Grass is Greener

We have gozillion amount of channels on our TV. I pushed for satellite this past spring. The switch for HD was being made and the little black box was not doing the job. So along came a dish attached to out roof.
The kids were and are thrilled. We had entered the current age.
My husband wasn't so sure. He would point out from time to time there really wasn't anything on.
I didn't buy it. I had to admit that I enjoyed the food channel, the travel channel, arts channels. Watching dog shows with my corgis on Saturday mornings.
Tonight we are watching PBS. A channel we had before.
Tomorrow we will still have the multi-million channels.
But there will be a little bit of humble pie spiritually eaten.

Applebee's

Wednesday will be Veterans' Day.
Applebee's will be serving entrees for free to any veteran. Hy Vee in Topeka will be serving breakfast to any veteran and his/her spouse. There will be other such offerings. A small token.
My father was in WWII. My husband in Korea. Friends were in Nam and Bosnia. Afghanistan and Iraq and Afghanistan again.
We feed the body.
Yet, there are so many that aren't fed. Be it physically or otherwise. We had 8 years where "patriotism" reigned and the veteran was ignored.
My hope is that there is a change in the air with our current administration. My hope is that what we all saw when Obama met the plane carry the dead and the families, giving back the dignity and respect so deserved. That we all know the cost of war. The cost veterans shouldered.

Hobby Lobby

I frequented Hobby Lobby for the second time in as many weeks today. Doing yet another holiday table in a couple weeks. You know, that china fetish I have?
Anyway, I have the ability to spend an hour in that place. Pleasantly wandering from aisle to aisle thinking about all that could be.
Yet, I have to admit my concience is beginning to tweak me. The profits of the company go to very conservative entities. Some intense conservative bias. Ultra religious. Going towards the judgemental and discriminating.
Sigh.
How can I support Hobby Lobby with my patronage and know where some of my money might end up?
Damn.

Whoopers

My husband and I took a time out this afternoon. We went up to Cheyenne Bottoms, north of Ellinwood and Great Bend. Special repeat visitors had arrived.
The whooping cranes.
There are very many and the area had 18. An absolute plethora!
We saw them in the distance. Four could be seen.
There would be no chance of getting close. That is at it should be to my way of thinking. It is the human interaction that has brought them to the brink of extinction.
We moved at a crawl and then stopped. All we could hear was the wind, the call of birds on the water and the water itself. Daily life faded away.
What a gift.
We are home, but carry a bit of that peace.

Obsessions

I have a confession to make.
No, not one of those.
Actually, it is just a proclaimation that many already know about it.
I love china. 7 sets. Each can serve a minimum of 12.
Keep in mind we have a small house and George collects wooden toys along with my collection of pedestal cake plates, cake plates in general and glass.
Storage is an interesting dilemna.
But I digress.
I love china and this weekend I get to show off a set for a holiday table and in 2 more weeks I get to use a different set for a different holiday table at another function. I am excited. In making that statement, I am struck by how odd it is.
Ooooohhh. Arranging china and candles and vintage stuff.
Exciting?
Maybe I need therapy.
But I heard about another auction with china...

Church Ladies

Church ladies.
Some you wouldn't hang with unless you were at church. Some of the women become your closest friends for the remainder of your life. Seeing you through times when life looked pretty bleak. Then there are some of the women you enjoy seeing once a week on Sunday. Catch up on the doings of their families, job and maybe discuss some church business.
It is the "womens'" groups that make me a little crazy and bring out the worst in any woman. I don't care who she is.
I was at one tonight. Great women. Very strong in their lives and faith. Until the planning of the "bazaar" begins. It is a stressful time for everyone. Talk about the devil in the details. Has to be perfect.
Bazaars are the devil. They bring out the confused, the perfectionist and those who just want to give money to feel better and stay the hell away from it.
If you are church woman, you know what I am talking about. You have felt it. And I bet you want to run as fast as I do.
Our bazaar is in 2 weekends. Baking will be out of control. Then the wrapping of the foodstuffs, then the selling.
Gotta be a better way.

Detours

Tomorrow would have been my father's birthday if he were still alive. I have tried to not think about that fact. Taking the advice of those I love and respect to just get on with living. Those individuals were right, but....
I couldn't. Memories would pop into my mind. The urge to call Dad with news of the day when I would start making dinner for the family. Like I did before. Starting to look at the Thanksgiving dinner and realizing for the first time ever I don't need to fix bread dressing. He was the one to ask for it. Everyone else except our son obligingly ate it on the day, but that was the longest living leftover.
Anyway, I would force my mind to take detours around the feelings, the memories. Think about something else. Didn't work. I was growing short with the world around me. I would tear up at the least little thing. And while I am a weeper, it was getting rather foolish.
So with that in mind, I started to look at what was going on. I also opened up to what I needed to do. Not what someone else would do, but what I needed.
I avoided the detours. I am using things that belonged to my folks and enjoying the thought they too would be pleased. I can imagine smiles and that in turn has slowed the tears and heavy feelings. I can't advise anyone on how to deal with death of those people important in their lives. It is different for all. Just avoid the detours.