old movies

I was watching the sound of music and remembered mom taking us to the movies to see it. margaret sat on moms lap singing the words. it was fun.

Cat Scratch Fever

Here's a delightful story for all of you cat-lovers and cat-haters out there ...

Sal (our feisty orange cat) took a bite of my face on Saturday. My right cheek, to be precise. Her top and bottom incisors on one side broke the skin, so I had both a cut and a puncture wound. I cleaned them up, iced them, and put Neosporin on them. Yummy.

By Tuesday, the cuts had healed, but in their place, I had a nasty rash. When I visited my doctor on Thursday (rash still there), she told me that cats have weird toxins or something in their teeth, which can cause this kind of reaction. And (scary music), it can spread!!! She gave me some antibiotics, so I'm keeping my fingers crossed that my leprosy does not spread over my entire face. So far, it's not spreading, but it's also not going away.

Anybody else ever had this experience with vampire cat bites? Do share.

Cell Phones in Women's Locker Rooms

I have to write this down; otherwise, I’ll spend all day stewing about it, instead of working on my third-year review portfolio.

When I first joined the YMCA near my home, I was surprised that there were no posted policies on cell phone use in the locker rooms. Back in Arizona, there were strict rules prohibiting the use of cell phones in locker rooms because nowadays most phones are equipped with cameras, and it is way too easy to snap photos of people in various states of undress without their knowledge or consent. These photographs can then be downloaded (in seconds) to websites for the whole world to see.

I immediately began lobbying for signs prohibiting the use of cell phones to be posted in the locker rooms at my YMCA. I had seen a few people on cell phones in the women’s locker room but didn’t feel like I could ask them to stop unless an explicit policy that would support me was posted. After several months and several written requests, a sign was finally posted banning cell phone use in the women’s locker room.

Since that time, I have asked a handful of offenders to finish their conversations outside the locker room. I always ask politely, whispering so as not to interrupt their conversations. In every case, the women have apologized and either ended their conversations or stepped back outside. I understand that most people do not even realize why the policy was put in place (they’re not planning to take photos themselves), and/or they don’t even see the sign—it’s not especially prominent.

This week, however, I have had confrontations with three dumb broads who refused to take their conversations outside the locker room. In all three cases, I asked the women politely to end their conversations. In all three cases, they either waved me off or continued their conversations as they made their way further into the locker room. In all three cases, I raised my voice (from a whisper to a normal tone) and stated, “You cannot use your cell phone in the women’s locker room. Signs are posted to protect those of us who are changing clothes.” In all three cases, the women continued to talk.

Finally, in the first case (on Wednesday), I looked the woman square in the eye and commanded, “Please leave.” She left.

When I arrived at the YMCA on Thursday, I noticed that the sign banning cell phones had been torn down. So, I reported it. I had witnesses who saw Wednesday’s confrontation—one of whom is an employee at the Y. I was also advised that I could call for security any time someone didn’t cooperate with the policy.

Today, a new sign was posted, but the rate of stupidity and selfishness was at an all-time high.

As I undressed after my workout (wearing a sports bra and shorts), a woman walked into the locker room, yapping away on her cell phone. I followed all of the above procedures (asking politely that the phone conversation be finished outside, restating the policy, etc.). The woman continued her conversation for a few more minutes inside the locker room. As she did so, a second woman barged in, yapping on her phone as well. I repeated the above procedures, and she, too, continued her conversation for a few more minutes.

When I saw that neither woman was going to get off her phone or finish her conversation outside, I yelled out the locker room door for security. Both women finished their business and came through the door, saying things like,

“I was on the phone with my friend who has cancer.”
“I was talking to the school nurse.”
“Like I’m going to take pictures of women in the locker room.”

Yes, of course, the rules don’t apply to you. Dumb, rich broads.

I threw on a shirt and followed both women out so I could identify them for security, which I did. All of my buddies (they call themselves “The Knights of the Roundtable”) who were hanging out drinking coffee helped me identify them: “They went that way, Katie!” It was great!

