Rental Family

I wrote the following post last November. I love going to the movies but the overwhelming selection of horror movies makes it hard to find one I want to watch. I went to Disclosure when it first came out. It was good. We went to the IMAX which I don't recommend. It was loud. 

I fell in love with Brendan Frazier watching the movie "Rental Family". I decided my sister, brother and I would eat movie popcorn for Thanksgiving. 

I could have cooked but the sub sandwiches we ate were pretty good and easy to clean up. My well is acting poorly, and we have low water pressure. Monday, I will hopefully get it fixed.. I hate for people to have to work on Thanksgiving week. There were very few people at the theatre and the young folks working there were quite chipper. So maybe we were supporting their jobs. 

Rental family combined several things I enjoy; .travel, Japan, another culture and a feel good story.  On Netflix I have watched several foreign television series. My favorite was "Shitsel". I watched some of the Japanese series "Midnight Diner". I pay a monthly charge for Netflix but rarely watch it. 

Although Rental Family is being released in Canada and the United States first. It is an international film with a staggered release in many countries.. There was a beautiful contrast in scenery showing rural areas of Japan and the crowded life of Tokyo. Brendan Frazier plays an everyman in that his character has followed his dream of being an actor and his success is primarily that he supports himself. 

In Japan they have agencies where people can rent people to pose as family members or friends depending on what circumstances. Actually, it sounds reasonable to me. My childhood friend's younger sister is sort of a paid friend for my sister who has had a stroke. .The difference is Sarah would probably come visit my sister whether she was being paid or not.

My sister has issues with me cleaning her things up. She feels I throw away her things, steal her things and snoop into her business. So I am limited to washing loads of clothes, washing dishes (I have to get her approval to put some containers in the garbage or take for recycling), mopping floors, etc.. I noticed that the huge stack of washed prune containers are gone. Thank you, Sarah.

In driving to my sister's home and the theatre, I would see yards filled with cars for big family gatherings. I felt some sadness. At one time, that was my family. 

I remember a difficult neighbor I had. My main tactic was to avoid any contact with the neighbor. I come out one Thanksgiving. Two of my brother's were standing by my fence talking as they looked across the neighbor's pasture. Yep, they were ready to talk with this neighbor. I suspect the neighbor was brave enough to hassle me and my mother but would have been scared to deal with my brothers. Fortunately, it was time for them to come in and eat with the family. I wasn't interested in the Vietnam veteran going up against the Iraqi veteran. Those Vietnam veterans were badarses back in the day.

 Looking back, my older brother may have been able to build a bridge between the neighbor and us. He had that gift like my father. 

I hope you all had a great Thanksgiving. Don't get too crazy shopping for Christmas. I guess the late posting of this is a warning for the next year. Anyway cheers. 

Mistakes that almost make me say something.

Sweetie Pie pilfering cat food. She swears the cat food fell into her mouth..

These are mistakes I have been guilty of that I get the urge to correct people.

Chest of drawers mistakenly called Chester drawers. 

I like vittles spelled in the old way which is Victuals but still pronounced vittles. 

Waist coat is pronounced weskit. It is not a "waist" coat. 

I leave words out like an, am, or a word that makes a sentence flow. 

I take my developmentally disabled brother with me everywhere I go. This has been true for the past 25 years. Now that it is me and him, I seem to notice things that have always happened. I suspect a slower pace is the root. 

I'm used to people assuming he is my hen pecked husband. I remember my mom could give such detailed instructions. My mom was a master from child rearing. My brother does not process two steps. He does the first one then you have to tell him what to do next. 

Which leads to things that have happened this past week.

1. A man wanted my brother to help him move a heavy piece of furniture. Thankfully, the man waffled on whether they both could move it. I would have had to tell him no. My brother is 73 and I don't allow him to lift or move heavy objects. He is unable to tell you how he hurts, Plus 73 and heavy lifting does not mix. 

2. I was moving 40 count bottles of water into the shopping buggy. That is about 40 pounds. My sister only drinks bottled water and this was a good price. So I was getting the entire limit of 5. After moving
the last one onto the cart, a man walks by and makes a comment to my brother about letting his wife do the heavy lifting. 

3. I order my brother's food at a restaurant. Some servers looks at me funny like why don't you let him talk. Occasionally, I let them have their wish. They immediately look at me for the order. They always present my brother with the bill when he has finished eating. At the doctor's office, I try to not speak unless I need to. My brother will look at me when he needs an answer. 

4. At the grocery store, the cashier was an older woman and she assumed my brother was paying. I used my card to pay via the machine. She quips, "he turned away when I told him how much." I just smiled at her. I have had to train him not to pull his wallet out in public and show his money off. I allow him to pay and show his money off at the nail salon. They are safe. Albeit, they usually lecture me about letting him have that money. I had borrowed a twenty from him one day. I paid him back with a fifty so he could give me 30 in change in ones to make that wallet a little smaller. 

