Uhmmm.. Restricted!

I pass, every morning on my walk a balcony that has a string of lights across the top and the railing. It is pretty in the darkness and I wonder as I pass why they are still up since they were put up at Christmas.

Today when I looked at them, for some reason, I really saw them. They are icicles.  Blue icicles hanging and glowing like a real icicle would on a moonlit night in a cold January. They became so much more charming. I am looking forward to tomorrow and catching a glimpse of them as I turn the corner.

Monday was not a fairy tale in my world but it was an adventure. Filled with turmoil, chaos, anger and confusion. I pray today is not a repeat.

After I asked and told the accountant NOT to make contact or do anything to or with the delinquent accounts on four separate occasions what did she do late on Friday afternoon? She sent them all past due invoices and then changed internally the membership level of some of them. After I had told some of them one thing she has sent invoices showing another higher price for their membership dues. I received phone calls and e-mails from upset, unhappy, confused, irritated members. She did not even look at what she was sending. The letter template in the system defaults to “Dear Joel” they all said that. I am sure this is not how they wanted to be greeted on Monday morning. I know it is not how I wanted to start my week. Being a fireman, putting out fires, calming ruffled feathers. Damage Control. Is that a job title? Can I put that on a business card?

Then after a series of communications the child I have that, as you will recall screamed at me on the phone not to ever talk to her again, call her father and his people or her mother-in-law and her people, called me. She proceeded to attempt to lecture me about why I did not call her direct with the news. Well first of all the information was for Ryan, her husband not her and so I contacted Ryan’s Mom. Second, you asked me not to ever talk to you again, which I have, shall I say, gladly complied with. Third I do not have your phone number, I tell her as I look at the phone and see that the number she is calling from is RESTRICTED. I laugh.  She screams at me to call her, not her mother in law. I calmly explain that I cannot call her, her number is restricted. She responds, and I seriously mean this as if she really does not understand with “I don’t get it?” Don’t get what? “What you mean restricted?” I calmly explain her number is restricted. Where her phone number should be on my phone it says restricted. 3,2,1… She explodes into an angry tirade screeching about facebook??? I move the phone away to look at it with I am sure shock. Shaggy comes running into the room because she can hear her sister screaming and looks at me and the phone. Shaggy suggests I just hang up. I calmly tell her that when I have further details I will contact her mother-in-law because I have that phone number and 3,2,1… she explodes into a super nova of negative disrespectful words about her mother-in-law and then starts to bash me. It is at this moment I tell her good bye. Shaggy and I stand just staring at each other. Uhm… random and strange and the only words we can come up with are Bi-Polar. It was just weird. She flashed form one angry vent to a completely different one in a random fashion. I felt like I was talking to four different people all handing the phone from one to the other faster than a blink of an eye. I pray I NEVER NEVER EVER have to speak to her again. Seriously ever.

But wait there was to be more. Last night my brother calls me to tell me that this same daughter has called him only he did not know it was her. He received a call from a number that showed RESTRICTED as it rang. He did not answer it. They left a voicemail. It was this child and her message,  “Call me back.” My brother and I both laugh. Did she leave you a number? No, he laughs unless I can dial RESTRICTED and she answers.

I think I will just close the shop today and go to a movie.

Wrong Key

I am about 8 inches from death. I have an intense pain in the area of my appendices, ovaries, intestines, and it is probably my tumor, whom as you know I named Bob many years ago, getting ready to explode. One of those things for sure is wrong. It has been going on for days and has gotten worse which according to Doctor Internet is a sign of something serious. I am debating whether I should, like my father, write my own obituary and have it ready for my nephew to email out as a final Breakfast Letter. The idea of heading over to the ER for several hours of waiting around with sick people is overwhelming. Some people revel in being ill and wear it like a royal robe of accomplishment. I am NOT one of those people. The last time I was at the ER it was for dizziness. They saw me immediately (probably because of my age) and after a long exam decided I needed a CAT scan 

