Tuesday, January 29, 2013
I come home from work and the cats are mad because Buddy is looking through the back door. Mother is looking unhappy, "I think I have shingles!" she announces. I question her, "What does it feel like?" "It itches!" I explain that since I had shingles I know that it is a burning sensation and you get little red dots. I then asked her is she has had a shingles shot. "No."
Sigh.
Spring is coming to Tucson. The wildflowers I planted in the front yard are sprouting. I'm hoping I will have lots of pretty daisies. I'm going to Flagstaff for the weekend. Next week Forrest will be here for a couple of days. I just need to focus on the good things. FOCUS.
My mother made me this sweater in 1982.
Thursday, January 24, 2013
Last weekend I drove to Flagstaff.
I was all dressed up.
Flagstaff was not as cold as last time, although there were icy patches and snow on the distant mountains. At times I hid in Evan's bedroom with the electric blanket on.
Erich has moved to Flagstaff to manage a car dealership. We had supper at a nice Thai restaurant with him and his friend Greg.
Greg, Evan, and Erich.
The next morning we made soap. We melted down glycerin while zesting lemons.
Glycerin.
I had brought along some rosemary from the bushes in my back yard.
We made some lemon bars, some rosemary bars, and some lemon-rosemary bars.
Flagstaff was not as cold as last time, although there were icy patches and snow on the distant mountains. At times I hid in Evan's bedroom with the electric blanket on.
Through the window.
The next morning we made soap. We melted down glycerin while zesting lemons.
I had brought along some rosemary from the bushes in my back yard.
Evan ground these up in a blender.
Adding ingredients to the melted glycerin.
Once poured into the plastic containers, they were set outside to harden.
Soap.
They pop out really easily and smell very nice. I am using the rosemary soap now.
Monday, January 21, 2013
Impressions of the 2013 Inauguration.
- Did they have enough porta johns?
- Mrs. Boehner was just as orange as her husband.
- John McCain was busy scowling. Why did he even go?
- Beau Biden is movie star handsome.
- The Obama women are all beautiful.
- The President mentioned Stonewall.
- My favorite line: "Our journey is not complete until our gay brothers and sisters are treated like anyone else under the law –- (applause) -- for if we are truly created equal, then surely the love we commit to one another must be equal as well."
- Beyonce's dress seemed out of place.
Gayest Inauguration Ever!
If I was a fundamentalist Christian Republican I would rightly be panicked. They have spent so many years and millions and millions of dollars demonizing people like me, and the audience fucking cheered when President Obama spoke about gay people.
I bet Maggie Gallagher ate a dozen donuts this morning.
- Did they have enough porta johns?
- Mrs. Boehner was just as orange as her husband.
- John McCain was busy scowling. Why did he even go?
- Beau Biden is movie star handsome.
- The Obama women are all beautiful.
- The President mentioned Stonewall.
- My favorite line: "Our journey is not complete until our gay brothers and sisters are treated like anyone else under the law –- (applause) -- for if we are truly created equal, then surely the love we commit to one another must be equal as well."
- Beyonce's dress seemed out of place.
Gayest Inauguration Ever!
If I was a fundamentalist Christian Republican I would rightly be panicked. They have spent so many years and millions and millions of dollars demonizing people like me, and the audience fucking cheered when President Obama spoke about gay people.
I bet Maggie Gallagher ate a dozen donuts this morning.
Monday, January 14, 2013
We are having a cold spell. It has been freezing every night since late Friday. I have covered the outside pipes, put large Holiday lights on the pipes and my baby lemon tree, brought most of my potted plants indoors, and covered the ones that I could not.
The prickly pear cactus are suffering. Last night I listened as the ones next to my bedroom cracked and fell.
Fallen prickly pear.
I'm expecting more to fall tonight and tomorrow night. Doug and I worked on the brick path extending between my house and the guest house. We need another 150 or so bricks to finish it.
Brick path.
Buddy has had to stay indoors, cooped up in my bedroom. He gets a little bored when I am not in there. But I am pretty sure he is glad to be somewhere warm.
Buddy's favorite toy.
Right now it is 66 degrees in the living room. Tonight the low outside is supposed to be 19. I will be glad when it warms up.
