TV!

Gratitude 

TV is the proper binge.

Thanks to primetime television, I can scan through numerous choices all day and night to get my daily dose of timely news, information, knowledge, and amusement.

How is it bad? Chicago PD, FBI, Jeopardy, and John Stewart's Daily Show, among others, provide first-class entertainment, as far as I'm concerned. My all-time fav contest show right now? Password. It's a game of words where you have to guess your partner's secret word.

Notably, I can exercise one of my greatest talents via streaming media - watching five years worth of a TV show in one week. A lie that I tell myself every time: Just one more episode.

Luv Netflix and T'UBI.

Where else can you enjoy Oscar and Emmy-winning shows for free and in the comfort of home? Perhaps, it should change its message from, Are you still watching? to You should shower and come back.

YouTube is awesome.

I have found amigurumi patterns, DIYs for making notepads and journals out of paper bags, soothing music, and myriad topics that I've been curious about.

The couch is calling. I must go. 

But first, gotta loosen these tight pants' elastic waistband.

Aaaah....

 

Shopping!

Gratitude 

I have enough clothes and shoes, I don't need to go shopping, said no woman ever. - Anonymous

I'm grateful for thrift stores like VOA (Veterans of America) and Five Below (discount $5 or below). They are my go-to shopping destination for affordable and fun fashion. Thanks to their rock-bottom pricing, I could put my money right where I can see it, hanging in my closet.

These places are jammed with good buys. Tees with Yoda and Betty Boop design, among others.

Even a prized Boyz n the Hood sweatshirt. I like to dress to entertain myself. Life is too short to wear boring clothes.

Other buys that I treasure?

Warm socks. They may not match, but my feet are always warm.

Dollar General $1.25 flip flops.

Deodorant.

Cotton panties. 

Pants with elastic waistbands. (Is there anything better?)

Glorious Food

Gratitude 

Appreciation can make a day, even change a life. Your willingness to put it into words is all that is necessary.

Thus, this series: my gratitude for some of the best things in my life.

*****

Live. Love. Eat. - Anonymous

I'm in a relationship with food. 

I think it's the foundation of genuine happiness. The ingredient that binds people and family together.

What specific consumables am I most grateful for?

Taco Bell's Nachos Belgrande and the thought that no matter how bad my day may seem, I only have to remember someone out there has to clean the bathroom at Taco Bell.

Chocolate-covered marshmallows. Thank goodness for chocolate because it's the answer, no matter what the question is. Note to self: Eat lots of chocolate when times get rough, and eat more when times are great.

Mixed plate of BBQ beef, boneless chicken, and mahi-mahi with double order of mac salad at the Rainbow Drive-In.

Happy Hour at Roy's. 

Sunday "worship" at Legend Seafood for dim sum.

Piada's carbonara.

And at the end of the day, grateful for elastic waistbands.

Oldest Antique

 Antiques

Here are responses received from my faithful readers:

ITV: The dryer!

VEV: No doubt about it - moi!

AVH: Does your avocado green dryer count? ;) If not, how about the black lacquered Chinese screen? To VEV's answer (which was SENT TO ALL), AVH says: Haha I thought about that same answer!

'Oldest antique' is featured in the blog that follows.

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

GOLDEN AGER

If things get better with age, then we must be getting close to freakin' magnificent. -  Unknown

What do you call an old folk? 

'Old' sounds a little rude. 'Senior?' Tolerable, but so high school. 'Older adult' sounds politically correct, but it doesn't say very much. 'Older' than what?

Well, how about 'super adult'?

I suppose that's what VEV is.

He is the oldest antique in the house.

Still Feeling Spry at Almost Eighty. Canada: 2024

When he was younger, everyone over the age of thirty looked middle-aged. Everyone over fifty, antique.

Time, as it went by, confirmed that he wasn't wrong. Those little age differentials, so crucial and so gross when he was young, eroded. He had been swept into the silver tsunami of the non-young. 

He might have wondered.

What happened?!! 

But heck, forget that.

Long live 

being vintage

and

fabulous!

