I am a giant fan of the ABC soaps. I have watched them for many many years. I watched All My Children since the first day it was on. I have watched Erica go from a nasty teenager to a nasty adult and loved every minute of it. I have watched so long I can predict what will happen next even if I pray something different will happen.
Something is going on now that is just killing me. A father beat up a teenage girl's boyfriend because he thought they had sex.(Jury's still out on if they did or didn't) He beat the kid to a bloody pulp. He accused the kid of raping his daughter. He threatened to kill the kid. And guess what? HE IS GETTING AWAY WITH IT!
Now this boy's parents are dead but he does have a guardian and she is the DISTRICT ATTORNEY. Now wouldn't you think she would be insisting on pressing charges? The other person who looks out for this kid is a POLICE DETECTIVE!! What is wrong with these people? This show is One Life to Live and it's life may be over for me. I do tape it so I can fast forward the parts that bother me the most.
I want love in the afternoon. Remember that old saying? I want to see women dressed up in ball gowns and fancy weddings. I even loved it when the soap opera woman wasn't sure who the daddy was! I loved how couples professed their undying love and then six months later they had a new partner that the undyingly loved. I loved how people never really died on a soap. You could come back after a long absence and explain it away with memory loss, an identical twin, a doppelganger, or you stayed away because everyone you loved would be in danger if they knew you were still alive.
Now that was Soap heaven! Soap women used to wear evening gowns to clean the house(not really, they never clean the house) Soap men wore a tux to take you out to the movies(ok, so they never go to the movies but they would if they did)
Now Soap men just take off their shirts. Now mind you, that is fine with me. But they just take them off so randomly. This week a young guy on General Hospital was caught without a shirt on--well, without anything at all on and at least he had the good graces to be embarrassed!
Soap girls never take off their tops of course. They do go to the bra now which is ok. The part that bugs me is after they get down to the bra they always turn their back to the guy's bare chest and he starts making love to her in that position. OH, COME ON! Who does that?
Anyway, I sure would like to see a little more fun and passion and a little less anger and cruelty in my afternoon shows. In the meantime, I'll just have to keep fast forwarding!
Saturday, March 15, 2008
Friday, March 14, 2008
How to Trash a Day in Ten Seconds
I woke up yesterday and smiled in anticipation of my wonderful day ahead. I had everything all planned. First, I would go to the cake decorating store and get the items I needed to make my Easter dessert. Then, I would go to the Richmond Mall to look around. Later in the morning I was meeting my sister-in-law for some time together. I was going to meet two friends for lunch and shop at Coldwater Creek who had sent me a postcard for 60% off on clearance items. I even knew what I was going to have for lunch!!
I took my shower and got dressed real nice(no sweats) and got ready to set off. I went into the garage and got in the car. I turned the key and NOTHING!!!!!!!!!!!! What the???????????????? I tried it about ten times to no avail. I had to accept the fact that I wasn't going anywhere any time soon.
I called my husband who was SO helpful and he said to call AAA. No kidding! So I did and they sent a truck out pretty fast to give me a jump. NOTHING!!! Now what? So the kid called a tow truck and I called my friends at ESS Automotive. They could take the car and they would call me to tell me what the damage(think money) was. I wasn't going anywhere.
Ohmygosh!!!! I called my sister-in-law right away and cancelled our plans. Then, my friends. Wait! Did I have their phone numbers? We are mostly email buddies so I wasn't sure. I had to plough through about 500 emails until I finally found them. Thank goodness. I called them to and changed our plans.
Anyway, AAA sent the skeeviest dudes to my house that you ever did see. The jump guy was just scary--size of a foot ball player with a do-rag and a knitted skull cap. Nicest kid--but still a little scary at first. He called the tow truck and you should have seen those two! They looked like they had just had squirrel for breakfast. One guy had a giant(!) and I mean giant(!!) Afro ala 70's. He was skinny as a beanpole and his hair waved around as he walked. That's how big it was. He wasn't even black either. The other guy reminded me of Darryl, Larry and Darryl. Remember them from Bob Newhart's show? He had stringy hair and a jacket that he must have had for fifteen years and had never washed. They were nice as pie too as it turned out.
I don't like to judge a book by it's cover but really. COME ON! How could you send such unusual guys to people's homes? Anyway, I spent the day at home. My car was fixed by 5:30 and we picked it up later that evening.
Today I have BIG plans....as long as my car starts!
I took my shower and got dressed real nice(no sweats) and got ready to set off. I went into the garage and got in the car. I turned the key and NOTHING!!!!!!!!!!!! What the???????????????? I tried it about ten times to no avail. I had to accept the fact that I wasn't going anywhere any time soon.
