Of camels and men

We went to the zoo one time in February. It must have been early February. There was snow on the ground. It was dry and cold and in the low 20's, but was a really nice sunny day. We rode the Zoo Tram while there because John had trouble walking.

Most of the animals were inside. The camels, to our surprise, were out in the pasture. There was a male with two females. They were up by the gate where they go back in to the sheds. The tour guide told us that they were let out into the pasture daily for grazing but were returned to the shed and pen yard at 5pm every day in the cold weather. It was about 3 pm in the afternoon and the male had the two females corralled up near the gate. The male was behind them, keeping them from going out into the pasture to graze. The females stood their patiently,chewing cud or whatever they do.

Every day, the guide explained, the male camel herded the females up to the gates. The male repeated this at the same time every afternoon to wait to be let in to the sheds. Her comment was that he was rather bossy with the females. It was always early afternoon and he was consistent.

I think of this behavior often because it reminds me of the sort of thing that I see men do all the time with women. It can be protective and meant to be helpful but still it looks like herding. I seem to notice many more examples of this these days now that I don't live with them. And now, when I do see it happen, the image of the camels comes to mind. It is funny how these characteristics have transmuted through the animal kingdom. I really like men but that was one of their more irritating characteristics. I don't miss it (I guess).

Joan

Last night after my exercise class I used the hot tub at the gym and I met Joan. Joan is 48, and single, and lives with her mother. Joan was from a smallish town in central Ohio. The way she got around to introducing herself was a different, but she wasn't from around here. What she told me was that she had spent 28 years in this little town, and she moved this year, and she missed all her friends.

As we talked, I am thinking WOW, She reminded me of a character out of a novel, or perhaps I could write her into a novel or write about her and make it a novel!

I have never actually met a single person who lived with their mother past say 30. I thought that only happened in fiction novels or movies (creepy guys like Norman Bates, or again usually creepy guys who keep their mom in the freezer, or desiccated in a closet for 10 years to collect on her social security).Single people in novels, on TV or in movies who live with their mothers are never, in my memory, portrayed as healthy, normal people, but Joan seemed pretty cool and I liked her.

Her mom was 87, and they moved here to be closer to her brother. Maybe she needed more help with her mom, I wasn't sure. From Joan's description, her mom was in good enough shape to come to the gym, she just tires easily. I couldn't tell if Joan worked, and I did not ask. For that matter,Maybe Joan has been married and I just have an overactive imagination.

I don't remember the details but Joan asked me if I was from around here, which I
was. Then she asked if I grew up here which I hadn't. When she mentioned she
was from Ohio we had lots to talk about.
.
Before all this started I had pre-arranged to meet a friend (who happened to be male) in the hot tub. I talked this guy into getting a membership at the RAC, because he had been complaining about his weight and exercising. He was from the area and had lived here all his life except to serve in the army and traveling for work. I had barely said hello to my friend before I started talking to Joan. This friend made no motion to talk to Joan and turned away several times and his body language was pretty clear that he did not want to participate and had no interest in meeting her.

Joan started to tell me what activities she had gotten involved in. They all sounded good and I was encouraging. Joan asked me if it was hard to meet people here. I said yes, you have to be aggressive She kept taking side long looks at this guy, like she was considering addressing him and including him into the conversation. I was just rolling on the inside and trying very hard not to wisecrack. I so wanted to say to Joan... see they are all like him.

Xplod explosion

When I moved to Rochester I wanted a stereo to play cd's, tapes, and the radio. I wanted something with GREAT sound. I used some of those electronic buyers guide websites like CNET and read reviews and finally decided on the Sony XPLOD CD/CASSETTE BOOMBOX with AM/FM Radio in BLACK with all these great features:

"Take this boombox to the beach with you and lay out on the sand with some of your favorite songs.

Product Features
Built-in CD player and cassette deck let you enjoy all of your favorite tunes
CD functions include track programming, shuffle, repeat, high-speed dubbing and CD synchro record
Digital AM/FM radio tuner with 30 presets (10 AM, 20 FM)
Xplod power drive design for improved bass quality
2 built-in high-power 10W speakers with a built-in 100mm power-drive subwoofer
4-preset graphic equalizer
Digital display for easy menu navigation
Frequency response: 20Hz - 20kHz
Remote included"


I read the product reviews from average guys. I read a review from a guy who had the box in an auto body workshop garage and really liked the quality of the sound over the noises at work in the shop. I thought, wow, that is great. I'll take one!

