Fifty years should be celebrated. I have outlasted Nixon, the Edsel, the Cold War, and insanity. Okay maybe not so much the insanity. I now will call it, second childhood.

As she lay back, head on pillow, she thought of the missing things, those one should miss, those one does miss.  The child in the next room with the future that is endless with possibilities so vast that no one can predict what new ones are to come.  The teens and young adults, gathering themselves together each day to go out and learn, build skills, test abilities to the fullest.  And those most simple things, touch.  The feel of fingers gently carressing your neck, pushing forward, not in power, but in support.  Fingertips, skimming the spinal column, evoking feelings that in turn evoke emotions and needs.  The kiss light upon the forehead, winging lightly on the lips.  Each moving with tenderness.  Other kisses, sweet on the breast, lingering on a thigh, bringing a promise of something more than emotion, something more than a possibility.  The future so bright that one cannot see the end, the slowing of the needs to build and taking the time to just enjoy the fruits of past learning and skills.  It is the touch, that moment of handholding, careful touching, light kisses, gentle caress that she misses most.

Posted by: ginnygk at 03:31 | link | comments

I, for some reason, thought we had gotten past the "she's just a dame and not as important as we men" thing, but here in Marion County we live in the late 50's early 60's.  Yes sirree Bob...I had such an experience today.  I had an appointment with a state legislator, who is a very nice and responsible man, showing up to work and making sure he does everything he can in his job (I know, doesn't sound like a politician, does it?).  Before me one man refused to leave, especially when he found out, Mrs. Krumwiede was waiting.  His answer when the legislator (hereafter known as Larry) and the assistant, Gina, pointed out he had not only stepped into my spot, but he was an hour over his time limit, "What's a woman got to say that is more important then talkin' to me about the real issues."  I heard a lot of mindless stuff, not too many issues.

I was there for an interview on the No Child Left Behind issues facing governments.  It is a class paper and a paper that several journals are interested in.  Not much more important than "issues."

Now came behind me another pair of men.  I should point out that the first man looked like he came directly from the farm and he was color blind and bought his clothes at the big and tall shop, of which he was neither.  The pair were in boots, one in a cap and one in a cowboy hat, jeans, and polo shirts from regular stores when they should have been buying from the big and tall store, though in one case, maybe a beer belly doesn't count as big.  They decided I could wait, since I had been there 45 minutes already and they had some important issues to discuss.  They kept calling me the young lady...must have been the makeup since we know there is no young here...and admired my jewelry, the necklaces just above the low cut shirt.  Maybe they never noticed my face to see I was not young?  Maybe they were being charming to get my appointment?  Maybe they were just good ole boy Republicans (a really scary breed, see Bush and Crawford, TX for sample) who had lost their mommas and manners.

Anyway, I solved the problem by going into the office with Larry and Gina and offering to leave my questions for review and set another appointment for later in the week.  I offered it as reasonable since Larry's other constituents were obviously disinclined to manners and politeness and it was not fair to the receptionist to put up with that kind of behavior.  Gina, bless her, agreed for a later appointment because my work was just too important to have a regular citizen interfering with it or causing a loss of focus because of his or their lack of manners.  I love this girl.  Oh and the good news, Larry is also taking me to lunch.

As I walked out the door, the 1pm people walked in.  The 12:30 people that I had moved for were aggravated that the new people showed up early.  It was now 12:15.

Posted by: ginnygk at 00:04 | link | comments

Well it lasted about 10 days, the good behavior, that is.  We are back to most of the bad habits.  Now I await the cool weather, and as much as I hate to admit it, the leaving of my granddaughter for her mother's house.  That way I can work in peace without her using me as a safety net from the stepmother girlfriend or worse, the ongoing arguments between the two.  How do you argue with a three year old, all day every day?  We have overcome the problem of the child not knowing how to go outside and play.  She finally understands mudpies, running around, and climbing and swinging at will.  Unfortunately, I now have to instruct the stepmother girlfriend on how to use Shout to actually clean the clothes when she is finished.  But it has been a real joy to see her dirty and muddy and flushed with exercise.  I also do not have to watch the Wiggles, Doddlebops, and Spongebob among others.  We even made it through a book this week and she remembered the brown bear, bull blue and ballerina baboon blowing bubbles, biking backwards.  Yes this is the life that keeps me from reading the news and watching the news.  Thank God I return to teaching adults on Monday.  Sanity for a short while.