I called my husband who was SO helpful and he said to call AAA. No kidding! So I did and they sent a truck out pretty fast to give me a jump. NOTHING!!! Now what? So the kid called a tow truck and I called my friends at ESS Automotive. They could take the car and they would call me to tell me what the damage(think money) was. I wasn't going anywhere.
Ohmygosh!!!! I called my sister-in-law right away and cancelled our plans. Then, my friends. Wait! Did I have their phone numbers? We are mostly email buddies so I wasn't sure. I had to plough through about 500 emails until I finally found them. Thank goodness. I called them to and changed our plans.
Anyway, AAA sent the skeeviest dudes to my house that you ever did see. The jump guy was just scary--size of a foot ball player with a do-rag and a knitted skull cap. Nicest kid--but still a little scary at first. He called the tow truck and you should have seen those two! They looked like they had just had squirrel for breakfast. One guy had a giant(!) and I mean giant(!!) Afro ala 70's. He was skinny as a beanpole and his hair waved around as he walked. That's how big it was. He wasn't even black either. The other guy reminded me of Darryl, Larry and Darryl. Remember them from Bob Newhart's show? He had stringy hair and a jacket that he must have had for fifteen years and had never washed. They were nice as pie too as it turned out.
I don't like to judge a book by it's cover but really. COME ON! How could you send such unusual guys to people's homes? Anyway, I spent the day at home. My car was fixed by 5:30 and we picked it up later that evening.
Today I have BIG plans....as long as my car starts!
Thursday, March 13, 2008
Whadda Ya Gonna Do?
I have had a "date" every day this week. I have met friends for lunch, attended Grand Friends day, and shopped. So this morning Kevin was kidding me --what would I do with myself next week??
I started to say "nothing." But instead out of my mouth came "I will work on my book, and clean the house for Easter. It's Easter week so I have to get ready. I'll have to go shopping and I'll get to see my sister after her trip!" I was so surprised. So many times when someone asks me what I did in a day I say "nothing." Lately I have realized that just isn't true.
Every morning I have to blog. I have to read the paper and have yogurt and tea. I HAVE to go to the store(HAHA) and look around. I have to fix food. I have to talk to my daughter. I have to reply to my email buddies. I have to read all the sites I like. I have to make comments about the soaps on one site I particularly like. I have to read. I could go on but I think you catch my drift.
I thought when I left the work force that I would do nothing. It is just not true. The last seven(!7!) years have been some of the most productive in my life.
That's not to say that doing nothing is wrong. Some days I love staying in my pj's for as long as possible. Staring out the window to "deer spot" to me is not wasteful. Thinking about the past and reminiscing is good too. I have remembered so much more about my parents and my elementary school days and old friends and relatives! When you are a working person, there is very little time for that kind of "nothing".
I used to think that nothing was a bad thing. It was filled with guilt and shame. I have learned that nothing can be healing and helpful to one's soul. I'm not really sure that there is really something we call "nothing" any more.
Maybe we all need to put a little "nothing" into our lives. As long as it is balanced with a good dose of "shop til you drop"!
I started to say "nothing." But instead out of my mouth came "I will work on my book, and clean the house for Easter. It's Easter week so I have to get ready. I'll have to go shopping and I'll get to see my sister after her trip!" I was so surprised. So many times when someone asks me what I did in a day I say "nothing." Lately I have realized that just isn't true.
Every morning I have to blog. I have to read the paper and have yogurt and tea. I HAVE to go to the store(HAHA) and look around. I have to fix food. I have to talk to my daughter. I have to reply to my email buddies. I have to read all the sites I like. I have to make comments about the soaps on one site I particularly like. I have to read. I could go on but I think you catch my drift.
I thought when I left the work force that I would do nothing. It is just not true. The last seven(!7!) years have been some of the most productive in my life.
That's not to say that doing nothing is wrong. Some days I love staying in my pj's for as long as possible. Staring out the window to "deer spot" to me is not wasteful. Thinking about the past and reminiscing is good too. I have remembered so much more about my parents and my elementary school days and old friends and relatives! When you are a working person, there is very little time for that kind of "nothing".
I used to think that nothing was a bad thing. It was filled with guilt and shame. I have learned that nothing can be healing and helpful to one's soul. I'm not really sure that there is really something we call "nothing" any more.
Maybe we all need to put a little "nothing" into our lives. As long as it is balanced with a good dose of "shop til you drop"!
