Anyway.
I'm painfully aware that Things In General are still...Upsetting, (vast understatement) thanks to Certain People. But, to quote Maya, "What I can control is going really well." If that isn't a worthy mantra/goal statement for These Times, then I don't know what is. So I'm going to celebrate a few things right here and right now.
Celebration Photo #1:
This is a photo taken of the beautifully clear sidewalks ahead of me on my walk. Note that there is No Snow to speak of, and not because everyone shoveled. It's because it all melted away. HOORAY! Do you also see all that grass? Isn't it wonderful? I wore my sneakers! And because it was OVER FIFTY DEGREES, I also eschewed my winter coat and fleece-lined leggings and wore a bigass hooded sweatshirt and normal leggings. I walked longer and lighter and it was fantastic.
Celebration Photo #2
Celebration Photo #3
This is my car in the carwash. Before this, my shiny black car looked sad and awful. It was the same colour as the roads--whitish grey. I couldn't go to the carwash because it was -100 degrees every damn day and my car suffered. Finally, the weather broke, and Rick took me on a date to get it washed. I absolutely adore the carwash; I never stop getting a kick out of it. I am like a child, and I don't care. I'm also a cheap date.
Is everything wonderful? No, but I'm not talking about that right now. I feel good. I'm walking every day (thank you, Rick, again, for my heated coat!) and loving it. Theo is getting a third tooth and walking, talking, and using ASL, too. I'm spending the day with him on Saturday. What I can control is going really well.
What about you?
I can control how I eat and move and think. I refuse to give in to anything else. I also feel, not think mind you, that being attuned to social media is not a good thing. Too many people are hanging on every disturbing idea that comes down the pike. In. My. Opinion.
ReplyDeleteAlly--Social media in general reminds me of junior high study hall. The parallels are uncanny.
DeleteThe photo of the dog wearing, er . . . Emily's 'short's is a riot. There is always a clean basket of laundry in my family room. One day the newest addition to my daycare managed to get her arm thru a pair of panties. I don't remember whose, but LORD ABOVE, I was relieved that I caught it moments before her mother walked in to pick her up. Tee hee hee.
ReplyDeleteI went for a run outside over the weekend and it was fabulous. I'd like to start doing that before my charges show up, but the temps aren't high enough for my standards at that hour just yet. But I do believe there's an end in sight to winter, and I'm here for it.
I do like that mantra, very much. I can only control so much. I'm trying to tackle a corner of stuff in each room in the house in hopes that one day the place will be less cluttered. Those baby steps towards organization are the bit of progress that I need to keep up my energy in this area.
I haven't been to a car wash in years. I chuckled at how much you enjoy it. My youngest brother always feared it like the end was coming, and the other four of us would rally around him and comfort him to no end. That's a sweet memory.
Ernie--I can just picture that scene of four kids in the car, all trying to help the little guy through his fears. So precious.
DeleteThe battle against clutter is a tough one. Once the boys moved out, it settled considerably, but now I fight it with Rick. He is terrible about just leaving things wherever. We have a small house, so it clutters easily. Everyone needs to buy in to fight the battle.
Kids (and dogs!) wearing shorts/panties is a good reason to stay on top of it!
I laughed and smiled all through this post, even though I am one of Those People who enjoyed the real winter! But yes, all sorts of good things to celebrate. Let's focus on those.
ReplyDeleteG Sue--I'm glad for your smile. And yes, in times like these, we would do well to notice the Good Things around us. We need to keep our spirits up whilst we fight the good fight.
DeleteThat is a great mantra to get through these dark, dark days. For a couple of days here, we are having Fake Spring and it is WONDERFUL! Although they are telling us that next week we could be in for some snowy/icy weather. Which I can't control, so I'll be grateful for the Fake Spring while it lasts.
ReplyDeleteGigi--Oh, that little run of Fake Spring! We had a day of it, and it was glorious. HOW I MISS IT. I know you're enjoying it so much. Just smelling that air is uplifting, isn't it?
DeleteWe all have Maya to thank for that mantra. She's a genius.
My grandkid' daycare used ASL. I had to learn the words for 'milk' and 'please' and several others, little miss firmly teaching grama. You are just starting the age of wonder with the grandkid and I hope you have as much rewarding fun with yours as I have had with mine. (Even if I did get to see her every time she had to miss daycare for a stomach bug or cold).
