-
Recent Posts
Archives
- May 2023
- April 2023
- March 2023
- February 2023
- January 2023
- December 2022
- November 2022
- October 2022
- September 2022
- July 2022
- June 2022
- April 2022
- June 2021
- March 2021
- October 2020
- July 2020
- May 2020
- April 2020
- December 2019
- July 2019
- June 2019
- May 2019
- April 2019
- January 2019
- December 2018
- November 2018
- September 2018
- August 2018
- June 2018
- May 2018
- September 2017
- August 2017
- May 2017
- April 2017
- January 2017
- October 2016
- September 2016
- August 2016
- June 2016
- May 2016
- April 2016
- March 2016
- February 2016
- January 2016
- August 2015
- May 2015
- April 2015
- March 2015
- February 2015
- January 2015
- August 2014
- June 2014
- March 2014
- February 2014
- January 2014
- December 2013
- November 2013
- September 2013
- August 2013
- July 2013
- June 2013
- May 2013
- April 2013
- February 2013
- December 2012
- October 2012
- September 2012
- August 2012
- July 2012
- June 2012
- May 2012
- April 2012
- March 2012
- February 2012
- January 2012
- December 2011
- November 2011
- October 2011
- September 2011
- August 2011
- July 2011
- June 2011
- May 2011
- April 2011
- March 2011
- February 2011
- January 2011
-
Category Archives: Are you kidding me?
Uncivilized
Because it has been so weather-glorious, I’ve waffled back and forth about whether to do the happy thing and share a bit more about blue skies, nature discoveries and snippets from The Urban Porch ™ ……or instead launch into a … Continue reading
Posted in Aging, Are you kidding me?, Perspective, Rant, senior musings, Spring, The Urban Porch ™, Uncategorized, Vent, Weird
Tagged angry americans, back in my day, born into an uncivilized world, collapse of society, disrespectful people, lack of courtesy, rude people, something's gotta change, what is wrong with people?
Leave a comment
Departures and Arrivals
The population in the vicinity of The Urban Porch is experiencing many changes. My wonderful neighbor who has been renting the upstairs of the house directly next door for the last two years just moved out last weekend, on to … Continue reading
Posted in Are you kidding me?, Birds, Daeja's Garden, Gardening, nature, Perspective, Spring, The Urban Porch, Uncategorized, Wildlife
Tagged good and bad neighbors, homemade yogurt, neighborhood changes, neighborhood vibes, relief, spring flowers, trauma from bad neighbors, using up the harvest, what to do with celeriac?
Leave a comment
Suspended Animation
The happenings surrounding the Urban Porch over the last week have been laced with a series of incidents that have been both mildly and somewhat greatly dramatic. A few days ago I was out with the dog for his final … Continue reading
Socks of the Day
“Socks of the Day” was inadvertently born during the early days of the pandemic – that time of fear and uncertainty, when the roads and neighborhoods were suddenly empty of traffic and life, people scurrying to opposite sides of the … Continue reading
Quality Control…or The Golden Ticket
This is a rather absurd story about a doggedly ridiculous quest. Some people will totally relate and others will think “Oh my God, give it up girl!” If you get as weary reading it as I was doing it, feel … Continue reading
That Old *Beep-Bop* Lady
Down a path in the woods, slipping through an opening in a fence, we would sneak onto the remotely situated 13th hole of a nearby golf course in the early evening, after the golfers had all gone home. Kicking off … Continue reading
Linden
This is a rather longish post concerning the frustration of municipal red tape and the loss of a friend, of sorts. It is one of those “shaking my head” type posts. It is also about quality of life, trying to … Continue reading
Posted in Aging, Are you kidding me?, grief, Perspective, Rant, Regrets, Spring, Uncategorized, Vent
Tagged arbor, city ordinances, Linden tree, losing a tree
4 Comments
Surfing the Pandemic
I’ve had no inclination to write for such a long time, even before the pandemic occurred. Now more than ever it has been difficult trying to align cohesive thoughts and feelings and translate them into words. I hadn’t even bothered … Continue reading
Bullies
A few months back, in the wee hours of a Sunday morning following a tribute event for a departed loved one, someone crept up onto our porch and stole one of our wicker chairs while we slept. In the scheme … Continue reading
Posted in Are you kidding me?, Rant, Uncategorized, Vent
Tagged bullies, bully, creeps, drunks, grow up, intruder, Neighbors, sad excuse for a Marine, surveillance, theft, thief
5 Comments
Second Coming
About seven months ago I posted a piece called Rage , concerning a not very good day I had been having that culminated with some crazy-ass woman chasing me into the parking lot of Kohl’s department store in an intense road … Continue reading
