Category Archives: Life

Jan21

memoir.

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the kinder wondered what happened to the big, old tree they used to play under

it was a good tree

we sat under it when it was hot in the sun and its shade kept us cool

we collected pretty leaves that floated down from it in the fall

it was on a hill and we ran by it in the winter when we were playing in the snow

pieces of it had been falling off for a very long time

we guess that maybe it was very old and very sick and it was getting too tired

 the kinder began to put its little pieces back on to decorate it

we hope that in the spring

a new sapling will come up near where the old tree used to stand so tall.

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“a tree’s wood is also its memoir.”     

-hope jahren

Jan20

unexpected.

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last night when i walked outside

i tripped over a bag left at my front door

it was filled with treats

cookies, candy, and ice cream

(the three c’s, the holy trinity of sweets, cake can be subbed in as needed)

i had no idea who it was from, no note inside, such a great surprise

then i noticed the address

guessed the delivery person had just reversed it

i could go and deliver it myself

 tried to imagine who was waiting for it

maybe

it was from a parent

who sent it to their child/college student cramming for an exam?

the victim of a recent romantic breakup needing sugar therapy?

a parent who just needed a break and a treat?

a dieter on a sweets bender?

a family waiting for dessert to go with their board game?

a hallmark movie night for friends?

was it a test from the universe

to challenge my recent healthy eating resolve?

cadbury is my favorite chocolate

 the cookies aren’t that big

 i could eat one spoon of ice cream a day

i had no idea how long it had been out there

no one had knocked

the ice cream was beginning to soften

i felt for whoever was expecting it

called the company on the bag

they said the customer had reordered when it didn’t arrive

they had already sent them out a new bag of treats

 i was welcome to eat it or throw it out

i chose a third option

i delivered this unexpected gift to my daughter

at her house in the light of day.

—

“life is always bringing unexpected gifts.”

-may sarton

Jan16

action.

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in light of the very cold weather
this is my plan of action for today.
—
“action is what will produce your desired results.”
― Rosette Mugidde Wamambe
—
illustration credit: richard scarry
Jan13

the right days.

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it’s january and i see the easter bunny

is already busy laying chocolate eggs

maybe she’s switching holidays

planning to take over groundhog day?

 

—

“we have christmas and thanksgiving, and easter,

although we’re not exactly sure we celebrate them on the right days.”

–Henry De Vere Stacpoole

Jan9

bubbles….

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 someone, (not me) celebrating by bubble-bathing 

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last night

i once again celebrated one of my favorite holidays

national bubblebath day

 actually i celebrate this most every day

i’m a huge fan of baths, less so of showers

 often so relaxing that i fall asleep in the bath

if ever my post doesn’t show up one morning

you’ll know what has happened to me.

what about you? are you team bath or team shower?

—

national bubble bath day:

Few things are as soothing and relaxing as a bubble bath. This is especially true if the bather decides to take their bubble bath to the next level using scented bath oils. Because bubbles form an insulating layer on top of the water, bubble baths also tend to stay warmer longer than ordinary baths. With that said, it’s National Bubble Bath Day, which celebrates the joys of these baths.

history of the bubble bath:

Although soap is a substance used since ancient times, it was very different from today’s soap. Baths were important to the Greeks and Romans, but most of the time oil, not soap, was used to dissolve dirt and grime on the skin. Sometimes this oil would be mixed with fire ashes, which creates a primitive soap that dissolves dirt and oils.

After the fall of the Roman Empire, Europe entered the Dark Ages and bathing fell out of fashion. That’s because suspicion and myths arose around the act of bathing, and many households only had access to primitive soaps. As bathing declined, the public became more prone to various diseases and plagues which continued until the Renaissance.

During the Renaissance, scented bath oils became extremely popular, but they were only enjoyed by the aristocracy and they didn’t produce a whole lot of bubbles. Fortunately, during this time, bathing also increased among the lower classes. However, the types of soaps used by the upper and the lower classes differed greatly. While the upper classes enjoyed high-quality scented soaps made from olive oils, the lower class had to be content with lye-based soaps made from rendered animal fats.

Bubble baths as we would know them today started with the invention of soap flakes—which was around the turn of the 20th century. By the 1930s, bubble baths were a widespread practice and the practice continued to increase in popularity from the 1940s on. Today, a variety of bubble baths are produced and enjoyed by people all over the world.

—

“you can often wash your troubles away with the right kind of bath.

throw everything you have into the tub; bubble gels, bubble oils, bubble powders, bubble gum. “

-henry beard

 

 

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image credit: bored panda

Jan7

smoot.