ReplyDeleteAs for the grass and clear sidewalks. Sulking here with another four to eight inches forecast for tomorrow and more again on Sunday. MY car is still salt white and covered in speckles of road guck.
As for the news, yeah. I am getting out my cattail root recipes/
Mary--Theo is too much for me. I'm deeply in love and awe constantly. So much joy. Seeing him use ASL just floors me. Hearing him call Nana! for me puts me over the moon. It's unreal. Of course, he is the most brilliant child ever. Sigh.
DeleteWhy, oh WHY so much snow up there? It seems excessive and punitive. Having said that, however, please do KEEP IT UP THERE at all cost. No need to share, dear friend. We have icing here at present, then rain will move in. Saturday is our next chance for sn*w, ugh.
Cattail root? What?
Re cattail root. If the Trumpishness wins, the plan is to move to the back hundred acres, where no trails exist, and build me a willow cottage (or whatever). I will exist on local foodstuffs, and am told cattails are excellent sources of calories, once they are very thoroughly washed. Since we have a large beaver pond, I am hoping the beaver will share.
DeleteNot sure I can contain the snow. May you have it as rain in above zero (Celcius) temperatures.
DeleteMary--RE: cattail root
DeleteSo sorry! I did read that in your latest post. I absolutely forgot that part. It sounds awful, to be honest. I looked up some recipes and also the photos of cattail root. Ugh. Yet, certainly not worse than Evil Orange.
I absolutely love real winter!
ReplyDelete...for a day. Maybe two, if I don't have to shovel. The snow looks pretty and I do enjoy sledding. But even I'm Over It after a couple of days. I cannot imagine a whole millennium-month stuck in real winter.
And should you mention my love for Antarctica, I just remind you that it's summer when I've gone there, and often much warmer than NEO.
Mikey--I say this with Love: Oh shut up. Winter sucks. Sledding is dumb. Sn*w is not pretty; it is a barrier to everything. I love you.
DeleteI think about you in Antarctica every single time we put up our Christmas tree and I hang your ornament. Also when I see penguins. And pictures of pancake ice. XO
Am glad the weather at least is changing for the better; our world seems to be imploding politically, so I agree, we must find something to focus on. I'm focusing on the Cavaliers! Love that they are doing so well (don't love that fool Ramaswamy showing up to a game). Is Theo hearing impaired? I think I missed that in your posts. Or you're just learning ASL on your own? I would love to go to a carwash, but like Ernie's brother, I also am too scared to do it. Getting my car lined up properly seems impossible....
ReplyDeleteElle--GO CAVS! Aren't they something?
DeleteNo, Theo's hearing is perfect, thankfully. Research indicates that teaching babies sign language helps them communicate earlier and more effectively; it reduces frustration and crying, and it actually helps them develop language skills earlier. Theo's been signing for months.
And, Elle, I used to be leery about going to the carwash for the same reason. I have terrible spatial awareness like that, but it's really not as difficult as you might think, and there is active signage the whole time telling you what to do. And at some places, there's an attendant to guide you, like at Mod Wash. Go for it!
Thanks for the shoutout, Nance!
ReplyDeleteI'm so, so curious about the word you would use for the weirdos who enjoy winter. You are THE word maven and I want to follow your shining ways.
We have snow on top of ice, so thank you for the reminder that brighter and clearer sidewalks may yet creep up north.
Zydrunas is my patronus today--he looks exactly how I feel!
maya--You're welcome.
DeleteI hate to even tell you because it is shockingly unkind. And I don't even use it anymore except in my deepest darkest thoughts, which I keep to myself.
The word is snowron--a combination of snow and moron. Sigh. I. Know.
_+_+_+_+_
I had to look up the word Patronus to see if it had a different meaning than what I thought, and yes it did. I never read any Harry Potter, nor saw any of the films. Can you imagine I escaped it all? If I had a dollar for every time someone told me I should read at least the first book, I would be wealthy, indeed. Anyway, Zydrunas looks pretty in pink, does he not?
I love your word, Nance. It will make me smile to know it is out there.
