"Sing the R.V.R. song!"

Last week, I saw an ad in the paper for family fun day at river valley ranch in millers, md. I was reminded that I went to camp there for one week in 1976. When my parents sent me they had no idea it was a Christian camp so they did not send a bible with me. I think I recall they had to drive one up to me!

The first night, my cabin mate stole my nightgown. The 3rd day, Wendy, another camper, said I should follow her over to the gift shop so she can show me how good she is at stealing!

Perhaps these parents are sending their kids to Evangelical Camp in the hopes of reforming them? Or to get a break from them for a week?

I went to family fun day and nobody really spoke to me until meal time. But the rodeo was real cool, and I ended up sitting with a beautiful family for the Chuckwagon dinner, with 3 kids and their mom. The 22 year old man was from Pikeville, and an artist who has always wanted to draw a painting of what he remembers from riding the #8 bus along York Road. I encouraged him to follow thru with that so I can see the final piece.

The ranch look like it always did except that many young folks were glued to their cell phones or Blackberrys seeming disconnected from real life.

I overheard a teen girl say the following into her cell phone:

"I hate butterflies, day still bugs!"

I won a horse trophy in 76 that labelled me Camper of the Week. It wasn't clear to me how I could have won something like that short of the fact that the hellfire and damnation sermon convinced me to become Born Again!...................................

I was hoping they'd sing the RVR camp song on Saturday but they did not.

All I can remember is that it went:

Sing the rvr song, as we're riding along....................."

perhaps it's on the website?

www.rivervalleyranch.com

10 Stars for "Julie and Julia" with Meryl Streep

I reckon this is the best movie I've seen this year. This was a special surprise because when I chose this one I did not know there would be so many parallels between my own life and Julie's. I had no idea this movie was about a blogger who blogs her way to a best selling book and then a movie.

Remember in the movie her friends tell her she ought to collect donations thru her blogsite! I just loved that! They told her to add a paypal account so they can keep eating fancy dinners! The movie never indicated whether or not her fans gave her donations or not. In my case, I received hundreds of letters via email saying "I want to donate to you" I'd walk them thru the steps on my website, and they never once followed through. I dropped my donation/paypal account in July.

Memorable quote from the movie: Julia grabs a pasta noodle out of the pot and yells "THIS IS HOTTER THAN A STIFF COCK!"

If you need to laugh and be charmed, this is a "can't miss!"

"Battling Indoor and Outdoor Environments"

8/10/09

one of the things that motivated me to get out of the house today is that I'm allergic to my apt. There are probably a number of allergens but the main one is that my next door neighbor is a heavy smoker, so I wheeze and cough more at home than when I'm out.

But today, I've been in my 250 degree car all day and still gasping for breath. Right now I'm in the library with my winter coat on.....................dreaming of moderate  outdoor climates with decent air quality.

"Employers listen up"

I've often thought about the millions of Americans who could get back to work if American employers were willing to make some reasonable accomodations.

I.E. I'm good with math, enjoy cash registering, counting money, and the people interaction, but I'm unable to stand for long periods. Why in the world don't we put comfy chairs there for the employees. There are many examples of workplaces where just as much work could get done and disabled folks could get back to work if they were given a chair.

Greeters at Wal Mart, Greetings and Readings. There is no reason in the world that these greeters shouldn't be given chairs!

Let's get America working again people. This IS NOT rocket science.

"Coping" with indoor and outdoor environments

This can't be healthy. Going from my 160 degree plus car, to a circa 50 degree café! in a flash.    One way that I try to lessen this unhealthy impact  is to eat outside. I've eaten 1 to 3 meals outside for the last 12 weeks.

I'm miserable inside most public places because I need to  a winter coat,  a scarf and hat... IN SUMMER!   The other problem with  indoor environments  is that they are often unbearably loud. 

Employees in virtually all restaurants cafes are cleaning when I'm in there. Whether they are windexing the glass, mopping, sweeping, whatever it is, I find it impossible to enjoy.   Many of the restaurants have outdoor tables, but at least 1/2 of the time;  muzak is being piped outside!

When I absolutely have to be indoors  I take my solar heated winter coat out of my car, put it on and go inside. Ironically the icy indoor environs cool off my coat very fast.............................

For me , living in a warm climate is an absolute necessity and I don't honestly know how I'll cope after about 10/15, when it's freezing outside and inside, and there are no public places to be enjoyed.

Google "over air conditioned public places" and you'll find that there are lots of people who are miserable like me with modern society.

"A Step Up"

Yesterday, I made my first writing submission for hopeful renumeration.    Now that I'm not in 24/7 fear of being murdered, I can focus a little better. My essay is entitled: "Baltimore's Mass Transit Mayhem"

I submitted to www.sunmagazine.org

Typically, the wait before they get back to you is at least 12 weeks, because they receive 1k submissions a month.

I kissed the envelope before putting it in the outgoing mail slot!

"All Good things must come to an end"

Now, I don't  believe that absolutely every good thing will come to an end. But my over allexperience is that I probably should not get my hopes up.

I popped into roller rink Sportsman's Hall today to see the renovations and to consider watching people skate for a few minutes before driving into Baltimore. I asked the clerk if it would cost me anything to just go in and watch. She said yes. It costs 6.50 for general admission and 3 dollars for skate rental. I replied:  " Looks like roller skating nowadays is for the well to do!"

"Yes, it certainly is" she replied.

"Tell you what" she said. "I'm going to let you in for free since you're with "Maryland for Health Care"

(I am?) I thought to myself? I looked down at my t-shirt. Why, yes indeed! I am with MD for health care!

This is comical because nearly every tshirt I wear is from the goodwill.

She said: "You'll have to keep your mouth shut, because I see you are chewing gum"

I went in and watched. An 11 year old girl with a speech impediment stumbled toward the railing and declared to me with a smile:

 "This is not as easy as it looks!"

"Are you a new skater?" I asked.

"Well, kind of!"

me "My first time here was when I was 12. Wanna know what's funny? They let me in for free because they think I'm with this organization. I pointed to my tshirt. It is really expensive to skate!"

girl-"I get in for free because my mother is the custodian for Sportsman's Hall"

A few minutes later a dad and 5 year old daugher tumble into the rail. I asked "Now, is she teaching you? Or, are you teaching her?"

"We're teaching each other, they smiled!"

A 13 year old pony tailed guard reprimanded them for talking to me and told them they must keep skating, they aren't allowed to stop on the rink at all. I'm really disspointed at the disapproving air of this entire experience so I decide to leave.