tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-87852526306572088972011-11-27T17:23:21.022-07:00A place to publish thoughts both those I think are profound and those that are merely silly, and, perhaps, some that are amusing - or not.Ellennoreply@blogger.comBlogger1751100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8785252630657208897.post-54617541734421555992010-03-25T11:01:00.000-07:002010-03-25T11:01:48.208-07:00

Having reviewed carefully my writings of the past year or so, I've decided it's time to take a "leave" and rethink whether I might be able to make this thing better, and what, if anything, I might write that would accomplish that. I expect, therefore, that I will write nothing here until I have a plan, a new design and a better focus. The mundane things in my day to day existence have been

Ellennoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8785252630657208897.post-72003280822431621132010-03-23T09:36:00.000-07:002010-03-23T09:36:25.415-07:00

Barney Frank, quoted yesterday by Andy Birkey in the Minnesota Independent: "Frank told the Hill this weekend, 'Any movement in which the intellectual leader is Michele Bachmann is obviously going to be problematic.'" Understatement indeed!

Ellennoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8785252630657208897.post-55424784013176465502010-03-20T18:00:00.000-07:002010-03-20T18:00:16.795-07:00

"Who does he think he is? I've been in this line of traffic for half an hour and he thinks I'm going to let him in ahead of me? No Way!" said I as I sped up to close the gap to prevent his ugly rotten orange colored Pontiac Vibe from getting ahead of my much more worthy and attractive blue Subaru Outback. As we inched our joint and mutual ways through the lugubriously creeping line of cars to

Ellennoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8785252630657208897.post-3146041468352911652010-03-09T16:01:00.000-07:002010-03-09T16:01:17.191-07:00

But today has been as miserable a day in the desert as I would ever expect. Dark rolling clouds dumping heavy rain followed by gusty cold winds - I might as well be home in Minnesota. In fact I soon will be. Yesterday, my cousin and I attended a spring training game between the Chicago Cubs and the Oakland A's. The game began with a rendition of the Star Spangled Banner that was

Ellennoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8785252630657208897.post-254665527875346022010-03-02T16:08:00.000-07:002010-03-02T16:08:34.139-07:00

It emits a pleasant glow and is an interesting gadget to talk about. Of course, I didn't believe it would remove all dust and pollutants and alleviate allergies, asthma, etc. Nor is it credible that it would boost my immune system, speed the heeling of my wounds, increase my alertness, improve my sleep and cognitive abilities or help reduce my anxiety. All those supposed benefits were clearly

Ellennoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8785252630657208897.post-36358059395181983482010-03-01T10:42:00.000-07:002010-03-01T10:42:34.940-07:00

Ice houses must be removed from lakes. Can spring be far behind? Yet, I turn over my Minnesota calendar to the month of March and there it is, a picture of another snowy day in my favorite city. I'm so looking forward to it all going away so I can come home.

Ellennoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8785252630657208897.post-78017112058051379852010-02-26T10:55:00.000-07:002010-02-26T10:55:18.872-07:00

Along the lines of looking for new socks at the grocery store, I don't usually think, "Ah, I need a snack. I guess I'll stop at the hardware store." But, if you're not too particular about your snack tastes, you could do just that.

Ellennoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8785252630657208897.post-10268548173751236072010-02-24T11:15:00.000-07:002010-02-24T11:15:03.645-07:00

Walking through the Safeway parking lot yesterday, I spotted a bobby pin. I haven't seen one of those in years. Didn't even know they still made them, yet, they can be purchased at Safeway. I wonder. Should I try a new hair style? So many options available using bobby pins. Or not.

Ellennoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8785252630657208897.post-63518214292803211312010-02-23T14:08:00.000-07:002010-02-23T14:08:49.172-07:00

Walking my three younger dogs (mother and two of her kids) in the park the other day, a man was so impressed that they were all marked the same. I mumbled something about them being well bred. Then he asked if the father was marked this way too, which I said he was. "Wow!" he said, as he walked away. Yeah, I thought, it is sooo cool!! I love Boston Terriers. But, of course, you already knew

Ellennoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8785252630657208897.post-77956262181127013412010-02-23T14:05:00.000-07:002010-02-23T14:05:10.458-07:00

It appears that my anxiety about the imminent demise of my Bertie was, thankfully and happily, premature. How premature, I don't know, but he is back to being his alert and curious self on the treatment program provided to me by my Arizona veterinarian. I am, of course, very, very pleased. Now if only he could hear me when I call him. Ah well, two out of three is not bad at all.

Ellennoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8785252630657208897.post-34252040607273988812010-02-21T11:20:00.000-07:002010-02-21T11:20:20.581-07:00

Well, maybe once every twenty years or so I get a little touch of something. Yesterday, I had ample opportunity to moan and whine and wallow in self pity. I even had house guests on hand to commiserate and assure me that my instinct to simply sleep all day was appropriate. But was that any way to treat my brother, Gerrit, and his wife, Julie? Not very entertaining, but they didn't seem to

Ellennoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8785252630657208897.post-55000519880350954512010-02-16T10:36:00.000-07:002010-02-16T10:36:27.188-07:00

I just whispered to my Lily, "Shall we go to the park?" And now I've definitely got to go walk the dogs. I teach them, but I never learn.

Ellennoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8785252630657208897.post-60253383256616291182010-02-12T11:20:00.000-07:002010-02-12T11:20:37.399-07:00

Gov Pawlenty, I see, is urging a 20% tax cut for corporations. (Could he be looking for corporate campaign support?) President Obama submitted a bill for tax relief for small businesses. As I understand it, it is a good thing to help out small businesses because they employ many people. Yet, I've read that Republicans can't support President Obama's tax cut for small business because of our

Ellennoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8785252630657208897.post-54671286376161090132010-02-11T11:04:00.000-07:002010-02-11T11:04:07.535-07:00

Bertie is doing well, and I've chosen to pretend that he'll be fine - which is probably true for the time being. We're all doing well here in Phoenix, and I'm glad Bertie's not struggling with his "issues" in two feet of snow. My sympathy is with all of you who are. By my calendar it is a mere two months before I'll be readying myself and the "kids" to return to Minnesota. And we will be

Ellennoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8785252630657208897.post-53521262695193326582010-02-11T10:48:00.004-07:002010-02-11T10:58:16.852-07:00

"The spotlight has been bright, not necessarily kind to former Vice Presidential candidate Sarah Palin. "According to a new Washington Post-ABC News poll, 71% of Americans do not feel that Palin is qualified to be President. That includes a sharp drop in Republican support, where 45% believe she is qualified compared to 66% who thought she was last fall." Huffington Post, Feb 11, 2010 I would

Ellennoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8785252630657208897.post-54427872659398508692010-02-06T15:51:00.000-07:002010-02-06T15:51:04.433-07:00

There's a Facebook group entitled something like "I'm a Christian." I joined this group with some reluctance. Unfortunately too many people these days who call themselves Christians don't act like it. My comment: "My God is a God of love. What about you?" This week two of my friends unexpectedly lost their 6 year old Viszla to a rare form of leukemia. His time was too short, and the pain

Ellennoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8785252630657208897.post-39991550406504587692010-01-30T14:28:00.000-07:002010-01-30T14:28:06.930-07:00

Having in the past year assumed personal responsibility for keeping my home clean, i.e. vacuumed, dusted and mopped, I have been attentive to those ads for "wetjets" and fluffy dusters. None of these ads, however, had prepared me for fluffy dusters that shed clumps of fluff as you dust, or for dusting cloths which simply move the dust into bunches and pile it into corners of the dusted surface.

Ellennoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8785252630657208897.post-61357513655691168022010-01-30T14:19:00.000-07:002010-01-30T14:19:25.942-07:00

Spectacular sunrise this morning. Beautiful sunny day in the valley. I sympathize with my friends at home, as well as my cousin and her family in Oklahoma City. This is a wild winter, and I absolutely believe we should be paying more attention to the climatic changes that may account for this awful weather around the country. But that would be politics, and, as I noted earlier, I've given up

Ellennoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8785252630657208897.post-15475507097126914852010-01-29T11:38:00.000-07:002010-01-29T11:38:09.865-07:00

I seem to have taken an unannounced hiatus from writing this irrelevant occasional account of life as I see it. No excuses, really. I just developed inertia, or, perhaps, a paucity of inspiration - although that has seldom prevented me from blathering on about myself in the past. Scanning my consciousness for inspiration, I look at subjects like politics, or dogs, or me. I'm tired of

Ellennoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8785252630657208897.post-25156522620841367102010-01-20T15:55:00.000-07:002010-01-20T15:55:45.778-07:00

Facebook has a new group for people to sign up to tell Pat Robertson to STFU. I would prefer to ask the media to stop giving Pat Robertson a stage. Does anyone care what idiotic ideas Scott Roeder (killer of Dr. George Tiller) would espouse if he were asked or allowed to publicize them? Would anyone care to hear specifically the views of James von Brunn (shooter at the Holocaust Museum,

Ellennoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8785252630657208897.post-69751812358655732692010-01-18T12:35:00.000-07:002010-01-18T12:35:29.330-07:00

With a lot of help from Ibuprofin and, perhaps, from herbal tea (Gypsy Cold Remedy), I have recovered from my sinus and sore throat cold-like malady, with the exception of an awkward compulsive coughing and sneezing event in front of the congregation on Sunday morning. Gosh, I hate that. Starts with a tickle in the throat provoking uncontrollable coughing which only ends after a couple of

Ellennoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8785252630657208897.post-14502910264208740372010-01-14T11:58:00.000-07:002010-01-14T11:58:28.324-07:00

I pulled up to wait for the pump at Costco behind a lady with a Prius. First she spent several minutes reading the instructions on the pump before deciding to run her card and take down the hose, which she pulled across the back of the car and inserted in what I assumed was the seldom needed gas tank opening on the other side of the car. Then she walked back to the pump to press the octane

Ellennoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8785252630657208897.post-2659266998557778722010-01-12T15:17:00.000-07:002010-01-12T15:17:08.170-07:00

An outing all by myself is very different from an outing in which friends join me. It was ok, as I took lots of time to read signs and study what I was seeing. Bought a couple of books to help me understand the desert landscape and took some pictures to show off the blue sky and snowless landscape. I do appreciate solitude, but for outings, I think I enjoy having friends or family along much

Ellennoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8785252630657208897.post-30822084744038181022010-01-08T10:30:00.000-07:002010-01-08T10:30:26.342-07:00

Actually, it's not bad if you happen to be in southern Arizona or southern California. Everywhere else seems to be confronting a major character-building experience this year. Sharing a little (very little) of the pain of my fellow Minnesotans, I spent four days in Minneapolis in the subzero cold. At first I remembered how one just accepted what could not be changed and found ways to see it

Ellennoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8785252630657208897.post-41502771418393162722010-01-08T10:28:00.000-07:002010-01-08T10:28:38.626-07:00

