Happy New Year: 9:20pm

December 31st, 2010....The residents of MicroWorld enjoyed the movie, "Knight & Day", while enjoying popcorn, candy, and Christmas cookies and punch. After the movie, everyone hugged and kissed and wished one another "happy new year".  Moments later, the living room was empty.  I cleaned up, locked all the doors, turned out the lights, and went to my own apartment.  My husband was in bed sleeping. It was 8:25pm.  What the????!!!!!
The bottle of champagne I bought earlier today was chilling in the refrigerator, and the assortment of smoked cheeses were waiting patiently alongside.  Sometimes you just have to make your own fun.  I lit several candles, slipped into my black satin lounge pants and cute black and white complimenting top, fixed an attractive holiday plate of goodies, opened the champagne and as soon as I have finished having "my say" about the party poopers of MicroWorld, I'll get down to the business of welcoming in the new year in proper fashion......later tomorrow I'll get philosophical and think about "resolutions" for about 30 seconds and say something irreverant before going back to sleep.  Happy New Year to all of you who really know.

Kudos to Connecticut snow warriers

I've lived in California, Colorado, Missouri, Georgia, Connecticut and Rhode Island.  I have physically been in 41 of our 50 states and several foreign countries.  I've seen amazing sights and awe-inspiring scenery that left me breathless.  But snow removable in the northeast part of this country will leave you speechless.  It's jaw dropping and yet the local residents think it's commonplace.  For your edification let me describe the view from my window yesterday on the day of "THE BLIZZARD OF 2010" (local newspaper headline).  I awoke at 6:00am and looked out my window but could see very little.  It was snowing and the 50 mile an hour winds were blowing the snow in terrifying gales.  I understood in an instant the term, "snowblind".  I fearfully wondered if my staff would even attempt to come in to work.  I expected the phone to start ringing with apologies and I imagined the wretched time I would have trying to cook and serve breakfast to 37 elderly and fussy people.  A thunderous roar snapped me out of my musings as a huge snow plow drove by.  Maybe there is hope, I whimpered.  I hurried to get dressed and unlock the building for the day.  Employees streamed in, gaily exchanging "good mornings" to each other.  It was just another day. The mail arrived on time and by afternoon, the snow had stopped.  The plows, however, continued their rounds until evening.  This morning I looked out my window at 6:00 am again.  A truck was parked in front of our building and unloading 2 snowblowers.  Three men began re-clearing our walkways.  The third man carried a five gallon bucket filled with rock salt.  By noon today the roads were quite clear and by this evening the roads were now black asphalt without of trace of snow or ice.  How could this be?  These New Englanders take their snow seriously, very seriously.  They don't wring their hands, wonder how much snow will fall and when will the storm be over.  If the snow is falling, they're plowing and they don't stop til they see black top. Wow.  My hat is off to them (figuratively speaking...after all it's 18 degrees here!)

Gone, Bingo, Gone or How Sweet It Is

The "Blizzard of 2010" is now old news and everyone in MicroWorld is a lot more interested in  "Wheel of Fortune". There was also a heated debate after supper in regards to the Thursday afternoon Bingo game.  A nasty rumor was afloat that this sacred activity had been canceled because of the "Holiday".  "Both of you are correct, I sweetly conjoled, Thursday Bingo will take place as usual, but the Saturday night session will be canceled because it's New Year's Day."  The comments hit the proverbial fan after that utterance.  Why absolutely nothing was going on around here on New Year's Day....our Holiday Open House was being held Sunday afternoon, and Saturday night Bingo is held at NIGHT!!!! How could it possibly be canceled!!! "I don't know, I hopelessly shrugged, it just is; I'm so sorry, I know how much you enjoy it."   Hee, Hee, Hee.....if they only knew it was I who pulled the plug on this weekly ritual of boredom and occasional mayhem.  Did I say Mayhem??  When someone is accused of taking more candy from the prize basket than he or she is entitled to, there is usually a loud outcry of protest.  I'm describing the scene politely, but it sometimes gets ugly....but that's for another blog.  Right now I'm gloating over the fact that I'm off the hook for Bingo and in Jackie Gleason's immortal words, "How sweet it is!" A Saturday night in the recliner, feet up, video in, and a glass of wine in hand.  Sometimes a plan comes together and those are moments to truly savor.  WHAT?!!! You think I'm a bore?  Well, you haven't seen the video or met the guests who will be visiting Saturday night......but's that's for another blog....how sweet it is....like sugar, baby

House or car?

