The Crab Chronicles

Sandwich and Stereotypes

It's been a weird, discombobulated sort of weekend. I had a number of plans that just didn't come to pass. I did get to spend some time with Lesleigh yesterday, and she stayed for dinner last night, which was fun.

I cooked hamburgers on the grill, and made homemade White Acre peas, squash, and a peach cobbler that turned out pretty well.

My friend Paul came over today to work on Mother's computer, and we had some time to chat.

I find as I grow older and Mike gets older and more independent, I need time to hang out with my friends. It keeps me sane.

I am the middle of the "sandwich generation" - caring for my child and my mom.I love them both and it's my privilege to care for them, but I need a break now and again.

Michael and I took Colton yesterday, and we saw Men in Black III, which is a really fun romp of a movie. I recommend it totally, as long as you're not expecting high art. It's just fun. There are some unexpectedly touching moments, too.

My old friend from high school, Jeff Joslin is also in it, which makes it fun for me.

I was sort of disgusted to see a preview for something called Hatfields and McCoys, which is going to be on History Channel tonight. All I could think was well whoop-de-doo, that's how you combine EVERY southern stereotype imaginable and set it to a redneck-on-crack sountrack, and let's see how many people will be watching that hogwash?! Did the feud actually happen? Yep. Does that make it a great subject for a miniseries? Not necessarily. I adore watching Kevin Costner and Bill Paxton, but this whole concept is just disgusting.

Can't I EVER see the south portrayed honestly onscreen, without playing up all the negative stereotypes?! Dang. If you've never been to the south you'd think we are either Gone With the Wind racist nitwits or Dukes of Hazzard rednecks. Hollyweird keeps recycling the same old stuff.

To add insult to injury, they filmed this in ROMANIA, according to the review in the New York Times.

We're about the same as everyone in other parts of the country, except we generally have better manners and we talk slower.

Period.

Grrr.......

I will say this, all these guys [who are in the movie] are awfully attractive, to an old lady like me, so I might tune in just to see them...

From left, Tom Berenger, Powers Boothe, Kevin Costner, and Bill Paxton

All the News

The past couple of days have been quiet, but in reality lots of stuff is happening all around me. It's like this quote I love: "On a cellular level, I am really quite busy."

If you saw the word "cellular" and thought phone, WRONG.

Some of the stuff happening around me is sort of amusing and weird.

For instance, I have a neighbor who appears to be pregnant, but is she?! How rude, if I asked her and she's not. She's a tall, skinny lady, but the belly is pooching out there. She has a child Mike's age, and a 3 year old. She's only a few years younger than me. So it's unlikely she's pregnant, but who knows?! The curiosity is killing me.

A friend of mother's had a terrible mishap the other day. Her husband wears a hearing aide. They were packing to go on a big trip to Europe. Their dog ate hubby's hearing aide. I know it's mean, but I thought that was very funny. [I can say that now because they are in Europe, not reading the blog...!] Hubby got a replacement hearing aide before they left, BTW. All is well.

Except the dog probably thought he was passing a football.... LOL

Speaking of yucky stuff, I have Facebook friends who post photos of food they have made, and 95% of the time it looks utterly disgusting. I mean, like something the dog puked up. There is one now I keep seeing and my stomach lurches every time I look at it.

Please stop posting pictures of your meals, unless you are a wicked good photographer. Cakes and cookies are OK. Anything with gravy?! Just say NO.

I was trying to not go anywhere this weekend, just stay at home and putter around, and of course I ended up running around in the heat yesterday. [It was close to 90 yesterday and will be 90 today.]

Michael needs a new pair of sandals about once a year. It's too hot around here to wear tennis shoes all summer. So yesterday we went to the local discount shoe place, Shoe Carnival, and got him some new ones. We were in and out in 5 minutes, which is unusual. He's normally quite slow about chooing things. He wears a men's size 8. He insisted on getting a size 9. I hope he will grow into those. He has long, skinny feet.

