Disclaimers

1. If I ever use the word crazy in any of my posts to describe someone or some thing, it is not to be associated with a medical condition unless I am specifically writing about a mental situation. Between my hubby and myself, we have plenty of off the wall and abnormal. For me, I don't see things in that light. I use the word "crazy" in many ways. Crazy in love. Boy, are you crazy! Which is really a compliment. What a crazy day. I give myself the freedom to use the word "crazy" without attaching hidden meaning even though sliding words under the door and go BOO! on the other side is something I do often. This is a crazy paragraph; I think you get the gist of it if you are awake and have enjoyed enough morning coffee and have read some of my previous posts.

2. When I write or speak about love I am writing about love in my life as it pertains to my relationship with my hubby and a newly discovered and growing love of myself. I am not leaving anyone out who does not live my lifestyle. I do not have a closed mind about who other people pick to love or have a relationship with for whatever reason. Since this is the first time I am in a healthy relationship and I am able to work through trials as they present themselves, I speak from that place. This is the first time I understand how to be in a long term relationship in a healthy way. Loving myself, my husband, and my fellow human beings is the love I write about and cherish.

3. As I wander around blogland and leave comments, it should be noted that I am not the voice of authority my comments would leave some to believe. I don't have all the answers; in fact, I don't have very many answers. If my comments seem to portray wisdom, that is just the way I write. It is not authority you are reading, it is experience. And that is just something that comes with age.

4. I don't own cookbooks. I get a general idea of a recipe and then have fun with it. Half our meals are experiments. Since I don't measure precisely, the recipes cannot be truly duplicated. But every variation is another way to express my culinary unrestraint. Very seldom do I share a recipe on my blog and though I show a real recipe, that is just similar to what I actually make.
Simple, down home food is what I like. Gourmet food is unappreciated; thus, a fancy restaurant is wasted on me. I have always been a cheap date!

5. This blog is no longer associated with the the domain name I held for five years:
the technobabe.com. The only url for this blog is thetechnobabe.blogspot.com.

6. Regular reading of this blog will not cause blurred vision, vertigo, or itching. It may, however, bring on tingling in the extremities, profuse sweating, and slight heart palpitations brought on by giggling and swearing when you read some posts. At least, I certainly hope for a reaction.

Since September Fourth 2006

Five years!
What can I say?
Except THANK YOU.

When I wrote the first post September fourth 2006, I had no expectations and no idea of what to write. Now blogging is part of each day, the usual routine. Nothing to take for granted or become bored with though. I have learned so much from so many people in the blogging world. I believe I am a better person today for it.

So......

THANK YOU. ALL OF YOU. From the bottom of my heart.

With much love.

Sundays In My City

Horseshoe pits are open to everyone to use. Perhaps one day we will be pitching horseshoes! This is perfect weather for a sweaty game of horseshoes.


There are batting cages in three areas of town.

Unknown Mami's blog has lots of people signed up for her Sundays In My City specialty. Seeing photos of other city interests through other bloggers' eyes is enlightening and fun. Check it out.

Online and Real Life

Did you notice the picture of hubby in the sidebar? If you didn't know, that is James, my husband. He wears his Buddy Holly glasses for me. He only wears glasses for reading. He is younger than I am so he isn't into the senile cataract age range yet. The whippersnapper.

He stopped blogging for awhile and he removed himself from my blog; but he is back. Here and on his own blog.

He comes in and out of my blog, but he is steady and sure in my life.
My real life. None of that "here and gone stuff" in real life. Only in blogland.

Rainy Days

Graphic found at graphicsgrotto.com

Does a rainy day spoil your good mood? Does the weather dictate how you feel, how you respond to others? How important is the rain or shine in your life?

Some people need special light in their home to boost their mood, to keep them stable when the sun is not shining. Not to minimize people suffering from Seasonal Affective Disorder. A day of rain and gray clouds can affect the human spirit. So much, in fact, that we may miss some joy, or a wonderful gift from nature, or from a friend. We may miss an opportunity to reach out to someone when a small gesture from us would make a huge difference in their life at just that moment.