I'm expecting more to fall tonight and tomorrow night. Doug and I worked on the brick path extending between my house and the guest house. We need another 150 or so bricks to finish it.
Buddy has had to stay indoors, cooped up in my bedroom. He gets a little bored when I am not in there. But I am pretty sure he is glad to be somewhere warm.
Right now it is 66 degrees in the living room. Tonight the low outside is supposed to be 19. I will be glad when it warms up.
Sunday, January 13, 2013
Whenever I go to an antique store I look for old photographs and check the backs for names. Only a small number have names, it is sad to sort through dozens of anonymous photographs. Of those that do, I buy the ones that are likely to be identifiable, typically those that have an unusual name(s).
So I took Mummy to the antique store yesterday for something to do and as a way for her to get some exercise. I purchased four photographs, including the one below, which was marked on the back "Frank and Mary, Melville and Della." The photo was taken at the J. C. Wertz studio in Chanute, Neosho County, Kansas.
Based on the children's clothing, I thought it was likely the picture was taken sometime between 1900 and 1910.
So who were these people? I started with the 1900 and 1910 US censuses on Ancestry.com. You can search for children by their parents names so I started with Melville and variants of that name, with parents Frank and Mary. Since I wasn't sure whether Frank and Mary were the parents or the children, I also checked to see if there was a Frank with parents Melville and Della. Nothing turned up.
I then checked for a Della with parents Frank and Mary. I quickly found the family. On 1 June 1900, census taker George Winfield walked through Chanute and recorded the people living there. The French family consisted of father Frank, mother Mollie (Mollie is a nickname for Mary), son Melven, and daughter Della.
French family in 1900, Chanute, Neosho County, Kansas.
The father Frank worked as a barber, he had been married for 17 years to Mary, they owned their home, and the two children had attended school for eight months in the last year.
People can create family trees on Ancestry.com four people have connections to this family. I contacted them and three have answered back, all excited by the photograph. I will send it off to the person most closely related.
I've been working on the other three, not so lucky so far.
Wednesday, January 09, 2013
What happened to my testicles?
Well I took Buddy to the Humane Society and he was very sociable in the waiting room. He really is a charmer. He got parts removed, anal gland expressed, shots, bloodwork, worming, a license, and a delightful plastic collar.
Elizabethan Buddy.
Now he is at home and all groggy. The vet tech gave me a long, detailed list of instructions. He's supposed to be inside for the next seven to ten days and of course a cold spell is coming this weekend. I hope he recovers really quickly.
Well I took Buddy to the Humane Society and he was very sociable in the waiting room. He really is a charmer. He got parts removed, anal gland expressed, shots, bloodwork, worming, a license, and a delightful plastic collar.
Now he is at home and all groggy. The vet tech gave me a long, detailed list of instructions. He's supposed to be inside for the next seven to ten days and of course a cold spell is coming this weekend. I hope he recovers really quickly.
Monday, January 07, 2013
Last week I drove west on State Route 86 to spend the day digging. Kitt Peak loomed to the south, across the road.
The road is being widened and our company is excavating at the sites along the side of the road, mostly finding cooking and storage pits, since the portions we are working on are at the margin of larger sites.
Afterward I drove to Topowa to deliver some boxes. There are so many roadside memorials on the way, I lost count. In the distance is Baboquivari, the sacred mountain of the Tohono O'odham.
On the road to Topawa.
It was a nice drive and although the morning had been cold, by the afternoon it had warmed up and enjoyed being out in nature.
Yesterday afternoon I checked my messages on my phone and discovered Rob had sent me one, he and his roommate Jason were in town. I met them at BK's and chatted while they had supper.
I did not win any prizes.
Roasting pit.
Afterward I drove to Topowa to deliver some boxes. There are so many roadside memorials on the way, I lost count. In the distance is Baboquivari, the sacred mountain of the Tohono O'odham.
It was a nice drive and although the morning had been cold, by the afternoon it had warmed up and enjoyed being out in nature.
On the road to Sells.
The weekend was rather dull, grocery shopping, library, and some genealogy work. Tara, Milo, and Chris came over so Milo could open his presents. The next day I took down the Holiday decorations and the tree.
