The Crab Chronicles

Racing Around

Cause and effect. Simple enough concept, right? Not so for everyone. Michael proved yet again that he has trouble with it.

Now, is it regular "I'm a teenager and I'll do what I want" issue, or is it a more serious lack of comprehension because of brain mis-wiring? I dunno. Hopefully just a teen thing.

Colton came over last night and spent the night. Before dark, he and Michael went outside to play soccer. Michael was wearing slip-on sports sandals and socks. I've told him and told him to NOT play sports wearing those sandals. Did he listen? Nope.

I went to Publix to pick up a few things.

Came home and he had a big raw scrape on his knee. "I TOLD you that you need to wear tennis shoes, right?" He nodded. He got a horrible wound not that long ago from playing basketball while wearing sandals.

How many bleeding wounds will it take before comprehension sets in?!

Wow, just as I typed that I realized it's a metaphor for life. How often do we have to get wounded before we change our ways?

Talk amongst yourselves.

My back is so much better that I can now sit in an easy chair and read a book, without fear of a backache later. Thanks be to God. I don't slump, though. I sit up straight.

The less back issues I have, the more I can let Michael drive. The passenger seat is a bit uncomfortable for me when my back is hurting. Michael drove me around to do errands yesterday and was very competent. We even went outside our immediate area, over to Decatur, and he did fine.

If anything, he is almost too cautious a driver.

Then again, his mind is always working on something. In the car yesterday, out of the blue, he said "How would you feel if I became a NASCAR driver? Do you think I could do it?"

I remained calm, after glancing at the speedometer.

"You mean, do I think you could drive around a track really fast? Sure. If you have a good car."

Of course, I was thinking to myself, I would have to be heavily sedated to stand the stress of watching my baby do that. I have a cousin who is a big racing fan. She could go and cheer him on.

Fortunately, I think he was just wanting to get a reaction out of me.

"How do you win that sport?" he asked.

"I have no idea, Dude. No idea," I replied. My uncle Bobby Hasty, a huge racing fan, passed away a few years ago. He could have explained it.

Here's another thought...

I made potato pancakes for Michael for breakfast yesterday. I often do that, with leftover mashed potatoes. He refused to put sour cream on his pancakes, which surprised me. He loves sour cream.

I pointed that out.He shrugged.

He went in the dining room and got a Rice Krispy bar, and proceed to slather it with sour cream before eating it.Then he put sour cream on a Honey Bun.

"Tastes like yogurt!" he said, grinning.

"How very Russian of you," I said, shaking my head.

Maybe he could work in R&D for a food company. Yeah, that's the ticket. Much safer than being a race car driver...

Your Inner Redneck

When I was a kid and we moved to Tennessee, my dad became a HUGE country music fan. Up until then he had mostly preferred the music of Frank Sinatra, Herb Alpert and the Tijuana Brass, Sam Cooke, and Johnny Cash.[Yep, Johnny was as country as he got, before we hit Knoxville.]

Suddenly, it's the 1970's and we're living in the foothills of the Smoky Mountains, and the only radio station he ever listens to is WIVK.If I wanted to talk to him in the car, I had to wait until a song came on that he didn't like, or an advertisement.

Now, if you only saw my dad downtown, you might never guess the Inner Redneck was his alter ego.

My dad was a banker and wore impeccable suits to work. He spent all day advising customers about their trust accounts and estate planning needs.People called him "Mr. Thompson" and "Sir." He was like a general in charge of his troops, the folks in the Valley Bank Trust Department.

Then he went home and put on old clothes and drank PBR and wore ballcaps with cartoons of tractors on them. Once banker's hours were over, he had to just let out his Inner Redneck.[I can't show you a photo because Mama wouldn't let me photograph him in full redneck regalia...]

He was half Henderson on his mama's side - a refined, ladylike southern matriarch who didn't allow drinking or swearing in her home. That's where he got his banking persona. BUT... he was half Thompson, and that half was South Georgia dirt farmer.

I am only one quarter Redneck but I totally understand that need to let out one's Inner Redneck.. [Heck Jeff Foxworthy has made a career reminding us of our redneck roots! Go Jeff - click that link if you want to laugh at a routine called Redneck Fashion Tips.]

