Caught in the Web(site)

I often balk at change and profess my love of all things calm and copacetic.  That is until I think about the technology that has me hooked.  I've been a fan of the computer since we needed an entire table top to house the components and were mesmerized when what we typed spewed out on paper from the adjoining piece of equipment.  I thought Atari was genius and heading done the Oregon Trail for hours on end made my mind expand as well as my ass. Today, I continue to love books of all kinds as I mourn the loss of my need for more bookshelves.  I continue my affair with movies and the theater and even my donation of my Encyclopedia Britannica brought tears to my eyes....but, I'm caught in that web (and you know how I abhor all things spidery and webby.)  Maybe leopards can change their spots and old dogs can learn new tricks.  The thought of any of my 5 top websites crashing now ranks right up there with chocolate factories closing, pigs (bacon) becoming extinct and daylight saving time being discontinued!!  Here they are in order of importance....for me:




1.  Face Book....I adore all those wonderful people I have friended and those who have friended me. hand in hand with my obsession with words, I love too, that friend has now become a verb!!
2.  Amazon.......I undoubtedly buy 75-90% of everything at Amazon.com. Most is shipped free and arrives in 2 days.... hell, it takes me longer to make my rounds to Kinney's and the Modern Market!
3.  Google.......Seriously between Google and Siri, I have knowledge.
4.  Yahoo........I've got mail!!
5.  Netflix......My newest and latest "must have!"  I often find it hard to believe that with 7 televisions  (don't go there,) nearly 100 channels, a movie theater in-house and DVDs that I haven't even opened (mostly because I can't even get the f-ing cellophane off!) that I am in this affair with a website that provides me any genre of viewing at the push of a few buttons....on nearly any device..........................including my phone...


  Holy shit...I am Jane Jetson.

Got Milk?

We live in farm country...well it used to be farm country. Now it's all too familiar to see farms failing, barns crumbling and the saying, Go Big or Go Home, all too true.  My husband was raised on a dairy farm. You raised your own crops, milked your own cows, ate your own critters and sold the surplus to support your families.  Two of my very favorite things on the farm were making sauerkraut from scratch and drinking milk straight out of the bulk tank. Dairy farms were prevalent and successful enough to feed families, educate children and pay the bills.  Then the government slowly began to crawl into rural America.  They offered to pay farmers NOT to grow specific crops, they regulated milk production and all things affordable began to slip away along with control. But milk continued to be a staple of American life.  Even people in the cities drank milk...and then the unthinkable, even Jack went off to sell his cow...for beans no less!


Entrepreneurs and advertisers still reaped the rewards with campaigns like "Got Milk?"  Actors sporting milk mustaches made millions and cows were spotted on billboards all across America.  Today the headline in the morning paper read: Milk industry fights back against "anti-dairy folks." Seriously, the tree huggers of this decade will be sorry when their crumbling bodies lie in hospital beds dying of nothing! :-)  Milk proponents reached the final straw...when the British Medical Journal published a study suggesting " drinking lots of milk could lead to earlier deaths and higher incidents of fractures!"  Really, oh wise Brits....have you checked your teeth lately?   So, it's time to rise up, sport your milk mustaches once again and "drown out milk's detractors with positive posts about milk!  Data says that in 2012, people drank an average of 14.5 gallons of milk a year (they obviously didn't poll us at 2199 State Rt. 38..better known as "the Milky Way!"  We guzzle gallons of milk a week here! The USDA still recommends 3 cups of dairy a day.....we're good!  Last year, the industry dropped its "Got Milk?" campaign in favor of one called "Milk Life."  That one obviously soured...I never heard it once! The newest campaign launching today is called "Get Real!"  Real milk (not almond or cashew or some other nut), real benefits (strong bones and teeth,) and real facts that milk still......... makes a body good!

Here we go again....

I guess this website, Grammarly, is just playing devil's advocate (which I often enjoy too.)  I am quite impressed to see that the majority of the replies are all, in some form, "Hell yes!!"  One fellow put it quite appropriately, "They continued to teach us to add after calculators were invented!"..............or did they? (cue the Twilight Zone music....)  We are dealing with Common Core aren't we and a simple addition problem now has many steps.. CHANGE.. I have such a problem with it.  Adults don't understand it and kids can't count it !!!

