Things That Drive You Crazy 2008-10-08T05:19:01Z http://driveucrazy.com/atom.aspx Quick Blogcast But Who's Counting? tag:driveucrazy.com,2008-01-01:0fa429e8-5b86-41cf-b0ec-fba70fd7ed53 joankelsy 2008-10-05T07:31:03Z 2008-01-01T09:03:00Z Keep those American-made flags flying!
10/05/08: 53,388 hits so far.  We're one year old!

   Are they finally going after the golden parachutes? Thank you Barney Frank.
The FBI is looking into unsavory practices in all three bailout recipients. 
   Can they control those profiteers?  Absoolutely.  First, throw the lobbyists out. 
And stop the huge election contributions from the corporations.  Seems to me
one of the presidential candidates advocated that at one time.  What a relief
it would be to have less stretching the truth from political candidates!
 
***And do away with mortgages altogether.  The only fair way for one to
borrow money is paying down the principal, and paying interest on the balance,
similar to home equity loans.  By adding more money from time to time,
the homeowner whittles down the balance and the bank gets more in their
coffers faster.
   Those ballooning payments, you name its, are ripoffs.  What sort of an
explanation do you get from bank employees when you can't understand the written
contract?  How many knew what they were getting into?
Think about it.
***My thoughts may be far out.  If you have better ideas, write to your reps.
All the money from all the special interests will not elect one politician.  The
individual voter pulls the switch!  After recent events, people are paying
attention. 
***Tell your candidates to cut the smear garbage and give us Specifics.
            My name is Joankelsy and I approve this message.

There is a wonderful exhibit at the Cultural Center of Cape Cod in
South Yarmouth. "Shades of Autumn" from Sept 10 til Sept 21
Please see the Yarmouth Art Guild for details.
   
3/31/08: Some opportunities to buy a plug-in/hybrid battery throughout
country. Very pricey. See pluginpartners.com . There are numerous links on
their site and an opportunity to sign a petition. My question, "How many
million signatures will it take to wake the auto industy's sleeping giants?"
How come GM is having so much trouble coming up with a plug-in when
some guy can come up with the technology in his garage??? Could it be that
the big car companies have some sort of interest in big oil ???
See "Saving the Planet" and click on "Hybrids and Other Car Stuff". 
Check out Hybrids & Other Car Stuff 4/11/08:  The Prius is mine.
See 4/30/08 entry in "Hybrids" for the kind of smile I'm wearing. 

Have joined a writers' group in Wellfleet,Ma.  Am trying to sharpen up
my skills. The gas savings will help when I travel to these sessions.
Folks of varying skills meet weekly for critiquing with lunch
afterwards.  Attendance falls off a bit during winter, because snow birds
take off. 
7/9/08: After several weeks at the writers group, feel I am on a roll. 
Unfortunately, my blog may suffer.  Please realize that I just throw things
out there and correct syntax, spelling, clumsy sentences when I can get to
it.  There's the rub...am too busy creating.  It is so therapeutic.  Presently 
I am writing memoirs.
The most fun when you write is when you nail it!
The guys and gals in the group are helping me do just that.

5/7/08: Worth noting if you're coming to my part of the Cape - Great little
restaurant on Rte. 28 in Harwich. Non-pretentious decor. Breakfast & lunch
at reasonable prices.  Family place.
...The Lighthouse Cafe is located near the Harwich Post office. Food 
served is very fresh and tasty. New Yorkers will appreciate their pickles. 

4/7/08: Entry regarding on-demand water heater in Going on the Cheap

Entry at bottom of Pumpkin Season tells you about recent experiences
with making sourdough.  I'm experimenting again, which drives me crazy
(in a fun way) I should get a life.

Sidebar: For those unfamiliar with driveucrazy, go to
sidebar and click on a category to see entries that might interest you. 
Next, click on the entry. There are Links wherever I can create them. 

Best yet quote is from Billie Burke, an early film actress,  "Age is of no
importance unless you are a cheese." Other quotes in Who Said That?

Want to make your own bumper sticker?  You can buy one or more of
your own cool design...reasonably priced! See Etc. Who's Counting?

2/26/08:  See entry in Hit and Run for the latest episode in Joankelsy's
Drive You Crazy Life.  Just trying to get wireless.  Sound simple? Hold on...

Have no use for frequent flier miles?  See 2/15/08 entry in Make Do in "Tips"
category. 
Master Card gives you cash back and a virtual credit card for internet purchases.  
                               
What' new in greentech: www.greentechnolog.com . Also, read promising news:
"A secret to drying clothes? Liquid" at  www.cnet.com . This invention could
save money, i.e. energy.

3/4/08:  It may sound nutsy for me to say this, but the high priced fuel issue
may be the best thing that ever happened to the planet.  The public must,
however, singe Washington's behind. Make them give tax breaks 
only to deserving companies. 

2/16/08:  Have you ever had trouble getting your tax rebate?  See today's
entry in "Talking To Myself", Comments category.  It could drive you insane!!

For all you creative artists: www.drawger.com. Stunning site.
See "Current Shows", then "the Museum of Forgotten Art Supplies".  You
should find this blog interesting, but please come also visit my wonderful
artists' group on the Cape at www.yarmouthartguild.com . 
  • Don't forget to look at the lambs in Outdoor Shows in the Art Zone.
  • New soup recipe in Ways with White Wine Sauce.Scroll to end. 
  • Glad to see young people showing an interest in the coming election. 
    After all, it is their future.     Hit and Run has some political content. 

Photos in: "Power Breakfast" ,"Sort-of Unconditional Love" and
"Opening Afternoon" and scattered throughout Drive You Crazy.



One of my favorites.  See The Cape and Beyond.  Do not know
who the artist is that put this charmer together. He or she is to be applauded. 
 This blog has numerous photos throughout.  I will add more when I get 
some film negatives converted to digital. 

    Recently, I was asked why I joined the Yarmouth Art Guild.  Returning to
painting after years of neglect, I found myself in the company of many others
with similar backgrounds.  I discovered that quite a few in my age group, in
particular, had taken up fine art as a new venture, having just High School
art classes and kid stuff in their backgrounds.  In the Guild, we are some-
what overloaded with seniors but they are seniors who still drive their own
cars, participate in outdoor shows and win awards at galleries...and sell! 
Two of our seniors entertained at a Christmas party by playing the piano.
One is in her nineties.  Another ninety plus has just gotten herself a new
boyfriend.
    A recent issue of the Erickson Tribune contains an article about Dr. Gene
Cohen.  He has done studies on how creativity affects how the human brain
ages.  He is Director of the Center on Aging, Health and Humanities at the
George Washington University in Washington, D.C.  I am sure if you search
the internet you can come up with his 2000 book, the "The Creative Age".
    Suffice to say, the studies indicate that painting, writing and music are
stimulating.  Coming in contact with other like minds is a big factor.  So go
to the weekly painting class at the Senior Center.  Take a creative writing
course or join a poetry club. Learn how to beat the drums.
It's good for your health!

1/2/08: Speaking of health.  My supplemental health insurance went up from
$78 to $94 a month.  I received a letter from my eye doctor that they will no
longer work through the insurance company but will give a break on charges
if patients wish to continue with them.  When I called, the gal at the desk
said that other eye doctors are quitting Tufts, as they do not want to give
sub-standard care.  I do not know what this is about, so called one of the
doctors in charge at the insurance company. I left a message, in essence that
I was upset that I heard of the change the way I did.  I also commented that
rather than pay these politicians (of both parties) to get them elected, why 
doesn't the insurance company put those dollars toward patient care. 
I doubt very much that I will hear from the gentleman or any subordinate. 
We the forgotten are left out again.  

I chose Tufts, as I had been seeing no real doctor (primary, that is).
for six years on the Cape.  I was sent to a dermatologist locally and wound
up with a nurse practitioner who did not know what she was looking at. 
I went to Raynham (you can't even get on a waiting list for a dermatologist
on the Cape). One of the doctors in the group diagnosed the problem correctly
and I finally got relief. That was through Blue Cross/Shield senior mishandling
insurance.

When will we wake up to the $$$ facts in this country?  Do you hear any of
these candidates offering to throw the lobbyists out of Washington? 
Reform contributions laws?  Good Lord No!  They would miss all those big bucks. 
We the forgotten might even be treated to less bologna on the airways.

The politicians put the clamps on medication from Canada. Too risky?
Pharmaceuticals are 80% China and India made. 
Have you seen the toy recall lately? 

Have problem with cramps in the legs, having had them since I was a teen. 
Much worse now, even though I take potassium (mostly via bananas each
morning).  My primary told me there was a simple med. that supplies quinine
but the government took it off the market.  Pharmaceutical companies had
come in with a new one.  Acquantance said the old one was sixteen dollars
and the new one well over 100 per script.  With the extra money comes more
side effects, I'm sure.  I told the doctor I would pass.  The daily glass of tonic 
I used to drink is verboten since I've found out I am borderline diabetic.  Drink
one with man-made sweeteners?  I'll pass on that one too.  Use Hyland's
homeopathic sublinqual tabs occassionally.  Pretty good.  I just have to
remember that if I change style of shoes, to limit walking in them.  Changing
the configuration of footwear seems to throw foot and leg muscles out of whack. 
Result? Cramp episodes all night.  
2/2/08:  Added something about exercise in Etc. Who's Counting? Afraid I
digress and throw things wherever there is space on this blog thing.  If I made
new entries, I think it would add confusion...and would take the punch out of
what I like to use as a front page.  Thanks for bearing with me.

1/6/07: Added something new to Hybrid & Other Car Stuff about an attach-
ment device for GPS.  That is, if those suction cup thingies drive you crazy.  May
have to hold off buying new car for a while.  Feel comfortable and safer in the VUE.

2/18/08: I had received a call early February that attachment device on back
order another call this week from supplier - he will send me a device made by
same company that has an added feature.  Costs more but he will send me one
at the same price.  We had a nice talk over the phone.  Sounds like a small
operation.  I have to give the guy a break.

6/30/08: Had received the device and used it on the Prius.  Vents accept the  little
bugger and I leave it attached, removing the Magellin GPS when not using it. 
However, I wish they had made the clips a little more sturdy.  Afraid I will break
something if I am too rough with it.

]]> Etc. Who's Counting? tag:driveucrazy.com,2007-12-11:cd2b7ffe-923a-4db5-88aa-e5d6ea1e30a6 joankelsy 2008-03-17T09:49:40Z 2007-12-11T09:51:00Z 2/22/08:  Just attached bumper sticker to my car...