When he first came home, his little foot fit neatly into my hand with lots of room left over.

Michael told me for his birthday [in July] he wants a Deadmau5 tee shirt. A group that sounds like "deadmouse"?! I was aghast. I told him I wouldn't get him one unless I listened to some of their music. It sounds like it was made by space aliens, a lot of it. I did find this song that I actually like. It sounds like European music from the 80's, very retro and cool.

I will probably get him a tee shirt. At least it's not rap. I despise rap.

Michael played in a round robin tennis tournament at the pool last night. I sat there for 3 hours, sweating, keeping score, and watching teenagers play tennis and flirt. They reminded me of young colts.

On the plus side, I got to talk to a mom I really like, and get to know her better. That was pleasant.

I don't really know anything else. My exciting weekend plans include housecleaning, clipping Coco, and laundry.

Hope y'all have a great day!

Remember the Rainbow

Anxiety. I slept all night in a vivid dream of trying to do research for a paper, and not knowing how to get it done. I woke up worried I was going to have to turn in the paper and wondering how the heck to get my hours in at work, Mike to school, etc. AND get that paper done.

I woke up in a total panic.

Then I remembered - I've been out of school more than 20 years. Finished my master's in 1990.

Maybe I was having a premonition of checking Mike's grades a few minutes ago and finding he has a 72 in Math. A 72!! That's two points away from failing. The grade report shows a bunch of assignments either have not been turned in or he has zeros in them. I told him he HAS to talk to his teacher and figure out a solution to that mess, or there will be a consequence here at home.

Please pray for him to get his butt in gear. This is his last week of school. He has A's and B's in everything else.

We were running errands last night after a very intense rainstorm late in the afternoon, and this is what we saw:

Michael said "Let's go to the end! We will get a lot of money!"

I wish it were that easy, son. I wish.

The rainbow did give me hope, though. Whenever I see a rainbow I feel happy and hopeful. Maybe that's a silly reaction, but that's how I feel.

There's an old song called "Look for the Rainbow" and I hear that in my head, too.

I woke up this morning and it was pouring rain. Great for the gardens, not so much for driving to school. I turned on the computer and clicked over to the Weather Channel site. I'd looked at the forecast last night and it said 30% chance of rain today. The screen said, "Rain will stop at 6:45." This was about 6:35. The rain was LOUD.I thought, how do they know what time the rain will stop? How silly.

At 6:46, I noticed the rain had stopped and the birds started singing. Another hopeful thing. OH-KAY.... So there's a psychic that works for the Weather Channel. Awesome.

What will the third thing be, I wonder?! My 65% Irish superstitious brain thinks like that.

Growing Stuff and Swapping Stories

I am always amazed by how much I can accomplish on a Saturday, if I put my mind to it. Yesterday was an exceptionally nice day and I got a lot done.

I started off watering the gardens and snapping photos with my phone. I am sort of amazed how decent these phone photos are:

My front patio. Nobody ever sits out there, except me sometimes, so I like it filled with flowers. The gardenias came off our front bushes, which are going crazy, but I didn't get a good photo. I love the fact you smell the heavenly gardenias as you walk in our front door...

Above, what I call the side garden. This year I've only got cucumbers, zucchini, peppers, and cantaloupes. Everything except the peppers was grown from seed in seed pots - so much cheaper. I expect to be overrun with zucchini soon, but that's OK. I will freeze some of it.

The raised bed is my main garden, and I have tomatoes, eggplant, peppers, zucchini, and cauliflower in there. Hopefully my peppers will survive getting nibbled by bugs all the time. I also have a bunch of flowers, many of which were started from seed, and strawberries in the wooden barrels.

I got the DVD's of my Sports Hall of Fame speech mailed off to all the folks, and that was a big load off my mind.

My cousins Warren and Kim invited me up to their house for dinner and that was a lot of fun. Warren did ribs in the smoker, and Kim made green beans, twice baked potatoes, and corn on the cob. I carried some homemade brownies. Everything was delicious.