I'm old enough to remeber when nice homes sold for $30,000. Average working-class people bought houses for $17,000.  Nowadays that is entry level for the purchase of a new vehicle.  I've been pre-shopping online for a new car.  I want something sexy, sporty, sleek---everything I'm not.  At my age it might be the last car I'll buy, so I really want to buy something special.  Today it is snowing and the media can't contain their glee....calling it the "Blizzard of 2010".  That got me thinking about my Dad, who was born and raised in the northern most tip of Maine.  He would laugh at Connecticut snow storms and tell us tall tales of taller snow.  Snow that covered the telephone wires and reached the roof tops.  Why you had to stand on your roof to shovel yourself out.  I wondered how Maine was doing today....well, one thing led to another....you know how web surfing is....and before you knew it I was real estate shopping in my Dad's hometown.  Holy Bejolies!!! hold the phone!  I can buy a 5 bedroom farm house on 2 acres, complete with a beam and post contructed barn for $25,000.  Was it a misprint?  I feverishly scanned more ads.  It was all true. Real estate with real old fashioned prices.  Cars suddenly seemed so unimportant, even frivolous.  My husband brought me back to earth with the  question, "How are you going to heat a 10 room, 2-story house that most likely is not well insulated?, and do you REALLY want to live in Maine in the winter?"  Hmmm...you know, I was thinking that the 2011 Mustang looks really great in black, but do you think I really need 8 cylinders and a 5.0 liter engine?

Escape Artist

 If you're wondering why Granny Ray has not had anything to say since December 5, it's because I hate the bruhaha of holidays (and Christmas in Microworld has more bruhaha than you can shake a stick at).  So in the interest of self-preservation, I escaped. I sent checks to all the kids and grandchildren, drove away in a blinding snowstorm, boarded a cruiseship, and sailed of to the Caribbean for two weeks.  You can call me Scoorge, a coward, a self-centered shallow person, etc., etc., but I know that you are as green as the Grinch with envy.  Who hasn't wanted to just get away from all the shopping, wrapping, decorating, cooking, school plays, church programs, obligatory office parties, and charity events?  What was it like you wonder.....while you were circling the mall parking lot for the third time hopelessly trying to find a parking spot before the stores closed, I was sitting in a hot tub on the ship's pool deck sipping a bloody Mary.  This should definitely be a new holiday tradition.  Now that I'm back home, it's snowing again....well, you can't have everything.  I'm shopping on-line for more vacations.  Escape is just a click away.  PS: Don't expect postcards...it's just too hard to hold a pen and a drink in the same hand.

plagerism rolls on and on...

I have nothing against plagerism....in fact it was my constant companion in college and I practically owe my degree to it...BUT when I found my own plagerized work featured in someone's facebook post.....hey! give credit where it's due, dude!  ok..you must have so totally identified with it that it resonated to your very core and the sound just had to be heard!!! I get it,  really I do.  Now I'll discuss something that is truly original...just the thoughts that float in and out of my semi-consciousness.  We use the phrase "spend your Life" as if it were something like money.  Think about it. Spending your life watching TV and in the end having nothing to show for your life. Or...spending your life doing something for others and having a legacy to leave behind. A life really "well spent".  Here in Micro World it is so evident.  Some people are wonderful and amazing, and others are self-centered, and sometimes just caustic...a real irritant.  I realize that "old age" has nothing to do with their personalities.  The selfish prima donas were probably selfish all their lives and the wonderful people were always super people.  It all comes down to how you 'spent' your life.  Now let Granny get preachy now and then....that's what we old timers are best at. By the way, there is a little plagerism in this, but I'll never tell where it is.  By the way, I'm heading out to sea tomorrow on another cruise and even though it is snowing as I post this, I'll be sunning under a palm tree on a white sandy beach in a couple of days.  I won't be back to Micro World until Dec. 20th.  I'm giving you fair warning:  You are on your own for the next two weeks.  Enjoy the malls, the Santas, the bell ringers outside every store, and the insessant Christmas carolling. I raise my glass of (insert drink of choice) to you...."Nibblin' on sponge cake, watching the sun bake, all those tourists covered in oil........:

Musing about a "real man"...hmmmm......

A real man is a woman's best friend.  He will never stand her up and never let her down.  He will reassure her when she feels insecure and comfort her after a bad day.  He will inspire her to do things she never thought she could do; to live without fear and forget regret.  He will enable her to express her deepest emotions and give in to her most intimate desires.  He will make sure she always feels as though she's the most beautiful woman in the room and will enable her to be the most confident, sexy, seductive, and invincible......No wait....Sorry....I'm thinking of wine.  Never mind.