I think it will be noticed.  Had my own design made into sticker by Zazzle .  Quite reasonable.  That is their font but exported my own graphic.  They tell you how.  Had written to them regarding T shirts and they assured me that they use American companies that manufacture in US with our standards.  Also make their items in USA.

2/26/08: Yes, the sticker is noticed, especially by those idiots who try to pass me on the on ramp to Rte. 6.  I'm not exactly a slow driver but one is not supposed to race on those ramps.  How much caffeine are those people drinking?
   
12/30/07:  Have just shut down the Trackbacks after reading some of the garbage that was dumped there.   There was not a single message of importance, so hundreds of trackbacks got the shovel, including the drug and weird sex pushers and the insurance salespeople.  The predators have been blocked out, so perhaps the count will go down.  So be it.  See picture of me in take charge mode in About Us

     For folks who have had experiences communicating with those who have left us, please see "Getting Together" and scroll down toward the end of my comments.  Makes one think.

12/29/07: Here's a tip that won't cost a cent.  In a Consumer Reports brochure, there is info on how to protect your computer against spyware.  Microsoft and Spybot offer free downloads. The addresses: www.microsoft.com/at home/security/spy ware/software and www.spybot.com/en.  Thank you , Consumer Reports

2/2/08: Have just signed up with CR. First issue received had evaluations of exercise machines.  Most appear to be a waste of money.  I do the stationary bike which I bought from Sears a few years ago.  Not many bells and whistles except a timer and calculates calories burned, etc.  Good for my purposes, as walking any distance is wearing on bod.  I grasp weights and keep the upper bod moving. 
     One of the best movements I came up with, approved by an Osteopath, is a Karate move.  Make a fist, palms up and bend elbows so that lower arms are at right angles to your upright body.  Throw a punch forward and straight out as you turn your fist to a palms down position, left, then right.  These moves are usually made as you move your opposite leg forward to give you balance as you throw a punch.  I do it sitting on the bike while in motion and holding the weights.  They are small dumbbells (sissy weights at first).  These motions can be slow at first, then speeded up as you gain balance, etc.   Every little bit helps.

2/3/08:   Thank the good Lord I straightened out my credit eons ago.  Pay balances every month.  Made a mistake when I paid my 11/18/07 bill, excuse dyslexic me.  I reversed a figure and was $20.91 short.  They charged me $38.63 on the 1/17/08 bill.  Seems they do something with the prime, something with the outstanding balance, that is, everything I charged the following two months added to the $20.91.  I suppose it is included in the line "purchases*finance charge*periodic rate" at bottom of my purchases list.  ??  I was unable to get an answer from the phone reps. as to the breakdown, i.e. is the 20.91 in that figure?
2/4/08:    Just spoke with a representative.  They voluntarily removed the $38.63 charge.  My point was missed, however.  They still can't explain why Citibank just doesn't put the amount underpaid as a "balance due" on my next bill so I know where I stand.  It is just hidden somewhere and everything I buy for two months has an added finance charge even though I  pay the full balance due monthly.  Crikies! 
     Those execs. at CitiBank must be rolling in it.  Even if they did screw up on mortgages, like so many other lending institutions.  Think of all the bucks that are rolling in from people who can't afford much and do not understand the consequences. 
     When I was a kid, my parents suffered through the depression, rented for years, then eventually worked up to a mortgage.   Mortgages to me were the biggest ripoff conceived by big business banking.  They have even put a new spin on  it, in a sense, for people looking for a home equity loan.  Friend was sold on a fixed loan for construction on house at a bank (a huge institution).  The representative sat there and acted as if she never heard of such a thing as paying interest on the balance each month.  In other words, don't bother to pay extra to whittle down debt, just keep it going longer! Friend got rid of the damn 20 year thing in a little over  a year.  Good riddance.  Next time, shop around and find an honest broker.
     Don't get suckered in.  It'll drive you crazy. 

  • Why don't they rein in the money lenders.  At least make the language simple enough for laypeople to understand.  If they did away with all the balloon payments and gobbledegook about the prime and the sub-prime, wouldn't that help in making the consumer informed?  Try reading some of that stuff.  It's like poring over a prospectus.

While we're dreaming...If they did away with mortgages altogether and regulated that any loan, whether for a house or credit card purchase,  only be charged interest on the balance due monthly (similar to a home equity loan), it would encourage people to pay extra each month.  Even if they had to whittle down that credit card debt to do it.  Fat chance getting the legislators to go anywhere with such an idea.  Check out the deficit.  Do our representatives really care about debt?  Unfortunately they are indebted to those that contribute the most to get them elected.

]]> Nova Scotia tag:driveucrazy.com,2007-12-01:bc2b94da-79de-4a26-a3a6-ad7fde2b7e62 joankelsy 2008-03-17T09:50:47Z 2007-12-01T21:18:00Z

On the Rocks.
                                                To see full-size photos, go to Print Preview







Even with the hordes of people that visit the lighthouse area,
there is a stillness to be heard... 
and then the pipes bring you back to another time. 



Down the road apiece from the lighthouse.
]]> The Cape and Beyond tag:driveucrazy.com,2007-11-30:5cd0bd1d-8604-4704-bfc6-a2088902f3dd joankelsy 2008-05-12T20:59:48Z 2007-11-30T11:01:00Z
 
    The Cape?  No, Boston on a Sunday morning.  We had been to a wedding reception  in
the financial district Saturday night.  We stayed across the street and went to a breakfast
bash at the Hyatt hosted by the parents of the bride.  Fantastic time.  Before anyone was
out and about Sunday morning, we hit the pavement and shot digital.  Don't you love the
convenience of those cameras?
      


It was almost time to get over to the brunch thing.  People were starting to
come at us.  Note the cup at the curb.  Meanwhile, back at the Cape......




Falmouth waterfront.  Most of these photos were taken as reference material for
painting.  If the masts were straight, it would have made a better photo.  One of these
days, I'll fix...gotta run.



Dennis Port, MA area - off-season.  Since coming to Cape Cod in 2000, it has become
the center of my universe, hence the title "The Cape and Beyond".  To see more
Mid-Cape photos, especially the lambs and other good stuff, see Outdoor Shows in the
Art Zone.  [Still trying to straighten out the links for within this site.]



In the middle of Boston?  Fund raiser cow.  They were auctioned off much as the
decorated whales were on Cape Cod.  Great idea.



Isn't she a beauty?

It just occurred to me.  Apparently, I can send all I want over the internet. 
Is it endless? Can I put all I want on this medium? 
All my junk?  Everything? 



South Dennis residence.  The owner is a horticulture professional.  She welcomed me
onto the grounds to shoot photos for my painting.  The horses were friendly, too, so I
put the camera to work. 





And you thought the Cape was just sandy beaches. 





Two views of P Town

Just an observation: When you visit Provincetown, notice the straight couples.  As they
stroll down the streets, they do a lot of hand-holding, at times intensely, especially
when approaching outed folks.   Sorry, I'm a people-watcher sort.



Trip to Moltonborough this Mothers Day.  Nobody else was up in the early A.M., so grabbed a few shots
near the lake.


]]> Going on the Cheap tag:driveucrazy.com,2007-11-24:042f0466-dc86-4246-941a-721c95f64a7a joankelsy 2008-06-12T21:41:01Z 2007-11-24T21:22:00Z Please recycle.  If nothing else, you will save on the use of plastic garbage bags.

1/9/07:  It has been some time since I shopped for low-wattage bulbs.  You know, the coily
ones?  The price was not bad in the supermarket.  Sales lately...they must be coming up with
new-improved versions.  I did notice they have 3-ways now and went on line and found some
for use with dimmer switches and outdoor floods!  When I am really desperate, I will go for
those.  I have already saved $$ on my electric bill by not having lights on in a room if I am not
going back within a half hour.  That is an old rule, owing to the inrush current of electricity
each time you turn something on.  I understand it is 5x the current needed to keep the older
bulb glowing. This information is from a site I visit occasionally. Another answer I received
is that the power wasted is negligible.  But if you add up the millions of homes alone and
the numerous times each day that this occurs... There's one for you engineers out there,
a device that would offset the inrush current.  It would save a heck of a lot of energy.  The
guy or gal who comes up with that one should go down in the books with Edison.  

     Wish they would do something with the surges also.  Have had a few minor incidents
that created ozone smell.  Scary.

     One of the pluses for the slide dimmers is that you avoid that boost in current.  In a
way, I am fortunate having photo phobia.  There are several of those variable switches
throughout the house.  The phobia (a misnomer) causes a somewhat painful reaction to
light when I first get up in the morning.  At six a.m. we go dimly down the hallway, through
the kitchen and toward the back door to let Kelsy out every morning.  By the time I feed
her, make my breakfast and relax in the Dining Room, I can turn up the light and read. 
Crazy, no?  
    
     If you want to know anything and everything about light bulbs, go to www.CR4.com.  
As Joankelsy, I had asked about surges on the Electrical Engineering section of the site.  
Scroll down the answers.  This is an outstanding site.  Good information/excellent writing.
  
        This brings me to the question, do you save any power by turning the dimmer switch
down?  Electricians I have talked to have come up with guess answers over the years,
usually "No".  One, I suspected, did not guess.  Dave, a retired teacher who taught women
about home repairs in night school.  (He had Electrical and Plumbing licenses, besides being
an excellent carpenter.) His answer, "Yes!"  I went to Ask.com for their opinion.  Dave was
right.  On the internet, I sometimes find it hard to phrase the questions, but would suspect
that you save on the light bulbs, whatever type, also. 

1/10/08: Lunched on my usual bagel with cream cheese (talk about cheap) while my car
was being serviced today.   Dunkin' Donuts have nice hanging fixtures for lighting and use
fluorescent bulbs.  Coils are covered with round opaque glass that look just like decorator
style incandescents of a few short years ago.  Cool.
 
    Have not gotten into the car thing yet.  Bring back the original RAV and put batteries
in it. (Including a plug-in)
and I'll buy it.

    Obtained a Black and Decker mower and gave my gas-powered number to a friend. 
She will probably get into electric after the gas one poops.  I am told the mowers do a world-
class polluting job.  In the long run, savings will pay for the purchase.  No maintenance and
pennies to run.  It cuts great and easy to use if you follow a pattern that leaves the wire in
your wake.  This is easy with a reversable handle.

