April 21, 2011

April 21, 2011

I woke up. The first thing I always do is give Mom her morning meds. Part of this is to make her a fresh drink. I then have to deal with my glaring of cats. I let Phenergan and Diamond outside, and then feed Darwina her can of wet food. I boot my computer and check my email. By this time my friend, Richard has emailed me. We usually have a running conversation that goes through the day. My friend/roommate Alex shows me the printer drivers that he downloaded for his computer…I bring him my computer and he downloads the drivers for my computer. We sit and chat while that is going on. We then test the drivers out, by printing an Easter page I designed for Mass this Sunday. I check my email real quick, pop off an answer, and then post my song for the challenge (a song a day for 50 days). It is then breakfast time. I cook sausage, eggs, and toast for Mom, Alex, and me.  I put water on to boil. After breakfast, I pour the water into the sink and do up all the dishes. Gryfen (my son) gets up and complains that he missed breakfast. I check my email again, pop off a response, and then head to my room to do some school work. After about an hour, I get up and straighten my room up. I decide to boil some pasta for lunch. I go into the kitchen and prepare pasta, sauce, and bread. Gryfen and I eat it together (he inhales it). Back to my bedroom for more email, Facebook, and school. Nancy, mom’s caseworker, comes by. We discuss mom’s condition. It is her yearly assessment. While Nancy is here, Jeri, mom’s home health nurse stops by. While Nancy and I finish the assessment and paperwork, Jeri does her thing with mom (vitals, looks at her skin, etc.) Jeri left. I went back to my bedroom. (email and schoolwork) After about an hour, Jordan, the bug man arrives. We talk about my ant situation. He sprays the interior and exterior. I then begin to get ready for Mass. I drive to Mass. I talk to Deacon Mike. I talk to Joanne and Father Jose about the music. I talk to Marty and Bob. Mass begins. I process with the oils from the previous nights Chrism Mass. I get my feet washed by Father and Deacon. We then strip the Tabernacle and take it to Deacon’s office. I spend ten minutes in Adoration. I help cover all the crosses and crucifixes in the sanctuary. I leave church and drive to Wal-mart. I get my groceries and a snack. In line, the man in front of me has a whole fried chicken for $1.50. I asked where he got it and he told me there were more in the deli. I walked back to the deli and ended up next to Mary- Ann a friend from church. We talk about the Chrism Mass and her suffering of Lupus. I walk back up to the check-out. There is a family with a baby. We talk about him and how cute he is. I then check-out and talk to the cashier about the price of gas. I drive to the gas station and get gas….disgusted that $35 only gets 9.8 gallons. I drive home trying to eat a piece of chicken (thigh) while driving. I stop by the grocery closer to home to pick up ice cream. I arrive home and tell Mom and Gryfen about Mass….I eat more chicken and some cookies. Back to my bedroom to email Richard and do some discussion board response. I go to bed.

Sunday Mass (April 17, 2011)

Sunday Mass (April 17, 2011)

On a normal Sunday, I would arrive at the church at around 10:00 a.m. This gives me quiet time alone in the Sanctuary (except for Ms. Helen, we have a running joke: Who gets there first?) This particular Sunday, I was filling in for my friend Iris, teaching her class. I arrived at 9:30 and sat down in her class to read her instructions. Ms. Sarah Sherman arrived. She commented “I am not picking on you, dear, but it is hard to get the young girls to wear their shoes during Mass when they see you with yours off.” “Yes Ma’am….I will wear my shoes.” I replied. I then saw Deacon Mike and asked him to stop by during class to bless our Rosaries. Then my little students arrived, Tonia, Emily and Angela. We colored and talked about the Sacrament of Reconciliation. Around 10:15, Deacon Mike stopped by and blessed our Rosaries. He also spent a few minutes showing us his Rosary. We discussed how to use our Rosary and what to do during the prayer. It was then time to go into the Sanctuary to do the Rosary Prayer. As we entered into the Sanctuary, we genuflected toward the tabernacle; genuflected as we entered the pew, and sat down and joined in the prayer (we were a little late). [Genuflection is an honor that Catholics do upon entering the Sanctuary. We make the cross on ourselves, and bend down on the right knee.] It takes approx. 20 minutes to do the entire Prayer. Hearing those girls (who are about 7 years old) pray my favorite prayer brought tears to my eyes. Afterwards, we went back to the classroom where I hugged each of them and told them how proud of them I was. It was time for Mass.  Mass is a wonderful thing…it is very much a thing that must be participated in….my favorite part is the offering of peace. We shake hands and offer peace to one another. After Mass, I shook Deacon Mike’s hand and confirmed our plans for Tuesday.  I then left to go home. 

The Prodigy Problem

I cannot find my copy of Music for a Jilted Generation by The Prodigy. I know that it is here in this house somewhere. I have even seen it lately. I just can’t remember where.

