Somewhere - Barbra Streisand

 Starting off my week with a little inspiration from the divine Ms. Streisand.  A beautiful rendition of a classic musical theatre song.  Enjoy!

A Dream Home

Realistically, I know that I will probably never live in my dream home.  But let me tell you, it's fun to dream.  And while most people these days love the modern conveniences of new construction, I still cling to the old styles.  Shocking, I know.  Even if I won the lottery and built a home, I would make sure it had the feeling and the master carpentry of an old home.  I love to fantasize about what my dream home would be like.  I cannot put it down to one specific style because I'll see a Victorian house that I love but then I'll see a 1940's bungalow that I think is perfect.  Anyway, here are things that I would love to have in my one day dream home.  

1. Individual rooms - when I say that I do not like open floor plans, I mean that for my taste.  While it works for other people, it's not for me.  If someone gave me a house with an open floor plan, my first thing would be to section it off into rooms LOL  I like the idea of individual spaces within a home.  Sometimes I just like to go into a room and know that I'm in a specific space that has a specific purpose.  And sometimes you just need to shut yourself away from everything for a little while and an open floor plan does not really allow for that.

2. Formal Dining Room - This is a must.  If you know me, I love to use my dining room and I will not live in a house without one.  Not a dining "area" but it has to have a dining room.  End of discussion.  Haha!

3. Glass Cabinets - Grandmother had glass cabinets in her breakfast room and I just love the look of them.  One of the houses I rented years ago had them in the kitchen.  I love the way they look and it makes finding things so much easier.  

4. Knotty Pine - this is not to everyone's taste, but I absolutely love knotty pine.  I think that it gives a room a certain air of comfort.  My current den has knotty pine and I find it so cozy.  Aunt Billie's den also was constructed of knotty pine and that was one of my favorite rooms in her home.  I see it being in a den or study of some kind, but I do want to have some. 

5. Pocket Doors - I love the idea of pocket doors.  The door to my bathroom is a pocket door.  I just think they are a neat and very convenient type of door.  

6. Pantry - this is also a must have for me.  You know how much I love to cook and having a pantry would be amazing.  None of the houses from my childhood really had a pantry but they did have lots of cabinets.  Aunt Sara's house did have two closets in the dining room that she used for pantry, so I suppose that counts some.  But I would love to have a place to store not only food staples but also cooking equipment. 

7. Sunroom - I love this idea of a sunroom.  I guess it would be more like an enclosed porch of some kind but to have one room with lots of light would be wonderful.  Brighter colors and carefully chosen plants.  A place to have some coffee and just relax and look at the outdoors.  I love rooms like this when it rains, too.  Maybe have a tin roof over the sunroom. 

8. Front Hall - I just love an entry hall on a house.  I think it sets the tone for the rest of the home.  Whether it is a smaller room like the one in our house in Monroe or Aunt Sara's, or a big open hallway with a staircase like Aunt Billie's, it is something I would love to have.

9. Screened in Porch - To be able to sit outside and not be bothered with bugs is a great thing.  Or to sit outside when it's raining.  I love the practicality of a screened in porch.  And it can be in front or in back.  Or on the side. It's all good to me.

10. Built in Bookcases - I want built in bookcases in the den/library/study.  I think they add a lot to a room.  I also have amassed a nice book collection that I could probably fill those shelves without any issue!  And if not with books, then I have plenty of knick knacks LOL  A built in bookcase would be nice in the kitchen for all of my cookbooks.  Now, I don't want built in cabinets in the dining room.  I like the look of a stand alone china cabinet.  But bookcases, most definitely!

Whether or not this will ever come true, it's fun to think about!

Autumn

 It has officially been autumn for a few weeks now.  Here in Greensboro, it is finally starting to feel like.  The air is cooler and crisper.  I wake up in the morning and am happy to have the blankets on my bed. I enjoy these colder mornings.  It makes the coffee taste better.  Autumn was always Mom's favorite season and the older I get it is becoming one of mine as well.  There is something very nostalgic to me about autumn.  It is the one season where I feel like the page is turning in my book of life.  I love seeing the leaves turn but you have to pay attention to them.  You blink and they are no longer on the tree but in crumpled piles on the ground. While I do not find raking the fallen leaves very fun, I find the idea of that very sentimental.  It's part of autumn. But believe me, if you spent your childhood raking and gathering gum balls, autumn yard work is hardly an ideal!