    Since I have been baking bread, the refrigerator and freezer have been utilized to keep 
it fresh.  I use sealable plastic bags up the whatsoo (sp?).  Was just informed that washing
and hot water rinse not a good idea, as mold forms on the bags from bread.  I was reusing
the bags in the interest of keeping plastic out of the environment and saving but was told by
a biologist it is best to recycle bags instead.  Shucks.

1/18/08:  Went to a local discount store yesterday looking for energy saver bulbs.  Was
clued in by a guy who said they would go on sale Sunday.  "Better yet," he said, "Go down
to Aubuchon's Hardware.  They are selling for 79 cents each."  How could I resist?  Seems
they are getting rid of the little-known manufacturer and will carry GEs from now on.  Both
are made in China.  So, there is little choice.  Can't help the economy.  I decided to help my
pocketbook and the environment.  A little less dependence on fuel can't hurt either. 
    Asked the manager (who is well versed in the electrical area) about the surge thing. 
I was talking about the boost of energy that happens when you turn something on. 
"It's only a little bit," he stated.  "Yes," I said , "but think of all the millions of people
throughout the country who use just a little bit."  One fellow said that the problem had
been corrected some years back.  If so, I stand corrected.  Please let me know.
    It drives you crazy.  No one in Washington has addressed issues like this in a meaning-
ful way, to encourage the little and the big guy to come up with really great ways to avoid
energy guzzling and pollution.  There have been solutions out there since I was a kid.  If
you remember, they did their best to destroy the electric car models produced, instead of
fixing whatever problem there was.  
    Don't you feel like we have been in stall mode on this energy thing?  You feel like
throwing every politician out...allow limited election contributions from individuals only!  
Get the lobbyists out so we can move on. 

1/27/08: Just received an update from www.catalog choice.org.  They help eliminate those
unwanted catalogs that keep showing up to drive you crazy.  With their help, the mailbox
is less stuffed lately.  They are fairly new but doing well as far as subscribers go.  We wish
them luck.  Please give the site a try and maybe we can save trees and even some gasoline. 
They do have to be trucked around.
5/5/08: Update.  Wonder if the catalog people are ignoring the requests.  I have unlimited
phone service, so I call these companies while peddling on my exercise bank.  Since I have
eliminated the TV service where the bike is located,  the calling keeps me from getting too
bored.  Time flies when you're saving the planet.



Autumn throws crisp, clear color at you.  Photo taken at the entrance to our home early
in the A.M. 

Saving the Planet in the future: www.greentechnolog.com .  Let's hope those Yahoos in
Washington do not hold things up, but help instead. It might even keep us out of a war or two.

[4/6/08: Had seen an article in greentechnolog about using a water devices to cut the dryer
power usage by 50%. That was early this year.  Went to their site and searched
"clothes dryers" but came up empty.  Will try to contact them re: this.]

3/30/08: "Saving the planet".  This can happen serendipitously.  Bought one of those little
battery powered sweepers and it worked nicely for a while.  Something stringlike must have
wound into the mechanism, as one brush cylinder will not move.  The tool will head for the
trash, so I now sweep using the dry mop with disposable cloths.  Really easy and maybe half
as stressful to my back.  Less wasteful and polluting than batteries, in any event. Use the new
Dyson only occasionally on the bare floors.
     If you knew me, you would realize I will do anything to avoid boring housework.  I lived
with a saint, who came up with the idea to let me handle the kitchen from shopping to
cooking to cleanup and she would handle the routine dusting, vacuuming and even the wash.
My specialty was scrubbing down showers or doing other occasional heavy duty cleaning. 
     The slowing down process has set into my body, so will probably need help in the future,
as I did in the last stages of Sharon's illness, when, fortunately, long-term care paid for
assistance.  I had not realized the toll it was taking on me.  When Sharon passed, I couldn't
handle things so a few times a month, called one of the helpers and had her thoroughly
clean the house.  That was a nice luxury.  Makes you wonder why you hadn't been born rich.
But that is something that never drove me crazy.
 
4/7/08: On-demand water heater looks interesting.  See hotwatersource.com, especially if
you want to practice your math.  Best site I have found for explaining, showing choices. 
Savings in long run, but initial outlay is a bit steep.  Have looked at sites where unit and
parts are available.  Experience has shown me that it is not exactly wise to order plumbing
on my own.  Getting them through a reliable plumber pays off if something goes wrong. 
Just getting an idea about cost...will have to include pipe installation and construction costs
to install venting pipe.  Should save on the oil bill but how much for gas? Electric?  These
tankless heaters are popular in Europe.  Now that our fuel has gone off the charts, it may
be time.  If you factor in the cost of the unit and installation, wonder if it will pay for itself in
a few years.  You might want to forget about that trip on an airline this year and invest in 
this smart device instead.

4/18/08: Comment that was broadcast on cnn.com this morning: I just said that I started
conserving last year, using energy-saving bulbs, drying only half my wash in the dryer and 
turning in my Vue for a Prius. As you can see, it is not that hard.  It was imply put, so they
paid attention.  Try it.

5/2/08:  Recently tried to add my house insurance to my auto, as discounts are available
for multiple insurance...but wait a minute...My auto ins. co. does not handle houses in
Barnstable County and certain other areas.  Why? Because we're located near water. 
Hurricane fear!  What next?  Difficult to obtain auto insurance in Mass.  Fortunately, the
house has been with MetLife since we've been here (eight years).  Did a little bundling and
came up with a discount..  Go ahead, Electric Insurance, ask me why I left you.  It's because
I have become quite fickle...not to save the planet.  It's to save my wallet.

5/5/08: Here's one for you. May have mentioned this elsewhere on the blog.
Check out your local health food store for things like honey, fresh ground peanut butter,
oatmeal, other grains.  Many of these stores sell by the pound.  Good prices.  These items
have not been processed to death, packaged and advertised.  Keeps the prices
down.  Try their herbs and spices, too.  Buy what you need only! Beats throwing out those
old bottles in the closet every year.  No comparison in flavor either.
   Save a dollar here and there.  And don't forget the cloth bag when you go shopping. 
Save a plastic tree. 

5/6/08: The Prius. Where is it written that one must go over the speed limit?  The Book of
Goofus?  My home thermostat stays down in my house, even on cold/damp Cape Spring days. 
I do collective shopping to save trips.  I hang wash out to dry to lessen the dryer bill.  Driving
uphill uses a lot of energy unless I run downhill @99.9 miles per, then use the momentum to
glide up when the road demands.  What sort of sign should I paste on the back bumper? 
       I diid not buy this car to make you happy.  
       Leave your house earlier to save gas.  
       Go tell it to Bush. 
       Go slower.  It might lower your blood pressure. 
There are others...
    
What I might do is have flames painted on and add a fireman using an extinguisher. 
Some days I feel so creative.]]> The Men In My Life tag:driveucrazy.com,2007-11-24:ab8f1b4f-55fa-42bc-bcc5-b2aa93f53739 joankelsy 2008-05-05T20:09:11Z 2007-11-24T09:56:00Z   They all hang out in my kitchen, these guys of mine.  Mr. Coffee, George Foreman, the
Misters Black and Decker.  A recent new member to the group is the Breadman.  He arrived
a few days ago.  Has only baked one loaf.  I do not know if I can stand the excitement...the
aroma of yeast permeates the entire house.  Things that drive you crazy, indeed!
   Kidding aside.  These are a Mother's (or Dad's) little helpers that make life easier.  The
bread thing is great.  You do not have to mess the place up by using 2 bowls with flour etc.
all over the place.  I had read that these little machines were developed first for the 
Japanese, who have notoriously small kitchens.  Mine fits on the computer desk I converted
for culinary use...see Make Do.    The Black and Decker is a toaster I retrieved from things
I had packed long, long ago.  Probably bought in the eighties, it is a quite small unit that
tucks under an overhanging cabinet.  My neighbor adapted it to fit the old cabinets (solid,
thick wood), so that air circulates nicely over the top of the unit.  Now that I have the
Foreman Grill, I have little need for a toaster/oven.  The Breadman should keep the big
oven use down.  Not that I baked much bread.  The only successful experience...years ago...
was a simple whole wheat jobbie.  As you may have gathered, my baking skills are not up
there.
    11/24/07: The only ingredients I had on hand yesterday were those for rye bread.  Crazy
me,  I used one tablespoon of honey and substitued the other two with 18 drops of stevia. 
Cut the salt down to one half teaspoon.  No problemo!  The loaf that came out is to die for. 
While I wait for the recipe book,  I will try the limited formulae in the instructions.  I'm off to
the supermarket for some gluten, whatever that is.
    11/26/07: Did obtain a variety of flours and gluten.  Took a while to find these things in
several stores.  While trying to find a shoemaker, I woud up on Rte. 28 in Centerville. 
There, in front of me was a huge natural food store called
Cape Cod Natural Foods.  www.naturalretail.com  Great store.
   
    3/8/08: Another great store.  Called the Star Market, I had asked two seperate
employees for several items.  One was dry buttermilk (in the baking aisle) in a bulk size. 
Most stores have the 4 packet size.  The other was a glass spice bottle with a metal top. 
Had not looked through the store for about a month, then while looking for something
else both items showed up on the shelves.  Both quite reasonable.  Viva Star!

11/30/07: Went out and bought the store out in Centerville, Ma.  Hardly!  The health
food store on Rte.28 is humongous. bins and bins full of flours nobody ever heard of.  Did
the supermarkets in also.  Bought quick acting yeast, supposed to be good for bread
machines.  Guess what.  Need to put in lots of salt to slow it down.  Huh?  Should have
known.  Like instant gratification oatmeal, they add so much other junk...The devil's in t
the details.

Made some bran bread with yeast.  They come out just like muffins.  Also mixed ingredients
for pumpkin bread. then placed in the machine, using Bake and Dark settings.   I "toasted"
a slice on the Foreman grill in the morning and used Mussleman's Apple Butter as a spread. 
Yes!

12/3/07: Tried something different after not having too much success with rising.  Rather
than reducing the salt, got Morton's Lite Salt, recommended by Beth Hensperger (the other
woman in my kitchen) in her book, "the Bread Lover's Bread Machine Cookbook".  This
helped considerably.  I made a buckwheat/millet number that took off toward the ceiling. 
And delish.  The lite salt is partially subbed with potassium, although, I think the benefits
of the potassium are cancelled out by the cooking process.  [Have to eat more bananas!]

One of the things Ms. Hensperger writes about is powdered buttermilk.  Now we're talking. 
You do not have to throw out partially used containers!  The majority of these ingredients
are now stored in my studio.  [It is quite cold out there due to the Cheney make-a-buck effects
on our households.] 
By the summertime, the garage and extra refrigerater out there will do fine...the stuff
keeps better in a cool environment. 