Now I did just get a copy of Their Law The Singles (1990-200). It does have a few tracks from Music for a Jilted Generation, but the mixes are different. What is Voodoo People on The Singles is very different than what is on the original CD. Besides, truth be told, I am wanting to hear the Narcotic Suite, all three sections, in particular : 3 Kilos.

See my problem?

Laundrymats

Laundrymats;

 I guess I really had not realized how isolated and dependent on technology for my socialization until I went to the laundry on April, 6, 2011 at 1:30- 4:30. We usually wash all our clothes once a month. We always dominate the whole laundry while we are there. We are known by the owner and the employees. On that day there was a couple starting their drying loads as I started up my 9 loads of laundry….that only left 3 working washers out of 18 total. I always wear my iPad during laundry….it is my thing. So I mostly smile and when I do talk I usually only lift one so that music can still be heard by me and who ever is there. An older lady in her 70’s came in with one load. She found one of the few remaining washers and used it. She kept smiling at me as I listened to music.

The couple was using 5 dryers, this left 3 working ones Out of 12 dryers total.  As I started to sort my washed clothes to dry, she engaged me in conversation. She was amazed at my laundry. I told her that it was just an average month. I also offered to save her a working dryer for her load. It would have been rude of me to go and dominate the dryers when her load wouldn’t take 20 minutes…..I was looking at a good hour anyway. The couple were starting to finish loads and the dryers they were using were beginning to empty. (Hotter dryers, faster dry time, less money) She finished her load and loaded up the dryer I saved for her. The couple finished their drying and left. About 10 minutes later the woman’s laundry was done. We said good-bye. That left Gryfen and I in the laundry mat to finish the laundry. As we were leaving, a single man with a single load entered.

The employee was there during that time but did not interact with us. Instead he loaded ice into bags from the ice maker.

On Friday April 8, 2011  2:00pm I had to go back because I forgot one load of clothes. (one 1, very rare for me, breaking my norm) The employee laughed as I walked in, the place was empty. He noticed that I only had one load and said he wished he could take a picture of this moment because it might not ever happen again….we discussed school, he too is in college, a traditional program. I then did my laundry listening to my iPod. I was alone for this trip.

Special thanks to Kim’s Tiger Mart and Laundry in Ardmore Alabama, hope the plants have fun on the porch this summer, they will be missed.

Pretty cool: I am rocking The Prodigy "Their Law The Singles 1990-2005".

Music Count- The Prodigy and Jack White

I have been listening to The Prodigy while mom has been in the hospital on April 4, 2011. I purchased the CD The Fat of the Land on April 5 at noon. I have listened to I loaded it in my computer and have been listening to it pretty hard. According to my iPod program, I have listened to it 5 times all the way through

by 10:10p.m. I also have listened to several songs more than that. “Breathe” comes in at first with 17 plays and then “Smack my Bitch up” second with 15 plays. I can only listen to The Fat of the Land on my laptop. Sometimes through head phones, sometimes through the bedroom amplifier.

I have The Prodigy Music for a Jilted Generation somewhere in the house. It was uploaded by the CD on to the old tower that my iPod shuffle is synchronized. I played the two songs loaded there from the CD : “Break and Enter” and “Their Law”. I have no accurate account as the number of plays….I kept playing them over and over in the laundry mat for two hours….

When I go back home I decided it was time to listen to Jack White’s music. I have a real good over view of all three bands : The White Stripes, The Raconteurs and The Dead Weather. Fast Forward until I reached the Raconteurs first. The shuffle is off. They are arranged alpha by artist. I reached Consolers of the Lonely first. (Consolers of the Lonely, You don’t understand me, Carolina Drama)Then I came to Broken Boy Soldiers. (Steady as she goes, Broken Boy Soldiers, Level)

Then I reached The White Stripes. The albums are in alphabetical order. The selection continues to be played in the order they are listed. From DeStijl (You’re pretty good looking for a girl, Hello Operator, Apple Blossom, Jumble, Jumble.) From Elephant ( Black Math, No room for you here, Hardest button to button, Little Acorns, Hypnotize,  Air Neath my fingers,  Girl you have no faith in medicine) I have not loaded Elephant up to my laptop but to my tower.

Get Behind me Satan (Blue orchid) Icky Thump (Little Cream Soda) White Blood Cells (which is on my laptop, this is my favorite CD) ( Hotel Yorba) I made Gryfen listen to I’m finding it hard to be a gentle men. Neither one of us are turning on the TV while mom is gone. We are just using our computers to entertain. I then continued listening to it under head phones. (Fell in Love with a girl…..most played song in my iTunes program on the tower. I think I smell a rat. I can learn)

Then last is the First CD : The White Stripes (Breaking Down, The Big Three killed my baby, Cannon, Screwdriver, I fought piranhas) I then moved on to The Dead Weather From the first CD Horehound : (I cut like a buffalo, Rocking horse, 3 birds) Then from their second CD Sea of Cowards (Blue Blood Blues, The difference between us, Die by the Drop)

I then listened to The Prodigy’s songs off of my iPod one last time (Music for a Jilted Generation : Break and Enter and Their Law)

I have been listening to The Fat of the Land ever since……

Pussy Drama

Phenergan just came to the door and Miaooed it down. I mean loud and long. He wanted our attention. I went to the door and he had paid rent again. Twice in the past week. Way to go Phenergan. It was still breathing. I sent him back out there to finish it off....Good boy Phenergan! Be the man.

