OH, Boston You're My Home

Someone else wrote this one, but I know the family will love reading it since we lived in Westford (Wesfid)   GO SOX!

 

The geographical center of Boston is in Roxbury.

Due north of the center we find the South End.

This is not to be confused with South Boston which lies directly east from the South End.

North of the South End is East Boston and southwest of East Boston is the North End.

There is no school on School Street, no court on Court Street, no dock on Dock Square, and no water on Water Street.

Back Bay Boston streets are in alphabetical awddah: Arlington, Berkeley, Clarendon, Dartmouth, etc. So are South Boston streets: A, B, C, D, etc.

If the streets are named after trees (e.g. Walnut, Chestnut, Cedar) you are on Beacon Hill. If they are named after poets, you are in Wellesley.

Massachusetts Avenue is Mass Ave.

Commonwealth Avenueis Comm Ave.

South Boston is Southie.

The South End is The South End.

East Boston is Eastie.

The North End (Mike's Pastry!) is east of the former West End. 

The West End and Scully Square are no more; a guy named Rappaport got rid of them one night.

Roxbury is The Burree.

Jamaica Plain is J.P.

There are two State Houses, two City Halls, two courthouses, and two Hancock buildings (one is very old; one is relatively new).

The colored lights on top the old Hancock tells the weatha:

"Solid blue, clear view."

"Flashing blue, clouds due."

"Solid red, rain ahead."

"Flashing red, snow instead." (except in summer, flashing red means the Red Sox game was rained out!

Most people live here all their life and still do not know what the hell is going on with this one. Route 128 South is I-95 south and it is also I-93 north.

The underground train is not a subway. It is the T, and it does not run all night

(Fah chrysakes, this ain't Noo Yawk).

Order the cold tea in China Town after 2:00 am; you will get a kettle full of beer.

Bostonians: think that it is their God-given right to cut off someone in traffic.

Bostonians: think that there are only 25 letters in the alphabet (No Rs, except in idear. Brender Reedah can attest to this.)

Bostonians: think that three straight days of 90+ temperatures is a heat wave.

Bostonians: refer to six inches of snow as a dusting.

Bostonians: always bang a left as soon as the light turns green, and oncoming traffic always expects it..

Bostonians: believe that using your turn signal is a sign of weakness.

Bostonians: think that 63 degree ocean water is warm.

Bostonians: think Rhode Island accents are annoying.

The bridge connecting Boston and Cambridge via Massachusetts Avenue is commonly known as the Harvard Bridge. When it was built, the state offered to name the bridge for the Cambridge school that could present the best claim for the honor. Harvard submitted an essay detailing its contributions to education in America, concluding that it deserved the honor of having a bridge leading into Cambridge named for the institution... MIT did a structural analysis of the bridge and found it so full of defects that they agreed that it should be named for Harvard. This is all true!

Do not pahk your cah in Hahvid Yahd. They will tow it to Meffad (Medford) or Summahville (Somerville).

Do not sleep on the Common. (Boston Common)

Do not wear orange in Southie on St. Patrick's Day.

The Sox = The Red Sox.

The Cs = The Celtics.

The Bs = The Bruins.

The Pats = The Patriots.

How to pronounce these Massachusetts cities correctly:

Worcester:  Wuhsta or Wistah.

Gloucester:  Glawsta.

Leicester:  Lesta.

Woburn:  Woobun.

Dedham:  Dead-um.

Revere:  Re-vee-ah.

Quincy:  Quinzee.

Tewksbury:  Tooks-ber-ry.

Leominster:  Lemon-sta.

Peabody:  PEE-b'dee.

Waltham:  Walth-ham.

Chatham:  Chad-dum.

Samoset:  Sam-oh-set or Sum-aw-set, but nevah Summerset!

Massachusetts Facts:

Frappes are made with ice cream - milkshakes are not.

If it is carbonated and flavored, it is tonic.

Tonic means Soda.

When we want Club Soda we ask for CLUB SODA.