Pretty soon, I'll make a trip to the local health food store and pick up some wheat berries
to sprout.  You grind them up somewhat to add to bread.  There is also quinoa (pronounced
keen wa) grain.  You have to rinse this profusely and cook for 20 minutes in water...but it
may be worth it, has the highest protein content of any grain.  Grown in the Andes, I recall
potatoes (maybe sweets or yams) grown there contain a higher level of protein that others.  

Searched around the internet and found instructions for the little Braun coffee grinder I
haven't used in a while.  The instructions are "somewhere in this house."  A kind person
had reviewed the grinder on epinions.com and explained how to clean the machine. 
    The sprouting  took 3 days plus overnight soaking , but worth the effort.  Made a  honey
wheat that is going to a birthday celebration for my good friend, Dorothy.  Of course, I had t
o test it.  Will make a Swedish rye tomorrow morning.  I can hack into that one, too.  Just
a couple of pieces for lunches.   The folks at the dinner understand my craziness.
12/10/07: The morning after...Both breads were a huge success, even though I took a
chance by subbing small portion of the light rye flour.  (Swedish Rye calls for medium rye flour.) 
I added few tablespoons of oat bran and few of rye meal.  For those tablespoons added, I
reduced the light rye flour by same amount.  For those folks who are familiar with bread
making, Ms. Hensperger's book suggests, to enhance the texture and the rising, subbing
lecithin granules for some of the oil and using a minute amount of powdered vitamin C
(you can crush pills).  Several pinches sprinkled in the flour and you are off to a
beauteous piece of work.

  • Note: The little coffe grinder I call Master Braun (too small to be called a man in my
  • life) is a good tool to grind the vitamin C caps.  I would break those elongated ones
  • in half for the grinder.  You can do about 10-15 at a time.  Makes plenty to work with. 
  • I made a Swedish rye for my neighbors.  Using just small amounts of the enhancers
  • caused the loaf to rise up to the baking machine's lid.  Had to punch it down slightly.
  • Think I'll leave out the C for this type of loaf. The texture was terrific according to
  • my neighbors.  I credit the scant teaspoon of malt for that.
    Heard from another friend who used the last staling up pieces of the homemade bread
I'd given her.  What for?  The birds?  No way.  She used it for French toast.   Of course,
she should know.  She cooks...and I quote her,  "It's what I do."

12/17/07: Spent the morning cooking chicken/vegetable soup to freeze and a cottage
cheese dill bread... Yes!
I froze 3/4 of that one for my Christmas visit to Bridgewater.  Will only have time bake one
other, a Swedish Rye which I can offer to the vegan in the family.   One of the recipes I may
try is bread pudding.  For something of a failure I tried.  It has wonderful ingredients but
needs a little sweetening.  It is a whole wheat raisin.  When I make the pudding, I will layer
blueberries under the pudding.  To make things festive, I may bring slivered almonds
(and add almond extract to the pudding).  Folks can add the nuts to ice cream served on
the side of the pudding.  Does that blow you away or what? 
12/22/07:  Maybe I'll leave out the nuts.  This may be overkill.  Can't find any slivered
without flavoring anyway.      

The "fixers" have struck again.  They rearrange stores and do away with a lot of the
good stuff or c-l-e-v-e-r-l-ymove things to where they think you will be hooked and buy
them.  What kind of logic is that?  If it aint broken, etc.etc.



Just thought we needed some Spring feelings here...Taken along 6A, Barnstable, MA

12/29/07:  Bought myself a birthday present yesterday.  He's the new man in my life...but
he is not restricted to the kitchen...he's all over the place.  Dyson.  Yes, I went Nutsy
Fagan and bought the animal hair version.  But, what a whirlwind this fella is.   When I
learn more about its use, I will not suck up every small rugs in the house.  Wild.  But it
certainly does the job on wall-to-wall and bare floors. 
    This fellow Dyson has figured out a handle placement so that you do not kill your back. 
Ergonomically engineered, it makes you walk straight with the weight of the appliance
balanced nicely.  In between vacuuming, I will get the Swivel Sweeper after those naked
foors. 
     
1/1/08: Back to the kitchen.  One man in my life that I neglected to tell you about is Bob. 
You know the one.  The guy with the Red Mill.  Flours are availabel all over the place,
including the Ocean State Job Lot  here on the Cape.  If you go to his web site,
www.bobsredmill.com, there are interesting recipes. And you do not have to jump through
sign-up hoops to find them.  Very friendly site.

5/5/08:This hasn't to do with the men in my life, but one in the life of an acquantance of mine.
When the house needs vacuuming, she asks her husband if he will mow the rugs.  Clever
gal, the terminology appeals to males more than cleaning.
]]> Getting Together tag:driveucrazy.com,2007-11-21:27df96ea-603d-47a9-a223-3758fff31a4f joankelsy 2008-03-25T21:02:42Z 2007-11-21T10:38:00Z     Spoke with a friend who was not sure her son would make it for the holiday.  She signed
up instead to help serve food for the needy.  For those who have like circumstances, why not? 
It is important to be with folks on holidays.
I am so fortunate that Sharon's family is so supportive.  I hope I can be the same to them.  I
will go off-Cape for a get-together tomorrow.  Now I'm heading for the kitchen to bake a
mince pie (comes already seasoned in the jar) plus Pillsbury roll-em-out pastry.  How can you
go wrong?                   
      Photo is a little off-season.  Artist painting at one of our Summer Shows at the
Taylor-Bray Farm.  Other photos of the farm in Yarmouth Port, MA can be seen on
Outdoor Shows.  Lamb herding, etc. Good-for-the-soul stuff.
[I tried to put Outdoor Shows on as a link, but when I tested it, clicking on the link
threw me into the blog, driveyoucrazy, which is up for sale.  Perhaps the blogger put s
pelling similar to mine to make the sale????
Am having a lot of problems with the links, so please be kind enough to scroll down or
select from Entries.] 



11/23/07 Footnote:  The pie was a huge success.  Hard to bollix up something like that. 
I almost did, due to my "skip reading", as I call it; I missed the 10 min./425 degree
part and had to go back at the end to heat things up.   The angel I wear on my
shoulder does wonders.

11/15/07:
    Yesterday, The Yarmouth Art Guild had its annual Christmas Party at the 
Cultural Center of Cape Cod in South Yarmouth.  Over 100 of our members joined in for
a nice lunch and Yankee swap.  Our Guild donated to the Center and learned that
matching funds will be coming in well into the New Year...an extremely generous couple
in Bass River realize the importance of keeping a good thing going.  Thanks, too, to
the selfless volunteers that help daily.  
    
12/17/07:
    I can not get together with friends as often as I would like.  Most all of the old
crowd has gone South.  Air travel (specifically the used air circulated) makes me
too ill to function, let alone have a good time.  Just heard from I. in Florida.  She
introduced me to Sharon in the last century. Never had a bad word for anyone,
Sharon.
  We talked about experiences through "the Connection", as I. calls it.  
    Years ago, before I met either of these wonderful people, I started to fall asleep
at about 11:00 o'clock one night.   face came toward me through my hazy half-sleep. 
It slowly came closer, sort of floating, with a pleasant expression, just looking at me. 
It resembled the mother of a friend.  I spoke with the friend about this and she told
me her aunt had died that night a little after 11:00 P.M.  Her aunt, whom I never
even heard of, resembled my friend's mother.  Over the years, I have had several
other "Connection" experiences.  Go figure.
    To get back to Sharon. While I was watching Deal or No Deal, as I told I. in Florida,
a young service woman was calling out numbers.  Without any thought on my part,
three numbers came into my head...every one just before the number called out by
the contestant.  All correct.  Just three, not the whole enchilada. I told I. that I
suspected Sharon, who had a wonderful sense of humor, was just pulling my chain.  
    "It's the Connection,"  Said I. in Florida.

1/30/08: Was sending a few photos of animals I had printed from the computer. 
My old friend in North Carolina has a computer which was set up by a professional, 
husband of a good friend.  She refuses to get on the internet although we have told
her how much she is missing.  Too bad.  Though she is older than I, she still has a
brain that sponges up unbelievable knowledge.  As I was writing a note to enclose
with the photos, I was printing something entirely unrelated.  My printer has been
balky lately, spitting out blanks or extra copies I do not ask for, but this time, it
printed the entry about Sharon and Kelsy, "Sort-of Unconditional Love."  I swear!  I
 had, to that point, never asked for a print-out of anything written on this blog. 
My friend is, like Sharon was, a lover of animals, to the point of having picked up
an injured swan from the highway when she lived on Long Island.  Naturally, I
enclosed the two pages from Drive You Crazy.

3/24/08: Spent Easter afternoon with friends in Bridgewater.  Good mix of young and
old.  Good conversation was had by all.  Thanks, folks.]]> Specs tag:driveucrazy.com,2007-11-21:a3876ac5-d726-4f9b-986b-7215e0574915 joankelsy 2008-10-05T07:49:45Z 2007-11-21T09:47:00Z


    Above are rough drawings to help new artists get started with outdoor shows.  I think
most of it is explained.  Wanted to get these on so you can start asking friends and family
to start throwing old tees your way instead of in the trash.  Now is a perfect time to start
sewing, building, wire finagling.  Some of this can be done while you watch "Dancing With
The Stars" or whatever.   But don't forget to paint. 
    You can get wire by the yard at Home Depot.  The spiral wound solid copper. #10 is the
size I think stays the way you configure it.  Get a salesman who knows his stuff to help
you.  You probably want to cut pieces about 7" or so long.  Experiment with one before
you clip too many.  Enlist helpers.


1/24/08: Thoughts for the beginning artist.  To save moolah, don't buy fancy pads
of pallet paper.  Use butchers wrap instead.  Buy it at your supermarket and cut to
size you want.  It comes in a very wide roll.  One of the things I have found to carry
around the sheets was a hinged aluminum box that had cheap little rubber stamps
for kids.  (I left them at the exchange building of our waste disposal site.) The box
holds layers of the butchers wrap and fits nicely in the freezer section of a spare
refrigerator in the garage.  You can keep your brushes there too.  Some folks don't
even bother to clean them and they hold up quite well.