On Wednesday and today, I had witnesses in the locker room, who can vouch that I was polite at first and more firm as the situation escalated. I also spoke to the YMCA director about posting signs outside the locker rooms that explicitly direct people to finish their conversations and turn off their cell phones before entering the locker room--now there's a novel idea. All of the staff at the Y have been very supportive of me and have actually thanked me for being so vigilant.

I think I need a superhero name now. Professor by afternoon/evening; protector of Locker Room Privacy by morning. What shall I call myself? The Mobile-Annihilator? The Privates Protector? Send me your thoughts, so I can create a costume in time for Halloween.

A Poem For Beth

Diligence

Rising, while it is still dark,
she performs her tasks
daily,
without reservation.

And now the last sale has been rung up,
clean clothes have been folded,
while a spicy stew simmers on the stove.

She cradles her son in her arms,
and awaits her husband's homecoming;
love and duty are one.

I know you do not like poetry, Beth, but this is my way of honoring you.

Vacation Haiku for Tommy Jayhawk

Blue odyssey
Who can plumb both sea and sky?
Cancun mid August.

Thanks for posting that beautiful vacation picture taken from the balcony of your hotel. Viewing it is as close as I probably will get to visiting Mexico. I know you hate haiku, but I could not resist writing one for you.

recipes....

Well, as posted by my brother, my mother has been after me to post something. She suggested I share some of the recipes I have tried & enjoy. As I'm sure most of you already know, Peter had cholesterol test done & his triglyceride levels were pretty alarming. It has been a challenge to find things to fix for him, though, to our surprise, very satisfying. We have switched from the regular white pastaa to whole wheat & whole grain & have discovered we actually like them better. There is a lot more flavor in wheat pasta. Here is one of our favorite new recipes:

Spicy Galic Lime Chicken
INGREDIENTS
3/4 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon black pepper
1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper
1/8 teaspoon paprika
1/4 teaspoon garlic powder
1/8 teaspoon onion powder
1/4 teaspoon dried thyme
1/4 teaspoon dried parsley
4 boneless, skinless chicken breast halves

2 tablespoons butter
1 tablespoon olive oil
2 teaspoons garlic powder
3 tablespoons lime juice

DIRECTIONS
In a small bowl, mix together salt, black pepper, cayenne, paprika, 1/4 teaspoon garlic powder, onion powder, thyme and parsley. Sprinkle spice mixture generously on both sides of chicken breasts.
Heat butter and olive oil in a large heavy skillet over medium heat. Saute chicken until golden brown, about 6 minutes on each side. Sprinkle with 2 teaspoons garlic powder and lime juice. Cook 5 minutes, stirring frequently to coat evenly with sauce

This is delicious & very easy to make.

Mom also wanted me to share one of my less nutricious recipes:

Tropical Lime Cake
INGREDIENTS
1 (18.25 ounce) package lemon cake mix
1 (3 ounce) package lime flavored gelatin mix
5 eggs
1 cup vegetable oil
3/4 cup fresh orange juice
1/2 cup fresh lime juice
2 cups confectioners' sugar


DIRECTIONS
Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Grease and flour a 9x13 inch pan.
In a large bowl, stir together the cake mix and lime flavored gelatin. combine the eggs, oil and orange juice in a blender and blend for at least 5 minutes. Gradually add the blended ingredients to the dry mixture. beat for 5 minutes using an electric mixer. Pour into the prepared pan.
Bake for 40 to 45 minutes in the preheated oven, until a toothpick inserted comes out clean. When the cake comes out of the oven, prick holes all over it using a fork.
To make the glaze, combine the lime juice and confectioners sugar in a small bowl. beat until smooth. Pour over the hot cake, this will soak into the cake.

Here is one more I have discovered recently that, even though it's really high in sodium & calories, is really yummy. If you are wondering, I didn not make this for Peter.

