Book club

The book club that I belong to meets twice a month at the Cantebria Coffee House.  We have read Until They Bring the Streetcars Back, Sophies' Choice and Don't Sweat the Small Stuff.  We are going to read Sarah's Key in December.  The next book will be Crooked Letter, Crooked Letter by Tom Franklin.  I really enjoy the group of women that are in our club.  Everyone one of them add to the discussion and help each other broaden our outlooks.  I would never choose to read the books on my own that we read in club.

Shep

Today when I brought Dave to dialysis I saw one of the medivan drivers that I am always saying hi to.  I told Dave I wish I knew his name so I don't have to refer to him as my bearded friend.  So today I stopped to talk to him and introduced myself to him.  His name is Shep.  That is the second man that I know named Shep.  When I lived in Alaska I went to the Shep Woolley show in Delta Junction.  It was at the Evergreen Lodge.  During intermissions Shep came to our table and we got to know him quite well.  He is most famous for writing and recording the Purple People Eater.  Remember that song.  He recordered it in 1958.

Parade of Lights

Friday night while I was in Jamestown visiting my kids during the Thanksgiving weekend we attended the parade of lights.  It is a celebration opening the Christmas season in Jamestown.  I think that they had maybe   20 or so lite floats.  They were  beautiful in the dimly lite street.  It was cold so Natalie gave me the only blanket that was in the car.  We really enjoyed the parade.   It was only about a half an hour long so we weren't too cold.  Hot chocolate after the parade and a rematch of Mexican Train Dominos.  I lost again.

Blue and White Blitz

The Bemidji High School Lumberjacks have won every football game this season.  They will be playing for the 4 A state title on Saturday November 26th against Rocori.  It is played in the metrodome.  It has the entire town buzzing.  As someone not connected with the school I can still feel the vibes.  Many people are going to the game.    Go Jacks. 

They lost 10-17 to Rocori.  The years that I was in High School at Bemidji, the Jacks went for 4 years with 35 wins - 0 loses. At that time there was no championship game.  Different time different era.
  

Hiearchy of Bitches

Maslow's Hierarchy of needs is a theory in psychology proposed by Abraham Maslow in a paper he wrote in 1943.  It was his way of describing human growth.  The lower based needs are on the bottom and the higher developmental needs are on the top.  I used this in my work daily, but from it I developed a Hierachrcy of bitches.  Excuse me, complaints.  In my everyday interactions with people I am able to judge by what they are complaining about were their need level is.  Such as complaint about sleep, or the water is not usuable in their home.  They are very needy and I should try to help them.  Whereas, if they are complaining that they did not get the tickets they wanted to the sports event or to the opera, they are fairly well actualized and probably need no help.

Recently I was talking to a friend and she told me about problems with her daughter that were of the  bottom two levels.  I sent my friend a card.  The next time I saw her she thanked and hugged me for the card  and she was amazed that it arrived just when she needed it the most.

Thanksgiving

I am at Jamestown for Thanksgiving.  Wednesday we ate supper out.  In a restaurant called Buffalo City Rotessouri  Grill.  To  quote Jamon it is Jamestown answer to fine dining.  Food was great, atmosphere was lovely, and I was seated by the real fireplace that sent out heat enough heat to warm my sole.  Natalie and I cooked together eating our turkey with all the trimmings around one.  Natalie almost forgot the stuffing remembering it in time to get it to the table.  In the back ground was the noise of three NFL games, the parade and laugher generated from the Mexican train dominos we played.  Jamon had to work Friday so Natalie and I planned our day together.  We each kept saying just so I don't have to shop we could do anything else.  I love grown children and  mine are the best.

PIE

I try not to be a pie person.  I really like pie and have it for my birthday instead of cake.  I made a fabric cake to serve as my birthday cake.  They are actually pin cushions. (refer to the picture)

I can eat all the pie I want, but I still have a birthday cake.

But that is not what I mean by a pie person.  A pie person to me is one who wants things perfect, instant, and easy.  Therefore, a P. I. E. person.   I am afraid there are a lot of pie people, especially in our new generation of people.  Pie people have a hard row ahead of them.  As my generation of people know life is tough.  We have had to develop the skills to combat this toughness to succeed.  Pie people do not have these skills and it worries me a lot. Is this weakening America???