What impresses me are people who recognize my brother's disability.  It is a bit of relief in that my brother loves to talk. Don't we all. I only pay attention to people in that it is a safety issue for my brother. But when I meet these rare souls, I step aside. It is interesting what they coax out of my brother. My brother tells everyone we meet that he is from Peach County and there are a few standard tales he likes to share. My dad was military like his dad and many generations before. My brother has that toughness to him. I cringe a bit with the macho talk at times. But these folks usually get the flow. 

Now the conversation I hate is the "gee, gaw" I'm talking to developmentally disabled person and I am so nice. It is not a natural conversation. Plus, I like my brother respected and on a certain level they are not treating him like a regular person. My brother may be limited intellectually but he is still a 73 year old man and no fool. It is uncanny how he can size people up.

My dad had a twin sister who did not like my mother. There is a special relationship twins have and my dad had to choose and it was my mother he chose. My aunt's children asked me what the problem was between my mother and their mother at her wake. I shared that tidbit with them. There were some other factors in play but that was the gist of it. One day out of the blue my brother said he did not like this aunt. I asked him why. He said, "She don't like mom." 

When I have workmen in my home how they react to my brother tells me volumes about them. I usually have my brother busy in his room when I first meet with them. Many start talking to him as the man of the house. Since I am paying and making the decision, I like to make the deal directly. I had my house re-piped last year. I liked the way the plumber and his assistant took the time to speak with my brother while they were working. It was an honest exchange of which I do not know, I went back into the living room.

Southeastern Writers Conference

 This past weekend and Monday the Southeastern Writers Conference happened on St. Simon's Island, and I enjoyed it like I usually do. The unique feature of this conference is it's small size and the fact that most attendees and speakers share meals in a dining room. I took my developmentally disabled brother with me. He wants to go with me over staying home with a sitter. The conference allows my brother to sit with me during sessions.

I missed one session that would have been really interesting. The topic was the business of writing. I usually do not get so hyped up on courses of how to sell and market my stories. I am busy working on the quality of writing. That was until the next day when the speaker the Honorable Lori Duff did her second presentation. She was incredibly interesting. The most notable thing I remembered was that many dollars could be gained or lost in a business agreement based on an oxford comma. I don't usually use Oxford commas, but, I am being persuaded.

Kevin Steverson taught everyone about writing science fiction. In three hours, we got the gist and some important points about selling your book and the topic of building a world or writing in an established world of another author. To write in an established world, you have to have permission from the owner of that world. A big way to never be asked is be known for posting politics on social media. That is too late for me. I don't post a lot on any social media about politics because I liken it to being a bore. But like Don Quixote, I just have to fight that windmill at times. 

I am incredibly rude at these conferences, I usually scroll continuously on my computer. It is what I have to do to not fall asleep. During his first program, I fell asleep and did not hear some marketing ploys. One involved selling unwritten books as presells on Amazon. The book sells because the last book was so riveting and there was a cliff hanger. Oh my, who shot JR. The other item was to to give your initial book to libraries, leave them in public places, donate them with the theory that people will read the book and want to read more. Needless to say, I bought his book. I'm a hard sell to get me to read a series but I will report back. (Why do I fall asleep? I don't sleep enough at night and rarely nap is my theory.)

John Edwards was there giving everyone a run down on what makes Southern literature and his guide is the work of  William Faulkner. I have read Faulkner. This has made me want to re-read or read a book by Faulkner. I read a lot of the classics in my twenties. I used to remember things well but I really don't remember any of the books I read. What I remembered the most about Faulkner was his description of poor whites. They kept everything repaired with whatever they had. It was a truth that I knew was as true today as when Faulkner wrote his novels. 

The keynote speaker was Wulf Moon. He did a series of presentations. His book "How to write a Howling Good Story" is a great writing book and folks who follow him usually join his Wolf Pack. Several of my friends at the conference have been a follower for quite some time. I listened to two of his presentations. I did not listen to all of them for several reasons. One was it was too long a day for my brother to be sitting through. Another one is that if you want to write, you have to decide which direction you are going and not stop and start a new direction. If I had encountered the Wolf Pack ten years ago, I would have signed up. 

My brother and I took a boat tour off Jekyll Island Sunday night. We would have taken one off Saint Simons but I waited too late to sign up for a Saturday boat tour and there were no more until Wednesday.. That Saturday, I took my brother to the Publix in nearby Brunswick to buy Alka Setzer for colds to treat my allergies and a pint of Ben & Jerry's pistachio ice cream. We rested Saturday evening. The three and a half hour drive from our home to Saint Simons stretched about 5 hours with a few pit stops.  We did not leave until 5:30 PM. I always have too many loose ends to get done before I leave. Going to sleep around 11 PM and getting up at 6:30 to get ready for breakfast was a bit much. 

