Banned Book means Good Reading

Posted on Friday, 29 September 2006 by Mrs. DoF

This is Banned Books Week and the Barnes and Noble Bookstore on the ISU campus was the host for oral readings from Banned and/or Challenged Books.
My Husband signed on as a Reader. 
He was asked to read for 10 minutes an excerpt from the book Fahrenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury.

He done good, Real Good.  His naturally deep voice, trained as a Southern preacher, he breathes at the proper intervals, and he pronounces the words correctly.

A Language Arts class from the university high school had this time for a field trip, and several teenage boys were sitting in the row in front of me.  I thought it to be a fine thing for them, seeing and hearing a man who has such skill with reading aloud.

Apparently, I wasn’t the only female in the audience who was impressed by the performance.  The English teacher came over and says he has a future in reading Books-on-Tape or somesuch.  And she said that he brought the characters to life, a feat not done easily with that particular book.
Another woman got flustered like a schoolgirl while speaking her praises.  I thought she was kinda sweet, she was trying to be nice without sounding like she was coming on to him.

We went to lunch afterwards, an unexpected pleasure.
We’re Married, ya know.

~~love and Huggs, Diane

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The Needs of the Many

Posted on Thursday, 28 September 2006 by Mrs. DoF

One of the advantages for not having a job is being able to do some volunteer work.  The old saying ‘time is Money’ really rings true in my case.

The other day, the church’s office manager called and asked if I would be able to meet Thursday morning with other ladies in a certain room of the building and help to pack AIDS kits.

I said Sure without realizing it would be the same day which three old and storm-damaged trees would be removed from our property.
Actually, it was nice to get away from the sound of chainsaws and branch shredders for an hour or so.

About half of these kits were already done during other work days or by individuals, but the whole bunch were made ready and arranged this morning.

This is the way it will look Sunday morning on the front platform, so the congregation can see the results of their generosity.  There were folks who stuffed checks into envelopes, bought the fabric, sewed the bags, threaded the cords through the loops, selected the sheets and towels and body powder (talk about Bargain Shopping!) and helped to pack it altogether.

With all the millions of people afflicted with HIV/AIDS, these 54 kits seem almost insignificant.  They will be sent to Mennonite Central Committee, combined with donations from other congregations, and shipped to wherever they might be needed.

There have been times in my life when I have been given something I hadn’t asked for, some trinket that I didn’t really need, and wasn’t sure what to do with when I got it home.
What goes into these kits has been studied and listed by workers who are on the scene, so I would deem them appropriate for the intended purpose.  The person who pulls open the drawstring and sees a towel and soap might think it to be the nicest item ever.

All the effort and financial support which have come together into these AIDS kits, well these represent much thought and caring.  And a quote from STAR TREK’s Mr. Spock ‘logic clearly dictates that the needs of the many outweigh the needs of the few’.

Go read that MCC page, and try to come to an understanding about the blessings for giving and receiving.
This may be a time when little things mean a lot.
~~love and Huggs, Diane

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Yet Another Step

Posted on Wednesday, 27 September 2006 by Mrs. DoF

Today I attended a class about writing a Resume at my alma mater, HCC.  The Instructor said that 5 people had Registered, but I was the only one there sitting in a seat.

It seems that finding a job has changed the last few years.  Every job I’ve had in the past had me show up in person, fill out all the little boxes on an Application, wait awhile for an Interview, then I start work.  The first week I had to bring in my Social Security card for proof of working status.
This is the first Resume I’ve done.  And some of the employer websites I checked want a Resume to be sent across the ‘Net, there’s not even a street address to deliver an envelope.

She went through her spiel, complete with PowerPoint slides and handouts.  We discussed a few ideas about the format and my work history.

Actually, I might have done just as well doing an Internet search, but I figured I had advantage at a Free Service for Alumni.

The woman needs her job just like anybody, and being a Public Institution, I’m sure there are all kinds of forms to fill out to justify existence.

The main idea of a Resume is to emphasize what I can bring to that particular workplace.  I’m supposed to put a positive light on my abilities.
This goes totally against my grandma whispering in my ear about “pride goeth before a fall” and “don’t toot your own horn”.

