It seems that "moist" is a word that nobody likes....unless you're maybe a 40 year old virgin or a 60 year old in a 10 year drought...(and I don't mean the weather!) If you looked up the word moist in the dictionary...and who purposely would except me, you'll notice that it means slightly or moderately wet: not completely dry. No wonder nobody likes the word. Who in the world wants to be moderately wet...........ever? There is never a time I can recall where being just a little bit wet was a good thing. I personally prefer drenched....or dry...! I don't want to be moist in the shower or moist in the hot tub. I don't want to be moist when it's hot or moist when it's not. And I certainly don't want to be moist during sex.... I don't want to be anything during sex....like participating!!
Moist has such icky connotations that I prefer using the word damp. Please bring me a damp paper towel or the clothes in the dryer are still damp. With the humidity, my rugs all feel damp and the sticky floors are damp too. Although they're synonyms, moist should never be used for any situation...except maybe......................baked goods! There is nothing better than moist chocolate cake!!! No one would be in a hurry to grab an ice cold glass of milk and a hearty piece of damp chocolate cake.
So, one of our newly banned household words is moist. We add that to such disrespectful words as "stupid" and "shut up", such nasty words as "the old lady" and "C U next Tuesday" and the worst of all words, "Can't!"
I just can't....I mean won't.... allow them!!!! You're welcome Lacie and Abbie!
Thursday, August 25, 2016
Monday, August 22, 2016
More at Sixty-Four?
It's been a long hard week. So many cliches have passed through my boggled mind. "You can't get blood from a stone," You're between a rock and a hard place," It's not how much we give but how much love we put into giving," "We make a living by what we get. We make a life by what we give," "Presents are made for the pleasure of who gives them, not the merits of who receives them," and maybe the biggest, personal revelation..."Less is more!"
This prolific quote by Gretchen Rubin pretty much sums it all up:
"The belief that unhappiness is selfless and happiness is selfish is misguided. It's more selfless to act happy. It takes energy, generosity and discipline to be unfailingly lighthearted, yet everyone takes the happy person for granted. No one is careful of his (or her) feelings or tries to keep his spirits high. He becomes self-sufficient; he becomes a cushion for others...And because happiness seems unforced, that person usually gets no credit.
This prolific quote by Gretchen Rubin pretty much sums it all up:
"The belief that unhappiness is selfless and happiness is selfish is misguided. It's more selfless to act happy. It takes energy, generosity and discipline to be unfailingly lighthearted, yet everyone takes the happy person for granted. No one is careful of his (or her) feelings or tries to keep his spirits high. He becomes self-sufficient; he becomes a cushion for others...And because happiness seems unforced, that person usually gets no credit.
Monday, August 15, 2016
Enabler or Inhibitor ??
Enabler or Inhibitor?
Maybe lying in bed and asking myself this question is just jumbling up the answer. I'm beginning to think that nearly every entity in our lives is just a giant enabler.....most of all me!
Starting at the top of the food chain...our illustrious government and its entitlements: If we (the people) give you funding for your car, your groceries, your health care, your children and your housing, what's your incentive to work....??? especially if you were never taught or shown any work ethic through role models. (enabler or inhibitor?)
Our educational system: The mindset now is to teach to the test. If you test poorly, you get remedial help which is enabling the schools to receive more funding because they have a higher ratio of learning disabled students. On the other hand, with common core staring down our proverbial throats, if the students test poorly, their teachers literally pay the price and and God knows their paychecks are inhibited.
When our kids were younger, most of us knew it was our responsibility to teach them the basics and show by example.... everything from respect, manners, hygiene and responsibility to tying their shoes and riding a bike. It usually transformed into delivering forgotten book bags to over helping with homework. (Enabling or inhibiting?)
As our kids grew up, (hopefully) they continued to learn (or not) life's important lessons. If they played sports or joined community teams, they were encouraged to win but also that it was important how you played the game. .........then everybody got a ribbon or a trophy.... So much for those lessons!
Now, we're parents of adults and grandparents of littles. Life is tough and life is expensive. Relationships began and relationships ended. Priorities were rearranged on their "what's important" lists and we are supposed to sit back and ask if they really need that helping hand or if , in the long run, it's better for them to struggle and modify their lives to what they have chosen as a lifestyle? This is when I lie awake at night with that tiny little devil on one shoulder and the benevolent little banker on the other. Enabler or Inhibitor?
