MIDWEEK MUSINGS: DEATH BY CANDY ?

My initial thought of what I'd write about today changed within a matter of a minute so that other topic can just wait for another MIDWEEK MUSINGS.

Tuesday is one of my catch-up days as I don't have any classes that I need to be at a certain time. I had a couple of errands in mind, and it is that first one where today's topic changed. I needed small snack Ziploc bags to package a chocolate trail mix treat I had made for a Halloween luncheon I was attending. 

 After living in the middle of nowhere for 20 years,  folks know I avoid going to the supermarket as much as possible. Anyhoo, I have my system of navigating the Kroger parking lot since I hate going up and down lanes looking for a spot close to the door. Instead of turning early, I wait to turn down the next-to-last aisle even though speed bumps are along the road until the turn. I made my turn and proceeded cautiously. It's easy for folks to back up without really looking both ways, right?  I saw a couple of open spots ahead when, out of the corner of my eye, a grey flash made me brake hard. Someone was speeding diagonally through the lanes via open parking spaces. The driver didn't even hesitate after almost hitting me.  I pulled into one of the open spots and sat there dumbfounded for a bit.  As I headed to the store door, I turned to see where the person had parked. That silver car was right in front of a chiropractor's door, but the driver hadn't emerged right away. My brain gave the driver a minute of grace, poor thing's in pain... But when I glanced back, a lanky blonde emerged, swishing her ponytail as she headed to the nail salon door. 

The grocery store mission had those mini snack bags on a top shelf and the search for a taller employee ensued. It gave me time to cool down. The decision was made to not let this incident go.

After making the purchase, you know me, I headed to the nail salon. The only customer was a 50-ish blonde sitting with her work binders at the pedicure chair. I introduced myself as the person she almost hit cutting through the parking lot. She spewed indignation,  " You mean you came all the way over here to tell me that?" " Yes, I did, because I wasn't sure you realized that you could have caused a terrible accident, and instead of criticizing me, perhaps there should be some remorse/ recognition of your wrongdoing." 

"Oh, "she blurted out unapologetically,"I'm sorry." 

Who knew that needing those baggies would prove that candy can kill us?

MONDAY MUSINGS: ARKANSAS GEMS

 Arkansas is known as the 'Diamond State' but there are other gems like our Jazz scene. I was fortunate to have enjoyed some of these gems at an Evening of Jazz, a fundraiser planned to benefit both Jericho Way and Opportunity House under the umbrella of DEPAUL ARKANSAS.

Jericho Way is for people experiencing homelessness in Central Arkansas. About 150 people/day have served meals,  the use of showers, laundry facility, a clothing closet (where I brought my Dad's clothing), phones and computers, case management, and housing placement. 

Jericho Way lives up to his name as a safe place where people can find care, as it has also expanded into housing with a"13 houses campaign placing homeless into refurbished homes where tenants pay 30 % of their income. 

We were treated to music by highly acclaimed state musicians including The Rodney Block Collective, American Idol alum Nia Renée, saxophonist Grady Nichols, and Pattern Blu with classic jazz.

Kudos to two of our community members who were named 2026 Chatillon Award Honorees: City Board Director Kathy Webb and Kevin Howard from the Dept. of Housing and Neighborhood                                         Programs.

What a delightful evening filled with donations of good music, food & drink. People doing good. 

Thanks to all those who donated to help homeless folks have a brighter future. Arkansas's best gem are all those who help make our state a better place to live.

tUESDAY tUNES:TIMELESS THE WORLD OVER

tUESDAY tUNES is a song that seems timeless like Engelbert Humperdinck's Quando Quando sung here by the duo of Cece Trương and Tuấn Dũng in a band Poppy Hills Musique in Viet Nam.

Quando Quando

FOTO FRIDAY: GEORGIA's ON MY MIND

 

FOTO FRIDAY: Meet Georgia, my newest foster. If you have been hankering a loving dog, this gal's the one for you. 