Wednesday, March 12, 2008
Pet Peeves
I have a new pet peeve. Yesterday on my way home from Parma, an ODOT crew was filling holes on the freeway. I am all for filling the potholes, mind you. However, they were over on the right berm with their truck and as I was approaching two of the workers, with shovels of asphalt RAN across three lanes of the highway to dump the contents and tamp them down as they furtively glanced back and forth. I was in the fourth lane over, thank goodness. They did have one of those blinking arrow signs but I didn't know that that meant get over THREE LANES!!
My other pet peeve is the drivers who follow so close behind you that they appear to be sitting in your back seat! What is up with that?? What if you have to stop fast? Don't they notice my scowling face in the mirror?? A lot of people do it too. Mostly men.
I have an old pet peeve that I had to give up. When I was young I hated it when women I didn't know(especially old ones) called me hon or honey. I had to give that one up when I started doing it myself. I do it all the time to cashiers and sales people. I think it's friendly.
I was going to replace that one with people calling me ma'am. That really didn't work out though because who am I kidding? I am a ma'am. I sure don't want to be called honey now! Now it means somebody really thinks you are old and possible one foot in lala land. It seems a slightly veiled condescending word.
I got called ma'am at Grand Friends day yesterday. Two boys met me at the entrance of the school and asked if I wanted help to the door!!! I started to say no but they looked so serious and anxious I said sure. They each offered me their arms so we went in together. Those boys called me ma'am. It was pretty cute. And I would have clobbered them if they had called me honey!!!!!!!
My other pet peeve is the drivers who follow so close behind you that they appear to be sitting in your back seat! What is up with that?? What if you have to stop fast? Don't they notice my scowling face in the mirror?? A lot of people do it too. Mostly men.
I have an old pet peeve that I had to give up. When I was young I hated it when women I didn't know(especially old ones) called me hon or honey. I had to give that one up when I started doing it myself. I do it all the time to cashiers and sales people. I think it's friendly.
I was going to replace that one with people calling me ma'am. That really didn't work out though because who am I kidding? I am a ma'am. I sure don't want to be called honey now! Now it means somebody really thinks you are old and possible one foot in lala land. It seems a slightly veiled condescending word.
I got called ma'am at Grand Friends day yesterday. Two boys met me at the entrance of the school and asked if I wanted help to the door!!! I started to say no but they looked so serious and anxious I said sure. They each offered me their arms so we went in together. Those boys called me ma'am. It was pretty cute. And I would have clobbered them if they had called me honey!!!!!!!
Tuesday, March 11, 2008
"Grand Friend"
Today I am going to my nieces' school for "Grandfriends day." It is their version of grandparents day and this is the third or fourth time I have gone as Erin's friend. I am sure old enough to be her grandma and since both her grandmas have passed I am glad to stand in their stead.
They always do some cute little thing. One year her class sang"When I'm Sixty-four." That was a hoot since they all thought 64 was ancient. They wrote little stories about it and they were a riot. All they talked about were wrinkles and being weak and having grandkids and dying. Oh, if they only knew that when they are 64 they will still feel young inside. They don't know that people who are 64 fall in love and start careers and write books and garden and play sports. Their idea of 64 was more like our idea of 94 or even 104.
I don't plan on living to be 104. It seems like an unlikely goal. An unreasonable goal. I had a conversation with my daughter about unreasonable goals. They discussed them at their morning meeting at work. They chose personal and business goals. The business goal seemed completely doable to me and then she started listing the personal goals of some of her colleagues. One girl wants to live in Europe for a year. (Not too hard, she could do one of those English language teacher things), one girl wanted to got to graduate school and publish a book.(Seemed reasonable to me.) My daughter wants to finish and sell her script. She has been working on it off and on for a few years. (I know she can finish and possibly sell it too). I mentioned to her that none of those goals seemed unreasonable to me. Even the business plan they have is completely doable. And guess what, that was the point!! Things that seem unreasonable or unattainable may be perfectly reasonable in the light of day when shared with others.
The kids in Erin's class had goals in their stories about being sixty four years old. Many of them wanted to have multiple careers. You know like rock star, soccer ace, and pro football player and an accountant. That was just one boy! Some of the girls chose a traditional path--motherhood, being a grandma, teacher, a ballerina and a rock star. All at the same time, I guess. They knew nothing about unreasonable goals. To those kids, it was all possible. They were insulted if some adult laughed. I tried not to laugh at any of them. They should think life is full of possibilities. Why should they feel limited at eight or nine years old?
We self-impose limitations. I wonder if by the time we are 64 we can rid ourselves of the restrictions and go for our dreams? Some, I am sure, do. I hope I am one of them.