And I loved it until one day when a friend pointed out that at our mature age, in the stage of our lives where we are downsizing, kids leaving home, minimizing our footprint, you know, mature urban sophistication, condo living, all that; we want something sleek and powerful and cool with great sound and neat features. Yes, cool things in small packages that fit our minimalist, live it light lifestyle. Ok well he didn't say it quite like that. What he said was "What the hell IS that? Its so big, you don't have room for it anyplace!" And all his stuff by the way, IS all really cool and black.

Next I went to my mom's place and I looked at her boom box ..She lives in a neat and tidy two bedroom condominium. Her boom box is small and sleek and silver and sits on a shelf in her dining room. It must be true. Everybody does have small sleek and cool.

And then I felt bad. My boom box is big and chunky and yes it was hard to find a spot in the kitchen to set it. (I finally got an old table in the corner.) And, it is kind of awkward looking with the big red disk in the center that lights up when you hit the BIG RED XPLOD POWER DRIVE BASS SUBWOOFER BUTTON or whatever the heck that is that pulsates red light with the bass beat.

In reality what I had done was bought something that would appeal to an adolescent boy or so my friend pointed it out. What he said though was, "that's something
a kid in high school would like." Apparently, a lot of my personal style choices go this way. Yes, maybe it looks like a teenage boy version of the big fluffy animal purse...a chunky black boom box on steroids.

I see now that the fact that I did pick this style MAKES PERFECT SENSE.

I only ever had a son. All the toys that I bought, the family movies that we watched (I did sneak in a few interesting films BUT), the games we played, and very often the music I listened to are influenced by the fact that I spent a great deal of time hanging out with my son and his friends. OK... maybe if I had waited till my son was off in college for a few years it would have worn off.

Still... I am not going to replace the one i've got and it glares at me YES ITS ON STEROIDS every morning and is still a joke with some of my friends. Well, one in particular.

This is my "sound center" at home...yes, next to the refridgerater. It is a multi-use station that also houses my recycling center and office supplies.
I was at a local neighborhood bar (outside, on a corner and very local er I said that) in Buscerias, Mexico and here was MY BOX... a slightly different model but still banging out the tunes with the heavy bass throbbing!


And my friend saw the same model in the health office at a local Middle School and sent me this pic: So now I am thinking, if I am lucky, and I hope to be.. I may start collecting pictures of xplod's all over the world!

Keeping Things Whole

In a field
I am the absence
of field.
This is
always the case.
Wherever I am
I am what is missing.

When I walk
I part the air
and always
the air moves in
to fill the spaces
where my body's been.

We all have reasons
for moving.
I move
to keep things whole.

-- Mark Strand

The Cats

We have a cat named Tiger. We meaning Harry and I, although Harry is away at school, so now it is just Tiger and I. We are watching another cat. Tiger never agreed to it but she has gotten used to Bandita and I think she might even like Bandita. I am not sure. They are sweethearts and fun to watch.

They look for me at the windows in the evening, and then Bandita runs to the door and is waiting for me to rub my ankles and say hello. Then she shadows me the rest of the evening. Tiger shows up later, but mostly Tiger shadows her. Often they chase each other or wrestle or box and it is a riot to watch.

I won't let them sleep with me because Bandita anchors herself on my leg and Tiger sits on my chest. Tiger is the worst because she pats my chin periodically ALL NIGHT LONG. I am constantly woken up for petting I guess. Instead they are waiting outside my door in the morning and Bandita shadows me as I go through my morning routine. They follow me into the bathroom and wait while I take a shower. Then back in my room, Tiger sits on top of the bed so that she can lay on anything that I throw there...whatever it is ends up with tons of cat hair so I limit it to jeans. Bandita goes under the bed where she grabs anything that I pull out of the dresser or the closet..my room is very small. When she misses she snags my leg instead and that hurts. One morning I took pictures of them as they followed me around...


Really, I think I need a life. They need to go outside.

Hip Hop for Whites

Where I live is beautiful this time of year, even as it is, as much as I am tired of the cold. I took the picture on my left last Saturday morning,
and yes that is my thumb.

Ok fast forward....

Last night I went to my "dancersize" class... it is the first night of Winter II sessions at the gym. And, because we have such long winters here in Minnesota, we have TWO sessions per the winter season, not just one. So how awful is that?


Anyway, it was a Hip Hop class, which i like better than ZUMBA, only because gracefulness is not a requirement, and it is boxy, and looks tough, and fits my personal style better. My personal style, you ask? Some people would laugh about that one especially if you ever watched me.

