Stick it in your ear!

Anyone remember the 1982 movie "The Wrath of Khan"?  This Star Trek movie had a memorable scene where the villain unleashed an "ear worm" to eat the heroe's brain. The worm is placed in the ear and the viewer watches as it burrows it's way in......UGH. It still gives me the shivers to recall that part of the film..

Yes, that is Ricardo Montalban...........Khaaaaaaan!

While at the doctors office today, I had a similar experience.  No worms involved.

The nice doctor injected some steroids directly into my ear drum!  A shot in the ear!  And I am going back tomorrow for another.

It sounds worse than it was, actually, it sounded kinda bubbly and gurgly, to be descriptive.

A few weeks ago, I woke up with diminished hearing in my "good ear".  Today the ENT doc called it Sudden Sensorinal Hearing Loss.  Steroids have restored hearing in some patients, thus the shots in the ear.  The chances are not overwhelmingly good, but it is worth a shot. (Baaad pun) If the shots don't work and the hearing loss is permanent, another hearing aid is in my future.

So if you think I am ignoring you when you speak, it's only because I didn't hear you....No worms involved...

Circle

Spinning my wheels. Round and round, getting nowhere. Some days, weeks are like that.  Frustration sets in.

I try harder, still getting nowhere.

Maybe I need to concentrate on the getting there, instead of the goal...refocus on today...what to do to make today productive....

today is all I have...all anyone has. a simple concept. why do i need constant reminders of this?

Today's effort, I am pleased.

Do you live under a rock?

I don't discuss politics at my business, but this is  my PERSONAL blog. Most of you who know me know that my ideas run to the left, liberal, Democrat....but I try to think before I speak, and not swallow the party line without some serious thought. Unless you have been in a coma, you have heard of the issues facing the Wisconsin Legislature.  And, the backlash of Scott Walkers proposed fix. And some folks response to that fix.

Let me say right up front, I have no easy answers, no quick resolution to suggest. That's my point in writing this blog post.  In my opinion, this is a complicated matter and it requires a complicated resolution...Not something rushed into law, but the situation does need addressing. 

This  past week I have heard LOTS of opinions and ideas at my business, in print, and in the media.   Most of them simply down party lines, swallowing the whole thing, hook , line,  sinker.  And boy, are people passionate and polarized!  For me, IT IS NOT THAT SIMPLE.

 The polarization,  either far left or far right is dangerous, in my opinion.  Folks get caught up in the fight itself, and forget what they are fighting about.  People get angry and do rash things when they are backed into a corner. "My Way or the Highway" is rarely the answer. The need to be the winner is strong, and foolish.  We need to talk and make concessions.

That said, I am so grateful to live in a state and country where peaceful protest is allowed and encouraged.  We have the right to state our opinions, and respect the opinions of others. We have the right to disagree.

 Let's agree to disagree and then work together for the common good. 

Don't stop protesting, just remember what we are trying to accomplish.

A solution that is positive for all.

Snow day. Again.

Another blast of winter struck today. Snow and freezing rain. 8 inches in the driveway.

 A good day to stay inside and cuddle up with a blanket,

 or two.

 Or three or four or NINE!..We have been putting afghan squares together for charity. All the blocks were donated and have been crocheted together to make some warm blankies.   Of course, not all nine were put together today. This was a long term project, VERY long term.  Nine completed, one more to go.

Some of the afghans turned out wild and crazy, and quite colorful.

Some a a bit more coordinated.

 Some are really loud.

 All are cozy and warm, just ask Nick.

A Sliver of Sunshine

The sun is shining today, and there is a taste of spring in the air. No, it's not warm, and the wind is wild, but there is something about the angle of the sun coming through the kitchen window....the worst of winter must be over.

For the first time since last fall, I feel the urge to take a trip north to our cabin. The woods are lovely in the spring. Oh, but spring and the cabin are truly about two months away.

For now,I can enjoy this winter/spring sunshine on my little terrarium that I received as a Christmas gift from Lynda

At Lynda's request

I brought some moss back from the north woods in October. She made this dear little terrarium with some of it. 

A stone, and moss and sunshine.

Simple.

It's almost like being there.

Happy Valentines Day !

Stream of consciousness

Stream of consciousness, or as I call it "one thing leads to another"..all connected in my little brain:

I heard a snippet of a song and it stuck...I like the song, but it is much better played by an orchestra than by my brain. The song is In the Hall of the Mountain King. Yes,yes, you know this song, listen.....

I like the build up to the frenzied ending....I have almost no knowledge of Edward Grieg, the composer of this great piece of music, or of Peer Gynt, the play. But..this song brings a feeling of adventure and fantasy and playful danger. (Playful danger- an oxymoron?) The title "in the hall of the mountain king" brings to my mind fables of kings, beanstalks, trolls......OH, Trolls!

A few weeks ago we took a weekend trip to southern Wisconsin and we drove past a sign that said Mt. Horeb, Troll Capitol of the World. Imagine my delight! I love trolls, and so does Emili. See this post for proof.  Well, specifically Emili loves Russ Trolls....but this love has lead to a interest in all kinds of trolls. Since Em was not along on this trip, we did not stop, but plan on making it a "troll adventure" this summer in Mt. Horeb.

Emili and her mom and her brother went to see a troll related movie last night. Okay I know,,, gnomes are not trolls....or elves or brownies or leprechauns * ..........but this is stream of consciousness , remember?

So we saw Gnomeo and Juliet, in reality, some of us saw the movie, someone was busy running around the lobby, while someone else was busy chasing the first someone... Em and I saw the movie, Gael and Lauren got some exercise. Gael is not ready for movies just yet, I guess. Even though Elton John songs are featured in this animated film...I advise waiting for rental..

Oh, Elton John, I love "Your Song"

I hear this song and I am young, wearing bell bottoms, and my heart on my sleeve.

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Time to stop, I must go to work...Old, stretch pants, and my heart much more guarded.

* for the curious

Gnomes: A gnome is a legendary creature characterized by its very small size and subterranean lifestyle.

The word gnome is derived from the New Latin gnomus. It is often claimed to descend from the Greek gnosis, "knowledge", but more likely comes from genomos "earth-dweller".

Often featured in Germanic fairy tales, including those by the Brothers Grimm, the gnome often resembles a gnarled old man living deep underground who guards buried treasure.



Leprechauns: In Irish mythology, a leprechaun (Modern Irish: leipreachán) is a type of male faerie said to inhabit the island of Ireland. They are a class of "faerie folk" associated in Irish mythology and folklore, as with all faeries, with the Tuatha Dé Danann and other quasi-historical races said to have inhabited Ireland before the arrival of the Celts.


 Trolls: Are a fearsome member of a mythical anthropomorph race from Scandinavia. Their role ranges from fiendish giants – similar to the ogres of England – to a devious, more human-like folk of the wilderness, living underground in hills, caves or mounds.