Silly questions

Tired of those surveys made by high school kids? Here are 24 questions for Grown Ups. (I found this on Facebook. I thought it would be a fun post while I was north. Enjoy! Oddly, the last question formatted in a different way!)

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1. What bill do you hate paying the most?    Electricity in Alaska.

2. When was the last time you had a romantic dinner? Maybe early months of 2017. Not sure what would count as romantic. How about a completely enjoyable meal with one other person. October or November of 2018.

3. What do you really want to be? I’m not really very ambitious. Although, becoming a citizen of Alaska again would be stellar!

4. How many colleges did you attend? One. For 5 years. Graduated with one of those useless degrees.

5. Why did you choose the shirt you have on now? I wanted a shirt with orange and I fell in love with it at a thrift store.

6. Thoughts on gas prices right now? Not liking those summer prices in Alaska.

7. First thought when the alarm goes off in the morning? “Already?”

8. Last thought you have before you go to bed? “Why didn’t I go to the bathroom before getting under the covers?”🤔🙄🙄🤔

9. Do you miss being a kid? Some parts of it.

10. What errand/chore do you despise? Picking up dirty dishes and napkins..Because I’m not getting paid!

11. Up early or sleep late? sleep late

12. Found love yet? I love Alaska. 💜

Photo by TW

13. Favorite lunch meat? Roast beef.

14. What do you get every time you go to Walmart? Usually test strips and glucose tablets. I don’t get them every time, but it’s often enough!

15. Beach or Lake? Ocean waves are a favorite, but any sort of water is needed.

16. Is Marriage overrated? Not sure yet.

 

17. Ever crashed a vehicle? Unfortunately, yes. Hydroplaned at a stoplight. Still annoys me. My little car ended up under the truck back bumper and I was yelled at cuz their small child fell onto the floor off the back seat. My small one was in a car seat and his older brother buckled in back.

18. Strangest place you’ve brushed your teeth? Public bathroom. 😳

19. Name a place you’ve never been but want to go? East coast, most of Alaska, Canada, and definitely Europe. But, those aren’t exactly reachable! So, I’ll say the Woodburn, Oregon Tulip Festival. Ok, that’s probably not reachable either. The Walla Walla balloon Stampede in October during deer season. If I’m in Oregon, I could go by myself!

20. Do you have a go to person? No, I blog.

21. Are you where you want to be in life right now? No. I need to accept all of myself, not worry about what others think, and stop pushing her away. On the other hand, I am in Alaska, so there is that! 😍😍

22. Growing up what were your favorite cartoons? In books, Tin-Tin and Garfield. On tv, Jonny Quest and Schoolhouse Rock.

Monday earrings! 

23. What do you think has changed about you since you are older? A lot has changed in shape and health. With the rest , I am a stronger person than I was a few years ago, but I think much of me is fundamentally the same. I have grown more open in my thinking, I don’t react as much as I used to, I am more comfortable with being invisible, and have learned to let things be, rather than fret til they tie me in knots. Or I write about it!

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• 24. What would you tell your younger self? Kris, after your graduation from high school, you will be given the uncertain gift of Diabetes. It’s awful, you can manage it, and over the years, it changes every part of your body. Take care of it. Oh, and that birthday cake your senior year? Don’t give it all away, save a piece for yourself. It’s going to be the last guilt free birthday cake you’ll ever get.

Tales of Two- thoughts on books….

I love books and words and ideas using that particular medium. Historical fiction fascinates me. It often tells of a time years beyond my ken. This summer, I’ve run across two stories of women being wed at a young age and their experiences. One is set in the early 1800’s and is across Cook Inlet. The other begins in 1892 in Tennessee. ‘Tatiana’ and ‘Maude’.

Maude’s life was tumultuous. The author writes for Maude, ‘I’d already been an orphan, a wife, and a mother. Now I was a widow. I was only three months past my sixteenth birthday.’ She eventually remarries. The two are not entirely compatible, Maude is often unhappy, but things manage to work. They had several children, battled disease, loss, the Depression, and war. She was a survivor and brought strength to her family. I thought this quote was a good synopsis of Maude’s story: ‘I think now God gives each one of us a measure of happiness for our lives, and some are allowed more than others. It’s like the ration stamps that were handed out during the war, so much butter, so much sugar, and then no more. I also think that sometimes the good stretches are so good that it must count for double time…’

Tatiana was a child of two different cultures. She runs away from her Russian father to remain a Dena’ina Athabaskan. It was not easy for this beautiful educated girl to adapt to the harsh life of surviving one day at a time. Her only companion was a boy she hardly knew, her father sent bounty hunters after them, and she had to defend herself many times. Yet, Tazdlin loved her, she was cherished, and continued to learn and then to instruct. This beautiful thought is near the end of the story of Tatiana. ‘Regardless of the invisible forces, no single person, couple, or tribe of that day could have accomplished what they did together. Tazdlin’s unmatched skills and physical abilities complimented Tatiana’s unique penchant for higher morals, making them a historically unique force for good in that land.’