And I thought a Composition paper was too much work!
~~love and Huggs, Diane

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Applesauce—Ready to Eat

Posted on Monday, 25 September 2006 by Mrs. DoF

I washed all the dishes I used for prep, and the last thing I did before I left the house was to put the applesauce into a container and into the fridge.
When I got back, the house still smelled good.
The plastic label says it holds 12 cups, but I already gave a pint jar to the girl across the street, and ate a small dish.
This looks like about 7 cups left.

We’ve got some fine vittles today!

Today reminds me of a time a few years ago when my friend Amy and her family still lived here in town.
I had made applesauce, and I took a quart (still warm) over to her place.  The parents were not at home, but their oldest son was of babysitting age.  He knew me well enough, and opened the door at my knocking.
I gave him the jar and told them to enjoy.

The next time I saw Amy, I asked if she liked the applesauce.
She didn’t know anything about it.
The 4 kids had it all gone by the time their folks got home, and Amy never got to taste it.  Until I spoke up, she had no idea about the mystery of the extra jar in the dishwasher.
~~love and Huggs, Diane

Posted in Food | 6 Comments

Starting Applesauce

Posted on Monday, 25 September 2006 by Mrs. DoF

Husband and I rode our bicycles to McDs for breakfast.
When I got home, I started looking for a picture of my grandma to send to my cousin in Alaska.  Before I began organizing the study, I could have told you right away about those pictures.  Alas, I cannot remember now which shelf or album they are in.

I decided I had better get going on yumminess.

I peeled and cored and sliced for applesauce.
There were 16 apples altogether.
As you see, my dutch oven is almost full.

While they simmer, I’ll take a shower.
The pan should be ready to put into the fridge soon after.
Later, I’ll divvy it up to see if there’s enough to freeze or share.

Meanwhile, I’m off to the dentist and a couple errands.
~~love and Huggs, Diane
ps The apples are smelling good!  I just stirred them down, and they are soft enough to take the lid off the pan.  I’ll add a wee bit of sugar in a few minutes.

Posted in Food | 1 Comment

Middle of the Night

Posted on Monday, 25 September 2006 by Mrs. DoF

Oy, Folks, I found myself in front of the computer at 4:48am.  I’ve been awake since 3:34am, and got tired of listening to the regular breathing pattern of my husband beside me, and the girl cat over on her mat.
The boy cat was down between my feet, but he wasn’t sleeping because I kept flapping the blankets and turning the pillow trying to find a cool dry spot.
It’s been awhile since the menopause symptoms showed up.

I finally decided the kitchen might be more interesting, but once I got there, with water warming in the microwave for tea, I remembered the one hour waiting period after taking the thyroid medicine.
By golly, 4am is too soon to take a pill.

The blue screen called me.
I checked every single blog of my Bookmarks Lists.
It was a quiet weekend in my Internet Neighborhood.

On schedule for today is a dental cleaning appointment, getting my glasses adjusted (the bridge of my nose is sore), calling the service for the furnace check-up, and making applesauce.

There is a family at church who has a small orchard.  They invite friends to come pick apples and make cider.  I think they view it as a mission, and we sure appreciate it.  The floor of the church library was covered with bags of apples.  I brought home one for eating, one for cooking, and one to give to the neighbors.

According to poets and songwriters, the middle of the night should be a time of deep reflection or stressful situations which might have reasonable explanations for not getting any rest.  You ever hear the song about the guy in the phone booth at 3 am, and then when the girl answers, he hangs up?

It’s doubtful that society would appreciate me being here at the keyboard before the first gray light of dawn, and I hope this early rising does not become habit.
Where was this energy when I had young sons in school, or had to have the coffee ready and the baker’s ovens up to temperature by 6am?
It seems that my body and life situations are way out of balance, and I will say I’m none too pleased right now.

Uh, oh, Chris just set the girl cat outside.
She must have gotten up and started pestering him, since I haven’t dished out any food yet.

This is not a fine beginning of the week.
Hope yours is better.
~~love and Huggs, Diane

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Women’s Retreat at Friedenswald

Posted on Friday, 22 September 2006 by Mrs. DoF

The third weekend in September is always on my schedule for a Women’s Retreat.  When I have a job, being able to get away for 4 days in early Autumn is the deal-breaker. 