I made up my mind I did not want to miss anything in nature. For most of my life I rode motorcycles and the biggest thrill was being close to nature. The smells and sights and sounds, no barriers. Most rides were fantastic and then someone would throw away a cigarette and it would fly out their window onto me. But it was still a thousand percent better than not riding in the wind.

I have owned a rubber poncho for years. I would step into my hiking boots, toss the poncho over my head, and walk in the rain. If someone were to ask me if I like the rain, I would have to say "not particularly"; but walking in the rain and coming home damp and worn out taught me I enjoyed the challenge. Walking in the rain provides a perfect atmosphere for thinking deep thoughts and remembering how much the rain is needed on the planet. Maybe walking in the rain was my way of giving thanks. I still have the poncho and now, living in Nebraska, I can see rain boots would be good to wear outside in the rain. Maybe Santa will get me some rain boots. But I still have some great hiking boots until or if Santa gets my message by Christmas.

Sundays In My City

Guess what is in this pond?

These!
This lovely pond is a couple short blocks from our little hippie house.

I am participating in Unknown Mami's Sundays In My City. Visit her blog and click on the many other posts linked to her blog to learn more about other cities.

Remember: Jimi Hendrix passed suddenly on September 18, 1970 while touring through London. Jimi's music plays on.

Talents and Creative Energies

Jilda pointed out some helpful ideas on her blog Transformation Information. Most times when someone speaks about talents, I zone out, as I don't think I have much of that. I hang around some talented folks here at home and online so I don't dwell on my short list.

But Jilda speaks about selling ourselves short when we say we don't have a talent. For me, I really just accepted that I was not given a special talent and I am happy that I have survived a harsh life.

But after reading her post here, I made a list of my talents and creative energies as she suggests in her post. Until now, I had only kept a Gratitude List. This is very different. Thanks, Jilda, for the inspiration. I don't play a musical instrument, I'm not a famous artist, singer, or author, but I know I have lots to contribute and share, and feel good about myself as well as having plenty of time to work on improving the gifts I have been given.

TechnoBabe's Talents and Creative Energies:

Cooking a variety of foods without recipes. I feel like I am a good cook. I enjoy being in the kitchen chopping, preparing and experimenting.

Facing things head-on and dealing with the situation and learning from my part in it.

Mixing paint colors and painting walls or furniture.

Speaking clearly and distinctly to people as I look them in the eye. Communicating.

Home decorating. I can make a tent a home if need be. Turning a house into a home is a fun challenge.

Gardening has recently been added to my list. Planting seeds and watching the tiny green heads pop out and grow into beautiful flowers is feeding my soul like listening to music.

Accepting people without trying to change them (like my kids)allows me to watch my grown kids live their own lives as they make their own mistakes and learn from them. Accepting hubby's idiosyncrasies helps me focus on the good things he does and not the little stuff that would usually bug me.

Keeping my word has always been important to me. I am careful not to make a promise unless I am sure I can deliver.

Being on time for all appointments, no matter how casual. Respecting other peoples schedules is part of that as well as honor in the commitment to meet.

Cutting hair is something I have done from a young age. In my early teens I cut hair for friends as well as my own. Hubby has an in-house personal hair stylist.

Now that I have begun my list, I will update it occasionally. This is another mooring line in my recovery work.

Watch This

Beth, at Be Yourself, Everyone Else Is Taken, posted this video. I cried for a very long time. I have very strong feelings about Iraq. Please watch this video.

Sundays In My City

The Scout Cabin in our little city.The scouts are very active here. A future post will highlight some of the scout projects around the city, permanent improvements that are monuments to the hard work they did to make them. Planters with plaques showing they were gifted by the scouts and other projects. The scouts are constantly making additions to the comfort and aesthetic pleasure we have come to appreciate in our little city.

Check out some fun places in other cities; go to Unknown Mami's blog for other people participating in Sundays In My City.

Hubby's Hard Work To Make New Garage Doors

Quite a difference, isn't it?

Hubby painted the eaves yellow to match the house trim. He told me after he had all the work done on the garage that he only did it for me because it was so hard for me to open the old doors. Awwww.



