It's official. We have been led astray by the the velvet voiced Karen from Australia and Jill from the good old U S of A. All over the "little" peninsulas due north of Traverse City. Did you know they make WINE up there? Right, we didn't either : ). But Karen our traveling vixen knew and led us to one improbable bucolic setting after another, where we discovered, much to our amazement, that Michigan grows grapes!!! And, and, and, we make nectar from these grapes!!!!
Ooh Ooh just one little taste. I promise I won't buy anymore unless it's something very extraordinary and different. Wrong. Bought from every one. And I am happy. No wait, did not buy at Shady Lane Cellars located in the "spectacular, refurbished cobblestone chicken coop". No doubt the ordure overwhelmed the odor. Did buy a totally appropriate tee shirt proclaiming WINE GODDESS for myself. Slightly less pretentious than the WINE SNOB shirt I contemplated but it just did not fit the boy.
BEL LAGO, BLACK STAR, CHATEAU de LEELANAU, CHATEAU FONTAINE,LEELANAU CELLARS and Gill's Pier & Delicatessen. Don't the names just roll off the tongue? And trust me a little taste (or six or seven) at each delectable stop did not dull this sharp tongued connoisseur (or common sewer) of the grape. I shrewdly swirled, tasted, rolled, spat (swallowed often) and chose with discrimination and class. Price was no object or at least was not objectionable. My designated driver gave up midway through the adventure forcing me to offer him tiny tastes of some wines that were "just too exciting to not try just a little". Or just taking his tastes for him. I am not high, just very happy and charming and possibly more witty than I remember.
As for Jill or Karen or Eleanor, she travels with both Burt or myself as a constant reminder of roads less traveled or newly traveled. Of the sheer lunacy of trying to read a map upside down or sideways and still getting it wrong. She gently, yet insistently reminds us of the next turn and, when we run astray, calmly proclaims "Reconfiguring" sending us in a subtle but gentle loop and putting us back on track. No recriminations, just a clear-eyed guide to the proper path. Rather an analogy for life I think. Thank goodness for the military putting all those little "spies in the sky" to help us locate ourselves.
Thursday, September 27, 2007
STATELY SCENES
3 Days and counting. Well we keep on a'keeping on with the damn elephant in the living room. Shall we blame the legislature? Engler? Big Business? Iraq? Oh wait, it's all those selfish state workers who refuse to quit working. Anyway I guess all of the above.
But no huddled masses and wringing of hands. Offers of "I can't disappoint this group of people", "how do we hold this meeting?" "Is there anything else we can do to help?" Rather humbling to realize that even in the midst of bad news and even less hope, people keep doing the right thing. Might even readjust my naturally cynical view of people. We feel the pain of our brothers and sisters in Michigan and, especially poignant, many Lansing folk have both GM and State worker breadwinners. Especially scary times.
There is actually a slightly inappropriate carnival atmosphere. Rather the way people respond when the disaster actually hits - a level of subdued excitement that the worst really happened and how well can I deal with it. How will I cope? Me, I just think, cool, I can finish a couple of sticky projects that refuse to be tamed amidst the usual work time interruptions and other priorities tugging at my skirts. We will be just fine-whatever happens.
But no huddled masses and wringing of hands. Offers of "I can't disappoint this group of people", "how do we hold this meeting?" "Is there anything else we can do to help?" Rather humbling to realize that even in the midst of bad news and even less hope, people keep doing the right thing. Might even readjust my naturally cynical view of people. We feel the pain of our brothers and sisters in Michigan and, especially poignant, many Lansing folk have both GM and State worker breadwinners. Especially scary times.
There is actually a slightly inappropriate carnival atmosphere. Rather the way people respond when the disaster actually hits - a level of subdued excitement that the worst really happened and how well can I deal with it. How will I cope? Me, I just think, cool, I can finish a couple of sticky projects that refuse to be tamed amidst the usual work time interruptions and other priorities tugging at my skirts. We will be just fine-whatever happens.
Tuesday, August 14, 2007
A STACKED DECK INDEED
Visiting with Mother the other day I answered a question the nurse asked with a revelation. When she asked how many children Mother had I said "4 Queens and a Knave". A full deck of characters. The more you think about it, the more it makes sense. Accomplished strong women all, loyal to each other and each immensely herself.
Kathleen - Queen of Hearts - kind, compassionate, non-judgmental Mother, a tigress when aroused
Marcia- Queen of Diamonds - classic, sharp, a precious gem of sharp edges and infinite fire
Lori - Queen of Clubs - soldier, world traveler, confident, and tougher on herself than anyone else
Sheila -Queen of Spades - strong, acerbic tongue, defender of the weak, hater of those who take advantage.
