Hellifino

Forty

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Aug 132010

I turned forty this week. My feelings on the matter are somewhere along the lines of “Wow, would you look at that!?”

As a child, 40 was an immense age, how could I ever live that long? What would I do with all that time? As a depressed and overly sensitive teenager I was sure that it wouldn’t be worth reaching 40. How could I stand to exist that long? As a young adult and throughout my 20′s I just didn’t care about more than whatever made me happy at that moment. 40 was an insignificant, uninteresting concept. In my 30′s I started to imagine what being ‘old’ would be like. I’d made it this far, what if I made it all the way to (whatever age seemed ‘old’ to me at the time). I worried about it.

I could go into some sort of short version of a life story here to explain these phases, but that’s not what I want to talk about here. This will be more of a status report.

Physically

I am morbidly obese. I have been morbidly obese on and off throughout my life. Since moving to South Carolina in 2007 from Alaska, which had been the only place I lived before then, I have lost 60 pounds. Unfortunately, I have only managed to keep off 30 of those pounds. My diet is not too much of a problem, I don’t snack on junk, don’t eat fast food, eat pasta or bread rarely and when I do it’s whole wheat, and don’t hardly eat any sugar anymore, I just need to work on portion control. For the past 2 months I have been getting up half an hour earlier to exercise before work. I have tried many things, but the one I enjoy the most is watching ridiculous television shows while using my Gazelle Freestyle. Currently, I am watching half an hour of “Weeds” every morning.

At my last physical I got an almost clean bill of health. My blood pressure was a little high, but not by much. 124/83. My doctor wants to keep an eye on it, but not start me on any medication at this time. After last year’s scare with cervical dysplasia (ultimately leading to them finding nothing wrong), this seems like no big deal.

I have osteoarthritis in my knees from being morbidly obese, and I’m sure my genetics didn’t help. My knees click quite musically, especially when I go down stairs. I have some pain in them, but the worst part is the feeling that my knees don’t want to support my weight.

I am occasionally afflicted by vertigo caused by Meniere’s Disease. Cutting out caffeine and lowering my salt intake and taking Antivert regularly has helped a lot. Still, my ears ring and I’ve lost about 50% hearing in my left ear. But heck, if it’s worth hearing it’s worth leaning towards and saying, “What!?” a lot.

I still have long blonde hair (though not as long as it used to be since donating to Locks of Love last year) with no grey in it that I’ve found. It is perhaps not as thick as it used to be, but not too thin either. I think it’s a few shades lighter since moving to South Carolina.

My eyesight is still bad, but it has slowed the rate at which it’s getting worse. My eye prescription hasn’t changed much in the past 5 years. No bifocals yet!

I still get the occasional blemish on my face. I’ve never had much luck with maintaining a skin care regimen. Mostly because I hate using products that dry my skin out. To me, flakey skin is more annoying than the occasional zit.

Mentally

I am honestly probably the happiest I’ve been in my adult life. I could list all sorts of reasons why, but the bottom line is that I’ve come to accept myself. I am who I am. Flaws, fat, blindness, deafness, blemishes and all. Now that doesn’t mean that I don’t think there’s room for improvement, because there is. Lots! I just don’t think less of myself for admitting that.

I am still awfully scatterbrained… and not so much in an absentminded sort of way, but more in that I get distracted from things easily and have way too many unstarted and unfinished projects.

I still love to be creative and get great joy making things. Any things… it doesn’t matter what kind of crafty thing it is, I probably have or want to do it!

Spiritually

I’m still undecided. I have all the same questions with no new answers. I am not religious, and I’m not atheist and not agnostic. If I had to be categorized I’d say I’m somewhere between agnostic and atheist. I spent many years studying different religions and couldn’t find one that fits. I no longer stress over the subject though.

In Love

My husband Kirk, best partner in crime; friends, I know how to pick ‘em; family, crazy bunch of lovable loons and I wouldn’t trade a single one of them in for less than 6 figures.

So where does that leave me at 40? I’d like to think I’m in better shape than I’ve ever been overall… not in the details perhaps, but in the big picture. So, now I get serious on the details! But not too serious. Life is funny and I plan to enjoy that aspect of it as long as I can!

40? Pshaw!

Confederate Memorial Day

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May 122010

In South Carolina, the 10th of May is recognized as Confederate Memorial Day.