DeleteI didn't read JKR either. I heartily approved of her giving away her wealth, but found Harry Potter very derivative of the British school series (like Enid Blyton) I'd grown up reading. Now , of course, she's very transphobic and raises my cortisol, so I try to avoid thinking about her. Ursula K. Le Guin, my hero disliked her work intensely, so there's that. All this to say, I should have used "kindred spirit." (In another lifetime I would have used "spirit ani***" but have learned that it is a cultural appropriation of Native American beliefs.)
maya--I've read that about JKR--what a sadness. I'd like to think that writers are more inclusive and, overall, wonderful people, but we know that's not true.
DeleteZydrunas has a lot of personality, and he'd love you.
That is an excellent mantra, although it might not be quite true in my case (work drama). But I'll keep it in mind for future use.
ReplyDeleteYou should have seen me the other day flinging things right & left, trying to get into yarn in a bin I hadn't touched in 2 1/2 years. IT WAS NOT PRETTY. Especially because it was all Dr. M's crap. Oof.
My niece-in-law has been teaching her boys to sign. I don't think it's ASL, but it's a way for them to communicate (I think it's a formal system, just not ASL). It's very cute when they ask for more.
Bug--I haven't touched yarn myself in ages. Knitting has become so painful for me, due to my neck problems. I miss it so much.
DeleteNow that I think of it, Theo's signing may not be true ASL, either. I'll have to ask Jordan. I'm aware there is a thing called Baby Sign Language (?), too. Regardless, it's wonderful.
I hope you can find a way to extricate yourself from work drama. Who needs it? People just need to do their job and stfu. (If only!)
Zydrunas looks so happy! I want to give him all the snuggles. What a good guy. Seriously, he's SO CUTE. That face is so smushable.
ReplyDeleteI'm taking our dirty filthy car to get an oil change tomorrow and they do a car wash there. Yay! It will be dirty again before I get home, but at least for thirty seconds, my poor car will feel loved.
NGS--Z would gladly take all your snuggles. He is very affectionate and cuddly. Whenever I'm down or crabby, I walk down and spend time with Zydrunas. He always makes me feel better.
DeleteAsk if you can ride through the carwash! When Sam used to work at a dealership, he always drove me through their carwash because he knows how much I love it. It was a really tiny one, but still fun.
Like you, I feel for my car when it's dirty and yucky. Like it's depressed and embarrassed. See what Disney has done to all of us!?
Nance, I have VERY SAD news to report. It was too cold for a car wash, so the oil change was done, but the car is still filthy. Let's all take a moment of silence for poor Hedwig, the filthiest car in the Midwest.
DeleteEngie--That is a tragedy. Certainly they owe you one now. Another reason to hate and detest and resent winter. Damn it all.
DeleteLaughing, again, at Zygundras and his clothing. It sure looks like undies. Not sure what he is thinking.
ReplyDeleteMary--So glad Z is giving you a good chuckle. Who doesn't need that during these times?
DeleteHe doesn't look like it in this picture, but Zydrunas is one smart dog and very intuitive. This episode shows his goofy side.
I'm so glad that you are getting a glimpse of hope for spring weather, clear sidewalks where you can walk safely, car washes to give you delight! Maya used to be terrified of them, until we told her that the car loved it and made the car laugh and say, "That Tickles!" Then she was fine. Cute memory.
ReplyDeleteJ--What a smart strategy to reduce a kid's fear of the carwash. I'll remember that if Theo is ever afraid and pass it along to Jared and Jordan.
DeleteWe had another round of freezing rain last night. It's treacherous out there today. Temps are staying low and below freezing, so I don't know when this thick glaze will be gone. It's scary stuff.
Oh, dear. You published this 5 days ago and I did not get an email alert. 🙁 Must start checking your page more often!
ReplyDeleteSo glad you are getting a break with the weather after the January onslaught of ice and snow. We have had some really high temps lately, and the other day it actually got up to 80 degrees. Seasonal organizing of clothes in the closet no longer works, lol. Lately, I just organize by colors (if that) and open the front door to see if I need a coat or a jacket. Or neither.