All thumbs

Thumbs must be the theme of the week.  As the saying goes, Opinions are just like --------, everybody has one. Whether it be movies, restaurants...or hospitals. In the broad scheme of things, I'd give hospitals and doctors offices 2 thumbs down.  Not because they're bad, just because I am rarely comfortable in any of them.  When I'm out of my comfort zone, it's not pretty.  Yesterday I spent nearly 8 hours of discomfort.  I did, however make it through surgery with no ill effects beyond high blood pressure, lack of information and lousy cheeseburgers.  BTW, Jeffrey flew through surgery with flying colors.  This is #5 in the Surgery of the Month (Life) Club.  He literally woke up with the prior pain gone, the limp gone and just a few residual after-effects of any surgery.  He was particularly fond of the catheter (NOT!) and explained that a discount should be in order as so little tubing was required....(or something like that.)  A sense of humor will get us through so much!
So, back to my critique:
Doctors:  2 thumbs up
Hospital : 1 thumb up......if you like hospitals... It's like saying it was a great insane asylum
Nurses: 2 thumbs up
Communication: middle finger up
Food:  2 fingers up


As of now, it was a good experience.  I have really only had one positive encounter with a hospital and that was the birth of Bailee...That was extraordinary and in a category all of its own.  I think I really just have a bad case of FOI (Fear of Institutions.)  I'm not a fan of any of them from hospitals to Congress.
 If I had to rate the overall experience, I'd have to give them a hand with various digits going in multiple directions. Jeff went in in pain and came out with it remarkably lessened.  I think that alone would rate a 2 thumbs up!!



HATFIELD may now be a hyphenated name :-)

Two thumbs.............

Ok here goes:  First let me preface my remarks with two things.  War movies are not my genre of choice.  Taste, as in beauty, are in the eyes of the beholder.  Just because I don't enjoy a certain meal at a restaurant, doesn't mean it's not good.  It just means I didn't care for it or it wasn't something my palate enjoyed. The same in movies.  I love movies!  Hey, I built a theater in my basement.  I love the solitude of the theater, the uninterrupted venue and of course, the popcorn.  I also want to be entertained.  Here again plays preference.  I like to laugh and I like to smile.... War doesn't do that for me. 


American Sniper was more than I wanted to know.  Undoubtedly not more than I should know but definitely more than I wanted to know. Although, I believe it is knowledge that I needed to know.  I have been fortunate in the fact that my family, with the exception of my grandfather who fought in WWI, never experienced war. Am I sorry that our past few generations never faced those circumstances... not for one, solitary second!  I know knowledge is power and ignorance is bliss...I guess I just want that happy medium.  My brain knows why I'm able to say what I want, live where I choose and carry on my daily life in safety.  My heart grieves for the many Chris Kyles who have literally given minds, bodies and souls to allow me to be oblivious to the ravages of war (albeit for stories such as ""Saving Private Ryan, Lone Survivor and American Sniper.)  They are also the reason that I, not the American government, the leader of North Korea or anyone else, can make the choice in what I watch and what I do not!


American Sniper was a graphic, teaching, touching film.  Making it even more so was the beforehand knowledge of Chris Kyle, the tragic ending of his life and the belief that his actions were heroic in his heart and mind....not just the "machoism" that comes from being military and is drummed into each and every soldier from day one but he believed that what he was doing was protecting every soul on American soil.


I'm often my own worst enemy when I become my own devil's advocate.  Was he doing all the wrong things for all the right reasons?  I am as patriotic as anyone! I believe in God, I believe in democracy and I believe in freedom.  I'm not sure I believe in war!  I know why there is war and will always be war but, as I said yesterday, I don't believe killing those who are killing will stop killing!! Once again the battle of head versus heart continues to wage.  My very own internal war....how ironic!


For me and likely only me, it was a movie I could have missed.

Night at the theater!

