The week in Astoria was the best. Seven days with my aunt's family in that mossy northwest was nirvana, the ideal condition of rest, harmony, stability, and joy. Six women spending three days together without men around created the type of bonding that might happen to nuns on a holiday. When the men started joining the group the dynamics immediately changed. They cooked and we ate.
FinnFest 2006 reinforced the love of my heritage. I loved the familiar food, the humor, the varied music, and being able to listen to published papers on the culture. A cousin and I got carried away with yoiking and she yoiked a beautiful blessing for our Cave Hills dinner in Astoria on Saturday. Mother and I were yoiked in Finland although we didn't know what to call it then. We were mesmerized by it and knew it was other-worldly. The dinner yoik was equally enchanting.
Monday, July 31, 2006
For Craig
This is just for Craig. I found it on the South Dakota Magazine link and they linked it from The Black Table. There is a nice photo of the bird there. It isn't me talking about the boyfriend so those of you that are my relatives can calm down. I suppose you are wondering about this Craig guy. He is a Civil Engineer I chatted up on a flight from Portland to Salt Lake City, who wants to hunt pheasants.
#1. The State Bird = Good Huntin'.
We have the ring-necked pheasant, an import from China. And we like to blow the crap out of it. About 150,000 hunters annually shoot up about 1.3 million pheasant. Wow, that's nearly double our human population!
My dad, rightly, likes to point out that hunting brings loads of tourist dollars to the state, but all those guns can be a bit disconcerting. My boyfriend recently took his first trip to Sodak, as we sometimes call it. A New York native, he found the clutches of hunters with rifles blasting away just feet from the highways more than a little nerve-wracking. He also was a bit wary of the fellows waving around guns in both hands at the local Wal-Mart as they showed off their wares. And darned if they didn't have a better ammo selection than they did paper towels. Michael Moore would not be pleased.
#1. The State Bird = Good Huntin'.
We have the ring-necked pheasant, an import from China. And we like to blow the crap out of it. About 150,000 hunters annually shoot up about 1.3 million pheasant. Wow, that's nearly double our human population!
My dad, rightly, likes to point out that hunting brings loads of tourist dollars to the state, but all those guns can be a bit disconcerting. My boyfriend recently took his first trip to Sodak, as we sometimes call it. A New York native, he found the clutches of hunters with rifles blasting away just feet from the highways more than a little nerve-wracking. He also was a bit wary of the fellows waving around guns in both hands at the local Wal-Mart as they showed off their wares. And darned if they didn't have a better ammo selection than they did paper towels. Michael Moore would not be pleased.
Friday, July 21, 2006
Something New
"Now all the Athenians and the foreigners living there would spend their time in nothing but telling or hearing something new. "
The above was written in regard to Paul in Acts 17. "Some said, "What does this babbler want to say?" It goes on in restaurants all over Omaha by tables full of ladies who lunch. Once a month I am one of them, getting together with five to six of the women who worked together in the Media office at Westside High School between the 70's until today. We are all anxious to hear something new, the latest literature, movie, school or family scuttlebutt.
It happens in homes and on cable news channels and the network nightly news programs. We all tune in to see what the babbler has to say. Some think it could change over time as more and more people check out the blogging babblers.
The above was written in regard to Paul in Acts 17. "Some said, "What does this babbler want to say?" It goes on in restaurants all over Omaha by tables full of ladies who lunch. Once a month I am one of them, getting together with five to six of the women who worked together in the Media office at Westside High School between the 70's until today. We are all anxious to hear something new, the latest literature, movie, school or family scuttlebutt.
It happens in homes and on cable news channels and the network nightly news programs. We all tune in to see what the babbler has to say. Some think it could change over time as more and more people check out the blogging babblers.
Thursday, July 20, 2006
Recovery Agent
This morning a man with the words "Recovery Agent" on his shirt knocked on our door. He was looking for one of our two new neighbors next door. I sort of wish I hadn't Googled 'recovery agent,' as the hits were not exactly what a middle class, quiet, old neighbor lady expects. Jeepers, even the Interpol was mentioned in one of the links, as well as bounty hunters.
He Who Must Be Obeyed, my own bounty hunter, got $20 in 1955 for a couple of coyote ears. The rest of the coyote rotted in the car trunk, rendering the car useless and had to be gotten rid of. Today's bounty hunters might be after coyotes of a different sort, those who carry other folks in the trunks of their cars. I believe they make more than $20 for a find.
Perhaps this Recovery Agent was after absconded bail bond money. I do love a mystery but prefer them in books and not in the house next door.
He Who Must Be Obeyed, my own bounty hunter, got $20 in 1955 for a couple of coyote ears. The rest of the coyote rotted in the car trunk, rendering the car useless and had to be gotten rid of. Today's bounty hunters might be after coyotes of a different sort, those who carry other folks in the trunks of their cars. I believe they make more than $20 for a find.
Perhaps this Recovery Agent was after absconded bail bond money. I do love a mystery but prefer them in books and not in the house next door.
