"The Lacuna: A Novel" by Barbara Kingsolver

From February 24, 2014

"For any homeless wanderer, he is a miracle of instruction. Now that he is exiled from every place on earth except a desert wilderness, he declares a passion for cactus."

From November 6, 2013

When I was a kid walking home from school (35 miles, barefoot, through the snow), I had a lot of time to observe the world and ponder. On three or four days EVERY YEAR, the snow melted (spring) and the world leaped out of its monotone cloak into vibrant brown with greenish hues and on these days, as I left the empty lot and crossed into my friend Joyce's backyard, I was confronted by white dog poo. Yes, Snowflake the Alaskan Spitz was a white dog, but so was the poo that coloured (not the best choice of words here) the grass under the clothes line on which he was frequently chained. Even then I thought it was odd because my dog, Peanut, had brown poo.

I still think it is odd. I've now lived with dogs and picked up dog poo for close to twenty years. Poo is white only when it is stuffed with kleenex. What was Snowflake eating? Granted, I have figured out that it didn't leave his little white bottom as little white poo but aged and bleached into these calcified nuggets. Still, did he have a metabolic condition that over-mineralized his excrement?

Zelda has been dancing on the other side of the rainbow bridge for 4 months now and gross as it may seem to you, I have been watching the few and scattered fecal boluses in the back yard. I couldn't bring myself to scoop them up and dispose of them. They were what I had left of Zelda and maybe cloning technology would take a leap into easy affordability in the next few days and then I'd want that poo! Anyway, there's still a couple of pieces left - under the clothesline though she was never chained there - she just knew it would be a most inconvenient spot - and now they are white. I still don't understand Snowflake, but these, I've decided, must be angel-dog poo and it brings me a little explosion of joy to think she's still checking in on us.

I miss you my princess. Even though you had been confined to the kitchen for your incontinent ways for the last year, I expect to see the blinds stir and then you to meet me at the door when I come home. I keep the screen door closed when I close the sliding glass doors in the kitchen so you can see the closure and not run headlong into the glass. As the days then weeks roll by, in my heart you get younger and are once again in your prime. You tear through the house chasing a balloon. You dash around the backyard playing soccer with me. You pause for minutes to meditate with your peace lily. You leap over and over again at the table while we eat hoping to attract a scrap. Your chin is on my knee when I sit on the couch or lie in my bed. You never give me kisses. Zelda, there is SO MUCH FOOD on the floor these days. I am so sorry you aren't here to enjoy it - sometimes, it is even watermelon!

On occasion I try to think about having a dog again one day but my mind struggles. In my heart - having a dog again - means that somehow I open the door and Zelda is back. Where have you been, dear friend? I love you, so. How I have missed you!

From February 1, 2014

From February 1, 2014

Happy Birthday Dear Renee- ee

Sunday is your birthday. You could be 51. You won't be. You'll always be 50 and, not really. Really 49. Why are you letting ME get older by myself? Isn't the little sister supposed to do that with you? Are you sure you read the fine print?

Sorry Renee. I'm still so angry about this. I'm angry about a lot of things. And, sad. Angry and sad. You name it: angry and sad. When will it stop? How will it stop? Damn it all.

And, I feel so bloody (salute to my new land) selfish about it all - because I want you to be there for me. I miss you. I have a list of projects I need your help with - not the least of which is raising a boy. A BOY, Renee. What do I know about a BOY. And, he doesn't make it easy by possessing a shared language with me. Doesn't he realize I don't know what I'm doing? That, I need some sort of break, here?

The most recent issue of BH&G (Australia) had the audacity to publish an article called "now Paint Your Own Art". HOLD IT. That was your job! I am surrounded by too many, too white walls. They taunt me.

And, who's going to laugh with me about this idea - cutting an Elvis image into your lawn? Laugh and then DO IT!

Gotye, Somebody That I Used To Know -

This is going out to everyone!

Only four weeks now until I need to be packing for New Zealand! Maybe I should be packed already. No, there's still Thursday!

Aloe Blacc - Wake Me Up (Acoustic)

This is here - not because I understand the lyrics, which has been established - but because the tune struck me as beautiful - and I didn't want to forget it.

Suck-cess!

My vacuum cleaner sucks! Which is to say, it no longer sucks. By that I mean, it USED to suck because it didn't suck but NOW it doesn't suck because it does!!! Woohoo! I feel like such a success! Thank you You Tube!

Edited: When push came to shove and I attacked the living room carpet, I was sadly surprised to find that my lack of suction had returned. Cleaned the filter again - and ta-da! - we were back in business. But, again for only a few strokes. It took an embarrassing amount of time and repetitions to figure out that there was a hole in the vacuum bag that was blowing debris around in the canister which was then obstructing the filter. I reserve judgement on my success and am still assessing the probability that I'll be buying a new vacuum cleaner.

I think I needed to pull up the blanket…

From January 1, 2014

Last night I had another of my taking a long trip through Ohio dreams. Well, at least that was part of it and by long trip, I don't really mean great distances by car - but usually I"m on foot and I've found a new way to run and I think, "Why don't I do this when I am awake?! It is so easy!" This time I had a silver tricycle - a little silver tricycle and I was traveling between Columbus and Piqua (on small back roads as you would with a little silver tricycle - or when you are practicing your special new running style) through the dark and through the ice and snow. I had an appointment in Piqua. I had to be there early. By 6 AM. Oh, and Zelda was running along with me.

So, I go to this appointment. I was on time but I was not expected. I had failed to call ahead - alerting the medical team with my special toothbrush. And, I had a dog. What was I going to do with Zelda during this appointment. Then, again, I needed to get home and I was not going to be able to travel back on my tricycle.

