mars Public Pool, the pool in our junior high school, and the one at church camp. Suddenly, I felt very, very old.
- But then, the radio announcer said yesterday was the coldest first day of spring since 1965. So much for the good old days and the present. I’m gonna’ look forward to the future and warmer days ahead!
What are you looking forward to today? Leave a comment.
by jphilo | Feb 15, 2013 | Daily Life
Valentine’s Day at our house was about as healthy as they come:
- No lunch date because Hiram spoke about heart health at a noon meeting for a church group.
- No home-baked sweets for Hiram because he’s watching his blood sugar.
- No heart-shaped box of milk chocolates because they contain dairy.
- No flowers because they make me sneeze.
- No dinner out because a) we’re just getting over viruses and have no desire to catch new ones, and b) Hiram helped the high school worship team at evening practice.
Our romantic Valentine’s dinner consisted of:
- Whole wheat spaghetti with marinara sauce,
- Crispy garlic bread,
- Greek salad,
- And fresh pineapple for dessert,
- With a tissue box centerpiece because we’re almost but not quite over the aforementioned virus.
In fact, our healthy Valentine’s Day was making me sick until I thought about:
Thank you God, for romance alive and well at our house!
by jphilo | Feb 12, 2013 | Top Ten Tuesday
Hiram and I became grandparents in October. (Uh-huh, that explains the shout of joy you heard on that warm and lovely autumn day.) SInce then, I’ve become increasingly aware of my growing behavioral, if not physical, resemblance to my grandmother, Josephine Hess. Therefore, I compiled this list of ten indicators for people who suspect they’re in the process of becoming their grandparents. Of course, the list comes without any advice about how to stop the trend. It’s only purpose is to make what’s happening painfully clear to those of us who can actually remember what’s happening to us.
10. Your toenails are getting too hard to cut with toenail scissors. Your solution is not to make an appointment with a podiatrist, but to move closer to your children so they can cut your toenails.
9. You have an irrational urge to save plastic bread sacks…inside a plastic bread sack.
8. You have matching Grandpa and Grandma chairs in the living room. Facing the television set. Along with a strong desire to watch Lawrence Welk on Saturday night.
7. You believe any recipe for anything can be improved by adding a cup of sugar and a cup of cream.
6. You hang clothes on the line to save money…and because the smell reminds you of your grandparents’ house.
5. You store a variety of sizes of kids’ pajamas and new toothbrushes in the bottom drawer of a dresser…so the grandkids can stay overnight even if they weren’t planning on it.
4. You believe the cookie jar should always be full…just in case the pajama drawer isn’t enough to lure the grandkids to stay overnight.
3. You consider hot oatmeal a delicacy.
2. Ditto for grapefruit.
1. Your favorite Saturday morning of the whole year is when you prune the geraniums you wintered over and put the cuttings in water to root.
What indicators would you add to the list? How are you starting to resemble your grandparents?