Geri-Active And Unstoppable. Photo: ITV, Miller's Country Gardens, Delaware, OH: October 2024

****************

DECISION ON CONTEST WINNER

A comment on proceedings has been raised. ITV said that the two other respondents were both automatically disqualified for not following directions.

Also, this just in.

Received from ITV: Do you accept bribes? Like a margarita from The Goat on Harvest Night?

Comment from AVH: ITV is automatically disqualified for offering bribes. How will I get my slice of gourmet pie?

After careful consideration by a panel of distinguished judges, here is the final decision. 

Resident Judges: Shane the Possum, Beau Bean the Gerbil, and Chip the Chipmunk

VEV, you got the correct answer, but your prize is voided because you violated the contest rule of respond to sender only. As a consolation prize, you'll get carrot shavings, two pumpkin seeds, and an acorn.

Because of the foregoing invalidation, the category has been re-set to Next-In-Line Oldest House Antique (after LAMP and DRESSER). 

The correct answer is DRYER.

Maytag Dryer, circa 1976

For giving the correct answer and following the rule of reply-to-sender only, but influencing contest outcome with a probable felony (hic!), ITV loses... wait...er.. hmm.. Yay! I just love everyone! (hic!). Zhe gehts one big slizze av' pie. (Hic!)

For agreeing with VEV's correct answer though not responding to sender only, making a partially-correct guess (DRYER is not avocado green, it is poopy yellow), and positive attitude that she would win, AVH gets the grand prize of one slice of gourmet pie/cake.

It will be shipped to you by ITV. Trust her!

COONGRADULATIONZZS! 

P.S. No morre contests. (Hic!) YOU'rre ALL a probblematic concern!

Hickory Dickory Dock

 Antiques

Don't watch the clock; do what it does. Keep going. - Anonymous

What a timely advice (pun totally intended).

A wall clock that graced the topmost reachable wall in our southwest home for five years, and which has continued to be a wall feature in our current mid-west home has inspired me to live by this motto.

I remember being obsessed with it.

It plays Westminster chimes on the quarter, half, and hour counts with each swing of a brass-finished pendulum. An off-white dial, surrounded by a brushed brass bezel, features gold Roman numerals and ornate, black hands.

Its architectural good looks have survived through the years, though twice-repaired for its chimes. I have relished looking up at it, positioned high on the loft wall, a perfect mix of traditional elegance and contemporary lines and texture.

Westminster Chime Wall Clock, Service Merchandise (now defunct), Phoenix, Arizona: Circa 1978

It has been a summons to not count every hour in the day, but to make every hour count.

That the clock is ticking. Hickory dickory dock!

That time is about making moments.

Live.       

Perhaps I should have bought

this clock instead?

Hickety, dickety, dock!

Red Chest of Memories

 Antiques

The passage of time is surely divine and is filled with rhythm and reason whatever the season. - Anonymous

I look at this chest of drawers and wish I could go back in time and watch the girls grow up all over again.

They were only toddlers when they were gifted a used dresser by a friendly grandmother who lived in the Windy City apartment across from us.

It is short and sturdy and, at that time, aged brown since it had been in our neighbor's storage for I didn't know how long. I couldn't even identify its wood nor its age by its legs. 

Did I know to inspect if its dovetail joints had thin adhesives or sealants in between? Perhaps as an indication of vintage.

Nope. I didn't know enough to care.

Drawer Chest, Chicago, Illinois: Circa 1964

All I knew was that it was a much-needed furniture in what we had fondly called Little Room, which was the girls', as opposed to Big Room, the parents' room.

Painted a cheerful red, it soon got crammed with tiny little clothes.

I remember.

Itty bitty pants and flowered jammies, socks and wee dresses, undershirts and bibs. In pinks and baby blue and yellow.

From Chicago, it has traveled with us to various homes.

Now residing in the Grandkids' Room in our current home, it holds scant beddings for the bunk bed, stuffed animal pillows, a dragon-hooded towel, a box of Lite-Brite Classic, puzzles, and painting supplies for when the grandkids visited or slept over.

It sometimes fills me with an overwhelming rush of sadness when I gaze at it, for in the blink of an eye, even the grandkids have grown up so fast. Time is passing swiftly, rushing forward, everything seemingly gone as quickly as a dream.

