Category: Living my Life

A few gadgets

One evening last week The History Channel showed “101 Gadgets that Changed the World.”  It was an hour-long show, thus a pretty fast trip down memory lane for me. Most gadgets’ few seconds were up before I had time to get too nostalgic.

In addition to mentioning all these gizmos, they also briefly told why or how they changed the world. Some were easy to see — like duct tape. How would we live without that? Or the match, personal computer, zipper? The transistor radio was credited with the popularity of rock and roll. I’m not sure why. Maybe because it made the teens and their music mobile, got them out of the reach of their parents?

The Smart Phone was deemed the number 1 gadget that has changed the world. And while the Smart Phone hasn’t changed my life yet, I can see how others might think it number one.

The item that really caught my attention and brought back memories was the ball point pen. Eversharp, maker of mechanical pencils, introduced the ballpoint pen to the United States in 1945.  It cost about $10., which is comparable to $100 today.  Nowadays they are given away free as promotions.

These pens must have become more affordable in the 50’s because I remember seeing them in the stationery stores with the school supplies. They cost about the same as any fountain pen.  The big sales pitch was that the ballpoint pens wouldn’t leak (supposedly) or smear.

However, my teachers at Denison High School made it clear that they would not accept work in ballpoint pen. It had to be written in real ink.

An example of people resisting change, even when it might be for the better.

I also worked for a company in the middle 80s that refused to follow the electronics fads. They said they would never computerize. Guess what? They did.

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Books Glorious Books

I need another bookcase. The four I own are overflowing. Books also fill the corner shelves made for knick-knacks and cover the end tables. More volumes line the stairs.

Please don’t suggest I ‘get rid’ (cruel expression) of some of these books unless you yourself are willing to give one a good home. Then I’ll decide if it’s something I can part with.

Okay. I know it would help if I would stop buying used books. But I have a good reason for each one I buy: I haven’t read this book and I like the author’s work; this book is a classic and/or old; I read this book before and liked it but I don’t think I own it. As you can see, these are all valid excuses for adding to my collection.

Recently I went Goodwill shopping with my BFF, Pat. (Cabot, AR has the best Goodwill store ever!) As we entered, I said to Pat, “Don’t let me buy any books.”

Well, not only did she not prevent me from buying, she was an enabler! “Look, this is by Lynne Truss who wrote Eats Shoots and Leaves. You’ll want this.” Of course I did. That was in the I-like-the-author’s-work category so I bought Talk to the Hand. And before I left the store I chose three more.

I found Mister God This is Anna by Fynn. In 1974 this was the Christian book to read, but I never did. It is a small paper back, rather yellow and brittle and I fully intend to read it one day.

I also bought a 1924 edition of The Methodist Hymnal with shaped notes. The topical index in the back is in 3 point type. (I have 1939 and 1966 editions of TMH, plus newer copies of the The United Methodist Hymnal.)

The last book I purchased that day is a 1954 Summer Edition of Readers Digest Condensed Books. I subscribed to this series when I was a young stay-at-home mom without much time to read. I particularly remember this one that contains The Desperate Hours by Joseph Hayes (later to be made into a movie with Humphrey Bogart) and Tomorrow by Philip Wylie, a tale of what could happen if the Russians launched an atomic attack on the United States. (This was 1954, remember.)  I enjoyed these stories the first time around and plan to read them again.

Someday.

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Not the Sharpest Tool

A few years ago, a certain pop singer loudly declared that he was ‘not the sharpest tool in the shed.’ He is not alone. I, myself, live a good deal of the time in blissful oblivion, taking everything at face value.

As a child, I heard, “Step on a crack, it’ll break your mother’s back.” And, conversely, I figured if splits in the sidewalk could be avoided, my mother would be okay. (Later in life my mother had many back problems, so it would seem some of my siblings were not as careful as I.)

In the early Fifties, it was my belief that, in case of nuclear attack, school children would be safe if hidden under their desks.

During the Sixties, I saw a poster with a picture of a pretty green leaf and the words, “Miss Mary Jane.” Logic told me this must be promoting a new folk singer, though the significance of the leaf was unclear.

Later, in the Seventies, when a personal ad appeared seeking swingers, I assumed someone was organizing a square dance club.