It is supposed to cool off and the humidity lift.  That should help my breathing.  I just wish we had gotten more rain to lay down the dust some.  Someone has added to the main roads again.  Broken bricks have filled in a lot of the holes on one road and a couple of the bigger holes on the other road.  At least as far as my house.  Does this mean I live on dirt roads, brick roads, horrible roads?  When I walk I still have to avoid large holes when I go the other way.  Which reminds me.  Why is it so easy to feel the need to walk in the morning as you go to bed at night and then in the morning feel the need to sleep is more important?

One really interesting thing this week.  The new house my husband was supposed to start had to be stopped before the clearing stage and the people who bought the property have to sue to recover their money.  The problem, the former owner knocked down a house that was on the property.  He then proceeded to bury it about a foot deep.  ENVIRONMENTAL HAZARD!  LEGAL NO NO!  STUPID MOVE!  Now the police are looking for him, the federal government is looking for him.  The new owners are looking for him.  The state is looking for him.  His attorney says the whole thing is not his problem.  lead paint, asbestos, insulation, drywall (okay the lime will probably be good for the soil), metal, pvc...  Never ceases to amaze me what people will do and think they can get away with, no matter how it affects others.

 

Posted by: ginnygk at 19:48 | link | comments

A few, okay three, people emailed me about my "friend" who is single.  First let me warn you again, he is home all the time, or very nearly.  Worse he is an academic, teaching three classes a week, psychology classes.  He teaches on Tues and Thursdays and with his office hours is still home before 4.  He is almost 47and his list of attributes for women he would like to date is 22-40, small or medium (he is 5'8") build, intelligent, good dancer, must love theatre and symphonies, concerts both pop and country.  He is an heir of sorts, money from family.  He is cute, funny, and sometimes even a really nice guy.  Renaissance man when he wants to be, creep others.  He is really great and all, divorced for 26 years.

Now that is out of the way.  It has finally cooled some here.  Now that doesn't sound like much of a big deal, but with temperatures in the nineties for four and a half months and no rain for the last month or so, the humidity and high temps get to you.  Of course cooler means low 80's a couple of days a week.  We were hoping for rain, but I see the sun is out and that would not be a good sign.  I finished my syllabus for statistics and let me say that lesson plans and all that are not my favorite things to do, especially for this type of class.  Now for the news.

North Korea tested a nuclear bomb?  Maybe, yes, no, kinda, can't find it....wait for it.....Yes!  we were right, they did.  Whew, I thought we might have made a mistake about another country's weapons of mass destruction.

In the last week I have seen at least 7 different articles on text messaging with warnings and a vocabulary...maybe there should just be a daily feature with three or four translated vocabs?   I gotta get another cell phone.  At my age, watching a movie on my cell or IPod has got to be a challenge.  Keeping the batteries charged and actually seeing the darn screen.

Madonna has adopted a baby from an African orphanage.  Now the father says he wanted the baby back.  Good for Madonna.  Daddy should charge for his comments to media, that way he could support his next child.

Looking at the number of things you can buy or do to support breast cancer research is a lesson in how we can help ourselves.  Remember when nearly every woman died from the disease.  Women and companies that are targeted to women stepped up and provided money for their own research to solve a problem affecting them.  Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation is doing what government could or would not, finding cures, making strides, doing the job.  Women and women's initiatives moving us forward.  Now what was that excuse again for the reason a woman would not be a good president? 

Posted by: ginnygk at 16:28 | link | comments

A friend told me I should write something intelligent since I have reached the half century mark.  "Something intelligent"  done. Reaching this point has brought several things to mind.  First, even if I was not overweight, married, and sarcastic, I would no longer be within the age range of most men looking for a mate.  I know this because my friend Steven has a list of acceptable and good traits in woman he would like and well 50 year olds are just not there and though not desperate, he is moving right along the age track as well.  He is intelligent, funny, nice, and is not hurting for money, though his job means he is home ALL THE TIME.  If you are looking for someone like that, I will pass you along to him...but remember the he is home ALL THE TIME thing.

Second, I no longer like loud music.  Now this might not seem important, but as former member of a high school band, a disco/ccr/journey era teen/young adult, and a former concert junkie, this is a devastating piece of news.  I don't even like the bass on my stepson's stereo.  Oh woa is me....

I no longer tolerate stupid, unethical, politicians with mere sarcasm. I actually want to go to where they live and smack them for taking public trust (and cash) and destroying it, even if it was not my trust. 

My dogs having fleas is not as important as the fact they are dirty and they lie on my bed.