Jekyll is my favorite island. The state of Georgia runs it as a state park and only 35 percent of it can be developed. On the bus tour, the Captain told us Driftwood Beach was actually a dead tree beach. They don't remove the dead trees otherwise the beach would be considered developed and that would have to be included in the 35 percent. Nearby Cumberland Island is almost totally undeveloped. The Greystone Inn on Cumberland costs about $1500 a night. Cumberland Island is a National Park. 

On the boat tour, we saw many bottlenose dolphins. The Captain shared about how a juvenile female would become a breeding female's midwife. The juvenile would spend about a year with the adult before that female would breed. The pregnancy lasted 12 months. The Captain's wife actually recorded the birth of a dolphin. They wanted the pictures to be used in National Geographic but (I missed why), the pictures had been digitally altered and National Geographic could not use them. There is some continued contact with National Geographic in that to get pictures of a dolphin birth is not easy to obtain.  

We spent Monday touring the old lighthouse on Saint Simons after class. It was 129 steps to the top. We would walk 20 steps and stop on the landing and look out the window to catch the breeze and our breath. We went straight with the last 44 steps. A couple in their 40s were out of breath and commenting that we weren't out of breath. I could not help but laugh. When we made it to the top, we were both a bit unsteady walking through the doorway to the balcony at the top. We had made it entirely around the outside by the time they arrived. 

Walking down the tower, there was a huge rumble of thunder. It sounded like the lighthouse was collapsing. After we realized it was thunder, we continued down the winding staircase. Rain was heavy at that point. It is hard to realize that a rainstorm began after two to three minutes of us leaving the top to go downstairs.  These are two photos from the top of the tower.

The islands are called the Golden Isles because the seagrass, Spartina is gold in the spring and again in the fall. Spartina is related to sugar cane and the debris from the plant is part of the wild shrimp's diet. Hence, the shrimp has a sweet taste.  

Below is a picture of the sea grass. It is not so Golden in June.

Next June, they will offer another conference. Their website is https://www.southeasternwritersassociation.org,

Next year, I plan to come early and catch that boat on Saint Simons.

Like a bad habit, I'm back ;=}

I have not blogged in quite awhile. I had nothing to say, I have not been commenting on other blogs and sporadically visiting folks. I suspect this is going to continue; so don't be offended. 

I feel pulled from one end to the other with selling all the clutter that my family as onerous collectors have amassed. My home needs repairs. I'm still settling my older brother and mother's estates. I remember a woman who quit working one year to do her mother's and some other relatives estates. I understand now. I am also mystified how she did that in a year; she had five children and a husband.

 I gave my brother's tools and two vehicles to a cousin's son in law. It was a good choice. He was walking on air and is young enough to make a bit with it all. Meanwhile I've got to find the important papers needed to transfer the car titles to him. Mind you one was a 2005 Toyota Corolla and the other was a non-working 1992 four wheel drive Toyota truck that my brother was going to replace the engine in. One time when it snowed, my brother spent a fun evening pulling people's cars out of ditches, etc. Snow is rare and we make it a comedic affair with our delight and inability to drive in the stuff. 

I turned 69 this past May. I don't have the get up and go I had when I was younger and I spend my evenings with the television tuned to politics. I understand there are shows. But in the States, there is a lack of comedies which are what I like. I have watched way too many crime shows. I would subscribe to Brit Box; but television is not what I need. I like information running fast through my brain. So I read. It is much more efficient. 

One train of thought should not dominate your thoughts. So I watch reels on Facebook that feature mostly dogs and an orthodox Jewish woman who shares what her life is like. I started watching this gal who uses dowsing rods to ask all kinds of asinine questions. Then this psychic in Australia was reading the tarot about American politics on YouTube.

 We are certainly living in times of turmoil with American politics. I feel immense anger about all the collateral damage being done all over the world with the reign of incompetence. I dread all the suffering that is going to happen in the United States with support services such as Medicaid, Food Stamps, Education funds, etc. being reduced. And yet, I have friends who post on Facebook all the crimes of the Democrats, the foolishness of the RINOS, and how these "follow the leader blindly" Republicans are going to rescue all of us.

The world is certainly going to hell in a handbasket. Meanwhile, I am following some estate auctions. I have sold twice in highway yard sale called Peaches to the Beaches. I have become addicted. It is a bit of fun. I've got a friend who wants to help me next year. It is fun to meet with people and just generally chit chat all day. I sell cheap. I don't make a lot of money. But I have reduced the clutter and plan to get rid of more clutter this way. So why do I need to buy items to sell? I have my customers to think about and I sell shiny, pretty things. Some of what I have, does not glitter enough. I don't know how advanced my new hobby/business of selling clutter will be. An empty house will be nice. 

