Going Back To Normal - Pantry Edition

 Can we please normalize the pantry?

I enjoy IG, I like quite a few folks on it.

I learn a lot on favorite sites.

But when I see over and over these massive walk in pantries

where these young/youngish gals are showing pantries

that are larger than my kids rooms were, and many are

not even part of the main kitchen and all the storage that is already in there.

well.... ahem

My home is not small, nor grand, but four of us were just fine here

with a pantry behind a single door. Not a walk in, or designer

but tidy and well, see...

(Don't go counting the cocoas they came in sets lol)

With a little thought and organization there is far more than a months worth

of food in here. I will eventually repaint in here I think, as I never painted

the extra shelves I added when we moved in, and it would be fun to see some color.

That will be the extent of my redesign after 29 years. 

Because you can afford it, does not necessarily

 mean you should have it, or do it, or buy it.

Wants are not needs.

There is a young couple on IG

redoing an older home on their own and when they showed

their beautiful new double doored pantry cupboard they received numerous DMS 

and snarky comments about

how small it was. Those folks expected they should

 have blown out more walls or added on another room.

Adding on a 2nd bathroom when you have 6 people 

living under one roof ? If you can, yes.

But spending tens of thousands of dollars to be able 

to store a years worth of food, or show off  pretty containers?

I so admire the tiny house movement and if I could park one anywhere in CA 

near the kids that was affordable it would already be done.

If I could have downsized from my current home and afforded a small place here or CA,

it would have been done. But since I sacrificed

 and budgeted like a mad woman and paid off my home in nine years

 it made sense to stay put until I can't any longer. 

Climate, raw material usage, and trash floating islands in our seas?

Threats of dissolution of democracy, if not war; for me, would be a deterrent

to such expense etc. But that's just me I suppose. My age is showing.

Now because I've droned on about that, and because our temps

plummeted - here's a fun quick soup

on constant rotation in my house.

1 roasted chicken  meat removed

( I only had  TJ's meat today so I used that but flavor is better from store/home roasted)

4 cups or two cans of chicken broth

( you see 2 cartons because 1 was already opened)

2 cans cannellini beans

( I drain and rinse)

1 can or 1 3/4 cup water 

1/2 jar of Salsa Verde

Cilantro if desired

Heat it all up and let simmer a bit so 

chicken absorbs some of the other flavors.

I add fresh chopped cilantro to taste at the very end,

but if you hate, forget it.

Now you can add tortilla strips or roasted corn, whatever 

floats your boat. 

Today I did a dollop of sour cream

Z

BTW -Finished up rows on quilt

now to join in stars and make a plan for completion WOOT!

and every night I put away Walter's toys

When I awake, I find 

Remember he goes to sleep under my covers 

before I even fall asleep. 

He is there when I awake. 

Does he sleep walk  play?

Can Yunz Believe this?

Yesterday was to be my one day out day.

I get one about every 14 days or so.

Headed for a haircut and color at 10:00.

I was determined to hit the ground running

right after that, or shuffling at least, so I headed

to Michaels for some jewelry findings I had needed

for months to repair two necklaces.

Because I  had only slept 4 hours the night before 

due to more challenging, er, bad news

on the medical front, I found myself getting

a little weak and dizzy so decided to head home,

and skip Trader Joes which had been the "BIG" plan.

ha!

make plans, the universe laughs HA!

I pull into the garage and hit the garage door

remote and a hideous, screeching, crunching,

sound occurred and I hit the remote stop immediately.

When I opened the drivers side door,

I nearly peeked thru my fingers

 as I knew what I would see.

A crumpled door.

'scuse me but shit shit shit.

Called insurance I have 2000 deductible, 

they said get estimate first.

Called an emergency service and no kidding

 they were there in 30 minutes.

At first I was looking at around $4,000

to get the same quality door or around $2500

to get a bottom level version.

Maybe it was me cradling 

my head in my hands with tears drippin thru

and my O/2 canula hanging out...

but Clayton the tech says.

"Let me see what I can do."

Since I hit the button so quickly

 I did less damage than I could have.

Just under $1,000 later, not using insurance, and 

my door now closes, you cannot see the tears

in the panels from the outside

 and it's guaranteed for 3 years.

