Christmas: always the bane of my existence. The hype, even in my childhood was overwhelming: food, toys, dressing up, friendly family gatherings, and some religion. And as I grew older, of course, the hype continued, but it simply jaded me instead of disappointing me. People shouldn't be spending so much money: thanksgiving was a great hholiday but didn't involve the costs of Christmas. People tended to be happier and get along better, and even invite relative strangers into their home for a meal. Far most "christian behavior" than that that occurs at Christmas time. And what gift that is a "surprise" turly makes someone happy? A gold bracelet? a special trip? a new car? I serious doubt it.
But he country is in lockdown for the day:at least the Christmas music that used to pervade the airwaves on that day is gone. I am sure anyone listening to a radio on Christmas did not want to hear that stuff. But what to do? Have a big meal with firends and family? Go for a walk if the weather permits. Read, do a family activity such as a game or puzzle.
Tis the season for my seasonal disorder....can't wait for january 2nd.
Saturday, December 25, 2010
Thursday, December 16, 2010
ten cents
recently some thirty year older was taking about the cost of things and I began (quietly) reminescing...my allowance at 8 years of age was ten cents. what could I buy with this amount? I had, like all other kids, free range of the town which meant that I could walk downtown to the 5&10 cent store, drug stores, independent grocery stores and such. So each Saturday was "pay day" as it was with my friends, and off we would go to pormptly plan our spending. The Woolworth's was always the first stop and here is what they carried for ten cents: comic books (I rarely bought them as I had friends whose parents bought them, or somewhat had amassed collections that I never could have achieved. But I did read them. Candy bars: almost all were 5 cents, skybars and cough drops were bigger and cost ten cents. If I spent money on a candy bar, it was one I would split with someone else (or 3 muskateers--divded three ways, and then I would be "repaid with their candy purchase. combs, pencils (not ball point pens then) paperdoll books, cheap coloring books were all ten cents. Soda was 5 cents and a two cent deposit on the bottle (6 oz?)
I was never capable of saving the whole ten cents for two weeks to buy something bigger, and so depended on a visit to my grandparents, where I would often get a quarter....big times!
I was never capable of saving the whole ten cents for two weeks to buy something bigger, and so depended on a visit to my grandparents, where I would often get a quarter....big times!
Thursday, October 14, 2010
The schism of reality between the thirties group today and the sixities group of folks:
I know, I know, here comes another rant of how good life was THEN and how messed up government, greed and selfishness have made things NOW. I am not writing in that theme, but in the realization that folks, for whatever reason (selfabsorption does comes to mind as a cause) do know how we lived back in the 50's and 60's (no, mad men reflects a mere portion of the population.
Things: what possession did I have, did most middleclass folks have? I am offspring of a two college degreed parents,one adult working family. We had our own house, with a mortgage, a car (initially our cars were used and "sold" to us from grandparents who bought new ones for themselves. Our first new car (lime green mercury) was in l954. Each child (2) had her/his own room. toys? we had big items: sleds, ice skates(although I confess to having "one size for all" ice skates, rink roller skates, bicycle, etc: and that size was big: size 8 or nine for the skates, and adult for the bike(bought used). I was a large child and so in anticipation of rapid growth to giant size, big was always bought. I never grew into any of those shoes, I was a size 7 until middle age. I had a homemade dollhouse from my mother, and my father built doll things llike a clothes rack and cradle for me. My brother had an erector set. we had homemade blocks which we played with until junior school school age.
