I am chagrind to report that my state is number one in the country for per capita Covid cases. I remember how important it was in high school and college for our teams and ensembles to be “number one.” I don’t want to be number one any more.
I want to be last right now. Didn’t someone a long time ago say that “the first will be last and the last will be first?”
What are you the best at? What are you the worst at?
I was tickled to see the New York Times article last week about the benefits of baboon friendships. Researchers have studied the friendship patterns of baboons in Kenya since 1971. They noticed early on that female baboons with lots of gal pals lived longer than those with fewer friends. Male baboons have been harder to follow and study, but the evidence is now in that male baboons’ life spans are longer the more platonic female friendships they have. Female baboons groom both their male and female buddies, thus decreasing parasites and strengthening bonds that reduce conflict. The same lifespan and platonic friendship associations are noted in many social species from horses to dolphins to humans. Let’s give thanks for our friends!
Who have been your best male and female friends?
Took another new route this week; as we were coming down a hill, I thought I saw a statue in someone’s backyard. “Must be St. Francis” I thought to myself and as we got closer I realized I was correct. And then we got even closer and I started to laugh. The photo says it all. When I came around the corner of the driveway (yes, I trespassed a little for the photo), I laughed even harder when I saw the second, smaller statue. This just made my day.
There is a new federal law – you are required to have a statue of someone in your yard. It has to be a person (although secondary and tertiary statues of any type are ok). Who will it be?
You know me – a good coupon can draw me in any time. This time it was Feisty Cherry Diet Coke. I like chilis, I like cherries, I like Diet Coke. Heck I will even admit to liking Cherry Diet Coke. And I like hot in my food. But turns out that chili, cherry and coke together do not light my fuse! Guess I’m just not feisty enough?
What contradictions do you have in your life?
(And what do I do with the remaining 11 cans?)
We were required to wear masks at work in April. Two weeks ago we were issued face shields to wear over our masks. Now we have the option of goggles. Instead of looking like welders we look like mad chemists.
I had to wear a uniform when I waitressed at Mr. Steak in Moorhead when I was in college. I have not worn a work uniform since. I like the goggles better than the shields, but we all still look goofy. I am thankful we don’t have to wear paper gowns, but that may yet happen, since cases of COVID are increasing exponentially in our county.
What is the oddest or most uncomfortable clothing you ever had to wear?
VS and YA are out and about this week. A few clues:
Where are we?
Husband told me out of the blue this week that his three favorite people of the 20th Century were Rosa Luxemburg, Dorothy Day, and Martin Luther King, Jr. (He has more time to sit and think now that he doesn’t travel for work). I had to admit that I didn’t know who Rosa Luxemburg was, but Husband tells me she was a good socialist.
Given our current situation, I think my three favorite people of the 20th Century would be Jonas Salk, Alexander Fleming, and Tommy Douglas.
Who are your favorite people from the 20th Century? How about the 21st?
Our son texted us earlier this week to tell us that our two year old grandson said “Mommy, put on your listening ears and give me some goldfish crackers.” Son wrote “He’s using our weapons against us!”
I thought it was pretty funny, and told our son it only meant that grandson was understanding what they were telling him and doing some pretty creative problem solving as well
What do you think are the most effective forms of discipline or behavior management? How have you tried to change others’ behavior, either at home or in the workplace? Include pets.
Perhaps I’m odd. Perhaps my early years as an only child enhanced my ability to entertain myself. Perhaps I have forgotten what it was like to be young. I just can’t understand why people are having such a hard time staying at home.
I see in my Facebook feed challenges to live for a couple of months off the grid in a remote cabin, and winning a bunch of money. Heck, we have all sorts of entertainment in our living spaces, yet people continue to crowd into bars and large parties.
My question for the Baboons today is:
Why is it so hard to stay home? What would you include in a tutorial that would help people stay put? How would you manage in a remote cabin off the grid for a couple of months?
In 1892, on this date, macadamia nuts were first planted in Hawaii. They are native to Australia. This was a rather a successful combination, and Hawaii was a leader in macadamia nuts until South Africa took over that role in 2010.
I am not a great fan of macadamias, preferring pecans and pistachios. When I think about successful combinations, I think about hazelnuts in Oregon, wine grapes in France, and potatoes in Ireland. I suppose there could be successful combinations with people, too, such as Julia Child in Paris.
What is your favorite nut? What are some successful combinations that you can think of?