She's a Rhodesian Ridgeback mix minus the ridgeback but you still get a beautiful marking on her chest.

Georgia's very observant and a great lover of nature whether she is in the backyard/on a walk- she stops, looks, and listens... 

Update: No need to contact The Buford Project Rescue at

847-846-8134 if interested as Georgia has been adopted along with Alistar another foster. They will be life long partners. But if you are wanting a dog (s) in your area please check with your local Rescues. There is an abundance of dogs needing a loving home.

Last week's FOTO FRIDAY was SHELTER OF PEACE

TBT: KYLIE 'S 17

TBT: 17 years ago today I was blessed to share a first grandchild, Kylie, with Natureman, a guy who had raised 2 boys. His first comment was about how pink she was!

Although she is a bonus grandchild, I'm so proud of all her endeavors. She is a good student, loves music, participates in theater and learning how to play the electric guitar. Most importantly, she is kind, giving and helpful. Her inner beauty adds to her natural beauty.

Happy 17th, Kylie, your Zayde would be so proud of the young woman you have become!

MIDWEEK MUSINGS:GIFT GIVING

 MIDWEEK MUSINGS this week is about gift-giving. Some folks as I have previously discussed are great gift-givers.  They know exactly what someone would love. but if you are not one of those,  do you wait until you see/ hear about a desire/ is money the answer? It is pretty impersonal. But what they do with it, is up to the receiver.

Have you noticed how newlyweds-to-be sometimes do away with gift registry and just ask for cash/signing up for different parts of their honeymoon? i.e., dinner on the beach, an excursion - ziplining/ whatever. How do you feel about that? I think it's pretty gutsy, but it is what they want. The bottom line is the final decision is yours. as to what you give...

So what's prompting all this is that yesterday I received a call about an offer I had made to gift money for a specific item I saw a need.  It would/ could be custom-made. The board discussed it, and decided they were not interested. Not a problem. It's their job to decide. 

But what they did need, get ready for this- was a new lectern. I had to stifle my laugh. Oh Lordy, you know that's a very touchy subject here in Arkansas...

"The lectern for Governor Sanders, who served as press secretary for former President Donald Trump and has been widely viewed as a potential candidate to be his running mate, has drawn attention ranging from late night host Jimmy Kimmel to The New York Times.

The blue and wood-paneled lectern was bought last June with a state credit card for $19,029.25 from an events company in Virginia. The Republican Party of Arkansas reimbursed the state for the purchase on Sept. 14, and Sanders’ office has called the use of the state credit card an accounting error. Sanders’ office said it received the lectern in August."

Yeah, I think I'll pass on donating a lectern...

tUESDAY tUNES:: SILENCE

tUESDAY  tUNES comes in a different note today. The music of silence.  WOW. Listen to silence... a photo can sing a 1000 notes

Back story:Well, I woke up at about 2:45am and thought about photographing the Moon-Jupiter occultation but figured (a.) it was probably foggy and (b.) the moon was probably too low and behind our bluff.

After dreaming that got up and caught the end of the occultation, I got up and got the occultation. (At least the end of it.)

I first hiked across the yard to only realize that the moon was still behind the trees. Ufda! I then ran to the car, threw the camera, tripod and myself into said car and zoomed down the driveway and over to our neighbor's sod farm (Thank you for the clear view Bill and Mandi!).

I rapidly deployed the tripod and camera to just catch Jupiter re-emerging from the shadow-side of the moon. You can not only see Jupiter but it's four Galilean moons.

They are called the Galilean moons because Galileo was the first to spot the four major moons of Jupiter back in 1610. Today we know Jupiter has at least 115 moons!

Note: The image was taken with high dynamic range settings in-camera, then post-processed using advanced software. Is it "AI"? Sort of, but it was not manipulated to add Jupiter's moons, etc. It was used to reduce noise, sharpen the image and help bring up the dynamic range. Advanced hardware, software or AI? You can be the judge. 

Thank you Alan Stankevitz for providing the sound of silence.