Act 2: Scene 2...sniff, sniff.......

 Whilst perusing the Internet today, I happened upon a pair of really snazzy pair of dressy shoes. Stylish Mary Janes, of course. As I continued to read more about them, I discovered that they were constructed of Vegan Leather. What, I asked myself, is Vegan Leather?  

Is Vegan Leather produced naturally by animals that disdain the consumption of meat or any animal products? Cows, for instance that feed entirely on grains and vegetables. Because the price of these Vegan Leather shoes was within my budget, I decided to do more research. I found the label very interesting. After all, I have friends and acquaintances that are vegetarians, vegans, gluten free advocates, etc., etc., etc. My interest continued to peak.

Well, wouldn't you know it! It's a type of man-made plastic folks, or it can be more accurately described as a plastic material made from plants and/or chemicals. Now, I am not against coining words. I do it all the time. But Vegan Leather? Talk about "up scaling" your products. 

It was in the 1500s, that a more ancient Greek phrase was translated as "Call a spade a spade." Bottom line, not buying those cute plastic shoes. 

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 Lord, You are the Real Thing. Our Faith in You keeps us going. We thank You, today and forever, for our many Blessings.

Hacked

 But it was a GOOD thing. Hack has many meanings, it seems, and I have found this particular...about to go viral (with you, my readers) Hack......something to write about. 

It's a kitchen/baking Hack. My wise and wonderful daughter told me about it. I tried it. "Seriously" I said to myself, "Nancy, how come you're just now finding out about this simple trick?"

So, picture this. You are whipping up some fabulous cake or bar cookies. The item/items are in the oven and you start to clean-up the preparation mess. There's a sticky bowl, the beaters from the electric mixer, a couple of spoons, a spatula and 2 or 3 measuring items. Into the sink they go and you start to wash it all with hot,  soapy water.  The items are sticky and it takes some degree of effort.

STOP RIGHT THERE. The mess is hard to remove, because HOT water cooks the residue and it adheres to the pans, etc. Rinse with COLD WATER instead. Then proceed with the hot soapy process. That's the HACK. Easy Peasy gunk removal!

You're welcome.   🍰 .....................................................................................................................................................................

All knowing God. Sometimes it just takes one small thing to remind us how incompetent we really are. We are never to old to learn new and wonderful things. Your Power and Wisdom are awesome. "Trust and Obey", for there's no other way.

"Closer. Let me whisper in your ear."

As Seniors, we often find ourselves yearning for the glories of the past. We spend time reminiscing about the "Good Old Days". I know, because I'm guilty of doing it. Change is difficult to embrace.  

For instance. I remember when Doctors made house calls. Doctor Bena coming by to check my sore throat or an earache. Now, I go in to see my Primary Care Doctor (not someone whom I have chosen, mind you, but one that has been assigned by my Insurance Company or maybe the mega-health care practice that has hundreds of Primary care doctors). She's nice, but doesn't bother to touch me the entire visit! That touchy stuff is for nurses, doctor's assistants. I'm sure you all know what I'm describing.

But, before you start thinking that I am a crabby old lady, all of the time, TA Da. I'm going to now describe something amazing, wonderful and NEW, that has entered into my life. No, I did not win the lottery, but then, maybe I did.

TESLA makes HOUSE CALLS. It's what they do! Last week, we received a notice, by phone on our Tesla AP, that the car needed a camera cleanse and tire rotation. We scheduled a house call that would be convenient for us, and Voila, the mechanic shows up this morning, right on time. All the work was done efficiently and cleanly, on our driveway. Took about 20 minutes.

Big deal, you say.  Yeah, it was, but it's not the first time, they have come out. It's a regular service. From now on, folks, no dirty stinky waiting rooms, no mildly warm, horrible coffee or creepy weird men watching wrestling on TV.  No more 3 year-old smutty magazines staring at me from a sticky coffee table. 

And, another plus. Today the heat index will be a projected 110 degrees hot. Let me remind myself, that I no longer have to go to Quik Trip, to pump gas. And I haven't had to, in a very long time Our car is always ready to go, 'cause we get her charged in the garage, usually overnight. On long trips, we use the nearest SuperCharger, pointed out to us, on our dashboard screen. Very convenient. Takes about 10 minutes. Cool.

