Caleigh O'Shea's Blog, page 33

Going, Going, Gone

I willingly confess to so great a partiality for trees as tempts me to respect a man in exact proportion to his respect for them. ~James Russell Lowell, American poet

Remember this?

I decided you might be interested in the rest of the story, so here goes:

To recap, the immense silver maple straddling the property line between our house and the one next door was fatally injured in a mid-July 2018 storm:

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A couple of our neighbors worked with a saw to tidy the mess, “Band-aiding” the problem until the pros could tackle it. After chopping the logs, they found most of them covered in grubs, thoroughly rotten, and unusable even for firewood:

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Because this was a “line tree,” both neighbors had to agree on its disposition. We contacted several experts who advised removing it, as it had reached its life expectancy and would likely topple onto our roofs in a future storm. Eventually, our neighbor rationalized away his objections to the project’s cost, and one day this huge “basket crane” appeared:

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Work began in mid-December 2018, amid shortened daylight hours:

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A crew of up to three experts trimmed first the top, lighter branches down to the four-pronged trunk. They used a wood chipper to grind away the numerous branches they’d dropped to the ground:

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Guess they’re not afraid of heights. For reference, the white house in the background belongs to another neighbor (not party to the tree removal), and it’s three stories tall:

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Much of the heavy lifting came when they sawed the four trunks into moveable segments to haul away. The dropping of those heavy segments produced numerous holes in the ground. Three days before Christmas 2018, they were down to the stump but cautioned its removal might prove challenging. They thought someone had poured concrete into it, and they feared for the safety of their grinder. (See the whiteish chunk on the right, below the lowest ridge?):

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Nobody wanted this rectangular “monument” left behind, so they forged on:

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Christmas Eve, and they finally finished the work:

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We’ve not discussed what to do with the empty space, but I vote leaving it at rest for at least a year. After all, it’s suffered major trauma, don’t you think?

 

Waiting and Watching

Winter is on my head, but eternal spring is in my heart. ~Victor Hugo, French poet, novelist, and dramatist (Les Misérables and The Hunchback of Notre-Dame)

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Shivering as the north wind howls

Ice clings to evergreen boughs

When will spring return?

 

March 20 or thereabouts

Don’t give it another doubt

This mess will melt soon!

 

Sunday’s Gem — Sapphire

Look deep into nature, and then you will understand everything better. ~Albert Einstein

Considered by many as the gem of gems, Sapphire is a stone of wisdom, royalty, prophecy, and Divine favor.

A symbol of power, kindness, and good judgment, Sapphire is composed from the mineral corundum (the same as Ruby). It’s trace amounts of iron and titanium that make the corundum blue, ranging from very pale to very dark, from a green to a violet shade.

The name Sapphire comes from the Latin sapphirus, the Greek sappheiros, and Sanskrit sanipryam for “blue stone.”

A 9 on the Mohs scale of hardness (just shy of Diamond’s 10 ranking), Sapphire is found in Sri Lanka, Burma, Thailand, Cambodia, Australia, and the U.S. (Montana), among other places. It’s the traditional birthstone for September (me!!) and the anniversary stone for 45 and 65 years.

Sapphires come in many colors — orange, yellow, pink, violet, green, gray, and black — but here we’ll be talking about the blue variety.

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Tumbled Sapphires, thanks to Reveti Fine Jewelry, Palo Alto, CA

It’s believed that Sapphire brings joy and prosperity, preserves chastity, and promotes good health. Ancient peoples used it as an antidote for poison, protection against sorcery, and to increase awareness of angels. Sapphires are said to heal ailments of the eye and nervous system and to promote inner peace and concentration.

Prized as gemstones since 800 B.C., Sapphires were worn as talismans and considered a holy stone by both the Catholic Church and Ancient Persians, who believed the sky was painted blue by the reflection of Sapphires. Said to be a stone of the Apocalypse, Sapphires were worn by the Greeks for wisdom at Delphi, used by Buddhists to bring enlightenment, and made into Christian ecclesiastical rings. It is said the Law was given to Moses engraved on Sapphire tablets.

