Summer's Here
Flowers from My Garden
June 29

A Gift from Elise

I got my gift for all seasons today--Mother's Day, birthday, Christmas, next Mother's Day, ... ! Elise had a puzzle of my very own made for me, from Stave Puzzles. Their puzzles are something I'd read about some time ago: handcrafted, unique, wooden, highest quality both in workmanship and ingenuity. Amazing. And now I have my own. It has pieces that spell my name, and spell Grammy, and include a silhouette of a woman carrying books (librarian), gardening tools and flowers, birds and other wildlife. I can't even name all the special-to-my-own-puzzle pieces there are; I'll have to take them all out and look at them carefully. The pieces look like they're laser-cut, or else the company uses the finest bandsaw on earth. So terrific. Go to their Web site at StavePuzzles.com for more info.

What a fabulous gift! Thank you sooooo much, Elise! If it doesn't make me totally nuts (no picture accompanies the puzzle and it may include false edge pieces, etc.) I'll take a picture when it's finished ... in a few years!

Car Show ... and More

Not a lot is going on around here. My biggest task at the moment is adjusting to being fully retired. This means I'm finished with my textbook revision and I have no presentations, workshops or courses/classes to deal with. I'm pretty sure I'm going to say no to teaching in Fall '07 semester, too. But I haven't absolutely decided on that yet.

I'm getting back into reading for the visually impaired. I'm a novel-reader and am currently working on putting Ordinary Heroes by Scott Turow on "tape." I actually record at the local PBS station where the Center for Independence has a tiny studio. Volunteers go in and read the local paper live there, and others read from magazines, and I and a few others read novels that are serialized. The Readers Radio station (I don't know if that's the official name) broadcasts on very low frequency, I believe, and listeners are those who've self-identified w/the Center to get receivers for the station. (I think.) Anyway, there's not a problem w/copyright because of the fact it's a limited audience, so I can read novels of my choosing. So far I've done Bel Canto by Ann Patchett, and now Turow's book; obviously I'm new at this. I went to record today after a break of about 6 weeks. I'll do a LOT of editing of this tape! And that's something else I do: I take the 30-min. digital tapes I record and make them into 55-min. sessions with an opening synopsis and a break for station ID. That's actually the toughest part; the reading is a breeze. (Well, usually. Today was definitely an exception.)

So other than that I'm trying to learn how to be more receptive to the idea that time has little meaning in my life anymore. (That may not be permanent!) I spent about a half hour watching/listening to barbershop tapes on YouTube today after my brother, a SPEBSSQUA member, mentioned one group. And I had to tell myself that it wasn't time "wasted." It was simply something I was interested in and I pursued it. Neat. And I don't feel guilty, although I had to convince myself of that while I was doing it!

The weekend was fun. Stan was in a car show.


He showed his Audi TT, a very cool car that I love to ride in and love, even more, to drive. I don't get a lot of chances--it IS his toy. But he came in 2d (4 entries) in his class--Foreign Sports Cars--and that was not too shabby (only 2 prizes awarded in that class). So here he is with the trophy.


It might not be too obvious but he was pretty pleased with the outcome. He loves detailing cars and mine is on his agenda. Cheaper than the commercial guys. And waaaay better.

My darling Kyrin is growing and doing very cute stuff. I am so in love with that video of her rattling newspaper. I watch it all the time. While I'd love to be near, I know that her mom & I need some miles, although I'm absolutely dedicated to trying NOT to steer my daughters' lives. My mom was a great role model for that. I know I could live in the same town and not intrude. Since I come from a family that was definitely not "extended," i.e., no relatives within hollering distance--or even easy driving distance in the 50s and 60s--I learned to exist with my mom close by phone any time and for any reason but far way in distance. I think my mom & dad were pioneers in that, in moving away from their nuclear families. It doesn't sound like much, but my mom was from Milwaukee, WI, and my dad from a small town near Green Bay--worlds apart at the time. And then when they chose to leave BOTH their cities of birth, well, the world ended for some relatives, I'm sure. And I'm a product of that, producing children who know no different.

This is all to say that I had an idea in my head of my mom approving or disapproving all my life and I hope my daughters don't have that as well. Their lives are their lives and my opinion means @#$%. Elise & Jane are truly strong women of whom I am VERY proud. I think I could live in the next block and would work my fanny off to not intrude.