Yet the thought that nothing can ever actually be lost consoles me.

For the most treasured heirlooms are memories.

And with those, even when I can't go back, I can always move forward.

Nighttime Beacon

  Antiques

Looking around the house, I can see how it has become the repository of what could now be high-value collectibles. 

I never tire looking at them, as each tells a story. Purchased from stores that are now mostly defunct, their allure has not faded. They let me experience memories that sneak out of my eyes and roll down my cheeks. 

So, in this series, I invite you to travel through time and enjoy the history and patina of home vintage finds with me.

*****

In the right light, at the right time, everything is extraordinary. - Aaron Rose 

A lamp does not speak. It introduces itself through its light.

I concur.

A brass torchiere floor lamp was one of our purchases when we moved to a high-rise apartment in the Windy City way back in the mid-70's.

Full of old-world character, it provided a handsome lighting solution with its slender, clean-lined silhouette. The lamp features an ornamental, vintage-style lantern paired with a single-light glass shade (unfortunately broken and seemingly irreplaceable).

I've always thought it is classic.

Brass Torchiere Floor Lamp, Wickes Furniture (now defunct), Chicago, Illinois: Circa 1974

Set between the leather sofa bed and the floor-to-ceiling glass wall, it emitted just enough ambient light that highlighted a view of the clawing waves of Michigan Lake on Lakeshore Drive.

It stayed with us when we moved southwest. Against a window on the bare living room of our ranch-style home in Casa Grande, it silhouetted a sleepy little street outside and a landscape, flat and sparse.

A year after that, in a home in Arizona's capital city, the stairwell could be darkened and shadows would play on the oak walls of the tri-level living room, but there it was - lighting the nights that turned into a night, a day, and another impossibly long night.

Lamp with glass shade still intact,

Christmas in Chicago: 1976

It almost always has been relegated at the corner of the main living  room. 

That's where it is currently, by the piano, against a picture window in our mid-west home.  Old. Worn and faded. 

But it continues to be a beacon.

As it highlights fat robins hidden in the shadows or a lone hummingbird scampering for a last sip of nectar on a teetering feeder.

As it quietly throws random memories like confetti.

As it continues to teach that life could be converted into a festive promenade, even as the heavy overcast sky steals the sun's light. 

My Ivy

 Simple Gifts

If I am thinking correctly, a new baby is probably undoubtedly the grandest gift that could be. - Winnie the Pooh

Suddenly, she became my everything. 

Beautiful, playful, smart, and loving all at the same time. My grandest gift.

I watched her sleep when she was just a baby, thinking that when she woke, she would move mountains.

Inniswood Metro Gardens, OH:
 May 12, 2024

It has often been said, You gotta dance like there's nobody watching.

However, growing up and through her adult years, Second Daughter has been dancing as though EVERYBODY is watching.

Always, she has marched to the beat of her own drummer. And stubbornly refuses to fit in.

Why not?

Why push through life when you can dance through it?

Every day should be a chance to draw in a breath. Especially today!

Because

it's

your

birthday!

So, kick off your shoes.

And dance.

Happy 50th birthday, sweetheart!

 

Axo

 Simple Gifts

My moods don't just swing - they bounce, pivot, recoil, rebound, oscillate, fluctuate and occasionally pirouette. - Anonymous

I had recently gifted myself a mood ring.

It contains a so-called thermochromic element or mood stone with liquid crystals that change color depending on the temperature of the wearer's finger.

Interesting premise, huh?

The design I chose was that of an axolotyl.

I'll call you Axo, I beamed, as I looked at his lizard-like limbs, branching gills protruding from both sides of the head, and a nature-made smile that was unusually cute.

He's magical.

He constantly changes colors, just like the weather which has been capricious. Golden sunlight one minute, black skies and windblown rain the next.

Once, when I checked my ring, Axo was joyfully wearing a smile and showing off a bright reddish color. He looked like he was anticipating the sense of promise brought by the fresh smell that filled the air.

I'm happy, he seemed to say, unprompted.

