Kitchen Matters

There's little quite as satisfying these days as positive results from time spent in the kitchen, over the stove. I'm happy with cooking for myself and two burners going at once. Causes me to marvel at what mom did, cooking for various combinations of family, relatives and friends that might be present at any given time. The food preperation beforehand. Peeling, chopping, etc.. Managing all the burners plus the oven going at once. Timing it all out so it was all ready at the appointed moment. Seems like the efforts of a miracle worker. I can't imagine taking on the ultimate challenge of Thanksgiving or other holidays, especially for a group expecting big results, great taste and plenty of everything. What a skill to possess!!!

Yet mom enjoyed it all. It was obvious that as she grew older and lost the use of her hands, that she felt like she was letting us down when she could no longer cook for her kids. You could just sense it in her final years in the way she interacted with us. Losing something that brought her great joy and satisfaction. I hope she can see that in recent years, I've managed to find a few dishes that I can prepare and enjoy. That I'm not fast food dependent.

Return To The Wild

Watching the OPB airing of Return To The Wild - The Chris McCandless Story. I couldn't help but notice the parellels between his father and my own in their temper and anger often displayed towards their spouses. Brought back old fears and chills that in some ways still feel recent and fresh. I can't help but wonder also ..... About how he ended up alone in Alaska where his life ended and I've been alone all these years.

Buy Them The Parenting For Idiots Book

On the list of things that irritate me greatly .... Two 20 or 30-something moms load their highly energetic Billy and Johnny and Joshua and Brittany and Jessica, who all are six years old or younger into one van and go to the store. They then park as close as possible to the main pathway coming and going from the store's parking lot and stand talking outside their mini-van while all five screaming kids bounce up and down and run circles around the van, oblivious to all other traffic traveling every which way around them, one of which is myself attempting to navigate my way home through said parking lot. Then they decide to turn and walk into the traffic lanes without looking in any direction before doing so and with their manic rat pack still buzzing in circles all around them.

Makes me want to SCREAM!!!

Made It!!

Another birthday has passed. I'm so amazed and thankful to have made it to an age where I've personally known of so many people that didn't. The next one will be another milestone. I try not to think too much about the actual numbers but they do pop into my mind from time to time. How many people can boast that they've gone 59 years without a broken bone? Or have yet to have an overnight stay in the hospital besides the immediate days following their birth? That's up there with Joe DiMaggio's hitting streak and I want to keep it going for awhile!

Still springlike around here and people out and about town. I love the atmosphere while strolling around downtown. Found an old wood box for baseball cards at an antique shop. Can't wait to pick out cards to fill it up with.

More Notes and Observations

• Springlike in Oregon for the past week and days ahead. Had me checking for cherry blossoms. I almost feel guilty when hearing about all the snow that's been falling at similar Northeastern U.S. latitudes.
•  I've taken note over the past year, of changes in what I look forward to daily. I'm finding that what I primarily want to do nowadays is get home from work, stay home, watch a movie or two, add content to my several ongoing attempts at blogging, listen to music occasionally and sleep. That understandably coincides with my increasing agitation at so much that I see when out and about.
• Mainly I desire to outlive the coming of "The Big One" .... forecasted N.W. earthquake that is.
• I'm extremely thankful for the years 1935-1965. There would be a lack of good movies if not for those times. And also a lack of good, bad movies. Like the classic, "Plan 9 From Outer Space.
• The NBA All Star game .... Why bother any more? 133 three point attempts taken. That's a joke. It makes a mockery of the game. The way they go up and down shooting three pointers and uncontested alley-oopps and no defense being played, each team should have scored 200 points. Saw a replay of the 1993 game a few days ago. At least there was effort there. It wasn't a total mockery. The players from that era must shake their heads at what it's devolved into. Why can't the people in charge of the league see it? How about skipping it for a few years? See if that changes anything. I hear there's a campaign to get a game in Portland. Portland organizers should drop the thought. Who wants to be affiliated with that fiasco? I can't imagine paying $100-$200 for a seat (or whatever a ticket price would be) and actually feeling afterwards like I was entertained. Hope you're feeling proud NBA!

Just My Humble Opinion

I generally don't get into things like politics or religion with anyone in any sort of forum but one thing that I do believe is that these people who claim to be "reborn" and now living the life that God wants for them while admitting to a previous lifetime of questionable behavior, that they have any right to attempt to judge any person who has steered clear of the same questionable behaviors over their respective lifetime. Just because you have kicked your abuse of drugs and claim to be reborn, doesn't give you freedom to question another person. Don't attempt to question or criticize another's political and social beliefs. Worry instead about keeping yourself clean.

Art Book Find

Stumbled upon this great little book full of images of the artist's works. Bright, colorful and fascinating visuals ......

Sudden Feeling

Memories tonight (for no obvious reason) of a dream I've experienced more than once where I'm in the last days of high school and there's two or three classes that I've failed to attend for weeks and the frightening realization that I might not graduate. Then waking up and a huge, extended sigh of relief recalling all those years ago and that I did in fact graduate. Though I had to go glance at the diploma just for reassurance sake.

Stuff On My Mind As Another Birthday Nears

Getting closer to another birthday that I never could imagine reaching in my younger days. Thoughts:

• Wish that I had an ounce of painting talent. Seems to me to be such a magical and satisfying thing, creating art in that manner. Moreso than writing or music. 
• My evolution into Howard Hughes / Howie Mandell territory continues. There's just certain things I now refuse to do without washing my hands. And certain things I really dread doing like shaking hands with someone. I can see a day where I will actually refuse.
• Excited beforehand for coming home from work to a three-game night, Blazers, Ducks and Beavers all playing basketball. Then I end up sleeping through 95% of it. It's been a developing trend over the past year. A symptom I fear of getting older.
• Another trend ..... walking through the dvd/blue-ray sections of stores and spoting all these titles of various television programs and it's, "The Complete Seventh Season" ...... and I've never heard of the show. 
• I'm armed with all this vacation time at work and I just can't seem to decide to use more than a day at a time here and there. That certainly wasn't a problem years ago. Now though, I feel like I have to be there when I'm in a position where someone else has to cover for me if I'm away. I wish one or two of those people would walk up to me and say convincingly: "Hey take a week or two off whenever you desire and don't worry about inconveniencing  me." They certainly don't seem to suffer from the same issues when it comes to using their vacation time and it's me doing the covering.
• Downtown Salem is developing into ...... well a real downtown. I love some of what I've seen open up lately and some of what I hear is coming soon. I've always wanted to live long enough to see a foot bridge from Riverfront Park to Minto Brown and construction is finally about to start. Let me walk across it a few times and then I might be ready to pass away happily. (I used the word "might" in hopes that the thought wouldn't turn into a self fullfilling prophecy.

Not Just Another Dream

The dream seemed so real. Engaged in conversation with a beautiful television national news personality. In the comfort of home. Sitting closely together on the couch. Just talking like old friends and enjoying the company. Maybe growing closer? No beginning or ending, it just started up in mid-conversation. Then after a few moments, it was over. I wanted to go back to sleep and resume the chat but as far as I'm aware, you can't just conjure up these things.

What is it that causes some dreams to be pleasant and other not so pleasant? And what factors dictate when specific dreams materialize? In my case, it's certainly not what's been on my mind in a given day or week. The dreams come and go so randomly.