The Covid

 

First of all, there was a trip to New Orleans where we listened to the best jazz music, explored the WWII Museum, walked in the bayou, searched for the Tree of Life, ate so many fabulous meals and talked our heads off.  

Next, there was a long drive home and then a sore throat and then the decision to test and then the shock and awe when the test came up positive.  More shock when told I have to stay home for a week and even more shock when I started feeling some fairly uncomfortable symptoms, the worst probably being severe muscle aches that almost brought me to tears a few times. Covid has taken me down, my friends.  Covid has taken me down.

Finally, there is a determination to get well and get moving on this year's resolutions which include:  being able to touch my toes, playing a song or two on the ukulele, evolving as a ne'er do well Buddhist, and blogging with more consistency.  These resolutions will be dealt with in due time.  Right now I'm all about the blowing of the nose and the watching of the house speaker drama on television.  That's it. 

Happy New Year, Good People!

The Surprising Facts

I'm working on a flash fiction about a young woman who goes her own way because she doesn't feel she belongs in her family.  In short, she suffers from family dysmorphia. Speaking of following our own way, I tend to stray quite a lot when writing.  I end up looking up stuff on the internet under the pretense of "research," but mostly I'm just snooping around because I enjoy unusual facts.  

Yesterday I learned about marital ages.  Did you know that in Massachusetts, if your parents approve, you can marry at age 12?  What the heck?  And in New Hampshire, 13 year old kids can marry, with parental consent.  In Mississippi, 15 year olds can marry without parental consent. 

I'm also reading up on emancipation for teenagers.  If you're married, you can easily get emancipated.  If you're not, you'll need some parental support to be emancipated. If your parents support your emancipation, you're in the clear, even at age 14. Quite a few child stars have emancipated because they want to work more hours than is legally permissible for kids.  Interesting.  Do you know anyone who has been emancipated from their family?  I do not, but I'm super curious about how it all works.

If your parents are okay with it, you can drop out of high school at age 14 in many states.  It's hard to find out #s on how many kids drop out of high school at 14, so if you get some info on that, please share.  

I'm not sure if any of this info is relevant to the story, but I'm a lifelong learner and love to find answers to questions that pop into my head.  Not good for task completion, obviously, so, after blogging, I'm going to recommit to my story writing.  On this freezing cold day, (-1 degree) with absolutely no obligations, I should be able to finish off this flash fiction about family dysmorphia.  But who knows?  I can stretch out writing tasks like nobody's business. 

 

The Banshees

 The Banshees of Inisherin has gotten great reviews.  Here on High Street, we've watched the movie and I agree with these comments:

"outstanding lead performances"

"feel-bad treat"

"dark and hopeless"

beautiful shots of coast of Ireland

"weirdly compelling"

Colin Farrell's eyebrows have gotten a lot of attention

"Kelly Condon steals every one of her scenes"

Haven't read any comments on the pub music, but I love Irish fiddle music, so that's also a plus. Brendan Gleeson wrote the pub songs and played his fiddle in the movie until he could play no more.

 Though I agree with the above comments, I can't say I enjoyed watching Banshees. It's wicked sad, but I did watch it and I am blogging about it, so do with that what you may. If you feel like it, go ahead and give it a try.

The Magic

 If you're looking for something neat to do during the holidays, I would suggest you head to Indianapolis for the Winterlights at Newfields.  Most magical light display in the history of light displays. 

Before you head to Winterlights, why don't you enjoy dinner at Tinker Street, our favorite restaurant?  We've known our favorite Tinker Street chef since he was first born.  ER has always been super creative, so it's not surprising that his meals all feature unique combinations. So DELICIOUS! 

It's fun to know someone for their entire life and get to witness their continuous becoming. 

Tinker Street.  Winterlights. A magical winter break outing for one and all. Almost one and all.  People under 21 years old can't go to Tinker Street.  Sorry, Littles.  

The Sibs

I'm at the airport.  Visited with my dad this weekend.  He had another transitional stroke last week and had a hard time pulling out of it.  When I first arrived, he was talking strangely and displaying odd behaviors.  But by today, he was talking about classic movies with me while we enjoyed our cups of coffee.

You would not believe the line for Chick-Fil-A right across the concourse from me at gate 22. The line stretches way down to gate 20.  I'm not super fond of their waffle fries, (I mean.... why waffle shape?)  so I don't get the attraction of CFA.  People could switch over to the Varsity line near gate 20 and get a chili dog or a naked dog and come away just as satisfied, I reckon. Maybe even more satisfied.  They'll never know because they all stand in that massive line that's barely moving.  This depresses me a bit. Not going to lie.

I had a late lunch, so I have skipped dinner.  Probably will regret this move, but I will get a snack mix on the flight, so I'll probably be fine.

I had some trouble down at my dad's house with a family member or two.  That's why I'm thinking of starting a club for people with bad siblings.  Any age can join and your bad sibling can be alive or deceased.  Doesn't matter.  If you have a bad sibling, you're one of us.  Sorry to all of you who have caring, fun siblings, but you are OUT of this club and you just have to deal with it. 

We're boarding soon.  I wish I hadn't packed both my sweater and my jacket in my checked baggage.  I'm feeling cold and that feeling will obviously just get worse once I'm in the air. 

See you on the other side. 