When we want Tonic Water we ask for TONIC WATER.

Pop is another name for Dad.

The smallest beer is a pint.

If you want either, you head down to the corner packy.

Scrod is whatever they tell you it is, usually fish. If you paid more than $7 per pound, you got scrod.

It is not a water fountain... it is a bubblah.

It is not a trash can... it is a barrel.

It is not a hero, or a grinder... it is a sub.

It is not a shopping caht... it is a carriage.

It is not a purse... it is a pockabook.

They are not franks... they are haht dahgs.

Franks are money used in Switzahland.

Police do not drive patrol units or black and whites... they drive a crewza.

If you take the bus, you're on the looza crooza.

It is not a rubber band... it is an elastic.

It is not a traffic circle or round about... it is a rotary.

"Going to the islands" means going to Martha's Vineyard or Nantucket.

But most of us just headed to the Cape. Or maybe down Maine, Ayuh?

Ant Wrangler

We have ants as PETS.   No, not a typo, we have pet ants... an ant farm to be precise... a formicary.   It was a Christmas gift from Wendy and John, via Uncle Milton's Ant farms.   Here's his site.  http://unclemilton.com/ant_farm/illuminated_ant_farm_gel_colony/

But the ants didn't come right away.  The box told me to order them, and when the weather was okay, they shipped them in a tiny vial, about 2 dozen Harvester Ants.  

So we poked holes in their little green gelatin (This space-age green is not the white sand we had as kids,) and then as we were just about to drop them in, I read on the tube, "Place ants in fridge for 15 minutes."  Whew, just in time.  I had been imagining them crawling quickly all over before we could snap on their lid.  The cold calmed them and they were easy to drop into their new home.

They have been quite fun to watch, up to a point.  They made a few holes/tunnels right off, then just sort of settled in.  That was it.  They don't do tricks, they don't spell fun words like Some Pig or anything...  but they have been on field trips:  They were at Aubrey's for a few days, accompanying Whitney to Happy Apple pre-school.  Then they stayed at John and Wendy's for a few days. John was fascinated by them and knew to only gently turn the glass, and not tap it at all. 

I did do something at odds with the instructions included by Uncle Milton - I fed them.  He tells us that the green Jello will provide enough food and water for them, and then they'll live like 8 weeks. But that didn't sit well with me, they seemed lethargic or something.  I read about harvesters , they like seeds. So I dug a sunflower seed out of my granola and dropped that in. And I squirted in a little water, too.
They LOVED it.  They munched a while, then moved the leftover pieces to their pantry. And they were now more active!!  More tunnels started appearing.  I think they have a better chance for a long and peaceful life. 

However, today has been an adventuresome day for them - and nerve-racking for me.  These ants are quick and wily and opportunistic critters.  Today when I moved them I accidentally popped off their long lid, and before I could even blink, about 6 of them were out and exploring the Island.  I tried brushing them onto a plate, but finally figured out I could use a paper and drop them into a clean jar.  WHEW!  I cooled them in the fridge before their return.

Then just a little while ago, a pan lid dropped from where it hangs over the island, knocking their roof off once again, and ZOOM, 8 of them were out in a flash!  I yelled for Jim and we quickly gathered them up... just call us Ant wranglers, we're getting good at this. 

I started laughing as I was putting them into the fridge once again,  I was basically putting the little girls in time-out.

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Can You Hear Me Now?

Helllooo, can you hear me?  If not too well, perhaps you need your hearing checked.  I can recommend a great ENT here in E Mesa, I went there today.

And in the interest of full disclosure, I'm practically obligated to share everything I learned.

First of all, I went because I have tinnitus and it seems to be getting worse... The cicadas are always out there for me, they never sleep.  (I was calling it tin-EYE-tuss, but the doc kept saying TINN i tus  - both ways are correct.)

The next thing I learned was that it is not coming really from something in my ear, but rather my BRAIN is inventing the noise to compensate for something, like loss of hearing.