I had five school outfits, and one sweater, always navy blue, which was often left in school to wear over a cotton dress if the classroom was cold (and it often was-- old school, rattling windows). I had dungarees, flannel lined with matching flannel shirt for afterschool play. I had 3 pairs of shoes, dress-up/church, school and sneakers. And I had slippers. If I went to a friend's house immediately afterschool I carried my playclothes in a brown paper shopping bag. All books were from the library. I remember begging to "own a book" a book of my own (my mother and father both had serial collections of children's stories which I read eagerly, and I wanted my own collection, but I was twelve when I got a real hardback book of my own. (and it was a grudging gift, thought to be silly by my parents--they were right: I read it in a day and never read it again.) Book of the Month Club was more appropriate for me, and I began my collection of hardbacks that way. ((oh! I have seen it all, a trash collector, hanging from the edge of the truck is checking and texting on his cell phone!! interruption from the present time))
What shocked me yesterday(2010) was thirty year somethings not realizing that children did not have: personal cell phones (heck we did not have a telephone extension phone until the l980's) there was one tv (except in our house where there was none) and the idea of a child having something like a computer, radio, tv of their own was absurd. Snacks: bread, butter and sugar was usually the snack, along with in season fruit. My parents had soda and some candy and cookie snacks in the house, but they were "hidden"(I obviously knew about them) and not for kids. It was impossible to sneak these snacks away as they were usually opened and entirely consumed in one sitting. Meals were at home or with a relative, and eating out was once or twice a month, gradually morphing to once a week. Prepared foods were unavailable. Childhood friends did not come over for meals.
when did the desire and availability for all these possesions, the need for each child to have a cell phone for safety,the bazillion stuffed animals occur? I don't know. I went off to camp for 8 weeks with a trunk and 3 blankets. I went to college with almost the same amount. computers were not for general, personal use when I attended college. The telephone booths were in the hall, downstairs. I owned an iron, hair dryer, and hot water boiler/pot(thoroughly illegal) and portable typewriter and!! a sewing machine, the last did not go to college with me, but everything else did. some of these material possessions were bought by me with summer earnings. I earned $200 my first year as a summer camp counselor, and that money bought all my college books, my college clothes and spending money. I augmented it with work in the dish room for $.67 an hour......
Oh, and I was middleclass so I had ballet lessons,(again a leotard that fit me 4 years later! never did get beyond the all cotton zipper up the back leotard) piano lessons (4 years after beginning I quit to the great relief of everyone) art lessons and joined campfire girls for a mere ten cents a week dues. i also took swim/gym lessons at the ymca for a few years.And with all those lessons, my neighborhood friend, whose parents had to have been immigrants, and did not have college degrees (father worked shift work at GE)took the same lessons. So there was money for these things for many families.
What is all this about? Why do folks have to work two jobs now (or have two parents working fulltime?) Is it the need/requirement for cell phones, flat screened TVs large mounts of clothing? Are things much more expensive? Were we deprived of great activities in the 50-60's? Are kids overindulged and stimulated now?
Just thoughts from the benevolent dictator who would not have more than 1 TV (if that) and computers for those over a certain age, and all the books children ask for!
I know, I know, here comes another rant of how good life was THEN and how messed up government, greed and selfishness have made things NOW. I am not writing in that theme, but in the realization that folks, for whatever reason (selfabsorption does comes to mind as a cause) do know how we lived back in the 50's and 60's (no, mad men reflects a mere portion of the population.
Things: what possession did I have, did most middleclass folks have? I am offspring of a two college degreed parents,one adult working family. We had our own house, with a mortgage, a car (initially our cars were used and "sold" to us from grandparents who bought new ones for themselves. Our first new car (lime green mercury) was in l954. Each child (2) had her/his own room. toys? we had big items: sleds, ice skates(although I confess to having "one size for all" ice skates, rink roller skates, bicycle, etc: and that size was big: size 8 or nine for the skates, and adult for the bike(bought used). I was a large child and so in anticipation of rapid growth to giant size, big was always bought. I never grew into any of those shoes, I was a size 7 until middle age. I had a homemade dollhouse from my mother, and my father built doll things llike a clothes rack and cradle for me. My brother had an erector set. we had homemade blocks which we played with until junior school school age.