From the May, 1893 issue of “Confederate Veteran,” the Origin of Memorial Day

It is a matter of history that Mrs. Chas. J. Williams, of Columbus, Ga., instituted the beautiful custom of decorating soldiers’ graves with flowers, a custom which has been adopted throughout the United States. Mrs. Williams was the daughter of Maj. John Howard, of Milledgeville, Ga., and was a superior woman. She married Maj. C. J. Williams on his return from the Mexican War. As colonel of the First Georgia Regulars, of the Army in Virginia, he contracted disease, from which he died in 1862, and was buried in Columbus, Ga.

Mrs. Williams and her little girl visited his grave every day, and often comforted themselves by wreathing it with flowers. While the mother sat abstractly thinking of the loved and lost one, the little one would pluck the weeds from the unmarked soldiers’ graves near her father’s and cover them with flowers, calling them her soldiers’ graves.

After a short time while the dear little girl was summoned by the angels to join her father. The sorely bereaved mother then took charge of these unknown graves for the child’s sake, and as she cared for them thought of the thousands of patriot graves throughout the South, far away from home and kindred, and in this way the plan was suggested to her of setting apart one day in each year, that love might pay tribute to valor throughout the Southern States. In March, 1868, she addressed a communication to the Columbus Times, an extract of which I give:

“We beg the assistance of the press and the ladies throughout the South to aid us in the effort to set apart a certain day to be observed from the Potomac to the Rio Grande, and to be handed down through time as a religious custom of the South, to wreathe the graves of our martyred dead with flowers, and we propose the 26th day of April as the day.”

She then wrote to the Soldiers’ Aid Societies in every Southern State, and they readily responded and reorganized under the name of Memorial Associations. She lived long enough to see her plan adopted all over the South, and in 1868 throughout the United States. Mrs. Williams died April 15, 1874, and was buried with military honors. On each returning Memorial Day the Columbus military march around her grave, and each deposits a floral offering.

The Legislature of Georgia, in 1874, set apart the 26th day of April as a legal holiday in obedience to her request. Would be that every Southern State observed the same day.

On May 10. 2010 I went to a little known graveyard in Columbia, SC.

There is a stone there that declares it to be the “Geiger Ave. Cemetery” but it is also known as the “Confederate Soldiers Home Cemetery” and the “Cottontown Cemetery”. It is right across the road from the Administrative building of the South Carolina Department of Mental Health.

I spent some time looking around the graveyard and took these pictures:

Confederate Memorial Day

I left flowers (Confederate Jasmine) on the grave of “Augusta Carmichael”.

Articles I have found about this lonely, abandoned graveyard:

http://www.state.sc.us/dmh/cemetery_story.htm

“Geiger Street aka “The Cottontown Cemetery” Cottontown sits just across the street from the SCDMH Administration Building. This cemetery was in use from 1827 to 1954. Although it was thought that about 1,300 people were buried in this well kept open field, the names of 1,723 people have been recorded in the database. A marker placed by SCDMH in the mid 80s identifies the grounds as “Geiger Ave. Cemetery.” A portion of the cemetery in the center is fenced off, with a gate. The remains of Confederate soldiers lay here. SCDMH patients are buried around the periphery. Stones are at ground level and a few have names.”

http://www.palmettoroots.org/ConfederateCem.html

In 1908 the General Assembly of South Carolina established a home for the infirmed and destitute Confederate Soldiers and Sailors. The home was located on the corner of Confederate Avenue and Bull Street at 1417 Confederate Avenue in Columbia. In 1925, wives and widows of Confederate veterans were allowed admission to the home.
Confederate Soldiers & Sailors Home 1925

The home was closed in 1957 due to a very low number of remaining residents. In later years the home was demolished. Today, there is a stone monument located on the original site on Confederate Avenue to commemorate the Confederate Soldiers and Sailors Home.
Confederate Soldiers Home Monument
CONFEDERATE SOLDIERS HOME

By an act of the General Assembly in 1908, an infirmary for was established on this site for the infirm and destitute Confederate soldiers and
Sailors of the state. In 1925, eligibility for admission was extended to wives and widows of
Confederate veterans. The home was closed in 1957 when too few residents remained.

Erected By
Wade Hampton Chapter, UDC
1970
A few of the Confederate Soldier’s Home former residents, along with some former State Hospital patients, are buried in a nearby cemetery. The name of the cemetery is the Geiger Avenue Cemetery, although most people know it as the Confederate Soldiers Home Cemetery.

Lasagna, almost diet-worthy

Dinner, Recipes No Responses »

Apr 232010

THis is what we had for dinner last night along with a can of “no salt added” corn.

