It sounds great; unfortunately it is fours hours away from my (north middle TN). As appealing as it would to meet TN people, it's kind of hard to grab a cup of coffee and get to know someone when there's just enough mileage between them. All your ideas sound great, though.
The original "Changeling" was great! Do you remember an old Troy Donahue film called "My Blood Runs Cold"? That was pretty good. The original "The Fog" was scary, the original "Halloween," "Jaws," "The Haunting of Hill House," -- even the vintage Vincent Price movies (when they came out, I was a youngster scared to death by 25 cent double features on Saturday afternoons. Am I really that old?
Alfred Hitchcock's "Psycho." The stark black and white photography, the play of light and shadow, the sight of blood running down the drain -- you didn't have to see the murder and the gore to be scared out of your wits! Hitchcock was a master of the kind terror that emerges from your brain. As for more more modern films, they seem to depend too much on graphic bloody gore (just because they can do it doesn't mean they should) rather than creating a horror in the unknown shadows -- which is always more terrifying.
We are out here, keeping busy. I jumped into the fire a couple of months ago and started a new publishing business (a partnership incorporated as of May 8) which is keeping me tied up designing the product, picking out office colors and furniture and making a million of those start-up decisions. Last night was a deadline, worked late and slept in this a.m. I haven't been on the site much because of that. Looking forward to hiring freelance writers, salespeople and web designers too. But this summer I'll be traveling around and that's actually part of my job!
I am highly allergic to cigarette smoke; can't be around it at all -- not at home, in a car, or even at social gatherings. So yes, the smoking issue is a deal breaker.
I was green/naive/trusting and wounded and didn't recognize him as an alcoholic in progress. (My first marriage, his second). I educated myself, and removed my daughter and myself from an emotionally abusive relationship. At the time I didn't know myself well either, hadn't fulled formed my own identity and sense of self or self-worth. Motherhood brought out the protector in me, and a bit of education and work experience shaped new priorities, goals and dreams. I changed. He stayed in the same "dry drunk" rut until his death at the age of 53 while in still another toxic marriage. I had the gift of great professional mentors and a supportive family. When my husband sobered up, he still remained on "dry drunk" -- with all its rotten manipulative and self-destructive behavior -- for quite a few years. Even had the alcohol not been present, we would have grown apart. What I learned was not to settle, but keep my expectations and priorities high. Life's too short to stay bogged down in something that doesn't work. If your expectations and priorities are set too low, it won't work anyway. I have been single for a long time, but I would like to find love and companionship again. Yet even if I don't, I like myself, and can look in the mirror, look at myself, and know that I have done the best that I could at any given point regarding familial and professional responsibilities. I have confronted three separate challenges that could have killed my spirit (and possibly me) and overcome each one of them with hard work and a mix of internal and external healing. I fuel my creative edge constantly (and that's a gas guzzler) because to stop dreaming and to stop doing is death. Have I said too much?
Herb-roasted chicken salad with cranberries and walnuts (apples and almonds in summer), served in a piping hot popover with a cool mesclun salad, light chablis or a tall cool lemonade. The alternative is too pool our resources in the kitchen and create an Indian or Asian menu and share every dish.
Women should rule the world because they usually think things through and hold great compassion.
We would likely cook together in a roomy kitchen, then seat and serve ourselves.
In a perfect world someone like Michael Feinstein or Michael Buble or Tony Bennett would be at the piano -- hey, I can dream...
I lead a full and busy life; my adult daughter is disabled, and the result is that I often help her, or assist my granddaughters with college studies (a mentor of sorts) and my grandson with choir and his HS studies. I volunteer in my community, freelance as a writer. I believe that it is our responsibility to place our children first, raise and educate them, and give them the best possible chance for a good life and the opportunity to shoot for their dreams (that includes grandchildren, especially if their parent has any physical limitations). Too many guys want you to drop your life and be their "One" -- now. Or be your one-night stand. Instant commitment, instant gratification. For many of us women, it doesn't work that way. So stick to your guns and do what you think is right. The same applies to older children; you teach by example, and having a man overnight to your home when you are not committed that man is not necessarily the best example for your kids. For those single dads with young children, the same applies.
Hang in there. the right things will happen when the time is right.
When I had my lakeside New England cabin, I used to sit for an hour or two in the morning with a steaming cup (or two or three) of coffee or hot chocolate and watch the egrets that arrived with the sunrise to my humble piece of shoreline. A friend and I used to watch, mesmerized by the elegant birds, simply enjoying that peaceful time of morning.
Any kind of social gathering would be nice (bars are out for me, since I am allergic to cigarette smoke). But a picnic, a "meet and greet", a movie night followed by gathering at a pizza place, or some/any other function would be great. Each major city in the state should one (Chattanooga, Knoxville, Memphis, Nashville, Clarksville, Jackson).