Milo got a Rudolph coloring book and a little front-loader tractor.
Beer.
Afterward we drove to Brody's and they were amazed at how cheap drinks were- $6 for three cocktails, and they were strong.
Rob and Jason.
Sunday nights are Drunk Drag Queen Bingo.
A not-yet-drunk Drag Queen.
Faulty bingo card.
Today I was productive at work and called the Humane Society and Buddy is getting his private parts modified on Wednesday. He is sleeping unaware on the floor next to my desk at this moment, snoring away. I am hoping the reduced hormones will settle his aggressiveness towards cats down.
Looking forward to the weekend in Flagstaff. Wonder whether there will be lots of snow?
Monday, December 31, 2012
Last day of 2012. I dressed up and went to work to escape my mother for a while. I accomplished a few things and then went to Beyond Bread for a gluten-filled sandwich. Then to Safeway for a flu shot, which was interrupted by my mother calling me to tell me Buddy had gotten out. I came home and ran around with Doug chasing him. I gave him a stern talking to and told my mother, "It's not happening again." Then I returned for said shot and I will not be catching the nasty flu in 2013.
End of year self portrait.
So 2012 was alright, albeit stressful at times. Got to go on a trip to TN/NC and see Forrest, Travis, and Jason. Forrest came to AZ twice. Went to Michigan for Mummy's 80th birthday. Took care of my mother for five+ months and didn't go more than half crazy. Adopted a dog who is a handful. Got a little grayer. Conducted some interesting archaeology projects. Worked on my genealogy books. Baked some cakes. Saw gay rights advance across the nation. And best of all, got to spend a lot of time with Evan. He makes me smile.
No big plans for 2013 yet, other than the need to pay down my credit card. A trip to Portland in the late summer to see half of my friends who have moved there. And of course I'll turning the big 5-0. Strange to think about that, since half of the time I feel like a teenager. I guess having a very late puberty has its advantages.
Thursday, December 27, 2012
In the morning, the cats sit on me absorbing my soul.
Snowball and Puff.
The cats enjoy drinking out of the Holiday Tree stand.
Joey didn't get any presents.
The presents were bought and the house decorated, all that was missing was Evan, who was arriving on Holiday Eve.
Snowball awaits.
Doug made a wooden ark and Mummy and I made felt animals for little Nathan.
Ark.
Buddy comes inside to visit when the cats are locked up in my bedroom.
He has a new red harness.
Evan arrived and everything was better. We opened presents with Doug and Mummy on Holiday morning. I got a walking stick, a casserole dish, a Martha Stewart cookbook, and a set of Halloween cookie cutters that I had coveted at an antique store in Flagstaff. I was very pleased.
We drove to the top of Mount Lemmon and noticed that many, many Mexican-American families had done the same.
On top.
We went over to Patrick and Brady and Horace's house and chatted.
Holiday night.
We stopped by Venture Inn and then came home and made Holiday cards while having gin and tonics.
Holiday cards.
Today I went to work and the bobcat walked by my window. It was quiet there, and so another Holiday season has slipped by.
Monday, December 24, 2012
Well it is Christmas Eve. When I was a kid we were pretty poor. My father supported five children on a long-haul trucker's salary. Christmas was the only time of the year we got toys. The Sears Christmas catalog would show up in October and we would pour over it and let out mother know something that we really wanted. We knew better than to pick something expensive out. I remember when I was 10 or 11 I got a rock tumbler. Oh! I was so happy. And then there was the year nice grandma gave my mother five dollars for each of us and mother bought me a pair of snow pants. That was tragic.
Christmas Eve meant the party at Grandma T's house. She had a fake fireplace and a tree with tinsel and bubble lights. Mr. Burton sometimes showed up dressed as Santa. Grandma and Grandpa T had 11 grandchildren- five by my parents, four by Aunt LouAnne, and 2 by Uncle Tom. And Grandma T would spend divide her Christmas money into thirds and so nine of us kids would get sweat shirts or sweaters and the other two would get Erector sets with motors or Rock-em Sock-em boxer toys. And we had to watch them play with those but were not allowed to touch.