Clayton and I had a very spirited political discussion

while he was adding new springs and bolting new metal struts;

but it was respectful with no meanness or put downs.

We could not be more politically opposed,

but we parted with very good feelings. 

STILL....

what did I do in a former life to have this karma?

(please don't say things could be worse as they are worse medically)

I need/want so much to get back to my old self,

no O2 needed, lose all the prednisone weight etc.,

be able to work.

I love this, and I am not making light of horrific crime,

I'm poking fun at me OK?

Z

Happy weekend youins

(my homage to Latrobe slang")

A common informal word used in southwestern Pennsylvania and the forefront example of what is commonly known as "Pittsburghese" is the word yinz, pronounced /jɪnz/ in IPA. Alternatively it is less commonly used in long form, youins, pronounced /ju.ɪnz/.

I never knew anyone one who used yinz always spelled yunz

On My MInd

I'm a skeptical gal until I research something,

or until the facts are right smack in my face.

Last year 34 million Americans got the flu,

900,000 were hospitalized, 

and nearly 80,000 died.

As most of you know, the flu,

 on top of a severe bronchial infection

nearly took me out last December

Several ER runs and stays and

4 Urgent Care visits and 10 months 

later we're still working on the damage.

There were 180 pediatric related deaths,

the majority unvaccinated,

 and many were healthy.

Less than 50 % of pregnant women 

get the shot,

and they do not do well

 if they get the flu and the baby 

can have severe lasting issues.

I never ever got the flu and I never got a flu shot.

I never had my kids get shots.

I WAS WRONG!!!!

Most insurance gets you the shot for free,

and if not, I know there are free places to go 

like health districts.

I had 0 yes, zippo side effects.

I also never got a pneumonia shot.

Pneumonia landed me in ER last Spring also.

Seriously, how WRONG could I be?

Yep, got that shot also.

I just asked kids to get shots, 

I hope they listen.

It takes 2 weeks to receive fullest protection

and the

 BEST TIME TO GET IS

BEFORE NOV 1st

If you are over 65 be sure to get the high dose 

vaccine unless your Dr says otherwise,

and of course consult your Dr to be sure 

you can safely get the shot.

There are some who cannot,

so we should protect them from catching it from us!

I had to go to four places until 

I found one that had the high dose,

it's going fast here. They all offered me the lower dose,

which is wrong for me.

It's your social responsibility to get

vaccinated to protect those around you,

family, friends, co-workers, 

young ones in your life, the elderly in your life

and even those already compromised strangers

that you spend 10 seconds near in Target. 

Ok stepping down from my soap box now.

I know that if I had read this last season 

and listened and believed I

might have avoided a lot of trouble and suffering.

If I keep even one of you healthy

it's worth a yawn of a post,

cause I love you guys.

Z

Four Docs, A Shot and Ben Casey Would Know

I really don't mind 

having met the halfway mark through 

my 60's but it seems to have had

the effect of a starter pistol as far

as my health goes.

Monday was a bunch more blood work etc.

Today was two Drs, one brand new, four more tests,

and a shot for pneumonia.

My first injection in decades.

Coming up next, three more Drs, "specialists"

you see, who hopefully will have answers,

and it's safe to assume a lot more tests.

As of Sept last year I had never needed 

prescriptions for anything other than antibiotics

 every few years if I caught a winter "something",

birth control in my twenties, 

and I hadn't needed 

a Dr for more than annual exams in decades.

Now in 2018 I wander in and out of offices,

being passed around for x-rays, electrodes, 

zaps, pokes, scans and such.

I'm not too fond of this new routine.

I'm looking for the exit, or the big red stop button

that I can pound down with my fist.

I want the buzzer that signals the 

last round of the game, and get some solid answers.

Ben Casey would know.

I had a Ben Casey "Dr" shirt 

when I was in elementary

school and my girlfriends and I played hospital.

They were on team Kildare,

but I alone went the brooding, dark route,

never the All American blonde blue eyed type for me.

Team Casey all the way.

He could pull off a pocket protector yesiree bob.

Which explains why my next

grown up obsession was Armand

which morphed into

Do we see a pattern here Dr?