I've somewhat reckoned myself to how exactly the answer to that question affects me..(for once!!) Is my philanthropy (as I justify my giving) enabling them to have and do things that would otherwise be a detriment to them if unaccomplished or unacquired or will it eventually inhibit what's left to pursue my old age pleasures? I'm not thrilled with most answers.
I still ask myself the age old question.............................................WWBD..........(What would Buzz do?) If it's a matter of health and welfare, do it....if it's a matter of lofty comfort and mere pleasure, they're on their own!!
But what if their comfort is my pleasure? I predict more Tylenol pm in my future! ;-)
Maybe lying in bed and asking myself this question is just jumbling up the answer. I'm beginning to think that nearly every entity in our lives is just a giant enabler.....most of all me!
Starting at the top of the food chain...our illustrious government and its entitlements: If we (the people) give you funding for your car, your groceries, your health care, your children and your housing, what's your incentive to work....??? especially if you were never taught or shown any work ethic through role models. (enabler or inhibitor?)
Our educational system: The mindset now is to teach to the test. If you test poorly, you get remedial help which is enabling the schools to receive more funding because they have a higher ratio of learning disabled students. On the other hand, with common core staring down our proverbial throats, if the students test poorly, their teachers literally pay the price and and God knows their paychecks are inhibited.
When our kids were younger, most of us knew it was our responsibility to teach them the basics and show by example.... everything from respect, manners, hygiene and responsibility to tying their shoes and riding a bike. It usually transformed into delivering forgotten book bags to over helping with homework. (Enabling or inhibiting?)
As our kids grew up, (hopefully) they continued to learn (or not) life's important lessons. If they played sports or joined community teams, they were encouraged to win but also that it was important how you played the game. .........then everybody got a ribbon or a trophy.... So much for those lessons!
Now, we're parents of adults and grandparents of littles. Life is tough and life is expensive. Relationships began and relationships ended. Priorities were rearranged on their "what's important" lists and we are supposed to sit back and ask if they really need that helping hand or if , in the long run, it's better for them to struggle and modify their lives to what they have chosen as a lifestyle? This is when I lie awake at night with that tiny little devil on one shoulder and the benevolent little banker on the other. Enabler or Inhibitor?
I've somewhat reckoned myself to how exactly the answer to that question affects me..(for once!!) Is my philanthropy (as I justify my giving) enabling them to have and do things that would otherwise be a detriment to them if unaccomplished or unacquired or will it eventually inhibit what's left to pursue my old age pleasures? I'm not thrilled with most answers.
I still ask myself the age old question.............................................WWBD..........(What would Buzz do?) If it's a matter of health and welfare, do it....if it's a matter of lofty comfort and mere pleasure, they're on their own!!
But what if their comfort is my pleasure? I predict more Tylenol pm in my future! ;-)
Wednesday, August 10, 2016
.............And the love story continues♥
Well we all survived Wedding Week 2016. All 16 of us residing in one place, adding in random special friends throughout the week and we're all still happy..........................and related!
The weather was awesome..if anything a bit too warm but the kids (big and little) enjoyed the water and managed to stay cool. Everyone took turns cooking or cleaning up and we managed to eat well, enjoy hours of good conversation, drink well, throw a wonderful wedding and still like (love) each other at the end of the week.
The venue for Wedding Week was amazing as always. A beautiful, island home situated on the shores of a cove by the St. Lawrence River. All the amenities including a pontoon boat, jet ski, kayaks and numerous water paraphernalia. The birds satisfied my feather infatuation, the sunsets satiated my photographic appetite, the friends and family fulfilled by social needs and my books compensated for my lack of Internet and TV.
The wedding on Thursday lived up to our expectations. A beautiful bride, handsome groom, a scenic backdrop and family and friends provided us with a long awaited "happily ever after!"
If a picture's worth a thousand words, here's my thesis!
The weather was awesome..if anything a bit too warm but the kids (big and little) enjoyed the water and managed to stay cool. Everyone took turns cooking or cleaning up and we managed to eat well, enjoy hours of good conversation, drink well, throw a wonderful wedding and still like (love) each other at the end of the week.
The venue for Wedding Week was amazing as always. A beautiful, island home situated on the shores of a cove by the St. Lawrence River. All the amenities including a pontoon boat, jet ski, kayaks and numerous water paraphernalia. The birds satisfied my feather infatuation, the sunsets satiated my photographic appetite, the friends and family fulfilled by social needs and my books compensated for my lack of Internet and TV.
The wedding on Thursday lived up to our expectations. A beautiful bride, handsome groom, a scenic backdrop and family and friends provided us with a long awaited "happily ever after!"
If a picture's worth a thousand words, here's my thesis!
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