Fall means soup weather to me.  While I can make and have made soup all year long, there is something about eating homemade soup in the fall that is simply magical. Growing up, I don't recall eating soup during warm weather unless I was sick and then it was Campbell's chicken noodle soup.  Mom would make and can soup in the summer in anticipation of the colder months.  I love making soup and have so many great soup recipes that I look forward to this time of year to really get the most out of my soups. Autumn also means the coming of Thanksgiving, another big food tradition.  The memories of Thanksgivings I have had fill my heart at this time of year.  In addition to autumn being Mom's favorite season, Thanksgiving was her favorite holiday.  She looked forward to that every year.  Being surrounded by friends and family and gathering together to share the day meant the world to her.  And she loved hosting it with Grandmother.  Those were grand times.

Growing up, autumn meant packing away your summer clothes and taking out the winter ones.  No more shorts and tee shirts outside.  Time for jeans and sweaters.  How I love a good sweater. I used to have so many of them.  I either wore them out or outgrew them.  I still have a few sweaters that I cherish and still wear.  Autumn meant Friday night football games.  We went almost every Friday.  Once Bill and I were in the marching band, at different times, going to the football games was a staple of our lives.  In October, that was always followed by a Saturday marching band competition. We rarely came in first but it was always fun. And the fall festivals.  There was always a fall festival at school.  It was almost as if that was part of the curriculum.  These days, fall festivals have bled over into the community a lot more than when I was growing up.  And these can be such fun to go to.  A good way to support local businesses. 

Autumn is such a wonderful time of year.  With a lot of the things going on in the world, I am determined to make the most of my autumn and create wonderful memories to carry with me the rest of my days.  That is all. 

The Green Glass Flower Bowl

 

This is a piece that I got from Grandmother when I was a teenager and first discovering my love for antiques.  I would spend hours going through cabinets and drawers in her house to see all of the treasures that were there.  This was one that I found tucked away in a breakfast room cabinet.  She never used it.  Well, that is to say she had not used it in many, many years.  And, of course, I asked her if I could have it.  I loved and still love anything that is green.  It's my favorite color.

This is called a flower bowl.  I cannot imagine exactly how you would arrange flowers in it, but I guess with the assistance of a flower frog it would be possible.  But I love the design, and it seems to be sandwich glass. I have always had it on display in my various homes as it brings me comfort and I enjoy its color so much. I have even used it as a serving dish, and it has worked out quite well.  Now, it sits in my den, and I see it every day.  Who knows?  I may arrange flowers in it one day. Why not?  That would do Grandmother proud!

Collecting Stickers

 One of the things that I miss about childhood, among so many other things, is collecting stickers.  That was such great fun when I was a kid.  And one of the things that was so great about it is that everyone did it and it was a wonderful way to be included.  After all, when we're kids, being included is very important. Not that it isn't important as an adult, but I feel like it's different for children. In school, getting a sticker was often an important prize given away.  And usually, it was a scratch and sniff sticker.  The main ones I remember were round shaped and came in multiple scents.  One was grape and one was popcorn.  Those were my favorite two.

Having a sticker book was also something that most every child had.  After all, you had to have a place to put your stickers. I had many of them throughout the years.  And I will bet you that I still have many of them out in a box somewhere.  We would often get together as kids and trade stickers.  There were different levels of importance for stickers.  If you had a sticker that someone wanted, you then held all of the cards and could get multiple stickers in exchange.  I remember that there was a sticker of Fifi the lamb from Hello Kitty that was very rare, and we all wanted it.  Whoever was in possession could get just about any other sticker he/she wanted.  And did.  

Stickers were also a staple as a birthday gift.  And there were all kinds.  Remember puffy stickers?  And then scratch and sniff?  I also remember there being stickers you could color. They were often themed with whatever toys were popular that week and came with special crayons designed specifically to color the stickers.  It was always great fun to open up the birthday gift and see stickers there.  We used to go to the Hallmark store in the mall to buy stickers.  They would have kiosks throughout the store, those circular metal racks that would spin, that held packets of stickers.  They often came in sets of 2 to 4 pages.  The pages were not always the same in the pack either but even if they were, it made for good trading.  The motherload of stickers were at the back of the store.  There was a section of the back wall in Hallmark that was all things stickers. What joy it was to thumb through the different sections and find just the right pack of stickers to buy.  Those were good times.

