Life Lessons

Inspiration comes from interesting places. This post comes after flipping through this month's Real Simple (June 2010) magazine where the author paid tribute to her father's advice, even if sometimes grudgingly.

#1--Hold hands while you hash it out. It's impossible to scream at someone who's giving your hand a gentle squeeze. Good advice. I guess it's similar to the advice of our parents who would say never go to bed angry.

#2--Pay attention to anyone who wears a tool belt....then later you can care of the repair of whatever appliance yourself. I like being able to fix things. I hate having to pay for someone else to make house calls. I still have flashbacks about the Sears repairman laughing at me...

#3--or a uniform. Properly tip and thank those who serve you. Not only wait-staff (we have Beth to thank for those lessons) but hotel staff, mail carriers, sanitation workers, or others who might not be thanked ordinarily. It doesn't always have to be money. It can be a simple thank you. You might be the first to do so.

#4--You can never have enough baggies. They're miracle workers--easy to stash, and you can spot their contents at a glance. (Don't you wish you had been the one to invent Zip Loc bags?) 'Makes me think of my dad's plastivon napkins...also miracle workers. Could be used for napkins, wipes, in place of paper towels, wrung out and re-used.

#5--You can't go wrong with Clint. If you can't decide which movie to rent or watch, go with Clint Eastwood. Not a bad choice.

#6--Don't belitte the annual sack race. This refers to upholding family traditions as well as introducing new traditions. (#6 can be its own blog post...)

#7--For Pete's sake, stop worrying. Be a doer, not just a talker.

#8--Carry a hankie. Tissues disintegrate but not hankies. Restroom dryer on the fritz? Handkerchief! Want to wrap a cookie to go? Handkerchief! Dads and granddads always have hankies.

#9--No one's smarter than you. Asking questions makes you sound smart, so don't keep silent when you don't understand something.

#10--You will want kids. The author said, "My father always encouraged me to have a baby. I used to tell him that it wasn't for everyone, but he shot back, 'Iknow you, and you would love it.' True enough: Tom and I became parents recently, and that little girl is the joy of my life. I cannot wait to impart my own pearls of wisdom to her, such as the infinite uses for twist ties or the Importance of Being Honest (sound familiar?). And since she's a lot like me, she'll probably roll her eyes and grumble--and listen to every word."

The older we get, the less grumbling and eye-rolling we do.

I, too, have lofty goals

Two more days and Interim will be over. It is my goal to finish all grading as soon as possible so that won't be hanging over me.

I have set June aside to take care of some other "lofty" goals.

Take a few days to play with Hayes. He's got some new tricks I've got to see in person. Plus we've got things to do. He told me. It's a secret.

The neighborhood association will soon come knocking on our door if I don't do something to beautify our yard. Seriously.

De-hoard the garage. Plans are in the works. Really.

Work on the dreaded terminal degree. 'Got to. All that's left is the paperwork, so I've got to get on with it. Can you say job security?

Then. Sigh. Get ready to teach Summer II.

Take a few days to visit with Jackson and Lauren. Yes. She's coming to Sweet Home Alabama.

I will promise, though, that my lofty goals will also include time to read new books, visit with family and friends, sip some sweet tea or an occasional margarita, get a pedicure and maybe a massage or a facial and not let summer slip away without clocking some true down time.

I hope you'll do the same.

Is this the battle you want to fight?

One of my friends posted on Facebook that she won't buy "a drop of BP until it is all out of our Gulf." As I see it, this is a tragic accident. One that not only caused an oil spill in the Gulf but the loss of human life. But boycotting BP, as I see it, is not the solution. If we boycott BP we likely will give more of our oil business to foreign companies, most of whom despise the US.

Moreover, are we not being hypocritical? If we boycott BP, should we not also boycott electricity? There was a recent tragic mining accident in West Virginia---in fact, it was called the one of the worst, if not the worst in mining history. Coal is used to make electricity, so, ergo, we should boycott the use of electricity.