My Inner Redneck likes Allman Brothers and Lynrd Skynard, and I have been known to drink a cold beer now and then. Yes, and I will eat Vienna sausages and fatback, and drink hot Pepsi colas now and again. SO WHAT?!

So when I saw this email it brought back a lot of memories.This list made me laugh, and I wished I had a cold PBR to guzzle while I watched this here video.

Top 10 Country Songs

10. I Hate Every Bone In Her Body But Mine

9. I Ain't Never Gone To Bed With an Ugly Woman But I've Woke Up With a Few

8. If The Phone Don't Ring, You'll Know It's Me

7. I've Missed You, But My Aim's Improvin'

6. Wouldn't Take Her To A Dogfight 'Cause I'm Scared She'd Win

5. I'm So Miserable Without You It's Like You're Still Here

4. My Wife Ran Off With My Best Friend And I Miss Him

3. She Took My Ring and Gave Me the Finger

2. She Gets Better Lookin' with Every Beer

And the Number One Country & Western
song is...It's Hard to Kiss the Lips at Night That Chew Your Ass Out All Day Long...

 

 

Holding the Cross

Michael spent a good bit of time last night on the drawing below. He is a terrific artist, when he finds something to draw that really interests him.

I used to try and draw, and thought of myself as an artist. I told Michael, hands are SO difficult to draw. He was using a photo as a model for this, but I still think it's amazing.

The cross is a Russian cross.I got him one for Christmas last year. It isn't in the model drawing...

When I scanned it, I had to darken it a bit so it would show up.

Of course, Michael isn't satisfied with it. No artist is ever satisfied with their work, in my experience...

Honey and Adoption Advice

This has just been a weird day, on so many levels. I have felt discombobulated all day, probably because I didn't sleep well last night, and the only time I left the house was to get the mail.

Mother has edema of her lower legs and her left leg is really swollen and red. We can't get her to the Wound Clinic at Emory until next Friday, October 5th, and so I have been putting raw honey on her bad leg and wrapping the leg with Ace bandages, just in the past 24 hours. This is a tough thing because her legs swell during the day, and the bandages become uncomfortable. So I have tried to figure this out all day. I haven't wanted to leave her, either, so I have stuck around here all day so I can help. At one time this afternoon I had put some cinnamon on her legs and it was burning, so I ran downstairs and bathed her leg in cool water.

Edema is horrible. 

Now, before you accuse me of being a nutjob, I will tell you that honey and cinnamon both have well-documented healing properties. I was reminded of this the other day, from a post by a lady who has a delightful blog, and posted this blog about honey and cinnamon recently.

A few years ago when my daughter's face was horribly broken out and I couldn't afford the medications, I persuaded her to try wearing a honey and cinnamon mask every night for two weeks, to bed, and it improved her face dramatically. We had to wash a lot of pillowcases, but so be it. It was a miraculous thing.

Folks are finally coming back around to the notion that honey is a miracle substance. Consider:

"In a fascinating modern development, scientists and doctors are beginning to rediscover the effectiveness of honey as a wound treatment. In recent years, honey has been used effectively in clinical settings for the treatment of fist-sized ulcers extending to the bone, as well as for first, second and third degree burns. Complete healing has been reported without the need for skin grafts and with no infection or muscle loss. It can be applied full strength to such conditions, covered with a sterile bandage, and changed daily. When the wounds are clean, honey acts as a healer."

-from The Natural News

Just Google "honey healing" and you will be amazed. It's amazing.

Of course, keeping it on Mother's legs and keeping it off her clothes and bedding is a challenge.She is cooperating, though.

************************************************************************************************************************

On a completely unrelated topic, I heard from a lady who is in the process of adopting a 14 year old girl from a Bulgarian orphanage, who found my blog. All day, I've pondered what to tell her about what to expect. There still isn't what I consider a good sourcebook for what to do after you adopt an older child. There are just so many variables, it's hard to generalize.

Some kids have an easy transition, some don't.

I sent her some articles I've written over the years, and links to some blogs. I hope she and her husband are prepared. They have no other children so it's going to be a rude shock. I tried not to be discouraging though, just realistic.

When I was adopting my daughter I had a number of well-meaning friends and aquaintances tell me I was crazy, to the point it really irritated me, and hurt my feelings.