I think I need to find my stickers again and see what condition they're in.  Who knows?  I may take up the hobby again.  It brings me joy so why not?  It's the little things!

Quote of the Week

 

This one just speaks to me this morning.  A good plan to navigate the week ahead.

Daily Challenge for October

 

October is going to be about self-care for me. When I was in school over the past decade, almost all of my professors were huge advocates of self-care. And it makes perfect sense.  When you work in the humanities, you give a lot of yourself, but you also need to take a break and rejuvenate.  If I am not good to myself, I will not really be good to other people.  So, this month my daily challenge is to take time each day to do something for myself.  It can be something big or something small. But it needs to be something to make myself happy.  I tend to live my life at the mercy of other people.  By that I mean that things that I do are usually following the leads of other people, especially when it comes to my free time.  I need to start putting myself first before I begin to feel resentful all around.  Today, I will be attending the UNCG production of Sweeney Todd with two close friends.  I love going to the theatre and this will be something that I can do for myself.  I am looking forward to not only seeing the show but taking the time to do something for me.  Let's hope I can keep this up!

Recipe of the Week - Macaroni Salad

 

There are so many variations of macaroni salad out there. I love a good macaroni salad and will always be willing to try a new recipe for it.  This is one that I found in Mom's recipe box.  I don't ever remember her making it but that does not mean she didn't.  And I love that the card is written in her handwriting.  It is a simple recipe but very refreshing.  I really enjoyed this one and will definitely make it again.  I hope you like it too!

Macaroni Salad

1 16oz box of macaroni

1 small onion, chopped

1/2 green pepper, chopped

1 tomato, chopped

1 cucumber, sliced

Pickles*

Mayonnaise 

Salt and Pepper

Celery Seed

Cook pasta according to directions.  Drain and set aside.  Once the macaroni has cooled, add vegetables to the pasta in a large bowl.  Add enough mayonnaise to bind the ingredients together.  Add salt and pepper to taste.  Mom recommended lots of pepper.  Then 3 dashes of celery seed.  Stir to combine and serve.  It is good at both room temperature and chilled.

*Mom's recipe says to add pickles if desired, but she did not specify if it was a dill pickle or sweet salad cubes or pickle relish.  I opted for dill pickle.  I quartered and chopped one large dill pickle and added to the salad. 

Prayer for the strength to survive

 This should be an everyday prayer for me!

Feed the Birds - Julie Andrews

 Riding the wave of Julie Andrews birthday yesterday, here is one of my favorite songs from Mary Poppins.  A beautiful and haunting song that was one of Walt Disney's favorites.  He would often ask the composers to play it for no other reason than he loved it so.  I can understand why!  Enjoy!

10 Favorite Julie Andrews movies

 In honor of today being Julie Andrews's 90th birthday, I am thinking of all of the wonderful films she made and the happiness she has brought into people's lives, especially mine!  Here are 10 of my favorite Julie Andrews films in no particular order.  I have included several of her television movies as well. If you have not seen any of these, I highly recommend them! (Descriptions courtesy of IMDB.com) 

1. Thoroughly Modern Millie

In New York City during the Roaring Twenties, would-be flapper Millie Dillmount's self-appointed mission to marry her boss is complicated by white slavers and true love.

2. Mary Poppins

In turn of the century London, a magical nanny employs music and adventure to help two neglected children become closer to their father.

3. Victor Victoria

A struggling female soprano in 1934 Paris finally finds work after posing as a female impersonator, but it complicates her personal life when a visiting Chicago gangster finds himself inexplicably attracted to the seemingly male performer.

4. The Americanization of Emily

An American Naval Officer's talent for living the good life in wartime is challenged when he falls in love and is sent on a dangerous mission.

5. Cinderella

Although mistreated by her cruel Stepmother (Ilka Chase) and stepsisters Portia (Kaye Ballard) and Joy (Alice Ghostley), Cinderella (Dame Julie Andrews) is able to attend the royal ball through the help of a Fairy Godmother (Edie Adams).