I thought Hooters was a gathering place for owl fanciers … kind of like the Audubon Society with fries.

In the Nineties, I colored my gray hair auburn. Many, many people told me I looked ten years younger. And I believed them. Why would they say something like that if it weren’t true? I fully expected to get carded when I asked for a Senior Citizen’s discount. But to my surprise that didn’t happen.

Now we have entered the 21st Century. I deal with the mysteries of iPods, iPads, iPhones and iPhorget-what-all. I am faced with Facebook (or in-your-face-book, as a friend calls it). It sees all, knows all and tells all using acronyms I’m afraid to use because I don’t know what they mean.

So as an aging Pollyanna, I’ve decided it’s okay if sometimes it seems I don’t have both oars in the water. I do pretty well on the activities of daily living. I don’t have enough money to buy the Brooklyn Bridge.  And God loves me just the way I am.

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Palm Sunday Reflection

Today was Palm Sunday – a joyous day in my home church, First United Methodist.  We celebrated Jesus triumphant entry into Jerusalem all those years ago. The children came into the sanctuary carrying palm branches. The Wednesday night children’s classes had learned special music for the occasion. “Hosanna Loud Hosanna”, the traditional Palm Sunday hymn, rang out as the congregation joined in worship. This particular day there were two rosebuds on the altar to announce the addition of as many babies to our church family.

But after today, and for the rest of this week, the church should be in a more somber mood. For the next few days we should reflect on the meaning of Jesus’ last days on earth.

On Thursday evening, there will be a service of communion, a remembrance of Jesus’ Last Supper with his disciples. We will hear scripture and songs as we ponder our savior’s life and death… the betrayal, the pain he suffered. We will leave the worship service in solemn silence…

To return again on Easter morning. To the promise of the resurrection. To the joyous greeting Christ is risen! and the response, He is risen indeed!

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And What Did You Do on Spring Break?

At the Co-op where I work, we have just finished a wonderful tradition known as Spring Break. A whole week of Saturdays, of projects begun and maybe even finished, a period of guilt-free time-wasting. All the small talk nowadays will involve mention of this event. “What are your plans…?” “Are you enjoying …?” “What did you do …?”

Spring Break usually falls in the middle of Lent, but since my Lenten discipline this year has no dietary restrictions, every day of my spring break I ate something I ‘shouldn’t.’ (I put that word in call-out quotes because it is usually ‘they’ who say that I ‘shouldn’t.’)

This junk food thing wasn’t my main objective during Spring Break, I’m a little deeper than that. But when the first day I slept late and had an egg sandwich for brunch, and followed it the second day with a bowl of chili for supper I saw a trend developing. I decided to have a week long indulgence of foods I allow myself only rarely. During the rest of my stay-cation (not all the same day) I ate:

Taco Bell’s Five Layer Burrito – this is possibly my favorite fast food meal. Besides tasting good, it only costs $2.00 and fills me up for hours.

A Sonic Blast – I considered this a whole meal the day I had it. Occasionally I get so hungry for ice cream and this does it for me … as well as providing a taste of my favorite candy, Butterfinger.

McDonald’s Sausage Biscuit – On Tuesday I woke early to write and at about 10:00 a.m., I needed to go to the post office. And then I decided I deserved a break! This is a seldom enjoyed treat. I can remember having it only once in 2011 when members of my morning prayer group surprised me with breakfast on my birthday.

Meatball Sub – I am a big fan of the sitcom “Friends.” I have seen every episode and own most of them. The meatball sub is Joey Tribiani’s favorite sandwich, yet I had never tasted one until last December when Subway had their promotion. Now I’m a fan, too. All for less than $3.00

One night my youngest son popped in with a Pizza Hut $10.00 box.  Pepperoni pizza with the thickest crust I have ever seen, bread sticks and cinnamon sticks with icing. Plenty of food for the three of us. (The third being Phillip’s GF,  Zefani.)

One thing I determined on this break-from-food-sanity is — I don’t need to retire. Though I am of retirement age and then some, I realize that if I stayed at home every day, I would be a slug. My cholesterol level would be off the charts, I would weigh 500 pounds and have my own reality show on The Learning Channel.

So, tomorrow it’s back to work at my fun job with great co-workers. My food binge leaving me only a little worse for wear.

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