 Tonight we're going to the movies.....together...same theater, same movie...we may even sit next to each other although I'm thinking this one may need some interpretation and I'm not sure I can do that for the entire movie.  However, the last movie we saw jointly was Grand Torino and he heard it...and loved it..  We may be OK.  If the movie is as good as the trailer, we're in for a treat....if you can say that a true story of killing is a treat. The back story of Chris Kyle is amazing and he is a true American hero...even if I have some lingering doubts that killing those who are killing....really stops the killing!  It's been a long time since Jeff, Lee and I have unanimously agreed on what might just be a great movie.  If 92 million in 3 days means anything, we're making a great choice.  I've never had a problem with being a critic.  I'll let you know tomorrow.....if my thumbs are up or down and just how many!

Not your old cartoons

My breakfast partner has been out of town and after perusing the morning paper, I decided to take a look at the funnies!  Let's just say, they're not so funny any more and it takes a lot to shock me... Well, shock might not be the operative word....maybe it's more like startle.  I read through the old standbys and looked through the ones I was unfamiliar with...which were many as I don't "do" the funnies much.  I immediately stopped at Chickweed.....NUDE funnies.....especially when they're not really funny.  I'm assuming that this is a running comic and I needed to be following the story....obviously I wasn't...............and won't be. Now, I'm about as far from a prude as is humanly possible, I am aging and I do understand that kids don't read the newspaper (as a rule) but what's the purpose of nude comics?  Most everything theses days has a purpose...to entertain, to advertise, to enlighten and I guess to startle.... Who knew?

Regrets..............Not so much!

We all have regrets. Some may be bigger than others and yet..................some may be much smaller.


As I lay in bed last night, I thought about all the things you hear people say they wished they had done.  I decided to make a mental list so I'd have it to use in a future blog....or even just a conversation.  Imagine how amazed I was when I literally couldn't think of one.  I'm sure other folks could take my life and experiences and say:


I wish I had given birth..........HELL no. I've heard the stories and I'm 100% convinced that having a baby go in is way more fun that having one come out!  My children are my children from the very second they were delivered. End of story!


I wish I had completed my college degree..............Possibly but no regrets.  I went to a prestigious college (keep in mind it was the 70's) and remember withdrawing from a course called "Language and Thought."  Our professor would come to class each week with different color hair....problem was, he had no hair. It wasn't pretty. Although I withdrew fairly early in the semester, I received a B+...He was pretty much into more language than thought!


I wish I had traveled more..............Not at all. Travel costs money....lots and lots of money.  I chose (and still do) to invest in things that will last.  Going to Vegas would seldom win out over buying a new couch.  Not that I'm into "having" things but having versus spending makes much more sense to me. I can purchase a book and transport myself to almost any place in the world..or even out of it for mere pennies.


I wish I were skinny............Been there, done that...the only thing on the plus side (pun intended) of thin is a bit more variety of clothing.  Thank God that Thomas Hancock invented elastic!  If fat doesn't bother me, it shouldn't bother you.  I can still clip my toe nails and raise my leg above my shoulders...please do not inquire how I know this ;-)


I wish I had a relationship with my sister........This probably won't win me any popularity contests but
this answer is "No" as well.  Blood is not thicker than water. Two people couldn't be more totally opposite or less likely to be friends.  It's OK, I have so many amazing friends and a Hatfield family that understands the meaning of the word.


At the end of my horizontal thinking session, I did come up with one thing that I might regret. I might have liked to write something, maybe advertisements/commercials, that would make people laugh. I laugh out loud all the time. (Which very well may get me placed in a "facility" sooner rather than later.) I laugh at Face Book jokes, TV commercials, movies, sit coms and people in WalMart but most of all, I laugh at myself...and if you can't do that, your shirt's stuffed a little too tight!

National Thank You Month.... really!

