Tag Archives: Crowbones

What is Violence?

5 Replies

Weather in the Tries: Wow, I don’t unnerstand, not one little bit. I moved south, toward the warmth, and it’s colder! Yeah, okay, I only moved 3.1 miles, but still… Does Ma Nature really have to give Winter an encore? Couldn’t she do it someplace else? The lows are going to be from 28 to 35, and the highs from 43 to 57 (next Saturday, mostly right around 50). 

What is Violence?

First off, a note about the move. Probably 90% or more boxes are emptied. A stack of stuff grows to make a trip to my “shed,” and there are other things on horizontal surfaces waiting for something necessary to be unpacked before they can be put away. But it’s going, or coming, whatever.

Second off, I just had three poems accepted by the delightful people who put together the Shrub-Steppe anthology every year! 

Third off, I really give a shout-out for Charter/Spectrum. Their part of the move went very smoothly. I plugged in a tv at the new abode, grabbed my clicker, and voila, I had my program. Dan set up my router, etc. and it, too went as promised. Yeah, they irritate me somewhat, especially when I call and have to go through what seems like 30,000 computers that only understand six words (and never the same six words) to finally get to a human (they are, after all, a Communication Network!) but when I finally get a human, I’m usually very pleased with their demeanor and knowledge. And patience because a by then, I wanna do a Will Smith, even though I know it’s wrong—and I don’t know if Karma affects computers.

Okay, legal disclaimers plus: I did not watch the Oscars, and I’ve barely read more than the headlines of most of the articles about it. I did read one article. But here is my question, perhaps it is a rant? I’m not sure. I remember it was about Will Smith defending his wife’s honor (Jada Pinkett Smith) against the host of the show. Rock? Rocky? Rocky Squirrel? Sorry, I don’t remember him or his name. Will Smith I know. No, I don’t know him, but I know who he is, and enjoy the movies I’ve seen with him.

Anyhow, Rock? Rocky? Rocky Squirrel? made a thoughtless comment about Jada’s baldness due to alopecia. Will slapped him. Personally, I hope Will slapped some manners into him. Will has taken full responsibility for his actions, resigned from the Oscars, has been banned for 10 years. (Bet that just breaks his heart/snark/). Why? Because he chose, however unwise, to counter violence with more violence. Yes, you read that correctly.

I am against violence, of any sort. And I’m not necessarily condoning Will’s actions; however, I think Rock? Rocky? Rocky Squirrel? who so generously did not file charges or a complaint, should also be banned from the Oscars for 10 years. We all know Karma takes too long, so maybe that is why Will Smith slapped him. It was his verbal violence that started it. When a comedian goes for a laugh out of someone else’s pain, it’s violence. Whether the pain is physical or emotional doesn’t matter. Pain is pain and it hurts. And if Rock? Rocky? Rocky Squirrel? went after one of my family, I might have suffered a sudden onset of uncontrollable raising of my knee. (That Karma thing, you understand.) Full stop. Run credits. Close curtains. The end.

Thank you for allowing me to rant. Oh, wait. This is my blog. Thank you for reading my rant. What do you think?

Photo of the Week:

We had some strong winds the last few days. Looked out of my bedroom this morning and saw this bleached skeleton of a bird, with a couple feathers sticking to it. Of course, I grabbed my phone and braved the cold winds to shoot it. This was, mind you, BC (before coffee) so I hope I can be forgiven for sharing a semi-floating plastic bag with you. Do you see the bird?

Books: Remember, if I finish a book, I review it at Rainy Day Reads

Crowbones by Anne Bishop. Oh, yes, I finished it. Think it took me 3, maybe 4 nights. I savored it, I mostly only read it at night and then only if I’d done a fair share of unboxing stuff. It made a marvelous “carrot.” My review can be found here.

Earworm of the Week: “A Change Would Do You Good” by Sheryl Crow performed by Paul Mcdonald and The Grand Magnolias

Quotes of the Week: From Wise Sayings

“Crows will fight over a dead man’s flesh and kill each other for his eyes” —George R.R. Martin (What? You expect something soft and genteel from the man who gave us GoT?)

“We heap up around us things that we do not need as the crow makes piles of glittering pebbles.” —Laura Ingalls Wilder

“If men had wings and bore black feathers, Few of them would be clever enough to be crows.” —Henry Ward Beecher

And there we are. Another week, another blog. Auntie Lenora hopes you week was fantabulously wonderful, and the coming week will treat you even better. The Brave Dog sends more pupkisses. TTFN and see you soon. As Garrison Keillor says—”Be well, do good work, and keep in touch.”

ps. I wan’t kidding when I said Winter gets an encore:

Yes, it’s snow. Sammy doesn’t like it!
Out our office window.

We’re Moved!!!!!

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Weather in the Tries: Huh? We got weather? Here? At our new home? I’ve been too busy to notice. 😉

We’re Moved:

It went fairly smooth, operator. I’ve done easier moves but had a couple months to pack and be uber organized. This time I had 20 days. Chrysta, the manager at the new complex, called and said they had an apartment coming vacant the first of April. The lady and her sons who lived in it were gracious enough to allow us to come see it and decide. We decided. I had done a bit of long-term packing but then it was time for the hard part. I had to give notice on my place, and the manager there said they could only pro rate rent based on move in, not move out. I had to pack like crazy. I asked if I could come back and clean, and she said they’d prefer if their team cleaned and billed me. Ya know what? By the time I moved, & etc., I was too pooped to clean. I had done some, and went back and vacuumed, and that was it. Their cleaners will be worth the cost.