Kathleen - Queen of Hearts - kind, compassionate, non-judgmental Mother, a tigress when aroused
Marcia- Queen of Diamonds - classic, sharp, a precious gem of sharp edges and infinite fire
Lori - Queen of Clubs - soldier, world traveler, confident, and tougher on herself than anyone else
Sheila -Queen of Spades - strong, acerbic tongue, defender of the weak, hater of those who take advantage.
Saturday, July 14, 2007
BIRTHDAY SCENES
Amazing how life loves to screw with you. Or best laid plans, blah blah blah. It was the boy's birthdy on July 10 and wanted to have some fun with it. NOTE: He hates surprises and I love to be creative. Translation-collision course inevitable, but it keeps life interesting.
Anyway the daughter, son and I decided to get Dad an MP3 player. They are the techies but I thought he might like it for exercise, driving for Saturn or playing his "Hermans Hermits" greatest hits without inflicting it on the rest of the civilized world. Actually he said now he needs to find Patty Dukes' one and only album on CD so he load it one -EWWWWW, but I digress. Anyway I pick one up that has 8GB on it (more memory) and the kids decide, no he needs the Apple IPOD. So they go buy that one and I have to take the first one back. So far so good.
Second stage-I talk to his golf partner and say drag him to the sports bar after golf tuesday and we will all be there with cake and assorted bells and whistles on. Meanwhile the boy asks -are we doing anything tusday night? I kind of go hmmm hmmm and he says fine, he'll just golf then.
Here's the fun part. K & M are supposed to pick me up at 8:00 to go to the golf course when the mother of all lightening storms moves in-are they golfing or not? Then at 6:15 Burt's golf partner calls and says I'm so sorry, I was locked out of my car, had to walk home, and ahh ahh I'm not at the golf course. Shisskeeee. Ok-plan B-go to golf course as planned and put a note on his truck -not quite the surprise, but that'll work. Meanwhile I retrieve the cake I baked from the dryer-he would never look there-and have the plates, etc ready to go on the counter.
Plan mess-up #3. At 7:20 birthday boy waltzes through the back door and I am sitting there with the cake, etc in front of me. Thinking quickly I yell "Surprise". Oh well. K & M came over and spent the next hour a half getting the IPOD to work so we had a good time.
Other neat thing was watching my daughter's interaction with her husband as they struggle with the computer, download software, screw around with too little directions to get the IPOD up and running. To all those married folks out there who have tried to put something together- cribs, toys, christmas gifts- you know how ugly it can get. "Read the freaking directions" "I don't need to, I'm not an idiot" "Yes you are" and so on. The two of them do that but in a loving and bantering way. Really nice. They seem to know each other very well.
Anyway the daughter, son and I decided to get Dad an MP3 player. They are the techies but I thought he might like it for exercise, driving for Saturn or playing his "Hermans Hermits" greatest hits without inflicting it on the rest of the civilized world. Actually he said now he needs to find Patty Dukes' one and only album on CD so he load it one -EWWWWW, but I digress. Anyway I pick one up that has 8GB on it (more memory) and the kids decide, no he needs the Apple IPOD. So they go buy that one and I have to take the first one back. So far so good.
Second stage-I talk to his golf partner and say drag him to the sports bar after golf tuesday and we will all be there with cake and assorted bells and whistles on. Meanwhile the boy asks -are we doing anything tusday night? I kind of go hmmm hmmm and he says fine, he'll just golf then.
Here's the fun part. K & M are supposed to pick me up at 8:00 to go to the golf course when the mother of all lightening storms moves in-are they golfing or not? Then at 6:15 Burt's golf partner calls and says I'm so sorry, I was locked out of my car, had to walk home, and ahh ahh I'm not at the golf course. Shisskeeee. Ok-plan B-go to golf course as planned and put a note on his truck -not quite the surprise, but that'll work. Meanwhile I retrieve the cake I baked from the dryer-he would never look there-and have the plates, etc ready to go on the counter.
Plan mess-up #3. At 7:20 birthday boy waltzes through the back door and I am sitting there with the cake, etc in front of me. Thinking quickly I yell "Surprise". Oh well. K & M came over and spent the next hour a half getting the IPOD to work so we had a good time.
Other neat thing was watching my daughter's interaction with her husband as they struggle with the computer, download software, screw around with too little directions to get the IPOD up and running. To all those married folks out there who have tried to put something together- cribs, toys, christmas gifts- you know how ugly it can get. "Read the freaking directions" "I don't need to, I'm not an idiot" "Yes you are" and so on. The two of them do that but in a loving and bantering way. Really nice. They seem to know each other very well.