Birthday Extravaganza

Each decade was memorable....30---a pair of diamond earrings.....40--a trip to Germany....50---playing sax in a blues band in a St. Louis Blues Club and everyone in the club there to celebrate my birthday......60--a Bahama cruise with my daughter, drinking rum punch and doing the Limbo....Can we top this...Wait a minute! I'm not ready to celebrate another decade!!!! This is just another birthday in between the milestones.  Why not just a wild, crazy week-end with my BFG's...Julie and Christi?......Soooooo...Christi and I talked for 3 hours on the phone today and tossed a few ideas around for the BIG BASH.  Why is money even involved?  Girls just wanna have fun, you know.  But three people coming from 3 locations involves air fare, hotels, etc.  Of course there is also the limo, the casinos, the restaurants, room service, need I go on?  We discussed the casino at Niagra Falls, the southern hospitality of Tunica, Mississippi casinos, and neighboring Memphis, Tennessee; and Boston, New York, and the 2nd largest casino in the world: Foxwoods in Connecticut.  Whoo,Whee...Shake the money tree honey, cause I'm too old to shake my money maker.   Viva Las Vegas! Why didn't we even consider it?    I had a little chat with "Captain Kirk" on Priceline and now we're dating.  What a guy!  3 nights and roundtrip airfair to the MGM Grande Tower Suites for $500 apiece...Just bring your jukebox money!!!  This B-day holiday is nearly 6 months away but with stilettos to buy and nails to do, you just can't procrastinate.  This gives me  a delicious distraction from every bell ringing group and girl scout troop who wants to come to Micro-World this month and entertain us.  Good God!! Eleven different groups are coming in the next 20 days to perform Christmas programs for us.  Bless their little hearts and bon voyage.  I'm leaving in 6 days to board a cruise ship bound for the caribbean.  You've got to take the holidays with a grain of salt and I've found out that it helps to accompany that with a little tequilla and lime.  See you in Margarita Ville! I think I spelled that wrong, but I'm sure you understand. 
Christmas was wonderful with 4 precious children anxiously waiting for Santa, a fire in the fireplace, presents to hide, goodies to bake, Christmas pagents at church, and programs at school.  Now it's octogenarians creeping with walkers, fighting at Bingo, and nodding off during the weekly movie & popcorn night.  I'm not cynical...I just need to escape during the holidays so it IS a holiday, and not just another day in the "Night of the Living Dead".  I'm not poking fun or being mean, it's just that way here in Micro-World.  So , the planning and plotting of escapes continue.......ideas welcome

mug shots wanted

I realize of course, that readers who visit my blog would enjoy seeing a picture.  It somehow satisfies human curiosity.  If you have any, send them my way.  I was browsing my selection of photos and realized they are mostly scenery, buildings, cruise ships, grandchildren and an occasional husband photo.  Oh by the way, if you send a photo, you could also include instructions on how to post it. Then stand back and enjoy the view....slide shows will be forth coming (maybe?).  Time for my oatmeal...be back soon.

Honk If You Love Jesus

The other day I went up to our local Christian book store and saw a bumper sticker that said, "HONK IF YOU LOVE JESUS".  I was in a "Hallaluiah" kind of mood since I had just come from choir practice, followed by a thunderous prayer meeting. So...I bought the sticker and put it on my bumper.  I felt a sudden rush of giddiness. So, this is what "impulse buying" is all about, I thought.  Boy, am I glad I did! What an uplifting experience followed.  On the way home I stopped at a red light at a busy intersection.  I was lost in thought about the Lord and how good He is and I didn't notice that the light had changed.  It's a good thing someone else loves Jesus because if he hadn't honked, I'd have never noticed.  It was then that I found that LOTS of people love Jesus!  The driver in the second car behind me leaned out of his window and shouted, "For the love of God! Go! Go! Go! Jesus Christ, GO!"  What an exuberant cheerleader he was for Jesus!  Then everyone started honking.  It was thrilling. I leaned out my window and started waving and smiling at all those loving people. I even honked my horn a few times to share in the love.  There must have been a man from Florida back there because I heard him yelling something about a sunny beach.  I saw another guy waving in a cute way with only his middle finger stuck up in the air.  I asked my grandson in the back seat what that meant.  He said it was probably a Hawaiian good luck sign or something.  Well, I have never met anyone from Hawaii, so I leaned out the window and gave him the good luck sign right back.  Then I noticed the light had changed. So I waved at all my "brothers and sisters" and drove on through the intersection.  I noticed that I was the only car that got through the intersection before the light changed again and I felt kind of sad that I had to leave them after all the love we had shared.  So I slowed the car down, leaned out the window and gave them all the Hawaiian good luck sign one last time as I drove away.  Praise the Lord for such wonderful folks. Just think, I would have never known so many people love Jesus if I had not bought that bumper sticker.  A little impulse buying is good for the soul!  I can't wait to get on the road again!

