"The Smell of Wet Dog"

Murky attitudes rein today like the smell of wet dog
Flogged and broken, thrown
Out into the storm’s dreary forecast.

Is it just the day’s foreboding future, casting a dark hue
On the water’s misty view?
Pacing with a whore’s luck.
I smell it in the deep of the basement
Pulling on the chain.

Illumination never comes. Starvation eats,
My jaw aches, from the gnawing on the leash.

by Elizabeth A. Hall

(I know it's a bit obscure, I'm not even sure what its about, I vaguely remember writing it...lol )

Laughing Is Allowed

I feel your pain primate,
(don't cry in front of the children).
There are things that no one can relate to.
I have so much fun and feel so alone.
Its nobody's fault.

I wander about my home on the verge of tears.
All the time is too much.
I'm satisfied in all ways but one.
I can put my finger on it, but it doesn't come up.
My desires are stiffing; impaired beyond comprehension.

Not so much as a pill can fix what ales me.
So I chill at night and pretend I'm fine.
Though its not - and there is no repairing its absence.
It goes beyond the realm of intimacy;
existing in separateness.
Behind different doors at different times.

No need to conceal secrets behind them.
We think but never out loud.
We understand quietly; in private.
What would happen if we were to speak?
I can't tear myself from the chair,
I find comfort internally and in “Times New Roman”;
unspoken words. Laughing is allowed.

By Elizabeth A. Hall

House Sitting

Friday was a "what do I do with myself?" kind of day. There were so many options as to where I could park myself and work on my writing. I went from here to there and back again. The hardest part is not being able to smoke inside.

I ended up going for a walk and photographing the wildlife and then went into town for dinner. I had the tastiest Blue Cheese and Portabella Mushroom burger with fries and cottage cheese at the "Bierstube".

Saturday morning was comical. I think the dogs usually steal the show but they aren't here this weekend. These cats are not graceful like cats should be, knocking things over and I heard a "thump, thump, thump" coming up the stairs at 5:30 am. Tigger managed to climb upstairs with a sticky mouse trap in tow, complete with mouse attached. Once I pealed it from his leg, the sticky stuff stuck and everything he came in contact with was getting stuck to him. Including my morning paper as I was trying to read it.

I thought the mouse was dead but noticed it wriggling around, I couldn't just throw it in the trash like that. I don't know how long it had been stuck but I didn't think it was very humane to let it starve to death. It may sound gross but I took it outside and drowned it, quickly putting it out of its misery.

Now, I hear a lot about the mischievous corgis that live here, but they are out of town and I left the bathroom door open, thinking there was nothing the kitty's could get into (there were no mouse traps in the bathroom). When I came downstairs to park myself on the screened porch, I found the cap to my toothbrush. I wonder if they have a stash of treasures hidden somewhere in the house too. Ella, one of the dogs, has a stash under the master bed but that's another blog that belongs to my cousin: Ella's Cache.

After all the excitement, I decided to head to town, in the rain and check out all the shops I am always passing on my way here, saying "I should stop there sometime". I removed my books from my book bag and put my camera and extra lens in it (I didn't want to look like a tourist). LeClaire was very reminiscent of Galena Illinois, except I found the prices more affordable (My legs and feet were aching just like Galena too).

I'm a bit homesick but I've gotten a lot of writing done and will be leaving first thing in the morning. Well, maybe not "first thing" as I tend to be up around 5:00am, but shortly there after (I have to have coffee first). I never did get to take a nap in the hammock, its almost tempting to sleep in it tonight but I'll pass. Right now all I have on my agenda is to take a bath in the jacuzzi, I'd kick my self for passing that up too.

Peace
Liz

Liking LeClaire

I'm house sitting for my cousin in LeClaire, Iowa. I don't live far from here, just across the Mississippi River in Moline, Illinois. It's maybe a thirty minute drive. Every time I pass through downtown, I tell myself that I should stop sometime and check it out. I'm a regular visitor to Galena, Illinois and its beginning to resemble Galena with all the art and antique shops popping up.

Well today I finally got around to visiting downtown LeClaire. I parked at one end of town on "The Great River Road", locally known as "N Cody Road" and walked up one side and back the other, hitting every shop in both directions. I had my eye out for a couple of things I've been wanting; a butterfly wind chime and a cabinet for the bathroom. I figured I would have better luck with the wind chime. Being on unemployment, even if I did find a cabinet I wouldn't be able to buy it.

As luck would have it, I found a tin crafted, butterfly wind chime hanging outside the third shop I think I went to, "LeClaire Antique Appraisers", only $10.00. When I entered the shop, there was a woman trying on a vintage, 1920's dress for a garden wedding. The ladies were discussing whether or not it was appropriate for a garden wedding. I thought it was perfect but went about browsing. I was a bit disappointed when she decided not to buy because she was afraid to have it cleaned.

