At Sixes and Sevens
Odds and ends – a little bit of this…. a little bit of that. Maybe a little more this than that.
First, for Falling Dog’s entertainment: I have let my yard go pretty much to hell. A nice sized lot that was once filled with lush green St. Augustine grass is now filled with dead stuff, weeds and brown spots. It may be that I’m lazy. It may be that yards are not a priority for me. It may be that I am currently on my feet more than 12 hours 6-7 days a week and I am just NOT gonna spend one minute of time pampering the grass. You guess which it is! Gritching aside…yards ARE a priority for my father. I never even mowed a lawn until I was 40 because my dad didn’t "trust" me to touch his lawnmower and do the right right. By the way – I wasn’t ever bothered by his lack of trust in this arena.
But daddy, dearest has a yard fetish. His is GORGEOUS. Green, green grass. No weed would dare…. SO, he comes grumbling into my house a couple of weeks ago. No "hello", just YOUR YARD HAS GONE TO SHIT. IT LOOKS LIKE HELL. Now, Sis was here and I was having a bad day….so I looked at Dad and said something witty like "You’re right. It looks like hell. Darn." And Daddy dearest began the beratement process. At which point I teared up a bit (from anger and frustration and – most likely – sheer exhaustion) and stomped off into the kitchen where I began indulging in the adult behavior of slamming cabinet doors and dishes around.
Daddy, ever the observant one said, "Oh so now you’re angry. What do you want me to do – just not mention it?"
"YES!" says I, quicker than quick. "That’s EXACTLY what I want you to do."
He thought for about 2 seconds and then calmly responded (with not a trace of anger in his voice) "I can’t do that." And then we both burst out laughing…..because it’s true. He could no more ignore my gone-to-hell lawn than I can refrain from telling young men to pull up their pants! You know – I just gotta love him.
I went to the annual Sun N Fun fly-in this past weekend. Long story there, but the point which has stuck in my mind is well off the beaten path. We were there at night and there was an air show where planes with fireworks on their wings did rolls and loops and fancy flying. Very cool. Afterwards, there was a more traditional fireworks display. Very beautiful….until a particularly loud grouping of fireworks went off and one of the members of our group said……"Ah…the sound of freedom." I froze. I don’t know this person well and was, in fact, his guest so I didn’t want to start a fuss…but what did he mean? That explosions which mimic gunfire and battle sounds are the sounds of freedom? OH NO. You gotta be kidding. A pit formed in my stomach and sat there. It’s still there. What a horrible ideal to hold. What about the sounds of a mother reading to her children? Couldn’t THAT be the sound of freedom? Or an uncensored newscast…or a church choir. Couldn’t THOSE things be the sound of freedom? I am still appalled.
There are many things going on in my life right now. At another time I will most likely try and sort through some of them here. Part of it is that I am just doing too much. It’s the end of the school year and there are many things going on. People have the perception that I am dependable. That’s because I am. Go figure. Just today I washed the uniforms for the football team, fixed sandwiches for the volleyball team snack, helped set up a room for a county wide meeting our school is hosting tomorrow and fixed some of the food for that, and set up and ran a concession stand during the football/volleyball game tonight. That’s in addition to the four classes I teach every day. The only thing missing was my nightly stint at my second job – a little league baseball concession which I co-run. That was just today. Anybody STILL wondering why I was a little snappish with Daddy, dearest? Not to mention the emotional toll my students unknowingly place on me. Often times they slip and call me Mom. And then I am flattered and horrified. So glad they are that comfortable with me….wondering how life is at home…….. Oh gawd – am I whining? So sue me.
And in the midst of all this, I am wondering why I do it all. What is this insane drive that keeps me going on some stuff and yet causes me to let go the important things like refinancing my house to a reasonable payment…. Argh. And then I got "THE NOTE" on my last entry. To paraphrase: I was thanked, as a friend, for my kind notes, wished well and told that I am one of the sweetest woman this diarist knows.
And the tailspin was off and running. Sweet? You’ve got to be kidding. I don’t want to be sweet. That’s the kiss of death. The only thing worse would be to be considered perky, for pity’s sake. Friend? I don’t want to be a friend. I want to have a friend. I want to be a lover. My life is over – I’m sweet. Remember the old jokes about blind dates? You know – if the date is a dog you say…"She is really sweet and has a great personality." ugh.
OK. Apologies to the diarist who left that note with pure intentions I am sure. How could that person know that I am currently a hot mess? Did I over-react? Probably. Kind of like my reaction to fireworks being the sound of freedom I suspect. I am a bit overwrought it seems. And tired. So so tired. But if I stay tired, I don’t have time or energy to deal with the BIG stuff, do I? Micro-focus. That’s me. Oh good grief!
On the plus side, I am losing weight. It seems that all one has to do is make sure that there is no time in the day to eat. A simple feat, no? Except that now I need new clothes.
This isn’t my usual chipper entry is it? Sigh.
But life goes on, my friends….and so do I.
So do I. Even if I do feel a bit like this cat looks……
Hugs and kisses……and a generous shot of whiskey….all ’round!
I would be willing to bet that guy meant the sound of fireworks equates with Fourth of July celebrations and THAT reminds him of freedom. I say this because as liberal and anti-goverBush-it as I am, I get all choked up at fireworks and (if you tell anyone this I will have to kick you) the National Anthem. Despite all the ludicrousness that occurred back in the day, we did have SOME good (c)
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(2) ideas about freedom and revolutions and fairness (even if we only extended it to people who looked like us and fit our definition of “people” and civilized). At least, that would be what I would hope his intention was when he said that.