I had five school outfits, and one sweater, always navy blue, which was often left in school to wear over a cotton dress if the classroom was cold (and it often was-- old school, rattling windows). I had dungarees, flannel lined with matching flannel shirt for afterschool play. I had 3 pairs of shoes, dress-up/church, school and sneakers. And I had slippers. If I went to a friend's house immediately afterschool I carried my playclothes in a brown paper shopping bag. All books were from the library. I remember begging to "own a book" a book of my own (my mother and father both had serial collections of children's stories which I read eagerly, and I wanted my own collection, but I was twelve when I got a real hardback book of my own. (and it was a grudging gift, thought to be silly by my parents--they were right: I read it in a day and never read it again.) Book of the Month Club was more appropriate for me, and I began my collection of hardbacks that way. ((oh! I have seen it all, a trash collector, hanging from the edge of the truck is checking and texting on his cell phone!! interruption from the present time))
What shocked me yesterday(2010) was thirty year somethings not realizing that children did not have: personal cell phones (heck we did not have a telephone extension phone until the l980's) there was one tv (except in our house where there was none) and the idea of a child having something like a computer, radio, tv of their own was absurd. Snacks: bread, butter and sugar was usually the snack, along with in season fruit. My parents had soda and some candy and cookie snacks in the house, but they were "hidden"(I obviously knew about them) and not for kids. It was impossible to sneak these snacks away as they were usually opened and entirely consumed in one sitting. Meals were at home or with a relative, and eating out was once or twice a month, gradually morphing to once a week. Prepared foods were unavailable. Childhood friends did not come over for meals.
when did the desire and availability for all these possesions, the need for each child to have a cell phone for safety,the bazillion stuffed animals occur? I don't know. I went off to camp for 8 weeks with a trunk and 3 blankets. I went to college with almost the same amount. computers were not for general, personal use when I attended college. The telephone booths were in the hall, downstairs. I owned an iron, hair dryer, and hot water boiler/pot(thoroughly illegal) and portable typewriter and!! a sewing machine, the last did not go to college with me, but everything else did. some of these material possessions were bought by me with summer earnings. I earned $200 my first year as a summer camp counselor, and that money bought all my college books, my college clothes and spending money. I augmented it with work in the dish room for $.67 an hour......
Oh, and I was middleclass so I had ballet lessons,(again a leotard that fit me 4 years later! never did get beyond the all cotton zipper up the back leotard) piano lessons (4 years after beginning I quit to the great relief of everyone) art lessons and joined campfire girls for a mere ten cents a week dues. i also took swim/gym lessons at the ymca for a few years.And with all those lessons, my neighborhood friend, whose parents had to have been immigrants, and did not have college degrees (father worked shift work at GE)took the same lessons. So there was money for these things for many families.
What is all this about? Why do folks have to work two jobs now (or have two parents working fulltime?) Is it the need/requirement for cell phones, flat screened TVs large mounts of clothing? Are things much more expensive? Were we deprived of great activities in the 50-60's? Are kids overindulged and stimulated now?
Just thoughts from the benevolent dictator who would not have more than 1 TV (if that) and computers for those over a certain age, and all the books children ask for!
Tuesday, August 31, 2010
Ratatouille
A sublime time: eggplant and zucchini and tomatoes--the last from cans, sorry, but fresh ones just aren't good enough. spices and herbs, perhaps some cheese, and it is a meal, indeed many meals for the season. And then, fresh winter squash. How could anyone not love autumn. In the benevolent dictatorship there will be 5 months of fall, going from 60 degrees overnight to 30 degrees overnight. No day will be over 75, and most will just pleasantly reach 70. rainy, frostly nights, rustling leaves are always welcome.
rude people, however, will not be welcome. the BD suffered today, utilizing public services and having to witness what the general public is like outside of the libertarian realm in which BD lives. overweight--it really is a problem!! And with the temps at 94 degrees, overweight people who insist in sitting next to you on the crowded bench seat of the subway, are simply, disgusting. No pity, no excuse.