I left the shop with the butterfly wind chime in mind and continued on. When I crossed the street at the opposite end of town, I needed to rest my feet. I walked down to the riverfront where a pavilion allowed me to park myself and take some pictures. I watched The North American Pelicans, they stop on the Mississippi as part of their migration every year and hang for a while. I've taken a full day before, hitting all the parks and dams along both sides of the River, taking pictures.

While I was resting, I saw the "Antique Archeology" van; a blast from the not too distant past. I had dated one of the Archeologists" a few times. Back then, they were being scouted for a show for "The Discovery Channel" and I sat through a few of the pilot episodes. It looked like they were doing well, they had a brand new van. They didn't make the cut for the cable channel but they now have a site on the internet where you can watch them make their amazing, antique discoveries.

I wanted to visit the Buffalo Bill Cody Museum but passed, I had seen it as a kid but not in such a pleasant environment. I figured it was time for lunch instead. I stopped in a popcorn shop and drooled for a moment over the counter but passed on the chocolate truffles. As it turns out they came from Largomarcino's, which I love but we have the original Largomarcino's in Moline, just down the hill from my home. I passed on "Happy Joe's" Pizza, I've had that before; who hasn't if you're from the Quad Cities. I'd also been to "Sneaky Pete's" years ago but its just not the same if you aren't with someone wearing a tie (they'll cut it off of you and hang it from the rafters).

I found a little cafe' called "Lydia's" and had one of their specialty sandwiches, "Sierra Chicken" with chips and a pickle spear. I sat outside on the balcony behind the building, again it reminded me of Galena but with a much better view and the sandwich was great. I wish I could remember what the green stuff on it was called. Since I passed up the chocolate, I grabbed a chocolate, chocolate chip muffin to go and headed for the Antique shop to buy the wind chime. All that was left were art shops so I figured I'd make my purchase and go back to the arts and crafts just to browse.

The last of the shops were my favorite; pottery, unique jewelry and interesting gifts. I'll be heading back here around Christmas time for sure. Its not as far as Galena and the prices, I thought were more reasonable. And yes, there were a few cabinets for the bathroom, but the prices, though reasonable, were not cheap enough for me.


Peace
Liz

Links of interest:
http://www.visitleclaire.com/
http://leclaireiowa.gov/
http://leclairechamber.com/

My Favorite places:

http://www.antiquearcheology.com/ - Watch videos on how they find their treasures!
http://www.artsworkia.com/ - My favorite shop!
http://www.razzleberriesgifts.com/ - I loved their fishing lure jewelry!
http://www.riverpup1.com/ - For all your Corgi needs.

Reflections of the Unemployed - Week 13

I can't decide if week 13 is lucky or unlucky. I had my first interview and later the same evening, my son declared he was joining the Army. But that's another blog. I've had one interview out of 41 job applications. The odds don't look good and it turned out to be a part-time position at a wage of $8.00 an hour, ouch! I'm making more on unemployment.

I chalked it up to a learning experience. My face probably went white when I was asked about my attendance and how often I called off. I danced around the answer, explaining I really couldn't give them an accurate number because I had health issues, leading up to a hysterectomy and after. I had to ask myself after, if I should have been completely honest with them. After all, it looks like it was just a practice interview as there is no way I can take the job at that wage.

Should I have told them that I was "let go" because of attendance but had Doctors excuses for almost all of my absences with the exception of a few half days? And that it was illegal to fire someone for an excused absence but they did and that the man at Unemployment who made the decision that I receive benefits was appalled at their attendance policy? How can I be honest and tactful at the same time and not look bad?

I was present for the birth of my friends first Grandchild on Monday. Her daughter was in labor from 6:00 am to 6:10pm, they ended up doing a c-section because little Madison, wasn't so little. She weighed in at 8lbs and 13oz. and 21 inches long. I visited them when they came home from the hospital and took some beautiful photos for them. When I finished editing them, that itch to go back to school came over me once again. I can be content for hours just editing photos I've taken and wish I were doing it for a living.

On Tuesday my son informed me he was joining the Army and on Wednesday he announced he's getting married. Emotionally overwhelmed, I took a trip to the bank and my safe deposit box to withdraw my wedding set from his Father and my own Father's wedding band for my son. I've been on the verge of tears all week. Yesterday my son took us to lunch and I gave them their wedding gift, both myself and my future daughter-in-law became choked up. We had a great lunch and the ring looked like it was made for her dainty fingers.