Neither of my husbands had 

what I now realize was "the look"

SO THAT'S what happened?!

Stay well my friends, stay well.

Z

GRRRRRRR and Yin Yang

SO for the past couple of weeks,

I have been battling these guys.

I've tried organic, homemade, and

could "decimate the world products",

but I still have these critters.

Oh they might toy with me and disappear 

for a few days only to return in greater numbers.

Here, there and *^%@$*& everywhere.

I've been out of sorts, I know

it's probably just the heat, but still.

It's SO bloomin' hot,

Something like 25 straight days over 105.

Many of those days are in the 114-117 range.

I've lost a few of my new plantings $$$,

and I have jury duty coming up.

I don't mind the jury duty, but I don't like the 

difficulty in getting to the courthouse

 and parking issues, and walking downtown

on scorching days.

I haven't been downtown in over a decade.

On purpose.

Dearest son and friends were here

over the weekend for the UFC.

Because of a canceled fight,

they were upgraded to a private box.

Not my cup of tea, but pretty cool for them.

Funny, after his 17 years of living here,

Ben seems to have forgotten how

 miserable summers can be.

He complained about the heat constantly.

He's CA spoiled. I get it though.

Oh, do I get it!

I splurged on a spiralizer and 

made squash noodles

over the weekend.

Quite good actually.

So, yin and yang

Go with the flow

 dry and hot,

but monsoons are a comin'.

"oh I wish it would rain"

get out of this funk.

Anybody know where I

can get one of these?

Z

  

Light

It is better to light a candle

than to curse the darkness

Eleanor Roosevelt

I'm gonna need more candles

We're the Lizard Among the Vipers

We're the lizard among the vipers, but there is hope and we MUST keep charging forward. (Watch the entire short video, via Twisted Sifter)

http://twistedsifter.com/videos/planet-earth-2-lizard-snake-scene/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+Twistedsifter+%28TwistedSifter+%29

I tried to say it a hundred ways today, erased them all, but this palpitating scene explains my heart better than any mere words I could muster up. Frantic, nearly choked and broken.

In my lifetime, there have been two days that felt like yesterday did to me. The assassination of President Kennedy and 9-11. Utter despair and disbelief. I awoke to other nations gravely concerned over my country's future. Death presents itself unwanted. 

This time it was invited in by my countrymen.

Keep Your Damn Parade Macy's

At times I am terrible at picking up my mail,

especially when it's 112 outside 

 and when I finally do

(at 1 am in my pj's last night)

I remember why.

(stay with me to the end folks)

Because it often ticks me off.

I received a bill yesterday from Macy's for $2

Three months ago I ordered some 

products on line and had a balance of 

95.00 and change. I paid the bill in full, and mailed it 

10 days in advance of the due date.

I received the next month's bill with a 

29.00 late fee (32%) plus a 2.00 balance fee.

I called and never even made it to a living being, 

just an automated voice saying 
"if you are calling about your late fee we will gladly
 remove it from your bill". 
I punched 0 several times until I got a human and 

voiced my displeasure at the policy 
and that I appreciated the removal. 
I was informed I needed to leave 10-14 days
 for processing and that it had been
 "processed 1 day after the due date". 
I said my job was to get it

there on time, it was their job to process

it on time... and I may have commented 
on the lovely way for Macy's to add to their coffers.

Last month I receive a bill for 4.00.

$2 for minimum balance charge of the month before

and another $2 for the current month.

I paid it just to make it go away.

WHY? WHY?

 I know better - I was just not up for an argument,

or I got lazy, or stupid.

Yesterday's bill was another $2 charge 

attached to a bill I paid in full 3 months ago.

NOW I WAS up for an argument.

I got a human,

after an automated voice said

"If you are calling about the $2 charge,

 we will gladly remove it.

I punched 000000000000 

HA!

Obviously so many folks call about these charges,

that they automate their answer.

The human I spoke with 

read off Macy's apology from a card.

I know this because she repeated the exact words

 verbatim 3 times at least.

She finished with "because you have a 0 balance there 

is nothing I can remove for you today."

If only half of their customers have 

noticed this sneaky little deal,

 and only half complain, that still leaves

a big bunch of $2 charges being tacked on willy nilly 

each month, especially after claiming we all need to mail

14 days in advance as if the USPS wasn't doing their job.