I have minor hearing loss in my left hear, which I suspected, and they kept quizzing me about hearing loud noise at some point which could have caused the damage.  Nope, not that I could name.  (I do always put the phone to my left ear, so now I wonder if THAT has something to do with it. )

In the initial exam I asked the doc what causes ear wax...  the 'wax' is dead skin cells mixed with body oils.  Some people just make more of it than others. "This is the first time all day I haven't had to clean out a patient's ears... your ears don't have much wax at all."  I didn't offer up that I clean them out with Q-tips, since she'd just before told me that the worse thing to do is use a Q-tip, it just shoves the wax further in.  I use cheapo off-brand kinds so their cotton is skimpier and they don't do the verboten shoving-of-the-wax. (I do so right after I  shampoo, it seems easiest after a hot shower... and apparently it works.)

I felt like a 7 yr old when I sat in the soundproof booth and raised my hand when I heard a beep.  Perhaps this was because the audiologist spoke in a slow and steady manner - I'm guessing she speaks to a LOT of old people and young children.

What actually got me to make this appointment was that I also have had some vertigo this past week.  On my own I rectified the situation by employing an Epley Maneuver 

 which moves the 'rocks' or crystals- octonia - in my inner ear back into their proper position.   After watching several vids online - most from doctors and hospitals- I got brave and did it.

You have to first figure out which ear is causing this, and just that part of it made me SO NAUSEOUS, I had to refrain for 30 minutes till my stomach calmed down.   But when I did the Epley, it worked and my vertigo was gone.  A week later I needed to do it again.  Amazing that it's that simple.

Next month I get to go for further tests to see more in-depth what might be causing my hearing loss. It isn't an issue for me, I still hear really well.  But I figure since I'm insured, I'll follow through.  Perhaps there is something we can learn to prevent further loss.  

For now I'll try switching my phone usage to my right hear, in case there is some connection.  And I guess I'm just going to have to live with the cicadas and their continual cacophony. 

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In Tribute to Maggie

When your daughter BEGS you for a dog, you might feel safe in saying,
      "FINE, you know I'm allergic to dogs... if you can find one I'm not allergic to, well we can get one."
Just be aware she will go onto the internet and FIND non-allergenic dogs. 

Dani was a clever 11-year-old and found them - it turned out there were at least 3 breeds to consider.  We read about them and decided Soft-Coated Wheaten Terriers were the best match for our family.

Then we called the town vet to see if there were any nearby, and there were.  So we went over and met them, to see if I would react.  Nary a sneeze or wheeze.   Ditto when we met a breeder in D.C., and he had a house-full of 3 bitches and 2 litters of cute puppies.  He was eager to sell to us, but only if we'd guarantee we'd show the dog and maybe breed her.   NOT what we were looking to do.

So instead we found a breeder in Iowa and Maggie came out via airplane right after Christmas 1999.  She was 12 weeks, I believe.  I took Danielle to the airport on the premise her dad, who kept flying to Texas, had left his laptop at the airport.  We went to the back side to pick her up where all the cargo came in.  There she was in her carrier, looking like an ewok. 

She whined the first few nights, but soon got used to our house and living in her doggie crate. 

When she was a few months old, we started letting her live in the kitchen if she was tethered to the heavy oak table, with all her toys and bowl nearby, and a linolium floor in case she had accidents.  We got her a dog bed, a huge comfy foam pad covered in corduroy - but she TORE IT UP the first day we left her there with it.... it was ALL OVER that kitchen in shredded pieces.  She didn't get another bed until about 5 years ago. 

In Massachusetts, the dog next door became her mentor. Skittles was a Golden Retriever, and she took it upon herself to teach Maggie the tricks of the doggie trade.  They found sticks to chew on, they jetted away to the nearby pond when we weren't attentive, they bobbed for treats in the kitty-litter box, they even found a dead animal to ROLL ON (I had no idea dogs liked to do that, but they do.)  And then one day Dani came home and announced, "Uh, Mom, we need to keep the toilet seat shut now."  Thanks so much, Skittles!