Grain & Nut Whole Wheat Pancakes
INGREDIENTS
1 1/2 cups old-fashioned oatmeal
1 1/2 cups whole wheat flour
2 teaspoons baking soda
1 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 1/2 cups buttermilk
1 cup milk
1/4 cup vegetable oil
1 egg
1/3 cup sugar
3 tablespoons chopped walnuts (optional)


DIRECTIONS
Grind the oats in a blender or food processor until fine. In a large bowl, combine ground oats, whole wheat flour, baking soda, baking powder, and salt.
In another bowl, combine buttermilk, milk, oil, egg, and sugar with an electric mixer until smooth. Mix wet ingredients into dry with a few swift strokes. Stir in nuts, if desired.
Lightly oil a skillet or griddle, and preheat it to medium heat. Ladle 1/3 cup of the batter onto the hot skillet; cook the pancakes for 2 to 4 minutes per side, or until brown.

I guess that is plenty, I will share more later. Peter is doing great, he has already lost 24lbs!
Jacob is doing great, he's becoming a serious computer nerd. His vocabulary is increasing everyday.

Thomas, I'm glad you had a good time in Cancun, welcome back.

Bienvenidos a Cancun

(The above photo was taken from our balcony.)

Well I’m a week removed from my trip to Cancun, and at the urging of my mother, I’m here to boast about my exploits in another country…or perhaps more accurately, confess to my gluttony and sloth.

Ahh…the joys of todo inclusivo. For those of you who no habla espanol, “todo inclusivo” is Spanish for “all inclusivo.” (Hopefully, the younger generation in this crowd will catch my Chris Farley reference there and appreciate it.) The entire concept encourages overindulging and laziness, and who am I to argue with tradition.

So, for a good part of the week you could find me lounging by the water (either the pool or the ocean) graciously accepting the Dos Equis each time our Mexican friend Rafael would walk by. As you can imagine, Mexican beer does in fact taste better in Mexico. Oh, sure, I’d occasionally go wild and have a Strawberry Daiquiri or a Miami Vice, but for the most part my Spanish consisted of, “Cerveza, por favor.”

Of course, the all-inclusive package deal includes all meals, so each night I didn’t have any trouble finding my way to one of the 14 restaurants that were at our resort. Interestingly enough, the consensus favorite among my in-laws and me was the oriental place. But regardless of the location, I managed to eat more than I should have on pretty much every occasion. But when the appetizers, entrees and desserts are already paid for, how can you say no? And, heck, I was on vacation, right?

I noted earlier that my in-laws were there. Actually, the in-laws were the reason I was there. Jesse’s brother got married in Cancun, so I got to spend A LOT of quality time with her family. Luckily, I was fortunate to find a group of in-laws that is worth spending a lot of time with. Obviously, the wedding was a highlight of trip.

Our package also included a few activities outside of the resort. One day we took an excursion to the nearby island of Isla Mujeres. It was interesting to see, though I think some in the group would have had more appreciation for it if the sun hadn’t been beating down on us… and if the wedding and subsequent party hadn’t been the night before.

On my birthday, Jesse, her little brother, her mother and I went south of Cancun and snorkeled along the second largest reef in the world. It wasn’t my first time snorkeling, but it’s still amazing to swim with such remarkable fish. At one point, our guide pointed out an eel peeking out of its hole, which was incredible.

And the eel wasn’t the only interesting wildlife I spied while in Mexico. After snorkeling, I went on my first-ever horseback ride, which took us by some inland water. There I saw an alligator (or maybe a crocodile) in the wild for the first time. Back at the resort, I saw iguanas, which I would compare to Kansas squirrels in abundance. A gecko lived near our building on the resort, and on the golf course on our resort, I saw a coati, which is related to the raccoon I believe.

In all, I’d say my second trip to the Yucatan Peninsula was a good one. A third trip is a distinct possibility, and if that happens, I plan on taking the 2.5 hour bus ride to Chichen Itza.

Now I just have to see if doing 12-ounce curls for a week was adequate training for the 5K I’m supposed to run this weekend…

where has the summer gone

well it's getting closer to fall. I have actually seen Halloween stuff out already. There's a big holiday. The other day I was driving down 6th and I was behind a semi that stunk like heck.
But it also smelled good some how. It reminded me of the chicken coup we used to have.
That's the way the barn always smelled. Chickens cows whats the difference poop is poop. It brought back that memory so clear and I missed it.