I think there is one brownie left, and Mother has called dibs on it.

Warren got to telling funny stories about growing up being the oldest of four boys, and I was telling some stories, too, and we did a lot of laughing. Michael, interestingly, chose to listen to us old folks swapping stories rather than joining the college kids watching TV in the family room.

At one point, Kim said to Michael, "You know you have a very funny mama. DO you think she's funny?" and Michael just shrugged, with a sheepish look on his face. "Yeah, sometimes she's funny," he admitted reluctantly.

For a 15 year old that's high praise, indeed. LOL

I can tell a funny story and grow a good tomato, just like generations before me. Those are great accomplishments in my opinion...

Bunnies and Banquets

I always take my phone out of my pocket and stick on top of my dresser in the evenings here at home, because I want my evenings to be family time, without distractions. I was irked last night, though, because I wished I could take a photo of the cute little brown bunny munching clover in my backyard while we ate dinner.Of course my camera wasn't downstairs either.

He sat there in the grass munching for a long time before moving off.

We are glad to see bunnies because they mean the coyotes aren't around, eating them.

I took the afternoon off yesterday, after working some extra time on Thursday. I wanted to hang out with Michael, who stayed home from school. Yesterday was Field Day at school and I told Michael he didn't have to go if he didn't want to go. In 6th and 7th grade he hated Field Day because it was all set up for kids with two hands and/or long legs. That was also before we realized he has exercise asthma and needed to use his inhaler before exerting himself. I think this year, too, he has just felt really out of place all year, keenly feeling his 15 years, when most of the 8th graders are 13 or 14.

There was an 8th grade dance last night, but he forgot to buy a ticket. I tried to get him to go and buy one at the door but he insisted they wouldn't let the kids purchase tickets at the door. I didn't push it. We did see all the cars at the middle school [which is close to our house] when we were coming back from picking up sandwiches at Jersey Mike's.He didn't say a word.

Being a teenager is tough enough. Being a teen with a lot of acne and one hand is really tough.

So we did our usual Friday night routine of eating sandwiches and watching Ghost Adventures. Mike and I don't really take it seriously. We think it's funny. I wish I had a dollar for every time those guys say "seriously!?" during each program.

That's really all I have to report. Got a lot to do this weekend, including getting DVDs of my speech at the Cherokee County Sports Hall of Fame off to the relatives. The folks who couldn't be there, especially, have been looking forward to seeing it, to get a sense of what it was like.

Here are a few more photos from the event.

Me and my cousin Robin. She is the oldest Hasty grandchild and I am the youngest. Robin was in my parents' wedding in 1957.

Mother's cousins Frank Hasty Sr. and his son Frank Hasty.

Robin's son Brent and his wife Jada, and in the background, Robin's daughter Lana and husband Tim.

Quickie Update

Yesterday was an incredibly busy day. I just finished writing a play review, and now I have to jump in the shower and then fix breakfast, so no blogging time is possible, but I wanted y'all to know I am still alive.

Michael got an email confirming he can go to the Adventure Amputee Camp this summer. YAY! He is so excited. It's a wonderful camp.

We have a bird feeder that mostly seems to be feeding creek rats. I filled the feeder with cayenne pepper and they STILL are eating our bird food. Any suggestions on how to stop feeding rats? Leave me a comment.

Michael wanted to eat everything in sight yesterday. I am hoping/praying he might be growing.

My friend Cindy's son wrote an amazingly touching story about his early childhood, and after a bit of editing by me, it's being published in installments over at Adoption Under One Roof. It's a very powerful piece of writing, quite remarkable for a teenager. I hope Chuy will keep writing.

My review of The Waffle Palace at the Horizon Theatre is here. I LOVED the show.

That's all the news I know. More later.