The Sidestep--latest political dance craze competes with DWTS

Two days ago I read (or heard...but at my age what does it matter?) that Dancing With the Stars was currently the number 1 rated TV program.  Yeah! for my side!  It happens to be my favorite program. Actually it's the ONLY program I watch on TV.  Tonight was a very special night for DWTS.  It was their 200th episode.  They planned a very special and entertaining evening, complete with Rod Stewart, clips and appearances of many past contestants, complete with awards for both serious and funny categories.  It was also "elimination" night and fans were anxiously tuned in to see who was going home.  Guess who else was having a special night?  Politicians and registered voters.
What the....?!!!  The media  felt that blurry images of people standing in line to vote should take precedance over the number 1 rated TV program!  The outrage was deafening. (At least from MY sofa).  However, I was intrigued by ABC's report that in Bridgeport, CT only 21,000 ballots were printed and sent to the polls.  This city has over 60,000 registered voters.  Huh?  Isn't CT the snooty state who boasts ( and believes) that they have the best schools in the nation?  I see some folks sadly lacking in basic math skills.  Or was it all planned to manipulate the outcome.  Conspiracy theory?...Graft?...I hope I've got you thinking.  Another question on my mind is, why were ballots being PRINTED?!!!  Isn't this the age of touch-screens, or at least basic electronics?  And doesn't CT incessantly brag about it's standing as one on the "richest states".  Again, what the ?.......Hey, CT.  If you have weath and superior education, why are you using paper ballots, and why can't your city employees figure simple math, i.e., 60,000 voters=60,000 ballots.  I smell a rat in the cheese.  Actually, I don't want this information.  I just want to know if Sarah Palin's daughter will finally stop dancing and go back to Alaska.  Also, why can't Apolo Ohno give up speed skating and come back to DWTS as an instructor?  Many women are needing to keep looking at him. 
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Saving Daylight

Who does not want to save daylight?  who doesn't want more light at the end of the day to drive home from work, have a backyard barbeque, take a walk after dinner, play with your kids out in the yard, sit on your deck or patio with a friend and a cocktail.....Are you seeing this clearly now?  OK.  Now picture doing all these things or any other end of the day activities in about two weeks.  If you can't picture it can you?  In fact you can't see at all.
Because you are in the DARK!  That's right, folks.  It will be dark at 4:30pm.  You will be driving home from work feeling tired and defeated.  You'll arrive home to cranky kids who can't ride a skateboard or a bike because its night time.  This gets better.  On the week-end when you want to sleep-in, the sunlight will be blinding you as it mercilessly streams through your bedroom windows at 6:oo AM.  Every year at this time depression settles over many people and the medical world has been quick to recognize yet another opportunity to create wealth.  Your depression is now labeled, SADD.  You have a medical condition due to sunlight deprivation.  Your doctor can treat you with a special  UV lamp and some happy pills.  Of course it will cost you.  Hey, how about this?  Why don't we "save" daylight all year long and skip the confusing "fall back, spring forward" ritual with our clocks.  At this time of the year, Mother Nature is already cutting back on available daylight.  Why do we feel that we just have to help her along.  Believe me dear Congress, SHE does not need your help. Don't you people have enough projects to involve yourself in?  Winter is depressing enough without you taking another precious hour of daylight from us.  Sorry dear reader; I got a little worked up and started ranting at our government. It happens. (one of the reasons why I never discuss politics).  You don't want to get me started.  Speaking of starting....It's time to start my work day, but do check back. I have a lot more to say about the evils of Standard Time.  

who me?

My daughter said I should have a blog, so after her brief briefing (to which I responded, "uh, uh, oh I see, ok...hmm, Ok, I get it, I see, ...and so forth), I TRIED.  I thought it all went well.  Piece of cake, I thought, as I smugly tapped out my egomanical title.  I now have 3 views.  But 3 people are not anxiously trying to find out what Granny Ray has to say.  I have been the 3 viewers trying to FIND this blog, trying to WRITE something, and trying to figure out how this works.  Who me?  Yah Baby...YOU, the techno-challenged one.  Well, I told some people I was going to start a blog and everyone of them said, "what's a blog?".  I feel like I have a leg up on them. But I work in a retirement home and most of the residents here are over 80 years old.  This is actually the second blog I've written.  The first one disappeared into cyperspace without a trace.  Too bad. It was witty and well written.  I could be lying, but you'll never know.  Just keep stopping by to check up on me. I have always had plenty to say on any given subject . (ask family members for validation).  The only off-limit subject for me is POLITICS.  It's just not worth my time to discuss illusion, delusion, fantasy, fabrication, manipulation, deceit, etc.  I'm trying to be polite.  My next mission is to figure out how to keep this blog and not lose it to the ether, like the last one.  If I can accomplish this, readers, we be jammin'