Pride and Prejudice

10:27:00 PM EDT
Feeling Thoughtful
Hearing tv

It has been a very busy couple of days with stuff and work.  Lots of mowing and pet sitting.  I will probably need a hearing aid before I reach 48, and a new kidney before next week.  I am developing my own version of sign language at this point and have found out that fast is not always best, especially in bumpy yards.  My neck has cracked and popped and made noises I have never even heard before.

Advice:  Where earplugs, goggles, and a back belt when mowing.  Cool shades and and ipod doesn't cut it.

Next I had to get my sister from the bus stop in Baltimore.  Long story!  This was a real treat and let me warn all of you who visit Baltimore.  Now Bea beware!  The Inner Harbor is deceiving.  Do not get off the beaten path.  Do not travel GREYHOUND!!!!!  It has been years since I had taken a bus anywhere and I called to get information about arrival time and location.  Did I get to speak to one intelligent person that really cared about their job?  That's a big fat NO!  Did I get the right information?  NOT!  I just figured it out on my own and found the bus terminal and I was shocked.  This was the dirtiest place I had seen in a long time.  Just filthy.  Dirty windows, chipping paint, dirty floor, and apathetic employees.  When I got there I started inquiring about arrival time and had to wait until two employees finished their little chat.  I was pissed and inquired after I asked them a couple of questions that they answered half heartedly when they would be getting promotions because they deserved one.  I didn't really care what they thought.  My sister finally calls me no the cell and explains that they had given her the wrong information and she is at another terminal in Baltimore and had to change buses and pay an additional ten dollars to travel 4 miles.  She was pissed by this time.  The bus was late, the driver made pit stops for his daughter and people had to stand on the bus from Annapolis to Baltimore due to the lack of seats.  Isn't there a seat belt law here?  YES.  This is just crazy.  Well she made it and now of course my new project is to write Greyhound a letter and send to corporate office because I can not get through to customer service.  Let's not even go into the customer service issues, you already know how I feel about this.

Went to walk outside to get the mail and happen to look down and see a baby copper head.  I'm thinking where there is a baby there has to be a Mom.  Of course I tried to relocate it due to the dogs and fact that I just don't want poisonous snakes around getting bigger, but it would not have that and I had to kill it.

Our neighbors on one side don't kill them but since we have dogs I really don't want to take a chance on one of them getting bit.  We had one get in the house in the basement and Lisa had a fit trying to get it out.  They can be aggressive.

Tomorrow we are power washing to homes and I have to rent a 35 ft Genie Lift.  This should be fun to learn how to operate, my sister said she would help and I can just imagine.  She does everything fast, burns out, takes a nap, and then is ready to go.  We are going to try to cut a tree down in sections while we have this thing.  Trying to get the most for our money.  When I went in today to rent it they were all out and the guy said in a wise ass manner "well I gotta ladder you can rent".  My reply was "don't want a ladder if you don't have something else I'll go down the street".  They are suppose to have one in tomorrow.  Don't know what time but out of three one should be in.  Don't they have rental contract that state this stuff? Ugggggh!

I still have not secured my concert tickets from Ebay for Madonna concert.  I had bid on two different sets and was out bid twice at the last 4 minutes.  Now I think I have the hang of it.  It is kinda like gambling, gave me an adrenaline rush.  Don't have any advice on Ebay because I am still a newbie. 

The last thing I want to share is about toilet paper.  We have always used the same brand for years and about two years ago I noticed that we were having some plumbing issues.  We were told to use 1 ply due to having a septic system.  Well because of all the packaging changes I started to have to read more to find 1 ply tissue and noticed just how many sheets you actually get for your money.  The cheap stuff is just that.  Not much tissue nor much comfort.  We have bought about 7 different types  and I have found that Scott tissue has the biggest bang for your money.  It is somewhat soft and has the most on a roll for a better price.  Just some stuff and advice.

 

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9:32:12 AM EDT
Feeling Annoyed

Okay most people will say that when owning your own business you can just decide to do whatever you like because you are boss.  NOT!

When you are a small business in the process of building you must be able to take alot.  Lucky for me I have had years of experience with the public and am older and wiser.  I can take things with a grain of salt as long as I can contain this unfortunate possession of a heated temper that I have.