Did anyone boycott Exxon when the Valdez spilled oil due to a drunken pilot? Yet we continue to import oil that comes across the ocean in tankers.

Will we continue to depend on foreign oil and countries who loathe and despise our country and not drill on American soil, thereby becoming at least a little more independent?

I can't decide whether to stir this pot on Facebook, ignore it, or quit "peeping" at other people's thoughts of the day....Sigh. Not a good way to start my day.

Poke Salad

Those of us who are of the baby boomer generation know the song Poke Salad Annie. But have you ever thought about Poke Salad? Did you know you could actually eat poke salad?

You can boil the leaves of pokeweed (like spinach) or mix the leaves with a little onion, bacon, and eggs for a side dish. Hmmm, really? Maybe, maybe not.

If you dare, you could try some in Arab, Alabama, during the "Poke Salat" Festival, May 14-15. Yes, really, you can. You. Me? I don't think so.

Southern Living Loves Austin

More to explore in Austin?

Restaurant: Perla's Seafood and Oyster Bar on South Congress
They claim that the fresh catch is flown in daily and served under giant oaks out front.

Fashion: Blackmail Boutique on South Congress
All black rock-and-roll T-shirts to vintage cowboy boots and, of course, the little black dress.

Drinks: Ranch 616
Recommendation> "Fire in the Hole" chased by Lone Star Beer

Local Artisans: Roadhouse Relics
Austin neon artist Todd Sanders (1720 South First Street)

Local Food Traditions: "Airstream Cuisine"
According to SL, the king and queen of this movable feast are Hey Cupcake! and Torchy's Tacos.

Southern Style: Our Sunday Best

The Southern Journal editorial in this month's Southern Living magazine got me thinking. As Southern ladies we've gone through a serious transformation over the years. Some of the changes are definitely good, and some are not. First came panty hose and hot rollers, then pantsuits---in church. We've abandoned slips and girdles, given up teasing our hair, blow dry instead of sitting under a bonnet hair dryer, and no longer use clouds of hairspray to hold every strand in place.

However, I miss the ritual of planning what the girls will wear for Easter Sunday. Early on, I would make something special. When I was growing up, gloves were essential. Later, an occasional hat was still part of the ensemble. New shoes--usually patent leather--were a must. Easter baskets left by the Easter bunny and the traditional egg hunt were just what you did on Easter Sunday.

I don't miss aprons. New brides always received aprons. My grandmothers always wore them, but I rebelled. I have several cute, 1950s models, June Cleaver-style aprons in a drawer somewhere.

I have this wonderful photo of Mae Mae, Annie Mae, and Sis Rona dressed for the afternoon with their hats on and pocketbooks on their arms. I wouldn't want to dress, complete with hat and purse, for an ordinary week day, but that was just what you did as part of that generation. I don't even like purses and certainly won't wear a hat!

I don't miss bedroom slippers and matching pajamas/robes. I don't own bedroom slippers, but that was a bone of contention when I was growing up. "You'll catch your death of cold if you don't wear your slippers!" Well, here I am.

I don't know from where the saying "never wear white shoes before Easter or after Labor Day" came, but I have no problem obeying. I don't even own white shoes.

Some of the transformation in Southern style that has taken place has been for the good. But let us never lose sight of the tried-and-true. To quote Valerie Fraser Luesse [Southern Living, April 2010], "But as we boldly march forward, let us remember that 'Mama 'n' 'em' knew a thing or two about style." Let us pledge to do our part to remain true to Southern style.

And that, my friends, doesn't merely apply to what we wear.

Countdown

Two more days of classes to teach.
Final grade meetings for student teachers in their first placements tomorrow and Wednesday.
Second week of advising almost over.
Meetings missed taken care of, notified, and/or postponed.
Desk somewhat clear.
House clean...for now.
Ready to leave for Texas!