Saturday, June 23, 2007
SCENES FROM THE PUBLIC SECTOR
Thursday the local paper put, right on the front page, a link to the website that lists every state worker in Michigan showing name-dept-location-hire date and salary. Everyone was fit to be tied. Very ugly around here.
Now I know in the public sector this info is available and foia'able, but it really upset people. People were cancelling their subscriptions at a rate of 75 per hour, the entire website shut down because of everyone accessing it, and the internet comments from the public have been quite nasty.
My big issue with it is how was this newsworthy? It just fueled the fire for everyone. Now people know who you are, what you make and how to find you. Can you imagine how police, undercover detectives and prison folks security is now being threatened? How about your friendly neighborhood stalker or contentious divorces?
I didn't find it a big deal, like most managers, but people are really feeling betrayed around here. Plus they are turning on each other - especially their managers- thinking the same way the public does -we're overpaid! LOL.
One member of the public wrote a comment like "well where else can an uneducated bum get such a great job?" Well I don't know who he talks to, but about everyone I know around here has a degree or several and could probably make more in the private sector, but they want to make a difference in the world. Guess people assume police and fire, children, workers' comp and unemployment, job safety and health will just occur out of the goodness of everyone's heart ---- NOT.
I myself took a large cut in pay to come here. I have no pension (they did away with that years ago), I could probably make more money as a consultant, we have had raises taken away the last several years, we are understaffed but coping, took a week's time off without pay and worked 80 hours for 76 hours pay. We are all willing to do this. I hear the next step being proposed is to forego our raises expected in October, again, and pay 25% of our health care. Folks may grumble but are willing to make these sacrifices. Not get slapped in the face on top of it.
Although I am not too uptight about this, I hear what my employees and others are saying, so obviously people are hurting over this. And to add insult to injury, the salaries listed are in many cases several thousand more than the person makes! How do you correct that little mistake?
The bottom line is - yes people have a right to know. However, when potshots are taken at politicians and CEO's it is a different thing than attacking the powerless. The "connected" are insulated from the slings and arrows of everyday life. Yes, these are good jobs and yes there are slugs in every workplace. But the majority are good people trying to make it. The workers being attached are your neighbors, shop in your grocery store, have kids in school with your kids. And they have to now deal with what you think about them. Publishing the names was uncalled for and cruel.
Now I know in the public sector this info is available and foia'able, but it really upset people. People were cancelling their subscriptions at a rate of 75 per hour, the entire website shut down because of everyone accessing it, and the internet comments from the public have been quite nasty.
My big issue with it is how was this newsworthy? It just fueled the fire for everyone. Now people know who you are, what you make and how to find you. Can you imagine how police, undercover detectives and prison folks security is now being threatened? How about your friendly neighborhood stalker or contentious divorces?
I didn't find it a big deal, like most managers, but people are really feeling betrayed around here. Plus they are turning on each other - especially their managers- thinking the same way the public does -we're overpaid! LOL.
One member of the public wrote a comment like "well where else can an uneducated bum get such a great job?" Well I don't know who he talks to, but about everyone I know around here has a degree or several and could probably make more in the private sector, but they want to make a difference in the world. Guess people assume police and fire, children, workers' comp and unemployment, job safety and health will just occur out of the goodness of everyone's heart ---- NOT.
I myself took a large cut in pay to come here. I have no pension (they did away with that years ago), I could probably make more money as a consultant, we have had raises taken away the last several years, we are understaffed but coping, took a week's time off without pay and worked 80 hours for 76 hours pay. We are all willing to do this. I hear the next step being proposed is to forego our raises expected in October, again, and pay 25% of our health care. Folks may grumble but are willing to make these sacrifices. Not get slapped in the face on top of it.
Although I am not too uptight about this, I hear what my employees and others are saying, so obviously people are hurting over this. And to add insult to injury, the salaries listed are in many cases several thousand more than the person makes! How do you correct that little mistake?
The bottom line is - yes people have a right to know. However, when potshots are taken at politicians and CEO's it is a different thing than attacking the powerless. The "connected" are insulated from the slings and arrows of everyday life. Yes, these are good jobs and yes there are slugs in every workplace. But the majority are good people trying to make it. The workers being attached are your neighbors, shop in your grocery store, have kids in school with your kids. And they have to now deal with what you think about them. Publishing the names was uncalled for and cruel.