Ignorance is still rampant. I was asked not long ago what Michael calls me. I said "He calls me Mom?!" not realizing the depth of ignorance behind the question. Did he think Michael should call me Dee?! He doesn't call his parents by their first names. He also asked me if Michael uses my last name. I wanted to shout I AM THE ONLY PARENT HE HAS YOU IDIOT WHY WOULDN'T HE USE MY LAST NAME?!?! - but I controlled myself.

Adoptive parents have to listen to all manner of bizarre questions.

Anyway, I will refrain from ranting here because it's late and I need my sleep.

PRAYER NEED

I am trying to cut down on my food intakeand eat more healthfully, but if I don't eat enough I feel faint. So that's a real challenge. Pray for me!

I actually fixed broccoli tonight for the first time in.... EVER. I didn't eat it, but I fixed it for Mother. So my home is no longer broccoli free zone. I still won't eat baby trees, but I am getting better.

Slowly.

What's for Dinner at My House

I just finished fixing the meat and vegetable we are having for dinner tonight [meatballs and asparagus] and so when I get back from taking Michael to play tennis, around 6:30 or so, I just have to cook it up, and dinner is ready in half an hour.

That's one of the few good things about being unemployed. I can make dinner early in the day, when I have plenty of energy, and not have to wait until 6 at night.

My mother makes the best meatloaf in THE WORLD, in my opinion, and now I can make her meatloaf. To me, one of the keys is making sure the meat has plenty of liquid ingredients in it. She also doesn't cook it in a loaf pan.She also doesn't chop up a lot of strange thrings and throw them in there.

Elva's Meatloaf

1 lb. ground beef

1 tablespoon baking powder [this keeps it from being heavy]

1/4 cup sherry or red wine

1/4 cup soy sauce or Worcestershire sauce

1/2 cup chopped mushrooms [optional]

1-2 teaspoons salt

1 teaspoon ground black pepper

1-2 teaspoons onion powder

1-2 teaspoons garlic powder

1 large or 2 smalls eggs

1 piece loaf bread or 1/2 cup breadcrumbs

water

 

Put your ground beef in a mixing bowl. Add all the ingredients listed above. Wash your hands and mush everything together by hand. Add some water. Is it soggy? Really REALLY soggy? I bet not. Add more tap water. Put more soy sauce, too. Now, get out a 9x13 pan, or a smaller pan, because this is how you will cook it. You need to have so much water that the meat mixture barely holds together. Form it into a rectangular shape. Cook it at 350 for about 20-40 minutes. You can put some ketchup or a couple of pieces of bacon on the top but you don't have to, if there is enough water. It depends on how big you make your rectangle as to how long it will take to cook. You can always pull it out and cut it with a knife.

Now, I am going to make meatballs tonight. I will just heat up some oil in my big skillet, form the meat into big meatballs, and cook it for about 20 minutes, or until I am sure the meatballs are cooked through.I may throw in a jar of Classico and some more red wine, and have spaghetti with meatballs. Michael loves that.

The vegetable we are having tonight is asparagus. I love love LOVE asparagus. There's really no reason to do a whole lot to it, either. [I know I've said this before but it bears repeating, IMHO] One key to asparagus is to not cut off the ends with a knife. No, Julia Child demonstrated the correct way to get rid of the tough stem, which is to simply hold up the stalk, and break the asparagus where it naturally wants to break. This perfectly eliminates the tough, fibrous stem that nobody wants to eat anyway. I then hold the stalk straight up under running water, to rinse out any dirt in the tip, and throw it into a colander.

RIght now, my asparagus is marinating in a mixture of olive oil, fresh minced garlic, sea salt, and freshly squeezed lime juice. I will probably roast it in the oven for about 10-15 minutes on a cookie sheet covered with foil, on about 400. Sometimes I overcook it, but it's still tasty. Or I may just throw it in the microwave for a few minutes. Almost any vegetable which you marinate in olive oil, lime juice, and fresh garlic is going to be really tasty. Don't forget the salt, though.

Mother and I are trying not to eat starchy things, but I will likely make some pasta for Michael.

Now, you can do pretty much the same thing with ground turkey or chicken, I suppose, but in that case I'd add a lot more spices, maybe even a little chopped onion. We just prefer beef, and we buy ground sirloin, not hamburger.

I also like bison. It's really tasty.

BTW, mother blogged about chocolate chips. Check it out. It's drool-worthy...