6. The Princess Diaries

Mia Thermopolis has just found out that she is the heir apparent to the throne of Genovia. With her friends Lilly and Michael Moscovitz in tow, she tries to navigate through the rest of her sixteenth year

7. Our Sons

Donald is a young man dying of AIDS. His lover, James, asks his mother to go to Fayetteville, Arkansas and tell Donald's mother, who has been estranged from her son for years.

8. Darling Lili

Set during World War I, this movie is a cute spin on the Mata Hari legend.

9. One Special Night

Two strangers take refuge in a small cabin during a stormy winter night and, despite their differences, or perhaps because of them, they are undeniably drawn to one another in this holiday classic.

10. The Sound of Music

A young novice is sent by her convent in 1930s Austria to become a governess to the seven children of a widowed naval officer.

Recipe of the Week - Pistachio Walnut Cake

 Pistachio is a flavor that I often forget that I enjoy and I have not had much of it as an adult.  Growing up, there were always pistachios around at the holidays.  Pistachio ice cream was often in our freezer and, of course, Watergate salad was something Grandmother would make from time to time.  One day while I was grocery shopping, I threw a couple of boxes of pistachio pudding mix into my cart thinking I would do something with them.  Then I came across this recipe online and thought I would give it a try.  I really liked the way this cake turned out and my friends who tried it also gave it a thumbs up!  I hope you enjoy it.  It's easy and tastes delicious!

Pistachio Walnut Cake

1 (15.25 oz) box of yellow cake mix

2 (3.4oz) boxes of instant pistachio pudding

1 cup sour cream

1/2 cup vegetable oil

4 eggs

1/2 cup packed brown sugar

1/2 cup chopped walnuts

1 tsp cinnamon

Preheat oven to 350.  Grease and flour a bundt pan.  In a medium bowl, stir together cake mix and pudding.  Add sour cream, oil and eggs.  Mix well.  Pour half the batter into the bundt pan.  Combine brown sugar, walnuts and cinnamon.  Sprinkle over batter in pan.  Cover with remaining batter.  Bake for 1 hour.  Cool on wire rack.  

This batter is going to be very stiff so don't let that worry you!

Processing and moving forward

 This past weekend as I was going through another box of stuff from my garage, I came across my high school annuals. As I thumbed through them, they brought back a lot of memories, both good and bad. It was fun to see the pictures of old friends and how we have changed over the years and how we haven't really changed over the years. But this time, going through them brought some things to the surface that I need to process. 

Struggling with my sexuality during my teenage years was incredibly hard for me.  I was having to hide who I was because at that time it was still a very much taboo thing to be gay. And, the thing is, most everyone knew it deep down or at least suspected it.  Still, in that process of not being myself, I did hurt other people because I was deflecting the situation in my mind. I did not know about some of these hurts until decades later when I was confronted with some of them and it really blew my mind.  It really never occurred to me that this journey I was on not only affected me but other people.  It makes sense looking back now, but at the time I was only focused on myself. 

Looking back through these annuals, I now realize that there were others that got their feelings hurt because of my journey and I am truly sorry for that.  I don't know if I will ever get the chance to express that in real time, face to face, but I am finally expressing it openly that I regret having done that.  I'm not saying that I would go back and change it, because it was how I had to deal with it at the time.  But I do feel badly about how that affected others when I look back on it.  Ah, well.  I really cannot do anything to change it but I can accept it, process it and move forward.  That is all. 

My 10 Favorite Rides at Disney World

 There is not any doubt that I love going to Disney World.  Granted, I have not been a lot but each time I love it.  It has been 10 years since I have been there.  Michael took me there on spring break for my 40th birthday.  We had a blast, and it was a wonderful trip! I hope I get to go again sometime in the next decade LOL We shall see.  But here is my list of my favorite 10 rides from Disney World in no particular order. BTW, I chose rides only for this and not attractions like Country Bear Jamboree and Carousel of Progress. What are some of your favorite rides?