Now I'm recovering, house sitting for my cousin, nestled in the woods. I've been keeping preoccupied with writing. I have a list of "To Do's", to accomplish this weekend online. I still have a lot of photos to go through. My 401k was issued to me, without my permission, they just sent it and charged me $50 just for withdrawing it. It wasn't much to speak of but it was enough to purchase a portable hard drive. I left my computer sit all week, backing up the entire computer. My impatience became unbearable and 3/4's of the way through and five days later I unplugged it so I could use my computer. Maybe this weekend I'll figure out why it is taking so long.

I'm thankful at this point in my life that I am unemployed, I would not be able to enjoy these special moments, being able to drop everything and celebrate them as they arise. Taking in the opportunities that I may have missed otherwise. I'm sure I've said it before but I believe everything happens for a reason and these significant milestones in my childrens lives are much more important and I'm thankful I'm there to share in them now.

Peace
Liz

A Stuffie Situation!

I read an article in this mornings paper about the effects of our parents' deaths and the material "stuff" that gets left behind and it reminded me of my own situation. My Parents' Parents had all passed away and they inherited much of their "stuff" and in return, my own Parents passed away leaving me with my Grandparents "stuff" in addition to their "stuff".

When the author of the article mentioned how overwhelming the "stuff" can become, I could relate to that on so many levels. Granted, my Parents got rid of a lot of "stuff" prior to their deaths, but were collectors of antiques. My Mom collected Hall China, she had six china cabinets packed full of china, three bookshelves and then there was the miscellaneous "stuff" from "Jewel-T" which distributed Hall China from horse and buggy long ago. Everything from cooking utensils, rugs, mops, wall hangings of advertisements and items picked up at Hall China conventions.

Just the china itself was overwhelming. One auction alone held all the Hall China, then throw in Dad's dozen tubs of Life Magazines from its inception through World War II that nobody wants and his studio of electronics (Dad loved electronics) and I end up with boxes full of just the cords alone and have no idea what piece of video equipment goes to what cords. There was a TV in almost every room of their house, it was ridiculous.

I called a local auction house and they came and picked up all the china in addition to other antiques including Dad's coin collection. All in all there were three auctions. Another auction company refused to come get the rest of the unwanted items so the day prior to having to be out of their house after it was sold, there was a rummage sale up the street so I just started throwing things out in the yard and what was left from that went in the trash or I gave it away to customers and goodwill.

I hung on to what was left that my brother didn't want and what was left were two storage units, a garage and attic full of "STUFF". I divorced shortly thereafter and found an apartment with a "Big" basement and left some of the "stuff" behind, planning on picking it up at a later date. I had one small rummage sale after having moved that didn't make much of a dent at all.

Last spring (2008) there was a flood at my marital home (still on the market if anyone is interested) and I lost all my Tupperware, my Grandmother's antique pump organ and some other "stuff". The flood took care of some "stuff", making it just a tad less overwhelming but then in the summer, the sewer in the basement of my apartment backed up, flooding the basement that held the remaining "stuff" of my Parents', with 8 inches of sewage. I lost photo albums, antique record albums, several boxes of the Life Magazines (thank goodness), a couple of computers and it damaged some of their oak furniture that I didn't have room for upstairs that they had just had refinished prior to my Mother's demise in 2003 (Dad followed in 2005).

Because the "Stuff" was so overwhelming, I was not bent up over it much. I had a bonfire at my daughters for the damaged "stuff" that would burn and boxes and boxes of paperwork (some of it 50 years old, dad saved everything). I figured it was Gods way of saying "hey, you've hung onto this "stuff" and not done anything about it for too long so I'm taking care of it for you". Of course it only helped a little. Some stuff, I have no idea what happened to. Some, I have no idea what to do with, for example; what do you do with torpedo shell used for practice in WWII? But I can't part with it.

I moved again and in the process, I gathered what was left at the river house, obtained yet another storage unit and have a basement full of furniture and "stuff" at my new house. Out of the kindness of my heart I left my x-husband with some of it but mostly because he whined; he felt like he deserved it for having helped take care of my Dad. He even felt like he deserved the antique clock that belonged to my Grandmother because he fixed it, go figure (no way Jose'). Some "stuff" I just won't part with.

Those of us who find ourselves in this predicament usually end up getting "stuck", according to the article and I am one of those people. I've become so overwhelmed with "stuff" just the thought of having to go through it, sort it and have another rummage sale just sucks the energy right out of me. There was nothing in the article that was helpful on how to cope with the "stuff" once you get it. No numbered or bullet list of motivating ideas to help kick start me, aside from having someone give me swift kick in the A## (my own brilliant idea).

I'm open to suggestion at this point. I did find myself downstairs a few days ago. I went through three boxes. OK, there's a start, on average that's one box per month. Not so overwhelming. If I went through one box a month, I might have it finished in a year or so. My kids will kill me if I die and leave them with this mess!

Peace
Liz