They used to be referred to as 'old age homes'...but now we're more modern and call them residential care homes....or assisted living....depending on your style of living and income.
Old age homes are a great option for a retired person or a couple who wants a low-maintenance residence that is also becomes an asset that can be gifted in a Will. Old age homes are generally located in a seniors-friendly housing complex that caters to the lifestyle of the retired person. Each apartment is a self-contained home, offering total independence and takes into consideration the health and safety requirements of senior citizens.
My friends, one by one, are all disappearing, moving to one of these establishments. Or else, the end of life has beckoned them and so they're on the other side of the grass.
I've been very privileged to be alive this long but I find it difficult to watch my shrinking world.
When I moved to Florida, I had more friends than I could handle. We had one thing in common: we were from a different area of our country and migrated to this great state...so we became extended family.
Well, my so called geography family has disappeared....but I have a real bright spot.in my life... .my son and daughter in law moved to Florida and they're half an hour away...and for that I am truly grateful.
As for me, I'll stay in my little villa for as long as I'm able.
Monday, April 20, 2015
Tuesday, April 7, 2015
Passover 2015
My grownup children decided that it's time to play....so they both retired and moved to our sunshine state....not that far from me.
I'm delighted, of course, and they both seem happy. Although Jeff is wearing a boot at the moment due to a tear playing tennis. He's also in therapy injuring his shoulder with the same atletic sport.
Jeff and Donna hosted a most wonderful seder at their home and I was really truly impressed. Donna is not Jewish but she said the blessings in Hebrew as she lit the candles, as Passover fell on Friday. The table looked splendid and her chicken soup was outrageously delicious. Her friends brought in some of the food and I was truly impressed.
Jeff surprised me. conducting in Hebrew and we all took a turn reading from the Hagadah about the Jewish freedom that happened so many years ago.
It was an eventful night and one which I will hold sacred in my heart.
I'm delighted, of course, and they both seem happy. Although Jeff is wearing a boot at the moment due to a tear playing tennis. He's also in therapy injuring his shoulder with the same atletic sport.
Jeff and Donna hosted a most wonderful seder at their home and I was really truly impressed. Donna is not Jewish but she said the blessings in Hebrew as she lit the candles, as Passover fell on Friday. The table looked splendid and her chicken soup was outrageously delicious. Her friends brought in some of the food and I was truly impressed.
Jeff surprised me. conducting in Hebrew and we all took a turn reading from the Hagadah about the Jewish freedom that happened so many years ago.
It was an eventful night and one which I will hold sacred in my heart.
Sunday, April 5, 2015
Friday, December 3, 2010
The chicken or the egg...or the lyricist or composer !!!!!
It's always bothered me about music. I love to hear songs sung...with poetic lyrics. Now country music tells a complete story in so much detail that I don't enjoy listening.
But...let's take "Over the Rainbow"...the lyrics we all know were written by Yip Harburg. His name will not go down in musical history...but the melody and words certainly will.....and the music of course was composed by Harold Arlen, a familiar name for many compositions.
When Jeff was in third grade, he was in a piano musical recital...and that was his song. Of course, his father and I thought he was sensational.
It all started a year before. We had placed an ad in our local Valley Daily News in the classifieds...wanted cheap piano for beginner.
Somebody 3 streets away read our need because she phoned within an hour after the paper was delivered.
She had in her basement an old upright player piano with bench..asking price $10.00. How fantastic for us. We hired a mover and he had a problem getting this through our front door.
The guy said to us...how about us sliding it into your garage, then into your basement.
No way was our son going to practice in a cold damp cellar. So our front doorway was goughed getting it in.
Allen painted it the same color as our living room...and padded the bench with foam rubber so that little Jeff's tush would be comfortable.
Then we hired a blind piano tuner and he removed the player guts which were all rotted...another $25.00.
The piano teacher came to the house weekly to give Jeff , Schaum lessons....simplified but to this mother's ears sounded like Carnegie Music Hall. I even took the phone off the hook so that he wouldn't be interrupted.
But back to lyricists Tim Rile wrote the words for Evita. We all know about Andrew Lloyd Webber....but not a thing about Tim.
Charles Hart wrote the lyrics for Phantom of the Opera.....another unknown .
So....I'm trying to figure out if the lyrics are as important as the music.!!!!!!!!! I kinda believe that the words are more important.
But anyway...Jeff's recital was a complete success...his family made up the audience!
But...let's take "Over the Rainbow"...the lyrics we all know were written by Yip Harburg. His name will not go down in musical history...but the melody and words certainly will.....and the music of course was composed by Harold Arlen, a familiar name for many compositions.
When Jeff was in third grade, he was in a piano musical recital...and that was his song. Of course, his father and I thought he was sensational.
It all started a year before. We had placed an ad in our local Valley Daily News in the classifieds...wanted cheap piano for beginner.
Somebody 3 streets away read our need because she phoned within an hour after the paper was delivered.