Gardening and Cooking

I've got Michael thinking like a farmer. Last night just before bed he was in my bathroom and he came out saying "We're getting a good rain! I can hear it." The bathroom window was open. We did get a nice rain, but it wasn't long enough.

When I went outside and checked the rain guage this morning it was only about a quarter of an inch. Better than nothing, though.

Getting out of bed in the morning has become painful. I have arthritis in my hips. I get maybe 6 hours of sleep, get up to use the bathrooim, then try to get back in bed and go to sleep and it's really difficult. My mother has had arthritis in her hips for a long time, and now I am much more sympathetic.

I find that walking around, being on my feet, helps a lot. Yesterday morning I got up and went for a 20 minute walk, and that helped. I am trying to walk 20-30 minutes every day. I also take FIsh Oil pills, and 2 Aleve every morning. I also am trying to shed some of the pounds because obviously that will make things easier. I am not going to give in to this arthritis.

Got a lot done yesterday, including grocery shopping, bill paying, and floor cleaning.

My friend Paul also came over to work on Mother's computer, because it's on the fritz. We love Paul, but he's a chatty guy, so his visits are never quick. LOL

I made a blueberry cobbler last night. Major yum - and I am not even all that wild about blueberries outside of a muffin. I found this new Caboose Cobbler Mix at Kroger yesterday and told Mike to grab two cartons of blueberries. He must have gotten organic ones because they were wonderful. I know it sounds ridiculous, a cobbler mix, but I've never been able to made a decent cobbler. I can make a terrific pound cake, but cobblers have stumped me for years. Finally, the mix. We only deviated from the box instructions a little bit. I mixed up some extra sugar and fresh lime juice with the blueberries, and added a little extra sugar and some cinnamon to the mix. Mother directed me to do this - and she has made many yummy cobblers. Very, very easy. You can make a great cobbler even if you're not a cook. If you can read, you can make this.

Michael made his guacamole last night and ate the whole huge bowl of it. He uses avocados, tomatoes, chopped onion, fresh lime juice, onion powder, garlic powder, salt and pepper. It's a great thing for him to eat because you can't really save it, so Mother encourages him to eat the whole bowl full, and he complies.

I made Emeril's cucumber ribbon salad recently and it was a big hit. I didn't use mint or sugar, though. That just seems wrong. I like cucumbers savory, not sweet.

I have a lot of cucumbers and zucchini planted in my garden. I also have peppers, but they are getting eaten by bugs, alas. My tomatoes already have little maters on them! All this hot weather is paying off.

The meeting at the school that was postponed from Friday takes place this morning. I am dreading it. Mike is not faring well in math, though, so it's unavoidable... Pray for me!

Mike drove for 20 minutes yesterday and did fine, except for nearly sideswiping a mailbox. I could see the mailbox rushing towards me and I started cussing a blue streak. Not my finest parenting moment. Michael laughed. I told him we can drive some every day. Oh boy...

The tall cylindrical thing is my rain guage.

Anniversary Day

Wow, I'm getting tired of all the drama in my life. I majored in Drama in college [no kidding] but enough is enough already.

I have a meeting at school this morning, I think. Can't blog about that.

Mother's computer is screwed up. We need to get it fixed. My computer guru thinks she likely has a virus. Whatever she has, it's very upsetting to her when her computer is messed up.

My mother reminded me that yesterday was a terrible anniversary. On May 3, 2005 she fell and broke both of her shoulders, and had to be hospitalized. It was a horrible ordeal for her, and very upsetting for the whole family. I'll never forget my daughter's scream when we got home from school and found Mother lying in a pool of blood on the laundry room floor.

Mother now has a metal plate and screws in her left shoulder, and has never fully regained use of that hand. However, she is still with us, and for that I am grateful.

Yesterday was also my grandfather's birthday. Bob Hasty was born in 1896, in Canton Georgia. Remember I blogged about the banquet for him a short while back? [Also, here is the news story about it.] Well, we got in the mail a video my cousin made that night. I was able to watch myself give a speech and not cringe in horror.