1. Big Thunder Mountain Railroad

2. Pirates of the Caribbean

3. The Haunted Mansion

4. Seven Dwarfs Mine Train

5. Dumbo

6. Jungle Cruise

7. Under the Sea

8. It's a Small World

9. Peter Pan

10. Mad Tea Party

One Drawer at a Time - Bedroom update

 

The next part of the bedroom that I tackled was the closet.  And, let me tell you, it was packed to the brim with stuff.  Unfortunately, it is mostly stuff that I am going to keep because I either use it, wear it, or it has much sentimental value.  I did go through all of my hanging clothes to see what I could no longer wear and donated that to a yard sale they were having at work.  Thankfully it was not too much this time, so I hope that means the weight gain has levelled off for a while!

But my biggest problem with the closet was the organization or lack thereof.  That became my primary goal with the closet.  And it worked. I was able to condense things and put like things together.  There were many things that I'd forgotten that I had but now I know they are there and can find them much more easily than before.  That is if I can remember LOL  Still, it looks much better than it did and I feel good about the progress I have been making.  

I do not have much left in the bedroom and that is a good thing.  The next room will be the living room which should not be too bad at all either.  It's a good process and I am able to purge things that still have some life left in them.  And it keeps me occupied and gives me something to do.  That is all. 

50 at 50....another week has gone by LOL

 I haven't done much on my 50 at 50 list this week.  I know you're all surprised by that LOL  But I still enjoy having this list and knowing it's there gives me something to look forward to.  I did try a few new recipes this week:  Boursin chicken with orzo and spinach and a picante peach pork.  Both crock pot recipes that were very good and definitely keepers!  I will put the recipes on here later on for sure.  I have also been looking at the documents I need for my passport application.  I never realized that getting a copy, an official copy that is, of my birth certificate would be so involved.  And thanks to all of this "real ID" mess, it is going to take 4 times as long.  But, oh well.  It's not like I'm going anywhere anytime soon.  I don't even have a real ID yet, so that is also on my list.  I do not have any out of country travel plans any time soon, but I want to have the option available if the opportunity arises!

I also started looking up local(ish) marching band competitions.  Now that fall is upon us, it is that time of year.  And there are a lot more around the state than I anticipated.  Hopefully I will find one that is not too far from Greensboro and make a day of it.  We shall see.  There's still so much to do on my list but so much to look forward to.  I don't mind carrying it into year 51.  It's nice to make plans!  That is all. 

Ways to Save Money

 I am doing my best to increase my savings but that is easier said than done.  On the one hand, I am happy that I have something in savings for when life happens and I need a little extra to get me through.  On the other hand, it gets frustrating when life happens and I need to dip into the savings.  And life has been happening a lot lately.  Overall, though, I am still very pleased that I can take care of myself financially right now.  That is pretty awesome in my eyes.  And hopefully down the road, that will increase. 

I am always looking at ways to save money.  I have really curbed my extra spending.  When I get out and go to antiques malls and estate sales, I rarely buy anything anymore unless it is for someone else. I am always Christmas shopping!  I used to just buy whatever because I thought it was nice but I don't do that anymore really.  I have always cut way back on online shopping for myself.  As much as I love Ebay and have found great things there, I can go months now without buying anything there.  But there have been some real temptations there.  But I stayed strong.

I also have changed some of my grocery shopping habits.  I now go into the grocery store with a very specific list and, for the most part, I stick to that list.  I will, though, peruse the meats on sale and snag things that are good deals, but not always.  I will also give myself one or two impulse purchases when I'm there as long as I don't overspend. Because I love my grocery shopping and cooking, I rarely eat out anymore.  While I think it is great and important to support local businesses, I am very picky about where I go and how often.  If I eat out once a month, that's a lot for me. I used to eat out all the time.  Being single helps with not eating out a lot but that's for another blog LOL

Thinking about shopping, with Christmas coming up, I have decided to limit the amount of money I spend on gifts.  I have found some very great deals with this in mind and now I am always on the lookout for sales and clearance racks.  You never know what you're going to find there that will come in handy later as a gift.  As much as I love gift giving, it is just as important not to break the bank for the sake of holiday cheer, ya know?

I would love to know what some of your ways are in which to save money.  I am always looking for new ideas!  That is all. 

