The Blackburn Digest

My admittance to the GSOLFOT (Green Sock on Left Foot on Tuesday) group has stirred up my creative side again:) Other than organizing some of the perpetual chaos in my workshop area, I haven’t really spent much time in my “Tower” recently; but my new title and a (virtual) office of my very own (#17) has me back at the workbench!

There is only one miniatures shop in San Antonio, and I will not shop there, ever! Since I was fired-up to start creating my new office now/immediately/this very minute, I turned to an alternate possibility for the wallpaper I needed; my local scrapbooking shop! A long-retired room box from my storage closet was pressed into service - by dinner time, the old & discolored wallpaper was stripped, fresh new paper installed and a new carpet measured and installed. A dining table with two wobbly legs and a very dull finish was re-glued and wearing a warm new wood stain, ready to become my workbench. A seriously red-hued mahogany wall cabinet was wearing a fresh coat of pale spring green paint, and I had a large basket full of possible furniture, nick-knacks, throw rugs, fur-kids and craft supplies (all in one-twelfth scale) was waiting for glues and paints to dry. Oh, yes - dragons aplenty were waiting for a shelf, table or a corner to claim also!

Still feeling a bit shaky, but I did manage a few constructive actions today; laundry, more entries in my “flower recipe’ book (miniature flowers), a two week menu & shopping list to occupy us for awhile come tomorrow and a shiny new “official” title, awarded by The Great Oz of GSOLFOT!

As a newly-minted member of the “ancient & honorable” order of GSOLFOT, I’ve been mulling over what title and duties I wanted (should I be so fortunate as to be granted either a title or an office in the virtual -castle). Today, my title request was granted, with an acceptable alteration. I’d held a feeble hope that I could be a Princess (every ‘little’ girl’s dream - LOL!), but there’s no room for more royalty. Fair enough - I am now, officially, Contessa of Useful Bits, Bobs & Specks and Protector of Roof Runners! No, I am not kidding. Yes, I am off my rocker. Having a glorious time, thank you!

On a day when a nasty, lingering cold and other ills had me feeling vastly weak and somewhat transparent, a short note popped up in one of my on-line focus groups; there was an opening available in the limited membership of a group of zany, nutty, fun-loving and extremely talented miniaturists known as GSOLFOT (Green Sock On Left Foot On Tuesdays).

Hardly able to wander from room to room, I pulled my remaining wits together and attempted to write four separate application letters, each laced with the appropriate amount of irreverence, jocularity and basic facts about myself to secure the coveted membership. It worked - I am now a “Sockee”!
makes no sense? Well, we Sockees often do not attempt to:) Have a fun ramble around the website, and you’ll understand even less! LOL!!!

http://www.gsolfot.com

Sometimes, I get the wicked urge to make an appointment with my former podiatrist. To just tell the scheduling clerk something banal like “I’m having trouble with callouses”, and then watch the podiatrist’s face when I unveil my new feet. O.K. - they’re not “new”. They are officially almost 15 months old, but the urge to use them as a “teaching tool” grows ever stronger!

It’s not the podiatrist’s fault. When years of Rheumatoid Arthritis had dislocated my toes and set them all at weird angles that shoes could no longer encase without severe pain, I sought her out. She was the daughter of a trusted physician, newly set up in practice with her surgery-schooled husband. I received sympathy, custom orthotics to ease my stride (which they didn’t) and, eventually, braces attached to both shoes with knee-cuffs to minimise my spectacular falls (which they did). Pain and mobility were still issues, however, so I kept pushing the young pair for a better fix. At my last visit to their office, I was told that the only solution was “drastic surgery” that “shouldn’t be considered until I was older”. That made little sense to me at the time (it was 2004 or 2005); if it was drastic surgery, shouldn’t we do it when I was younger and better able to recover? They wouldn’t answer that, so I didn’t visit them anymore!

Call me a “weather wimp”, but it is bitterly cold outside and the mercury is dropping as I type. We are also under a high-wind advisory until this evening. The combination of 30.5 degrees ambient temperature and heavy wind gusts made todays’ necessary foray to our local Walgreen’s a truly uncomfortable experience. (Chill factor - 20 degrees.) Hummmmph - when I was younger (about mumble40mumble years younger), Tolerating 17 degree weather in Newport, Rhode Island was no big deal! Youth+proper clothing+good health makes a big difference:(

PS - The forecast for tomorrow night is 18 degrees. This is freakin’ nuts!

I realize parts of the Midwest are experiencing -52 degree weather (and massive snow drifts) - I shouldn’t complain, but this is So. Central Texas (land of several-weeks-over-100 degrees) and our bodies and winter wardrobes just aren’t geared for this frigid blast!

Happy New Year, everyone!

“2010″ - even when I adjusted to entering the 21st century, 2010 seemed somewhat futuristic! It simply sounds like homes a la The Jetsons should have somehow proliferated by now, hydroponic gardens should be the norm in middle-class dwellings and our fuels (and fuel consumption) should be vastly different! Well, of course, none of the above has happened:)

Truth be told, a streamlined house-of-the-future would not be sympathetic to my (or DH’s) collecting-and-creating urges. There are some single-family hydroponic gardening systems available now, but they require a lot of space and our somewhat-new (added 2008) greenhouse is doing quite well at assuring a ready supply of fresh Greek oregano, chives and parsley through the winter, with space left over for my decorative potted plants. Fuel changes? Well, there seems to be more attention being paid to alternative fuels, at least. For now, daughter’s Ford Escape Hybrid and son-in-law’s bicycle commute days remain the family contribution to reducing toxic emissions. Given the current condition of the economy, I’m not willing to take on a new car payment, nor am I willing to give up The Lady - my ‘97 Camaro.

Just when I am standing at the counter of our local UPS store, ready to ship off two very overdue flower orders. . . .ready to tick off one more entry on my “catch up from surgery down-time” list - - - - - just when I think I have reached the Final Two (overdue by mumblewaaaytoomanymonthsmumble), cushions for G’daughter’s toy box and hemmed slacks for DS. . . . . . .Karma speaks up and says “Don’t be so proud of yourself! You just think you have everything under control. Giggle!” (Yes, I am completely convinced I heard Karma giggling. It certainly wasn’t me!)