When I was seven I ran through the beaded curtain that separated her living room from the hall that led upstairs or to her pink bathroom. I knelt in front of the pink toilet and threw up and my mother was standing behind me and Grandma T came charging in on my left and screamed at me, "You've ruined Christmas!" I asked my mother, why is she yelling at me? Mother took me home and to this day she says it was the best Christmas because she didn't have to see Tommy and Timmy get their fancy presents. She put me to bed and played on her new electric organ, and later she woke me up and she and Susan watched me open my presents in the middle of the night.
Christmas Eve meant the party at Grandma T's house. She had a fake fireplace and a tree with tinsel and bubble lights. Mr. Burton sometimes showed up dressed as Santa. Grandma and Grandpa T had 11 grandchildren- five by my parents, four by Aunt LouAnne, and 2 by Uncle Tom. And Grandma T would spend divide her Christmas money into thirds and so nine of us kids would get sweat shirts or sweaters and the other two would get Erector sets with motors or Rock-em Sock-em boxer toys. And we had to watch them play with those but were not allowed to touch.
When I was seven I ran through the beaded curtain that separated her living room from the hall that led upstairs or to her pink bathroom. I knelt in front of the pink toilet and threw up and my mother was standing behind me and Grandma T came charging in on my left and screamed at me, "You've ruined Christmas!" I asked my mother, why is she yelling at me? Mother took me home and to this day she says it was the best Christmas because she didn't have to see Tommy and Timmy get their fancy presents. She put me to bed and played on her new electric organ, and later she woke me up and she and Susan watched me open my presents in the middle of the night.
Sunday, December 23, 2012
The weekend before Holiday and I've spent a lot of time feeling stressed out. My mother is having low blood sugar at times- she acts completely out of her mind when it happens. Thursday night was the worst- I had to force her to drink chocolate milk and glucose pills. Eventually she came around. On top of that, she complains about the food I prepare for her so much. If she had her way she would just eat the brand of gluten-free bread I found for her, with some margarine slathered on.
But enough whining. On Saturday I stopped by Patrick's house with an ornament for his tree and some canned goods.
Patrick and Horace.
He gave me a tour of his renovation job on the house next door and I left with the kitchen cabinet doors, which have the original 1920s hardware for me to salvage. At home I have been preparing memorials on Find-A-Grave, working on patients at the Northern Michigan Asylum. Lots of people who were sent there because they had epilepsy. Very sad. Today I dragged Mother out to the Mission of San Xavier del Bac.
O'odham Nativity Scene.
The church was completed in 1797 and most of the original artwork is still intact.
The scale on the inside always surprises me. The church is really tall and there are elaborate decorations everywhere.
He gave me a tour of his renovation job on the house next door and I left with the kitchen cabinet doors, which have the original 1920s hardware for me to salvage. At home I have been preparing memorials on Find-A-Grave, working on patients at the Northern Michigan Asylum. Lots of people who were sent there because they had epilepsy. Very sad. Today I dragged Mother out to the Mission of San Xavier del Bac.
Mother.
It is decorated for Christmas including this creche, which seemed to be lacking Jesus, perhaps because he isn't born yet?
The church was completed in 1797 and most of the original artwork is still intact.
Saint and candles.
Many people praying today, perhaps because it is Sunday.
Angel on a cloud.
We wandered around for a while, but Mother started staggering so I decided enough of that.
Bell tower.
I made fried rice tonight, something I have made twice since she was here, and she refused to eat it. 'What spice did you put in it?" she whined. I told her to make her own dinner.
Going to work for part of the day tomorrow, which is a good thing. Honestly, I need a break.
Monday, December 17, 2012
Outside the office window I see a bobcat stroll by. I tapped on the window and it peeked over the fence at me, and then sauntered away.
Bobcat.
Winter is sort of here. Buddy has a new dog house that he likes to sleep in. When it gets real cold he can come sleep on my bedroom floor, but the cats have to be locked away because he ran into the house and grabbed Puff, who pooped himself, while Joey climbed up the chimney. Buddy got his butt paddled for that, but a moment later he tried again. He is very stupid
.
Buddy's house.
I escaped and drove north, admiring Picacho Peak.
Picacho Peak.