For those of you in the area, I used Help U Move. This is the third time I’ve used them, and I’ve never been disappointed in their work. I heartily recommend them.

Dan, my soon to be housemate, was gracious enough to pay his half of the rent this month so I could move in, and he could bring stuff over in bits and pieces. We each took a small bedroom (10×10) and are using the primary bedroom as a joint office. Well, once I get all the boxes out. 😉

I’m guessing these were made in the ’70s with what I call a California architecture. There is a large entry in the center of each building with all apartments opening on it. Gets people out of the wind and rain, snow and sleet, sun and heat, to get in and out of their units. We discovered we can use the patio, it’s closer by a few steps. And is covered by the upstairs unit’s deck. 

I think each building has 10 apartments, 1, 2, or 3 bedrooms. It’s mixed age so there are kids from newborn to second childhood in here. Lots of geeses, ducks, and I think we have a resident heron, too. The ponds are low on water but will be topped off in the next couple of weeks.

I wondered how Sammy would take to the move. On moving day proper, he spent the day at Dan’s. Once everything was moved, I brought him to his new home. He saw ‘his’ boxes, smelled the right smells and was okay with the move. I guess. (Who knows what an animal thinks?) Went for our first walk and he was fine. There are lots of dogs in here, so he got to read lots of messages and leave his own. Looks like it was a welcome wagon for dogs. He loves it here. At the other place there were lots of dogs and feral and wild animals, and he was pretty twitchy, but here, he’s fine. Oddly, he hasn’t met any of the dogs. 

Oh, there is an old and unused tennis court here. The powers that be, are considering turning it into parking. I suggested to the manager they turn half into parking and use the other half as an enclosed doggie play yard. She liked the idea and said she’d pass it on. There are 7 buildings in our complex and our owner just bought the mirror complex next door with another 7 buildings. That complex is called Heron Lake, we live in Clearwater Bay.

Okay, here you go, Photos of the Week:

Entry way. Note patio to the left with blue and red chair showing? That be us.
The entry hall. It appears a tad darker when one walks in from bright sun!
From our entry way which is about as exciting as the photo of same somewhere above this one. Obviously, this is our kitchen and box room. It’s really a dining room, and all those boxes are empty. and I’m still figuring where to put stuff which is why everything is on the counter, stove, etc.
Our living room from the entry. When Dan moves in, we’ll rearrange things, right now, I’m trying to get it livable. And all the stuff put someplace.
My 10×10 room. All my art is over at a neighbor’s until the house is more or less organized. We met when she lived at the other place, and is how I found this place.
My bathroom with my new shower curtain. Had to do something to kill the yellow in the paint. It’s a yellow-brown-beigey color. It’s a good thing I don’t wear a lot of make up, because it will never go on right in here. All the rooms are this color.
Our office. Well, at the moment, it’s my office, but as soon as I get the boxes emptied, or at least moved, Dan can start moving his desk, etc. in.
This is the view from our patio. My understanding is, The Great Invincible They will start filling the pond this month. You can’t really see, it goes quite a ways back. We have ducks, geese, and at least one resident/semi resident Great Blue Heron. He has his favorite rock he perches on away from all the buildings. I’m sure there will be more photos in days to come.

Books: Remember, if I finish a book, I review it at Rainy Day Reads

I have finally started Crowbones by Anne Bishop. It’s the latest in her The Other series. I saved it as a reward for a getting everything packed, moved, and at least a start at emptying boxes. I took it with me Saturday to start while I waited to get my Booster Boosted. Again, I have no reaction to the booster other than it is a teensy bit sore if I sleep on it. Now, if y’all will excuse me, I need to finish Crowbones before I can get back to emptying boxes. I have read several of Ms. Bishop’s books. Reviews are here.

Earworm of the Week: Speaking of boxes (not our new home) here’s an oldie, Little Boxes. For some reason I was sure, absitively posolutely sure that Peggy Lee wrote and performed this. Nope! It was Malvina Reynolds. So much for my infallible memory 😉

How’s this 7:06 video for a “Feel Good” one? Retired Mountain Rescue Search Dog Skye is awarded the PDSA Order of Merit. That is a big deal. 

Quotes of the Week: are from metropolis moving

“If your world doesn’t allow you to dream, move to one where you can.” -Billy Idol

All mankind is divided into three classes: those that are immovable, those that are movable, and those that move.” -Benjamin Franklin

“The world is round and the place which may seem like the end may also be the beginning.” -Ivy Baker Priest (This one sounds a tad like it came from the Reluctant Messiah of Illusions by Richard Bach.)

Sammy wants you to know he’s happy here and sends pupkisses to you all and thanks you for your friendship. And good wishes. He’s not sure how he would have made it without those good wishes. Me, too. I’m getting too old to move every time the windows need washing!