Last night a lady that I know from Zumba was there. After a couple numbers, she came up to me and commented that she's missed a few classes, but boy have the dance selections changed. I explained that this was Hip Hop, not Zumba. That explained a lot and the light went on you could just tell. So she danced a couple more numbers, and usually she dances sexy, and she's very good, but with this the steps are different and she was having a rough time. The instructor is also different, not our usual Zumba instructor. So my friend says to me "The instructor is very bouncy. I don't like her." and then she says as if she had some kind of epiphany.. "this is hip hop for whites, isn't it?" and I smiled and nodded, and she gave me this "what a bunch of schmucks!" expression. When the song ended she walked out.

I could tell she was irritated, and I think she was trying to make herself feel better by insulting the instructor. She made her comments like it was an insult, but to who? She's white, I'm white, the instructor is white, we were all white in the class. Oh, excuse me, we have a few Asians..(are they white?) So yeah i guess its pretty white. I am actually not sure how people of color dance hip hop and if its any different for them. Hmmm now that I think about it, we have a few Eastern Indians occasionally, and some Middle Easterners...they are not white, but they dance as white as I do. And so, by the way, do the Asians.

FaceOff!

Dumb old face book. It seems like everybody, friends, family and now even the 40 something hold outs, are joining facebook. The kids, BUT NOT MY SON, the nieces and the nephews, have been on it for some time. With some of my generation, the change is recent. Not sure the sudden change, but it is becoming the only place they are willing to share their pictures or communicate. They are always telling me they have new pictures soooo go look at facebook.

Well, my nieces took pictures from some time ago when we were at an art fair in Chicago, and that is how I got hold of this survey.

I'll back up... A couple of days ago I filled out this IQ survey on facebook. Dumb old me. The survey asked for my cell phone number and oh boy am I stupid, I GAVE IT OUT. No sooner than did I complete this survey, when I began getting text messages on my phone from Ted, my IQ Coach.

Today, i got the 3rd text message from "Ted". I was feeling harrassed and absolutely po'd that they kept sending me these stupid long winded texts. I asked my coworker if I should tell Ted in a text to F**K Off. My coworker suggested I simply say I was too dumb or something. Of course I thought THAT was dumb, so I sent my original text anyway. I IMMEDIATELY got a text from "Ted" saying that I had violated the T's&C's of Facebook and might lose my subscription! I can't lose my subscription ..i won't be able to see all my friends dumb old pictures! Oh well..figures it would bite me. I still can't get "TED" to stop sending me messages either.

Winter 2010

I am watching a friends cat and this morning it got into my purse and stole my sandwich. I got it away from her and I ate it for lunch anyway. She is the Bandita alias the KITTYCAT KONG!

It has taken some adjustment but now she and my cat are getting along famously. More on those two another time.

I've been hibernating since after Christmas...but hey it is January and this is now a ritual for me that starts after the holidays.

And we've had a particularly cold and snowy winter. I hardly see anyone unless it is by accident. (My friends had a baby and because it is snowy and they live in the country and I am afraid to drive up their driveway that is on a steep and curvy hill, i put the gift in the mail and told them I would see them in the spring.)

So what do i do with my free time?
I've been going to the gym .. basic survival...doing ZUMBA! and HIPHOP! and it is my
answer to alzheimer's because you have to remember the dance moves you learned the week before. NOT! And you have to be able to step up and wave your arms and sashay and jiggle in that order and all at once. When i first started this i was so upset at my two left feet that i went out and bought the biggest padded bra i could find and the lowest cut shirt to wear to the next class. At least i look good. (This was also my solution to my lousy skiing skills about 5 years ago... a fantastic ski outfit ...)

I've been taking Spanish classes Monday nights and dreaming of retirement.

I've been going to the library and getting out books on Costa Rica. (LAST Winter it was Chile and Argentina. I like to get travel books, travel guides, AND cook books.)

I've checked out books like FROMME'S Travel Guide, Retirement without Borders, a collection of short stories by Costa Rican (ticos) and Panamanian women writers titled "When New Flowers Bloom". The Author's notes are written by a man and all he does is go through the history of literature WHICH DOES NOT INCLUDE ANY REFERENCES TO WOMEN. Who does he think he's kidding?

I am in the process of labeling my house espanol-ish and in full sentences...as for example "The basement is down the stairs. It has three rooms, but there are no bathrooms." ...and then i look at it later and i don't know what the hell i wrote. I use google translation tools. This saves time. I say what i want (i've also been describing all my pictures and photos on walls around my house.. cut and paste it into word, print out a page full of them, cut them out and then tape them to the walls and objects etc..bulk statements..but takes a while to figure out what i was thinking, how to translate, and then where to stick it). Is this a rare form of cabin fever?