Sugar Shack
I’m into wild mushrooms. From spring until the end of autumn you might find me foraging around in the forest, hopefully emerging triumphant with a small basket of woodland goodies, yet other times thrilled to have found just one or … Continue reading
Hoarding
Beneath the kitchen counter there is a corner cabinet with one of those two-level turnstile type lazy-susan gizmos which is supposed to allow you to easily view and access your stored canned goods and other groceries. I hate it. I … Continue reading
Posted in Are you kidding me?, Cooking, Food, Humor, Shopping, Uncategorized
Tagged cabinet from hell, corner turntable, kitchen surprises, stocking up
6 Comments
Priorities
The Significant Other is self-employed in the construction trade and is kind of a “Mr. Fixit.” Following a recent accident which required some surgery, the involuntary down-time has kept him home for much of the week. He is pretty good … Continue reading
Don’t Steal This Book
My books are like old friends. When it comes time to purge items from the home, the most difficult items to reduce seem to be the books. Even when I know I am not going to be reading a particular … Continue reading
Posted in Are you kidding me?, Birds, Uncategorized, Wildlife
Tagged library book, old Audubon guide, used books
4 Comments
The Telekinesis of Grief
This is an odd thing that I have only shared with a very small handful of people because it is so weird. I have often wondered if anyone else has had the same experiences, and after giving it some serious … Continue reading
Posted in Are you kidding me?, Coping, Deafness, grief
Tagged electrical charge, gaining a sense, grief, hearing loss, loss, loss of sense
4 Comments
A Trail of Panties
While packing for a trip to Holland years ago, my friend suggested we should bring all of our old underwear that was on its very last legs and discard them along the way, leaving more room in the suitcase to … Continue reading
Posted in Are you kidding me?, Travel, Uncategorized
Tagged fresh start, old underwear, road trip, room in the suitcase, travel
4 Comments
Just Breathe
We were parallel parked on the left side of a one-way street, waiting to pull into traffic. This was following a rather lovely lunch on a cold, gray day, with a bit of snow just starting to spit from the … Continue reading
Double Zipper – New Year
A few brief years ago, I finally reached what I consider a small plateau of maturity – determined not to freeze through yet another Very Cold Winter, I purchased an insulated down-like coat that was long enough to cover my … Continue reading
Posted in Are you kidding me?, Humor, Uncategorized
Tagged approach to New Year, frustration, winter coats, zippers
4 Comments
What Do You Do All Day?
Since I have been officially out of the workforce, people who are working full-time or who I have not seen in a while will inevitably turn to me and say “So…….now that you are not working, what do you do … Continue reading
Posted in Aging, Are you kidding me?, Bucket List, Perspective, Uncategorized
Tagged not working, out of the work force, retirement
4 Comments
Disposable World
There’s really no reason to get rid of my Sears Kenmore CounterCraft Food Processor if it’s still working, right? All it needs is a replacement part. It gets taken out of its box a few times a year for some … Continue reading
Posted in Are you kidding me?, Humor, Rant, Shopping, Uncategorized
Tagged counter appliances, customer service, food processors, Lexan, replacement parts
12 Comments
Cicada Love
They have arrived in some areas here, the emergence/invasion of the cicadas….pockets of ringing, singing, screaming cicadas. Then you turn the corner to meet a vacuum of silence where there are none. I stood among them watched them climbing the … Continue reading
Posted in Are you kidding me?, Photography, Spring, Uncategorized
Tagged big bugs, cicada invasion, cicadas, insects, Summer, the magical cicada
2 Comments
Certain Unalienable Rights
Second section in Declaration of Independence, 1776 – “We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty, and the … Continue reading
Hacked
My credit card bill came in the mail today. Usually this particular card is only used for online purchases that use secure sites, and there were only a few purchases made this month, so the anomalies jumped out at me … Continue reading
Zucchaloupe
Speaking of compost, some strange things manifested in my garden this year. I did not plant them, but a couple of random squash vines grew unbidden amongst the tomato plants. All I can think is that they must have been … Continue reading
I Was Just Singing…..