I was feeling like it was a good thing that this needed to be postponed since I was obviously NOT READY when a nurse or doctor or technician came out carrying a tray on which sat three Easter eggs and three frozen embryos and I had to either make it work or walk away.

Zelda, meanwhile, was donning a white coat. She was fitting right in.

Moral Disorder by Margaret Atwood (9/9/2013)

From January 2014

What a marvellous, marvellous book… and wonderful, wise and witty prose. Drink it in. Some of my favourites!

(And, let it be know that this damn computer is an Aussie and corrects all my spelling. That last word up there, the one before the exclamation point, it didn't have a "u" when it came off my fingertips.)

The persistence of material objects is becoming an amazement to me. It's the same door. The one I used to go in through, out through, year after year in my daily clothing or in various outfits and disguises not thinking at all that I would one day be standing in front of this very same door with my grey-haired little sister... but all doors used regularly are doors to the afterlife.

As any bank robber can tell you, Nell would say, the best thing to do when running away is not to run. Just walk. Just stroll. A combination of ease and purposefulness is desirable then no one will notice you're running. In addition to which, don't carry heavy suitcases or canvas bags full of money or pack sacks with body parts in them. Leave everything behind you except what's in your pockets. Lightest is best.

"I am a cannibal", she thought with odd detachment.
Maybe she would grow cunning up here on the farm. Maybe she would absorb some of the darkness, which might not be darkness at all but only knowledge. She would turn into a woman others came to for advice. She would be called in emergencies. She would roll up her sleeves and dispense with sentimentality and do whatever blood soaked, bad smelling thing had to be done.

She would become adept with axes.

In the end we'll all become stories or else we'll become entities. Maybe, it's the same.

Batman eats a chip! (11-6-13)

From November 6, 2013

FRENCH FRY!! All the other kids were doing it - so after 30 min of intense peer pressure, he relinquished. And, as of today, Jan 29, 2014, he has had no more…though I would have stopped at McDonald's today if I had seen it.

Sushi! Sushi! Sushi!! (Mid November - I must look before I edit!)

Sure it was just an avocado roll and he didn't actually eat any avocado and not much rice, but he enjoyed the nori wrap and sucked down plenty of pickled ginger.  I'm so proud!  My big boy!!
Edited Jan 29 - He's doing much better with the rolls and will eat everything except the avocado. ?? What's wrong with the avocado, Zupe?
Anyway, I what I really wanted to add here is that I have no idea what   means or where it came from. Perhaps, it is code and something cool will happen when this is published. We shall see.
Hmmmm - it disappears. ( )

January is almost over

From January 2014

And, how go those fleeting-on-the-edge-of-consciousness resolutions? I've made myself ONE green smoothy - a chocolate/banana/almond butter smoothy with a mix of spinach and arugula… interesting combo. I would do it again. Maybe next year. I've managed to do my exercise maybe 3 times. That's close to weekly. And, on one day I didn't look like a slob - though I needed a haircut. That is coming. February 6. I just can't keep my hairdresser in the country! Oh, and the blogs. Could be worse. I wrote a series of twelve just to get to a one word punchline. And, despite my camera dying, I have managed to get a few photos published. I'd say, 2014 looks like it is on the road to success!

Finally - On the Twelfth Day of Christmas

FABIO

From christmas 2013

As you see, Zupe was suitably impressed!

On the Eleventh Day of Christmas

FAMILY!!

On the Tenth Day of Christmas

From January 1, 2014

Santa brought gifts. Santa and the Grand One, and Auntie, and Uncle Sam, and Cousin Elaine, and Nana Linda, and Aunt Carolyn and….

From January 1, 2014

From January 1, 2014

From christmas 2013

On the Ninth Day of Christmas

From christmas 2013

SANTA!! This photo was taken at the Piqua Mall. Santa didn't have much of a lap and Zupe was not impressed. This was the only non-tears photo. Gone is our happy to sit with Santa boy. Maybe that is a good thing. Men with long white beards…. suspicious.


Because I wasn't overly pleased with the photo and, why not- Santa was in town- we took Zupe up to the Eagles' Club in Versailles. Daddy and Zupe and Santa had a much better time there. (Love the North Pole Coors Beer sign!)

From christmas 2013

And, sometimes all you need for a great Santa photo is the right hat.

From January 1, 2014

On the Eighth Day of Christmas

From January 1, 2014

Shopping and exploring Bear's Mill. Bear's Mill is always on my list of things to do when I am at home - especially when there are gifts to buy. Kevin had never been there before - though Zupe had. So we explored the upper "working" levels of the mill and then took a walk along the water. This was the first time that Zupe enjoyed being out in the snow. He was smiling from ear to ear as he bumped along in his stroller/sled. Way too many photos here. I'll make a slide show. Enjoy!



I can't believe I didn't take a photo of the great little penguins I bought for Christine… What was I thinking?

On the Seventh Day of Christmas

From January 1, 2014

More lights…but these get separate billing as "nativity scene".

From January 1, 2014

On the Sixth Day of Christmas

From January 1, 2014

My favorite - the lights! Christmas lights really shine on a snowy night!

From January 1, 2014

From January 1, 2014

On the Fifth Day of Christmas

From January 1, 2014

my mother said to me
the time has come
to put up the tree!

From January 1, 2014

We were concerned how our short man would handle a tree with decorations and so my mother decided not to "put up a tree". That really meant not to use breakable ornaments or to put up a tree in the living room. There were, however, three trees in the foyer and countless small trees adorning mantels, and tables, and window sills (oh my!). We were not suffering from a deficit of holiday color!

From christmas 2013

Zupe did really well with the trees and hardly ever took the golf ball ornament off my "father's" tree to hurl it across the room. (But, could you really blame him? It WAS a ball.)

From January 1, 2014