But there are others who seemingly entitled to services and discounts are rude ("thanks for nothing" sez one to the clerk helping her) and have undue expectations: a clerk will be fast, zippy fast, and so will all the computers and calculators helping out. The waiting room should be serving coffee and bottled water (are these the folks who think taxes are too high?) they complain that there aren't enough clerks (true enough: ten spaces, two clerks working) but who will pay for 8 more clerks to work so the waiting public doesn't wait 40 minutes!!!! think it through and maybe reasonable taxes, and taxing the rich would be a better alternative.
rude people, however, will not be welcome. the BD suffered today, utilizing public services and having to witness what the general public is like outside of the libertarian realm in which BD lives. overweight--it really is a problem!! And with the temps at 94 degrees, overweight people who insist in sitting next to you on the crowded bench seat of the subway, are simply, disgusting. No pity, no excuse.
But there are others who seemingly entitled to services and discounts are rude ("thanks for nothing" sez one to the clerk helping her) and have undue expectations: a clerk will be fast, zippy fast, and so will all the computers and calculators helping out. The waiting room should be serving coffee and bottled water (are these the folks who think taxes are too high?) they complain that there aren't enough clerks (true enough: ten spaces, two clerks working) but who will pay for 8 more clerks to work so the waiting public doesn't wait 40 minutes!!!! think it through and maybe reasonable taxes, and taxing the rich would be a better alternative.
Sunday, August 29, 2010
Tomatoes and Deer
the two are unrelated in my discussion to follow, but I only wanted to make one new posting, being a lazy bd.
the summer is over for hiking, country air, bugs and quiet living. It is back to the city where the main palace is located: noisy, crowded, multiethnic, full of construction, dust and street trash.(and a very weedy garden). A run of 4 day 90 degree weather days is ahead, and the weeds will stay right where they are!! But the end of summer once again reminds me of my youth and under 35 adulthood: fresh garden tomatoes. I fear these are items no longer available. I do not dream these tomatoes: they did exist, they were red throughout, juicy, tasty (something definitely missing) and reliable. At the end of those long ago summers, we (drones and the dictator) would wrap green and ripening tomatoes in newspaper and bring them home to a closet. They needed to be checked, but ripen they did, into late October! Everyday, one year, I had a large tomato for lunch. it was done, ofcourse, in the WASP style of mayonaise and sugar, and a fine meal it made.
today: tomatoes don't ripen, they have a white cardboard substance insteaad of red flesh inside. half the tomato is yellow or green and hard. sitting on countertops, dark closets or anywhere does not soften these plastic things: they just rot. Is this genetic engineering, bioethics, denial of memories and tastes past? the closest I came to having a real tomato this summer was having an heirloom toatoe served in an organic restaurant salad. It was nearly as tasty, soft and red.....good enough to eat. Oh to bring back the tomatoes of yesterday!
And deer: it is the season for wildanimals to cross the kingdom's roads without looking. A rather large wild turkey decided to stroll across one road, and nearly became a hood ornament. He was huge, dents and gunk would have resulted, but he finally stalked away. I am not interested in hunting or eating wild turkeys--just remove them from my vision! but deer! A coquettish doe enjoyed herself bouonding and leaping through newly cut hay fields: she was so entralled with her grace and rebound height that she neglected to see a large regal limosine coming at her, and nearly became a hood ornament of a totalled limo herself. Which is the leap and which is the bound. This doe, seen twice, dancing across fields, was clearly trying to catch the eye of the Bolshoi choreographer, and she was the best ballerina I have seen; graceful, steady and wonderfully high and long bounds through the sweet smelling grass. May she survive the fall, eat the flowers and hosta of the people on my secret list, and produce a fawn next spring!
the summer is over for hiking, country air, bugs and quiet living. It is back to the city where the main palace is located: noisy, crowded, multiethnic, full of construction, dust and street trash.(and a very weedy garden). A run of 4 day 90 degree weather days is ahead, and the weeds will stay right where they are!! But the end of summer once again reminds me of my youth and under 35 adulthood: fresh garden tomatoes. I fear these are items no longer available. I do not dream these tomatoes: they did exist, they were red throughout, juicy, tasty (something definitely missing) and reliable. At the end of those long ago summers, we (drones and the dictator) would wrap green and ripening tomatoes in newspaper and bring them home to a closet. They needed to be checked, but ripen they did, into late October! Everyday, one year, I had a large tomato for lunch. it was done, ofcourse, in the WASP style of mayonaise and sugar, and a fine meal it made.