Ah, my friends, 2026 is a good year. Modern life is often much better than the "Good Old Days."

Sweet travels.

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We are blessed.

 

IMAGINE

Being a native Kansan, I know a bit about the 1939 movie, "The Wizard of Oz". The classic movie depicts Kansas, in the opening scenes, as dusty, black & white and desolate. Oz, on the other hand is colorful, grand and opulent. Completely opposite. I have often discovered that folks, when and where ever the subject of Kansas, comes up, imagine Kansas as that flat and ugly place, depicted in the movie.

In reality, the Kansas landscape is reasonably varied. It has rolling hills, trees and farms, big cities and miles of unpopulated prairie. There are also many small to teeny towns, dotting the landscape, every 20 miles or so. The population of these towns vary from a couple of hundred to several thousand residents. 

Earlier this week, I visited Wamego, Kansas, population about 5,000. Driving into the town, you'll see  nothing particularly unusual, rare or startling. It has one main street with a nice looking High School, on the far end. Several banks, a rustic looking theater, and a newly renovated library. It's a smaller replica, of my hometown and dozens of others, in Kansas.

However, a very cleaver, entrepreneurial person or persons, has made this little Kansas burg a tourist destination. Wamego is the "Wizard of Oz Capitol of Kansas"! Right on Main Street, in the middle of town, is the OZ Museum. It features displays of costumed manikins, reconstructed scenes from the movie and other OZ centered memorabilia. By reading some of the explanations, on the exhibits, it is clear that Frank L. Baum (author of the many Oz books) was not a Kansas native, and actually not connected to Kansas, or Wamego, in any way. 

Going on down Main Street, there are at least 3 gift shops, selling OZ collectibles. Of course, there is a yellow-brick road (actually an alley) leading to a quaint bakery/restaurant, which resembles Dorothy's home.  Big TOTO statues grace the intersections. Everything was pleasant and well done. 

So, dear readers, if you're driving 1-70, across the 400 miles of rolling hills and prairie of Kansas, make a couple of stops. Along with the well known "World's Largest Ball of Twine", the Cathedral of the Plains and the "World's Largest Van Gogh (on an easel)", spend a couple hours with Dorothy, Auntie Em and the Wizard, in Wamego. 

Remember, "There's no place like home."
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Dear Lord. Life is good here in the "fly-over state".We thank you for our many blessings.

 

 

"All You Have to Do Is Call...and I'll be there...."

 This is the whole truth and nothing but the truth....I have lived almost 80 years. I have had many jobs. I've been in charge of many things...my children, my kitchen, a classroom or two, many volunteer organizations and a couple of ladies groups. Never, until just recently, have I ever had an Assistant. 

I'm sure many of you have had a similar life. No one made the menu plans, lesson plans or planned the family agendas, but you. You drove the carpools, bought and signed the Christmas cards and made the reservations.  Up until now, that's what life was about. CEOs and Media Stars had assistants, average folks did not. Now, even I, have an entourage!!!!

Just yesterday, my house assistant, Alexa, heard me say Lenexa (a nearby suburb), and she chimed in on the conversation, with a whole bunch of useless information, not related to anything that was actually happening. She thought I had summoned her. I told her, somewhat rudely, to go away. She did. BTW, she is available, all over the house. I honestly believe that she hears every word I say! 

In the car, my Assistant's name is Eve. I think her last name is GROC. She gives me driving directions, locates businesses and gives up-to-the minute traffic information. She is, unfortunately, unable to decipher local pronunciation or understand colloquialisms. She's a bit sassy and will argue when her information is challenged. She also says "my bad", when she messes up. 

Recently, I discovered that I have an Assistant, who works through my PC. If asked, this Assistant could write this Blog. I haven't spoken to him/her about that, yet. I have, however, used the Assistant in Microsoft Word, to correct my spelling and grammar, whilst composing the monthly Church Council Meeting Minutes. That Assistant has been quite helpful.