I know that the economy is rough right now and I have cut prices to be competitive.  I do not scimp on the service because I cut the prices on lawn care which I have seen others do.  Two clients are driving me nuts!  But I just smile, grit my teeth, and politely try to give them what they need.  Okay I run a SERVICE business.  We offer services such as lawn care, pet sitting, small landscaping, hauling, catering, pressure washing, and other small services.  In order to do this I have operating expenses.  Gas cost for travel, gas cost for equipment, tag cost for trailers, repair cost for equipment, advertising cost, phone and office expense, employee salary, bond cost for your piece of mind and Insurance cost. 

Do people realize how much it cost small business for commercial liability insurance.  It is not cheap.  I guarantee our work and will fix it or it is not cost to you. 

So with all of this in mind the one client calls me on Sunday and wants his lawn mowed that day.  This is a client that his lawn mower broke and I had been doing it for two months at every three weeks.  His grass was so long and wet it took forever, but we did not say anything or charge extra considering it dulls the crap out of the mowers blades.  It is all about customer service.  Now mind you he called me three weeks ago and is in a personal bind and needs service.  The next day I went and mowed, left the invoice on the door.  Have not received payment in the mail and he has the nerve to call me on Sunday and want service. 

I was polite and explained that I was working with another client that had called to book these dates and they would be taken care of first.  I had him scheduled for Tuesday.  He said he would leave a check on the door.  This should be interesting!  It is like if you give an inch, these people want to take a mile.  How many other service companies are going to let you pay seven days later?  Will set up payment plan?  Will wait almost two weeks before sending you another invoice?  That's right not many. 

The next client is one that likes to look like they have more than what they do.  She is having a big party and wanted me to help along with two other wait staff.  I am a Chef and my help is very experienced at what they do.  She could not afford us all so now she wants just one.  Okay she is having a crab feast with burgers and hot dogs?  You do not hire a Chef for this or even think about unless you can afford it.  But I accommodated her and we are sending an experienced waitress/food handler.  GRRRRRRRRRR......

I do have a third client this week that we are pressure washing her house.  It has never been done and she lives in a very wooded area.  Her price was three hundred dollars for a moderate sized bi level.  The questions she asked?  Do I get my gutters cleaned out?  Okay I will do that for you.  Do I get the gutters on the outside cleaned?  These have to be hand cleaned due to the excessive buildup, no it cost extra.  Do I get my windows cleaned?  Yes by the power washer.  Do you take the screens out to clean the windows than wipe them? No this is called windo cleaning and it cost extra.  Will you get the mold off the side of the house?  Yes, this is why you power wash.

She is my nickel and dime customer.  She will nickel and dime me to death if I let her.  When I take care of her lawn, we wind up changing light bulbs.  I do this to give back not to be taken advantage of.  For every customer we have we do something additional for them that they need free of charge, a minor job.

Along with a freebie service we do giveaways once or twice a year.  We mail packages with treats and small cans of food out to each client with pets.  We send cupcakes to others and this fall we are sending out football hats for the season.  Trying to keep everyone happy and on board is not an easy task.  Just remember when doing business that customer service is not an easy job and we do our best to please all of the customers.

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2:17:27 PM EDT
Feeling Happy

As I was on my early morning runs I was noticing some of the farmlands on the back roads.  There were also some very lovely old country houses that I thought would make some nice pictures.  Get my camera out to take some and yes I just had to know something would go wrong with the dang camera.  Dead batteries.....ugh!  I am starting my Christmas wish list now:  one new digital camera.  I know it would be cheaper to get new batteries, but I swear this is a camera from hell.

I was thinking of the conversation my sister and I had over the phone.  She believes very firmly that the world is over populated and that we are raping our farmlands and will not be able to feed our country in the future.  They are cutting down all of our trees, killing off our wildlife by taking away natural habitat, and stripping the land for homes and shopping.  How much house does one need? 

If you think about years ago families lived in smaller homes with one bathroom to share and the family unit was much larger, commonly included grandparents, maybe an aunt or uncle, and several children.  It is a good question.  Would you rather live in luxury now and have your childrens children wonder where they were going to get there next meal or live modest and preserve the land?

For years poor farmers have struggled to make a living for all the hard work that they do.  They help to feed a nation but most live meagerly and struggle to keep up with the bank loans, mortgages, and equipment cost.  Yet the 9-5 Mon thru Friday bankers, lawyers, mortgage brokers live a good easy life.  Hmm mm something wrong with this picture.  How many of you know a farmer and when it was the last time he took off and played golf in the middle of the day?  The last time they flew to Vegas to spend a little change and see a show? 