and after several hours of observation while they observed my fiancé act like a bully, a bull, a selfish prick about his time being wasted, his yelling at me that we should just leave I was being weak-minded and several other inappropriate behaviors on his part. The Doctor marched in demanded a nurse, told fiancé to leave and closed the door. He gave me Valium, told me there was nothing wrong except “that man” tormenting me and causing me severe stress. He asked me if he was always that “intense and demanding, selfish” I answered yes. He advised I keep loaded up on Valium see my regular doctor and get rid of the guy.  Finally someone with a medical background confirmed what several of us already knew, the guy was a walking demonstration of “not right”.  Do you know that the Doc was right! My symptoms went away within hours of his departure from my world.

Then yesterday I walked up to my front door, pointed my car lock fob at the door and proceeded to press the unlock button several (I mean like 8 or 9) times becoming incredibly stressed when it failed to open the door. Then when I looked at the fob and then the door I finally realized that this was wrong and then I stressed out over the fact that I had even tried to open the door with the car key.  Later I ran an errand and thought I heard a friend call me a b*****. I apparently am much stressed again and no psycho man in sight. However I did receive a disturbing call from a man friend the day before that upset me very much. Could there be ribbons of angst still clinging to me?

Yesterday it was raining and raining and was wet and cold. I had gone to a hair appointment and as I was waiting for my hairdresser to arrive at the salon another hair dresser came in and said “it was pouring down rain this morning.” Really?? Ya think? It is still raining. Like we needed an update that it had been raining, was raining and could rain for a wee bit longer. We had all come from outside to the inside through the rain. She looked over at me and said “this is horrible! I hate the rain”. I looked at her and said “I love the rain and so do the peaches”. She looked at me very oddly and said rain made her grumpy (yeah…haha I noticed) so I said “sunshine makes me grumpy I am constantly agitated in the summer.” That is just plain weird she says. So is giving us a weather report on the rain while we are all aware that it is raining. We can see it through the wall of windows I think to myself.   She wanders off.

I received a compliment last night from a business associate. It was not just handed off either. She spoke of specific things and ways I have accomplished tasks. It was nice. Yes my reward is a paycheck but sometimes being singled out, looked in the eye and spoken to is a rich reward. It is difficult to know how well or poorly your performance is without some feedback presented in a kind way. Not implied over the phone, shrouded in doubt, threats and dismay.  I work with a passion at my job. It is personal because I care about the organization and each business and person involved with it.

Alexandre-François Desportes (Champigneulle, Ardennes 1661 – 1743 Paris), Still life of game with a bowl of plums and peaches. 

Peaches originated in China. Their name is Prunus persica yes as in Persia. They came to Europe via Persia. Did you know that a peach is classified with almonds? That Spanish explorers brought them to the Americas long before they were taken to England. Thomas Jefferson grew peaches at his home in Monticello.

                               The peach orchards at Monticello (photo credit: Patrick Jonas)

Here I see it again. Peaches have a chilling requirement. Which means they do not grow well in tropical environments. So again you complaining Texans; the peaches NEED some cold.

Canned peaches just don't cut it!!!  

Peaches for a Viking

I entered the lobby of the theater and the temperature was set at about 92. It was hot. As I stepped in I was “whew!!” The lady in line ahead of me looked at me. I looked back and she smiled. Is it hot in here or just me? She smiled again and said, “No it is rather warm in here.” Rather warm out there too. “Yes” she says “it is too hot outside.” WHAT??? Did my ears deceive me? Another soul who feels 74 in January is too hot. “It is winter.” She says, “I miss winters being cold living here.” Me too! Do you know what else? This weather behavior will kill all the peaches. They have been dormant, now that it is hot they will think it is spring and blossom and then we will have a freeze in February and it will kill off the blooms and they will not come back and we will not have a crop of local peaches! She just stared at me as if I had grown a third eye. 

                           Third Eye Art Print Abstract Surreal Skull Goth by AndreaBengeArt

I blinked and smiled. She tilts her head and continues to look at me. “You know, I never thought about what this would do to the local crops.” My guess is she failed to know we even had local peach crops. I do NOT like this weather and I do NOT like what will happen to the peaches I proclaim. She just looks at me and a moment later she is rescued by the line moving forward.