Sunday, June 10, 2007
BIRTHDAY SCENES - JUNE 10, 2007
Today is a milestone birthday for my little sister and none of us are with her today as stupid summer storms kept her marooned in Pennsylvania. I called her this am to sing "Happy Birthday" which she will have to suffer through but I never was the singer in the family. I try to confine myself to showers and church (where the critics are polite or non-existent).
H A P P Y B I R T H D A Y M A R C I A Beautiful sister of the soft skin, ebony curly hair and red red lips.
I so wish you were going to Las Vegas with us as you make everything so much more fun and you and Burt love to torment me unmercifully. You always make him laugh and your droll observations on humankind are major pearls. Which happens to be your birthstone BTW. Know that we are thinking of you including your snotty little niece Kristen.
SHE B
H A P P Y B I R T H D A Y M A R C I A Beautiful sister of the soft skin, ebony curly hair and red red lips.
I so wish you were going to Las Vegas with us as you make everything so much more fun and you and Burt love to torment me unmercifully. You always make him laugh and your droll observations on humankind are major pearls. Which happens to be your birthstone BTW. Know that we are thinking of you including your snotty little niece Kristen.
SHE B
SHOPPING SCENES
Did I know that men and women think differently? Well duhh uhhh. Do I believe that they take shopping differently? Again, well yeah. He wonders why were you gone 3 hours and only have one small bag? That you go to 15 stores before you finally settle on the one perfect thing that, if he was along, he thinks looks exactly like all the other ones? Why he says why can't you wear that other dress-referencing the ballgown you bought for a formal occasion to now wear to a luau?
Why he goes to one store, buys the first thing that bears a tiny resemblance to what he wanted and buys it-no doubt complimenting himself on his efficiency even though he may have sacrificed price for time. Actually not a bad thought, if you value your time-so I may give points for that philosophy. But then you fuss or tailor or pull things together for him after the fact or (and I have done this) take it back to the store for him because he hates to go shopping for one thing and hates to try anything on for another.
However, that rule does not apply for home improvement or hardware stores. I confess that I can look at one piece of plywood in the appropriate size and I'm good. He can examine the different pieces for hours noting the subtle way the compressed wood pieces fit together or the thickness and lushness of the material. Or shingles-did you know how many colors there are? Do you care? Well I digress.
At any rate we went shopping for him actually as he needed a new pair of pants - note ONE pair of pants as his light colored ones were looking ragged, make that major tacky. So we pull pants of many makers and colors and I force him kicking and screaming (well slight exaggeration) into the dressing room which was full unfortunately. "Oh, excuse me, oh excuse me, oh excuse me". No we are not leaving, we wait and keep looking at stuff. That is what we do. Anyway he tries on pants, I go for more pants-we end up buying 3 pairs of pants, because they fit-you need them- and they are on sale. Get it? On the way out I see some nice casual shirts and grab a medium which looks rather large. He takes a large one as he always takes large even though I said the medium looked big so try them both on.
Back to the dressing room and I mention, you know the woman always tries the smaller one on as she likes to think it will fit. He whips around and says yeah, but you know men always like to think they're "bigger". Didn't I say men and women think differently? Game-Set & Match to the boy! LOL
Why he goes to one store, buys the first thing that bears a tiny resemblance to what he wanted and buys it-no doubt complimenting himself on his efficiency even though he may have sacrificed price for time. Actually not a bad thought, if you value your time-so I may give points for that philosophy. But then you fuss or tailor or pull things together for him after the fact or (and I have done this) take it back to the store for him because he hates to go shopping for one thing and hates to try anything on for another.
However, that rule does not apply for home improvement or hardware stores. I confess that I can look at one piece of plywood in the appropriate size and I'm good. He can examine the different pieces for hours noting the subtle way the compressed wood pieces fit together or the thickness and lushness of the material. Or shingles-did you know how many colors there are? Do you care? Well I digress.
At any rate we went shopping for him actually as he needed a new pair of pants - note ONE pair of pants as his light colored ones were looking ragged, make that major tacky. So we pull pants of many makers and colors and I force him kicking and screaming (well slight exaggeration) into the dressing room which was full unfortunately. "Oh, excuse me, oh excuse me, oh excuse me". No we are not leaving, we wait and keep looking at stuff. That is what we do. Anyway he tries on pants, I go for more pants-we end up buying 3 pairs of pants, because they fit-you need them- and they are on sale. Get it? On the way out I see some nice casual shirts and grab a medium which looks rather large. He takes a large one as he always takes large even though I said the medium looked big so try them both on.
Back to the dressing room and I mention, you know the woman always tries the smaller one on as she likes to think it will fit. He whips around and says yeah, but you know men always like to think they're "bigger". Didn't I say men and women think differently? Game-Set & Match to the boy! LOL
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