Maggie really liked sleeping on our bed once she no longer slept in her crate.  But she was fickle.  When our movement disturbed her, she moved to her bed on the floor. When she got warm, she moved to the tiled bathroom floor, virtually wrapping herself around the toilet.

She liked sleeping with her legs straight up in the air. She liked her squeaky chew-toys, liked pizza, bell peppers, carrots, and bones.  And ANY MEAT that was in the house, she came running the second we started unwrapping it.  She knew if you had a plate with meat on it, and if you sat on the couch to eat whilst watching a show, she sat across the floor in front of the TV, STARING at you as if she could will you to give her some.  We only fed her in her bowl and she was not allowed to be in and around the kitchen table while we ate.  But she tried, she was sure that we would not notice her as she kept sneaking in, sniffing around by our feet hoping for a morsel. "OUT" was a word she knew well, and ignored if at all possible. 

The first word she learned was OVER, when in the car.  She caught on immediately!  Then someone suggested we say OFF instead of down, when she jumped up on you or a couch or something, and she did well there.  Once I wanted to teach her to back up.  She already knew the word UP, so as I had her behind the couch and kept saying BACK UP in that confined space - which I thought was a brilliant way to teach her - she simply jumped UP onto the TOP of the couch!!  Wheatens are amazing leapers, clearly they can jump very high.  When she got excited she was a canine spring!

She did catch on, though, and could back up, turn in a circle (if you offered a treat when you asked,) roll over.  I loved her discipline - if we placed a treat on her nose, she would hold it there till allowed to eat it.  She learned to WAIT when a treat was on the floor.  She'd look down at the treat, then up at your face, then down, then up expectantly... but she did wait until you said OKAY!  And if you handed her a treat, she took it slowly and delicately from your fingers like a lady should.

(Maggie when the groomer fluffed her out like a sheep last winter)


She arffed a lot, and never on the tile.  It was ALWAYS on the carpet.  Wheatens are an arffing breed, they are usually allergic to several foods, and consistently to wheat, as ironic as that is.  When her arffing got so bad last few years and she lost a lot of weight, we finally got her Venison/Sweet Potato kibble, and that made all the difference, she started gaining weight again.

When Jamie was born and came to the house almost 11 years ago, Maggie was SO INTRIGUED by this new smelling creature, and just HAD to have a taste!!  We finally put the baby carrier up on the couch because we were tired of shooing Mags away.  But that didn't stop her, she made a mad dash into the family room, up on to the sofa, and quickly LICKED Jamie's little face, then jumped down and out of the room.   She tried this with all the babies, she just had to taste each new member of the family.
She liked to sing along when Jim played his clarinet, if she was resting and he started playing some jazz.... she would lift her head and just howwlllll along with him, it was really cute.

She was divine with the kiddos, very tolerant of their playing with her.  Jemma would attach the leash and try to lead her around, and Maggie would look at us with this pleading in her eyes, "Please don't make her do this for very long, okay?"  The last few years she got to where she'd just run upstairs or under the dining room table, she'd had enough of little kids. But it would never occur to her to nip or anything.  But she was game for a walk whenever the children asked to take her.

There is plenty more we could say in praise, she was a wonderful dog.  We'll miss her quirky personality and loyal love.   And hopefully we'll get to see her again in heaven.

Thoughts on Laundry Day

Today's been another monumental day, though it started out pretty ordinary.  Laundry, ho hum.   But I realized as I started loading the machine, I won't be doing so many white shirts any longer. Jim works from home where every day is Casual Friday.  I learned the hard way that I had to check his front pocket, but won't have to worry as often about that any longer. It's sort of an end of an era, at least here at the Reeder's.  Not quite a LAST like I wrote about previously, but feels similar.
        And truly, today as I was thinking this, I found that very thing as I loaded - he'd left a pen in his pocket once again.  (And I am always grateful when I find a pen in time, since I've had to deal with the mess when I have NOT found the pen until it was too late.)