For most of the day, though, Axo started to  turn green. Normal, average - according to the mood chart. 

When I checked later, he had turned purple. Seemingly smirking. Huh?! My situation had gone from normal to sensual. 

What did Axo know that I didn't?

I couldn't contain my amusement at the thought. If I had believed in wishes, I'd wish.

But the possibility certainly cheered me considerably.

Papi

 Simple Gifts

We are kids. The only difference is the toy we have. - Pablo Larraine

I love toys.

Kids' toys.

The smaller they are, the cuter, I think.

I got one such toy last year. A birthday gift from Second Daughter and Granddaughter. 

They had connived and deemed it appropriate that turning-79-year-old me needed this cute, multicolor kawaii anime night light.

A spark of mischief  illuminates his face. 

A slight smile lifts the corners of his mouth.

Amazon describes the item as a nursery USB rechargeable night light and room decor with seven-LED colors suitable for baby, children, toddlers, and teen girls. Made of washable silicon without any hard angles or edges so he would be safe enough for children and newborns to hold and play with.

At first sight, I must confess that I had smiled in delight, but quickly suppressed it to add a fake eyeroll. 

I have decided to call him Papi. 

Papi winks at me from my night stand.

Sometimes, he joins in the company of squishmallows Chanel and Matt on the bed.

In the storms of life when a darkening sky doesn't bode well, Papi glows.

Shining with warmth and brightness.

Beignet and Cappuccino

 Simple Gifts

In the early morning, as I watched the deck come to life with an assortment of our adopted critters, lyrics from a song the girls used to sing in Cherub Choir came to mind. 

'Tis the gift to be simple, 'tis the gift to be free

'Tis the gift to come down where we ought to be.

- Simple Gifts, Shaker song written and composed in 1848

A great choice for my September series. 

Simple Gifts.

So it shall be.

And as I find myself in the place just right, twill be in the valley of love and delight.

*****

The most important decision you make is to take in a good mood. - Voltaire

I don't have to overextend myself to take in a good mood.

A French Quarter classic beignet and cappuccino will do.

It has been said that the true meaning of life is not to be discovered only after death in some hidden, mysterious realm. On the contrary, it can be found by eating the succulent fruit of the Tree of Life and by living in the here and now as fully and creatively as we can.

I agree.

At a downtown cafe that morning with Second Daughter for a pre-Mother's Day treat, my here and now was defined in a plate of deep-fried, soft, donut-like original beignet and a cup of cappuccino. 

Dusted with powdered sugar and served warm, what was not to love about this square-shaped pastry? I was almost smacking my lips with anticipation.

Every bite of the beignet and every sip of my espresso-based coffee drink topped with a thick layer of foam was heaven.

Délicieux! C’est fantastique! I spoke through stuffed lips.

Some days, you just have to create your own sunshine.

Anticipation's Sweet Embrace

 Game On

And you thought it would be FROGGER or DONKEY KONG this week?

Nope!

I wouldn't pass up the chance to highlight this amazing milestone family celebration as the climactic end to this series.

*****

The suspense is terrible. I hope it'll last. - Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory

Imagine the thrill of not knowing what would come next. 

We were on our toes.

Grandparents, parents, siblings, aunts, godmothers, cousins, friends, and Filipino competitors-turned-fans were cheering, some of them waving SAS-decorated fans and ti leaves, sacred to Hawaiian gods, to bring good luck.

It was Day 4 of the 51st AAU Boys Junior National Volleyball Championships 2024.

After three grueling days of qualifying games packed with thrills, bumps, sets, and spikes, First Grandson and team members were playing for gold.

Someone said that the most important thing in any competition was not to win but to take part, just as the most important thing in life was not the triumph but the struggle.

RDH, Opposite/Outside Hitter Makes A Kill!

But that day, in back of our minds was the thought that these boys were geared around getting there and winning gold.

RDH Dives! Score!! Match Point!!! Screenshot from video: V.E.V., AAU Volleyball Championships 2024

And they did!

At the final deciding game of the match, after SAS scored a point to win the rally, applause erupted. 

Shouts reverberated.

Tears came.

Hugs galore and dancing ensued.