Sunday, July 16, 2006
Doing What You Shouldn't
Happiness happens. This past week a former student of mine wrote a note in response to mine. I googled myself, which is embarrassing, but was a good thing actually. I found a hit on a former student's site. A note sent was a note reciprocated. God's Blessings Mark!
I prepare for seven overnight house guests. Beloved family members warm these old parent's hearts. I try to pack for the FinnFest in Astoria. I clean house and yard. I hem shirts and pants. We went to Saturday Services in 100 degree heat last night.
Doing what you shouldn't is fooling around on the computer right now. Fooling around is what I do best.
I prepare for seven overnight house guests. Beloved family members warm these old parent's hearts. I try to pack for the FinnFest in Astoria. I clean house and yard. I hem shirts and pants. We went to Saturday Services in 100 degree heat last night.
Doing what you shouldn't is fooling around on the computer right now. Fooling around is what I do best.
Tuesday, July 11, 2006
A Psalm of Gratitude
1. I sing a song of thanksgiving to the Lord. What have I done to deserve all this abundant goodness?
2. The Lord God created for me a beautiful prairie homeland in which I grew to womanhood. The buttes and pastures delighted my eye. The Meadowlark lifts my heart with the memory of its trill. The smell of summer showers linger in my nostrils forever. I praise the Lord my God for my homeland.
3. The Lord God created for me a majestic land in which to raise my children. The sacred Paha Sapa sheltered us from every storm. The trout streams filled my children with glee. The tender horses in pastures were wonderful to behold. Bluebirds made nests and raised young by my door. Our souls were nurtured and we sang praises to the Lord our God.
4. The Lord God created for me a great city in which to work. Work was plentiful and held rewards unimagineable. The streets were paved for my ease in travel and the Lord brought me safely home each night. For the pleasure of work I shout praises to the Lord.
5. The Lord God created rest and peace for my old age. He fills my life with contentment and joy. He places me in the arms of loving friends and shines his light on me through their eyes. I praise the Lord God for each of them.
6. For a good life with a good husband, I sing and shout praise to the Lord my God. The house of the Lord will be filled with my song and joy forever. Amen.
2. The Lord God created for me a beautiful prairie homeland in which I grew to womanhood. The buttes and pastures delighted my eye. The Meadowlark lifts my heart with the memory of its trill. The smell of summer showers linger in my nostrils forever. I praise the Lord my God for my homeland.
3. The Lord God created for me a majestic land in which to raise my children. The sacred Paha Sapa sheltered us from every storm. The trout streams filled my children with glee. The tender horses in pastures were wonderful to behold. Bluebirds made nests and raised young by my door. Our souls were nurtured and we sang praises to the Lord our God.
4. The Lord God created for me a great city in which to work. Work was plentiful and held rewards unimagineable. The streets were paved for my ease in travel and the Lord brought me safely home each night. For the pleasure of work I shout praises to the Lord.
5. The Lord God created rest and peace for my old age. He fills my life with contentment and joy. He places me in the arms of loving friends and shines his light on me through their eyes. I praise the Lord God for each of them.
6. For a good life with a good husband, I sing and shout praise to the Lord my God. The house of the Lord will be filled with my song and joy forever. Amen.
Sunday, July 09, 2006
No Control Snarky
When I can't really do anything about anything, I start getting snarky. I just downed a glass of blackberry merlot and let stuff happen today.
This afternoon He Who Must Be Obeyed crashed for a couple of hours, the guests went to Nebraska Furniture Mart, and I mowed my yard, front and back and hit the pool to discover the darned thing needed vacuuming. Believe me vacuuming a pool is easier than mowing. The water was 92 degrees and I couldn't tell which was hotter, the water or the air. It felt darned good anyway.
This afternoon He Who Must Be Obeyed crashed for a couple of hours, the guests went to Nebraska Furniture Mart, and I mowed my yard, front and back and hit the pool to discover the darned thing needed vacuuming. Believe me vacuuming a pool is easier than mowing. The water was 92 degrees and I couldn't tell which was hotter, the water or the air. It felt darned good anyway.
Monday, July 03, 2006
Watching the Swimmers
A grandson took this photo last week. The pool was full of swimmers watching them with equal amazement. The parliment has flown the coop, so to speak.
He Who Must Be Obeyed made a two day trip to Rapid City. He left Omaha on Friday, visited G. and S. in a campground, bought rock lamps in Keystone, payed his respects to the Sacrison dinosaurs at the Black Hills Institute of Geological Research, Inc, spent the night in the Last Chance Motel in Hill City, completed his tasks in Rapid City and was home Saturday night before dark.
I have nightmares about stopping at the Interstate Rest Stops and as I go in to clean them, HWMBO dissappears, leaving the car where it was parked. Having dreams about cleaning isn't as alarming as losing my antagonist. I use that word carefully. He thinks he is the protagonist, but he is wrong, I am.
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