10/05/08:  Saving environment and money:  When I paint with oils, I have a packet
of paper towels cut into various small sizes for wiping brushes.  A friend has an
excellent idea for further savings.  She cuts newspapers into small strips and stacks
the strips on a piece of cardboard (helps if it's coated with waterproofing wax or such).
She first rubs the oil laden brush on the paper, then uses paper towel strips for the
final cleaning.  I throw soiled wipes into the trash immediately or else I wind up
elbowing it or otherwise soiling clothing.  Carry a small plastic basket with a plastic
shopping bag lining to classes.]]> Shop Til You Give Up tag:driveucrazy.com,2007-11-17:00319936-3190-48a3-a91a-292f6c320fa6 joankelsy 2008-08-04T19:31:32Z 2007-11-17T09:59:00Z
12/11/07 :  Just returned from the Mall in Hyannis.  I do not know where you buy women's
clothes, but as other shoppers and I say, the styles are really terrible.  Have 99% of blouse
sleeves gone three-quarter?  Forever? Or flouncy or half- covering the breast by via an
overlapping what-the heck is that?  What junk! I see women my age looking through the s
elections with a disgusted look on their faces.  Macy's in Hyannis has split into two stores,
men's and womens.  What were they thinking?  Spent all that money to inconvenience
people?  The quality of their products need improvement! 
    I did get lucky though.  Something I was not even looking for.  I spotted some lovely
material on simply and well cut suits at Sears.  I picked up two, as they were marked
way down.  When I got to the cash register, it turned out they were put on the wrong r
ack.  Saleswoman checked that out and gave them to me for about half-price.   It made
my day, so naturally I splurged on Estee Lauder makeup.  That's something else I totally
had no intention of doing...not today, anyway.  Haven't worn the stuff for a few years. 
Got some how-to from a very nice gal.  Thanks, Lisa. 
  • Almost forgot.  Tried to find a pair of men's pajamas.  How I miss Filene's.  The
  • Filene bargain basement place has plenty of bottoms, as most stores do today. 
  • Are you supposed to wear tees with them?  When we turn down the heat, we'll
  • need those old long-sleeve flannel jobbies.

7/31/08:  Haven't given up yet.  Tried Macy's (a while back they bought Filene's out and
split the store in two, as I may have told you.  You go to the men's dept. at the back of the
Hyannis Mall and can usually find a parking space, then go to the front of the Mall and stalk
the lot for a space.  So annoying, particularly because they have filled the women's store with
ill-fitting junk.
    I lucked out.  Found several Alfani silk shirts on sale.  Short sleeved and straight cut, I
thought they would look classy, especially by adding beads to femme them up.  Hied myself
up to the front of the Mall and grabbed a long $30 number in white. (all my old stuff is almost
choker style).  Did this all just in time to get over to the Pops by the Sea concert.  A friend had
finagled a $50 seat for me and I wanted to look nice. 



These warm creatures are from the Taylor-Bray farm, as featured on Outdoor Shows.

]]> Outdoor Shows tag:driveucrazy.com,2007-11-14:b01aa76c-452b-4db6-9c4a-8f275f2d82df joankelsy 2008-02-20T22:03:08Z 2007-11-14T09:30:00Z     On many Summer Sundays on the Cape, you can visit outdoor art shows.  I'm not talking flea market or those traveling truckloads of mass-produced-artwork extravaganzas. 
    The folks who display fine original works put in a ton of effort.  I did it for a few years.  It is a kick to sell something after hours at the easel, shopping for suitable frames, setting up on a lot and...waiting.  This is no way to make a living.  Yet, profits can go toward quality brushes, pigments, canvases, etc.  Most of the artists are notorious course-takers.  Sometimes, a sale pays for this skill sharpening.  
    The best part is that while hanging out out there, there is a wonderful sense of belonging.  Having moved to the Cape at the turn of the Century, I knew few people here.  While taking some courses at the Chatham
 Creative Arts Center, I heard of theYarmouth Art Guild.  I was a little apprehensive about joining, as I had run up against snoot here and there.  "This element is everywhere, so just ignore it," I said to myself.  I am so glad I did.  The folks at the YAG are great.  Really supportive.
    When I started showing my first summer, I had no rig.  There were no second-hand metal ones available at the time.  They can be broken down to fit your car.  Withstand the rain.  Are quite expensive.   Sharon and I put our heads together and came up with a wooden A frame.  (Sharon learned good carpentry skills from her father.)  We used 1x3" wood, which is actually 3/4x2 3/4" and was at the time lightweight enough for me to handle. We used plastic coated chicken wire, also not too heavy.  Anchored it with a staple gun.  Bought some small galvanised gate hinges.  Hung an exercise weight by a bungie cord to stabilize rig in the wind.  The A frame is good, as you can position it so the wind blows through it.  Placing a small American flag near one of the hinges helps show wind direction.   I used some drapery hooks to fasten the paintings on the rig.  Painted it with some left-over plum colored paint.  She was ready.  My rig and I did a several years out there.  SeeSpecs. You will see that I improved rig.  The turkey wire was obtained from a local feed and farm supply company.  It makes for a much nicer image for paintings (They hang straighter on squared off patern of fencing material.)  The removable pins are a blessing.  The two sides of the rig are heavier with the turkey wire, so you can carry to site one piece at a time.
    Sundays were O.K.  For a while I did Mondays too with another group, "The Brewster Monday Painters".  Some paintings that did not sell went into the "Sacrifice Sale" at the Creative Arts Center.  They are currently holding these sales twice a year.  I volunteered a time or two there.  People line up at the door before opening time.  It can get wild.  Like the old Filene's Basement!  
  • At present, I belong to four organizations.  If I do not avail myself of member rates for courses, nor enter in shows for a while, I still like to hang in there with these good groups.  Art is a blast.   

11/17/07 :
    This Thursday, I decided to pack up my paintings and bring a half-finished oil down to the local Senior Center.   I wanted to see some of my "Art Friends", as Sharon used to say.  It was good having their company.  The biggest bonus in getting together down there is the instructor.  She has a lifetime of knowledge behind her and is willing to share with us.  Thanks, J.  And thanks, Art Friends.

Below are some shots from the Taylor-Bray Farm Show.  Each year, they have a wool-spinning exhibit and sale and feature domestic animals (you never know what you'll see, Llamas, for instance).  There are always lambs, lambs,  lambs, lots of chickens and one happy rooster! 

Please use Print Preview and the arrows at bottom of screen to scroll.  This way, you will see the full size photographs:













Last Spring, we were fortunate in that we could hang our Yarmouth Art Guild paintings in the big barn.
On the lower level to the left, barn swallows fly in and out through the open doors.  In the background you can see a small portion of the tents that house spinning wheels and the barefoot women who show you how it's done.  Bought a beautiful warm hat there last year.  

2/20/08: Good News. The festival next year is scheduled for June First.  We have been invited to participate.  Check with the Yarmouth Art Guild when June is approaching.  We should have more details by Springtime.  Love those lambs.






You never know who will drop by the Taylor-Bray Farm.



]]> Opening Afternoon tag:driveucrazy.com,2007-11-11:8bd46202-21d8-4d7f-aa13-3ba9cbc40343 joankelsy 2008-03-19T14:52:36Z 2007-11-11T10:53:00Z     The Yarmouth Art Guild opened its annual fund-raiser yesterday for the "Education
Foundation for Dennis & Yarmouth".  The exhibit and sale is being held at the Cultural Center
of Cape Cod, 307 Old Main Street, South Yarmouth, MA.  The Center is housed in a large,
beautifully renovated bank.  Their ongoing exhibits showcase local and international talent. 
The Center encompasses all the arts, right down to a Hollywood costume show recently.  
Classes, Entertainment, Exhibitions.  I can not say enough about the Center, so please visit
their website at www.cultural-center.org.  And come visit when you are on the Cape.        
    The opening was in the afternoon, as schoolchildren were not only invited, but had joined 
the Guild's painters with works of their own.  If you are like me, you love to see school-age 
masterpieces.  The turnout was surprisingly good, as it was the coldest day of the season.  
    The volunteers who put this together are to be commended. 

11/12/07:
    In the Art Zone, I will be sharing tips that have come my way, mostly borrowed.  They
will be for new and seasoned artists.  In the meanwhile, please visit sites that have been
helpful to me:

www.delmasart.com  If you can tear yourself away from Ms. Delmas beautiful colorful
 paintings, go to Workshops.  "12 Baby Steps" is great for beginners. 
www.rexart.com  Go to Tip Zone.  (I must admit, I liked this category, hence, the Art Zone.)
Go to "How to Stretch Canvas" if you are a purist or simply want to save money.  Check out
the "Corner Canvas" they have for sale while you are there.  Interesting.

  • Please bear with me on the new tip blog.  Have to draw up some crude illustrations, 
  • then scan,etc.  Want to make suggestions clear.  Right now, I have to straighten the
  • house a bit.  Not too much, though.  Am having a tax abatement checkout tomorrow. 
  • (Don't want things to look too good.)
  • The fellow from the town just finished the inspection.  (The straightening up thing is
  • a joke.  They are just looking at the house's condition and so on.)  He was giving me
  • such praise and nodding his head about this and that.  I felt like asking him if he 
  • wanted to make me an offer.  Actually I asked him what properties he compared mine
  • with...could I get a list of same.  He became all flustered, said he couldn' do all that
  • work to find them for me, and so on.   Huh?  Don't they keep records?  I guess I am
  • just not allowed to to see how they arrive at values.  Onward.
  • The effort to reduce taxes on my home was successful, by over $100,000 valuation. 

1/27/08:  Browsed through my favorite gallery, Cultural Center of Cape Cod in South
Yarmouth, MA,  recently.  An artisan had an exhibit of bird houses.  Apparently, a collector of
antiques.  Perhaps they were not saleable as such but this person made wonderful use of
such things as worn dominos, amber glass, old produce boxes, a tiny gauge from who knows
what.  Used in a very clever one-of-a-kind way.  The artist used (for instance dominos to
decorate the front of one house.  A tiny frame became a window with domino shutters. 
I am sure these were
for indoor decoration. 
     If I get back there soon, I will note the name of creator.  Had business in the building
and had to leave before I could check this out.  This guy (or gal) would do well to put items
on Ebay.



Fishing in Falmouth.  It can get crowded on the rocks.



Down the road from where I live.

]]> Who Said That? tag:driveucrazy.com,2007-11-07:6a24082e-7057-4628-b31e-255a9c323691 joankelsy 2008-08-29T13:47:09Z 2007-11-07T14:34:00Z                             

    1.   "Life is something that happens while you are busy making other plans." 
    
    2.   "A hobby is something crazy you do to keep from going crazy."
     
