Tidbits

Here is a photo of my little, cluttered work area in the kitchen.  I thought it might be interesting to show where I'm lately spending much of my time.  As you can see, my part of teddy bear collection dominates the top of the desk and over on the shelf.  I also have some rocks that Ryan painted in preschool, many family photos, a snow globe, a music box, two clocks(one isn't working) and two aliens.  The shelves contain a similar assortment of things that are precious only to me.  I still have a rose, now dried and brittle, that I plucked from my mother's casket at the cemetery after her funeral.  That might sound morbid to some people, but when I see it, I'm reminded of her.  I also have Dennis' boutonnière from our wedding.  I have Christmas ornament that JC made for me years ago and one that Ryan made in daycare.  The plaque on the wall was my Grandfather's when he was a member of the State militia in 1918.  I also have his compass hanging on the shelf.  Tidbits of my family.
 

    Let's see, what else can I ramble on about?  Since my surgery in April I've read the following:

                Yesterday, I Cried by Iyanla Vanzant                    Wake Up, I'm Fat! by Camryn Manheim
                Point of Origin by Patricia Cornwall                       The Cheshire Cat's Eye by Marcia Muller
                A Wild and Lonely Place by Marcia Muller             Cold White Fury by Beth Amos
                Trick of Light by David Hunt

    I tend to read mysteries, but I varied my selection lately.  There were a couple of other books that I started and gave up reading about half way through them.  If I book loses my interest, I stop reading.  I'll no doubt be criticized for admitting this, but I hated The Grapes of Wrath when we were forced to read it in the 10th grade.  Yes, I know it's a great piece of literature.  Yes, I know I tells the great tragedy of the Okies.  I still hated it.  Because of this, I refuse to finish a book that I'm not enjoying.  Life it too short to waste on boring stories.

    The weather is still cool, but the rain, at least for now, seems to be ending.  The skies are a battleship gray and I'm afraid that the plants in the garden have forgotten the feel of sunshine.  I still can't sit on the deck without wearing rubber pants and a heavy sweater.  I'm sure in a few weeks, we will be in the middle of another awful heat wave and I will once again whine for cooler weather.  Ya just can't please some people.

    The doctor confirmed today that my skin is breaking down under the breast.  It feels like that burning that occurs when you scratch a mosquito bite too vigorously.  She gave me some thick, goopy ointment to help the skin heal.  It's always something.  I just hope it doesn't get worse and get infected as I'm prone to do.

    Finally, I just want to mention that I sincerely hope I did not insult a reader that sent me an email this week.  Donna, this is for you.  I should clarify that I tend to be vary of people that call themselves Born Again Christians.  I have nothing against the religion, I just get nervous around anyone that acts fanatical as the BAC's I have had personal contact with.

    Here is an example:  LP, my father in law is a BAC although in the 10 years that I have known him, he has mellowed.  When Dennis and I first started dating, Ryan and I were invited over to their house for a picnic.  The get together was primarily for his fellow church people, but we went and planned on having a good time.  The picnic had about 10 families all scattered about the yard, sitting in groups chatting.  The kids were playing on the swing set or ball out in the field.  Ryan was only about 3 years old and stayed by my side most of the day.  I fixed myself a plate of food and found an empty chair is a small group of women.  The women were talking church and kids and such, eventually the conversation became directed at me.  They asked about my husband, meaning Dennis.  I told them that we were just dating.  They asked about Ryan, and I said that he was my son.  Then they did something which still amazes me to this day.  They looked at me, then at each other, and they picked up their chairs and moved to another group of people, leaving me by myself with just little Ryan.

    Evidentially, I was a sinner in their eyes and they felt a need to avoid me.  They never questioned the circumstances that had brought about my attending this picnic.  They just assumed I was some sort of harlot and that I should be avoided.  I was the outcast of the picnic from that point on as the news of my situation spread through the groups very quickly.  Very good Christians indeed.

    I worked years ago with a bible toting BAC at the bank.  She would quote Scriptures and act as wholesome as apple pie.  Then the AIDs epidemic started.  She made it a point to tell everyone that God had sent AIDs to us to scour the planet clean of homosexuals.

    I guess my biggest problem with BAC's is that many seem so intolerant of others not in their elite group.  And yet Jesus kept company with sinners, prostitutes and beggars.  The verse, "...He that is without sin among you, let him cast the first stone.." (John 8:7) comes to my mind now when I with I deal with close minded people.  Maybe they aren't reading their Bible's closely enough?  It's just something I will never understand.

    But again Donna, I apologize if I insulted you in any manner.

    Tidbits.  This entry is about tidbits.