Many farmers actually home school their children.  They are needed to help with the farm and do chores.  You would think that there would be special college grants for these kids.  What has happened to farm aid?  I know a farming family personally where the farm has been in the family for generations.  They struggle!  The mom gives everyone haircuts to save money.  They homeschool, she sews, they sell avon or whatever they can on the side for extra money to go on family trips.  One day the wife (Susan) was not in a good mood and explained that in the 15 yeas she had been married to her husband she had never seen him cry, but this year had been the worst on the farm.  There air conditioner had broken in the night and they had just recieved a large delivery of young chickens that did not make it through the night due to the heat. This was a very large loss for them.  The year before they had a bad crop yield due to drought conditions.  Her husband had been so stressed over money and the fear of loosing his farm.  It is a very sad and hearbreaking story, but many of our farmers share this hardship.  

  I have not heard much in the past couple of years.  I bet there would be a big change in this when the time comes for vehicles to run off of corn or soybean.  The construction housing industry would come to a halt.  We are becoming a greedy nation.

When and how did America forget and leave behind those that provide for a country?  Why has it taken us so long to give a few cents more on a gallon of milk or a bushel of corn?  Who is going to feed our country when our farmlands are gone?  China? Russia?

The land of plenty will be no more at the rate we are going.  Generations to come will be learning about this in the schools and will ask what is farmlands?

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10:16:12 AM EDT
Feeling Happy
Hearing abbey chewing a bone

I read so many journals yesterday that time just slipped away.  Thank God it was a rainy day with little demand.  I came across a couple of entries about rabbits that brought a found memories to the surface of my mind.

I was the youngest of three and yes probably the most babied.  Growing up on a farm and having all my pets around everyday it seemed like I never wanted to leave or go to visit relatives much.  I was a happy and content camper just staying home.  My sisters on the other hand would jump at the chance to stay with our cousins and my aunt or our grandparents.  Well the time would come when of course I would have to say with my grandparents for the first time.  Oh my! My poor grandmother.  She had the patience of a saint.  It is if I was there just yesterday waving goodbye to my mother tears running down my face clutching my grandmothers apron.

My grandmother was a rather tall woman with grayish dark hair,  blue eyes and possessed large boisterous belly laugh.  She tried to calm me down taking me softly by the hand and lead me into the kitchen.  With the greatest ease she made me special for the whole day.  Selecting what would be my personal glass to drink out filled with her delicous ice tea that would have been made by the elves in Germany where here parents had a shop.  She sat down at the kitchen table and pulled me onto her lap.  Oh yes the elves would come out at night and make beautiful vases and glasses out of leftover glass in her fathers shop.  He would come to work the next day and there on the counter would be a sparkling gift for him left by the elves.  This would continue for yeas as my grandfather would keep this secret and leave a loaf of bread for them every night.

As I sat there sipping my drink  she reached over and retrieved an ornament from the center of the table.  A large rabbit with giant hind legs pulling a flowered cart that was filled with toothpicks.  This was like a rabbit I had not ever seen before at least not on our farm.  She reminded me that it was a special rabbit, called a Jack Rabbit.  A very large rabbit withbig powerful legs that people used to pull carts to take to the market.  Some would carry loaves of bread and bags of fresh tomatoes.  They were magical and could do things that no other rabbit could do such as leap great distances in the air and do back flips.  They ran faster than any other rabbit and they were very hard to catch.  You would be lucky to catch on and eventually train it to pull a cart.  But they also possessed magical powers.  It truly was amazing.  I was fascinated by this and would look for this rabbit in my early youth but of course it always eluded me. 

My grandmother and grandfather always played card games at night and dominoes.  We would all sit around their card table with bowls of peanuts to snack on just playing for hours.  This would take my mind of of being homesick.  Then when the wonderful world of Disney came on she would make me a nice cozy spot on the sofa with a cold glass of ginger ale and a bowl of hard pretzels and chips.  Next she would pick Judy up and tuck her in with me to watch TV.  Judy was my Aunts dog.  As my aunt would put it she was called Judy, Judy, Judy, a scene from some famous Cary Grant picture that I do not believe I had ever seen.  I don't think Judy was as pretty as the one in Hollywood but she was a sweet little dog.  She would lay there on her back waiting for me to hand over a little treat with her crossed teeth protruding from the bottom of her mouth.

After that it was up to the Queens bed (as I call it).  I am referring to my grandmothers bed which was the highest bed I had ever seen in my life even up to now.  You had to use steps to get into it and it was gigantic.  I always had to sleep by myself but this is one time when I got to sleep with Judy and grand mom.  I had a full day of surprises, treats, and fun, and drifted off to sleep dreaming of the Jack Rabbit. 