Chicken Taco Soup

I am making the best crock pot dinner ever. Just the smell is making me swoon. Michael came home from school and asked me what was cooking. When I said Chicken Taco Soup, he got a look of utter confusion on his face. Then he went right over to the counter, lifted the crock pot lid, sniffed, and said "Oh man... oh wow.. that smells GOOD...!"

Chicken Taco Soup

1 package chicken filets

1 packet Taco Seasoning mix

1 can black beans

1 can corn

1 entire red onion

2-4 bell peppers

fresh lime

2-4 cups tomato sauce, plus chicken broth, if more liquid is needed

salt and pepper

Canola oil [1/4 - 1/2 cup, depending on your skillet]

 

Dice the entire onion and saute it in the canola oil. While that's going on, dice your peppers. Add them to the onions/canola oil mixture. Add salt and pepper to taste. Dump the corn and beans into your crock pot. Add the entire packet of Taco seasoning mix. (I also added some cayenne pepper and onion powder.) Cook onions/peppers 10-20 minutes, until onion and peppers are soft. Add them to the crock pot. Take out your chicken and wash it and dice it up. Brown it in the skillet. Add it to the crock pot. Stir everything well. Add a lot of squeezes of fresh lime.Cook 4-6 hours on low.

Serve topped with sour cream.

What Inspires Me

I was thinking yesterday about what inspires me. I do not think we can live without inspiration, from some source, however small. Kindness is a huge inspiration.

We make a living by what we get, but we make a life by what we give. 
      ~Winston Churchill

I had to take Michael after school yesterday for his sports physical, and we went to a walk-in clinic about 15 minutes from the house, in Decatur. It was recommended by our regular pediatrician. I was impressed by how nicely the place was decorated and how professional and friendly everyone was. They also were not expensive.

The doctor who examined Michael, Dr. David Goo, took the time to chat with us, and was super nice and friendly. He has other patients from Kazakhstan, which was really interesting. He even knows something of the history of the country. It's rare to meet a doctor who is so approachable. Michael even asked if we could switch to him as the primary physician. We may do that. I am thinking it over.

I had such an awful experience with the orthopodist I saw at Emory a few weeks ago, that it was a relief to encounter a doctor who is kind. Dr. Goo was trained at Emory but he clearly is a person who has better manners than many of those folks.

I have been pondering manners a lot lately. When I encounter someone who has a strong disregard for manners, it startles me. Maybe that's just because as a born southerner I've had the importance of manners drilled into me. However, lots of non-southerners have nice manners. It's not a regional thing, although I imagine generally people who have been in the south for generations tend to have more regard for the importance of manners.

As my mother always says, good manners are really just kindness.

I may be wrong, but don't all religions and most philosophies teach that basic tenet, the importance of kindness?

Having spent a lot of time recently with someone who is only kind as a means to an end, I have become rather sensitive about it.

I know people who read my blog probably wonder sometimes about our concern for our "baby," Miss Coco. She is a lot of trouble. She is medically fragile due to her Ehlers Danlos syndrome. She erps and messes up the floors daily. She hides Milk Bones all over the house, and I've stepped on them numerous times. I laughlingly say, often, that she is 8 lbs. of Trouble.

Coco, however, embodies kindness. Countless times, Michael has gone into Mother's room to lie on her bed and play with Coco, or just rub her belly, when he was troubled. She is always available for that, or for a cuddle. She is always ready to play kiss kiss. She brings great joy to my mom, and provides a measure of protectiveness to us, since she barks at anyone or anything lurking around our house.

We should all try to be more like Coco. Wag more. Be ready to play at any time. Practice kindness at all times, even when you don't feel well...

Try this today: smile at everyone you encounter, however casually. When chatting with someone, consciously try to listen more and comment less. Pick up the phone and talk to a friend you haven't heard from in a while. Pray for folks who you think need it.Be kind to yourself - banish all negative thoughts.

Send out kindness in the world, and expect nothing in return. Blessings will come your way, regardless. I know this for a fact.

Staying Busy

In spite of the fact that I do not have to go to an office and do a regular job this morning, it's actually going to be a really busy day. Lots of things going on.

I guess I could complain about it, but I am actually glad to be busy. I feel better when I am busy.

