X marks the spot?

I just read in the morning paper that 45 states are seriously considering eliminating teaching cursive writing from their curriculums in schools by the year 2014!  Ok I get it, kids can text lightening fast, but is it really necessary to leave them unprepared to even sign their names?

Let me get this straight right off the bat.  I admit that I have poor handwriting. (So does my Doctor, so I'm not alone)  Sometimes I can’t even decipher what I’ve written if it is more than 48 hours old--but I can sign my name.  It may look a bit wonky, but it is a signature, a cursive signature, my own unique stamp.

Teens love the fact that the kids coming up after them won’t be required to learn to read and write in cursive.  I mean they'll never use it-- right?

Thank you notes, birthday cards, and even Christmas greetings have become a simple email.  Let me say that my son left me a birthday wish on my Facebook page and I was totally hurt that he didn’t even take the time to buy a birthday card, sign it and mail it.  Puhleese!!!

At the rate we are going how long before speech becomes obsolete?  After all you can always text.  People fight by text, they make up by text, and they even break up by text!  A Dear John letter is now a text or maybe even a tweet…seriously, how many sentences does it take to say it’s over?  

What will the future look like without cursive?  Well…

2025- Computers fail for one day and the world is plunged into a state of chaos.

2100- a boy graduates from high school and receives many well wishes and gifts.  He pulls out his hand top (laptops are ancient) and sends a hundred thank you notes with the touch of a button.  He smiles, thankful that his parents taught him good manners.

2199- a petition is making the rounds in an office asking for better pay and benefits.  The only signatures garnered are a hundred X’s.

2200- a teen goes to a sports game and waits outside the player’s gate.  He sees his idol and walks up to him pulls out his electronic paper and asks him to sign his screen.  Yes, he signs with a big X. and it fits nicely into this teen's X collection.

2255- while digging in the dirt outside his home a child finds a long cylindrical item with a point at the tip.  He ponders for several minutes on its use, pulls out his cell and texts a photo to his dad, who has no idea.

3099- someone discovers some ancient letters in a cave. The letter contains a computer printout AND cursive. Hailed as Rosetta stone #2  scientists have a tool for deciphering the words of ancient, long gone civilizations.

Just thought I'd mention...Virginia is one of 5 states that still want to require cursive.

Thanks for the not so wonderful

What follows is a list.  It’s not the usual list of thankful things but I am thankful nevertheless. In my life I have been through many bad things, but through it all, I found that,

I am thankful for mistakes, because I learn from my errors.

I am thankful for sad times because as a result I can truly appreciate the happy ones.

I am thankful for the lonely times because they make times with friends and family all the more precious.

I am thankful for hunger and thirst, which help me to savor times with plenty.

I am thankful for tears, which cleanse my soul and give me peace.

I am thankful for the years, which although they may bring new aches and pains, also bring wisdom.

I am thankful for memories.  Although they sometimes bring tears, they can also bring smiles.

I am even thankful for bad days, because every day is a gift.

On Thanksgiving when we are all thankful for a lot or a little, (and there is always someone with less) let us also be thankful for the not so wonderful which elevates our joys to higher levels.  Remember without the bad times, the good times would be simply…mundane. 

Dagnabbit… again

Dagnabbit-- a phrase coined by the cartoon character, Elmer Fudd, when referring to Bugs Bunny (Dang rabbit) is the word I use to identify my online nemesis, namely Captcha.

Captcha or word verification is something websites use to cull out the spam from the real comments.  I guess it serves a purpose but lately I am beginning to think that it also leaves some of my comments out in the cold.

For some odd reason I just can’t seem to get a captcha phrase that I can actually decipher. When I try to comment, the made up word is a mangled mess and I have to guess.  I’ve never been good at guessing games, so I get a message that basically tells me…”if at first you don’t succeed, try, try again”, with emphasis on the try, try.

Sometimes I give up. Sometimes the tenacious side of me takes over and I keep trying or hitting the little squiggle that tosses out another mixed up word.

Just to clarify I don’t want to put anyone through this, so I have disabled captcha on my blogs. 

Downside:  I get a ton of anonymous comments.  And lately these spammers have really picked up the tempo and I’ve seriously contemplated re-instating captcha.  Don’t fret, it was just a passing thought, I’m having too much fun deleting these comments en masse.   It’s simple.  Blogger captures, I delete.

For the benefit of these robotic spammers:

You are wasting your time I don’t buy drugs online or otherwise

Your ridiculous attempts at flattery fall on deaf ears

Your poor grammar in these fake comments just make me laugh…I thought robots were smart!

Don’t make up a name to get past the spam filter, I still catch you and delightfully – DELETE!

Now, lets just see how smart these robots really are. I’ll let you all know if I get any spam comments on this post!!!