    3.   "Who is Stevia?"    
 
    4.   "This American system of ours, call it Americanism, call it capitalism, call it what you
will, gives each and every one of us a great opportunity if we seize it with both hands
and make the most of it."
   
    5.    "Who is John Galt?"

    6.    "I Want My Old Body Back."

    7.    "Less is more."

    8.    "There is more to life than increasing its speed."

    9.    "We have met the enemy and he is us."

   10.   "Be careful what you wish for."

   11.   "In the end, we will remember not the words of our enemies, but the silence of
our friends."

   12.   "To accomplish great things, we must dream as well as act."

   13.   "Nothing exceeds like excess."

   14.   "I have not failed.  I've just found 10,000 ways that won't work.

   15.   "You cannot plow a field by turning it over in your mind."

   16.   "Insist on yourself. Never imitate."

   17.   "The measure of success is not whether you have a tough problem to deal with,
but whether it's the sane problem you had last year."
   
   18.    "I never vote for anyone; I always vote against."

   19.    "Always forgive your enemies; nothing annoys them so much."

   20.    "A woman is like a tea bag...you never know how strong she is until she
gets in hot water."

   21.    "Be ashamed to die until you have won some victory for humanity."

   22.    "Art is the signature of civilation."

   23.    "To invent, you need a good imagination and a pile of junk."

   24.    "If you want to be creative, stay in part a child, with the creativity and invention
that characterizes children before they are deformed by adult society."

   25.    "I can't understand why a person will take a year to write a novel when he can
easily buy one for a few dollars."

   26.    "Smile.  They'll wonder what you've been up to."

   27.    "Always be nice to your children because they are the ones who will choose
your rest home."

   28.    "The human animal differs from the lesser primates in his passion for lists of
"Ten Best".

   29.    "Santa Claus has the right idea...visit people only once a year."

   30.    "I paint objects as I think them, not as I see them."

   31.    "Don't cry because it's over.  Smile because it happened."

   32.    "One man with courage is a majority."

   33.    "My wife and I tried to breakfast together, but we had to stop or our marriage
would have been wrecked." 

   34.    "Age is of no importance unless you are a cheese." 

   35.    "There is nothing worse than a sharp image of a fuzzy concept." 

   36.    "Nothing will work unless you do."

   37.    "If you had eight hours to chop down a tree, I'd spend six sharpening my axe."

   38.    "He who overcomes others has force;he who overcomes himself is strong."

   39.    "Be the change you want to see in the world."

   40.    "A positive attitude may not solve all yoour problems, but it will annoy enough
people to make it worth the effort."

   41.    "Nothing endures like change."

   42.    "It's wonderful what we can do if we're always doing."

   43.   "A hunch is creativity trying to tell you something."

   44.   "A rich man is nothing but a poor man with money."

   45.   "The beginning of an acquantance, whether with persons or things, is to get a definite 
outline of our ignorance."   

   46.   "There comes a time in the affairs of man when he must take the bull by
the tail and face the situation."

   47.   "Success usually comes to those who are too busy to be looking for it."

   48   "Change your thoughts and you change your world."
 
   49.   "Everyone gets so much information all day long that they lose their common sense"

   50.   "I did the manly thing; I cried like a baby."

   51.   "My life needs editing."

   52.   "Rich or poor, it's nice to have money."

   53.   "It isn't life that matters, it's the courage you bring to it."

   54.   "Even if you're on the right track, you'll get run over if you just sit there."

Answers:
  1. Who said that?   If you are curious, go to www.johnlennon.com . Imagine.
  2. I don't know.  If you do, please comment.  I remember that one from the 50s.                            
  3. It's not who, it's what!  See Pumpkin Season
  4. Al Capone.  I first saw this quote in the 70s "Bartlett's Unfamiliar Quotations", by
  5. Almost everybody in "Atlas Shrugged", by Ayn Rand.  I understand they're working on a movie. 
  6. Joankelsy.  Printed on a Tee under photo of the author at 26: 
  7. Robert Browning
  8. Ghandi
  9. Walt Kelly - Pogo, the comic strip character, made comment after seeing trash littering a forest.
  10. Unknown - Something I tell my dog when she runs after anything.
  11. Martin Luther King Jr.
  12. Anatole France
  13. I was reminded of this quote on CR4, an engineering website.  Thanks, Jaguar.
  14. Thomas A. Edison
  15. Unknown
  16. Ralph Waldo Emerson
  17. John Foster Dulles
  18. W. C. Fields
  19. Oscar Wilde
  20. Eleanor Roosevelt
  21. Horace Mann
  22. Beverly Sills
  23. Thomas A. Edison
  24. Jean Piaget
  25. Fred Allen 
  26. Unknown.
  27. Phyllis Diller 
  28. H. Allen Smith 
  29. Victor Borge
  30. Pablo Picasso
  31. Dr. Seuss
  32. Thomas Jefferson
  33. Winston Churchill
  34. Billie Burke
  35. Ansel Adams
  36. Maya Angelou
  37. Abraham Lincoln
  38. Lao-tsu
  39. Mahatma Gandhi
  40. Herm Albright
  41. Heraclitus
  42. George Washington
  43. Frank Capra
  44. W. C. Fields    
  45. George Eliot
  46. Henry David Thpureau
  47. Norman Vincent Peale
  48. Bruce Lee
  49. Gertrude Stein
  50. Larry Jones, trainer of Eight Belles after the horse was euthenized.
  51. Mort Sahl
  52. Red Skelton 
  53. Sir Hugh Walpole
  54. Will Rogers

]]> Pumpkin Season tag:driveucrazy.com,2007-11-01:bdd62f9d-67aa-47aa-9265-b9604b27a6d4 joankelsy 2008-03-29T08:27:28Z 2007-11-01T19:55:00Z     This is not a tried and true recipe. I am not much of a baker.  I am trying, as I really want
to take control of ingredients.  I wanted to make a pumpkin pie but when I read the label on
the can, it said "Processed Pumpkin".  "Processed how?", you may ask.  I did.  "Chemically
processed?  What?"   Immediately, I hied myself over to the Hart Farm nearby and bought
a pumpkin about the size of my head.  "I will find out what to do with this", I told me.
    Having bought the most scrumptious fresh spices earlier in the day,  I was looking forward
to getting into this thing.  The only unreal part of my creation would be the crust, a ready-
made.  (Years ago I baked apple pies from scratch.  Now, the prepared ones work for me.) 
    I looked through some old cookbooks but was at a loss as to how to make pumpkin puree.  www.home cooking.about.com  to the rescue.  They have got a plethora of recipes. 
The best part is that I can bake this thing after cutting it into chunks, peel and deseed, put
it in a blender and freeze unused portions in zip-bags for up to a year!  Might try pumpkin
bread.  Just have to work this sugar sub thing out.  Liquid stevia has been O.K. when I have
tried muffins.  I add just a tablespoon of molasses.  Otherwise, the baked goods do not brown
at all using stevia.  Even a slight browning makes you feel that the baked goods are done.


   Sharon and I used to love a restaurant that is about three quarters of an hour's drive away.  
When you got there, the line of people waiting was half out the door.  But worth it.
They served pumpkin pancakes in the Fall.  Out of this world.  They also served the best
veggie burger I have ever had.  Several years ago a new owner took over and changed the
menu. (?) Go figure.

11/5/07:
    Well, the pie was not a great success.  Somewhere, packed for moving, is my blender..and
a few other things I need.  Obviously, I needed more pumpkin than I measured.  I had used
a potato masher/ricer and did not get a compacted mass of the vegetable.  I did use the
suggestion of using high heat for 15 mins. and turning the oven off for 45 mins.  The pie
cooked well and pie crust was not too crispy that way.
    With all that mashed stuff to spare, I made a recipe from The Cutting Board called "The
 Best Pumpkin Bread with Apples & Oranges".   I did substitute 35 drops of stevia sweetener
and 2 tablespoons of molasses for the 2 Cups of sugar.  (According to James Beard, Early
American cooks used molasses in the pie.)  I also left out the chopped walnuts (which I love,
but am told won't love me back. (diverticulosis).  With all my finagling, even, the bread tastes
great.  Toast that on your George Foreman for breakfast!

11/14/07:
    Figured out the pie thing.  Am invited to Thanksgiving dinner.  I picked up a jar of ready-
made Borden mincemeat.  The recipe for Apple Mince Pie looks easy.  By tossing 3 medium
cored, pared and thinly sliced apples
in flour and butter, adding to prepared crust and placing the jarful of mincemeat over that,
all I have to do is lay the top crust on it and bake.  Here's a tip I heard on the Rachel Ray
Show.  Bake your pie in a disposable tin.  Slice your first piece of pie but do not remove yet. 
Cut slices into the pie plate with kitchen shears.   Bend the metal down and remove first piece
without messing it up.  Cool. 

  • I nearly forgot.  The day after Halloween, I was driving home from an errand through
  • Harwich.  I passed one of the best displays I have seen on a front lawn...Three stuffed
  • figures kneeling, two kneeling on the first three and one kneeling on top.  They all had
  • carved pumpkin heads.  Creator must be a phys ed teacher.

11/20/07:
     Stevia site which has much information:Cooking with Stevia .  For one thing, found it is
non-fermentable, so will not allow yeast to rise quite as much.  Think I'll try the molasses thing. 
Or a little honey if that doesn't work.  Have to go to Ask.com for conversions.  Another (direct)
link is Metric Conversion.Org.

4/23/08: And so it goes.  Haven't had much to report about the bread, except that most of
the recipes in the Hensperger cookbook come out great.  The latest taste treat is one made
with golden flax seed.  I did, however grind the seed before baking, as I want to stay away
from diverticulosis problems.  That loaf was outstanding in taste.  Godd healthy stuff, too.
     Soon, I will be attempting sourdough recipes.  One can use a dry starter.  Even though
supermarkets are supposed to carry this stuff, the managers don't know what the ---- you're
talking about.  I tend to drive them crazy.  If I go for the basic sourdough, I have to make a
chamber to keep the mixture warm.  Having kept the house cool, thanks to Cheney and
company, my body is used to 60's temperature. (Feel like a kid again, when families were
not too prosperous.) 
    Wondering about the chamber, I thought of the bread slicing guide I recently bought.  It
came with a heavy duty plastic box to keep the bread in.  It has two parts that you can slide
together with air holes on both ends.  Perfect!  All I have to find is a miniature lamp to place
inside and probably a 25-40 watt bulb.  I don't want to push my luck heating the plastic.  Think
thatshould provide enough warmth, even if I leave the two pieces open a crack to accomodate
the wire on the lamp.  Found a glass receptacle that fits inside nicely and with cheesecloth to
cover the glass, there should be enough ambient air to do the job.  See Ask.com for directions
to make your own starter with flour, water and grapes.  To think I almost put the bread keeper
in the pile for the exchange building at our transfer station, aka the dump.