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11:54:54 AM EDT
Feeling Lazy
Hearing tv

What a lazy morning!  I have slept until 10:00 am which is really unusual and just can not get motivated today.  Of course I still have a thousand things to do but here I am reading journals and drinking coffee.  For some reason my mind has been thinking about many things and how I would like to live life for the next twenty years.

I have read many journals where people's lives have been cut short due to illness and sometimes feel as if I am not living to the fullest.  I have watched TV where people's lives are being cut short due to accidents and killings and think what would they have done differently if they had known they would not have long to live.

Okay I've decided we are going to New York in October.  I have found out the Madonna will be there and am trying to get tickets.  Yes I said Madonna, what can I say.  I am trying to bid tickets on ebay and hope to get lucky for a reasonable price.  So the plan is go to New York stay in So Ho, go eat in little Italy, shop, get tickets to see the blue men, and just have a good time and enjoy.  Right now no we can not afford it but what if I am not here next year? 

I have come to the conclusion that is what life is about.  Experiencing what life has to offer whenever you can soak it up.  Yes I like to learn, and work, but I want to feel it.  Next I want to white water raft, then sky dive, then go horseback riding in Montana, fish in Alaska, and the list goes on.  We are still young and able to do these things and should take full advantage.  I often go out to lunch with Lisa's mom since my schedule allows more flexibility then Lisa's.  I truly feel sorry for her.  She has spent her whole life acquiring things and money, which is good to a point, but has missed out on experiencing life.  Now she is 72 and feels cheated even though she has the money to do so she can't enjoy it because her husband would not.  Hummm...  Sounds like a life lesson to me, so I take heed.  Years ago when we had nothing it seemed like we always found the means to go places with very little and had the best time.  Now I think we need to take a look at how we are spending our money and try to get the most out of it to see more.

This year has been a bad year for surgery and aches and pains but after watching the discovery channel the other night I feel very enlightened.  Far off in another country due to immune deficiency problems and viruses there were a group of men that had the most disfiguring diseases that you could imagine.  The one had a severe wart problem that engulfed his whole body, he could not use his hands or even walk well.  The other was covered in boils so that you could not even recognize his face.  There were several others and they came together and traveled to perform in a circus basically as a freak show.  I felt so bad for them and the life they have to live that's why I decided to enjoy mine to the fullest.

Okay enough of thought, I have to get this house cleaned.

 

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10:17:06 AM EDT
Feeling Happy
Hearing inxs

Through the years I have had countless pets.  Turtles, racoons, squirrels, fish, horses, hamsters, cats, and of course dogs.  Since I was a baby I have been around and always had dogs and seems like a have a special bond with them that I have referred to as the jungle girl syndrome.  We just seem to bond and mesh.

Through the years we have had countless breeds such as the german shephard, cocker spaniel, chow chow, laborador, great dane, rottweiler, american spitz, and several mixed breeds.  We had always purchased our dogs from breeders until I had became older and realized the need for dogs to be adopted.  It only took that first visit to a shelter and I was hooked.  Those poor innocent eyes staring up at you with a plea to take them home.  Oh it broke my heart!  Our first adoptee was Lucy a pitbull whippet mix.  She was a young puppy and very ugly.  So ugly we adopted her because I feared she would not get a home.  Lucy was one of the fastest dogs I had ever seen run and quite agile.  She would go with Lisa every morning to Lisa's grandmothers to visit for the day while we worked.  Take naps in her own bed that grandma made her, have coffee  (which we had to put a stop to) and cookies in the afternoon, and then we would pick her up after work.  She would be the first of other loyal companions to come.

 

Our next adoptee would be Jasmine.  A very large husky Sheppard mix.  When I firstt went to the shelter I did not see her.  I looked at several dogs and then inquired with one of the girls that worked there about which dog would she adopt.  She brought out Jasmine.  What a delight, she was so friendly, gentle, and happy, but looked so old.  I took Lisa to see her the next day.  There she was all curled up on her crate dead asleep in her own little world.  Lisa said "  She's so old, she may only live for a year".  It didn't matter to me and we adopted her.  I had her for seven years and she died when she was fourteen.  The oddest thing was that when I first got her she never spoke or made a peep.  She was very gentle and quite.  I think that her previous owner must have punished her for being vocal which all huskies are.  It had taken me 6 months to get her to speak.  It was like lifting a ball and chain from her, she was so happy.  From that moment on she spoke all the time.