Update:  As of December 19th, I have had three anonymous comments on this post.  To the robots responsible, I really don't care if your brother directed you to this blog, or that my information is just what you are looking for.  To everyone else, welcome and stick around for a while.   Pull up a chair and set a spell  :-)

Thanksgiving trivia

Thanksgiving will be here before you know it.  While your consuming your Thanksgiving feast, remember all of the things and people for which you are thankful, and just for fun, here is some Turkey day trivia:

The heaviest turkey ever raised was 86 lbs.  Its no wonder commercially raised turkeys cannot fly.

Wild turkeys can fly up to 55 MPH for short distances.

Male turkeys are Toms.  Females are hens. You call a baby fox a kit and a baby kangaroo a Joey, but what do you call a baby turkey?  Poults…you call a baby turkey a poult.  I bet you didn’t know that.

Males gobble…I know you know that…but females, they make a click. 

Turkey’s heads turn colors when  excited.  Sounds like my husband when he is embarrassed.  

Turkeys have heart attacks.  When the USAF conducted tests in breaking the sound barrier nearby turkeys dropped dead from heart attacks.  Yup, it scared them to death.

Turkeys are native in every state…except Alaska.  Guess they will just have to eat Salmon for Thanksgiving.

Turkey breeding causes breasts to become so large that the turkeys fall over.  I always had a feeling breast enlargement wasn’t a great idea!

Commercial turkeys have been bred to have white feathers. 

They actually tan turkey skin in order to make belts and boots, although I can’t imagine anyone admitting to wearing turkey boots.

If Benjamin Franklin had had his way, the turkey and not the eagle would be our national bird.

Did you know that fresh cranberries bounce?  Overripe ones just go splat.  Cranberry growers use this to cull out the bad ones.  Have you got a visual yet of bouncing cranberries?  You know you are going to have to try this right?

Flip-flop or silent sock?

My husband doesn’t have many flaws.  He washes dishes, does laundry and even vacuums so how could I complain right?  The man is nearly perfect but there is one thing that grates on my nerves—his favorite pair of flip-flops.  Maybe it’s the way he walks, maybe it’s just because he’s a man, but the loud flipping and flopping sometimes make me want to just pull my hair out.

I have to say for the first 8 years we were married he never wore flip-flops.  And I have to take credit for being the one who bought him his first pair.  Let me clarify…I don’t wear flip-flops.  They just irritate the place between my toe and I just don’t have the patience to wait till that sensitive area toughens up.  I opt to wear sandals and open toe shoes that slide on and steer clear of my toes, but in the house I wear slippers or socks or heck I go barefoot.

Not so for hubby dear. He flips and flops noisily around the house.  They are great for the beach or pools or boating but in the house—all the time? Who would have thought that a man who never even owned a pair before would love them so much? 

I’ve contemplated hiding them.  I’ve asked him why it seems so loud when he walks but he has no explanation as he flips and flops by.  And then I recall an episode of “I love Lucy” where she complains about a habit that her husband has and at the end of the episode, she comes to find that habit endearing.  Well, that mode of thinking just isn’t working for me yet!

So from May to the first frost I will have to endure (As Lucy says-- small price to pay for such a great guy) the endless flipping and flopping.  And after that frosty night, the annoying footwear will retire to a darker section of the closet and he will again pad around in “silent socks.”

Halloween Party Poopers

I still have a ton of candy leftover since the usual amount of kids just didn't show up.  Whats a person to do, have a sign up sheet posted the week before so you know exactly how many kids will be visiting?  Why you might ask do 40 or 50 kids show up one year and maybe 15 the next?  Is it because I live on Party pooper lane?  Ok so I don't really live on party pooper lane, it's just a nickname I give the street when EVERY house closes their doors and their lights on Halloween.  Yes, they are home they just can't be bothered.  It's not that they are hurting for money, most are pretty well off.  I understand if one has religious beliefs that may stand in the way of enjoying Halloween, but everyone? And honestly there is no connection to religion these days...it is simply... in the words of Winifred in the movie Hocus Pocus..."All Hallows Eve has become a night of frolic where children put on costumes and run amok."

It reminds me of other party poopers albeit different kinds.  At least it taught me something important....

Back when I was a kid if Halloween fell on a Saturday there was no waiting till you got home from school to go trick or treating.  Kids didn’t wait till dark to begin their collections.  While I wasn’t much of a candy eater I still enjoyed donning a costume and going trick or treating. 

On one particular Halloween, my mother decided to take us downtown.  Storeowners gave out candy to costumed kids.  We had already amassed quite a bit of candy from the neighborhood and the weight of the candy stressed the twisted paper handles of my paper Halloween bag. 

My mother decided to cross the street and leave my brothers and I at a fenced in playground while she went into a small store.  Unfortunately the playground closed and we waited none too patiently outside the gate. 

I could see them coming; a group of about 6 or seven older kids swinging their Halloween bags.  It wasn’t long before they confronted us.  They got my sibling’s bags with no problem, but I wasn’t giving up so easy and I held on tight.  Even so, it didn’t take long, and they continued up the street looking for easier collecting.  When my mother returned, there I stood, holding my handles.

