As you can see by Itzl's concerned look, this group is for us to check in at to let people know we are alive, doing OK, and not affected by such things as heat, blizzards, floods, wild fires, hurricanes, tornadoes, power outages, earthquakes, or other such things that could keep us off DKos. It's also so we can find other Kossacks nearby for in-person checks when other methods of communication fail - a buddy system. Members come here to check in. If you're not here, or anywhere else on DKos, and there are adverse conditions in your area (floods, heatwaves, hurricanes, earthquakes etc.), we and your buddy are going to check up on you. If you are going to be away from your computer for a day or a week, let us know here. We care!
IAN is a great group to join, and a good place to learn to write diaries. Drop one of us a PM to be added to the Itzl Alert Network anytime! We all share the publishing duties, and we welcome everyone who reads IAN to write diaries for the group! Every member is an editor, so anyone can take a turn when they have something to say, photos and music to share, a cause to promote or news!
Ok, we do have a diary schedule. But, when you are ready to write that diary, either post in thread or send FloridaSNMOM a Kosmail with the date. If you need someone to fill in, ditto. FloridaSNMOM is here on and off through the day usually from around 9:30 or 10 am eastern to around 11 pm eastern.
Monday:
BadKitties
Tuesday:
ejoanna
Wednesday:
Caedy
Thursday:
art ah zen
Friday:
FloridaSNMOM
Saturday:
Most Awesome Nana
Sunday:
loggersbrat
I was reading a book by Anna Quindlen (the Baby Boomer Maven of all things ordinary), Lots of Candles, Plenty of Cake, and in chapter five, "Stuff," she wrote about all the things we accumulate during our lives. It was a rather sad listing of all the stuff she has amassed and yet found had no meaning (except perhaps for the needlepoint pillows she made herself). You know the line - things don't make us happy so why the heck do we do it?
No one could ever call me an accumulator - except of books and music - so I was feeling rather superior that I hadn't fallen into the "American Way of Over Consumption" when I came to this:
Chris called one night and asked how to drain spaghetti if you don't have one of those things with the holes in it. Next time he came over I gave him one of my four colanders. Or maybe it's five. I like the old enameled ones.
Four or five colanders? How does one end up with four or five colanders? And then I stopped to think. Even though I was completely alone, I blushed with shame. Because this is what I found in my cabinets:
Why do I have FIVE COLANDERS? Okay, one of them was left behind by the former owners of my house. One of the plastic ones I purchased at the Dollar Store while we were at the cabin in New Hampshire because I had forgotten to bring mine. One came with the spaghetti pot. The old metal one with the feet and wire handles was my Mother's. I have no idea how or where the black plastic one appeared. So, yeah, easy to do.
Then I got to thinking what else do I have? Gave all the "good" china, crystal and tableware to my daughter when she got married. But I still have two sets of dinnerware and enough extra bowls to feed soup to the entire neighborhood. And two sets of tableware. Why do I have SIX TEAPOTS? I use the two cup one for myself and the Brown Betty if I have company. Yet I still have to wash the other four. I don't have a lot of clothes, shoes or linens; but I have four coats, nine knitted hats, six pairs of gloves and five scarves.
The year I was born, 1947, was the Chinese Year of the Pig. Sixty-seven years of people giving me pig related gifts. I refuse to count the pigs that are visible in my house and do not want to think about the two large containers of pigs that sit in the shed. China pigs, stuffed pigs, painted pigs, piggy banks, pig pens (black, red & blue ink), X-mas ornament pigs, pig cookie jars, pig magnets, pig shirts. Argh! I am doomed!
How did this happen to me? I throw things away! I donate to the thrift shop! And when I die, who is going to want all those blessed PIGS?!
And now for today's totally gratuitous picture.
#2 M.A. Grandson sitting on the side of Arthur's Seat, Edinburgh, Scotland. I do hope the Scots don't come to regret that "No" vote.