So on that militant note,
Good night.

Heavy Sigh

So my garden is really coming along this year. It had better seeing as how I've replaced almost all the soil in it. Anyway, I finally bought a gazing globe to go in it. I got it without the stand because I wanted a particular kind of globe and I had to order it, figuring I could get a stand anywhere. The globe has crystals swirled around the inside and they collect sunlight and glow for a few hours at dusk. I ordered it from Target, it came very quickly and we went today to find a stand.

The original plan was to put it in the middle of a giant terracotta plant pot (+/- 2' diameter--used to have a ficus in my house on Cornelia St.) and surround it w/petunias (deep purple). No one in Pburgh had the type of stand needed--big surprise--so we came home. Stan had said for me to take the globe along to make sure it would fit any stand I found (I would have left it at home). And on the way in the back door when we returned (w/o a stand), the globe hit the door frame and shattered.

So I just ordered another one. And a stand.

Heavy sigh.

The Book is Finished

I finished revising my textbook today. I've been working at it for so long that I'm in a bit of a mind fog, not feeling absolutely sure that I'm finished. The bloody copyright permissions were the worst part, as usual. But if I don't do them the publisher charges for the service. When I do the requests I just send an e-mail, nothing terrifically official and I've got fast positive responses almost all the time. So I'm finished writing and thinking, at least for awhile.

This is really the beginning of my true retirement. Up till now I've had contracts to do projects at the library and I've taught as an adjunct. I still haven't decided about teaching in the Fall semester; I'll have to know darned soon, I'm sure. I wish I had a better feel for what Stan & I might do in the fall--visiting, I mean. Or maybe he & I will go to Nova Scotia, rather than he & his fishing partner Jerry. THAT would be nice. Maybe I'll suggest that. Jerry & his wife Sally are on their way there right now; it's about 15-17 hrs of driving and they're going to stay for 3 weeks. They bought a house on 100 acres to retire to. Retire TO Nova Scotia from northern New York? I think no one has told them about the direction you move when you retire, i.e., SOUTH. Originally their plan was to winter in NY and summer in NS. It's the wintering in NY that seems a bit odd to me. But I'm not them. And with Stan getting cold easier as he gets older, I don't foresee that in MY future!


So I've thought about Jane & Dan's wedding and have decided that I really do have perfect daughters. I dropped them an e-mail to tell them so yesterday. (I could have used some of that from my mom from time to time.) Anyway, I had a great time in the Midwest, where the wedding was held. We stayed in the Hilton and it was a VERY nice hotel. Since Stan spent a lot of time on his own while I was with the girls it turned out to be a very nice place to just kick back. He befriended almost everyone who came out to the patio where he sat smoking his pipe. Actually the whole time there was so nice that I don't even have any funny stories to tell. Sounds pretty bland, doesn't it? But we just had a great time. Thanks, Jane!

And I got to spend a ton of time with Kyrin. What a joy. She is such a terrific little girl. Go to the Pi Lady's blog to see the cutest video.

Gotta run. I want to check out "Starter Wives" on tv. I've seen one episode and thought it had potential....

Just a quickie.

I saw an article in the NYTimes today that talks about the decrease in the number of "meadow birds" like bobwhite, meadow larks, etc. and it reminded me of the other night when I heard my first whip-poor-will. It actually sings repeatedly "whip poor will." I never really knew that and it was pretty cool. Stan said there hasn't been one around here for 20 years or more. I guess there IS a reason I live here (easily said when it's 68 with a high of 81 predicted!).

Maybe I should change my name to Marlin--oops, make that Starlin Perkins?
Still just
Starla

The Wedding

My younger daughter Jane was married in a beautiful ceremony last week. They chose to hold the wedding in the Joslyn Art Museum and it was a terrific choice. I think I have to let this ride for awhile to get a little perspective before I write about it. But here are two photos from it that I really like.



And this one is Dan seeing his bride up close. Could he look any happier?



Here's a link to a few other photos.

WT-Day Minus 7.5

That's Wedding-Travel day, for the uninformed, and we'll be leaving about 6-ish tomorrow a.m. Our flight leaves at 8:25 so we need the time to get a ferry--I don't when they start running 3/hr; if we're lucky we'll just miss the 6:20 and catch the 6:40. I cannot WAIT to be on the road.