They always do some cute little thing. One year her class sang"When I'm Sixty-four." That was a hoot since they all thought 64 was ancient. They wrote little stories about it and they were a riot. All they talked about were wrinkles and being weak and having grandkids and dying. Oh, if they only knew that when they are 64 they will still feel young inside. They don't know that people who are 64 fall in love and start careers and write books and garden and play sports. Their idea of 64 was more like our idea of 94 or even 104.
I don't plan on living to be 104. It seems like an unlikely goal. An unreasonable goal. I had a conversation with my daughter about unreasonable goals. They discussed them at their morning meeting at work. They chose personal and business goals. The business goal seemed completely doable to me and then she started listing the personal goals of some of her colleagues. One girl wants to live in Europe for a year. (Not too hard, she could do one of those English language teacher things), one girl wanted to got to graduate school and publish a book.(Seemed reasonable to me.) My daughter wants to finish and sell her script. She has been working on it off and on for a few years. (I know she can finish and possibly sell it too). I mentioned to her that none of those goals seemed unreasonable to me. Even the business plan they have is completely doable. And guess what, that was the point!! Things that seem unreasonable or unattainable may be perfectly reasonable in the light of day when shared with others.
The kids in Erin's class had goals in their stories about being sixty four years old. Many of them wanted to have multiple careers. You know like rock star, soccer ace, and pro football player and an accountant. That was just one boy! Some of the girls chose a traditional path--motherhood, being a grandma, teacher, a ballerina and a rock star. All at the same time, I guess. They knew nothing about unreasonable goals. To those kids, it was all possible. They were insulted if some adult laughed. I tried not to laugh at any of them. They should think life is full of possibilities. Why should they feel limited at eight or nine years old?
We self-impose limitations. I wonder if by the time we are 64 we can rid ourselves of the restrictions and go for our dreams? Some, I am sure, do. I hope I am one of them.
Monday, March 10, 2008
Sunshine and Snow
Snow sure looks different on a sunny day. On Saturday, it was chilling and a little frightening. Driving was hazardous and streets were closed. The wind blew and knocked out power. It was dark all day and evening. The snow was desolate and cut us off from others.
On Sunday, the sun was shining and the snow was sparkling. It looked like someone had thrown glitter across the city. The rooftops were covered in sculptures of snow that the wind had carved. Everything was so white it took your breath away and you had to squint.
Saturday we forced ourselves to go out and do errands. Sunday we went out to play. We took a long drive and admired the scenery. We came home and tromped through the front yard to see how high up my leg the drifts were. It was the crunchy kind of snow that you step on and think it will hold you up at first and then THUD! your leg goes straight down to the ground below. I only got in about two steps before I realized I had to get out too! Kevin took my picture and helped me out of there or I swear I'd still be in the snow up to my knees! Not a well thought out plan.
In our backyard we saw a deer just standing and staring. Not a lot else to do in all that snow I guess. We got a picture of it on Saturday but on Sunday there was no sign of it. I wonder where it was? Maybe it went out to play too.
We have our own little mountain in the backyard too. It was formerly known as our air conditioning unit but now it is a snow mountain. It is about 6 feet high--not exactly a mountain but that's why I call it little. There was just one path of footsteps from Kevin going around to photograph all the snow so we could send pictures to our poor (haha) relatives in sunny places who are missing all the fun.
The funny thing was, I didn't feel cold. It was only about 20 degrees out there but I felt warm. I wasn't bundled up too much. I had on my yellow marshmallow coat that makes me look like a PEEP and gloves and boots. I didn't even have on a hat. I stayed outdoors longer than I have since it was summer.
Anyway, we came in the house with rosy cheeks and laughing which made us feel like kids again. Sunshine and snow can do that to you!
On Sunday, the sun was shining and the snow was sparkling. It looked like someone had thrown glitter across the city. The rooftops were covered in sculptures of snow that the wind had carved. Everything was so white it took your breath away and you had to squint.
Saturday we forced ourselves to go out and do errands. Sunday we went out to play. We took a long drive and admired the scenery. We came home and tromped through the front yard to see how high up my leg the drifts were. It was the crunchy kind of snow that you step on and think it will hold you up at first and then THUD! your leg goes straight down to the ground below. I only got in about two steps before I realized I had to get out too! Kevin took my picture and helped me out of there or I swear I'd still be in the snow up to my knees! Not a well thought out plan.
In our backyard we saw a deer just standing and staring. Not a lot else to do in all that snow I guess. We got a picture of it on Saturday but on Sunday there was no sign of it. I wonder where it was? Maybe it went out to play too.