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Oh, and congrats on the weight loss — now go eat something! (besides the Irish whiskey).
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Pumpkin ravioli — I will associate you with pumpkin ravioli from now until the end of everything. (Not such a bad association, eh?)
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Your first paragraph made me remember the inscription on the Korean War memorial in Washington, D.C.: “Freedom Isn’t Free.” Now tell everyone but Antonio Banderas to take a hike, you wicked merciless temptress, you, and let them wash their own damned uniforms!
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I was going to say the same thing Luna did, perhaps he associates fireworks with the 4th of July. Who knows? You are moving so fast you don’t know which end is coming and which end is going!! Maybe both are headed in the same direction, because you sure are busy! Stupid yards. Hire a lawn service. And, take a deep breath. I wouldn’t dare call you sweet, but that’s because I’m not sweet, either!
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I will pass on the Whiskey– a year young for that. But I will definitely partake in the hugs and kisses– as long as they remain on the internet– and hand some back as well! You are a busy woman, and you are very awesome to those kids. I’ve had kids call me mom before, and I’m not a mother at all! Weird sensation, that. I wouldn’t call you sweet. . . that seems meek and timid. You’re just cool!
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Holy smokes woman, you are busy and I sit here and complain. Slow down and tell Daddy dearest to handle your lawn. r
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OH YAY!!!! I GOT MY DADDY FIX!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
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o-k-a-y…..say after me…” No, sorry, can’t do that”. Now say that phrase when asked to do something and you’ll soon have some sleepy time for YOU! Hugz
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Definitely a whiskey moment! About the freedom thing – you could always hope he was aiming for sarcasm and missed…
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Okay, so you’re a cantankerous old bat…we love you anyway. As for the freedom comment, it’s just possible it was an ironic (or sarcastic–there’s a fine line between the two) statement. It’s something I might have said with irony (or sarcasm). With a big hug…
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your dad should come see my landscaping. He could plant me some grass, but I really want something that needs absolultely no care.
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so you aren’t sweet and perky with a good personality? i seem to remember something about boots….. you used to talk about a pair of black boots, didn’t you? NOT sweet or perky, no. now the personality that wanting to be wearing them boots?…… whaddya mean by “good”? LOL
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Perhaps you are like me in the way that even when we complain our lives are too busy and everything is going on, we would be so bored and not know what to do with ourselves if it was the opposite. I know I would.
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It’s hard to be chipper when you’re run off your feet. I wish things were easier for you; I truly do. PS: That cat may be a little worn and ragged looking, but she’s still exceptionally beautiful.
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*grin* Well my view on weight loss is that its all good as long as you’re not starving yourself too much and still get to enjoy eating the stuff you like now and then. I guess it would be crazy if the guy thought hearing the fireworks go off and sound like gunfire was the sound of freedom. But possibly, it might have been the sound, you know? sort of like rockets firing up into the sky that might
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have been the thing he had been referring to instead?
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Sweet? SWEET? There’s nothing worse!
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Let Daddy do your lawn if he lives nearby…How wonderful would that be for both of you…You are burning the candle at both ends and somewhere in the middle!…
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Luna said it for me. This nation was born from the mouth of cannons and the fight for freedom by brave dedicated men: And the rockets’ red glare, the bombs bursting in air, Gave proof thro’ the night that our flag was still there. O say, does that star-spangled banner yet wave O’er the land of the free and the home of the brave?
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Tell Daddy you are cultivating an Australian lawn. It’s fashionable here to have dead lawns; we are conserving water (If we don’t, we get fined!) And I think that cat is sweet! *grin*
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Yay for a moment of clarity with your dad! Perhaps, since he loves a great lawn, he wouldn’t mind working on yours. Why not?! He might enjoy it. I admire all that you accomplish, I really do, and how delightful to lose weight, too! Hang in there. It’s almost summer. rynotes: Her last rescue cat came with the name Tank. Everyone laughed when they heard that so she went with Ammo this time.
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ha. i never mowed a lawn till i was in my 40’s, either. don’t think i’ve done it since. lol. love the kitty picture! 🙂
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Great cat! I’ve always really liked the way you can flat out express stuff, there’s so much more room and unpredictability. It’s true we need a more powerful word for sweet, nice, good, kind, helpful, caring, loving. Well, there’s always awesome dude! 🙂
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ryn: what type of horses did you have? Names? colors? 😀
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Lovely to see your entry..Hope you can relax when the school year ends.Have a very nice Easter !!
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Nah… you’re not sweet. And perky? No way! There feel better now?!! Sounds a good idea to hand the garden over to your dad, though!!
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so where is your hokey pokey picture?! mmmmm? you can’t say you are going to play and then not pay…
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ryn you would have to ask sf since it is her dance, but I would think black stocking would be okay too… {smile}
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Dropping in. With a warm smile…
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Thanks for the note, I am feeling a lttle better now, picking up the leg instead of dragging it…:) Have you tried offering your dad the job when he says those things? Hope you are feeling better now too.
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You need to trade your Dad in for a model who instead of saying it looks bad will jsut go out and do what it needs to look good. Thats what my mom would do, but you cant have my mom. 🙂
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