Sapphires are used in all forms of jewelry, including rings, earrings, bracelets, and pendants. They’re a popular choice for engagement rings (remember the one Prince Charles gave Lady Diana?); however, if there’s a breakup, it’s best to remove it as Sapphire is a stone of attachment and could prolong the connection.

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Ah, 69.35 carats of blue sapphire from The Natural Sapphire Company. Only $1.9 million!

For outstanding clarity and perfect color at a lower price, consider lab-created or synthetic sapphires since natural gemstones are a finite resource that will only decrease in number and increase in cost.

Besides its use as a valuable gemstone, Sapphire is used for solid state electronics, scientific instruments, watch crystals, and optical components.

Sapphire stimulates the Throat and Third Eye Chakras, improving communication and understanding of the messages received.

Feng Shui experts say Blue Sapphire uses water energy (quiet strength and purification), associated with the North area of a home or room and should be used in any room where you reflect, repose, or pray.

Sapphire is strong but can crack if misused. Clean your Sapphire with warm soapy water and a soft cloth. Store it away from other pieces in your collection to prevent marring.

Note: The claims here aren’t meant to take the place of medical advice. They’re based on folklore and other sources, and likely “work” best if one’s belief is strong enough!

Hug for the Holidays

Man is a dog’s idea of what God should be. ~Holbrook Jackson, British journalist, writer, and publisher

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The smile says it all —

Nothing better than a hug

From my favorite kid!

 

A Holiday Jaunt

A good traveler has no fixed plans, and is not intent on arriving.  ~Lao Tzu, ancient Chinese philosopher

Perhaps modern airlines should erect this quote in prominent places throughout airports.

They seem to believe in it, despite what their patrons expect.

Case in point:

Before the holidays, Domer told me one of his friends had managed to snag tickets to the Notre Dame-Clemson football game Dec. 29 at the Cotton Bowl in Dallas.

He was beside himself with excitement.

This was a playoff game, and it had been several years since ND had reached this pinnacle.

Since Domer would be home for the holidays, he booked his flight from St. Louis to save on time and costs.

It was to be a quick trip, leaving Friday for the Saturday afternoon game and returning on Sunday.

I fretted a bit over the possibility of icy roads (it being December and all), but Friday dawned cloudy and on the warm side.

Domer and I loaded his suitcases into my car and drove to the airport, leaving plenty of time for check-in, lunch together, and proper good-byes (since I refused to drop him at the curb and run).

Anyway, while we were eating burgers and fries, he got a text from the airline that his flight had been canceled.

Canceled.

No explanation, no rebooking options, nothing.

And when he tried to access their website, it refused to load.

I checked radar, which indicated everything was clear. He texted his buddy, who said his flight was still on schedule.

What could be wrong?

Trying not to panic, I suggested we were this close so we might as well go to the ticket counter and find out.

The representative told us they’d had wicked weather in Dallas the day before and were doing everything possible to play catch-up.

She said they didn’t have a crew to man Domer’s plane, but they could get him on another plane, leaving around midnight Saturday and returning the next day.

Right, and he’d miss the entire game.

We asked if he could be transferred to another airline.

No dice.

Everything’s full, we were told. It’s the holidays.

Yes, but….

After assurances that Domer’s money would be refunded, we carried his luggage back to the car and drove home.

Disappointed, but realistic.

After all, we know we’re not “good travelers,” based on Lao Tzu’s definition.

We fix our plans and have every intention of arriving on schedule.

People like us probably should drive instead!

P.S. When Domer watched the game on TV and saw the final score (ND lost 30-3), he realized the cancellation wasn’t a disaster after all.

Clothes Make the Man

When in doubt, wear red.  ~Bill Blass, American fashion designer

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Llama sweater, llama toy

Both designed to bring me joy.

“Ugly” sweater, squeaky plush

Stylishly brown, fashionably blush.

One for the son, one for the pup

Seeing them together just cracks me up!

 

Note: Happy New Year, friends! See you in 2019!

Mama, Again

Dallas here.

Can y’all stand another Mama-story, one with no mention of a bat, I promise?

This happened on a Sunday back in the summer, and the reason I’m telling you that is because it’s important.

Sort of.