I had planned to get rid of a lot of my furniture. I know the day is coming where I will watch it all sold off and I have to live where I can get more care. Getting older has some sad realizations. The bright side is there is a peace without so much stuff. My younger brother hated the pack rat habits of his family. I used to say I was going to get him to help me clear out my house to the horror of all the pack rats living with me. Well my brother has gone on to the great beyond. I suspect he is proud of my passion for selling, giving away and honestly just chucking things in the garbage.  

Below is a video of my parent's favorite waltz. I thought the name was for Westphalia in Germany. It is from Westphalia, Texas. A musician brought a popular polish song back and is the Westphalia waltz. 

Thanks for reading my blog. I hope it worth your while. 

 

Zephyr

 Zephyr is a soft, peaceful breeze. And I thought it had to be an imaginary animal.

For many of you, we will not meet again until the next A to Z. I wish you that easy peaceful breeze to clear your mind and untangle the worries we all tote around. 

Irish Blessing

May the road rise to meet you, May the wind be always at your back. May the sun shine warm upon your face, The rains fall soft upon your fields.

See you next year for A to Z. I plan to spend May making it to all the blogs I missed. 

Yesterday

 The Paul McCartney song Yesterday is one of the most covered songs with 1600 different artists according to https://www.thisdayinmusic.com/liner-notes/yesterday/ I briefly looked on youtube for a female cover of the song and was a bit overwhelmed with the number of results I got. So I am posting a 2015 remastered version of the song.  

Amazing that a 23 year old man could write such a poignant song. Paul McCartney dreamed the tune and was concerned that he had subconsciously plagiarized another artist. He hadn't. The original working lyrics was "Scrambled Eggs, Oh my baby how I love your legs."

Technically this blog post is about the day before yesterday. On Saturday, we went to the Strawberry Festival in Reynold's GA. We ate expensive fair food. They really had some new and different items for sale. It was a very dog friendly festival. People had very pretty dogs and some had some cute clothes on. I would have bought a few items but I did not want to lug anything around. 

I wasn't too conscientious about taking pictures in that I had not considered this blog post. We were going to the Weiner dog races. Some dogs understood the rules. Even those stopped to do a little playing and introducing themselves to other contestants before madly running to win the race. One trial involved four dogs who met in the middle for a little how do you do with one another before one decided to run to it's owner. Another dog was very jaunty marking the signs as he strolled across the track. He decided to let everyone admire his winning style. 

Next year I plan to bring one of my dogs. I don't know if they will win but I will make them a good costume so we can win that contest. Maybe. Who cares. It was a lot of fun to watch.

We left the weiner dog races to take a helicopter ride. And yes I was scared sitting in the front seat. I found a place to hold on so I would not grab a control in my effort to feel attached to whirligig. But the view was amazing. The helicopter team was from Blue Ridge GA. The pilot and I had one thing in common. We are native Georgians. So many have moved to our state. 

Afterwards we bought Strawberries, some ice cream and vidalia onions of all things. The line was long and we watched people picking strawberries. The plants close to us were very well picked. There were several pretty chairs and backgrounds for people to take pictures to remember the event. We were both tired and glad to get in the car to go home. 

Xanadu

 I can hear Olivia Newton-John with the Electric Light Orchestra singing Xanadu as I read the word. It turns out there was a movie that was made with Olivia Newton-John titled Xanadu. 

Xanadu represents paradise or a place of contentment and perfection. 

My front yard is my Xanadu. I've had part of field in front of my house mowed. I've got a mess of volunteer Peach trees and they are loaded.  Walking between the trees, I feel a peace. 

I looked up Paradise on Google. The results were interesting. I'd expound but POV affects how you see different terms. Funny how we all have connotations that would be offensive to someone else. 

Some were oxymorons.

I think of my brother's quote, "Whatever floats your boat.".  I don't know if I believe in heaven per se. I remember a friend saying when he was a kid he thought heaven with streets of Gold sounded like a terrifying place. 

With age, you can have pretty lofty opinions much like being a teenager. One opinion I have is that your disadvantages are your advantages. There are only somethings you can only understand by being in that position of discrimination. Mind you, I am not interested in learning anything more in life. I just know the hard parts in life have seasoned me. 

I'm grateful for what I do have. I am humble enough to know I have a lot of advantages. And if the car cranks when I get in it; I've got a good car. 

Olivia Newton-John singing Xanadu

I'd share a picture

But how can you take a picture of a soft breeze

The scent of flowers blooming and hay being mowed.

Sunlight dappled on the ground by fluffy clouds moving above

The crunch of the grass beneath your shoes

A bird skiffing across the ground to capture a bug

The sound of bees buzzing

Your body being tired from coaxing a garden to life

A dog follows you unbothered by the gnats

Stepping out of the shade into the golden glow of the evening sun

The smell of rain coming.