As I step up to the ticket counter the woman there asks me if I am military. I giggle. Not in this life but in a past life I was a Viking Warrior I am sure because I like the cold. She giggles, so I add, Not that I believe in past lives or reincarnation. “Of course not” she says.

According to a report from Texas A&M Peaches are the number one deciduous fruit crop in Texas. There are over 1 million peach trees planted here. It goes on to say “Late spring frost continues to be the single greatest factor limiting orchard profitability, and growers should plan on losing one in six to seven crops even in the best of orchard locations.” Listen to this all you winter haters!! Peaches require a certain amount of winter chilling in order to break dormancy, bloom and grow normally in the spring. Take your pick! A few months of cold so we can have fresh peaches or buy rock hard or rotting peaches from Chili? Peaches with no taste, no soul, and no flavor. Peaches from other states, other countries; shall we here in San Antonio, home of the Alamo and the brave men and women who stood, fought and died for their beliefs, become dependent people or shall we flex our muscles stand up and declare we will sacrifice our tube tops for a couple months because “OUR” peaches are worth it!!??

I can hear a cold wind blowing outside as I write this. Good. I am dreaming of a peachy adventure sometime in May….

Cottage Cheese Paint

                             Hey Mom what exactly is cottage cheese? Why is it called cottage cheese and not bungalow cheese or mansion cheese?

Great question. Why is it called cottage cheese and what exactly is it.

Cottage cheese is actually cheese curd. A product obtained by curdling milk. You curdle milk by adding an acid to it such as vinegar and then allowing it to set. The proteins in the milk bind together forming solid mass or curds. These curds are then drained and/or pressed. Cottage cheese is drained but not pressed so some of the whey remains. Whey is milk serum. It is the liquid product that is left after the curdling process is complete. In the case of cottage cheese the whey is termed sour whey.

The cottage cheese curds are washed to remove the acid and sour taste. They are not flavored or colored. Cottage that is drained and pressed becomes what we here in Texas know as Queso Blanca.

The name cottage cheese dates back to 1831 and was consumed in smaller households and homes that were then called cottages. It was usually made from the butter milk or milk that was left over from the butter making process which was done in home at the cottages.

Cottage cheese is favored by bodybuilders, runners, health food enthusiasts because it is high in Casein protein and relatively low in fat. Casein protein lasts longer in the human body than other proteins and supplies the body with amino acid, carbohydrates, calcium and phosphorus. The amazing thing about Casein is once ingested into the stomach it forms a clot and attaches to the stomach where it then slowly releases amino acids into the bloodstream. The purpose and importance of amino acids to our bodies will take a 6 week course to understand so just know this your brain NEEDS amino acid. This slow feeding of amino acid into your system can take hours.

I want to apologize for my fussiness yesterday, but, how about you do not come waltzing, as a new person, into a situation you know nothing about and then try to assume leadership. You, probably unknowingly insulted me and did it rather rudely and abruptly. I did not make a mistake, I know what I was doing, and you are free to change it. You fussed up others too. Calm down! Instead of assuming, wrongly and with NO information just ask. Be nice. Stay calm.

Bloody Hell!!! Just Bloody Flippin Hell!!

Just so you know…

Glue is also made with Casein. Maybe why a cow named Elmer appears on glue bottles.

Paint is made from Casein and was used commonly as paint in ancient Egypt.

It was used in an early recipe for plastic to make buttons.

Cheers!

Boston Common Elm

Is it just me or should grocery stores have complimentary coffee stationed right inside the door? Especially on chilly damp days. I would have stayed longer and bought more.