We ladies from the church make arrangements to share the way to get there.  I usually can request whine that I shouldn’t drive because I’m terrible with maps and directions, so I can crochet peacefully in the back seat watch the scenery.

The ride is about 5 hours, depending on the traffic around Chicago.  After getting off the Indiana tollway, it’s pretty much country roads through little towns with one blinking light at the corner, into just over the border of Michigan.

People ask why I like to go every year.

I could say it’s the SCENERY


fen: low land covered wholly or partially with water; boggy land; a marsh

the FOOD

the WORSHIP Program

but mostly, I go to be with my FRIENDS

~~love and Huggs, Diane

Posted in Reviews | 4 Comments

Whisps of Laughter

Posted on Thursday, 21 September 2006 by Mrs. DoF

In the first gray light of dawn, about halfway between sleeping and having to get out of bed and head to the bathroom, I dreamed I heard my dad laughing.  I started to turn over, and realized that Husband was not beside me.  Still not fully awake, I believed Dad had come for a visit, and my mate was being a gracious host.

As the first protesting ache of muscles moved from my ankles on up through my lower back, bringing my understanding of morning to full alert, a great sadness fell upon me.
Even from the bedroom, I could hear the clicking of laptop keys, telling me where Husband was sitting in the breakfast nook.
Oscar settled in a little more comfortably down by my shins.

No Dad wasn’t here and now.  There had been just a little whisp of recognition, through a door opened long enough to let someone come in from the weather.  Like a celebration watched by a girl hiding in the bushes by the porch.
That’s what it felt like, maybe I was on the outside looking in, even for my dream.

But I got to thinking about why my Dad might be laughing today.

Ah, yes, a friend, John Russell has left this world and marched on the meet the Lord.
I would say that my dad was there to perform Usher duties for his pal, and this is why I heard him laughing.  I cannot understand the bonding of men, what makes them connect.
My dad’s old buddies are leaving us too often.

My earliest memories are of church and nice people.  When I was about Pre-School age, a dark-haired lady named Dora was my Sunday School teacher.  She was getting married, and said we little kids could come to her wedding!  It was the first wedding I was ever allowed to go to, and my mom made me promise triple cross my heart to be good.

I still remember shoving my dress out of the way, being on my knees backwards on the wooden seat, and seeing how pretty Dora looked in her long white bride’s gown when she walked past!
I didn’t hardly know the man she was marrying, but I knew he would be nice, since she was real nice herself.

These two formed a family which would aptly be called the pillars of the church congregation.  All the years of work projects, music programs, rides to camp, whatever needs to be done related to church members or activities.  I grew up watching them be tightly married, their children following along just a few years behind me in school.
The last time I saw John and Dora was at a wedding.  When I was back in the Valley at the end of May, my mom said I should go to the ceremony, even though my only connection was I had been in Girl Scouts with the mother of the groom.
We sat behind John and Dora that afternoon, there in the same building where we all remembered being at the groundbreaking celebration 40 years ago.

I greeted Husband in the kitchen (he had already brewed the tea!) took my morning medicine, then I came over here to find an e-mail from my friend Karen back in the Valley.  She says she went to the Visitation last night.  It was difficult, hard for her emotions.  They have the bond for years of music programs.  There were soooo many people there.
She will attend the funeral service today, when John’s sons will provide the music.

There’s already a celebration happening in the hereafter.

I know because I heard my dad’s chuckle this morning.

~~love and Huggs, Diane

Posted in Family | 2 Comments

Kitchen Utensil found a home

Posted on Monday, 18 September 2006 by Mrs. DoF

A couple of the folks who were at the Women’s Retreat with me have already heard this story, but I want to write about it here.
Not so much to brag, but to walk past this memory and lay it to rest.
It is not easy for me to let go when I feel I was reasonable, yet ignored.
It is time to set down some baggage on life’s journey.  That saying was emphasized during a sermon last weekend.

From October 1995 to November 1998, my job was in a cafeteria.
In a drawer in the baker’s area were several of the utensils seen above, called portion control dishers.  If ordering from an equipment company, that would be the box to check, though I usually call them scoops, actually a different item altogether.