Pretty clever huh?

We need to pay close attention my friends:

I don't trust the fat dude behind the curtain.

If I hear one more person say

"I don't care about politics"

"I don't "do" politics"

"It's all so corrupt I wash my hands of it all"

I just may scream

No, I know what I'll do instead.

I'll have an automated voice at the ready

"we are sorry for the inconvenience" - 

"We will gladly 

remove all your civil rights, 

 remove your reproductive rights,

remove all attempts to save the planet, 

remove quality education

remove aid to the ill and the poor,

remove health care

remove people due to race and ethnicity

remove the fish from the oceans, the trees

from the forests, the oxygen from the FRICKIN' AIR

YOU BREATHE!"

deep breath...

Not one of us can afford to be lazy or stupid right now.

Once you have a 0 balance, there 

is nothing more for them to remove.

Pretty floats and balloons cannot

disguise the seriousness of our times.

Keep your damn parade Macy's

I'm marching for a better cause.

wikipedia

Z

Musings and Insanities

Hello!

The quiet periods seem to be stretching out longer and longer

but that's OK for me and for others doing the same thing.

So here is what has been happening around oldgreymare.

Spent some time working on a new class I'll be teaching

at a brand new store The Paper Bunny.

I met the darling owner Mary when she came to my last

sale and she bought loads of my creations,

some furniture, and then toured the house.

After seeing my paper works in some of the rooms, 

she asked if I would teach. 

Sure enough!

THE STORM

We had a big one here.

Trashed my yard front and back, 

left me piles of hail

that looked like snow drifts and 

scared the daylights out of Howie.

That's hail still on the ground hours later

My driveway and street

Speaking of the pooch..

Once again we were at the vets in an emergency.

This time it was 9 am 

but the fear was just as severe.

He had started bleeding profusely and well,

I feared the worst.

Turned out to be colitis, (they think)

and we did a regime of more pills, more tests, more$$$$.

Bleeding stopped, tests came back fine, and

now we wait.

That's Howie storm sniffing at the fireplace grate.

I never need weather alerts, I have Howie alerts.

Long before the sky darkens, Howie starts the sniffing.

The World

Some days I cannot even bear to watch or read the news.

Insanity reigns.

Hitler's clone is running for our presidency

Trump supporters need to pick up a copy of Mein Kampf . Bet they'll love it

"If you win, you need not have to explain...If you lose, you should not be there to explain!” 

"If you tell a big enough lie and tell it frequently enough, it will be believed.” 

"I use emotion for the many and reserve reason for the few.” 

"The victor will never be asked if he told the truth. ” 

"The very first essential for success is a perpetually constant and regular employment of violence.” 

"Humanitarianism is the expression of stupidity and cowardice.” 

ALL ADOLF HITLER 

or did you think these were Trump's?

Brexit Regrexit

At least we are not alone in political

idiocy but I find no comfort in that.

Climate catastrophes all over the world.

Gun violence

Terrorism

Folks feeding the fear

I know the world has suffered many dark times,

but I cannot remember a time in my life

where it felt so universally doomed and damned.

I hibernate in the summer anyway

as you all know.

but this year is an extreme.

I was just telling DD 

that I filled the car up with gas on June 26th.

The last time I got gas before that

was April 23rd. 

Two months, one tank.

When you no longer "shop" for entertainment.

When you can walk to the market...

the savings add up.

I've cut my budget by one third in the last year.

I do feel good about that.

And of course I always feel good about the kids.

Dearest Son changed jobs with loads more

opportunity, responsibility, and $$$$ 

He's having a ball in the CA sunshine.

Darling Daughter is constantly working on films, 

often alongside boyfriend Blake. 

They are adorable and happy

and the three of them get together often,

doing crazy stuff like 

moonlight skating

and Mama is thrilled.

Hallelujah - gives me hope

Happy Summer to ya

Z

Choosing to listen- choosing to act

Are you turning a deaf ear?

Refusing to listen? 

Refusing to act?

If you are brave enough,

look at your heart and

ask yourself why?

The glorification of busy

is a damn lousy excuse.

If nothing else, make a phone call,

write a letter, send an email.