In January 2011 we had a weeklong Snowmageddon, and there was no way to get out of the neighborhood because of all the snow and ice on the streets. So I didn't go anywhere for several days.

I thought I was going to lose.my.mind.

The high today will be 76, thank goodness. On Thursday, it's going up to 87! Now that's more typical of an Atlanta fall day.

We consider anything less than 90 to be simply "warm."

So Michael and I went for a walk last night about twilight and I had an interesting encounter. There's a house down the street where an old lady lives, and her son Chris is there a lot working in the yard. We saw him last night. Had not seen him in a while. I said "Hey, how's your mama?"

He replied "Well, she died last Christmas."

OOOOOPS........

Oh dear. Stuck my foot in it that time. Nobody had told me she had died. She's not one of the immediate neighbors. I felt like an idiot, though.

Well, I stopped and talked to him. He was very gracious. He is getting her house ready to sell. She had moved into it about 50 years ago. It's a nice house, 4 bedrooms and 3 baths, with a full basement. He said he had personally renovated two of the bathrooms.

I learned some interesting history about our neighborhood, specifically the houses on our cul de sac. One lady who still lives here is about mom's age and her sister used to live across the street, and they feuded all the time. One house was owned by a local porn king and Chris said it was always quiet all day but there would be cars in and out of there all night. The guy finally went to prison and then died.

Chris' mother was one of the founders of the Republican party in DeKalb County, and one of its earliest members was a very young Newt Gingrich. Newt used to babysit Chris.

My parents were both very active in Republican politics in Augusta, so I could identify. They also were active in Knoxville, but less so.I do remember in high school attending a fundraiser and working for a young unknown politician named Lamar Alexander. He and my dad were not close friends, but they were certainly aquaintances.

Nobody famous ever babysat me, though...

We chatted such a long time that it got full dark and the mosquitos were feasting on my ankles. Interesting encounter, though.

If you are in Atlanta and you know someone looking for a nice house in a great neighborhood, let me know.

Such True Words

Every once in a while I see things on Facebook [don't laugh] that are so true, and I feel compelled to share them here. The irony is that sometimes I see very similar things from two totally different people.

Such was the case this morning.

The sermon I heard was about the fact that whether or not Jesus was married is totally beside the point. The MISSION is the entire point.

Faith is the important thing. Don't get bogged down in the details. Live the message.

Faith + staying positive + passing on the message [to love each other]

My friend Martha posted this:

"You are a Living Magnet. What you attract into your life is in harmony with your dominant thoughts."

-Brian Tracy

My friend Delaine posted this:

Life is an Echo. What you send out - comes back. What you sow - you reap. What you give - you get. What you see in others - exists in you. Do not judge, so you will not be judged.

Radiate and give LOVE - and love comes back to you.

Amen, y'all.

Sending love and prayers out to all of you reading this.

No wonder this is one of my all-time favorite songs - the New Radicals "You Get What You Give":

 

Out to Lunch

Yesterday was mostly about Michael, as he had several activities, but it just occurred to me that my socializing habits have changed a lot over the years.

Used to be I would go to lunch with friends and have a glass of wine or a beer and chat for several hours, at times, lingering over my food at a nice restaurant. Not all my lunches out were like that, but some were, especially on weekends.

Yesterday, my friends Melanie and Steve persuaded me to go to lunch. We went to Stevie B's, a pizza buffet. I had a coupon. The boys sat at a different table.

It occurred to me only later that we spent a good bit of time at lunch discussing insurance coverage. We also discussed the jobs market. Nobody drank beer or wine. We kept an eye on the "kids" [Mike and Colton].

Wow, how things have changed. LOL

I still enjoyed just getting out of the house and being with friends.

Michael went over and worked at the Book Fair at his old elementary school yesterday afternoon. They also had crafts activities for the kids. He spent a couple of hours supervising kids making stars and coloring them. He said one little boy put a LOT of glitter on his star. I predict that child will grow up to design clothes for Cher...

The Homecoming dance was last night at Michael's school. He didn't ask a date, despite gentle prodding from me and Mother. He went with Colton. Stayed about an hour. Texted me to come pick him up. I wish he had stayed longer, and worked up the courage to ask a girl to dance, but so be it. He hates crowds, and he said it was really hot in there. Plus, he is just shy. Oh well. Maybe next time it will work out better.