today: tomatoes don't ripen, they have a white cardboard substance insteaad of red flesh inside. half the tomato is yellow or green and hard. sitting on countertops, dark closets or anywhere does not soften these plastic things: they just rot. Is this genetic engineering, bioethics, denial of memories and tastes past? the closest I came to having a real tomato this summer was having an heirloom toatoe served in an organic restaurant salad. It was nearly as tasty, soft and red.....good enough to eat. Oh to bring back the tomatoes of yesterday!
And deer: it is the season for wildanimals to cross the kingdom's roads without looking. A rather large wild turkey decided to stroll across one road, and nearly became a hood ornament. He was huge, dents and gunk would have resulted, but he finally stalked away. I am not interested in hunting or eating wild turkeys--just remove them from my vision! but deer! A coquettish doe enjoyed herself bouonding and leaping through newly cut hay fields: she was so entralled with her grace and rebound height that she neglected to see a large regal limosine coming at her, and nearly became a hood ornament of a totalled limo herself. Which is the leap and which is the bound. This doe, seen twice, dancing across fields, was clearly trying to catch the eye of the Bolshoi choreographer, and she was the best ballerina I have seen; graceful, steady and wonderfully high and long bounds through the sweet smelling grass. May she survive the fall, eat the flowers and hosta of the people on my secret list, and produce a fawn next spring!
Friday, August 20, 2010
August doldrums
it's been a while loyal followers: I've been hiking and away from the comforts benevolent dictators come to accept as daily life: good flush toilets, wifi, non mouldy carpet, dishes without chips and cracks.....I could go on, but the only person I am depressing is myself!
I must also confess to forgetting how to access my site. Now that I have regain that ability, I shall write more frequently.
In my advanced age of being a benevolent, kindly person, I conclude that small town life in remote areas is not for me full time! I have stopped looking for a rural castle/fiefdom: I want the comforts and high life of the city: medical, dental, grocery wise: I want it all.
Hiking every day, uphill both ways, is fun, and I realize that even with crown and robe and advanc ed age: I am a better hiked than 95% of the folks my age. (slight flab be damned). Everyone should walk more and eat fewer snack foods!
I must also confess to forgetting how to access my site. Now that I have regain that ability, I shall write more frequently.
In my advanced age of being a benevolent, kindly person, I conclude that small town life in remote areas is not for me full time! I have stopped looking for a rural castle/fiefdom: I want the comforts and high life of the city: medical, dental, grocery wise: I want it all.
Hiking every day, uphill both ways, is fun, and I realize that even with crown and robe and advanc ed age: I am a better hiked than 95% of the folks my age. (slight flab be damned). Everyone should walk more and eat fewer snack foods!
Tuesday, July 27, 2010
Recent Travels
Canada, the US of l950, including, and especially white bread foods, inordinate family time, lack of curiousity about the rest of the world, and eating peas on knives.
the dictator would like to offer Canadians the opportunity to see the rest of the world, to read and meet new folks so they know that there is something else to do in the winter besides TV and sno mobile. (and that twinkies are not a staple food).
They are too trusting in authority figures, and think their health system is worthwhile, in actuality it is severely restricting of patients rights to do an alternative to doctors' orders.
And, global warming prevented any icebergs in the Northern Atlantic this summer.....
the dictator would like to offer Canadians the opportunity to see the rest of the world, to read and meet new folks so they know that there is something else to do in the winter besides TV and sno mobile. (and that twinkies are not a staple food).
They are too trusting in authority figures, and think their health system is worthwhile, in actuality it is severely restricting of patients rights to do an alternative to doctors' orders.
And, global warming prevented any icebergs in the Northern Atlantic this summer.....
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