Cell Phones

I found a link to a legal blog that also features haiku. Odd yes, but also interesting. The information I read concerned the use of cell pnones/iphones while walking. Emergency room staff are seeing more walking wounded; those who miss a step and fall flat on their face. Or worse, are killed because they stroll out into oncoming traffic. The reason more pedestrians are visiting the ER is because they are focused on their conversations and not on their surroundings. In order to protect these folks, several states are planning to ban cell phone use while walking. Also under consideration, banning cell phone use while driving.

It is not clear whether proposed legislation would include chewing gum while walking. It has been reported that some people have difficulty doing both at the same time.

I am curious about how my Fiddler kin feel about such legislation. Is a ban on cell phone use while walking/driving necessary? Or,is more legislation an intrusiion that will take the joy out of living?

I hope my Fiddler kin will respond to my questions. Thanks in advance.

My first triathlon in 10 years

The last triathlon I completed was in 1998, a few months before my twentieth birthday. I wasn’t ready for it. I hadn’t trained properly, and after a speedy swim, I sucked wind on the bike and the run. If I remember correctly, people flew by me on those portions (they were encouraging though—“You can do it!”), and I walked a good portion of the run. I didn’t enjoy the experience at all, and I vowed never to do another triathlon again.

In my twenties, I tried some new kinds of competition—co-ed softball, 5K’s, 10K’s, lake swims, duathlons, and even a half marathon.

A few months ago, I thought it might be fun to try the tri again. I like training for things. I enjoyed training for the half marathon, particularly the feeling of satisfaction and wonder as I tallied more and more miles on my weekly long runs. And I liked training for this triathlon; I liked getting on a bicycle again and going for long rides with Andy on the weekends. I liked pushing myself to run hill workouts around my neighborhood. I liked my weekly bike-run workouts, during which I’d ride a stationary bike at the gym and, upon finishing, immediately run 2-3 miles. And, of course, I liked swimming.

Today’s race went well. First of all, my new bike rack worked beautifully. Then, I arrived at the race site in time to secure one of the last few parking spots (anyone who arrived later had to drop off her bike, drive to another location, and be shuttled back to the race site---yuck!). As for the race itself, I’m happy. My swim went well, although I had to get a little aggressive with some pushy swimmers who kept crowding me. The bike portion was great; the rock star triathletes passed me with ease, but I passed a bunch of people myself, thanks to my “speed workouts” with Andy on the weekends (He’d shout, “C’mon, wiener! Let’s go!” And I went.). I was pretty pooped on the run, but I ran the whole way, and I crossed the finish line fast and feeling good.

Andy and Trent, of course, were there to cheer me on and take pictures. The race site was set up so that I could see them on every transition, plus twice on the run, so that was pretty cool. They were good sports, waking up before 7:00 to drive over for the start (I was up at 5:15.)

Now that I’ve lived more than three decades, maybe it’s time for me to become a three-sport athlete. I definitely plan to do another triathlon. Andy said he might, too. Who knows—maybe we’ll be able to convince Trent to join us.

Triathlon

KATIE!!!! Good luck in the triathlon. You go girl! Have fun. We love ya.

Chinese Poetry

The 2008 Olympics begin tonight (8/08/08)in China. China is becoming a major power player in the world. It's leaders have an ambitious agenda. There is a more gentle side to the Chinese culture. One can find that peaceful presence in it's poetry. To celebrate the opening of the 2008 Olympics, let us read some Chinese poems, as we get ready to honor excellence.