We have our own little mountain in the backyard too. It was formerly known as our air conditioning unit but now it is a snow mountain. It is about 6 feet high--not exactly a mountain but that's why I call it little. There was just one path of footsteps from Kevin going around to photograph all the snow so we could send pictures to our poor (haha) relatives in sunny places who are missing all the fun.
The funny thing was, I didn't feel cold. It was only about 20 degrees out there but I felt warm. I wasn't bundled up too much. I had on my yellow marshmallow coat that makes me look like a PEEP and gloves and boots. I didn't even have on a hat. I stayed outdoors longer than I have since it was summer.
Anyway, we came in the house with rosy cheeks and laughing which made us feel like kids again. Sunshine and snow can do that to you!
Sunday, March 9, 2008
All the Knowledge of the Universe
We were watching a Batman cartoon(I know I know) and all the bad guy wanted from the aliens for his cooperation was all the knowledge of the universe. I got to thinking about that. It sure would be a burden! Of course, a bad guy would use it to take over the world. I always love it when the bad guy tries to take over the world. Somebody, usually the hero's girl or her father says, "You must be MAD!!!!!!" It's my favorite part.
Knowing everything if you were a good guy would be really rough too. Don't you think it would be hard to convince people that you really did know everything??? I mean I would need proof-- a lot of it and I am not even that skeptical of a person. Everyone would have to agree that you did indeed have all the knowledge and agree to let you use it. Even then, what exactly would you do with it? A good guy is not going to take over the world so pretty soon he might just go mad too!!! What if you knew how to fix all the world problems and nobody would listen or cooperate? What if you knew how to generate all the energy we need for the entire world and every one just said, "Sure, sure." If you knew how to stop starvation and the politicians just ignored your pleas? Let's face it. That could happen. Haven't inventors over the years known how to run a car on something beside fossil fuels?? What happened to them?
Everybody might be a little scared of you too. After all if you have all the knowledge then you might realize I'm not the person I say I am. You'd probably end up shunned or something. Then you probably could go mad.
Knowing isn't everything. Feeling is just as important. Take away feelings and what does knowledge really do for you? I know I use my feelings just as often as my knowledge. I'm not sure if it is the way to go... I have gotten into a few messes in my day by using feeling instead of knowledge but a good mix of the two seems to me the way to go.
If you have all the knowledge does it enhance your feelings or obliterate them? I don't know that anyone would want to find out. I know I wouldn't.
Feelings can skew things a bit. Your feelings can misguide or misdirect you. If you aren't really sure of yourself your feelings can rule you. I don't think anyone should be led by just feelings or just knowledge. You need both to make good decisions. You need both to have good relationships with others. I think that is why we have both.
Anyway if you are wondering what happened to the bad guy--his brain was fried. Too much knowledge can be a dangerous thing too.
Knowledge is power, so they say. It just seems to me that if you had all the knowledge of the Universe you could figure out that Batman was really Bruce Wayne!
Knowing everything if you were a good guy would be really rough too. Don't you think it would be hard to convince people that you really did know everything??? I mean I would need proof-- a lot of it and I am not even that skeptical of a person. Everyone would have to agree that you did indeed have all the knowledge and agree to let you use it. Even then, what exactly would you do with it? A good guy is not going to take over the world so pretty soon he might just go mad too!!! What if you knew how to fix all the world problems and nobody would listen or cooperate? What if you knew how to generate all the energy we need for the entire world and every one just said, "Sure, sure." If you knew how to stop starvation and the politicians just ignored your pleas? Let's face it. That could happen. Haven't inventors over the years known how to run a car on something beside fossil fuels?? What happened to them?
Everybody might be a little scared of you too. After all if you have all the knowledge then you might realize I'm not the person I say I am. You'd probably end up shunned or something. Then you probably could go mad.
Knowing isn't everything. Feeling is just as important. Take away feelings and what does knowledge really do for you? I know I use my feelings just as often as my knowledge. I'm not sure if it is the way to go... I have gotten into a few messes in my day by using feeling instead of knowledge but a good mix of the two seems to me the way to go.
If you have all the knowledge does it enhance your feelings or obliterate them? I don't know that anyone would want to find out. I know I wouldn't.
Feelings can skew things a bit. Your feelings can misguide or misdirect you. If you aren't really sure of yourself your feelings can rule you. I don't think anyone should be led by just feelings or just knowledge. You need both to make good decisions. You need both to have good relationships with others. I think that is why we have both.
Anyway if you are wondering what happened to the bad guy--his brain was fried. Too much knowledge can be a dangerous thing too.
Knowledge is power, so they say. It just seems to me that if you had all the knowledge of the Universe you could figure out that Batman was really Bruce Wayne!
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