Recipe of the Week - Chinese Beef Casserole

 I do love a good casserole, and this recipe fits that bill.  I found this recipe in the 1982 cookbook "A Cook's Tour of the Azalea Coast" that was published by the Auxiliary to the New Hanover, Pender, Brunswick County Medical Society.  I love these kinds of regional cookbooks, and I have collected more than my share over the years.  This particular one belonged to Mom and was most likely a gift from one of our relatives who lived in Wilmington. 

I have only made this casserole once, but I really did enjoy it. Of course, it is not authentic Chinese but because it has been sprouts and soy sauce in it, it is labeled Chinese.  Still, it is a good casserole and like most casseroles, it is better the next day.  Enjoy!

Chinese Beef Casserole

I pound ground beef

2 cups onion, chopped

2 cups celery, chopped

1/2 cup uncooked rice

1 10.5 ounce can cream of mushroom soup

1 soup can of water

1 16 ounce can of bean sprouts, drained

1/2 cup soy sauce

1 4 ounce can of mushrooms, drained

Preheat oven to 325 degrees. Brown beef in a large skillet. Drain.  Mix all ingredients together and turn into a large casserole dish.  Cover and bake for 2 hours.  Serves 6 to 8.

Student Adventures - Networking

 Now that I have my degree, one of the things that I want to really start working on is networking.  I have said this before, but many advances in gerontology careers come because of who you know, not necessarily the degree itself. Although, having the degree is an asset as well.  One thing I want to do, in general as well as because of networking, is volunteering.  That will not only get my name and face out there more, but it will also give me some more hands-on experience.  And hands-on experience is also something that I need and want more of.  Now, I just need to really explore the opportunities that are out there for volunteers as far as working with older adults go.  I know that they are out there, no doubt.  It's just a matter of me doing it!

I am also applying for jobs, which will be good for networking as well.  So far, I have had two interviews for two different positions.  While I may not make the cut as far as those jobs go, getting myself out there in this way is definitely a good thing.  I have had, luckily, two great experiences and met some awesome people in the process.  While I do not necessarily want to leave the job I am in now, I do want to be able to put this degree to better use and getting myself into the job market and meeting people who have connections can only be beneficial.  While I may not be right for a specific job, the person interviewing me might remember me when something else comes along.  You never know.

It's both strange and pretty wonderful to be on this side of my degree. I am really looking forward to seeing what my life as someone with a master's will bring me.  That is all. 

Escapades in Adulting - Paying Bills

 

One of the inevitable things that comes with adulthood is paying bills.  So much fun!!!  I never really got a good handle on that for years as a young adult.  I wish we could have had some life experience classes in high school to prepare me a little better.  Ah, well.  Still, when I was in my 20s and early 30s, paying bills was something I was not good at.  And I was worse at budgeting!  However, through a series of financial mishaps, I have learned how to better pay attention to my bills and try my best to actually stick to a budget.  

I actually now look forward to making my monthly financial plans.  I am now at a point where I pay my bills well in advance most of the time.  Sometimes, however, I do forget, and they creep up with some kind of reminder to pay them. I am proud to say that I have not paid a bill late since I have been single.  Now that may not seem like much of an accomplishment to most people, but it is huge to me.  Knowing that I could live on my own and take care of my own finances is pretty satisfying.  I do have a roommate now and he contributes each month his half of everything, which is good because more utilities are being used LOL

I have also started paying more than is due on some of my bills.  I know that may sound crazy but let me tell you, it isn't.  While I have a credit card that always has a minimum payment due, I always pay more than that so that I can slowly chip away at that one.  But I am on several equal monthly payment plans.  They are very helpful when it comes to my monthly budget, but at the end of the 12 months sometimes there is a HUGE balance due.  I do not want to deal with that again so now each month I pay more than the monthly amount to give myself credit.  That way, when the balance becomes due, it will not take such an enormous piece out of my paycheck. 

It's just interesting to me in life now that at one point paying bills was something to dread and I often avoided it. Nowadays, I enjoy paying bills and doing the math and making sure everything is set.  It's these little things as an adult that I find satisfying.  That is all. 

Playing different sized handbells

 One of the things that I look forward to when I start playing handbells again, whenever that may be, is to not play the big bells.  There's absolutely nothing wrong with the big bells and I have definitely enjoyed playing them but the next time I just need something different.  Part of that reason is because I like the variety of the bells.  You can use different techniques better the higher up you go. The difference between shaking a high c and shaking a low c bell is quite different.  Another reason, and here's a sign of age, is that those huge bells wreak havoc on my shoulders.  And I don't have good shoulders anymore.  Not that I ever really did LOL But it simply hurts too much to try and ring those bells, especially with an up-tempo piece.