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The Smoot is a unit of length, defined as the height in 1958 of Oliver R. Smoot, who later became the Chairman of the American National Standard Institute (ANSI, and then the president of the International Organization for Standardization (ISO). The unit is used to measure the length of the Harvard Bridge. Originally in 1958 when Smoot was a Lambda Chi Alpha pledge at MIT (class of 1962), the bridge was measured to be 364.4 Smoots, plus or minus one ear, using Mr. Smoot himself as a ruler. At the time, Smoot was 5 feet, 7 inches,  or 170cm tall. Google Earth and Calculator both include the smoot as a unit of measurement.

The Cambridge, Mass. police department adopted the convention of using Smoots to measure the locations of accidents and incidents on the bridge. When the original markings were removed or covered over during bridge maintenance, the police had to request that someone reapply the Smoot scale markings. During a major bridge rebuild, the concrete sidewalk was permanently divided into segments one Smoot in length, as opposed to the regular division of six feet.

i’d love to have measurement named after me –

how many ‘peaches’ equal the length of a subaru?

—

“measure what can be measured, and make measurable what cannot be measured.”

-galileo galilei

 

 

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photo credits: MIT alum

Jan5

his boots were made for blockin’

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life is all about luck and timing

this story recently resurfaced and was too good not to share.

Cleveland Indians pitcher Kyle Denney won’t complain about having to dress like a cheerleader again. The white go-go boots that went with the outfit might have prevented a bullet from seriously injuring his leg.

The rookie was hit in the right calf by a shot that came through the side of the Indians’ bus in Kansas City as the team traveled to the airport after a victory over the Royals. The bullet caused only a flesh wound, probably because of the tough leather of the knee-high boot, Denney and his trainers said.

All of Cleveland’s rookies were decked out in outfits on the bus that weren’t their usual dress, part of a hazing ritual. An Oklahoma native, Denney said his teammates told him to dress as a USC cheerleader because the Sooners are ranked second behind Southern California in the Associated Press college football poll. “I’ve never been so glad to have a USC thing on.” Kevin Hallinan, senior vice president of security for the commissioner’s office, met with Kansas City police on Thursday regarding the shooting, which happened as the bus traveled along a highway ramp.

Hallinan said the shooting appeared to be random, and that police had no suspects. Team trainers removed the bullet from Denney’s leg while he was still on the bus, and he stayed overnight at a Kansas City hospital before rejoining his team.

“As soon as the skin heals, it should be fine,” Denney said at the news conference, where he wore a suit and walked without a noticeable limp. “The way he handled the situation was pretty awesome,” said outfielder Ryan Ludwick, who was sitting across the aisle from Denney and was grazed by debris. “Now I know the guy can pitch in the big leagues, ’cause he got shot by a bullet and was about as calm as can be.” Indians spokesman Bart Swain said there was momentary panic on the bus before teammates realized Denney was not seriously hurt, and Ludwick said that is when “a lot of jokes started flying.” Denney said he hopes the shooter realizes the consequences could have been much worse.”I thought it was just another prank, like a firecracker or something,” Denney said. “I didn’t know I was shot until I saw the blood.”

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“when you see someone putting on his big boots, you can be pretty sure an adventure is going to happen.”

-a.a. milne

 

 

 

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Credits: Washington Post, Andres Ybarra /AP -2004

Jan4

good words.

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sometimes finding good words is a walk in the park.

 

—

“good words are worth much, and cost little.”

-george herbert

 

 

—

gallup park in winter, ann arbor, mi, usa

 

Jan2

brim.

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on new year’s eve

i was reminded

that life

is at least half full

and often at the brim. 

—

“life’s enchanted cup sparkles near the brim.”

-lord byron

Dec27

thirty one cents. (and lots of interest due)

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many years ago

way back in first grade

i took thirty one cents

from hillman bailey III’s open desk

it was a matter of greed and opportunity

that spurred me on

i was really wanting candy from the store

 sitting right in front of me

there appeared thirty one cents

almost dropping in my lap

i would repay hillman one day

when i got a job

at least this is all what i told myself

when i bought candy at the store

with my windfall

it didn’t taste as good as i expected

 feeling lousy inside

i never told hillman

never made any attempt to make the situation right

but over the years i’ve thought about it

from time to time

 today when paying cash at the grocery store

 thirty one cents

dropped into the change slot

 left it for the next person

maybe they had a child who wanted candy

 silently said i was sorry

donated it back into the universe

on behalf of hillman bailey III

trying to make good on my word.

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“guilt: the gift that keeps on giving.”

-erma bombeck