For us, it was an Olympic-size victory, an event that we would all remember and cherish.

When Team Spike and Serve Hawaii won the gold.

When overnight, First Grandson and the boys became a star.

When they not only fought well but conquered. 

Here's to you, RDH - YOU are awesome!!!

Gas Out

Game On 

Family - a little bit of CRAZY, a little bit of LOUD, and a whole lot of FUN. - Anonymous

Sprawled on the carpet, First Grandkids and we eyed Guster. He was the prominent character seated prominently at the center, presiding over the Gas Out game.

Waiting with bated breath as our turn came playing our card in hand, we took turns pressing Guster as many times as shown.

The premise was simple. If Guster farted, you were out.

Your turn, Jach. First Granddaughter chuckled under her breath.

Getting ready for a potentially odorous blow, Jach gingerly pressed Guster.

Whew! Nope. He seemed pleased, a smile twitching at the corners of his mouth.

Cheatah, Jach, First Grandson piped in briskly. You didn't even press Guster. Do it! - at which point Guster the Gas Cloud, full of intestinal discomfort, emitted a loud PBBBT!

We all burst into a wet and teary laughter.

G's turn.

BRAAAP! Guster was ripping at every turn. I knew that if I opened my mouth, the laugh would just burst out, so I just made nods and kept my head bent down.

Eww! The blasts were not silent and they were definitely deadly. Cards in the deck kept the fun tooting along.

TOOT! POOT!

Yay! Skip! First Granddaughter looked up, her eyes widening.

The reverse card "blew" the turn back in the opposite direction. Phooey! First Grandson huffed out a laugh.

The sound that came out was unpronounceable. Something like THPPTPHTPHPHHPH!

I don't recall how the game ended, but what I remember was elation rising inside me.

A moment of intimacy.

Enclosed in a bubble of joy over such a silly thing as a stinking, breaking wind.

Sungka

Game On

Rejoice with your family in the beautiful land of life. - Albert Einstein

Second Grandddaughter and I sat, looking expectantly at each other. Horizontally in front of us was a sungka board.

Sungka, pronounced as soong-kah, is a two-player game played with seashells on a wooden, boat-like board.

Players pick up shells from a chosen hole, move them clockwise around the board, dropping a shell in each hole that's passed over and in the player's designated home base.

The object is to obtain as many shells in one's home, I chattered on brightly.

The rules set, I said. You start. My voice was soothing.

                                              

                                        Internet pic only

Second Granddaughter nodded coyly. Perusing her choice, she daintily picked from the hole from her farthest right and started distributing the shells.

She barked out a laugh, a wild one. I'm winning, G. Her tone and expression were teasing.

We shall see, I spoke calmly and took a turn. I barely paused to take a breath. I'd found my rhythm. Until... I "died" (meaning I ended in an empty hole and had lost my turn).

I could see in the course of the game that First Granddaughter was filling her house.

Ah, beginner's luck. I mocked her gently.

She continued to drop the shells one by one. Looking at my scantily-filled home base, she predicted with a smile at the corner of her lips, You'll end up with burnt houses, G (meaning I wouldn't have enough shells to fill my holes when we begin the next round of play).

As my turn came, I picked up a bunch from a hole, breathed slowly, and took a chance. I could win this. I thought that I had guessed with dead-on accuracy, but as a lonely shell dropped in an empty hole, I knew that I had lost.

Sigh... Just once, I'd like something to go as planned, ya know?

I let out a hooting laugh as dramatically, I clutched at my heart.

Second Granddaughter stifled a giggle, trying to convey a touch of sympathy.

I shooed her away in mock disappointment, but in my heart, I knew that winning wasn't really my biggest thrill. There were more important things.

Like seeing a smile stretched wide across a youthful face.

Hearing a good rich smile.

The sensation of finding mooring in family.

 

 

Centipede

Game On 

In the virtual realm, your potential knows no bounds. - Anonymous

Can you think of anything better than Atari's Centipede game?

I LOVE, LOVE Centipede. 

I used to play it in the early 80's in our home Atari system. I thought its  color graphics was impressive and the premise, exciting. 