I was devasted when she died but had went through the passing of pets often through my life that I knew the best gift was to adopt another.  The pleasure of having a companion far out ways the grief.  So we talked about it and Lisa pleads with me for a small dog and also she wanted a female.  Jasmine was 100 pounds when she passed and her weight made it difficult  to bath her and get her in the car.  Okay I agreed and went to the SPCA with all good intentions.

 

I went for six weeks and did not find the right one.  Mostly big hunting dogs.  On the seventh week I spotted what I thought was the prettiest dog.  I think it was the color that drew me to look.   A yellow reddish color that reminded me of fall leaves and mature fields of wheat.  Such a sad dog with its back to me, never making a peep, nor turning its head to investigate who was standing in front of the kennel.  I read the tag and it said Male Golden Retriever approximate age 2 years part of the Eastern Shore Rescue Association Fee $200.00. 

Okay he was out.  Too expensive, male, and too large.  I go back 5 days later and he is still there.  I wonder why no one has adopted this beautiful purebred dog.  I approach the front of his cage and this time he is facing me.  It was soooo sad.  He was just sitting on a grate leaning on the side wall just staring out the door.  He made no attempt to come closer, did not wag his tail, and just sat quietly.  I spoke to him in a low soft voice, no reaction.  I just felt so sad for him.  It seemed his spirit had been broken. 

As I was driving home I thought about him and how he would fit into our home.  Over the next couple of days I would think about him often.  Finally I said something to Lisa and she was not happy because he was going to be big and heavy and alot to take care of.  She wanted a small dog.  Two days passed and I went back.  I felt like I was living there, but on this trip I knew what I was going to do.  When I got there I asked the girls to take him out so I could interact with him.  My God!  He comes through the door pulling the poor girl almost to her knees with a ball in his mouth growling away.  The girl assured me it was not growling but just his way of communicating.  After some wild play time we then ventured into the cat house to see his reaction to the feline population.  Maggie would just have a fit if I brought home a dog that would try to chase her around the house.  He did really well in there, even when one female attempted to pounce him.  The it was outside to see how he reacted to cars, people, etc.  Of course he tried to smell every inch of everything in sight, but did well.

I went to purchase him and take him home.  We get to the front registration and they say $400.00.  What?  Isn't this th SPCA?  Well during those couple of dayshe had been neutered, micro chipped, and had all updated shots.  Wow!, this was going to be an expensive stray.  They named him Rusty which I kept and I brought him home, of course without telling Lisa.  You know that Surprise thing.  Well of course she fell in love with him and everything went well.  We had to move several items from our coffee tables and end stands due to that wild wagging tail of his.  He seemed like a different dog.  We had to get some good dog food because his hair had been coming out from all the stress at the pound and found out that he was afraid of the dark.  We spent that summer outside in the night with the chimnea going to get him used to the night.  We even spent one night camping out on the deck.  Not good for my back, but it worked.

I can tell you this that it is true about what people say about adopting dogs from the pound.  They know and have and understanding and are grateful.  Rusty has a look in his eyes that tell me thank you everyday.  He has become my shadow always by my side, he has a knowing and concern when I do not feel well and rests his head gently on my chest.  He makes me laugh at his silly antics and when I tickle his feet.  He would go to any length to protect me, he listens and obeys and command I give him without hesitation, he has a trust that is amazing, and an endless amount of love to give.  He is my loyal companion.

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10:55:58 PM EDT
Feeling Mellow

I have watched quite a bit of the Olympics and I think China has done a wonderful job in hosting the event.  I am proud to watch this years level of athlete and the sportsmanship that they have shown.  Many of our professionals in today's sports could learn a lesson or two from the athletics of this years Olympics. 

It does sadden me that to medal in silver or bronze does not get the appraisal and better recognition that it deserves.  These participants have worked and trained for years to compete at this level and just to be there is a job well done.  I also think that too much emphasis had been put on Michael Phelps.  I know and understand the value of his accomplishment but felt that the other athletes were always in the shadows and had worked just as hard to get there and win a medal.

The biggest bother to me and it actually keeps me from watching specific events is that professional athletes that have been playing professionally for awhile are competing in the Olympics.  This should be reserved for armatures in the sport.  Please Colby Bryant competing against a seventeen year old armature in basketball.  Is not the millions of dollars that he makes and others enough?  Do we really need to take that shining spot from a young up and coming potential athlete?  We had professional tennis players at the Olympics-what do they have to prove?  That millions of dollars that they have won can buy the best trainers, equipment, sports medicine, and personal coaches to win an Olympic medal. 

To me it is not about the medals but the kids that have put years of training in to be the best.  To all the professional players at the Olympics.  Think about it, you get your day in the sun often, move over and let these amateur players shine in the light for a day.