Each of the colors is a different size.  There was only one green handle in the whole kitchen, yet that was the size I used most often.  I asked the manager to purchase a couple more for simple convenience, so that if one scoop disher was in the dirty dishroom, then I could use another for my current task.

The request was denied, citing dollar expenses.

Taking matters into my own hands, I went to the restaurant supply store and bought my own disher with a green handle.  I kept the receipt in my carry-all bag, so that if anyone ever questioned me about taking it off the property, I had proof positive that it was my own. Extra insurance was my husband engraved my name in a discreet place.

When it came time for me to be done with that job for medical reasons, I left a few of my own items there.  The radio and the muffin tins had been used and abused and I didn’t really need them for any purpose.
I made sure I had my disher with the green handle, tho.
That little tool had helped save my sanity and schedule many times over.
For me, it was the principle of it all.  I asked for an extra one to work with, had been denied, so I had bought it with my own earnings from the job.

For almost 8 years, it has been shuffled through the utensil drawer in the kitchen here at the house.  I don’t ever need such large portions for home-cooking.

These past few weeks, we are trying to clear storage space.
That bright green handle was a not-too-pleasant reminder of days and job gone by, so it really should get gone.

Knowing that our church camp runs on a really tight budget, and knowing that having extra utensils for many cooks and bakers means an easier, harmonious work atmosphere, I decided that my disher with the green handle should make the trip to Women’s Retreat with me.

At least 3 days before the trip, I dropped the disher into a side pocket of my carry-all/crochet bag so I wouldn’t forget it.  Whenever I picked up the bag, it seemed a bit heavy.

Quite a little adventure, if the scoop-disher-utensil could talk!
It went into the Travel Plaza on the I80 Tollway, and down the hill to the chapel for the Saturday morning service.

When I remembered to take it to the kitchen, the cook recognized and welcomed a quality utensil.  She was quite busy at the stove, and I tend to ramble when I have an item with a dark history, so I hope nothing stuck to the bottom of the pan.

One woman’s castoff kitchen tool has found a new home.

~~love and Huggs, Diane

Posted in Thinking | 3 Comments

Meeting me while going somewhere else

Posted on Thursday, 14 September 2006 by Mrs. DoF

Whewee, what a week!  Monday morning was a Work Day for the church ladies group.  First thing we did was stuff a couple dozen medical kits.
We cut, counted, and bundled 600 Labels for Education, which I sent off in the mail to the school in Chicago which gets our support.  This seems easier than trying to find somebody who will be heading that way, because the USPS does have the job of prompt delivery!

Monday evening was a seminar for Early Childhood Educators, held at the Children’s Discovery Museum.
The lecture was about Kindergarten curriculum, and I figured it was just in time for the launch of the Illinois Early Learning Standards.  Information I already know from experience and observation is getting a rubber stamp from the politicos.
There were some fine food type Eats to help with digestion.

Tuesday evening was a Guitar Recital on the ISU campus.  My son and I, along with maybe 100 other people were enthralled by some wonderful classical music played by an artist who also happens to be a faculty member.

Wednesday I got my new glasses!

On the way out of the mall, I stopped at a machine which for $2 will take a picture, then sends a sketch out the slot.

The evening was a scheduled support group, our date night.

Thursday morning, I had to return to the clinic lab and have blood drawn for a test.  The results say that the dosage for my thyroid medication needs to be reduced to 137mcg.  The person who called didn’t say what I’m supposed to do with the 15 higher dose pills which are left over and already paid for!

Then the Needlework Group at the Senior Center.  Some of the yarn I took over last week is already knitted into little baby hats for the community hospital’s newborn nursery.  Another lady made a real pretty scarf to be sold at the craft sale.  And I got to go into the storeroom and found some real nice mint-colored cotton thread on a cone, and so began a baby aphgan.
That means I have 3 projects in the works, of different size hooks and yarn.  Depending on which bag I grab is what my hands work.

Friday morning, I’ll be leaving for the Women’s Retreat at Camp Friedenswald.  You won’t hear from me again until Monday.

Have a Great Weekend! the weather is gonna be nice.
~~love and Huggs, Diane

Posted in School | 3 Comments