As different as the two stories are, they are remarkably similar in many ways. The main characters had to leave beloved families in their early teens to join with an older young man. Both women were loved by their parents. They often had to fight the persecution of being a woman in a “male” world. Changes were rapid and often harsh. Items of a monetary value were scarce and both women used their creativity to bring money in. Each woman remembered lessons they had learned from their mothers and taught new generations. The youngest of these women’s children were males with mental difficulties. In each story, faith was an important part of the lives of Tatiana and Maude.

Each story was written by a descendant of the main character. ‘Maude’ was scribed in a typical conversational chapter format from memories Donna had of the stories Maude shared. ‘Tatianta’ is a story told to a modern reader like none other I’ve read, or remember reading. In both, oral tradition brought these adventures thru time to today. Donna’s daughter asked her to write down Maude’s story, Rachel was asked a question by her daughter, which led to the crafting of ‘Tatiana’.

I often caught myself writing down thoughts from these incredible tales of two women. I could relate to facets in each main character. I also found this a comforting reminder: No matter what the differences in time and culture, people are pretty much the same.

What time does-

 1972. We were with our 3rd dad. I remember this because of the stuffed toy I am holding (I’m the older one!). We had gone to a big city to get Easter presents (probably Kenai!!). We got to choose our stuffed animals. My sister wanted the big bright bunny. I chose the little lamb, because it was missing a tail. My step dad was really surprised I wanted it, but I prevailed. Eventually, Lamby was mine and I loved it well!

The craziest thing about this photo is today. I went to church with mum this morning. It was not easy to listen to her tell people how well she is and people who told me how well she looked. They really need to stay all day with her. Mum has attended Methodist churches off and on and then finally on since we moved to Alaska. Before that we were Lutherans. I think. At any rate, when this photo was taken, we had not been attending anywhere, but the bulk of our background was Methodist. Today, my sister has recently joined the Jewish faith and I attend a Christian church (background from The Stone-Campbell Restoration Movement in the 1800’s-Long story.). My personal faith is eclectic and allows for other thoughts, ideas, and grows as I do. My mum’s. Well, she is set in her ways and is incredibly irritated with the fact her youngest daughter has tossed out anything to do with ‘traditional’ holidays and beliefs. Literally, in many cases. Although my sister has not gotten rid of her Hallmark Star Trek ornaments, she has unloaded all the other collections mum tediously purchased for my sister and her spouse and mum’s youngest grandchild. I find it unusual, but it isn’t my faith. Mum, she has gotten very upset.

My sister had thought about coming to visit mum today and asked if it would be ok. Mum asked her why she’d come over (remember: my sister has not been to visit mum since the start of March, when she brought the dog back. They live about 30 min from mum and my sister works less than 10 min away.). Sister replied it was Easter. Mum snippily responded, ‘You don’t believe in Easter anymore. What would you do here?’ In the end, she didn’t come over with the family.  Which was good in the long run. Mum was super tired. But, I was frustrated at dinner. Mum seemed almost gleeful that we were eating ham for dinner and my sister couldn’t. I asked her not to be mean and she said she wasn’t being mean, she was just saying we could eat it and they couldn’t. 

I felt sad for my sister. I look at the tiny grinning face in the photo and wish my mum could show some tolerance and empathy towards the woman she’s become. Granted, my little sister drives me bonkers in less than a parsecond, but I’m not going to constantly tear down her faith, her clothing style, her hair, her looks, or how she raises her family. It is very different, but it is really none of my business. (it does provide a bit of fodder for good stories, though!) 

Experiments and Recipes

In the ‘Kamasutra-by Vatsyayana’ there are chapters on experiments and recipes. At the close of each chapter there is a variation of these words, ” No means should be tried with are doubtful in their effects, which are likely to cause injury to the body…” and so on.

Here is one of the ‘experiments’ mentioned. “When a man wishes to enlarge his lingam, he should rub it with the bristles of certain insects that live in trees, and then after rubbing it for ten nights with oils, he should again rub it with the bristles as before. By continuing to do this a swelling will be gradually produced in the lingam, [175] and he should then lie on a cot, and cause his lingam to hang down through a hole in the cot. After this he could take away all the pain from the swelling by using cool concoctions.” Apparently, this swelling lasts for life. No name was given for the bristly insects.