When I was in high school and played in the adult handbell choir, I loved it.  At that time, you could have put me anywhere in the choir and I would have loved it.  But I was always in the bass section of the choir, which was fine.  I stood in between Jan and Cam.  We had a blast!! I wouldn't trade that for anything in the world. We were more than just a handbell choir, we were all friends and I have remained close with many of the members of that choir.  When I played in a choir several years ago, I enjoyed it but it was not quite the same experience as far as camaraderie goes.  I know that part of the reason is because this was during the pandemic.  We were separated, socially distanced, in the rehearsal room so getting to know people was not that easy.  I was actually ringing in the same position as I had in high school.  I was ringing the next to lowest bells.  And the guy who rang the lowest bells, to be honest, was a complete snobbish asshole towards me.  He spoke to me once and that was only because Doug, our minister of music, forced him to introduce himself to me.  That was our lone communication for the entire season.  Luckily, everyone else was very friendly.  

Anyways, the next time I get the opportunity to ring, I'm going higher.  Now I just need to seek out that opportunity.  That is all. 

Being remembered

 It is always nice to know when I've made a difference in someone's life at work.  I love my residents.  We all love our residents.  It's even our motto at work:  Making a Difference Every Day. I have to say this every time I answer the phone but that is something for another blog. However, there will always be residents that we connect to more than others.  One of mine was a resident named Nancy.  Nancy and I just clicked.  She could be very particular, and some would label her as difficult, but I did not.  She was a resident that was going to get exactly what she paid for.  And if she did not get that, then she was going to call us out on it.  I totally get that.

One day Nancy and I started talking about antiques.  She had one of the most beautiful writing desks in her living room. One day when I was in her apartment I commented on it, and we just started talking about antiques and everything went from there. It became one of our things.  I got to know her daughter and son-in-law pretty well over the years.  They would come to visit several times each week.  Well, Nancy ended up needing more care and eventually moved to another community. 

Several weeks ago, I received a call from one of Nancy's relatives.  Of course, my mind went to the worst possible scenario and was prepared to hear that Nancy had passed away.  When you work in senior living, this is not an uncommon occurrence, so my reaction is not out of the ordinary. Thankfully, this was not the case.  She was calling because Nancy was going to be having her 100th birthday party.  I was one of the people at Heritage Greens that she wanted to attend the party.  That made my day.  The fact that she remembered me and wanted me there to celebrate her life.  It reminded me that my job is not just a job. These connections are important, and they last beyond someone's time at our community.

So, this afternoon, I will drive to Brookdale and help Nancy and her family celebrate Nancy's 100th birthday. I am sure I will run into other people from my job because many of us made a difference. It was good for me to know that what I do does impact other people in a good way and they appreciate me as much as I appreciate them.  That is all. 

Video Stores

 In this age of at your fingers technology, one thing that I really miss is going to a video store to rent movies. Kids today just do not know that joy and sometimes that heartache when the movie you want to see is sold out.  Movies were categorized so you could go directly to the section you wanted to and browse.  Early on when we first got our VCR in December 1986, most video stores in Monroe were "mom and pop" stores.  They were locally owned, obviously, and usually were in a building that once housed something else before it.  Rarely did they build their own stores.  I remember that even our local drug store had a video rental section which we used.

We finally got a Blockbuster Video when I was in high school.  It was at the end of a strip mall that was across the street from Monroe Mall.  Harris Teeter was in that strip mall and many times Mom would do the grocery shopping and send me down to Blockbuster to get some movies for us.  And then, in college, I worked for a video store here in Greensboro.  It was a locally owned place named Video Review.  It was a very cool store and they carried movies you would not find anywhere else.  Jim, who owned the store along with his wife, Jan, would get many independent titles that places like Blockbuster and Hollywood Video did not carry.  We had tons or regular customers, and the prices were great.  Friday and Saturday nights were nuts. And this store had an adult video section which was right down the middle of the store.  I never understood how that was legal but oh well.