(What’s more important is that Mama has been very selfish in allowing me access to her blog. Don’t tell her, but I think she’s embarrassed over the story I’m about to tell — as well she should be!)

Anyway.

Mama decided she’d finally reached the Breaking Point (whatever that is) with my runny behind.

Yes, I confess I was fighting diarrhea for several days, and it’s NOT pretty on the skirts of my back-furs.

Mama figured the problem was that fancy Science Diet food she’d bought me. I don’t need fancy food, Mama. Hamburgers, chicken, turkey, and the occasional apple, carrot, or green bean is just fine with me.

Oh, and donuts. As many and as often as you’ll let me have ’em.

But Mama went to the store, trolled the aisles, and finally decided on another fancy kibble — Taste of the Wild.

Works for me, though sad to say, my “wild days” ended a while ago.

When Mama got back home, she decided to toss the old food down the garbage disposal and put the new food into her hermetically sealed container with its snazzy snap-on lid.

So far, so good.

Grandmama saw the pile of old food in the sink, but figured she’d let Mama deal with it.

Nobody thought there was a problem brewing.

Mama poked and shoved that food, and the dragon-in-the-sink chomped and sputtered. Eventually, the side sink got into the act and BOTH sinks filled with nasty brownish murky water (yep, way worse than my skirts ever looked!)

With plunger in hand, Mama called Grandmama back downstairs to help out, and I swear, the two of them looked like Laverne and Shirley as they bailed yucky water into a bucket, hauled the mess outdoors, and dumped it over the fence (surely pleasing the farmer who owns that field).

There was a lot of yelling and some well-placed cursing going on (mostly from Mama, who ever so often stopped to give me the stink-eye).

Mama, this was NOT my fault, and I resent your taking it out on me!

Grandmama, seeing the situation wasn’t getting one bit better and figuring the entire mess would turn to cement inside the drainpipes, called three plumbers, but have you ever tried to get a plumber on Father’s Day?

Nope, not happening.

The next day, one of the plumbers arrived and promptly chided Mama for putting dry kibble down the disposal in the first place.

‘That’s designed to swell in water so the dog feels full,’ he explained. ‘Your pipes aren’t big enough to handle a wad that size.’

Well, duh.

So I ask you, who’s the dummy here??

Note: In the interest of public service, I Dallas will tell you what the plumber told Mama. Don’t put rice, noodles, onions, carrots, banana peels, or dog kibble down the garbage disposal. And I imagine that goes for the Christmas goose carcass, too. (By the way, Happy Christmas to all!)

Sunday’s Gem — Topaz

Look deep into nature, and then you will understand everything better. ~Albert Einstein

A hard silicate mineral formed in the cavities of igneous rocks, Topaz is a gemstone that typically presents itself as colorless, yellow, or brown.

While found throughout the world, Topaz in gem-quality form usually comes from Brazil or Sri Lanka. In the U.S., Topaz is the state gemstone of Utah.

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Natural topaz, compliments of the Natural History Museum of Utah

Some say the word Topaz comes from topazos (“to seek”) after stones that were found in what is now Zabargad in the Red Sea. Others say the word is from the Sanskrit and means “fire.”

This highly transparent stone is believed to harness the power of the sun. Topaz is said to bring true love and fidelity, while bestowing courage, wisdom, and success in every endeavor.

Ancient Egyptians believed Topaz symbolized Ra, their sun god. Hindus thought it would protect their homes from fire. Greeks and Romans valued its ability to give strength and prevent injury.

According to the Bible, Topaz is the second stone in the breastplate of the Jewish High Priest. The Book of Revelation lists it as the 9th foundation in the wall of the New Jerusalem to come.

Until the 1970s, most jewelry stores sold Topaz in shades of yellow or brown. Today, colorless Topaz is heated, coated, or irradiated to appeal to buyers who prefer it in shades of blue.

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Topaz color options, thanks to www.quora.com

Topaz is the traditional birthstone for November (some sources say December) and the wedding anniversary stone for four years.

Feng Shui practitioners teach that Topaz uses fire energy, Yang in nature, and should be placed in the south area of a home or room to enhance fame and reputation.