A coworker sent me this:

" Anne,

My oldest sent this to me.
This is weird enough that I thought you'd enjoy.... when you have time.
Not to sure anyone else around here (at least on my team) would get it. Not that there's much to get !

TOM SELLECK WATERFALL SANDWICH LINK

The names of the sandwiches are light and hard to read.
One of the pages has a link to the Sellick Waterfall Sandwich Theme Song which
sounds like it was recorded in someone's kitchen.
I was never a fan of Tom Sellick."

Well, I am a big fan of Tom Sellick...and I thought it was terrific.
I miss the shorts guys wore back in the 80's. So much
man-leg. Ha cha cha!

1- 2 3 AND 4-5 and 6

Go Sistahs! I love this picture. It was taken when we were visiting my brother and his family last May. BEFORE SUMMER REALLY STARTED!

And now it is past the halfway mark (July 4).

My son is headed to Chicago to go with my sisters and their families to Myrtle Beach. I have cautioned him to be careful, drive safely, and carry his weight. He will. I did not go this year because I did not think I could afford it since I did not know what my finances would be like. I wanted Harry to go though. We've always had so much fun. I just wasn't up to it for myself this year.

I signed up for dance lessons. This will be my second shot at it. I signed up in early spring for a class on SOCIAL DANCING through the community education program. I only ever went to one lesson because I always seem to have scheduling conflicts with work and all. This time I signed up through a local dance hall. I asked someone if they were interested and would like to try it with me and HE said yes! Surprise. We went last night and it was fun. West Coast Swing.

The last two times I've gone to Chicago I have gone out with my mom and we've gotten manicures. Good times!

Harry made the Dean's List for the Spring Semester. Yeah! So far so good.
He's got a job this summer with a company and he likes it. He is in a Co-op program so this will last through college if he wants and they will take him through all the departments. Harry is doing better than I ever expected, considering how many frights he gave me growing up so I am very proud of him.

I bought new furniture over the internet (with proceeds from my half of the sale of one of our tractors) and I am very excited. I've recieved the couch and its great and one of the chairs is coming today. I have never ever bought furniture before in my entire life. I have always picked it up from garage sales and second hand stores. I am totally excited.

At any rate, the summer is going by fast and it feels like I haven't done anything yet. That will change.

Drop 5 years off your face in 5 minutes

I love this sort of advice. I have been saving this note. I'll just leave
it here....

(InStyle.com) -- Time to believe in mini-miracles! Beauty gurus say the secret to looking refreshed is in your makeup bag. So what are you waiting for?

1. Give your eyes a lift
So long, dark circles and droopy lids. When you swap smoky shadows and sooty pencils for a softer palette, tired eyes take on a decidedly youthful glow.
Rethink your concealer: Instead of applying it under the entire eye, start at the inner socket, and tap a peach-based shade to a point just underneath the center of the pupil, blending well to cancel out blue shadows. Don't use concealer on outer corners; it can accentuate crow's feet.
Skip the shadow: Define your crease with a pencil instead, in a shade slightly darker than your skin tone -- then smudge it. "You get the illusion of bigger eyes without the heavy look," says makeup artist Pati Dubroff.
Go nude:Trace your lower lash line with a flesh-toned pencil. "It's like eight hours of sleep in a liner," says makeup artist Paula Dorf.