Meditating on those "moral guardians" of women's bodies in the name of "life", I'm thinking of a deal to make on the health care bill. Here's my deal. If the bill excludes from government funding any payments for erectile dysfunction and male infertility treatment, then I will accept that it does not provide funding for a woman's abortion. If that trade off cannot be made, then abortion

Ellennoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8785252630657208897.post-87638842415318128412009-12-31T15:36:00.000-07:002009-12-31T15:36:19.685-07:00

How many times have you said to yourself, "Gee, I must go shopping for socks at Safeway." Sunny, 55 degrees and windy. Just the right temperature for the tall, skinny girl in a "barely cover your butt" skirt pushing her boyfriend(?) in a wheelchair. What do you suppose she takes off to keep cool when the weather here is 110? Don't let them tell you these Arizonans are not hardy. I'm sure

Ellennoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8785252630657208897.post-67085915999469888102009-12-29T10:41:00.000-07:002009-12-29T10:41:25.819-07:00

To be welcomed home by subzero temperatures - talk about a cool reception. Minneapolis is among the coolest. All is in place for me to fly away from sunny and warm to sunny and frigid on Saturday. The doves are pretty much finished with my yard, although they return still on a daily basis to clean up the leftovers. Heard a thump on the window yesterday and wandered out to check. As I gazed

Ellennoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8785252630657208897.post-42608766197630668052009-12-29T10:19:00.000-07:002009-12-29T10:19:28.179-07:00

Red dress and sombrero pinned to the side of a cactus: Ouch!

Ellennoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8785252630657208897.post-91880171385247355182009-12-22T15:50:00.000-07:002009-12-22T15:50:46.717-07:00

As the thunder rumbles and the rain pours down here in the Valley of the Sun, I think of my many wonderful friends in the north hunkering down for another blast of wind and snow. I do understand and, though I have no regrets about not enduring it with you, I send lots of sympathetic thoughts in your direction. Meanwhile, here in the valley, my massive flock of doves continue to enjoy my grass

Ellennoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8785252630657208897.post-68991486055571571262009-12-18T11:08:00.000-07:002009-12-18T11:08:46.958-07:00

The contest between the doves and my lawn continues, but last evening I heard a flutter of wings and glanced out the door to see a large hawk sitting on the fence. I did not see any doves. When the dogs chase them the doves perch on the wall and neighboring roof tops until we are diverted again. When Mr. Hawk visits, the doves disperse to far away places. One (I) might hope they would not

Ellennoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8785252630657208897.post-63818748257879521612009-12-15T08:05:00.000-07:002009-12-15T08:05:52.481-07:00

My greatest joy these days consists of occasionally opening the sliding back patio door rather loudly and watching the flock of doves flutter frantically (ha) away. Such is the high excitement of my life. Today I shall remove the totally ineffective aluminum foil flags. The doves ignore them so I really don't need them.

Ellennoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8785252630657208897.post-76493783216412488752009-12-14T13:15:00.000-07:002009-12-14T13:15:24.405-07:00

Not just doves feasting in peace among the foil flags, I am enjoying the excitement of a leaky roof area. For a reasonable sum I can have that fixed tomorrow and, hopefully, be able to put off the re-roofing that is also needed. I shall be having a frugal winter and summer as I prepare for next year's exciting roofing project. Strangely I find the yard without grass tends to hide foot

Ellennoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8785252630657208897.post-55078917952699170262009-12-14T13:08:00.000-07:002009-12-14T13:08:48.027-07:00

Helpful advice about keeping the doves away: Put up little sticks with shiny aluminum foil flags on them. They see the flags move and the light reflect and they fly away. Sounded reasonable to me. No harm in trying. Just sat down again from my quick peek at the back yard. What do you suppose I saw? Hundreds of doves grazing on what remains of my grass seed. The little aluminum flags?

Ellennoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8785252630657208897.post-29783027155758091152009-12-12T14:36:00.000-07:002009-12-12T14:36:42.733-07:00

Dressed in red and green - quirky - maybe, tasteful - no! Older lady with thick thighs - dressed in tight camouflage shorts, with red and white plaid jacket over orange t-shirt. Tasteful - NO! Home depot music with lady singer crooning "I'm dreaming of a white Christmas!" You're in the wrong place for that, honey! But, doesn't matter, as no one is listening anyway.

Ellennoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8785252630657208897.post-84468453972495431582009-12-12T11:18:00.000-07:002009-12-12T11:18:41.311-07:00

My canine kids will scare up birds from their resting places in the bushes along our walk, but ask them to chase the flocks of doves now feasting on my newly sewn grass seed, and they have no idea what I'm talking about. Looking at me blankly and shrinking from any possibility of racing out the door after these avian invaders, I can't get them to understand that it's ok with me - even desirable

Ellennoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8785252630657208897.post-69498773382819754352009-12-08T10:15:00.000-07:002009-12-08T10:15:51.786-07:00

As I today await the Sears TV repair crew to investigate why my TV can't find the cable signal that is attached to it and sits on the same TV stand with it (ok, maybe that's not relevant), I ponder. I've been in Phoenix less than a week, but some events have not turned out as I planned. First, there was my church choice. I intended to attend a suburban parish, but half way through the service

Ellennoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8785252630657208897.post-52270315219683361862009-12-07T14:24:00.000-07:002009-12-07T14:24:35.027-07:00

Having determined to hole up in my relatively warm home here while the rain nourishes our desert flora, I thought today would be a good time to hook up my new DVD player. Probably, I'm right - it is a good time to do it when nothing else is calling me to some activity I might in fact enjoy. After many, many minutes, actually, hours, of trying everything that I could understand from my not so

Ellennoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8785252630657208897.post-54522806549071221802009-12-07T13:30:00.000-07:002009-12-07T13:30:16.190-07:00

Oh the agony! I was prepared to be a gracious host, behave modestly and conceal my desire to gloat when, alas, such a thoughtful, caring response became unnecessary. Not only did I not need to avoid gloating, I had to endure much gloating by beloved family members. Who would have thought it? Next time I will insist that we watch the game at their homes, so that I can run away when it becomes

Ellennoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8785252630657208897.post-2686478017058205662009-12-04T16:27:00.000-07:002009-12-04T16:27:13.856-07:00

And it's lovely on my dining room table here. See picture.

Ellennoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8785252630657208897.post-32605144838410535992009-12-04T16:21:00.000-07:002009-12-04T16:21:09.563-07:00

Starting my trip of nearly 1800 miles with my cell phone, its Blue Tooth wireless piece, my GPS, my Kindle and my satellite radio, I felt quite modern and technologically "with it". I will say that my satellite radio was everything I had hoped for. Those vast miles of windswept sand and sagebrush in the northern parts of Oklahoma, New Mexico and Texas are much better endured in the company of

Ellennoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8785252630657208897.post-56907621990838243692009-11-26T07:07:00.000-07:002009-11-26T07:07:32.040-07:00

So much to be thankful for! However you may be observing this day, I wish you a very happy one. Friends, food, family, love, life and liberty - and so much more. It is too easy sometimes to dwell upon frustrations, faults and losses - which are so much less than they seem. I continue to be the luckiest person I know, and for that I am both humble and grateful.

Ellennoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8785252630657208897.post-61275431079912553142009-11-25T15:40:00.000-07:002009-11-25T15:40:16.388-07:00

The call came Friday evening. My friend had fallen and could not get up. I could not get her up, so she was carried off to North Hospital, where after a few days of evaluation, she was given her release papers on Tuesday. Yesterday I took her home, where she now is, based not on the doctor's recommendations, but on her insistence that she would not go anywhere else. Last evening I thought,

Ellennoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8785252630657208897.post-62516784069139414112009-11-23T16:40:00.000-07:002009-11-23T16:40:51.184-07:00

"An Indian man is suing the makers of Axe body spray, claiming that in seven years of using the product he has yet to find a girlfriend. Vaibhav Bedi, 26, says that Axe's racy marketing campaign led him to believe the product had love-potion properties and is seeking around $40,000 in damages. 'The company cheated me,' said Bedi. 'It says women will be attracted to you if you use Axe. I used it

Ellennoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8785252630657208897.post-6576630678929707542009-11-17T13:12:00.000-07:002009-11-17T13:12:50.820-07:00

What is the difference between catsup and ketchup, besides that my dictionary attached to this Blog editor highlights the former version and says it's not a valid word. My mother always called it catsup, and I assumed that was the way the classy folks pronounced it. That other version, ketchup, was to me clearly a plebeian form, used only by the common folk - like me. So, perhaps it was a

Ellennoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8785252630657208897.post-28988634969978578152009-11-14T14:11:00.000-07:002009-11-14T14:11:14.928-07:00

I realize now why I do not enjoy cooking contests on the Food Network, etc. The idea of getting a meal on the table in a rush, with timing imperative, is way, way, way too stressful for me. I've been preparing this dinner I'm having tonight for weeks, and have devoted the last three days to getting the house in shape, timing and preparing things ahead of time, making lists, then making more

Ellennoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8785252630657208897.post-38226155097867006382009-11-09T14:16:00.000-07:002009-11-09T14:16:05.510-07:00

Next I walk the older crew, Prince Albert and Victoria Sue, One-eyed, flop-eared Princess too. Had enough? Ok, I'll probably not do this to you again. Someone pulled up to us at a corner and asked if any of them are for sale. Alas, I said no. I've had them too long and have become attached to them. Thought about it more. No amount of money would tempt me.

Ellennoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8785252630657208897.post-82178323931696709572009-11-09T13:34:00.000-07:002009-11-09T13:34:39.636-07:00

Walking with my dogs, reciting dumb poetry and thinking, surely I should share this: Let's go Ms Yo, If you will, Ms Lil, at a pace, Ms Grace. Share? Or not? Let's see what I can do with Princess, Bert and Vickie - stay tuned or tune out, as you wish.

Ellennoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8785252630657208897.post-83230650089627399492009-11-05T10:46:00.000-07:002009-11-05T10:46:57.948-07:00

Our last outing of the season to the Minneapolis Institute of Arts to see the Louvre Exhibit to get insight as to what makes a masterpiece. Deciding what is a masterpiece is an occupation for which I will never have any skill, but I did try to learn something yesterday. Those who make this determination have years of experience with art, which directs their judgments. This experience is

Ellennoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8785252630657208897.post-22580440497651424252009-11-03T08:24:00.002-07:002009-11-03T08:24:09.653-07:00

Caught one! Now I have to empty the trap. Ick!

Ellennoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8785252630657208897.post-1275383260251153002009-10-31T08:29:00.000-07:002009-10-31T08:29:53.032-07:00

After discovering the happy rodent in my home, I have been trying to address the problem in a logical fashion. I immediately purchased a couple of traps (they come two to a pack) and set them up with a generous smearing of peanut butter, offering what I hoped would be a pleasant last meal for the little creep. After the first night, the main trap showed signs of its having visited as half the

Ellennoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8785252630657208897.post-52120756953928577032009-10-31T08:05:00.000-07:002009-10-31T08:05:15.183-07:00

Perhaps it is my age. Ok, I know, I'm not that old, yet I'm finding the way Halloween is unfolding this year to be too scary and icky, and I'm wanting to find ways to avoid it. Cartoon pictures of disgusting people and stuff neither entertain nor fascinate me. Like the movie ads that TV forces upon us during commercial breaks, there's a lot of ugly stuff out there that I'd rather not see.

Ellennoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8785252630657208897.post-11007197522565973082009-10-30T07:12:00.000-07:002009-10-30T07:12:55.826-07:00

The tree I planted last spring to replace my poor old maple has beautiful leaves in the fall. Just took a picture to share. Spring blossoms, summer greenery, fall beautiful leaves and winter little red crab apples. Just the ticket, I'd say!

Ellennoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8785252630657208897.post-42770061061738520752009-10-28T10:52:00.000-07:002009-10-28T10:52:41.608-07:00

Nothing much to blog about lately, until today. Of course, the title gives this one away. Calmly watching the second or third hour of HGTV last evening and, surprisingly, still awake and relatively alert, what to my wondering eyes should appear? No, not Santa, but a moderately large brown rodent slipping quietly into the room in front of me. Eeeeeek! Dogs barking, they and I rushed forward,

Ellennoreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8785252630657208897.post-30810568137962272632009-10-16T09:53:00.000-07:002009-10-16T09:53:18.755-07:00

Rain, with a little annoying snow/sleet mix, was no deterrent to our trip to Red Wing. Lots of laughs as Meredith took us on the road less traveled. There are reasons for that - the road less traveled and the laughter. No such thing as a dreary day when you are traveling with good friends. Sadly, no blast of color either for the fall color drive. Not exactly no color, I should explain, but

Ellennoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8785252630657208897.post-13924157272773271522009-10-12T07:55:00.000-07:002009-10-12T07:55:55.875-07:00

During my 37 years as a practicing lawyer, I usually advised people against setting up Living Trusts, as most of the people I served really didn't need them. It was also my personal preference that these trusts, if they were set up, use corporate trustees only as a last resort. My personal opinion is that corporate trustees don't care much about the individual circumstances of the trust settlor

Ellennoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8785252630657208897.post-28672440585240295262009-10-12T07:17:00.000-07:002009-10-12T07:17:30.698-07:00

The Week, October 16, 2009, "The World at a glance . . ." "Bridgeport, Conn. Church papers to air . . . [T]he U.S. Supreme Court this week refused to block [the] release [of] "12,000 pages of documents, generated during 23 lawsuits against six priests accused of molesting young boys. . . .The documents could detail how and why church officials shuffled priests suspected of abuse from parish to

Ellennoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8785252630657208897.post-80846856865578858132009-10-12T06:56:00.000-07:002009-10-12T06:56:58.546-07:00

Winter in October - trust Mother Nature to remind me why I bought a second home in Phoenix. Ah, but isn't it pretty? Or not!

Ellennoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8785252630657208897.post-78146891971224698022009-10-10T07:55:00.000-07:002009-10-10T07:55:00.686-07:00

My Bertie and The Princess were 13 years old yesterday - Oct. 9th. I'm so proud. They are in great health. They have lost two of their litter mates already, which is sad. Also sad, the Twins lost a hard fought, mostly well played game yesterday. I'm still pretty darned proud of them. It is hard to watch the hated Yankees gloat and smirk. Arrogance is not a sportsmanlike behavior.

Ellennoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8785252630657208897.post-40872588312558334072009-10-08T09:37:00.000-07:002009-10-08T09:37:12.550-07:00

Suddenly, on Tuesday evening, I was jumping about, clapping and cheering, all by myself in my usually quiet home. The "kids" didn't know what to make of it, and now I can't remember which of the Twins home runs caused me to leap up from my recliner with such enthusiasm. I just know that the roller coaster ride was a lot of fun. Thanks, Twins - all of you - for keeping the show alive.

Ellennoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8785252630657208897.post-48644673645620858992009-10-08T08:02:00.000-07:002009-10-08T08:02:10.014-07:00

Actually, my little brother - whose birthday is today, October 8th - is not so little any more. He's only two years younger than I am, but he'll always be my little brother. As he so happily points out to me each year, no matter how old he is, he'll always be younger than I am. I am grateful for my little brother. If not for Gerrit, who would I have picked on and fought with as a child. The

Ellennoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8785252630657208897.post-32830577599364879232009-10-05T17:03:00.000-07:002009-10-05T17:03:16.367-07:00

So I'm putting away the George Forman grill in the cupboard and there sits the rest of the frozen beans - there on the shelf where the pan I heat them in usually sits. Good thing I clean up after the meal. Otherwise this package of no longer frozen beans would have been sitting there at least overnight. Where, oh where, was my head? Is this a bad sign? Cripes, I don't have time for

Ellennoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8785252630657208897.post-35198546225081497952009-10-01T13:19:00.000-07:002009-10-01T13:19:40.622-07:00

Just returned from a short, very short, walk with the "kids". It's cold as all get out, so I thought I'd check it out for wind chill number. I could see on my thermometer that it's 50. Weather.com tells me it's 50 and "feels like 50" HA! Somehow they ignore their own statement that wind is 15 mph with gusts to 21 mph - that give us a wind chill and having been out in it, I say that wind chill

Ellennoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8785252630657208897.post-2073209982444145862009-09-28T11:29:00.000-07:002009-09-28T11:29:25.528-07:00