My boss teases me about sounding very southern, and I like to deny that, but he's right. My accent is a mixture of Georgia and Tennessee [I grew up in Augusta and Knoxville] and I'm OK with that. The boss is from New York but he has almost no accent. Somebody in our office has to represent... LOL

and speaking of baseball...

Over at Pioneer Woman's website there's a terrific list of baseball movies and I was delighted to read that, but disappointed that they left out one of my personal favorite movies, Angels in the Outfield. Boy that one makes me cry every time. Awesome movie.

I am SO glad it's Friday..

Chained to the Oar

One of my top 10 fave movies is Ben Hur, starring Charlton Heston, and I think of it often these days. There's a famous line from the movie that occurs during the part when Judah is a slave rowing a huge Roman ship, chained to an oar.

"We keep you alive to row this ship. Row well and LIVE!" the overseer snarls.

Yeah baby, that's the way I feel some days.

[Above, that's Chuck, looking all dirty and tired, and still the hottest thing around in 1959, if you ask me...]

It's been a hard day. There are many reasons why. I can't blog about them. As my fave singer Mary Chapin Carpenter sings, "Some days you're the windshield / Some days you're the bug."

I can say this - this is the middle of my life. I don't daydream any more about getting married and living in the suburbs. I live in the suburbs. I don't need or want a husband.Or even a boyfriend.

[Some man willing to come over and do handyman chores once in a while would be nice. Oh wait, I've got my brother for that. Never mind.]

I dream about sitting on a porch, in a rocking chair, with a big old mutt dog close by, and a good book, and maybe a glass of iced tea.

That's it.

That's my vision of heaven, right now. Rocking on the porch.

My mom asked me the other day what I want for Mother's Day. Here's what I want.

I don't want to have to do anything for anybody, all day. I want to just do whatever I feel like doing. Everybody else in the house can take care of themselves. Just let me be. I've rowed well, dadgummit. Just let me live.

Let me be the windshield.

That's it. Just a chill day for old mama.

Maybe then I'll get that Ben Hur quote out of my head.

Random Stuff

Sometimes I get very frustrated by surfing the net and I think, I just need to give up the computer for a few days and actually get a few things done around my house. Then I get a grip and say to myself "There will always be dust. I need to get on Facebook and see what my friends are up to!"

Yeah, I'm addicted.

Before high-speed internet I was something of a clean freak. Of course, it's a lot easier to keep a condo clean than an almost 3,000 sq. ft. house. Add in a dog and a boy, and said house really becomes a chore.

I also must admit that this time of year, spring, means I much prefer to be outside in the garden than inside slaying dust bunnies. You can't eat dust bunnies.

I read Pioneer Woman's website every day or two, and today included an in-depth post by her husband about running a ranch that includes a lot of cows. You can read more on this scintillating subject here.Why would anyone read this, I wonder, except another rancher?!

Maybe I will get someone in my close family to write a long post like that.

"How to keep stuff strewn all over the floor of your room, no matter how much your mom fusses."

"Cute things Coco does." - this one would be by Mother.

The excitement of my day was taking Mother to the doctor this morning. Getting her anywhere before 10 a.m. is a full-scale operation. Today there was fasting involved. I had bloodwork done, too, so I was fasting. I don't like fasting. I sometimes faint when I fast.

Then it takes a crane to hoist me off the floor.

Our doctor [Mom and I see the same one] always has student doctors working in her office. Today it was a tall young man from Cameroon, and he had a lovely accent and was just a sweetheart. One of the nurses came in and asked if Dr. V was in the room. I was sitting on a rolling chair in the corner. Mother jokingly said "Well I don't see her, but maybe she's under Dee's chair." The nurse actually looked under my chair. She barely got the door closed before Mother, the young doctor, and I all busted out laughing. Dr. V is a petite woman, but not THAT small...

Anyway, I am stiull here. I will write more tomorrow.