But it will be an interesting getaway: The temp right now is 44 and there's a FROST WARNING tonight. It's JUNE, not April, for heaven's sake! I'm not bringing anything in because I'd have to get up waaaay too early to put it back out. And it'll probably still be freezing at 6:00 a.m. I'm being fairly dumb and wearing shorts out to Omaha. but it's supposed be around 80 by the time we arrive there so I should be okay.

Well, the Anaheim Mighty Ducks just this second won the Stanley Cup (that's hockey for the uninformed previously mentioned). I certainly wish Anaheim had been able to find a name that was a LITTLE classier. The Ducks???? Only in the U.S. would a city possibly even consider naming a professional sports team after a Disney movie. I'm sure Disney owns the team in some sense but really, the Ducks???? Stan was so bummed when the Buffalo Sabres lost to the Ottawa Senators (whom the Ducks just beat) that I was kind of surprised that he even watched the series.

So, the WEDDING. I'm so excited about this. Jane is my baby, the younger daughter of two, and it still amazes me that she's old enough to do this. But hey, I was only barely 23. (What WAS I thinking?) This wedding is a terrific next step in Jane & Dan's beautiful relationship and I couldn't be happier. She will be a beautiful bride, he a handsome groom, they love each other and have a great future ahead of them.

I'll post pictures after the fact. I cannot wait to be there.

UConn Visit

Well, I'm back from visiting the University of Connecticut where I went to give a talk at a conference. That was very successful, as was the idea of taking my brochures for my workshops. I spent $50 on them, but if I get even one booking for a workshop that'll certainly pay me back.

I ran a weird fever for about 3 hrs. while I was driving to Storrs (5 1/2 hr. drive). Then I got an ill-timed sinus headache on the day of the presentation and I wound up leaving the conference earlier than I had planned. But my timing turned out to be really good: I missed a nasty thunderstorm that passed through the Glens Falls area about 1/2 - 1 hr after I did, and then I had REALLY good luck: A State Trooper passed me on the highway when my cruise was set for about 75 (65 mph highway limit). Oops. I turned off the cruise--no brake lights showing--and slowed to 65, let some people pass me while I watched the Trooper up and down on the hills ahead (in the Adirondacks). I thought he was on a mission but he just seemed to be cruising in the left-hand lane. Then about 10-15 miles later I saw him hunkered down in among some trees & bushes in the median ... as I went past with my cruise at 70-71. I was behind another car--can't remember if it was a Canadian license or not--but again I switched off the cruise and slowed a bit. And doggone it, the Trooper pulled out behind me.

Now I've never gotten a speeding ticket. Ever. And there I am, a gray-haired lady in a spiffy bright blue Beetle, being a (pretty) good driver. So I'm thinking of the many cuss words I know--there are quite a few--and the Trooper pulls up next to me. I glanced over, thinking he was going to tell me to pull over and then get the other car too (I've seen that a lot lately). But no, he pulled IN FRONT OF ME and THEN turned on his flashers!!!!! He was nailing the car in front of me for speeding! I very carefully put on my turn signal and pulled left to go around--a little below 65 mph--and got my heart started again. Whew doesn't begin to cover it!

The worst part of the whole incident? I was in a 50-mile no-cell-service area so I couldn't call Stan and tell him about the near miss. RATS! I had the earphone in and the cell on my lap for MILES but there was just no point. Service is available when I'm about 1/2 hr from home. AAAARGH!

Will I stay at the speed limit in the future? Probably not, but then, I rarely go 10 mph over. Driving to CT however, about 1/3 of the trip is on the Mass Pike where everyone, and I do mean everyone (but me) was going 85. I did a little over 75 from time to time but felt much more comfy at 75. So they passed me. I was very okay with that.

I was taken out for dinner near UConn to a very nice restaurant where I had, for the first time, soft-shell crabs. You eat the whole thing; they're a little crunchy. But it's a very mild crab flavor. I don't know that I'll ever order them again; now that I've had the experience and it really did NOT wow me, I can pass it up in the future.

No photos for this report. I may not be back here until after Jane's wedding.