Never satisfied with the weather? When did I become such a grouch? I've had the audacity to be dissatisfied with these lovely 75-80 degree days we've been having, complaining (mildly, I would hope) that the humidity was high and I worked up a "glow" rather easily. So, today, the gods of weather present have provided me with a cool, fall-like day. So what am I grouchy about now? It is windy

Ellennoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8785252630657208897.post-55070593164699653102009-09-28T11:24:00.000-07:002009-09-28T11:24:27.093-07:00

Back in June I wrote an unnecessarily detailed account of my experience with our Economic Reconstruction and Recovery Act at work. I had endured an hour and a half of sedate - very, very sedate - travel for a few miles north of Faribault on I-35. I noted then that there would surely be more of this, as this area near Faribault was not the most needy section of Interstate 35. That, I noted,

Ellennoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8785252630657208897.post-39846860452722724012009-09-25T08:02:00.000-07:002009-09-25T08:02:49.043-07:00

Of course, there is a web site for "as seen on TV", so, of course, I spent some of my not very valuable time searching for the gadget that I "must have". (See "I need this gadget" below) I think I've found it, although it is not the kind of gadget I previously sort of believed I was looking for. There are, of course, hundreds of gadgets - useful and mostly not so much - on this web site of

Ellennoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8785252630657208897.post-20339375471224073762009-09-23T08:26:00.000-07:002009-09-23T08:26:35.199-07:00

As the Vikings seem to have some potential this year to play good football, I noticed they will be playing the Arizona Cardinals in Phoenix on December 6th, shortly after I have returned there. Game is sold out, so I've invited all my relatives to come to my house to watch the Vikings win. Although they're die hard Cardinals fans, they have not only agreed but have already written offering to

Ellennoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8785252630657208897.post-62533103555885249162009-09-22T07:44:00.000-07:002009-09-22T07:44:34.230-07:00

We're being told that we should not expose others to the H1N1 virus and that to be sure that we don't, we should stay home if we feel sick. Here's my quandary. If I sit at home analyzing how I feel, I can sometimes (when I'm a little tired or a little down) convince myself that I'm getting sick. I then think maybe I'd better stay home; however, if I have to go out to, say, walk the dogs or

Ellennoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8785252630657208897.post-17528346875655027092009-09-17T12:18:00.000-07:002009-09-17T12:18:50.489-07:00

Here it is the 17th of September - less than two and a half months, and I will be headed southwest to hide from the evil winter winds. It remains beautiful in Minnesota, with temperatures moderating from the lower 80's to the mid 70's. Trees are turning color, but leaves are dropping quickly due to our drought conditions. Today I renewed my drivers' license, not waiting as I did in 2005

Ellennoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8785252630657208897.post-15333003590344338562009-09-17T12:17:00.000-07:002009-09-17T12:17:07.913-07:00

Saw a Billboard today that implied that I would be more interesting if I had a new, designer purse/outfit bought at the Mall of America. I wondered. Would I really? Probably, not much!

Ellennoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8785252630657208897.post-18557397011398517102009-09-14T11:43:00.002-07:002009-09-14T11:46:57.360-07:00

"While liberal scribes earnestly prattle on about the necessity for good policy in the face of global warming and peak oil and blah-blah-blah, the authors of the right have long since abandoned this outdated "reality-based" model. The reader's heart is captured, after all, not by an adherence to the murky truths of the known world, but by the ecstatic possibilities of the imagined." Steve Almond

Ellennoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8785252630657208897.post-35188731084067764452009-09-11T13:34:00.000-07:002009-09-11T13:34:13.073-07:00

But I have no idea what it is. I saw it as I was channel surfing, and I thought this cute little gadget would be really useful to have. I watched the demo long enough to learn that Bed, Bath and Beyond would carry it, so I knew I didn't have to call the station number and go through the hassle of ordering it, which would no doubt have resulted in a whole new batch of several types of junk mail.

Ellennoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8785252630657208897.post-41589702395463192652009-09-11T07:28:00.000-07:002009-09-11T07:28:56.254-07:00

The President of the United States is coming to town, and I'm going to go see him. I'm going to be one of those cheering loudly and rising to applaud everything he says. It's time those idiot clowns who disrupt and misconstrue are reminded that a majority of Americans elected this man to lead us, and our responsibilities consist of more than "just say no". Either contribute or get out of the

Ellennoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8785252630657208897.post-52148275158339966292009-09-09T14:42:00.000-07:002009-09-09T14:42:37.511-07:00

It has suddenly become clear to me why parents are so concerned about their children being "brainwashed" by Obama. Since they are so easily convinced of such unsupported lies as 1) Obama is not an American; 2) Obama will be setting up death squads to eliminate the weak and elderly and 3) Obama wants to take over your medical decisions - and so on and so on. Clearly, since it is so easy to

Ellennoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8785252630657208897.post-84226390794675770972009-09-08T09:16:00.000-07:002009-09-08T09:16:34.669-07:00

Two visits to the Minnesota State Fair this year, and I feel I should have gone at least once more. The paper has been obsessed with the food opportunities there, but I was sated after just three indulgences at my first visit and after just two indulgences at my second. There seem to be hundreds of opportunities, but in order to truly appreciate these, one my age must return again and again.

Ellennoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8785252630657208897.post-29238000434649972752009-09-07T07:42:00.000-07:002009-09-07T07:42:36.698-07:00

Most of my painting project is finished, but I'm taking a break before finishing up the front entry way and the fireplace surround. It's looking pretty good. September has arrived, and it's time to plan September outings, including the Renaissance Festival and a trip to Iowa to visit friends. Before we know, it will be October, and fall leaves will be in full color. Outings to enjoy the

Ellennoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8785252630657208897.post-50855686313726260422009-09-07T07:37:00.000-07:002009-09-07T07:37:19.550-07:00

Pictures posted of before and after painting project. I'm very pleased with the result.

Ellennoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8785252630657208897.post-22322859409631564382009-09-03T14:23:00.000-07:002009-09-03T14:23:54.888-07:00

Took a break from my painting project, which seems to be taking more work and time than I had anticipated. I went to the fair with my dog, Yo, to sit in the pet building booth and let people pet her, give her treats and ask me questions about her, which I graciously answered, I might add. I let them think she was a paragon of virtue, which she is, sometimes. This painting job is wearing me

Ellennoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8785252630657208897.post-43387435481237496392009-09-01T13:32:00.000-07:002009-09-01T13:32:10.824-07:00

Just finished the "accent wall" in the living room, except for the detail around the molding, which has to wait for the paint on the molding to dry. As I was looking it over a voice commented aloud "that is going to make this a much more interesting room." It's always nice to hear complements, even if they are from a biased source, but especially after two days of very hard work. Still much to

Ellennoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8785252630657208897.post-8358596568842012032009-08-29T07:22:00.000-07:002009-08-29T07:22:49.217-07:00

Here we are at the winery. We tasted, then purchased, wine. It was a great outing, as they have all been. Stay tuned. A fall color outing is being planned for October.

Ellennoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8785252630657208897.post-51514578525486305262009-08-27T13:44:00.000-07:002009-08-27T13:44:16.386-07:00

First Day of the fair, and we had a great time. We loved the Minnesota Winery Exhibit, so much in fact, that we're visiting the Cannon River Winery tomorrow. Two outings in one week. I'm going to be, actually I already am, exhausted. I'm not sure whether I'll walk the dogs this afternoon.

Ellennoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8785252630657208897.post-66795371489112774422009-08-25T08:35:00.000-07:002009-08-25T08:35:18.183-07:00

For those of you (if any) who have been wondering what I would be doing about my shiny spotted dining room and living room walls, you shall be in suspense no longer. I will be repainting them, and I am today going to make the final paint decision and purchase the paint. (see Dilemna, below) In the interest of sharing every boring tidbit of my mundane life, I shall, after the transformation and

Ellennoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8785252630657208897.post-82873846478361183522009-08-24T09:05:00.000-07:002009-08-24T09:05:32.136-07:00

It's hard to believe that I've lived in this house for 23 years this month, and this is the first time I have swept and washed the basement stairs. In fact I am looking at my home in a somewhat different way these days, as I have to watch for areas where cleaning is needed. It's not that I haven't always lived in a clean house, but that for over 40 years, I have depended on someone else to do it

Ellennoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8785252630657208897.post-84385753899398352862009-08-21T11:24:00.004-07:002009-08-21T11:28:07.550-07:00

A great outing, and, like the good tourists we have become, we had our picture taken. These are some of my outing friends. Left to right: Sue, Deanna, Faith, Me and RuthMary.A couple more outings and then it will be fall. I've promised myself I'll put some discipline back in my life beginning in September.

Ellennoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8785252630657208897.post-65208446206068750172009-08-18T15:05:00.005-07:002009-08-18T15:09:27.502-07:00

After weeks of analyzing and tinkering and asking questions on the Internet about my computer software problem, it is suddenly and somewhat inexplicably solved. I ask no more questions, but they persist in my mind. What does it matter? It doesn't. I have my favorite game back, and I'm getting back into the groove. I have to rebuild my amazing score record all over again. There was a time

Ellennoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8785252630657208897.post-73047980598082726062009-08-18T15:01:00.004-07:002009-08-18T15:04:52.085-07:00

It's the strangest thing. I dust, I sweep, I vacuum and I scrub. The floor should be pristine, and yet, as soon as I step on it again in my bare feet, I manage to step on a small stone, or sand, or dog hair or whatever (don't ask). If there is one small stone like dirt item in the whole room, that's where I my foot lands. That's the problem with cleaning in bare feet.

Ellennoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8785252630657208897.post-27571275716509997112009-08-13T08:44:00.006-07:002009-08-13T09:00:51.667-07:00

Once upon a time, a long time ago in a place far away, I learned that traveling by myself wasn't bad at all. If I were in the mood to wander and, perhaps, get lost in a strange place, I had no one to account to but myself. Should I wish to stop in an eating place that appealed to me, have a beer or a cocktail in the middle of the day, and/or splurge on the whole endeavor, I needn't worry that

Ellennoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8785252630657208897.post-65447283958490793142009-08-12T11:35:00.004-07:002009-08-12T11:40:51.782-07:00

Recently while cleaning my dining room, I spot painted some scuffs and stains in the wall; however, as I noted, I had used a semi-gloss paint, so these spots are now shiny. I found the flat version of this paint; however, it seems to be a teensy bit yellower than the rest of the wall. Should I leave the shiny repairs as is? Or should I paint them a teensy bit yellower? or, heaven forbid, am I

Ellennoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8785252630657208897.post-43154153242015126642009-08-11T08:00:00.003-07:002009-08-11T08:05:38.902-07:00