3/24/08: Moving right aliong.  After shopping for a mini lamp, came home and found a solution
in the cellar, a  clip-on heating lamp with an aluminum shade.  I unscrewed the shade and will
fashion a small stand out of disposable aluminum cookware. After I get it all together, will
probably throw a photo or two on the blog.  Will keep you posted.

3/26/08: So far, so-so.  Managed to get a 25 watt bulb set up inside the breadbox.  Used
large bag clip to top of box but I wouldn't recommend this.  Can probably be unstable if you
don't
get it right and you're working with electricity and a bowl of wet stuff.  Will carry on with the
experiment, however, and try again when the weather is warmer and use organic grapes or
apple slices.  I have so many recipes that one can become easily confused but after about
15 hours,bubbling to a small degree.  Have to pick up some non-metal (wooden utensils)
to pick out the fruit. 
  
     Don't know where I can find a small used fish tank.  One of the heating lamps would
probably work.   I can wait.  There are recipes to die for in the Hensperger book.  English
muffins cooked on a grill, for instance.....my freezer will runneth over.

3/28/08: Tried the muffins on a stovetop griddle I've had since the 60s.  They came out
OK  but I'm looking for something better that pretty good.  Will work on another "mother"
when it gets warmer this spring.  One good feature of the bread machine is the dough cycle.
That dough rose beautifully. Again, used Hensperger's recipe. 

]]> Sort-of Unconditional Love tag:driveucrazy.com,2007-10-26:a554e710-b2b3-45c6-a21f-4441cd0cb59e joankelsy 2008-08-23T09:09:02Z 2007-10-26T20:17:00Z    
    Nutsy Fagan.  She was acting out again.  Circle dancing on the porch when I let her in. 
Jumping around, giving me a phony growl.  Haven't clamped down on her too much for
that.  It has been months since she has shown such animation.
    After Sharon left us, Kelsy slept in the room where the hospital bed had been placed. 
She looked expectantly out the front window, through the gate where you could almost
see if Sharon's car pull into the garage.  She would look at the reclining chair where her
favorite person sat and usually slept, the chair being about the best  for positioning 
Sharon's nerve-damaged shoulder. 
    Kelsy has been in a depressed state. I have tried to comfort her, giving her the usual
nighttime rubdowns.  But it is just not the same for her.  She could no longer go from one
reclining chair to the other, checking out both her mothers' masseuse skills.  She has not
shown that much interest in her old habits.
    Before the hospice stage of illness, there were marathon interviews.  One day, I set
up a bowl of water and one of Kelsy's beds in a newly painted spare room.  An insurance
man questioned us for over an hour.  Right after he left, a nurse visited with her series
of questions.  I did not hear anything unusual in the spare room.  Of course my hearing
is not that good around the corners of this house.  After the nurse finally left, I say the
carnage.  Shreds were dangling where the new cellular shades once hung, lace curtains
and bent rods were pulled down from the windows.  I did not speak to Kelsy until the
following evening.   
    I knew there would be strange people in and out of the house, so made arrangements
for boarding.  The folks at the kennel like Kelsy and I could visit from time to time.  Toward
the end, I asked Sharon if she wanted me to bring Kelsy home. "No," she said.  I did not
question her decision. 
   

    Since Kelsy's return after Sharon's death, I tried to sign her up again for private lessons. 
She had them in 1999  (after she adopted us at a shelter on Long Island).  When the
new trainer asked specifically if she had ever done any damage, I had to own up to it.  She
said she would train her at her home...the cost several thousand dollars. My Vet said that
was rediculous and gave me a few tips.  Mainly to make her sit and stay whenever she
wanted anything.  Food, out, in.  Anything.  She also recommended an anti-barking device*
to be worn around her neck.  That did not work too well.  (A defect in the device, not the dog.)  
I know it has been hard for her.  Add to that, I have complete control of her diet.  She has
slimmed down considerably from seventy-odd pounds of canine.    After some months of
training, she now sits at the edge of the kitchen, while I fill her dish out in the garage.  As I
do that, she manages to scootch into the kitchen a bit, but still stays far enough away from
her food and water stand.**   She barks out the front window but usually quits when I say,
"Enough."  
    So far, we have made progress.  She does show positive emotion when I get the lead
out for her.  I do not do it often enough; this mother's legs are not what they used to be.  
Plus, it was nearly impossible to handle her with a harness.  Another recommendation was
to use one of the the new training harnesses***  that circles around the snout.  We have
been able to walk over near the driving range and/or to the mailbox without bolting (I do
not bolt well) after a rabbit.  Things are getting better.  She behaves  tolerably.

    Yesterday was Sharon's birthday.  Her family came over so that we could spread Sharon's
ashes in the garden.  I took a few handfuls out to the fenced-in run, a really large area
Sharon ordered when we moved in 2000.  One of our neighbors had gone ballistic over this,
even though there was plenty of room left on our property for their dogs to roam.  [These
charmers deserve a blog of their own.]  
    Don't worry, Sharon, Kelsy and I will take care of each other.


                *    The anti-barking device sprays citronella up toward the nose when barking
activates it.  Battery powered, I ordered it on the internet.  Could be the supplier.  More
reasonable than the pet supply store.  They must get seconds.  I had no time or patience
to return it.  Just felt like saying "Enough" to them.
                **   The stand is a small table with two large holes for stainless steel bowls.  It
helps align the gullet for easier swallowing of food or water.  
                ***  There are several of these training harnesses on the market.  Gentle Leader
or Hilti Halter are two you can enter in Search.   Some time ago I bought a leather lead, by
the way.  If your dog gives you pull trouble, those nylon jobbies are murder on your hands.


11/11/07:  Did I tell you that Kelsy bears a strong resemblance to the "Drive You Crazy
mascot?"  Except for the
earphones.  She has improved with the sitting thing.  She does a great backup move while
squatting.  Because she  positions herself too far into the kitchen, I have to tell her "Back". 
There is usually a little under-the-breath complaint now but I am able to go out to the cold
garage to get her food after closing the kitchen door between us.  Personally, I think she thinks
she should be good because it is in her head that I'm going to drive off on her.  I have been
spending much too much time away on business.  The filing season for our non-profit and other
obligations have pulled me away from my friend, Kelsy.  If I put on something spiffy, she knows! 
If I put on a coat, she wants to go with me.  Just staying in my P.J.s most of the morning
makes her comfortable.  Me too.

12/7/07: The usual routine is to let Kelsy out just before bedtime and give her one of her
glucosamine "treats".
A few nights ago, I called her but had to go collect her from the bedroom.  She had trouble
getting up, the hind legs seemingly not working.  What goes through your head at these times. 
There is a pet emergency facility right down the road but, "I can't carry you," I thought, 
"Could never lift you into the car."
    She did finally get the legs working but walked three steps, then sat, walked three steps,
then sat.  This went on through the hallway and three rooms of the house, with me trying to
bring her back to reality.  I could never lift her down the back steps to her pen.  When she
got to the door, something clicked in.  Thank God.  She walked down the steps without
hesitation, peed and came back into the house.  
    There have been minor incidents like this for the past few years, "Come on sleepy baby," 
being the rally words. 
She has been all right the past few days, even Nutsy at times.  It's Hell getting old. 

12/30/07: So far, so good with the "out-of-it" syndrome.  She has been her usual self,
showing up whenever I enter the kitchen for serious business.  I could be in and out all
day but as soon as I think about starting something up cookwise, there she is.  How does
she know when I'm about to prepare food?  Do dogs have a radar system built in?  
    The Nutsy Fagan stuff rears its head every once in a while.  The circle dance and tripping
on the floor is not too terrific.  Fun is fun but broken anything is not.  She has been
responding to "Enough" quite well, including the barks.  One thing that had been difficult
was to make her look at me.  She was avoiding that like the plague but improvements
are there and gratefully accepted. 

1/19/08: Today we went for the annual physical and shots.  We were O.K. until the kennel-
cough-up-the-nose part.  She probably thinks she is being water boarded.  Vet is good. 
Very patient with Kelsy.  Doesn't mind the shots much at all.  Good Girl, Kelsy! 

4/27/08: Attempted to introduce Kelsy to the new Prius.  Had to hold her rear quarters to
boost her into the hatchback.  She was also afraid to jump down.  Back end higher than the
Vue. Spent a little time on the road shopping for a ramp.  Found one at a discount.  Hitched it
to the back of car. Kelsy was not having any.  After a little encouragement, she gingerly
walked up, laid down briefly, then came down, again with coaxing.  She then went up and
down a few times like she'd been doing this all her life. 
    "Phew."  The sigh of relief is because some dogs just do not take to ramps.

8/1/08: Kelsy has become a pro at getting up the ramp.  I can get her down by grabbing her
chest and rump and coaxing her to jump down.  Have made several trips to vets lately.  She
has a mass under her jaw and will be operated on next Wednesday.  They tell me that it is
melanoma but that the tumors do not metastasize in dogs as they do in cats and humans.
Am praying for the old gal.

8/8/08: Surgery done last Wednesday the 6th.  Tumors more extensive than we thought. 
There were choices, so I opted for the less extensive surgery to make her as comfortable
as we can.  I get to pull out my nursing skills for the next few weeks.  Things like compresses
to help drainage, soft foods.  However, she has only a patch for pain.  I rejected the Rimadyl,
as it nearly killed her a few years ago. Our main vet caught that when her blood count went
dangerously low.  
    For now, it's the land of no for her.  No running, no jumping, no dry foods.  We'll lay off the
rice cake treats for a while.  When I make my morning oatmeal, I prepare a small portion
for Kelsy.  That way, she can have second breakfast.  She deserves it.
   
8/23/08: Kelsy was doing surprisingly well after her operation.  All clips were removed and we were
settling in to not going near a vet or awhile.  Medication to keep her comfortable, no
restrictions.  
    We went for a walk to the mailbox the other day but she did not do well, so I thought she
just needed more rest.  Not so.  She went downhill fast and I had to call for help.  A nice
young vet came to the house and handled everything.  
    Kelsy went to join Sharon last night.  I have now lost my two best friends.