It is frightening to think my granddaughter comes to me because no one understands her and she is three.  I was not aware I understood her.

I can watch football, some baseball, occasional tennis and soccer, but other stuff is just too slow.  And NASCAR...I realized I cannot sit and watch grown men go round and round in a circle for several hours (many, many times) and then stand up with arms raised for actually doing it faster and more times than all the other men without getting lost.

I no longer "tolerate" man think...I just feel really sorry for them.

Today I turned 50...scary huh?

Posted by: ginnygk at 22:19 | link | comments (3)

Bush said the word...intransigance...what does this word mean?  Was it intransient?  or some other weird thought.    Can Robin Williams become a real thing?  His funny is at least backed by a modicum of intelligence. 

Okay, tomorrow I turn 50 and while I am sure that is a really big thing, for me it is mostly...nothing.  I don't feel 50 or 70 or 20.  I feel no age.  not ageless.  just nothing.  Maybe I should close my eyes and wish on a star.  I would wish for nothing.  I have it all.  A spouse who falls off the wagon but who treats me well when not producing enough anger to fuel a nuclear reactor, a stepson who occasionally makes the right decision, but only in limited numbers and not many recently.  Two beautiful granddaughters, by way of a marriage that is shaky on a good day.  I have an excellent education that gets me minimal wages.  I have talent that limits my ability to do a lot of things where I live.  I have dogs who love me and two cats, one a kitten who thinks he truly is his namesake, Ramses. 

Jerry Lewis was on TV last night.  He was homeless and confused, not speaking or uable to understand the simplist thing, then he was okay, then manic, then sadly resigned to fate.  It was brilliant.

Wow, sandstorms may make hurricanes less possible.  Damn, I was hoping for mudpies.

A local coach has been released from his job because his partner in an affair, another teacher at a nearby elementary school, came to a game and started an argument with him.  Her husband is not talking, but the coach says the incident should not ruin his career, it was a private matter.  Hello!  School game, two teachers, (though from different schools), students, fans, people...job over.  The best news, it wasn't a student he was having the affair with.

The woman who disappeared and sent the nation into a frenzy before her wedding, wants her share of the wedding spoils and the proceeds from his selling of the story and the value of the house.  You would think she would be embarrassed, would have some pride, Geez, you screw up and get paid big bucks.  Where should one sign up?

The two women in a mental hospital in Texas, who both killed their children, are friends.  Of course they are.  They both have the same experiences and are probably the only ones who can support each other.  Media types, leave them alone.

Does the news about yeast infections and smoking mean that athlete's foot is not a smoking disease?  Cigarette companies might want to use this in their new ads.  Since Florida is no longer funding campaigns for teens, there is a loophole.  Unless amendment 4 doesn't pass next month.

 

Posted by: ginnygk at 18:14 | link | comments (4)

Drill sargeants speak less harshly and now washouts are down 7 percent.  uh  huh.  How about they are down because no one wants to join and those that do are kept unless they commit a really serious crime or are a major threat to units on duty?

Speaking of which, sexual abuse of teen boys is not on that list according to the Republicans in Congress.  Are there child protection agencies in the states of those who knew and did nothing?  They might want to pick up the kids and grandkids of ALL those involved or with knowledge of this Foley mess.  Every time I think the Republicans cannot embarrass me more, they do.  NOTE TO THOSE NOT REPUBLICAN: We ain't all like the bunch of clowns who appear on your TV and in the news.

Drive by shootings in one apartment complex are up nearly 80% and they happen nearly every day.  The police cannot seem to find who is doing it.  Take note:  unmarked car doing surveillance...with tape rolling.

Citgo is persona non grata because it is owned by Venezuelan oil and Chavez insulted Bush and our country in a speech or two or twelve.  Okay first, Chavez got elected insulting Bush and our country.  Second, does this mean that Stewart and Colbert and Comedy Central are off the air?

Hamas does not recognize Israel?  Let me introduce you.  They are the people across the border that control your destiny and blow your butts up every time you step out of line.  That wasn't what you meant?  Well maybe it should be.

Statistics should be a specialized field and leave the rest of us alone.

My brother's band has a record deal with a producer and it is so exciting...blistur.com.  Neal is the drummer.  I bought him his first cymbals so he could pretend to have a whole drum kit.  Am I psychic or what?

Good News:  Cigarette smoking does not cause vaginal yeast infections.  Well thank heaven for that.

what could top that news?

 

Posted by: ginnygk at 22:27 | link | comments (2)