Something unusual.  Found out that one of my clients is a musician and is working on his first album.  He is rather good and has promised me some copies when it is finished.  Lisa received some copies of new CD's not yet released of a gospel singer that just finished her album.  Below is a picture of the CD.  I tried to download a song but of course it just drove me crazy and I nixed that ideal.  I have a unopened copy if anyone would like it let me know.  The CD is called Be Still and  is pretty good.   It seems kind of weird when you look at the back and see that she lives not far from where we do.

Football season is right around the corner and I can not wait.  I play fantasy football with some friends and it really keeps the season interesting and of course it never hurts to have a chance at winning some money.  Go RAVENS!

Spoke to my sister in Washington State and I had not heard from her for awhile.  Her marriage of 24 years is not going well and has not for quite some time.  I feel bad for her.  It is just years of not getting along and built up resentment on both parts but yet they feel that they are too old to move on.  She is 53 and he is 54.  I think this is crazy but it is not my life so I just listen.  She sounds so depressed sometimes and I wonder if she has really forgotten how wonderful life can be, but only she can change that.  It is like she is just beaten down and does not even want to try to change things.  I truly believe that couple find it easier to go on together miserably then to separate and go out on their own and make the best out of life that they can. 

Sometimes I wonder about things in our family that maybe I have forgotten or just did not know and have found the Internet can be a huge source in getting information.  We have a distant Uncle living in San Diego California and I only actually met him one time which was before my mom passed away.  In doing research I have found out that he trains police dogs for the border control police.  Interesting!  My grandfather on my mothers side I had met several times had a bar in the city called the bloody bucket.  Named for the many fights that would transpire there.  Of course fighting isn't anything to be proud of but he was a semi pro boxer in his day and it was a different time era.  My grandmother married when she was 18 on the same day as her sister in the same county.  She always remained close to her sister until they both passed.  Actually I think I will work on becoming a private detective.  Now that would be interesting!

I have also found a new way to handle all of the solicitation calls that we recieve.  This is always amusing to Lisa.  I have tried several over the years.  Most are in mock chinese accents or german.  I get silence and then no reply.  The new thing is that I listen to the beginning then asked if they are giving away a million dollars or a free car.  It really stumps the telemarketer, then they say no but.....  I politely cut them off with "then I am sorry for I have no money and really need a new car and if that is not what you are giving away than I can not help you".  They wind up saying "okay thank you for your time".  I know they think I am crazy and then will just leave me alone.  I get so tired of that.  I actually have to pay more money to block these on my business line.  Still these companies are sending out privacy notices from banks, credit cards, gas and electric companies, and every one else you deal with.  Really now how do all of these soliciters get your number?  I pay to have an unlisted number and get and average of 2-3 a day all times of the day.  Someone is selling these numbers and do you really think they are going to tell you?

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4:35:55 PM EDT
Feeling Happy

Well we went to the Farmers Market in Delaware and it did differ from the others that we go to in PA and NJ.  This one was filled with many Asian and Hispanic foods.  I saw herbs there that I did not even know existed.  Of course with my curious mind I bought some things that I had not prepared before.  I have spent the whole morning reading journals and messing up the kitchen with some of the unusual items we bought. 

First up was a taro root.  Yes I have heard of it but never eaten or prepared it.  So I bought one and the Asian clerk there said it was kinda like a potato.  Okay first being a chef you naturally examine it, feel it, smell it, and of course taste it.  What she did not tell me is that you should not eat it raw.  Taro root contains a substance that can irritate the throat, and of course it did.  I at first thought that it was in my mind because it was different.  After drinking mega glasses of water it passed.  Off to the next step!  I fried it, baked it, and boiled some of it.  I must tell you that I would take an Idaho potato over this any day.  Taro root is sticky and dry.  It leaves a sticky residue when you cut it and can irritate the skin.  It had a very pleasant odor and a mild nutty flavor but pasty in consistency and used in Hawaii for the base of making poi.  I found some pictures and have posted some.  After frying I seasoned with salt, pepper, and curry-not to bad.

Next thing I started cookingwas green peanuts (raw peanuts).  Okay I have heard all about boiled peanuts but had never eaten them.  I opted not to boil with ham hocks or smoke necks and just went for the straight boil with salt. 