Today is the older daughter's birthday so I am sending her lots of hugs and love for her birthday.

Scrumdiddlishus

My new toy heats up quickly. In fact, it gets too hot to handle.

About a week ago I found a collector waffle iron at the local thrift store. It even has the original manual with it and sandwich grill plates as well.

I found similar waffle irons online and collectors pay $159 to $189 for one in this condition with the original manual and warranty.

After a wash and dry and seasoning of the waffle griddles, we had waffles. Plug it in, turn dial to hot, and the light goes out in about 15 minutes when it is heated to perfection. Turn it down a wee bit, pour some waffle mix into the griddle, put lid down and in four minutes you are eating golden brown waffles. We have had waffles two more times and each time they are superb. I prefer fresh strawberries on my waffles or some other fruit; whereas, hubby likes warm syrup on his waffles.

How much did we pay for our vintage toy?

$2.00.

1950 General Electric Combination Sandwich Grill and Waffle Iron.

Priceless.

Sundays In My City

Beauty surrounds us, as well as acceptance, forgiveness, laughter, music, trust. Happy Anniversary to my dear hubby. I look forward to growing old with you, well, older than we are already!





All the flowers are celebrating with hubby and me on our anniversary today.

I am participating in Sundays In My City so check on Unknown Mami's blog post for other Sunday posts of interest. Enjoy your Sunday, everyone!

Summer Seven

Joanna at The Fifty Factor invited her readers to join in her Summer Seven fun, so I am adding a post to the group. Here is my contribution to Summer Seven: Off-The-Top-Of-My-Head Summer Happenings.

1. Hubby made new garage doors and I scraped the outside walls of the the garage, then brushed them with steel brush, and painted three sides. Only one more side to paint. Whew.

What do you think of the Before and After?
















2.This summer I started using my camera more, taking photos and experimenting with angles. This has been great fun. I tried and tried to get a shot of a butterfly with open wings and it did not happen.





3. Last winter was our first winter in this little hippie house and we found several things we would want to improve before we spent another winter here. This summer we checked things off the to-do list in preparation for winter. Bring it on, we are now ready.

4. This summer I started a photo diary of the construction work at the new library site. It is one block from us and I can see the work in progress. That will be fun to show the different stages after the new library opens.

5. I have been painting the bedroom a robin's egg blue. There is one small area left to finish this morning.

6. Hubby is working on his music, re-working the songs he finished last year and composing more tunes this year. His spirit is in such a good place and his music is better than ever.

7. Knowing my vision was not clear enough, my appointment with the eye doctor clarified I have cataracts. (Get it, clarified?) I have been wearing progressive lens glasses and after the initial adjustment, I am used to the glasses and can walk in and out of the house without feeling like I am stepping down into a pit. Eventually cataract surgery will be necessary and I have resigned myself to it going well when the time comes.

Want to share some things about your summer? Visit Joanna's blog and join in the fun.

Man Statue

How does he do that??!!

Silly Mouse

I am so easily amused. At 5 AM I clicked my link to the eagles nest. And the nest was empty, the adult eagles must have been out on an early morning excursion.

There was, however, a visitor at their nest. A mouse was scurrying around, from one side of the six foot across nest to the other side, pausing here and there to move a small piece of something, or check something out.

The eagles site I speak of is the Decorah Eagles cam. Hubby and I watched this past February as eggs were laid and kept watching so we witnessed hatching in April. So we were hooked. I would check in every day and watch the three eaglets change and grow and then the fledges in June were awesome.

As I watched the little mouse playing in the empty eagles nest, it brought back memories of the exciting events in the lives of the adult eagles and their three eaglets. In July one of the eaglets was banded and a transmitter attached. There is a map on the eagle site showing how far the eaglet is already traveling. Go, fly, wondrous creatures. Find mates and be as competent as your parents were to you.

The mouse moved too quickly for me to capture a photo on my computer, so I am using this photo I found on google that looks pretty close to the one in the nest.

Sundays In My City

The sign at the main entrance to walking/biking trails.