2. Plump your lips
The perfect kisser is cushiony and plush with a whisper of color -- not overly inflated or sharply defined.
Pencil in a pout: Use a chubby tip in a neutral shade to trace the fullest version of your lips. Then blend with your fingertip to soften the edges.
Lighten up:Tiny shadows at the corners of your mouth can turn your smile upside down. Keep them under cover with a dot of concealer.
Go shiny: A bit of gloss on the center of your lower lip and cupid's bow gives the appearance of fullness. Try dusky pinks and soft toffee hues.
3. Get cheeky
Just because we weren't born with killer bone structure doesn't mean we can't fake it. Create the illusion of chiseled cheekbones and give your face a lift.
Start soft: A mousse primer smooths the skin's surface to help the flushed, dewy look stay put.
Add contour: Use two tones of cream blush. Swirl a rosy hue on the apples, then blend a swoosh of bronze below the cheekbones. The result: pretty definition and babylike fullness.
4. Make skin glow
Older complexions can look dull; youthful ones appear moist and even in texture. Look for formulas with light-diffusing particles and avoid powders, which can settle into fine lines and add decades.
Add shine: Skin that seems to glisten naturally usually involves a little artificial sparkle. Apply luminizer to cheek and brow bones and to the bridge of your nose. We like Chantecaille's for fair complexions and Modelco Luminosity Shimmer Whip in Bronze (sephora.com) for olive and darker ones.
Stay hydrated:Treat dry patches with a refined face oil. Pati Dubroff swears by Rodin Olio Lusso, which "smells divine and gives skin instant luminosity."
Welcome matte: "Nothing is more aging than overly powdered skin," says makeup artist Molly Stern, who opts for mattifying primer instead. Try Smash-box's or Revlon Beyond Natural Smoothing primer.
Keep it sheer: Apply foundation only where needed, and choose a formula that can be layered for more coverage.
5. Define your jawline
Why hide behind a chunky turtleneck when face-saving angles are only a powder away?
Slim fast: Using a fluffy brush, blend powder in a shade two hues deeper than your skin just below your chin.
Is your makeup aging you?
Consider this...
• Matte lipstick accentuates age lines, creating a puckered effect.
• Yellow-based bronzer makes skin look sallow, not sun-kissed.
• Powder blush rarely delivers a youthful glow (unless it's loaded with shimmer).
• Retro eyeliner is cool, but not when you're trying to look younger.
• Mascara on your lower lashes tends to cast unflattering undereye shadows, so skip it.

Happy Mother's Day

My sister sent me this your tube clip. The guy was dead on. I think he employed every catch phrase I ever used on my kid and step kids. It was scary.

And then there were the other things (that i try to forget). Like the time my son was riding in the grocery cart and it was about halfway filled with food and he was bouncing on the bread and not sitting quietly as i was politely asking (yeah right! I probably was too busy squeezing melons).

At any rate, I was commandeering the cart down an unpopulated aisle. i was planning to give the kid a good crack but didn't want to engender the nasty looks from other shoppers. Just as i was slowing the cart down my son bounced right out of the cart and onto the floor. He wasn't hurt too bad but enough to make him sober up. It saved me the trouble of having to whack him myself.

Oh and like another time...Harry was bouncing in the passenger seat of the car. He was about 4 years old, and i was taking him to day care. I had repeatedly told him to put his seat belt on. I was always telling him to put his seat belt on, and as usual he was jumping up and down and just ignoring me. I was going about 5 miles an hour waiting for him to comply. Finally, i just broke the car hard. The stop was just enough to cause harry to fly forward. He went head first and hit the windshield with his forehead. The sudden impact put a crack in the wind shield. Never mind that Harry had a red bump on his head, I had to take the car in and get the window replaced.

So thats what that is...

Our group had happy hour get together at a neighborhood bar after work a few nights ago. My coworker asked me how it was going. I've always been pretty up front with everybody at work, and it is a bull pen, and sometimes I do take personal calls at my desk.

I spent twenty years in a pretty conventional domestic situation, with a husband, kids, pets, and a station wagon. (I still have the station wagon, which I plan to drive into the ground mostly because I can't afford to do anything else!)


So to give my coworker an idea of what was happening, I told him what my kitchen looked like at the moment. That is, my kitchen no longer looks like a kitchen. I took a sculpture class in February. After that I pulled out all the projects that I have had laying around unfinished for the last five or six years, all mosaics, because that has been one of my interests since Harry was young.


The kitchen table is covered in newspaper, with tile clippers and trowels and buckets in piles and stacks on top of that. I have my next projects in a corner with books open and scattered on the floor, in front of the counter and the sliding glass doors, waiting for the ideas that are still being formulated. There are dirty rags on the counter, and gloves for grouting in the sink, and this is the way the kitchen has looked now since February. The rest of the place is starting to look that personal too.


My friend laughed. He said "Hey, that reminds me of what I went through just after my divorce, but for me it was cars. There were car parts everywhere on newspaper all over my house!" Ah, so that's what it is. It made me feel good knowing that this was a perfectly natural condition.

Summer '08

I turned 50 last July. It really wasn't so bad. My sisters planned a surprise. The tradition started with Jennifer three years ago. Laura will be next year and we'll do Ann (first person on the left) as well, but Ann lives in Memphis. She has so much to say about it.