 

Formidable Foe #HandTurkeys

 I posted these on FB, but let's get them here on the blog because the blog loves when the turkeys come round.

As you probably know, our theme was Formidable Foe.  Kin took this different places and, as usual, all the turkeys were top notch as you can clearly see. 

30 Something's Formidable Foe = Self Doubt.  Do you see how the turkey is checking out their reflection in the mirror.  #Amazing

Bill featured a wild fire Formidable Foe.  You know it's been a mess out west with the smoky fires. #climatechange #ParisAgreement

Here's my Formidable Foe - WorryWart Turkey.  Outside of WWturkey you can see a helpful mantra to help us ease up on worrying. #makemerry #you'remakingitupasyougoalong #supertrue

Husbandman's Foe features the destructive powers of various birds.  I don't usually think of birds as foes, but that's what #handturkey making is all about.  #newperspectives

Eli the Nephew's #handturkey has actually been covered up and overpowered by a  parliament of owls.   #InvasionOfNightOwls #ScaryAsAllGetOut

Niece used recycled materials to help us all reconsider our use of plastics.  Plastic is not good for our planet, so #knockItOff. #please.

Jay, My Nephew In Law, created The NeverNapper.  His beautiful son Ami is a  champion napper, but a few days of no nap in Ami's past has created a lingering fear to Jay's life. #SleepIsGood #AmiIsMyHero

Eve's hand turkey also references Ami, who happens to be her grandson as well as Jay's son.  Ami has had a few formidable foes of late, but he's taken them all down with his usual aplomb.  #AmiTheConquerer

#1 Son's Formidable Foe is Devin Downer. Devin's tag line, Consuming Cheer Strengthens Me, certainly strikes all of us with terror.  #WeNeedCheer #NoRoomForDevinDownerOnHighStreet

Son in Law KHL sealed the deal with this hand turkey of addictive substances, the formidable foes we all grapple with daily.  Except for me because right now I'm sober curious.  But most other people have difficulty with addictive substances.  #NailedIt #SoberCurious #ButISTILLloveCoffeeSoMuch

So, there you have it.  Eve and I bought recycled materials at the coolest shop in the world.  When and if I ever retire I'm thinking of starting a Bloomington Recreative here in our pleasant town.  Super helpful place for creatives like us.

World Children's Day 2022

 Today is World Children's Day, created in 1954 by the UN General Assembly.  The UN celebrates many types of international days, but I think Children's Day is one of the best. It's easy to forget what's happening with kids because they don't usually write for major newspapers or appear as anchors on news shows.  WCD reminds us that kids' rights are human rights.

Thirdlanders learned about World Children's Day on Friday.  We also learned about the Convention for the Rights of the Child.  196 countries have ratified this list of rights for kids around the world.  Sadly, the US hasn't gotten around to doing that yet.  They signed it, but haven't ratified it.  What's up, US?  We're the only country that hasn't ratified.  This is embarrassing. 

The 3rdLanders made posters to spread the word about World Children's Day.  And I'm blogging about it now to do the same thing.  More info here and here. 

In the spirit of World Children's Day, try to have a little extra fun today, if you feel like it. 

ps:  This poster says kids have the right to work.  That right is listed in the convention, with the caveat that if children do work, they have a right to safety and fair payment.  Right #32.

The Thematic Narrative

 Time moves back and forth over and under in and out and right here in the right now I'm catching my breath on the blue couch. We are on Thanksgiving break.  In 2 days we'll fly to Seattle and visit with our kin.  30 Something, SonInLawMan and #1Son will be there too. I'm predicting joyfulness to come. Today we spent a bit of time texting hand turkey ideas.  We came up with a few good possibilities.  

• Turkeys studying Singularities in Nonlinear Wave Equations
• Turkey dances to their own tune
• Turkey wonders what it's all about
• Toddler Turkeys
• Turkeys with mental health issues that society needs to take seriously
• Turkeys don't tweet
• Tofurkeys
• Big Turkey in the Runoff
• Turk-Tok Turkeys
• Formidable Foe Turkeys
• Time Travel Turkeys
• Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Turkey

That's all we have so far. A solid starter list.  A good theme is obviously essential to the whole enterprise.  As BIL Bill says, "Without a thematic narrative, the hand turkey would just be an ungrounded emotional exercise."

 

The Olympics

 We have a new GAGA Ball court on the playground.  If you don't know about gaga ball you might want to learn more about it if you feel like it. 3rdLanders brag and brag about how great they are at gaga ball.  Yesterday it got on my nerves, so I told them, "I've been the last person standing over 52 times in gaga ball competitions."  

Chorus of "Really?'s"

Me:  I went to the Olympics when I was in college.  I didn't medal, but I did represent our country in the gaga ball games."

More Reallys and Wows.

One kid:  I'm not sure gaga ball was an Olympic sport back then.

Me: Well, it was.  

The Style

 2/3 done with Parent Teacher Conferences.  7 conferences tonight and stick a fork in it, I'm done.  A mom told me that her kid really likes me because I'm "so stylish."  We both laughed at how absurd that was, but I'm secretly pleased.  I've always admired stylish people. 

The Hammer

 Reading about hammer toe, I found out more about a condition called mallet toe and claw toe.  3 toe deformities with only slight distinctions between them.