Loved the anecdotes on Z and the car wash. That sure looks like underwear to me, and if not, they must be very sexy shorts, lol. As for the car wash: I wish I could share your enthusiasm for that, but I have a huge problem with anything that makes me feel even slightly claustrophobic. My car is a very pale silver grey and does not show the dirt that much. I do have an ongoing battle with the blasted leaf-blowers from the landscape company that comes around to our condo complex once a week. The other day, after it rained, they managed to spray my entire car with minute leaf debris (the leaves have been falling by the ton in the last 2 months; fall came late) Anyway, I hate those noisy leaf-blowers with a passion, and especially the ones that are gas-operated, which is most of them. I don’t know which is worse: the smell or the noise. It was a real challenge during the pandemic when I was giving live classes online all morning. When the leaf-blowers came blasting away under the window near my computer, I had to put students into virtual breakout rooms.
I think many of us are on your path of celebrating the little things in our everyday life, which lately has become more of a necessity than a distraction. Here at Casa Ortiz, it’s small victories with several of Mr. O.’s recent health challenges, enjoying great walking weather (for now!), and anything that gives us a laugh, however fleeting. I have made it a point to try to smile more. My “resting face” is not naturally “smiley” and I find when I make the effort, it actually does calm me down. I even make a point of smiling politely at people in the supermarket, even when they do stupid, inconsiderate sh*t. It all starts from the inside...
P.S. Love hearing about Theo’s progress. That must be the best distraction of all. ❤
Ortizzle--Check your spam folder. Perhaps your email provider is being judgy.
DeleteI like your strategy of organizing by colour. It sounds immensely practical. In the winter here, I have different weights of sweaters and my handy dandy heating pad which is as big as my torso.I cannot live without the latter.
What a shame that you cannot enjoy a carwash, but I do understand. And those noisy leafblowers! UGH. You're right--the gas-powered ones are the worst. Their noise and smell are awful. Around here, very few people need to hire landscapers, but they all have their own leafblowers, and it is cacophany all during mowing season and fall. It's brutal especially on the weekends.
So many of us are trying to find a way to get through this time of profound dismay and disappointment. It's all too much. We want to find Joy wherever we can find it, and we must.
I'm happy to hear that you're having good news with Mr. O, and that you're getting out and about.
We're so constantly joyful and grateful for Theo and his happy little life! He's talking so much more and learning constantly. Every time we see him, he's doing and saying something new. Just seeing how excited he is to see us is so heartwarming. Spending time with him reminds us that we have so much to be thankful for, and that we must continue to advocate for what's right and just.
I checked my spam folder and it was there. This is really odd, because emails I get from known frequent senders are all filtered to go into special folders for each one (I have a lot of folders in my inbox, lol), and yours is programmed to go into my "Nance" folder. As are emails from your private account. Oh, well... I'll check there, but probably easier (since so much goes into my spam folder) just to click on the link to your blog which is also bookmarked in my faves list. I'm thinking now that maybe I should take a deeper dive into my spam folder in case you sent me an email from your private account that I missed. 😮 —SIDEBAR: It's so frustrating and infuriating that we have to put up with so much spam (and scams!) these days: email, snail mail, phone calls, text messages. I got so fed up with my cell phone ringing all day long with spam and scam calls (especially when I was still teaching) that I changed the settings to "silence unknown callers." That has helped a lot! The downside is that occasionally I do get a legit call that's not in my contacts list, but I figure if they're legit, they will leave me voicemail.
DeleteHooray for clear sidewalks and warmer weather; that is bound to UP your mood.
ReplyDeleteI believe that Zydrunas is making a statement. Not sure what that statement is, but who are we to judge the fashion choices of others? (reminds me of our boxer Cocoa RIP who didn't mind when the girls and I dressed her up in T-shirts, leggings and scarves. THE FUN)
We were visiting with a Northern Friend recently and he noted that it's so weird to see so many clean cars this time of year, down here. I'd not thought of the wreak of winter weather on your car, so congratulations on getting yours back in good shape again.
Three teeth? That boy is growing so quickly!
BB Suz--The road salt, cinders, and brine mixtures that keep our roads passable in winter really take a toll on our cars. All that junk is sprayed up not just from our own tires, but from the tires of passing vehicles on the road. It's awful.
DeleteTheo is currently in St. Thomas on a business trip. I'm getting photos of him in his sandals and bathing suit, and I'm both enamored and jealous (as I shiver in my heated coat and look at more freezing rain). Sigh.