It was just so much fun to get to select your own movie to watch.  Getting your own video rental card was a rite of passage in our teenage years. I saw so many great ones throughout the years because I rented them.  Now, it's another reason to get a library card so that I can simulate renting videos at the store.  It's just something that I did with friends and created many good memories along the way.  I miss those times.  That is all. 

Around the House - The Daffodil Plate

 It is no secret that I love yellow flowers.  It is my absolute favorite color of bloom there is.  And, honestly, it does not matter to me what kind of flower it is if it's yellow. I love yellow roses and yellow irises. So it is a given that I love daffodils.  I think they are just beautiful and a lovely sign of spring to me. When I go antiquing, I am always on the lookout for pieces decorated with yellow flowers.  I have lucked out several times and gotten some beautiful pieces at good prices.  This plate I found on one of my trips to Twin Deer Antiques in High Point.  

I saw it and was immediately drawn to it.  But yellow flowers are not on my antiques bucket list, so they become subject to antiques shopping routine.  If I have not discussed this before, when I go to an antiques store I will walk around the entire store before putting anything in my basket. That way, at least in my mind, if something catches my eye and it is still there on my second spin around the store then I can take it home with me. I don't always buy the pieces even if they are still there, but that's my rule.  And that is what happened with this hand painted German plate. I believe I paid $15 for it and I think it's simply beautiful.  I have had it in several places around the house but right now it's on a table in my den.  

If you see something you like and it makes you happy, then treat yourself.  It's good for the soul. 

Recipe of the Week - Green Bean Salad

 Canned green beans are a staple in my pantry.  I always have them on hand for cooking with.  So, I am always on the lookout for new ways to prepare them. I came across this easy recipe online and tried it.  It's so simple but delicious.  And it is a good way for me to use up things that I have on hand.  It is something you can prepare the day before and it will be even better.  Hope you enjoy!

Green Bean Salad

2-3 cans of green beans, drained

Thin sliced red onion

Italian Dressing

Mix all ingredients together and chill.  That's it!

Escapades in Adulting - cancelled driving destinations

 

I have not had much luck with driving any sort of distance lately.  Maybe there is some kind of automotive force looking down on me and saying, "Not today, Bob." And when you drive in a vehicle that has no air conditioning, after a few hours it really sucks.  When we grow into adult children, it is often our responsibility to take our parents places like the doctor.  They did that for us and now we do that for them.  It's a part of life that I don't mind at all helping with.  I do not get to do it that often as Dad and June live two hours from me and most often her daughter takes them.  Well, this past month there were two times that it was my intention to be help out and be a part of the process.  Neither time did it work out.  Let me say, though, that it was never a car issue that got in the way.  It was something else.

Several weeks ago, I was to meet Dad and June and her daughter at Dad's heart doctor to go over the results of his most recent scan.  It made more sense for me to meet them there in Raleigh than to drive to Angier and then on to Raleigh.  Since Melissa, June's daughter, would be driving them there.  If you know me at all, you know I am not a fan of the interstate, but I'll drive it if I have to. And driving on the beltline in Raleigh is no picnic either.  But I did it.  I left early just in case I got lost.  Thank heavens I did not.  But, as soon as I pulled into the parking lot and parked my car, the phone rang.  It was Dad.  They had just received word that his appointment was now going to be via phone instead of in person.  The doctor had an emergency surgery situation come up. While it was predicting good news since they could do it over the phone, it sucked for me because I would not be able to get to his house in time for the call.  And to be honest, I did not want to sit in my car for 1.5 hours waiting on that.  So, I drove back home.  No air conditioning and all.

Sunday, I drove to Angier because Dad needed me to take him for cataract surgery Monday morning.  I will admit that the drive to Angier is much more pleasant, and I'll take a highway over an interstate any day! We had a good visit, and I brought some food for them like I'm trying to do more of when I see them.  Unfortunately, Dad started to not feel well overnight, so he ended up cancelling the surgery. I totally understand and so did his eye doctor.  But, once again, I got in my car and drove back to Greensboro never having seen any of his doctors LOL I'm so hoping that this is not going to be an ongoing pattern when I'm trying my best to be a responsible adult.  Even if it is, I will deal with it.  It's what I have to do.  That is all.