After several hours of boil I am still not quite sure I like them as much as the roasted counterpart.  After several tasting I do find myself going back for more and of course I had to try that southern method of putting the nuts in a bottle of soda,  Actually not bad!  It seems to be debatable where this has originated from in the south but a well know fact that the confederate army used much of this due to needing a potable high protein in their diet.  I will say that it may be quite easier to eat for people with bad teeth due to their consistency of a soft bean.

Next up will be habanero plantain chips.  I can just feel the heat from here.  Well off to clean up my kitchen, the sous chef's are getting restless.  They don't seem to mind all of these oddities.

 

 

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10:38:27 AM EDT
Feeling Happy

I feel fortunate to have had a great Mom when many grow up without a mother at all.  When I think about growing up the memories of my past always carry a special place for a woman I would come to think of as my second Mom. 

They pulled in front of the old house that needed remodeling badly.  An old brick structure that was built in the late 1800's without the modern amenities that we all took for granted such as plumbing and heat.  The old truck loaded down with bed rails, mattresses, and furniture.  The doors opened and an endless stream of children filed out running about giving directions as the two other pickups pulled in.  I then saw this small woman get out with the darkest black hair I had ever seen.  Hair that was as black as the night pulled upon her head in a tuff with bobby pins holding it firmly in place.  She appeared to be very old with dark leathery skin and firm wrinkles imbedded in her face that had shown the years of hardship she endured.  With a couple quick calls in what seemed to be a very pronounced southern drawl she gathered her youngings together and hustled into the house. 

Of course it was a very small town with many curious people that seemed to have the scoop on everybody.  As one of the local Aunts (that is to everybody) would come to say that they were hill folk from deep in West Virginia come up here to find decent work.  Of course as the word spread through, and it would soon be known that a bunch of hillbilly's moved in the house with the outhouse.  I thought to myself "who cares look at all those kids to play with."  They were rather shy at first and of course my Mother knew everything but didn't divulge much.  I wanted to go over the first day but of course she scolded me about letting people get settled in first.  Then that day came when we went over and Mom carried over some neighborly bag of goodies (seemed kind of funny since she ran a bar I kind of was expecting beer to be in the bag). 

Well it seemed that after that first day I never left.  The woman's name was Ruby Pauley and she was born and raised in the hills of West Virginia and had given birth to 15 children.  Four died at birth and one died at the age of 1 leaving ten to raise.  She was half Cherokee Indian thus the long dark black hair and very tan skin.  She had piercing blue eyes and a temper that that start a fire on damp wood.  Her lips were painted with the brightest of red lipstick I had ever seen.  As I calculated back she would have been in her mid forties then but looked as if she were in her eighties.  The long years of a struggling life had taken its toll.

Ruby had an open heart and loved simple things in life and had never really know any more than this.  She demonstrated what you could do with so little and enjoy it.  Her furniture was old but she always had clean sheets with that fresh outdoors smell to cover her sofas with.  She wore old clothes from second hand stores, lingering cheap cologne, and slept on the floor mostly due to a bad back.  Little buy little she fixed up the old brick house to make it livable with some paint, flowers, curtains, and throw rugs.  Most of all she spent her money on food and her would allow herself one luxury of a small fish tank filled with neon guppies and a catfish.  After a hard days work she would sit and peer endlessly into that fish tank lost in thought.

Seems like I was there for dinner alot and had my first taste of hillbilly cooking.  Biscuits at every meal, lots and lots of lard, greasy pork chops, groundhog, slabs of ham, homemade jam, chicken gizzards and hearts, skillet gravy of all sorts, big bowls of mashed potatoes, grits, and really bad table manners.  I can still hear the sounds vividly at the dinner table of theirs like it was yesterday.  This was the one time that I could get away from being proper and I took full advantage.  Ruby just made things seem simple and laid back.  We would sit out on the concrete steps under a small porch and watch the thunder storms and comment that the angels were bowling again in heaven.  On summer evenings we would go sit under a camper top on posts with a bathtub inside used for duel purposes.  One to bath in in the summer and the other was to clean vegetables and soak string beans in.  We would just sit there snapping green beans and telling stories and occasionally sneaking a sip of wine.  I would watch as they washed their hair in fresh rain water that would catch in a barrel outside.  Everyone always had soft shiny hair.  Ruby had did not have a wash room with modern day dryers and washer, but on old ringer washer in an earth basement.  She would laugh as we tried to help her feed the clothes through the ringer pulling back our hands before the rollers mangled them into pancakes.  We even tried putting pennies through to flatten them.  She always let us slip away into our make believe world and played along with our games, but was always sure one of us was going to get hurt which wasn't far from the truth.