She had in her basement an old upright player piano with bench..asking price $10.00. How fantastic for us. We hired a mover and he had a problem getting this through our front door.
The guy said to us...how about us sliding it into your garage, then into your basement.
No way was our son going to practice in a cold damp cellar. So our front doorway was goughed getting it in.
Allen painted it the same color as our living room...and padded the bench with foam rubber so that little Jeff's tush would be comfortable.
Then we hired a blind piano tuner and he removed the player guts which were all rotted...another $25.00.
The piano teacher came to the house weekly to give Jeff , Schaum lessons....simplified but to this mother's ears sounded like Carnegie Music Hall. I even took the phone off the hook so that he wouldn't be interrupted.
But back to lyricists Tim Rile wrote the words for Evita. We all know about Andrew Lloyd Webber....but not a thing about Tim.
Charles Hart wrote the lyrics for Phantom of the Opera.....another unknown .
So....I'm trying to figure out if the lyrics are as important as the music.!!!!!!!!! I kinda believe that the words are more important.
But anyway...Jeff's recital was a complete success...his family made up the audience!
unday, November 2, 2014
Number Please!
Monday, May 26, 2008
My telephones
Our first phone was installed when I was 3 but I remember it.
No more running next door to make a phone call or receive one.
It was one with 2 pieces...you spoke in the speaker part and listened with the the ear phone.
When you lifted the handset, a very pleasant, non-computer voice said 'Number Please.
We had a 4-party line and if we were on too long, we heard about it from the other parties...and then we hung up fast.
Later, we got a circular number dial phone and I thought that was really 'up there'. The word high-tech did not come into being yet.
When Jeff was on vacation from college on Chanukah, he said we're all going to Sears and he was going to buy us a 'push button' phone.
Well, I was against this but I went along. That meant he had to un-install the one we had and re-install the new one.
I really thought I would never have telephone service again...but Jeff and Allen worked on this project and when they were finished, we had a dial tone and I knew we were back in business.
Now I have 3 phones...land phone, remote and a cell phone, which Jeff and Donna have charged for me every year....and every year I have tons of minutes on it ... but I forget to use it. I just don't like the quality of it....seems like a toy phone to me.
The phone I have in my bedroom is really snazzy....it's an 'answering machine' which I think is a miracle in itself.
I have 'caller ID' which interrupts me if I'm using the phone.
I also have a 'speaker phone'....and an ID feature which lets me screen calls if I want to.
It also tells me what time the caller has tried to reach me and the day.
I think that even Alexander Graham Bell would be overwhelmed by the wonderfulness that he invented.
What a sensationl invention. And one other feature, I get to use a web-cam and to see and talk to my kids every Sunday when they give me computer lessons...all the things I screwed up with during the week. Because of the phone I have high-speed internet service...all for reading ythe silly jokes.
I'm not complaining...I JUST LOVE IT1
No more running next door to make a phone call or receive one.
It was one with 2 pieces...you spoke in the speaker part and listened with the the ear phone.
When you lifted the handset, a very pleasant, non-computer voice said 'Number Please.
We had a 4-party line and if we were on too long, we heard about it from the other parties...and then we hung up fast.
Later, we got a circular number dial phone and I thought that was really 'up there'. The word high-tech did not come into being yet.
When Jeff was on vacation from college on Chanukah, he said we're all going to Sears and he was going to buy us a 'push button' phone.
Well, I was against this but I went along. That meant he had to un-install the one we had and re-install the new one.
I really thought I would never have telephone service again...but Jeff and Allen worked on this project and when they were finished, we had a dial tone and I knew we were back in business.
Now I have 3 phones...land phone, remote and a cell phone, which Jeff and Donna have charged for me every year....and every year I have tons of minutes on it ... but I forget to use it. I just don't like the quality of it....seems like a toy phone to me.
The phone I have in my bedroom is really snazzy....it's an 'answering machine' which I think is a miracle in itself.
I have 'caller ID' which interrupts me if I'm using the phone.
I also have a 'speaker phone'....and an ID feature which lets me screen calls if I want to.
It also tells me what time the caller has tried to reach me and the day.
I think that even Alexander Graham Bell would be overwhelmed by the wonderfulness that he invented.
What a sensationl invention. And one other feature, I get to use a web-cam and to see and talk to my kids every Sunday when they give me computer lessons...all the things I screwed up with during the week. Because of the phone I have high-speed internet service...all for reading ythe silly jokes.
I'm not complaining...I JUST LOVE IT1
hildag3@gmail.com... Thanks for stopping by!
Sunday, December 11, 2011
Poop
As I was discussing my walk down my cul de sac with Jeff and Donna on Skype, I happened to mention that I saw a dog answering nature's call. I explained that I stood there waiting to see if the owner would do anything about it. And sure enough, she grabbed it with a plastic bag and that was the first time I'd ever seen that done. I had witnessed pooper scoopers but I had no seen this before.