Demographics for Fayetteville and Hwy 64.

On April 6, 2011, I was unusually alone at home. My mother was in the hospital. I had just finished writing an initial board post about Weber (not one of my best really). ) 8:15, my friend Trisha came by with Guy. I visited for about 15 minutes while Trisha made a few texts and phone calls…..By 8:30 we were out the door. I have not been out driving for a while. I am very isolated here with my mother. We drove around Lincoln County. We started toward Park City through Howell Hill, Lincoln and then finally somewhere near Vann Town. It was 10:30. We then drove through downtown Flintville toward the new 4-lane U.S. 64.  AS we approached the intersection, I noticed a new Dollar General store right behind the existing gas station/ quick mart (it is on the hwy.) We turned east….drove app. 5 miles to the turn off at Elora. The 4 lane was massive….I could hardly recognize the scenery in dark…but I could sense where I was. The original hwy veered off to my right behind Gum Springs Baptist Church. The four lanes kept going. That road met back up with us again. We then turned next at hwy left to go to Elora and the old stone wall at the Fish Hatchery. I then got back on Hwy 64 toward Fayetteville (west). I passed by Jeff’s Market (Flintville) continuing west. The two lane hwy 64 had a large hill climb, a big ridge called Big Cut. I couldn’t even recognize or feel the descent down Big Cut.

Big Cut was a really steep ridge….I had a 73 blue VW bug as my first car. It used to take a concerted effort to climb this thing. Over the course of the years, there have many deaths in car wrecks over this area.

We drove through Kelso….You could hardly tell that we were going through this quaint little town, I had driven all my life through this place at a 45 mph…I was going 65 mph.  We then went over the Elk River. Gone was the steel girter, small, scary bridge that I had dreaded at first then had to learn to cross of my youth?

We entered Fayetteville and past Frito Lay manufacturing. It was (10:18). Third shift would be going on at 11:00; the parking lot was 2/3 full. I turned at Motlow State Community College (My Alma Mater) and made a loop past Franke and c&s Plastics. I came out on state hwy 50 (two lane) to Lynchburg/Metro Moore County (they make every drop of Jack Daniels Whiskey there).I drove south about ¼ of a mile to Hwy 64. I turned east and retraced my steps to the top of Big Cut again. The road was very easy to drive and the climb was not taxing at all. I did lose some speed in my 6 cylinder 1994 Chevy-S10 (Silver is a 4x4). I turned around and drove back West to Fayetteville. I went past Frito Lay again. The parking lot was almost completely full.

Hwy 64 has an industrial 4 lane by pass around the city square. Most county seats in the American South have a central square with a courthouse surrounded by older buildings of business….ours is a specialty squares with antiques and a large fabric business. 30 years ago there was a thriving manufacturing center in Fayetteville, three apparel plants and a mill. The hwy avoids all the old business. At a junction with 231/431, there is a Wal-Mart supercenter. If you continue on the Hwy 64 by-pass you will meet up with the old Hwy 64. The section of Hwy 64 between Fayetteville and Interstate 65 (The main Interstate that connects Birmingham Alabama to Nashville Tennessee) It was made into a four lane Hwy in the late 1980’s- 1990’s (date?). The four lanes that I was driving on earlier is the last 2 lane stretch to be widened between Interstate 24 (connecting Chattanooga Tennessee).

What used to take a good hour (I 65 to I24) has been cut in half time wise). I am curious to how many miles.

I interacted with Trisha (20)….we stopped and picked up a soda. I went in and Trisha stayed out in the truck. We stopped by Deana’s house and she did the Big Cut round trip with Trisha and me. It took us 30 minutes to make the trip. We were at Deanna’s at 10:00. The round trip took approx 30 min. Deanna (20) was having drama with her boyfriend. He kept texting her... he was upset because she was out “riding” with Trisha and another “old” Lady (yeah I am only 41, but their perspective, I am old) Trisha and I discussed make-up. She uses the LA Colors make-up for eye-liner and nail polish. She uses Maybelline mascara. Some Southern women do not use foundation because of the humid climate and if they have clear skin. Deanna was starting Motlow in the fall. Trisha was interviewing at Goodman (the major manufacturing plant in Fayetteville…they make parts for air-conditioners, heaters, and other parts for appliances. The only other businesses in Fayetteville are service like restaurants, doctors, and groceries.

McMahan, P. (2011, April 6). Demographics for Fayetteville and Hwy 64..