Funny but I don’t remember not having any candy that year.  I don’t remember much of anything except standing there holding those handles.

It wasn’t all bad though because I learned a lot about myself that day. I learned that I was not about to go down without a fight, and I never would.  It was about triumphing without winning.  While I didn’t keep my bag, I held in my hands that day the symbol of my tenacity, those twisted paper handles. 

We dodged a Halloween bullet

We don't live that close to the ocean but hurricanes and weather events have taunted us for years--

Isabel--loss of power for 2 weeks and a large tree felled

Frances--Stuck on a cruise boat for 9 days

Derecho--loss of power for 5 days in 100 degree plus heat

And then came Frankenstorm...

Sandy--nothing - 0

Looks like we dodged a bullet when it comes to Frankenstorm.  Yes we were lucky, others not so much.  My thoughts go out to those in areas where the wrath of Sandy was not so kind.  For those in my area--this time at least we could have nicknamed her Hurricane Houdini (Honestly why can't they name hurricanes more creatively? ) since she was in and out before you knew it.

I hope that my friends and relatives in New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, and those closest to the coastlines have their power restored quickly and do not suffer any damages to property or self.

Happy Halloween!

Waiting for Frankenstorm

Fall color earlier in the week

Today we are cleaning gutters and waiting for the anticipated Frankenstorm that is poised to strike our region tomorrow and last for a few days.  They are predicting power outages lasting several days...eek. We do have a generator but it sure didn't help during last summer's derecho. We struggled and juggled trying to keep things plugged during 100 degree plus days. After 5 days of no power I threw in the sweaty towel and hightailed it to a relative's house with power. This time, thankfully, it will be cooler.

The sad thing is that the beautiful multi colored leaves will surely be a distant memory after this week with torrential rains and (they say) gale force winds.

The stores are already out of batteries, toilet paper, and bread.  Not that I need any...you see I always shop at Costco!  :-)

Signing out....

Crystal clear

Ouch at the apple festival!

My husband swears I channel Lucille Ball. Either that or I am channeling the unknown Murphy of Murphy’s law.  You know…"If any thing can go wrong it will."

Last weekend I thought it would be a nice idea to go to a nearby Apple Festival and although it wasn’t really my husband’s thing being the great guy he is, he readily agreed. The day was gorgeous with warm temperatures, and colorful trees to enjoy. Pretty soon the enticing aroma of kettle corn, Brunswick stews and bar-b-cue was to tempting to ignore.

I got my lunch and it included French fries.  What do you usually put on French fries but ketchup?  I reached into the basket that held the condiments and OUCH…a splinter found it’s way under my fingernail.  I tried to pull it out with my fingers but I just couldn’t get a grip. 

Then came the quest…. the hunt for the tweezers.

I went back to the cashier and asked if she had a first aid kit that had one included in it.  She enlisted the help of cooks, and cleaners but they couldn’t find it.  Then some boy scouts got involved.  Let me tell you one thing…they were NOT prepared. 

So they called the farm owner and she came down with an industrial sized first aid kit.  The stuff included in that kit was enough to supply a small hospital, but alas, a hospital with giant tweezers.  I don’t understand the need for giant tweezers unless it’s for removing olives out of a jar. They are pretty much useless for grabbing a tiny splinter peeking out from under a fingernail.  All it managed to do was push it in even further.

The owner suggested I go over to the rescue squad station and ask if they had some tweezers.  So our hunt continued.

“Over by the porta-potties.” She said 

Nice.

We found the porta-potties but nothing that resembled a rescue squad station.

We finally spied an older gentlemen standing by a truck that had fire department printed on the side.  My husband asked if he knew where the rescue squad station was and he told us he was it.  So honestly it came as no surprise that he had no tweezers.  He did have a knife, however but I opted to keep all 10 fingers in tact.

I momentarily considered asking strangers who carried large purses if they included tweezers, but reconsidered when my husband said people might think I was bit loopy.

So I figured I would just tough it out and wait till I got home.  When we arrived home I went into my studio, put on my super magnifying headgear, got a fine pair of tweezers and voila…. I was splinter free.  Just for future reference, I am keeping these tweezers in my purse from now on.

Incidentally, my husband loved the apple pie.

No football, politics or poison ivy!

So the game is over, and hubby’s team lost.  I have to say he was a bit of a sore loser. Seriously now, it’s only a game!  I think he is over the initial pain of it and things are back to normal.

As I said, I don’t discuss football or politics but poison Ivy, that’s another story altogether.  Did you know that poison ivy in the fall turns gorgeously colored?  There have even been incidents where people have picked the stuff to decorate with…. and paid a price…a terrible price.

Poison Ivy

Maddy (My Jack Russell) and I walk every day on a 2-mile trail by my house.  It is peaceful (except for the cawing crows all over the place) and relaxing.

The scenery is just awesome especially in fall, even the poison ivy. 

A Halloween message from Crystal Clear…

Beware

Poison is everywhere

Ivy, in red, gold and green

Angry red bumps soon will be seen