1lb lean ground beef
4 cups tomato sauce
1 tsp minced, fresh garlic
Herbs to taste such as: Oregano, Parsley, Thyme
weight watchers shredded cheese, about 8 ounces
part skim ricotta cheese
1 box whole wheat lasagna noodles

I browned the ground beef, drained the grease, added the tomato sauce and garlic and herbs. In a 8×11 (or similar sized) baking pan layer starting with tomato sauce/beef mixture, then uncooked noodles, then tomato sauce/beef mixture then spread some ricotta (I just took fractions of spoonfulls and distributed them evenly) and then sprinkle one half of the weight watchers cheese. Do more layers starting with the noodles until the last noodle layer. On top of the last noodle layer place sauce and weight watchers cheese (no ricotta).

Bake in a 350 degree oven for 45 – 55 minutes.

Eat.

I have no idea of the calorie count or anything else, I just know it’s healthier than the way I used to make lasagna, and still pretty tasty.

Tonight, fresh tomato and cucumber salad

Incessant Babble, Recipes, Snack No Responses »

Aug 012009

Fresh tomato and cucumber salad

1/2 cup extra virgin olive oil
2 tablespoons balsamic vinegar
2 tablespoons red wine vinegar
1/4 teaspoon lite salt
3-4 cloves garlic, minced
10 fresh basil leaves (fresh today from my garden)
5 fresh oregano leaves (fresh today from my garden)
3 small fresh cucumbers (fresh today from my garden)
A dozen cherry tomatoes (fresh today from my garden)

Mince garlic. Let garlic stand in balsamic and wine vinegars for 10 minutes (this takes the “edge” off).

Wash basil and oregano leaves. Roll up leaves and slice into little strips (chiffonade). Chop and add to your olive oil and allow to stand in oil while garlic marinates.

Wash cucumbers and tomatoes. Peel cucumbers, leaving a little peel. Slice cucumbers into 1/4 inch cubes.

Slice tomatoes into halves or quarters, being careful not to crush and lose juice.

Place tomatoes and cucumbers in salad bowl and sprinkle with salt. (most recipes I saw that I cannibalized into this recipe asked for 1/2 tsp salt, i reduced it to 1/4 tsp and used lite salt)

Combine olive oil with vinegars, whisking together well. Use to dress tomatoes and cucumbers. Refrigerate for at least 1/2 hour. (I saw one recipe that said to eat this salad at room temperature, but I decided to go with a little refrigeration time to let the flavors blend a little)

Locks of Love

Life Story?, WaddaILearn? No Responses »

Jul 102009

Well, I’m gonna do it. BYE BYE HAIR!! I haven’t had short hair since the 4th grade. Not that it will be incredibly short, but only down to my shoulders. Interesting factiod: It is estimated that 80% of donations to Locks of Love come from children wanting to help other children. Rather impressive, that.

http://www.locksoflove.org/index.html

My wonderful sister-in-law Kara came with me and held my hand.

Pictures!

Before

After the cut

Me and Hair

The national unemployment rate.

WaddaILearn? No Responses »

Jul 092009

I wandered upon the fact that the national unemployment rate is determined by a survey of 50,000 US households that are polled every 2 weeks regarding employment status.

It is called the Current Population Survey (CPS), and is a joint effort between the Bureau of Labor Statistics and the Census Bureau.

“The Current Population Survey (CPS) is a monthly survey of about 50,000 households conducted by the Bureau of the Census for the Bureau of Labor Statistics. The survey has been conducted for more than 50 years.

The CPS is the primary source of information on the labor force characteristics of the U.S. population. The sample is scientifically selected to represent the civilian noninstitutional population. Respondents are interviewed to obtain information about the employment status of each member of the household 15 years of age and older. However, published data focus on those ages 16 and over. The sample provides estimates for the nation as a whole and serves as part of model-based estimates for individual states and other geographic areas.

Estimates obtained from the CPS include employment, unemployment, earnings, hours of work, and other indicators. They are available by a variety of demographic characteristics including age, sex, race, marital status, and educational attainment. They are also available by occupation, industry, and class of worker. Supplemental questions to produce estimates on a variety of topics including school enrollment, income, previous work experience, health, employee benefits, and work schedules are also often added to the regular CPS questionnaire.

CPS data are used by government policymakers and legislators as important indicators of our nations’s economic situation and for planning and evaluating many government programs. They are also used by the press, students, academics, and the general public.”

http://www.census.gov/cps/

Poor neglected blogsite

Incessant Babble, Internet Adventures No Responses »

Jun 232009

How I have ignored thee…

Perhaps I should make an effort, pick a topic, and write something here consistently, if only to keep in the habit of writing. With a domain name like ‘hellifino’ it would make sense to write about things I know NOTHING about… but there’s the problem… if I don’t know anything about it….

Perhaps I could pick a topic, research it via the internet, and post what I find out about it, with links to sources. And restrict my research to internet sources… if only for the amusement value.