I had to go to Chicago to celebrate. The surprise was the people that my sisters invited, like Ann! Wow. She was our neighbor growing up. She was Laura's best friend and like a sister to us (she was the fourth sister), and has been a part of our family forever. Wafa, the girl next to Ann in green, came with her husband and kids from Michigan. She buddied around with us Saturday while her hubbie hung with the kids. They have some family here too. We had a great time. Spent the day bike riding around Chicago on rented bikes. We stayed at an old hotel in Chicago and went out to eat and all that and the next morning Cathy and Abu joined us for breakfast. I used to live with Cathy in Oakpark...and then in Elmhurst. It is always nice to see Cathy and Abu.

I spent the rest of the weekend with my sisters and Ann, who had a lot of advise for me on how I should handle the future and my suddenly single status. And my mother, who always gives me great advice, never hesitates to tell me, "Oh Anne you are going to have so much fun!" I love it. How can I lose?

I'm back!

So I moved to Rochester, by myself! Everything I did just didn't seem to work out so here I am, and as my soon to be ex husband always says, "it is a wonderful life if you don't weaken..." and it is.



My mom and sisters came up in October because they wanted to "help" and we had a great visit. We went to the local farmer's market.



My sisters are spoiled living in Chicago. They could not help comparing. We went out for a pub crawl and I gave them the 10 cent tour. I live four blocks away from the downtown area. They liked the idea that there might be a bar at the end of my block. That was the way it was when we were living in Lakewood after college. Our bar scene was a bit of a let down for them. They kept saying, "this is out in the boonies!".

Then Laura went out Saturday morning for coffee..up to the local version of 7-11. As she was coming out of the store with coffee in hand, a couple of police cruisers had pulled up, and policemen were surrounding some guy. They pushed him to the ground, their pistols pointed just like on TV, at the guys head. She was freakin' out. What got her worse was that the local bystanders, none really, seemed to notice. It was like normal. People just went about their business. She talked about that the rest of the weekend. So there you go, not average after all.

We've been getting a lot of rain....

There are days after a rain when our driveway is just coated with earthworms. You may not be able to tell from this picture... but there are quite a few. Its a bit unsettling having to drive over them. I found this Q&A out on the internet. I apologize but I forget where I found it.

Ecology

Q. Why do worms come onto driveways and sidewalks when it rains?
A. Dr. Dennis Linden, Cindy Hale, and other worm experts say that worms do NOT surface to avoid drowning. In fact, they come to the surface during rains (especially in the spring) so they can move overland. The temporarily wet conditions give worms a chance to move safely to new places. Since worms breathe through their skin, the skin must stay wet in order for the oxygen to pass through it. After rain or during high humidity are safe times for worms to move around without dehydrating. It is true that, without oxygen, worms will suffocate. But earthworms can survive for several weeks under water, providing there is sufficient oxygen in the water to support them.

Q. Do earthworms come to the surface after heavy rains to avoid drowning?
A. Not exactly. Earthworms can survive for several weeks under water providing there is sufficient oxygen in the water to support them. They surface as a response to high relative humidity after rain because they can move around safely without drying out.


Q. Where did our earthworms come from?
A. Experts believe most native species were wiped out wherever glaciers covered the land. Most earthworms we see today were imported mainly from Europe by early settlers. The worms or worm cocoons traveled in the rootstocks of plants brought by the settlers from their homelands. Europeans added soil, with its earthworms or worm cocoons, to ships for ballast. Once anchored in North American harbors, ships released their ballast -and living worms, who found new homes.

Q. What do earthworms eat?
A. Earthworms eat dirt! Their nutrition comes from things in soil, such as decaying roots and leaves. Animal manures are an important food source for earthworms. They eat living organisms such as nematodes, protozoans, rotifers, bacteria, fungi in soil. Worms will also feed on the decomposing remains of other animals.

Q. How do worms eat?
A. They don't have teeth but they have strong mouth muscles. Dew worms or nightcrawlers often surface at night to pull fallen leaves down into their burrow. When the leaf softens a little they pull off small bits to munch on. Worms also "swallow" soil as they burrow.

Q. How much do earthworms eat in one day?
A. They can consume up to one third of their own body weight in a day.

Q. How can I tell if there are earthworms in the soil?
A. When trying to find evidence of earthworms, look at the soil surface first. Earthworms often leave small piles or pellets of soil on the surface. Dig a spadeful of soil and sort through it for earthworms. Experience will also allow you to find cocoons. While you are digging, always watch for evidence of large burrows with "slickened" sidewalls. These may indicate the presence of nightcrawlers.

Q. Why do robins tug at earthworms in the soil?
A. Worms use the many tiny bristles or setae on each of their body rings to help them crawl as well as to anchor themselves firmly in their burrows. The robin has to tug because the worm is gripping the soil!