So...I asked my kids about it. Do you use regular plastic bags...is it awkward to grasp it...and all kinds of delicate facts like this.
So...Jeff gets a specially-store-bought bag for just this occassion and showed me how this is handled! While he was doing this, I snapped their pictures....because who else owns a picture...or wants to own a picture like this.
- 1Poop scooping services are popping up all over the place.[11] While this is a costlier option, it is worth the cost for some people, especially if the dog waste accumulates in a fixed place like your yard. And if there is no service in your area and you're an enterprising sort, why not start such a service?[12] It could be very rewarding!
- 2Ask dog owners you know if they know of any good "waste handling" services.
- 3Ask a local landscaper or pet-sitter if they'd consider providing this service.
- 4Look up a service in the Find-a-Scooper International Directory at http://www.apaws.org/search/adv/default.aspx.
Dealing with dog poop rebels
- 1If you come across someone who won't pick up their dog's poop right in front of you, assert yourself. Explain to them how unhygienic their action is and how it is disrespectful to the neighborhood. As well, explain that it lets down all dog owners who get smeared with the thoughtlessness of the few who don't pick up the poop and ends up with more bans on where dogs can go. There's no need to make a song and dance but do insist, and if it's a violation in your area, contact your community association or other suitable contact and report the incident.
If you come across someone who won't pick up their dog's poop right in front of you, assert yourself.
- You might say something like: "Sir/Madam, I realize that it's not the most pleasant task but as dog owners we have to show everyone else we are responsible and care about both our dogs and our neighborhood. Dog poop harbors disease and people don't want to tread in it. So, I'd really appreciate it if you'd pick up after your dog, just as I do."
- You might say something like: "Sir/Madam, I realize that it's not the most pleasant task but as dog owners we have to show everyone else we are responsible and care about both our dogs and our neighborhood. Dog poop harbors disease and people don't want to tread in it. So, I'd really appreciate it if you'd pick up after your dog, just as I do."
- 2Offer the person one of your bags. The gesture is difficult to turn down because it's polite and it's showing the other person that you expect them to behave responsibly.
- 3Set an example to others by being proud to pick up your dog's poop.[13] This shows other dog owners an example of good dog ownership and lets people know that any mess around isn't from your dog.
I'm proud that my kids are good citizens!.
9
I used to have a neighbor with a sweet massive great dane. I adored the dog, and I think the feeling was mutual. In fact, I like most dogs more than I like most people.
His dog was constantly leaving coffee table sized lumps on my lawn. I politely asked him to simply clean up after the dog. His reply: "How do you know it was my dog?"
Never mind the fact that the neighborhood was zoned against horses, the only other domesticated animal large enough to leave such a prize. I had seen him do it repeatedly.
So. The next time I saw one, I used a plastic bag, scooped it up and left it on the hood of his car in the North Carolina summer sun. When he asked me about it, I replied: "How do you know it was me?"
Of course, the dog and I were no longer able to be friends. The really irritating thing is that he stopped his dog from using my yard after that. So it was something he could have done all along, but by choosing not to was just being an asshole.
I love dogs. I have a dog. I clean up after him every single time he goes to the bathroom. The people who don't clean up after their dogs are the first ones to complain when they aren't allowed on the beach or in parks, etc. I love their dogs, but I HATE those people.
His dog was constantly leaving coffee table sized lumps on my lawn. I politely asked him to simply clean up after the dog. His reply: "How do you know it was my dog?"
Never mind the fact that the neighborhood was zoned against horses, the only other domesticated animal large enough to leave such a prize. I had seen him do it repeatedly.
So. The next time I saw one, I used a plastic bag, scooped it up and left it on the hood of his car in the North Carolina summer sun. When he asked me about it, I replied: "How do you know it was me?"
Of course, the dog and I were no longer able to be friends. The really irritating thing is that he stopped his dog from using my yard after that. So it was something he could have done all along, but by choosing not to was just being an asshole.
I love dogs. I have a dog. I clean up after him every single time he goes to the bathroom. The people who don't clean up after their dogs are the first ones to complain when they aren't allowed on the beach or in parks, etc. I love their dogs, but I HATE those people.
1 comment:
my first phone number was 49...phone was wood and hung on the wall...no dial..had a crank to signal the operator..different turns meant different things to her..
we were lucky because we only had a "party line" for just a little while then we had a "private line"..that was big stuff let me tell you
the "central office" was right down the street from where I lived..when I got old enough to be able to walk to town for the mail or an ice cream cone, I always stopped in to see the operator..the key board was in her house and i loved watching her work it...she even showed me how to "listen in" with out being detected...there could have been a law about that! lol lol
anyway, one of my first jobs was at a large company...they eventually asked me to sub on their "plug and key" switch board...wanna know if i ever listened in on any conversations between a boss and his lady (who wasn't his wife!!!)??
after 53 year together, my parents moved out of the house they had been in for 49 of those years..the last two numbers of their last phone number ended in: 49!
things do come full circle - don't they?