But we did indeed have one more 'last' today.  Maggie's last day on the earth .  It was a sad decision to make, ending the life of a beloved family member.  But the whole family was behind it, everyone had seen her yesterday.  She was in pain and acting rather irrational at times.   She'd had one seizure we witnessed a month ago, and we suspect she'd had one or two more.

I'll post a little tribute to her next, I have a few great photos. Tonight we sit here a little weirded out that our Maggie won't be here with us any more.  She has 'crossed the Rainbow Bridge,'  as they say in the pet-loving world.  I would love to believe she's cavorting with other pooches on some grassy park.  It's been a while since she's felt much like playing, and she's been annoyed by children, too.  Last couple of weeks she's slept more, and often avoided any of us.  She missed when trying to jump up on the bed or chair several times the last few months. 

So Chelsea and I took her over to the vet and Dr Oliver help ease the process by giving her a sedative first.  We got to kiss and pet her while she fell asleep... and of course we cried.  Then we left. They were very sensitive to us (even the doc was teary-eyed.)  It was sad, but not drawn out.  I felt guilty, but I realized I was God for her in a sense.  I was allowed to decide when her life had run its course. She was 13.5 years old, and in a lot of pain.   Her quality of life had gone downhill big-time. 

People came to the door this afternoon and this evening, and both times I waited for the usual BARKING that always accompanied knocking and the doorbell (even when hearing a doorbell rung on TV, or when we accidentally bumped a wall- she'd go nuts.) 

I really never thought I'd miss that.... but I think I will for a while. 

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To 'Poo or not to 'Poo

Yes, an indelicate title to get your attention!

So the last time I shampooed was Tuesday Jan 29th, when I got a haircut and color at my regular salon visit.  I started the previous week shampooing with Baking soda - or going NO POO as some say. the UnPoo method is uber natural, obviously. But plenty of things are natural and not so great. ( I found some 'natural' in my dining room early this morning, a wonderful gift left by Maggie, isn't she the dear one?)
Here is one woman's experience, with photos of her hair and everything. http://thecrunchywife.com/2012/02/i-finally-went-no-poo.html

I've found several blogposts about it, enough to help me get brave and give it a try.
 A tsp of baking soda in a cup of water for the wash (No suds at all)  and the hair feels all silky and lovely!!  But then the rinse, to balance the pH, is a Tab of Apple Cider Vinegar in a cup of water.  IMMEDIATELY there is a change and the hair suddenly feels like straw.  But you rinse that out too, even use a little conditioner now and then, tho not on the scalp, just the ends.  You smell like a salad till it dries.  ( I really don't like vinegar, so I've gone with some lemon juice and only a splash of the vinegar, and I like that smell much better.)   If you read the blog and the comments, you'll learn plenty of other women's experiences.  I have friends doing this, it's not as rare as I'd thought.

  I've not been disappointed at all. My hairdresser on Tuesday didn't gasp and say, "WHAT in the world have you done to your hair?!"   In a month when I go back, I'll let her know my experiment and see what her opinion is of my hair. It doesn't seem to be hurting the hair color she's putting in there to cover my gray. And when I get REALLY brave and decide I can live with the gray (there isn't enough to make a go of it yet,)  then I'll really be natural. But hey, I don't feel old enough to be truly gray yet. I LIKE looking 27 years old!   Well 39 then  ..... okay, okay  45, but that's my final offer.

So I did find my hair is softer. I have very fine hair and still am putting mousse on it. I'm told people with really curly hair report it makes their hair softer. One just has to get brave and give it a try. I think any time we can get less chemicals on our bodies, the better. Your scalp reacts to the degreasers in shampoo by making MORE oil, so then more oil makes for oily hair. You skip all that by not using shampoo. Oh, and brushing.  Don't you remember?  Women used to brush their hair 100 times every night with natural bristle brushes, bringing the oil down onto the hair shaft, thus conditioning it!