Q. Can earthworms survive freezing?
A. If frozen, they will die. Some of them the adults survive freezing temperatures by going below the frost line or estivating. Worm eggs within a cocoon survive deep in the soil over winter, and they hatch in the spring when conditions are right.

Q. When are worms most active?
A. In the fall and spring. Cool (temperatures of 50, 60, 70), moist conditions are best for earthworms. They aren't active when it's cold or dry.

Q. What do earthworms do when it gets too cold, too hot, or too dry?
A. Earthworms escape by either burrowing deeply into the soil (up to 2 meters), or entering a reduced metabolic state known as estivation. When conditions are favorable, they will emerge and resume normal activities.

Q. What happens during estivation?
A. Each worm forms a tight ball deep in the soil. Its metabolism slows way down.

Q. What are some earthworm enemies?
A. Snakes, birds, moles, toads and even foxes are known to eat earthworms. Beetles, centipedes, leeches, slugs and flatworms also feed on earthworms. Some types of mites parasitize earthworm cocoons or the worms themselves.

Senioritus: its not just the kids, its me!

I am in the process of planning a graduation party for my son. There is no way around this activity. Harry wants one and I just cannot let him down. And, this is a big deal around here. because there are three seasons in this area: Winter, Summer and Graduation. For a month this spring, every weekend will be filled with breakfast brunches and open houses. Mostly open houses. Its ham sandwiches, potato salad and cake, the scrap book, the sports medal,s and the 4H ribbons. People get knew carpeting, resod their yards, put on additions, and plan years in advance. I AM NOT KIDDING.

When I started thinking about this I thought, we are going to have a big party, no wall of fame, no ham sandwiches and no cake, but we are going to have a live band and invite the whole universe. As time goes by, I find that my interest and involvement in Harry's school year is waning. I have gone to a few of his track meets. And to think of all those years I coached soccer teams in 30 degree weather, and taught religious education to all those kids (my son included!), its hard to believe i could be so disinterested, but its true! I am ready for him to fly the nest. As for a party, I'm thinking Harry can just invite his friends and i'll buy pizza! Well almost. I do have a few things up my sleeve. I am going to borrow some tables from the neighbors, and I'll pull out the bowling balls and pins, volley ball set, croquet, horseshoes and have at it I guess. Some of my family members are coming so I think they will help me set up. I guess its not so bad.


HERE IS WHAT I DID THIS WEEKEND:

I went to a mosaic workshop and loved it. I have been dabbling in this activity for about ten years, starting when my son was very young. I would give him a hammer and let him break the tiles. He loved it.

What was great about this class was that the instructor gave us her formulas for grout and tile adhesive. Many of the pre-mixed varieties and other brands found at local hardware stores or tile stores have cancer causing substances (like latex) that are highly toxic. The instructors formulas do not have additives, are very strong and can stand subzero conditions. She gave me alot of information about tools, where to find quality, and techniques. It got me over a serious hump. She also offers classes in Puerto Vallarta in the winter and I am giving it serious consideration. I feel recharged and rejuvenated. Oh yeah.


(Pictures above: first one is my work area in the basement. I used to have alot more panels, but I gave them as gifts to friends and family at Christmas. The second picture is of the shoes I covered: mostly shells and some buttons and a buckle. I white washed the shoes with paint. One of the things she talked alot about was using negative space and how to achieve it. Also, I didn't have to grout between the objects. I am also working on a metal cigar box - humadore? that i am loading up with little porcelain animal figurines .. a zoo!)

HERE IS WHAT MY SON WAS SUPPOSED TO DO BUT HAS NOT DONE YET: He needs a new car, but has to clean up this one so we can sell it or give it away. Its got some serious problems and I don't want to put any more money into it..Harry's got some money saved so we'll just get a new one.

Fifty is Nifty

This is a picture of my older sister on her fiftieth birthday which happened a couple of years ago about this time of year. We went to some kind of review in Chicago. I am sure you can tell the kind of review. Jenny posed with some of the entertainers. The club and this review have been around since the 70's and we heard that one of the entertainers (the "girl" in the middle) used to date Dennis Rodman. This night club, and I can't remember the name, is a popular event for bachlorette parties and the girls wear plastic lauas?help) and the emcee has them stand up and the "girls" prance with them or tell jokes. It was fun. My sister was surprised. The bigger surprise though was that I showed up.