Intriguing idea.

We applied for our marriage license yesterday

Uncategorized 1 Response »

Mar 252009

I get to pick it up today on the way home from work. How crazy is that?

Madam will be here today

Incessant Babble, Life Story?, Recipes, Work at home 2 Responses »

Feb 132009

though I might not be home when she arrives, and as she needs to be signed for, I may not get her until next week.

Who is Madam? Madam is a painting that was my mothers. She was painted in the 1800′s by a French artist named A. Dubois. What the A stands for, mom never did find out. Madam is a middle aged woman, sitting in a chair. She is sitting sideways, but her head is turned and she is looking straight out of the picture. Her eyes follow you wherever you go. She has a book on her lap with her hand resting on it… i think the book is the Bible, but I don’t remember if it it says that on it, or it’s just what I’ve always assumed. Madam is not a beautiful woman. She is a bit on the heavy side, has dark hair and is wearing a fur lined, dark blue dress and a complicated hat.

Mom always said she bought Madam at a garage sale for $100. She liked to share her suspicion that Madam had been stolen from somewhere in Europe during WWII and that someday some family would claim her. Growing up, Madam was always on a wall somewhere, staring out at me. Though I don’t know if it was ‘always’ as I’m not sure when exactly Mom bought Madam.

Madam is a bit worn out. She is oil on canvas stretched over a frame. Some of the nails (or tacks) holding her to this frame always looked loose to me. She has one major tear in her, that I recall as being about 2 inches wide. There are several little nicks and dents elsewhere on the painting as well.

My mother passed away the day before Thanksgiving, 2008. In her will, she wanted me to have Madam. For many months my Aunt who is the executor of my mothers estate tried to find a buyer for Madam as I had told her to just sell Madam and give the money to my brother who is Moms main beneficiary. Eventually my aunt implied that she was just going to let a local auction house auction her off. I knew that Madam would only get a fraction of what she was worth in those circumstances, so I told my aunt to just ship Madam to me instead.

UPS called me with an automated message last night telling me to expect a package today. Madam is on her way here to South Carolina all the way from Alaska. Not the longest trip she has made in her life, as she came from Europe to Alaska to begin with, by an unknown route with who knows how many stops in between.

I have mixed feelings about Madam. She was part of my growing up. She was kinda creepy to tell the truth, but had a mildly mysterious story behind her, so she was also kind of neat.

And now she will be mine.

I can’t imagine ever hanging her on my wall. Ideally, I will do some research, make some calls, and get her sold for a reasonable amount to someone who takes a fancy to her and her mystery. It’s possible that this will take many years. I might not even be able to sell her as is. Perhaps some day whoever inherits my old junk will end up with her.

It seems a strange, almost sad legacy for a painting of a woman who probably was a real life flesh and blood human being back in the 1800′s that has no tie to me other than the fact that somehow a portrait of her ended up in a garage sale in Alaska.

The Morning Mystery of the Creepy Pants Fairies

Incessant Babble, Life Story? No Responses »

Jan 232009

an email conversation

Kirk to me: Yay Friday!!! But it looks like it’s going to be a hectic one…blah Btw…did you leave a pair of pants on the front porch?

Me to Kirk: wtf… pants on the front porch??? Not that I know of…what they look like?

Kirk to me: LOL They were a pair of black slacks, turned inside out draped on the rail to the left of the door when walking out.

Me to Kirk: Very odd… Pants fairies leaving us pants…

Kirk to Me: Heh…I’m wondering if they fell out of Charlie’s car last night…but that still doesn’t explain how they got on the porch.

Me to Kirk: Oh hey, he DID take a pair of pants off while you were in the bathroom… he had jeans on underneath. I bet he left them there on his way out the door… had full hands or something?

Kirk to Me: Ahhh…ok that explains it then.

Me to Kirk: Was startin to wonder wtf was goin on… CREEPY PANTS FAIRIES!!!

Kirk to Me: Hehe…yeah it was a bit freaky when I walked out and found them. At least they were on the porch and not under my pillow

Me to Kirk: See how oblivious I am when I walk out the door in the morning? lol

Kirk to me: I wasn’t going to say anything.

Me to Kirk: PTHPTHPTHPTHPTH!!!

Older Entries

Hellifiblog

Forty

Confederate Memorial Day

Lasagna, almost diet-worthy

Tonight, fresh tomato and cucumber salad

Locks of Love

The national unemployment rate.

Poor neglected blogsite

We applied for our marriage license yesterday

Madam will be here today

The Morning Mystery of the Creepy Pants Fairies

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