I promise that I won't harp on writing throughout the entire year...only random periods when the mood strikes me!!!  This one I've touched on (ok, preached about) before but it's worth reiterating....especially this time of year!  It is SO important to say thank you.  It's even more important to write it down, put a stamp on it and mail it. Here's a great article:
When we're young, our parents and teachers often instill the importance of saying, "thank you." But as we get older, we seem to forget the impact these two little words can have on our personal and professional relationships.
January is National Thank You Month, the perfect opportunity to pause and express your gratitude. While an email or text message is nice and a phone call is fine, nothing conveys heartfelt thanks or leaves a lasting impression better than a handwritten note.
In many of my business etiquette seminars I often tell my participants about the time I landed my dream job as a result of writing one memorable thank-you note.
In 1993, I interviewed for a position as a publicist with the prestigious Breakers Hotel in Palm Beach, Florida. During my interview with the director of public relations, I observed how her office was decorated. I couldn't help but notice a set of small, black and white porcelain cows situated near her telephone. I asked her if she collected cows and she said, "Yes."
Following my interview, I went to the craft store and found a plain, white 5x7 puzzle. With colored markers, I wrote on the puzzle, "Let me solve your puzzled mind by providing the missing piece." On one piece of the puzzle I signed my name.
Next, I found some stationery adorned with a couple of cartoon cows riding in a convertible. I inserted the puzzle and thank-you note inside an envelope and sealed it. To top it off, I purchased four colored helium balloons and tied them to the envelope and sent the note by courier to her office.
She was so impressed with my effort and originality she called the next day to thank me. A week later I was hired.
Thank-you notes may be written for any occasion -- after meeting with an important client, after a job interview with a prospective employer, when you receive a gift or when you're invited to dinner.
A handwritten note is a tangible and personal expression of your appreciation. It signifies that you took the time to focus solely on the giver, that you cared enough to express your gratitude.
Here are seven tips on how to write the perfect thank-you note.
1. Keep it short and simple.
A thank-you note doesn't have to be long, it just has to say thank you. The average thank-you note contains 4-5 lines.
2. Write by hand.
Don't worry if you think your handwriting is illegible. Your handwriting will hold allure for the reader because it is an extension of yourself.
3. Start with a salutation.
Begin by writing, "Dear Paul, or Hello Paul." This makes it more personal than just launching into the note.
4. Express your gratitude.
Be specific by mentioning the gift or the good deed. Instead of saying, "Thank you for the pottery." Try, "Thank you for the handmade ceramic bowl from New Mexico."
5. Mention how you plan to use the gift or how much the kind gesture means to you.
For example, "The bowl goes perfect with my décor and I plan to proudly display it on my coffee table." If someone does something special for you, you can say something like, "Thank you for the beautiful flowers and for taking the time out of your busy schedule to visit me in the hospital."
6. Reiterate your gratitude.
Close your letter by saying, "Thank you again for your generous and thoughtful gift."
7. Send it promptly.
It's best to send your thank-you note within 24-48 hours after an event or after receiving a gift. If more time passes or you simply forget to write a note, send the note as soon as you remember. After all, it's better to send it late than never.


See, it's not just me:-)

Time to "write" a new year!

2015.. A breath of fresh air.... really fresh (it's 15 degrees this morning.)  A new year, a new week and a new chapter.  I took one of those silly "tests" this morning.  What career were you meant to have.. This little quiz was about 45 years too late but didn't tell me anything I didn't already know...WRITER. Doing what you like is a good thing. Doing what you are relatively good at, is a good thing and doing it even in your 60's is a good thing.  Unfortunately, writing is a sedentary hobby/profession.  It appears to widen the gluteus maximus, slump the shoulders and weaken the eyes.  OK, maybe that's just me! Danielle Steel doesn't look so bad and come to think of it, neither does M.J. Fields:-) I can write a decent post, a interesting letter, an entertaining blog, a rhythmic poem, a credible recommendation and could probably even write an amusing story.  Sometimes I even laugh at my own expense and self deprecating prose comes quite naturally. I've never had the yearning to write anything of great length or earth shattering brilliance.....and to date have not disappointed myself.  I think the written word is extremely important! It's our history and if we don't tell the story, who will know how we came to love plaid, celebrate each birthday with stories of goodie bags and who murdered the King's English without care or who was the Grammar Nazi?
So, 2015 will continue on with me writing when I can about what I think and not hesitating to whine about rules....I'll make mistakes too..(yep, it happens..just like SH#*!) but I'll reread what I write, do my very best and hope that someday, someone will read it and smile, chuckle or even shed a tear!
Here are a few tips for those fledgling bloggers or even those who enjoy posting on Face Book.

Welcome....

The first page of my 365 page book!!!