A Spring Day at the Farm

Pigeons coo on the roof
apricot orchards
bloom white at the edge of town

the farmers are out with axes
pruning the mulberry trees
hoeing watercourses

swallows hunt up old nests
old men sit in the sun
almanacs in their laps

I have forgotten my glass of wine
thinking of lost friends,
dead friends,
in a blaze of old pain.
by Wang Wei

Untitled

The entire day I searched for spring but
spring I could not find,
in my straw sandles I tramped among the
mountain peak clouds.
Home again, smiling, I finger a sprig of
fragrant plum blossoms;
Spring was right here on these branches in
all its glory!
by Plum Blossom Nun

On Climbing You-Chou Terrace

Ahead I cannot see the ancient faces,
Behind I cannot see the coming sages.
I brood upon the endlessness of Nature,
Lonely and sick at heart, with falling tears.
by Chen Ziang

Mt. Chungnan cottage

In middle age
I became fond of the Way.

Now I'm old, and settled
in a Chungnan cottage.

Sometimes, I get the notion
to wander off by myself

to marvelous places
I alone know,

hiking to the stream's source;
sitting, watching clouds arise.

Sometimes, I come across
an old recluse.

We chatter and laugh
and forget to go home.
by Wang Wei

Reclusion, Late Summer

To this place of retreat
the world does not follow;
but many old ailments heal here.

I polish words
of old poems;
view mountains,
and sleep outside my hut.

Colored clouds
crossing the setting sun;
cicadas ring
in the leaves of trees.

With this
my heart again knows happiness;
and who would have thought it,
without wine or money.
by Yao Ho

Mother's Limerick

After reading the limericks posted by Dylan, I remembered my attempt to write a limerick. I was attending Monticello Grade School and Mrs. Fowler was my teacher. She taught a combination 5th and 6th grade class. Mrs. Fowler asked her students to write a limerick. For some reason I had trouble. Our mother was touched by a muse. She wrote a limerick for me to share with my class. I think Mother had fun writing the 5 line poem. It gave her a chance to be creative. I have never forgotten what she wrote. Her limerick was well received by the instructor. I do not remember if Mom got the credit she deserved, though I was grateful to her for doing my homework.

Mother's Limerick

The old man in the moon
Came to earth in a great big balloon
When he arrived
To see women drive
He was shocked and went back to the moon.
by Norma Fiddler

A Celtic Prayer

I enjoy reading Celtic poems and prayers. The prayers have existed since before the 12th century. They are part of the spiritualy of Ireland, Scotland and Wales. Here is a prayer that I like. The flowing simple repetitive style, often found in Celtic prayer, is soothing.

Deep peace of the
running waves to you.

Deep peace of the
flowing air to you.

Deep peace of the
quiet earth to you.

Deep peace of the
shining stars to you.

Deep peace of the
Son of Peace to you.

These thoughts are my wish for family and friends today.

Limericks

Stopping by the Woods on a Snowy Evening

There once was a horse-riding chap
Who took a trip in a cold snap
He stopped in the snow
But he soon had to go:
He was miles away from a nap.

The Raven

There once was a girl named Lenore
And a bird and a bust and a door
And a guy with depression
And a whole lot of questions
And the bird always says "Nevermore."

Do Not Go Gentle Into That Good Night

There was an old father of Dylan
Who was seriously, mortally illin'
"I want," Dylan said
"You to bitch till you're dead.
"I'll be cheesed if you kick it while chillin'."

The Big 3-0

Goodbye, twenties. Hello, thirties. Andy and I rode our bikes 30 miles on Saturday in honor of my third decade of life.

Today I took the day off from work, slept in until 8:00 and then went to my YMCA, where my buddies sang happy birthday to me (twice!) and made me wear a battery-operated light flashing tiara. I liked it so much, I wore it on a few errands after I finished my workout.

My triathlon is this Sunday, and I'm pretty pumped about it. There are 650 participants in the race, so many that I actually received an "athletes' parking pass" this week. Oh my. As long as I don't get kicked in the face during the lake swim, I'll be happy.

Not much else is happening here. Fall semester begins Aug. 15, so I'm trying to catch up on all the work I put on the back burner during the summer session. Trent's still enjoying his work on the Braves' grounds crew, although July was pretty exhausting--longer hours than normal, plus three concerts at the stadium.

Hope everyone is well. Love ya!