I had to turn off the radio, I did not want to hear all of the details about the latest in a string of never ending mass shootings. Later someone Facebooked that "Now was the not the time to say anything about gun control." That set me off. I guess for some people it will never be the time.
As it got dark, close to Flagstaff, the snow started. It got progressively worse. The next day I drove with Evan to the supermarket and he was scared. I only drove into a snowbank once.
At Evan's house.
The snow kept coming down. It was a wintery wonderland. I did not have proper footwear.
The next day I discovered my car battery had died. This is something that has been meaning to happen for a while. It was inconvenient for it to do so in a snowy wonderland.
And then the car would not start again, and the nice man at the tree lot jumped the car and then we went and purchased a new battery, which Evan nicely installed for me.
The ride home was scenic at first.
Interstate 17.
At home I decorated the tree while mother decorated her little white artificial tree.
Usually this is a lot of fun, but this year is seemed somewhat chore-like.
Winter is sort of here. Buddy has a new dog house that he likes to sleep in. When it gets real cold he can come sleep on my bedroom floor, but the cats have to be locked away because he ran into the house and grabbed Puff, who pooped himself, while Joey climbed up the chimney. Buddy got his butt paddled for that, but a moment later he tried again. He is very stupid
.
I escaped and drove north, admiring Picacho Peak.
I had to turn off the radio, I did not want to hear all of the details about the latest in a string of never ending mass shootings. Later someone Facebooked that "Now was the not the time to say anything about gun control." That set me off. I guess for some people it will never be the time.
As it got dark, close to Flagstaff, the snow started. It got progressively worse. The next day I drove with Evan to the supermarket and he was scared. I only drove into a snowbank once.
The snow kept coming down. It was a wintery wonderland. I did not have proper footwear.
I am stunned.
We attempted to gather material for a wreath and I resorted to stealing crabapple branches from trees in front of businesses.
Evan makes a wreath.
Snowy wonderland.
Evan and I went to a lot and eventually I purchased an unopened 6-ft-tall tree for 50 dollars US. It fit inside my car.
At the tree lot.
The ride home was scenic at first.
At home I decorated the tree while mother decorated her little white artificial tree.
Blurry.
Bah humbug.
For various reasons I am still feeling blase about the Holiday season. Perhaps if I wrap presents that will make it more festive.
Sunday, December 09, 2012
Try as I might, I'm just not excited about Holiday this year. I don't know why. I guess partly it is a result of the stress from taking care of my Mother. She's 80 and she knows it. Walks slower, can't knit much because her thumb has bad arthritis, restricted diet (no wheat and only lactose-free dairy). She sits on her spot on the couch and reads all day long. Honestly, I don't see the fascination of reading two or three mystery books every single day.
Buddy is a handful. He wants to attack the cats. I have to be very careful coming into the house since he wants to charge in and get them. He's allowed in the house if the cats are locked up in the bedroom. Now that it is cold, the cats will have to be locked out of the bedroom so he can sleep on his blanket in there. He snores so loud!
I'm going to Flagstaff this coming weekend. Some alone time with Evan will be so nice.
Buddy is a handful. He wants to attack the cats. I have to be very careful coming into the house since he wants to charge in and get them. He's allowed in the house if the cats are locked up in the bedroom. Now that it is cold, the cats will have to be locked out of the bedroom so he can sleep on his blanket in there. He snores so loud!
Saturday, December 01, 2012
I'm sitting at my desk, my head exploding with snot. All year long I had escaped being sick and Friday afternoon at 2:00 I started feeling a sore throat coming on.
I'm not a good patient. I am whiny, I complain, I feel super sorry for myself. Luckily, the cold appears to be rapidly cycling through all of the stages. The sore throat is going away, and perhaps the runny nose will be done tomorrow. In any case, the weekend is ruined and I cannot concentrate on doing interesting things.
That's all I got.
I'm not a good patient. I am whiny, I complain, I feel super sorry for myself. Luckily, the cold appears to be rapidly cycling through all of the stages. The sore throat is going away, and perhaps the runny nose will be done tomorrow. In any case, the weekend is ruined and I cannot concentrate on doing interesting things.
That's all I got.