Regarded as the “crystal of potency,” Topaz occurs in a range of colors, from colorless to blue, yellow, orange, brown, and pink. The different colors of Topaz stimulate different Chakras (for example, blue activates the throat or third-eye, pink stimulates the heart, and brown enhances the root).

Topaz is believed to cleanse the aura and release tension. Blue Topaz, especially, is said to be most beneficial for alleviating fear of public speaking, inspiring creativity, and defeating writer’s block.

(Bring a U-Haul; I’ll take a ton!)

Topaz is an 8 on the 1-10 Mohs Scale of Hardness, but that doesn’t mean it can’t be broken. Clean your Topaz with a soft cloth after soaking it in warm, sudsy water, and keep it away from high heat or direct sunlight to prevent fading its color.

Note: The claims here aren’t meant to take the place of medical advice. They’re based on folklore and other sources, and likely “work” best if one’s belief is strong enough!

Expecting Some Good Luck

God loved the birds and invented trees.  Man loved the birds and invented cages.  ~Jacques Deval, Afin de vivre bel et bien, French playwright

I’ve heard that it’s GOOD luck when a bird poops on you.

Or your car.

Maybe, but I sure didn’t think so a few nights ago.

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My car’s rear window

I’d gone to our symphonic band’s dress rehearsal, the final one before our end-of-the-year concert, and parked in what I thought was a great spot.

Close to the door because it was cold outside, in a lighted area because it was night, and near the campus police department for safety reasons.

Don’t laugh. Who’s dumb enough to park a mile away from where they need to be and take a chance on somebody jumping you??

Anyway. After practice, I came outside and heard a terrible raucus.

Screaming. Hollering.

It sounded like banshees. Or dozens of college kids celebrating the end of the semester a little early.

Looking around, I could see that wasn’t the case.

Nobody was there, but the screeching continued.

Then I glanced up at the immense pines beneath which my car was tucked.

And realized what was making the commotion.

Crows.

Dozens of them.

And with birds comes poop.

Lots of it.

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My car’s front hood

All over my car — roof, windows, sides, trunk, doors.

Even the wheels.

Trust me, it was a sight for sore eyes.

Such a nasty mess, in fact, that I didn’t even want to touch the door handle to let myself in.

And I was mortified driving home in the poop-mobile (despite the darkness outside).

The next day, I slunk over to the automatic car wash and ran it through.

But soap and water didn’t clean all the filth, and I ended up pressure-washing it myself.

Now, I’m all set for the good luck.

Bring it on!

A Uniform That’s Not

The reason women don’t play football is because eleven of them would never wear the same outfit in public. ~Phyllis Diller, American actress and comedian

You know, Phyllis was onto something.

Can you imagine spending precious time shopping for something to wear, or money buying it, and then walking into a roomful of people wearing the exact same thing??

I can’t.

Despite the relative sameness of fashion styles, the scarcity of available color options, and the propensity of department stores to carry basically the same things, we all strive to be individuals.

Nobody wants to look like they haven’t bought anything new in a decade.

Nobody wants to show up in something so outrageous that friends and strangers will snicker, either.

We want to fit in. And stand out.

Simultaneously.

One exception might be a group of performing musicians.

Our symphonic band, comprised of community members and university musicians, is required to wear black head to toe for performances.

Doesn’t matter if black isn’t your color. Or you don’t own anything that’s all black.

If you’re performing, you’re expected to comply with the dress code.

This means black slacks, skirts, shirts, sweaters, ties, jackets, socks.

So we don’t detract from the music we’re playing.

And nobody stands out.

Most years, finding basic black isn’t hard at all.

Yet some always try to push the envelope.

To show up in spaghetti straps or those “cold-shoulder” tops. Or a short skirt with bare legs hanging out (instead of black hose). Or sporting some brightly-colored, flowery doo-dad in their hair.

I wonder if our director has a supply of black “costumes” for those last-minute rebels, or if he just shoos them away in disgust.

It’s not that hard, really.

Black is black.

You might think it boring to be dressed completely in black, but I can assure you of one thing: everybody looks so classy in head-to-toe black!

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Symphonic Band flute section — minus our identifying heads — and not a single duplicate outfit to be seen!