I was driving north, singing with the car radio and wearing my new funky red & white printed giraffe pattern sunglasses. It had been a pretty good weekend, resulting in the Monday morning commute being a lot less somber than … Continue reading
Bozo
The three things that struck me right away about Williamsburg, Brooklyn: 1) almost everyone on the street seems to be in their twenties to early forties 2) there is an incredibly high proportion of pet dogs of every size and … Continue reading
Synchronicity
This morning when I walked into the kitchen, I found an orange peel lying on the counter. It had been deftly peeled off in one entire piece and was lying there in the shape of the letter “S”. Clearly it … Continue reading
Posted in Are you kidding me?, Humor, Uncategorized, Wow!
Tagged coincidence, forever children, orange peel
7 Comments
The January Bitch
Whew….. that was the crankiest of months, very glad that one is over. My rough January seemed to be set off surrounding the rescue of a spider….sort of. While having a conversation with my boss in the hallway, we simultaneously … Continue reading
Posted in Are you kidding me?, Coping, Humor, Rant, Uncategorized, Vent, Wildlife, Winter
Tagged cable TV, car delivery, Cataract Surgery, Cranky, Eye Surgery, last straw, satellite dish, Spiders
2 Comments
Pink Skid Marks
The current exposé of the Susan G. Komen Foundation following their defunding of Planned Parenthood has created a feeling of helplessness and enragement that I have not experienced in decades. While formulating in my head how to address this in … Continue reading
Posted in Are you kidding me?, Rant, Uncategorized, Vent
Tagged breast cancer, pink-washing, political madness, Seeing Pink, Susan G. Komen
7 Comments
Appliance Decor
We have a stacker washing machine in the bathroom upstairs, one of those top-loaders with the dryer that is actually attached to it and hangs over the top. It fits in a narrow area that used to be a closet. … Continue reading
Posted in Are you kidding me?, Coping, Humor, Uncategorized, Winter
Tagged Appliances, broken dryer, broken washer, frustration, home delivery, laundry, snowstorm, stacking washer, Victorian house, washing machines
2 Comments
Who Are These People?
We still have a land line. It seems they are becoming obsolete, but there is one attached to our cable television and internet access, a package deal. We gave up our old phone number in order to get this “great deal”. I … Continue reading
Posted in Are you kidding me?, Hearing Impaired, Uncategorized, Vent
Tagged collection agencies, land line, old phone numbers, Wrong number
3 Comments
The Pack Rat Project – Day 3
Day Three was a biggie. I tackled the bathroom. This included four drawers in the vanity and two medicine cabinets (essentially his and hers) and also the area around the stacker washer and dryer. Day Three is where I hit a bit of a … Continue reading
Posted in Are you kidding me?, Humor, Uncategorized
Tagged cleaning up, clutter, de-cluttering, hoarding, pack rat, Stuff, too much stuff
6 Comments
Nesting (or Addressing the Pack Rat)
Suddenly a strange, panicky feeling has invaded my being. Like the birds gathering to fly south or the squirrels frantically running around storing nuts for the winter, a great force of nature seems to be overtaking every fiber, readying the nest for winter. Part of this could … Continue reading
Posted in Are you kidding me?, Humor, Uncategorized
Tagged clutter, collecting, nesting, pack rat, Stuff, too much stuff
5 Comments
Dang!
Bad news today for all you connoisseurs of that little armored road possum of the south, the armadillo. According to the latest findings, something like fifteen percent of armadillos carry leprosy, and one-third of the cases of the disease in this country appear to be caused … Continue reading
Posted in Are you kidding me?, Humor, Uncategorized
2 Comments
Hydra
The tree in the backyard on the property line between us and our neighbor towers over all the others and has some serious girth to it. It looks kind of like a locust but not quite a locust. All summer … Continue reading
Posted in Are you kidding me?, Gardening, Humor, Uncategorized
Tagged ailanthus, Ailanthus altissima, invasive weed, nuisance, Tree of Heaven
3 Comments
daeja's view 