Also mentioned are ways to ‘get a woman’. There is a sprout from a vajnasunhi plant, which can be dried and mixed with monkey excrement. When thrown on a maiden, this will ensure she is not given in marriage to anyone else. If you want to subject a woman to the man’s will, it is encouraged he anoint his lingam with a mixture of powdered white thorn apple, long pepper, black pepper, and honey. Then he must engage in sexual union with the woman. Although, if you apply the remains of a kite who has died a natural death, ground into a powder and mixed with cowach and honey, it has the same effect!

These treatments are from chapters 31 and 32 in the book by Vatsyayana. Solomon once said, there is nothing new under the sun, I reckon he was right! 

I love books!!!!

I adore fiction. I devour fiction. Sometimes, though, a nice non-fiction is good to get your teeth into. I finally finished ‘The Kamasutra‘ by Vatsyayana. It was incredibly fascinating and not at all like the things you find when you google this topic. Parts of the last paragraphs by the translator were incredibly apt for the book. “The Kama Sutra of Vatsyayana, which might otherwise be called a treatise on men and women, their mutual relations and connection with each other.”  This book was written about eighteen hundred years ago and it seems ‘to prove that the human nature of today is much the same as the human nature of the long ago.”  

The ‘sex’ part does not take up much of the treatise and I can see where Europeans might have snagged this portion of the life lessons and ran with them. I’ll share off and on hilarious bits I found in my reading. Or at least, things I found rather funny. For instance. Chapter 28. ‘Of the means of getting money, of the signs of the change of a lover’s feelings, and of the way to get rid of him.”  And there are not 50, just 28. 

Twisted

 I am reading a book (surprise!). It is an old book from the 1st to 6th century. It is a book many people have ‘read’ in different forms. This is a translation of the original and I’m finding it quite fascinating. It is, ‘The Kamasutra: by Vatsyayana’. In one of the first categories, ‘The Kama Shastra’, the author sets forth activities to be practiced by young maids with trusted female friends. Although they are highlighted for young women, these are pursuits everyone is encouraged to learn well. They are described as ‘arts and sciences’ . The activities are extensive and somewhat ordinary. They range from arranging food and flowers to games with words. “Study of sentences difficult to pronounce. It is played as a game chiefly by women and children, and consists of a difficult sentence being given, and when repeated quickly, the words are often transposed or badly pronounced.”  It appears tongue twisters have been a part of the world’s culture for a VERY long time. Pretty cool, huh?

Icons

I am not the icon, the shirt is. I don’t know if you can SEE the words, but they read (on the top) “Alaska’s Udder Cola” and (on the bottom) “Matanuska Maid.” When I was a kid, the lady in skates was on every carton of milk. I never quite understood why she had on such a short costume and skates to sell milk, but I think visiting the creamery in Anchorage was one of the very best field trips I remember. I particularly love the shirt for more than the cozy soft worn warmth. I love the humor and that the cow is the maid. Cuz, really, she is!

Living on the Oregon coast in dairy country (Tillamook) for 17 years was educational. Milk is more than a skating chick on a carton. There is a great deal of work which goes into getting the milk from the field to the creamery. And barn boots do not come with blades! 

Twins?

 

by: sKeTcH-cRaZy

A few posts back I mentioned Greek mythology. Remember when Athena was born? Zeus had a headache and went to his brother, Hephaestus. He asked the working god to hit him on the head (which I am sure Hephaestus really enjoyed!). Or so the story I remember, goes! Anyway, Athena sprang from his horrible headache and became the goddess of war and wisdom (do those two really go together????). I have had an ongoing headache for a couple of days now. I think I have twins…..

Looking for more

 

I enjoy history. I particularly like the bits often left out of the classroom. In tonight’s news, mention was made of a teen in Denmark. He was doing a project for a class, using a metal detector, and found a crashed WW2 airplane with the pilot’s skeleton still inside! What a wonderful find for this young man to experience.

As I was perusing a pic to go with this story, I found nose art. When I worked at an Air Museum, planes with nose art was very popular. The first bird, the P38, is from the Air Museum where I worked. The second photo is by an anonymous photographer (the first one belongs to the Tillamook Air Museum) and much racier than anything we had in our hanger!!! Fun stuff,  history! 

Greek fun

Do you remember elementary and junior high? The middle school years? This was when most of us were introduced to the Greek culture. The fun and watered down parts, focusing on their gods and goddesses and a battle or two. Fun, because they were. Watered down, because the sexual interplay between the deities and their worshiping humans was glossed over. Yeah, we knew Zeus had some kids with his sisters or other women, but I think the teachers avoided the topic. Michael has been sharing,  in his blog, the not watered down parts of Greece. (who wants watered wine, anyway?). It has been a fascinating reminder of a world alien to ours. One full of passion and stories not taught in those early classes of zit faced adolescents who know everything! Thank you, Michael, for reminding me some things never change, no matter WHEN in time they take place. (Now, where is that soundtrack to Xanadu……)