That morning, I remember sitting up straight on the floor. My mission: to shoot the segments of a centipede as it wound down the playing field through a field of mushrooms.

Sun Tzu once said that strategy without tactics is the slowest route to victory, but that tactics without strategy is the noise before defeat. I rubbed my palms on my thighs to get ready. I was ready to battle.

My thought, I can score victory with clever moves from my joystick.

Centipede had started its onslaught. All its segments were attached. For now. It was beckoning irritatingly at me. 

Oh-oh, I shouldn't let it hit the bottom of the screen. It's developing new segments! Oops, it just reversed direction. 

I felt my hopes go down, but I tried to ignore the panic flaring inside me.

Whew! That was close. I grunted in relief. 

My heart picked up a beat. If only I could win over other enemies.

A bouncing spider!

Dodge that flea dropping from the top of the screen!

It streaked across the screen changing any mushrooms it hit into poisonous ones. I was so panicked that I felt like I needed to pull back.

Hah! I'd lost my lives, I conceded in a soft tone, shrugging my shoulders.

Anyway, it was time for a break. 

Tomorrow is another day. Just another chance to restart stronger, I mumbled somberly.

Pac-Man

 Game On

The 2024 Summer Olympics is officially underway, taking place in Paris from July 26 to August 11.

It brings a sense of togetherness and motivation that no other sporting event can. It inspires us to look to the best of the best to find a piece of ourselves, something we can relate to, a dose of ferocity and grit that we can apply in our own lives.

It is in this spirit that I'm highlighting in this series MY take on competitive gaming.

Enjoy!

*****

Learn to get excited like a child. There is nothing that has more magic than childish excitement. - Jim Rohn

I loved playing Pac-Man. I relished hearing its sound chomping on pellets.

I was starry-eyed about the idea of eating dots inside an enclosed maze.

You might say, slightly possessed.

Underneath my fierce look was mirth as I kept glaring at the dots.

I remember how with gusto, I would strategize on how to avoid four colored ghosts who were threatening me with the Death Stare.

The pink ghost was so pink it was almost throbbing. You're not getting me, I vowed with my jaw set.

The ghosts are turning blue! What the??!

I realized with a sudden thrill that large flashing dots called power pellets were causing the transformation. But a handout for me. Pac-Man could eat them for bonus points.

I held up my hands and waggled my fingers in a gesture that said, Gimme. More. Cough it up.

Needless to say, every minute of the game was rousing as well as scary. At times, I actually pounded the console with both fists like a toddler in a fit.

As the game progressed, I couldn't keep calm because I was so freaking excited, especially when the stakes increased in difficulty. The ghosts became faster, but I stood my ground, amused. My enthusiasm was undefeated even as the energizers' effect decreased, eventually disappearing entirely.

Alas, I was caught by a ghost. I'd lost all my lives.

Game Over.

I nodded earnestly. 

That was fun.

Still A Pac-Man Fan! Second Daughter contributes this foto taken New Year's Eve, 2023 at Pins. She claims that I would barely let [VEV] play.

Family Faces

Faces 

Families are like fudge, mostly sweet with a few nuts. - Anonymous

I've saved the best for last - my pick of memorable family faces. Remember, as far as anyone knows, we're a nice, normal family.

Senior One: Me when cleaning my ears turns into something magical

Mhe: When my face hurts from too much scowling

Guapo and First Daughter:

When we don't care

 what you think about us

First Grandson: When U peed your pants. You try to hide it... but you just can't!

First Granddaughter: Shouting a word you've always needed but never realized existed

Comment from Second Granddaughter: RDH was saying, Ahhhh! IAH was saying, AHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!! I would have said same as IAH (lol) and sounded like an eagle.

Lexi:

When someone sneezes 

right in your face

Second Granddaughter: Me listening to my Dad's playlist

Second Daughter: When I didn't get enough sleep and people are trying to talk to me

Beau Bean: When I've just pooped on my wheel

Clockwise from top left: 

Minnie: When I look at an Instagram post

Priscilla: When I is missing you

Madeline: My face every time you cross my mind

Family forever, for always, no matter what their faces.