My goal is to get to like 4 or 5 days between shampoos. I'd already 'trained' my head to go every other day, a MAJOR change from all my years of having to shampoo every morning. 
This morning as I type this, I'm trying to decide if I clean my head again before stake conference, or live with it.  I woke too early (4:15  UGH!) to even look in the mirror yet.   Not having to blow-dry and curl my hair again for another day sounds lovely.

So get brave and try it, think of all the money you'll save!

  And haven't you always wondered- If we are putting shampoo on our hair, was there a time people used REAL poo??  Makes ya wonder.

Week of Lasts

This has been a week of lasts, several things have come to an end this weekend and are definitely blog-worthy.

First off, and clearly the most important, is my hair.  Well, not so important as all that, but last Tuesday may very well have been the last time I use shampoo on my hair.  My next post explains it all.    http://nibletknows.blogspot.com/2013/02/to-poo-or-not-to-poo.html

Our biggest 'last' here revolves around Jim's callling as Stake president.  For 9 years he's been serving and today the new one takes his place. 
The word everyone has been using is Bittersweet.  And I guess it really is fitting.  There have been great blessings and perks from this.  The biggest being the opportunity to get to know SO MANY absolutely wonderful people in the stake.  More people know us than the reverse, it comes with its own version of fame.  I won't miss that part, but there are some aspects I'll miss.

I will NOT miss his being gone night after night.  Last Sunday was his last night of Temple recommend interviews.  That often had us adjusting Sunday evening family dinners.  He occasionally let his counselors take the night, but in reality there are many things only he can do as president, and certain interviews are included there. 

Last night was his last Saturday night session of stake conference.  It was a lovely evening, even if I had to get up and say a few words. I got to sit on the stand with the other wives (they asked us three to speak 5 minutes) and stare out over the whole filled hall at over 500 people.  And I know almost all those faces.... wonderful, wonderful people that we've come to love. I scanned the faces trying to determine WHO the next president was - he'd been called and he'd chosen his couselors... but we don't get to learn that until the big Reveal this morning.  I suppose I'll post this just after we get home so I can add in those names, for posterity's sake.

  Following Jim's remarks was a little hard, he gave a 15-minute farewell talk. It was very heartfelt and sincere, and not funny like he can usually do on a Saturday night.  People will long remember him showing off his shiny saxophone and clarinet, or the funny Steve Martin clip he showed from SNL, about staying out of debt.  (  http://www.hulu.com/#!watch/1389 )

Our other last this week - Elaine, Jim's sister, spent her last night here camped in our family room.  She moved out to an assisted living center.  She'd gotten too weak to climb our stairs, so she's been sleeping in our family room since September.  I took her to a place that has a CHEF on-site, and met some wonderful people.  She loved the idea she'll get tasty regular meals, especially coffee.  She hasn't ever mentioned it, but she's missed having her morning Joe.  We SO could have accomodated her had she said anything!   Anyway, she's finally in her own place, just 2 miles from where she goes to dialysis 3 times a week.  Hopefully she'll like it. 

So to celebrate all this, we are having a family get-together today with daughters and grandchildren and FOOD!!  In fact,this evening the whole nation is celebrating with a big televised extravaganza... This is the Sunday when all the big advertisers post their newest, most entertaining commercials - interspersed with some ball game.  We might turn it on to take a look. 

Ahhhh, Reeder just walked in after his last training meeting with our new Presidency.  Thomas Lowell Russon is president.  He chose Brian Ray  and James Glen Bennet as his counselors.  Perfect choice.

Having seen the workings of the stake all this last decade, and then meeting the men who selected the new president, and watching the process, I have absolutely no doubt they receive revelation and the Lord is at the head of it all.  To just KNOW things about people that no one could possibly know, to have multiple people know the same name at the same time.... it's really obvious this is the Lord's church and He is at its helm.   I'm grateful for this knowlege.



One last addition - Our Maggie had to be put to sleep the day after this change... http://nibletknows.blogspot.com/2013/02/in-tribute-to-maggie.html