The trails go in multiple directions.

Some parts are pretty straight. The scenery is beautiful on all sections of trails and signs are posted at various trees naming the type of tree and who gifted the tree. There are also benches strategically situated and the benches have plaques with the name of the city organization who gifted them.

Check out the other posts participating in Sundays In My City on Unknown Mami's blog. It is a great way to learn more about other cities. Enjoy your Sunday.

Some Short Cuts To Help You Have More Relaxing Time

1. Drive the car out of the garage and open all the doors. Make sure you are on the side facing the neighbor's yard. Now plug in your leaf blower and blow everything out of the car. You may need to swish a clean cloth over the dashboard. There, done. Five minutes, max.

2. Write a personal letter full of charm with information on all the happenings in your life lately. Make several copies of the letter. Add a handwritten salutation and plenty of love at the end. Sign your name or nickname and address the envelopes and they will all think you wrote to just them and you have made lots of people happy. You can do the same thing with emails. Just blind copy the rest of the recipients. Attach a picture of yourself with a smile on your face.

3. Take a bottle of window cleaner into the bathroom with you when you are going to brush your teeth. While your teeth are being cleaned you can spray the mirror and sink faucet with window cleaner and they will be shiny clean by the time your teeth are sparkling too. Clean two whatchamacallits with one thingamabob.

4. If you are cooking a main dish make enough for two more meals and freeze the meals for the next two weeks. Not only does this save you time on a busy day in the next few weeks, it saves your waistline from expanding. By putting away the next two portions for the freezer, you won't go back for second helpings.


Now you have an abundance of time for yourself. For a bubble bath. Or a bike ride. Or a walk. Oh, you could take a small recorder with you on the walk to start a list of fun things to write about in your next set of personal letters. And be sure to carry a baggie to pick up bits of trash along the walk. Everyone likes a good neighbor.

These are a few hints I pass on to you. You're welcome.

Close To Nature

When I sit on the couch and read, I have a view out the window into the back yard. I glance up and watch squirrels play and eat, birds taking turns in the home made bird bath, and rabbits munching grass. It is tranquil and serene.

Until a hawk wants lunch. I looked up to see a young rabbit running as fast as he could, across the back yard. I thought, wow, that little guy can run! Wonder who is chasing him. Just as I was saying "wonder..." a hawk flew into view, talons at the ready.

The rabbit made it to the side of the garage and zipped into the habitat James made for the rabbits. The hawk stopped short of hitting the side of the garage, flapped his wings to change course, and turned around mid air and flew to the clothesline pole, a few feet from the habitat. Can you see the hawk:? I took this picture through the window. The window was open so it was two glass windows. Darn. Not a sharp picture. The hawk waited awhile, then flew to the nearby tree.


Pandemonium broke out in the tree. Birds of all kinds were shrieking at the hawk. Flying into his face and trying to get him to leave. Squirrels were running up fairly close and trying to lure the hawk away. Maybe there were nests in that area. I walked outside with my camera and tried to get a picture.

In the meantime, it was a couple hours before the rabbit came out of the habitat. He stayed close, within a couple feet of the opening to the habitat. He ate grass and kept an eye out for the hawk. A blue jay flew over him and he panicked until he realized it was a blue jay. Whew.

This is my first experience living in a place that allows me to see nature up close. I can tell one squirrel from another and some of the rabbits too. If the hawk had swooped up his lunch right in front of me, I would have been happy for the hawk, even though I love watching the rabbits. That is the way of nature.

Sundays In My City

Check out other posts participating in Sundays In My City at Unknown Mami's blog.
Enjoy your Sunday! I know I will. Today my hubby is clean and sober eleven years, one day at a time. I took these pictures of some of the plants and trees you see on you daily bike ride, my dear hubby. These are probably already on your grateful list.

Sometimes Even Trash Looks Pretty

Can you tell I am looking at everything with a different eye? I want to take a picture of everything! The first thing I do in the morning is charge the camera battery. Used to be the first thing I did was pour a cup of coffee.

This is my morning's trash after I clipped some flowers.