The woman had patience of a saint when you think about it.  Fall Sundays meant football outside.  With there family and cousins and some neighbors we had two whole teams.  Muddy and bruised we were always welcomed in her house for something to drink.  When we would get ornery and start a berry fight outside and stain her clean sheets she would scold us and make us help wash them again but would not stay mad for long.  Of course all the ornery things we did to each other was enough to drive anyone over the edge.  Having ten kids of all ages rooming becomes interesting to say the least.  The oldest got to make bedrooms out of the attic and had to run extension cords for electric.  I can not tell you how many times we pulled those extension cords out of the wall to instigate with each other and then the squawking would start.  They had the old beds that were made of iron and you could do back flips on.  It was truly like a version of the Waltons (which we watched faithfull and would repeat the goodnights until we drove Ruby crazy).  Nor can I tell you how many flower pots we knocked over sliding down banisters and running like wild banshees. 

Oh yes they made their own wine called raisin jack.  Of course Ruby did not drink but the rest of her family sure did.  As they would get together for their big family reunions which I always went to they would break out the wine and the brown paper bags.  That is when I first discovered bluegrass.  Many family members played banjo and guitar as did Ruby's husband Jim.  Jim was much older than Ruby and they slept in separate bedrooms (now I understand why- cheap birth control) he worked on the railroad.  They were very good and would always play dueling banjos and the orange blossom special.  As I think back Ruby seemed to have a twinkle in her eye as I was being introduced to a whole new world and embraced it open heartedly as a child.  She lived in a world where she was considered poor and uneducated.  That old stereotype of barefoot and pregnant.  The barefoot part was true, although that would be something I would never master nor accept.  She was finally able to share her world without ridicule.

Ruby would be there to make sure I had ice cream money when the truck came, and would make sure I had something to eat when dinner time came, and as the years would go on make sure that I had a safe place to stay if it was late.  I will always remember her as my second Mom.  Ruby passed at an early age of 64.

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2:46:05 PM EDT
Feeling Happy

Help, I am becoming technology challenged!  Okay it was time and I had to cave in and get new cell phones.  Mine of course was from the dinosaur days but still worked.  Lisa's looked like something from the dump.  Broken antenna with tape to hold the back on.  It had been so long that I only had to pay $50.00 for hers and mine was free, which was cool.  Okay I go to the store and pick out one a sleek purple razor camera phone.  It is still taking me awhile to learn all the stuff but the one thing I need to know is once I take a picture how do I down load it to my computer?  I have some pictures of the inner harbor that I want to share and I'm about to pool my hair out.

The other challenge is once I scan a picture why is it so small and why can I not fill the space around it to put a caption.  This stuff just takes sooooo loongg. 

Cool tool for the month!  I purchase a poulan combo electric pole saw, cultivator, and weed whacker for only $109.00.  It works great, saves on gas, and cuts through 7 inch pine limbs like butter.  Great Buy.

We took a trip to the inner harbor on Saturday and went to the Science Center.  The human body is on display.  All types of parts of the body and the whole body actually sawed into thin layers so that you can see the entire inside from head to toe.  I watched how they did this on TV a year ago.  Frozen solid they take and saw thin layers and then preserve this.  It is fascinating but I like to think of my body as a whole in good working order instead of dissecting every facet.  We then went to IMAX theater to see Sea Monsters in 3 D.  It was so cool!  After watching this I have decided that the Lockness Monster is just a prehistoric dinosaur that people have caught a glimpse of.  It was like you were swimming with the creatures in the bottom of the ocean without scuba diving.

Received some very sad news from a client that called and needs weekly lawn care.  They live in a rural area and he has three children.  A little girl that was just born and two small sons.  They have a homemadeburn pit and the  little two year old boy had fallen in it while lit and is severely burned and still in Johns Hopkins with second and third degree burns to the face, upper torso, and arms.  What a sad story.  Why people have these types of things with small children around makes me wonder. 

Another client that has a really nice above ground pool and nice home do not have the pool wired correctly.  I am shocked!  It is not on a separate breaker panel, nor does it have the correct wiring.  Her husband used a heavy duty extension cord that runs under the ground by itself and plugs into the house.  This just seems crazy to me and they have the money that they could have hired an electrician to do it right.  We get severe thunder and lighting storms in the summer here which even makes it more dangerous. 

The other thing was this damn weeping cherry tree.  Mort had told me before but I can not find it.  Half is weeping and the other half is reaching for the stars.  If I cut the top off will I kill it?  Help!

Lucy, you think you have it bad with Spunky when it comes to the sofa.  Just check out Abbey.

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