1/28/11 Boo Boos

When you were younger, didn't a band-aid make everything better? That and a kiss on an owie. It's like in the movie "It's a Wonderful Life" when Zu Zu wants Jimmy Stewart to fix her petals from her flower and says "paste it daddy." My dad tells me that we used to ask him to tape everything. I guess we upgraded with new technology. But there is something about a band-aid that really did make everything feel better. I wonder if people have actually studied this. I should apply for a grant... The best, though, are the designer band-aids. Disney or cartoon characters, fun colors and designs, seem to be more effective in helping kids not feel pain any more. I don't currently have an owie or boo boo but the subject of band-aids came up today and they are pretty neat.

I am thankful for fun band-aids.

kk

1/27/11 Hot Chocolate Cabana

On cold days like today it is so nice to see the "Free Hot Chocolate" sign on the tent set up outside the library on campus. It is such a pick up to be able to stop by for a warm delicious treat.

I am thankful for the Hot Chocolate Cabana on campus!

kk

1/26/11 Dissocia

Tonight I went to an industry preview for the show "Dissocia" at the Third Rail Theatre. The first act is visual and auditory stimulation overload. I was also very tired so I don't think that helped. But Act two is all about showing the stark contrast. The main character, a woman, is mentally ill. The first act shows how her life makes sense to her when she is off her medication. What she sees, what she experiences, what she hears. It is zany and goofy and funny and all well and good until you see the opening scene of Act two with her in a hospital gown in bed. It shows her struggles to come back as she starts to take her medication on a regular basis again. It shows how her relationships with others are strained when she goes off her medication. I don't know how people live their life without medication if they need it but can't afford it, or how they live dependant on pills, or how people around them live with mental illness. Everything about it seems so hard and confusing. On everyone. I don't understand why anybody has to deal with it. It isn't fair. But,

today I am thankful that I am not mentally ill.

kk

1/25/11 Mac Truck

My mother has always wanted to drive a cement truck. I always thought it would be cool to drive a big Mac truck. Not for a job, but just for fun. At least once. I don't know, maybe it is because our family has a farming background, but I always like driving on the freeway and passing a truck with some kind of giant piece of machinery on it. Or a giant piece of a piece of machinery. Some of those things are just so big! I always wonder how they make them and what they are going to be put on. Giant pipeline parts or big scoopers for earth movers. They are all fascinating to me.

I am thankful for giant machinery. (Kind of a strange thing to be thankful for I think.)

kk

1/24/11 Turtle Turtle

I am reading the top 100 banned classic novels. It has been a goal of mine for a long time and so I decided to get with it and start and finish. I will read them all, even if I've read them before. Books I was required to read in junior high or high school were read but I would like to revisit them and perhaps remember a bit more about them. So I've already read The Great Gatsby and Catcher in the Rye. I am currently reading The Grapes of Wrath. At one point a character picks up a turtle to take home to his family to eat. Not that I'm in support of the eating of the turtle, but it reminded me how much I like turtles. I had one once. Only for a short time. They require a lot of cleaning. They are messy and icky if you don't have the proper environment for them. I had never really seen one up close until I got one though. Their faces are much more like that of a snake than the cute cartoons you see on TV. I ended up having to return it since I couldn't take care of it well enough. Erika really likes turtles so I always end up looking at turtle shaped magnets or things when I'm on vacation. Although her current favorite animal is a goat. She cam over tonight to pick up her wedding cake I had stored in my freezer since they had a hankering for cake. She had brought me back a magnet from Mexico and I picked the turtle. They were in my head from the book and so I think it was meant to be. I'd like to go volunteer to help the baby turtles get to the water in South America, or wherever it is. I should look into that.

I am thankful for turtles.

kk

1/23/11 I seem to be on a theme

Today I saw an airplane travel across the sky leaving a hint of a white stream behind it. It reminds to of how fun they are to watch when the sky is a bright blue and you can see the airplane trails across the sky. There is such a beautiful contrast between the blue and white. I'm not sure why but there is something about this that I truly enjoy. I did always want to become a pilot. And I do really enjoy traveling by plane. I like airports. Maybe the whole idea of flying appeals to me enough be be tickled by the trails that are left behind.

Today I am thankful for airplane trails.

kk

1/22/11 Arrivals

Today my younger sister Erika and her husband Scott returned from Puerto Vallarta. That sounds so strange to say. Her husband! I am sure that they enjoyed getting away from work and just relaxing in the sun in Mexico. The weather has been dreary here and I know I would welcome a sunny change! As far as I know there were no real issues with their flights and everything went smoothly and on time.

I am thankful that Erika and Scott arrived home safely today.

kk