There was this TV show called The Honeymooners. It ran from 1955 – 1956. It was mostly about Ralph and his wife Alice. She would do wacky stuff and cause funny things to happen to her husband. He would get mad clench his fist and shake it at her saying “To the moon Alice, to the moon!” I just saw this and it fussed me up. These people are commenting on how funny it is but it is not funny! Ralph never ever ever would have laid a hand on his wife. Yes he would get upset over whatever crazy thing she did but while he was shaking his fist and saying “to the moon” what he was actually saying was I LOVE you.

 He loved her to the moon and back. In other words the capacity of his love could fill the space between the earth and the moon and back again from the moon to the earth. So many people think he wanted to hit her so hard she would land on the moon, “to the moon Alice, to the moon” but that is NOT what he meant. It saddens me to think people found it funny that he would threaten to hurt her. Domestic violence is NOT funny. NOT!!! NOT FUNNY!!!

I am hunting the Henchman Ghosts and came across Anne whom I cannot verify existed. However on her tree sheet I had her married to a woman named Hannah with a daughter named Ann. Now I have no idea if the woman was a Lesbian or not so to any ghost hunters who were excited or fussed up by what I had, I deleted them, wife Hannah and daughter Ann of Anne Henchman mystery woman. I am sure there are other mistakes I have made along the way but this is a work in progress and I discover new things about some of these people every day and make changes.

                                                       NOT a photo of Anne. (Just an artsy example)

In reading my devotional today Max asked why when we pray the Lord’s Prayer we say….  Our Father, Forgive us, Lead us and so on? Why not say my Father, forgive me, and lead me? To be honest I never even thought about it. We grow up and learn it that way and I never questioned that part. I have been asking myself, now that I am aware, why. Because He belongs to all of us? He is the GOD of us all? So we are aware of others? We all throw rebellions that affect others? We not only need to ask the forgiveness of GOD but those our actions affect. We are part of one huge family he created. Just as I, as a mother hate to see my children at odds with each other, GOD hates to see us at odds. I am sure He does not mind the difference in opinions or even how we worship Him, but our failure to see each other as His children, brothers and sisters, cousins, aunts hurts Him. So by teaching us to pray in the plural we are to become aware of each of us and treat each other like an equal recipient of the joy, pleasure, peace, laughter, and fun that comes when a family is devoted to each other and their Father.

Forgive us, not just my drama queen daughter, the child up the street who mean mugs me every day, the woman across town who speaks ugly words over me, the man filled with loathing across the country, the misinformed man in another country, myself. Forgive me/us as we/I forgive others. Lead all of us around temptation and deliver us from the evil that we do to our sisters, cousins, aunts, mothers and all of our family.

Now on to Great Grand Uncle Hezekiah Henchman who planted the Great Elm tree that stood for so long in Boston Commons. As a young man in the 1680s Uncle H planted an elm tree in the commons. The commons was like a huge public park the city of Boston purchased and it was for the use of all who lived in Boston. It was used as a military training ground and was for people in the city who wanted to keep a cow so they had a place to graze them, keep a small plot of vegetables. It was used as a camping and training ground for British Forces during the revolution.

Boston Common--oldest city park in USA...Puritans used to meet here and cows grazed. Also used as a military training field and a football field for America's very first football team--Oneida Football club in the 1860s

The elm was in the center of the Commons. By 1855 it was 72 and a half feet tall, 17 feet in circumference at about 4 feet from the ground, and the branches spread out a distance of 101 feet. The tree was massive. The distance from the ground to the first branch was twenty two and a half feet. The British had built a powder magazine near the tree in a hill that Washington and his troops bombarded with ferocity in the Revolution. During the war of 1812 troops were garrisoned in the Commons to protect Boston. The elm was used as a hanging tree, a place where revolutionists, religious fanatics would hang criminals, traitors or burn effigies of a political, religious nature. In 1876 a huge storm with strong winds finally blew the tree over and it perished.

                                                  An old postcard circa 1875

Or so the legend goes about dear old Uncle H. His niece Lydia, foster mom to John Hancock says it is true.

My registration is expired in my car so I am about to go on the hunt for the paperwork. I do not recall seeing it anywhere in the mail. I wonder what I am supposed to do if I do not have it.

Cheers!