I am forever conscious of the earth. I re-use things, recycle things into new/alternate uses. I will not buy meats that are packaged in plastic containers that are twice the needed size. I shop at thrift stores, make and alter my clothes and that of friends. I buy whole foods products when I can and use glass (washable/re-usuable) containers for those products. I don't buy styrofoam cups or plates. I made my own "shopping bags" of quilt fabric and heavier canvas and use those for my groceries instead of plastic. If I end up with plastic bags I re-use them as packing materials or for storing garden things. I don't use pesticides (I rely on earth friendly garden supplies). I use public transportation and car pool. I don't buy into consumerism and don't buy what I don't need and don't go into debt for what I buy. At my age, I don't need a lot more of anything. It may not seem that I do a lot, but every little bit helps.
I told my business partner that the day I have to carry one I quit. Cell phones are the most intrusive device made to date; I have seen more bad manners and rude behavior rooted in cell photo conversations -- I don't care if you got drunk last night, or have a new friend, or wrecked your car, and I do care how loud you speak in public places on those darned things. It's annoying. I do not wish to be available 24/7, or even 12/5. Been there done that without a cell phone. NO MORE. There is nothing in life urgent enough to be cyber-linked to the world. Sorry.
We are out there; it's just that life sometimes jumps up and keeps too busy. I am doubled up on work because I leave for a 30-day road trip in just two days. And I'll be working via cyberspace while on the road. Fortunately, northern New England is much cooler than mid-Tennessee. I'll be back in late July.
I only check my mailbox/flowerbox a few times a week -- I don't sit here and watch the screen 24/7 for activity. It is called "having a life." When I am on the road and offline, it can be a week between mail checks of any kind. I always give folks a week or two to respond. If your flower giver is so impatient that he expects instant gratification, he has issues. That behavior spells troubles in capital letters, backlit with neon. Yes, you dodged the bullet.
South America was amazing -- great people, good food, extremely affordable. The Amazon was hotter than hell but you had the rains every day and the wind as you sailed downriver with the dolphins (yes, there are dolphins in the Amazon). The Andes and Machu Picchu were extraordinary. I was stranded in Lima post-9-11 and the locals went out of their way to help us. I didn't get bitten by anything (used skin-so-soft and the Amazonian bugs didn't like it though the People using DEET products got eaten alive). Had an unsettled stomach one afternoon but never really got sick ( followed the rules about washing fruit and using bottled water only). Amazing experience!
I usually like about most places I have been to, but the South (where I have lived for 4 years) is iffy. The biggest issue is the unrelenting summer heat; I wilt when it hits 80 (so last summer's 100+ for two months was killing me) and the tornadoes are wearing thin. Give me a good ol' N'oreaster Blizzard any day! Up north, I don't even button up my coat 'til it gets down to the single digits. The only reason for heat is to be on the beach tanning and diving in and out of the surf. If you cannot be at the beach, you are literally toast (and there are no beaches where I live). The heat killed everything in my garden last season. My next move will definitely be to a cooler climate. Another summer like last year and the move will happen sooner rather than later.
After covering elections in TN all day, I was heading home when caught in the storms in Stewart County, TN -- our car died on a back road in the middle of nowhere -- the only lighting was from lightning which would flare up the skies. We hoped the winds wouldn't topple trees on us, and that the water running down the hills towards the gulley beside would flood us out. We did not polan on our car simply dying. No electrical anything. It just gave out.
But before I left home that evening I had tucked my weather radio and a flashlight in my purse...and I was well aware of what to do should various scenarios unfold. But this was not my car; unlike any vehicle I have ever owned, this one was not equipped for emergencies.
Anyone who lives in this storm-prone region needs to pay attention to safety:
Have emergency plans in place. Find out what to do in various events: rising water, high wind, tornadoes, power outages....
Have your "safe place" or "shelter" pre-determined and well stocked (water, first aid supplies, non-perishable food and a manual can opener, a supply of your meds, a hurry bag with and educated myselfchange of clothes, dry shoes, and copies of important document in water-tight bags -- the Red Cross has extensive lists of this stuff). In a car, have first aid, flares, flashlights, jumper cables, basic tools, etc.
Even if you are at home when storms strike, stayed dressed and wear closed shoes (ie sneakers or boots). You don't want to wade through debris barefoot or in sandals.
I knew that six inches of running water can move a car -- I carefully monitored the water running downhill toward us.
I new that if a tornado spawned we must abandon the car and jump in the ditch, covering our heads...
It is amazing how many people simply don't know what to do.
My friends chide me about my "disaster mode" but I have trained myself as best I can, given that weather such as this is just plain dangerous and unpredictable.
My heart goes out to those who lost loved ones, or lost such huge pieces of their lives.
Even though I quickly devised Plan A, Plan B, Plan C etc, I was lucky last night. And my friends is going to get his car properly equipped before we undertake another such trip.
winddancer1950 Forum Posts (21)
RE: Anyone interested in getting a CS group together from TN and surrounding areas???
It sounds great; unfortunately it is fours hours away from my (north middle TN). As appealing as it would to meet TN people, it's kind of hard to grab a cup of coffee and get to know someone when there's just enough mileage between them. All your ideas sound great, though.