One of the Good 'Ol Boys of the Cape



Oops.  This one was taken in Yarmouth, Nova Scotia.  We did not take Kelsy on that 2005 trip. 
Sorry, gal.

]]> Make Do tag:driveucrazy.com,2007-10-24:19e9fdc1-1cf3-4493-b560-bd094846a883 joankelsy 2008-03-19T22:03:14Z 2007-10-24T09:28:00Z     Desk becomes kitchen work table: Born in the depression years, frugality is ingrained in
me.  I try to ignore this fact; my best friend used to say that my middle initial, P, stood for 
Plastic.  When your father picked up a discarded bicycle and refurbished it for one of his kids.
Took the last God-awful looking Christmas tree on the lot and made it look O.K. by adding
branches to the trunk, you kind of picked up the inventive spirit.  I also worked at my
father's side when he did-it-himself.  My big brothers were too busy borrowing the car for
ates and all that nonsense.  After that the war took them elsewhere for a while.  I really
enjoyed being my Dad's apprentice and helper and I know he was proud of me.

    Recently, before the bottom fell out of the housing market, I had intentions of downsizing. 
Sell this big house and buy something I can handle.  The work is getting to me, inside and
ut in the garden.  I cleaned out, packed, shuffled things around for staging.   In the Kitchen,
there was a rolling cart under a 48" wide cabinet we put up on the wall.  Cart was too 
small, so I moved that out to the porch.  When I got rid of one computer and a few lethargic
printers, I had a computer desk left over.  On the Cape, we have a place called the Mill Store. 
Mostly unfinished furniture.  Some really nice oak pieces...but to get back to the table.

    The computer desk was finished and simply constructed (and on sale). 22x42".  It has a
keyboard drawer which is open at the front.  But if you pull it out, it has a 12x26" wooden
platform.  I was going to ask my neighbor to build a drawer onto the platform and place a
4x28" panel on front of the drawer to close it in.  I would pay for the wood and construction. 
One day while scrounging around for a baking pan, I discovered something.  A cookie
sheet with a scratch on it.  12x19" with a raised edge.  Perfect! All I need now is a similar
pan 7-8x12", a few small pieces of molding to hold cookie sheets in place and a front panel,
which I can cut myself and paint.  

    I can use the wooden knife holder from the small rolling cart if I trim it down.  It has 
simple three-piece construction and lays up against the side of the cart, leaving a small
slit to house carving knives safely.  One knife I acquired from a butcher's granddaughter,  
scares the Hell out of company when I cook a roast.  It is like a machete but has a
beautifully made blade.   I had an even longer one but gave it to a caterer acquaintance. 
Enough already. 

    How you do think of old days at this time in life.  But it does not Drive Me Crazy.  I know 
Dad would still be proud. 

12/22/07: I may have written somewhere on this blog...the improvised kitchen table has
become my "workbench" for making bread.  I keep The Breadman machine on the table

and tools in the drawer...just bread making tools in one section and thermometers in the
other.  With the exception of a turkey baster and a pair of sheers, that is all.  It is so nice
to be uncluttered.

    One person's trash...Our town disposal area has an exchange building where one
can leave still-good items and pick up used books, you name it.  Until recently, you could
exchange small pieces of furniture until someone decided they wanted that part of the
building for snow removal equipment.  That was the story, anyway.  It is a shame, as the 
    I was lucky in that I found a large solid wood cabinet, once used to house a television
set.  I brought it home in my SUV and removed the sliding shelf, the decorative molding
and a dividing panel, leaving me with a very large box, basically.  I then primed and 
painted it white, added sturdy wheels to what was once the back of the cabinet.  I flipped
it over and now use it as a bin which I slide under a work table in my studio.  My spare
canvases have never been happier. 
    If you are interested in art work, I will be starting a new section shortly.  There will be
 tips I have gleaned from other painters.  Maybe some of my own.  The majority of artists 
I know get out and sell at shows. 

11/7/07  Apologies for not coming up with the Art Tips just yet.  I have done some of the
research at hardware stores, etc.  Advice must be understandable in prose.  I would love
to sketch these ideas for you.**  That is why it all has to be written.  Speaking of which,
I must get to filling out a form for the State for our non-profit Yarmouth Art Guild.  This
should be a tedious;I have procrastinated...too long.  Gotta go now.

**
 11/27/07:  Recently did a few rough specification drawings while gallery-sitting.  I will
trace them shortly and scan into computer for the Art Zone.  In the meanwhile, I have
been on  the hunt for something I packed for moving.  I need this for a small works
painting to be placed on a Christmas tree.  The tree is one of several to be auctioned
off early December.  Feel like the Mad Hatter.

12/22/07:  Recently visited a small hardware store, which is part of a chain.  They had
redesigned the entire store and in the process did away with the good old stuff, pretty
much entirely.  Everything is packaged and neat and up in price.   It wasn't broken, fellas. 
Why did you fix it?  A few years ago, you could order from their catalogs if you could not
find it in the store.  I hadn't been there for a while because they promoted the only guy
who knew his stuff to another branch.  (He has become grouchy, so I don't even want to
go there.)   And why do I want to buy at the local one?  A senior discount?  I do better
down the block price wise and they haven't fixed the store yet.

1/21/2008: Neglected to tell you.  Had bought a small sewing machine last year and
could not find a suitable table for it.  Went to my favorite furniture place, the Mill Store,
for an unfinished piece.  I lucked out!  Found a quite small printer table with shelves
made from strips of wood.  I removed several of these so I could get my feet under 
and raised the table by putting wheels on the legs.  It is perfect for my needs.  There
is enough shelf left for several cookie tins to store thread and such.  There is a small
drawer...and the best part?  It was finished and on sale!!  That could driveucrazy in
a nice way.

2/15/08:  Here's a tip to help you avoid credit card theft.  Trust me, I get nothing for
mentioning any product or service. My credit card is a Citibank Dividend Platinum Select
MasterCard.  They allow you to use your own photo on the card.  It is a virtual card,
i.e., when you buy on line, a number comes up that is not your actual number.  If you
feel the sale is taking too long, you can change the number with a click.   Some sellers
on the internet are not clued into the process.  For instance, Amazon.  It kept changing 
my preference for a new card into "Open an Amazon account"  but a few phone calls
straightened them out...at least for a while. 
     With the Dividend Card, you get 1% back on purchases, 2% for gas, pharmacies, grocery and convenience store purchases.  They will send a check when you reach $50 in perks.   ]]> Hit and Run tag:driveucrazy.com,2007-10-24:d1185f90-aa9b-4e52-a47c-937ecdedb6e7 joankelsy 2008-03-19T22:11:50Z 2007-10-24T09:05:00Z 2/23/08:  We the forgotten who pay the bills (not to mention taxes) have been struck again. 
   When we moved to the Cape in 2000, there was a mixup with the number on the street. 
Have been getting the mail O.K. but wanted to do construction in late 2005, so early in 2005,
went to the town planning department and told an engineer my problem.   I filled in a form. 
been sent but what happened at the other ends is still a mystery. 
   I recently had a dish put on the roof, the telephone changed, (same company Verizon), and
am waiting on the installation kit and technician to set up the connection for wireless internet.  
Seems they are still confused about the address.  Please folks, don't you talk to each other? 
Two crews have been here already.  (Sounds like the FBI and CIA). 
   Whatever is not going on in the town has already sent the police department on a 911 call
to my neighbor's house because of the Verizon people checking things out.  Seems my
neighbor once had the number associated with my house but changed that long long ago. 
   It is not the sales person who is holding this up.  I have called her and now a supervisor
may or may not straighten this out.  I'm still here.  My laptop is waiting.  Can't use it until you
get with it.  Can't install the Nortons until you let me register. Can't even use it in a Subways.  
I'm still waiting.  And paying the bills (not to mention the taxes).
   Yesterday, I received an email sent at 9:00 AM, stating that installation kit is on the way. 
Under Billing, "service ready" is scheduled for 02-28-08. (?) 
   Yesterday, an email was sent at 11:28 AM, stating "---we are experiencing a delay in
activating the service on your number ending in [last four digits of my phone number].---revised
estimated Service Ready Date is 03-05-2008".
   The best part is the following: "If you have a Verizon technician scheduled to complete
your installation, please plan on being present on this new date, during the same hours
as your original appointment.  What? On the two dates I can only assume they will show up,
I have a board meeting and a doctor's appointment during the same hours as my original
appointment. 
   I put a call through to Nicole, the saleswoman who originally set this up. She may get
back to me before I get back to my life today.
   Unfortunately, I talked to two friends who may be interested in Verizon's service.  I really
do not want to cause them all the angst I'm going through.
   I'm still waiting.
2/26/08:  Yes! I did hear from Nicole after spending too much time with people in the
organization who, if they did give me answers, gave conflicting ones. [They must have
worked for the IRS.]  It appears that Nicole had been in contact with supervisors and they
will try to speed things up.  In the meantime, she told me that UPS     Overnight Delivery
tried to deliver the installation kit but could not find the address. ??? They apparantly
were told the old number.  The upshot is that Verizon will give me an extra $100 credit
because of the foulup. That
helps.  But they had better hurry the installation, as I am paying for two TV services. 
Don't dare cancel Comcast out, as I would have no internet.  How could I go on?

11/10/07:  Hybrids still popular.  Check the Toyota Georgetown link..it is not the usual
sales pitch site.  

11/17/07:
    We've gone over the 4000 mark.  4103 yesterday.  Most popular still "Hybrids".    
I have to wait before I even test-drive any one of these.  I feel as if the country is
n a wet, sandy foundation financially, so I better not go manic over "things" this year.  
If you think I'm kidding, take a look at the crew running the Ship of State.  And those
hoping to?  More of the same.   If they'd only take the corporate election donations
and--- .   You finish the rest.

2/10/08: The two oil-friendly executives will be out of the White House none too soon. 
Viewing the Primary results, seems like We the (forgotten) People want the least.  The
least D.C. influence.  The least corporate backed candidates (this includes the least
usourcing and cheap imports), the least bologna about what this war is all about.  
When those soldiers return, they will need jobs.  Dollars and young people being
wasted over there could work on the infrastructure. What good is fighting centuries
old battles in someone else's messed up country. 

2/14/08:  Finally heard one of the candidates (I won't say who.  I'm trying to be unbiased)
talk about the cheap imports and the impact on jobs...such campaign rhetoric is too little
too late. 

Now, let's get off the serious stuff.  Enjoy some pictures.



Nova Scotia.  Along the road back to board the Cat, we