In my frenzy of super cleaning, which means that nearly every day I tackle a room or area of the house and do a thorough cleaning, I yesterday tackled the dining room. The rug is in the car waiting to be delivered to the rug laundry, and I have noticed that my paint touch up of nicks and marks rather shine, as I used semi-gloss paint. I have, fortunately, located the matching flat paint in the

Ellennoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8785252630657208897.post-5694189779763260652009-08-09T14:01:00.004-07:002009-08-09T14:10:32.491-07:00

It is possible to walk three dogs at the same time on flexi-leads, but it is not particularly dignified to do so. If they were to all walk together in an obedient grouping by my side, I could look pretty cool. If they were to all walk out in front of me in a relatively orderly manner, I could look somewhat cool. But, in fact, they run in circles, sometimes in different directions and at

Ellennoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8785252630657208897.post-37601924853389613032009-08-08T12:29:00.004-07:002009-08-08T13:26:52.467-07:00

My first foray into adult learning at the Arboretum today went well. I may even have actually absorbed some new information. At least it seemed that way when we walked around the gardens after the slide presentation and lecture. We'll see how much I retain as time goes on. Almost missed the garden tour portion of the class as I was delayed in the rest room and the class was out of sight when I

Ellennoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8785252630657208897.post-30505928418027096812009-08-07T06:49:00.007-07:002009-08-07T07:12:32.370-07:00

It is a long time since we lived in warm & fuzzy times, like the 50's, and, though there was much to improve upon during those times, I find myself yearning for their return. At least a return to the simple sense of decency and, yes, innocence, that seemed to prevail in that seemingly simpler time.A "good news" event this past week was surely the return of the reporters who were being held in

Ellennoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8785252630657208897.post-35148985480286884672009-08-06T08:35:00.005-07:002009-08-06T08:58:09.216-07:00

Dogs,you may not realize, can and do know the time of day. They are especially diligent about meal and/or treat times. Walk times too, but in our household, these times vary more than meal or treat times. I recall mentioning some time back (on Facebook, I believe) that someone had spoiled my Lily (that's the dog, not the huge, overgrown flowers in my front yard). No one has stepped forward to

Ellennoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8785252630657208897.post-89454759119612522492009-08-04T08:58:00.001-07:002009-08-04T08:59:22.955-07:00

Dentist on TV the other night advertising Colgate toothpaste - named Dr. Joyce Fang. Really!

Ellennoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8785252630657208897.post-58079154578557385742009-08-03T10:01:00.005-07:002009-08-03T10:40:06.196-07:00

My cousin in Phoenix mentioned that she was looking forward to her swim. Temperature there was 115. Here we were in the high 70's. Hard to imagine living there year round, but some folks do. These cool days fuel my relatively moderate ambition, including a desire to clean my house. This is the thorough, compulsive cleaning that moves furniture and things on shelves to vacuum and dust behind

Ellennoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8785252630657208897.post-36134150797991070672009-07-29T07:16:00.007-07:002009-07-29T08:05:10.433-07:00

Hint: You may want to skip this one - Everyone talks too much about diets, even (especially) me.Much like my mother, I have spent a good portion of my life worrying about and trying to do something about my weight. I so love myself when I am at a weight where my clothes look good on me, or at least I think my clothes look good on me. Mother used to have a "fat" wardrobe and a "thinner" wardrobe

Ellennoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8785252630657208897.post-51596782181054729002009-07-24T08:40:00.005-07:002009-07-24T09:09:18.434-07:00

After reading Mary Abbe's review of the current Walker exhibit, I have scratched it from my Outings calendar. The Walker has never held much interest for me, as mundane stuff, paintings of nothing and piles of trash in the world are, in my opinion, not art just because they are in a museum. Still, I felt I should at least visit the new Walker and see for myself. Thank you, Mary Abbe, for saving

Ellennoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8785252630657208897.post-14475192857324527192009-07-21T09:07:00.005-07:002009-07-22T09:00:25.888-07:00

I sometimes feel silly about all the little things that pass through my mind each day, and the trivial stuff that I notice and think about. I check Facebook several times a day, and keep up with a lot of little things that make up the days of my friends as well, as if the trivia in my own life weren't enough. Each time I pass the corner of Dowling and Xerxes, I think about the man who last

Ellennoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8785252630657208897.post-66689803184099588102009-07-18T08:25:00.004-07:002009-07-18T14:11:15.586-07:00

Good fences make good neighbors, I think. That, as I recall, is a wise old adage. My fence is one of those offset things which allows for peaking through the slats, which had become a source of constant anxiety in my otherwise tranquil home. The neighbors, you see, have a large black Labrador, who is a sweet dog by nature, but who will naturally react to yipping, snarling attacks from my

Ellennoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8785252630657208897.post-84526294452202499792009-07-18T05:49:00.005-07:002009-07-18T08:07:38.266-07:00

A pair of letter writers in today’s Star Tribune chastised our senators Klobuchar and Franken for their lighter comments and comedic touches during the Sotomayor confirmation hearings, implying that acting like a comedian or recounting a casual conversation with the nominee’s mother was some kind of disgrace. I think we can be proud that our senators’ conversations were in stark contrast to

Ellennoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8785252630657208897.post-76309016463284701292009-07-17T09:02:00.006-07:002009-07-17T09:21:32.032-07:00

Emptied, cleaned and refilled my backyard waterfall-pond today. It's a task I do at least twice a year, in spring and fall, so it must be fall? Actually, I do it more often than that, but as we locals know, today feels like fall. I'm OK with that. I get a lot done in the fall. The cooler season energizes me. So, you may ask, why do you leave town for the winter? I have no answer for that.

Ellennoreply@blogger.com0