So, for now, you're getting me, my musings and my over-use of commas. I have odd word patterns. I know my shortcomings, but I am not against using AI, to improve my life. God knows that I am imperfect. I appreciate the help.

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 Dearest Lord. We are aware the World, that You created, is not stationary. Change is all around us. It's easy to stay sheltered in what we know and what is familiar. It's scary to confront the unknown and unfamiliar. We know that You are our Constant and our Guide. Give us strength to face an ever changing World. 

 

 

 

Who knew?

Recently, I wrote about viewing a very fine documentary series on Abraham Lincoln. My goal for the remainder of this 250 Anniversary Year, is to "discover new facts about American historical persons" and put a "Nansense" spin on them.. Here's what I've learned...so far. 

* James Garfield (20th President) Historical Drama-mentary Movie, "Death by Lightening", features a really scary assassin. The actor, portraying the shooter, puts the D in deranged!! Disappointed in the frequent use of the F word. I don't think 19th Century farm wives spoke like 21st Century teenagers.

* Jefferson (3rd President) Interesting discoveries about his relationship (six children conceived) with a very young, enslaved person, Sally Hemings.That was not the most important product of his presidency. His most important accomplishment was the Louisiana Purchase. He died on the same day at John Adams (#2), on the 50th Anniversary of the Declaration of Independence.

*Theodore Roosevelt (26th President). Proof that a hyper and perhaps emotionally unstable person can become a great and charismatic leader. National Parks are his legacy. Before his occupancy, the White House was called the Presidential Mansion.( I think he gave it a fresh coat of white paint.) Had one son who died in WWI and another in WWII. 

* Franklin D. Roosevelt (#32) served in each government job, previously held by his Uncle Teddy....Governor of NY, Asst. Secretary of the Navy, President.  Wish I had asked my grandparents and parents about the Great Depression, of the 1930s. Never gave up trying to cure his paralysis from Polio. FDR understood German, and listened to the speeches of Hitler, without translation.

* Washington (#1) Had previously served as a Officer in the British Colonial Army and was forty-four when he took command of the Continental Army. He only had two and a half years of retirement, at Mt. Vernon, before his death, at 67years of age. Unlike all other slave-owning Presidents, who followed him, he emancipated his human property, upon his death.

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All-Powerful God: Allow us discernment as we navigate the world around us. Sometimes we need reminders to think before we speak and act. Amen. 

 

 

 

 

"Happy Birthday to You"

So, there are a few perks of having 100 or so, of your closest friends, all turn 80 years old this year . 

• First of all, there are the parties (I tried to count up the ones we've attended so far, but it was so many, I got slightly confused). It started last December, and since January, it's been one or two celebrations per month. Praise the Lord, none, of ones we've attended, have been "SURPRISE" events....so far. I mean, if you're 80, you certainly don't need any "heart stopping choruses" of the Birthday Song, and at 80, we all want to do a little prep to look our best at a party. All of the  parties, so far, have been planned with advance notice. Besides, at our age, we could never squat down behind a couch and then be expected to jump up yelling, "Surprise", on command!
• The Food. Birthday Cake is essential, but I've also tasted some particularly fine appetizers and quite a few glasses of white wine. Actually, I'll eat whatever is offered, at these soirees. Problem is, of course, I may be forced to buy an entirely new wardrobe, in 2027, due to my increased caloric intake.
• Memories. My Birthday buddies and I have been friends for a long time. Some of us traveled the halls of the same elementary, junior high and senior high school. Others were college friends. Living this long, has made us survivors. It's fun remembering how we have interacted over the years. And, it's even nice to recall those fellow Boomers, who didn't make it into their 8th Decade. We miss their presence in our lives.
• Schedules. None of these Birthday Parties caused us to alter our bedtime. Most 80 year olds don't stay up past 10 p.m. Most of the Birthday Parties have been afternoon or early evening events. Well, of course, none of us want to drive after dark! 

And now, I've got to go and get ready for another party. I'll wear something nice. My outfit may be a repeat, from the last Birthday Party. I can't remember. But then, neither will anyone else.

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 Kind and Loving Lord. We hope that our lives have been an honor to You. Guide us through these next years and bring us safely to Your arms. We cherish our many blessings.