DO SOMETHING!!!

Will you finally care when

 it touches someone you love?

and everyone else is shaking their head saying

"something should be done"

NV Legislators

NV Senators and Representatives

there ya go all nice and easy for you NV folks

other states

just google your state______ then senators/congress

                        ______then legislators

their emails phone numbers etc- all there

rant complete

for now......

DS New Home/ Some More Rants

Many of you asked about Hannah's sewing project:

here are the pillows she made for her big brother

for his new couch in his new apartment.

Their style will be Mid-century Modern meets

Turkish brothel?

Their words, not mine.

Actually I think they used whorehouse.

That part is about lots of bright colors not so much 

a brothel style, mama hopes anyway.... 

Gentrification

1. Gentrification is a general term for the arrival of wealthier people in an existing urban district, a related increase in rents and property values, and changes in the district's character and culture. The term is often used negatively, suggesting the displacement of poor communities by rich outsiders.

Those of you in LA/NY/SF/NJ/more

have been aware of the issues of gentrification.

It is a tough issue.

Dearest Son was subjected to gentrification

 as his rent more than doubled in the area

 he had lived in for three years, 

and even sharing that rent with three others,

it was no longer possible to live there.

His new place is also a result of gentrification

in his new area and forced out folks resulting in 

DS getting a newly renovated affordable place,

 that they need not share with roommates.

Now these kids make a modest income for sure

but their new rent for 700 sq feet is far more than

the mortgage I paid here for 2,000 sq feet..

and DD's rent for 400 sq feet is 300 more a month! 

I became curious about the topic and did 

a little research 

and was surprised to 

discover that it was often untrue that

 masses of folks are displaced 

and that there are numerous positive

effects to gentrification.

Of course some do lose their 

ability to rent in the same area,

and they are the least able to adjust to

such life changes...

the very poor, elderly on fixed incomes.

Tough issue with rights and wrongs.

DS and his girl were affected both ways...

and then while researching I stumbled

across this article...

It's long, but read it anyway if you can.

Now this will start many good discussions,

with differing opinions

and the subjects are linked because

so much of the choices we now make 

are based in irrational fears and mistruths

fueled by dubious politicians and very bad

NEWS - (she says with absolute disdain)

Networks

Lots of us choose a word of empowerment

each year to inspire us, motivate us.

I want to go one step forward 

and suggest that we adopt not a word but

a mind set, if you will.

Can we put all the typical blog

fodder just a wee bit further back on the 

burners and bring to the front

our best self?

Can we shut off the STUPID 

tv shows we watch because

the good stuff isn't on that night,

and read and be enlightened

 about important issues instead?

How about just 30 minutes a day?

and I don't mean watch the morning shows

which are merely entertainment shows.

Though I do love Charlie Rose

but at NIGHT.

Let's explore more,

dare more,

volunteer more,

educate ourselves about the real issues,

relearn where the heck the countries in Europe are

for Pete's Sake!

How would you do?

We've been at war in Iran Iraq Afghanistan Syria

and thousands have lost their lives, 

and we ALL have our opinions about that,

 but can you find them on a map?

I am ashamed to say I got Syria wrong.

I have now decided to remember  SIIA

reading left to right

I love seeing all the decorating idea, great recipes,

and DIY projects, and I still will share those of mine

if I ever get the rearranging finished.

Currently the Family Room is going through 

a metamorphosis and ongoing purge-a rama

here at oldgreymare.

thank heavens the kids are hauling out stuff 

for their homes.

 BUT I hope we can stop being afraid to 

speak our minds, challenge each other,

and share more of the Life stuff.

Blogs can be a mix,

and it's Ok to have different opinions.

We need to be an example of

the power and intelligence of a woman's mind.

So show me some stuff,

what issue is important to you?

What rant do you wish to make?

Put it in the **** It Bucket top right.

If I cannot motivate you here,

 how about being frightened

 about what happens to your brian if you don't use

all those other areas?

"There's always room for Jello"

what your brain becomes....

and speaking of Jello...

how does everyone feel about Bill Cosby?

Rant Over-

Now where to put the huge white cabinet,

the cream wing back and drawer sets I removed 

from Family Room?