My sister is the oldest of four and the first to hit the big 5 0. My brother is a year younger and turned 50 in 2006 and I am turning 50 this year. My little sister (who was always taller than me) will turn fifty not long after that. Yikes!

What I get the biggest kick out of though is the kids, our children. They think we are just such old turds, like we don't know what they are doing. Sheesh! Like we've never done what they are doing or know what they are talking about. Times change but not that much.

My niece Megan (proud owner of Pufkin the hamster, and winner in the Egg Decorating contest) is in the process of moving out of the house and into an apartment near Wrigley Field. We are all very excited about that and I wonder how she'll feel every weekend when several of her Aunts (and me too!) show up at midnite looking for a place to crash because they don't want to drive back to the burbs. I can't wait for the day my mother and Mario show up for the same reason. In our family it doesn't matter how old you are, you never lose it.

How we spent our weekend....

It was a warm, er well 40 ish and sunny Saturday afternoon so I went down our fencelines (we own the property on both sides for now) and cleaned out the bluebird boxes. I don't expect the bluebirds for at least another month, but when they come home for the summer they will want their houses move in ready.... I use a cordless drill with a phillips drill bit, and of course I always carry a refreshment.

We spaced the bluebird boxes twenty five feet apart, but swallows will also use these boxes as nests and usually every other box will have been occupied by a swallow. There is a difference in how they build their nests. The bluebirds fill them fuller. None were empty so I was quite satisfied.

On Sunday my son invited his buds over for a little male bonding. They cooked Gumbo. Someone's mom gave them a recipe and helped them with the shopping (where to go because it is hard to find ethnic foods like anduoille sausage in this area).

They cooked what normally takes about four hours and condensed it into two with tricks like high heat and the boys each did a 15 minute rotation on stirring, like every 15 minutes it was someone else's turn. I offered suggestions like, you should brown the meat first for better flavor but i was over ruled.

The put the minute rice in with the water and then boiled it (sigh).

I think they were happy with the results. I went out before they were done and while the kitchen was pretty neat when i left (they were cleaning as they went) it looked like a hurricane went through after that, even though amazingly all the dirty dishes were in the sink.

Thankyou EGG JUDGES There is still time to vote

Thank you all for your input. I am going to tally the results and get back to you with the final numbers. There are still probably a couple more days for voting if anyone feels compelled.
We've had two more snow storms since I last blogged, and last night the temperatures were in the 20's, but it warmed up to 40 something this afternoon. Next week it will be in the 50's so say the meteorologists.

The ground is still frozen but the birds are singing up a storm. Chatting up their mates and what not. Its going to get pretty crazy around here, just wait and see.

I'll keep you posted, I promise.

I love Craigslist

My life is a little bit crazy right now... we just put our dream house up for sale. Here is the listing. It is way too much work for me living out here. As much as I love this lifestyle and all the birds and bees etc, I need a change. I am seriously thinking of either putting everything up for sale (furniture etc) or having an auction and getting rid of it that way. I want to do something like move downtown (big city right) and rent for awhile. My goal is to simplify my life. I am going to walk away from this one and do something completely different, er like... buy furniture from Ikea ... (I feel like the opening scene on the Mary Tyler Moore show where she throws her hat up in the air and they play that song..well eventually ..things are pretty bad right now).

Anyway, I love Craigslist. In the last year i've sold so many things: a VERY HIGH END tandem (bicycle built for two), a 20 year old car top carrier from Sears, a 300 gallon water tank, a xylaphone, a drum kit, a chainsaw, a keyboard, almost sold the drum set but oh well, and I just put an advertisement for MAX the WONDERDOG out there and have had two inquiries. I LOVE CRAIGSLIST. I've taken pictures of everything in my house. It is so tempting....

MizMell tagged me for a 4x4 meme. I thought someone was going to help me with this but they never did so here goes:

4 jobs I have had: Yarn winder, plant waterer, waitress, waitress, coctail waitress, waitress (oh thats more than 4!)

4 shows i watch (i don't tivo): American Idol, Seinfield, hmmm Seinfield, hmmm John Stewart (well that is sort of 4)

4 places I've been: Chicago, Cleveland, Baltimore, Washington D.C (worked all these places and lived in them as well...i don't do vacations, i visit relatives.)

4 foods I like: well thats tough Coffee, strawberries, pinnapple, kiwi ...not sure if coffee is actually a food, but I like mocha alot (is that a food?).

4 tags: Jami (she is one of my favourite commenters over at Hollywood: Where hot comes to die), Ginnie , Erika, Blackbird (i know she'll say yes ..well i hope so).