Book Club

After two years of book club, I finally drew the short straw and had to host. Hosting itself isn't difficult. We meet at the Church of Christ building. I know how to go to Walmart and purchase snacks. I can send out a friendly reminder, "Hey y'all show up." 

However, the book I ended up with, for reasons which are too long and complicated for this patch of cyber space, happened to be a Vietnam War-era novel. The Women was a fascinating read. However the majority of the ladies in this book club are all ten years or more older than me and lived through the Vietnam War in a way I didn't.

In addition to the anxiety of having to discuss a hot-topic with folks who have emotional attachments I don't have, my biggest ally, Corona Gail--WHO ORIGINALLY GOT ME INTO THE BOOK CLUB--wasn't planning on coming. No matter what I said or offered as a bribe, she wasn't willing to change her plans for a trip out of town with her husband just so she could spend two hours chatting about this book. "But..." I said, my eyes bulging as I stomped my feet. Gail patted my shoulder and gave me a big sister, "You got this." "NO I DON'T!" I wailed. 

Fortunately, Corona Joan heard the exchange, popped her head up and said, "Book club? What book club?" And then, with five days to go, Joan read all 470 pages and showed up as my emotional support human. 

However, Joan is younger than I am, so, there's that.*

Back to book club. Normally we socialize and eat snacks until there's a pause in the conversation. Then, the hostess says something like, "Who all read the book?" From there, the hostess has a list of questions pertaining to the book and our particular thoughts. There are even a few hostesses--doing their everyday disciple best--to relate how our how, as Christians, we identified to the story. (But there's only a few.)

With the advice from my awesome Arizona friend, I started this week's meeting with this statement: I was completely unqualified to lead the discussion. I explained I didn't know the Vietnam War existed in my lifetime until I was around 12. My generation was never taught anything about it in history classes. I asked for each member to share their experiences of living through that time and compare it to how they felt the author handled the main character's journey. Though I had pre-planned questions, they felt trite compared to hearing about the woman whose husband was a fighter pilot. His time was up in 1965. He opted not to reenlist. However, he went to San Diego two years later and found out several members of his squad had been killed in Vietnam. Another shared how someone she knew lost limbs bailing out of a burning helicopter. Another shared how her husband went straight to college from high school--something he hadn't planned on doing originally and he still was drafted. And the stories went on. 

Of all the book clubs, this might have been the most interesting. It certainly was the most impactful I've been to. Though I have zero desire to ever host again, I'd be happy to be Corona Joan's emotional support human even if she ever gets sidled with hosting a book about being a landlord or something equally traumatic. 

*Note to self: One day I simply must write about the age dynamic in the Coronas. It's a thing. 

See! I'm Not Making This Up!

THIS is a typical menu item around these parts. 

On some random Texarkana Facebook post, most of the residents are gushing about this particular restaurant (which will remain anonymous to protect the guilty) and how wonderful this "hamburger" plate is. I don't know it is a hamburger plate, because I don't see hamburger. I see a future call to the cardiologist. 

There's probably mayonnaise on this too. Okay, ick. 

My Christmas Present

With the winter weather (which included mostly teens and 20 degree temps, rain and a little snow), travel to Florida and Arizona, two medical procedures and recovery from those as well as the normal winter flu, it took a while to get the greenhouse up and running. 

This past Sunday, while Marty applied the first snake-away of the season throughout the yard and around the greenhouse, Polly and I planted a few starters. I have more to go--and plenty of land to do it in. Last summer I never bought veggies. I hope I can repeat that this summer. I still have one jar of pickles left too. But in the spirit of full disclosure, the rest of the pickles I made last year were too salty, so nobody is anxious to open these pickles. 

I planted flowers in pots to start them. Last year, I planted them from seed outside and gave the possums, armadillos, and squirrels a feast. I kept finding my spent flower seed casings on top of my mulch. Once they start sprouting, I will transplant them in the front yard. I accidentally sneezed as I was putting out zinnia seed so I am going to have about 287,000 zinnias. 

In order to pollinate blueberries, one needs two different types of blueberry bushes. Last year I brought back blueberry seeds from Michigan (I ate the blueberries and took the seeds). I will buy blueberry plants as well so they will pollinate. Pro-tip, if you want sweeter berries, make sure they are getting full sun. 

Speaking of bringing back seeds. A lot of my seeds I planted were experimental. I harvested seeds from plants I grew last year and the year before. I do also have store-bought seeds. 

Tomatoes, cucumbers, peppers, herbs and blueberries (just to see if I can grow a bush). I have garlic ready to go into the ground (those white round things at the bottom left). One clove will take 6-8 months and give me a full bulb. 

It's really warm inside too! Like a sauna. 

The pots in the back are flowers. The ones on the left are my outdoor plants that were brought in for the winter because we have to do that around here. 

Eventually I'll get shelves. But this works for now. 

The idea is to plant around the exterior of the green house. The two front patches are flower beds. Only one has flower seeds in it so far. The orange barrel to the left and the brown barrel to the right are different types of lettuce. The orange barrel in the back is spinach. The white fencing atop the barrels are to keep Luna from digging.  

Speaking of Luna digging, I only have dirt in my front two flower beds because I don't want to put in soil and have it sit, tempting Luna. She will leave it alone once I put in plants. But the outside structure is complete.  

Flower sprouts after two days! 

 

Random Texarkana

 I have writer's block. So, I made these. 

For a woman I know who is battling ovarian cancer. 

For a woman who's about to be a boy-grandma.

________

I came back from Arizona and slept for a week while the illness I brought back with me worked through my system. When I emerged from my pillow and walked outside, I found these daffodils in my yard! 

______

For St. Patrick's Day, a few of us Coronas went to the Banana Club (a 1923 underground speakeasy), to eat really awful corned beef and cabbage and hear a pretty awesome Irish band play. Not only did they play the Irish classics like "Danny Boy," and "When Irish Eyes are Smiling," but they tried their hand at Steve Earle's "Copperhead Road," and CCR's "Bad Moon Rising," along with two hours of other songs, all done with an Irish brouge.  Sorry, the pictures aren't great. I didn't want to use flash. 

They did kind of look like leprechauns. 

Pretty talented band. I can't remember their obscure name.

_____

I speed-dated hairstylists when I first moved here. The first one gave me a mullet. The second wasn't for me. The third wanted to charge me $400 for a hair coloring. Then, my pal Leah, told me about Crystal, who is located in the middle of nowhere, next to Gilly's Liquor Store. She does a great job, is reasonably priced and is a fun conversationalist. 

Welcome to nowhere Arkanasas.

Calvin Is Found!

Wonderful news! Calvin has been found He's a bit tired but otherwise, all right. So far no word about his plight. 

 

Calvin is Lost

Not gonna lie. I said a prayer for Calvin's safety and for him to be reunited with his family. As it turns out from my Facebook feed, most of the area has done something similar. 

But Calvin really does need to come home. After all, what kangaroo wants to hop all over the Southwest Arkansas/Northeast Texas area? There are all sorts of dangers: critters, the Fouke Monster* and poison ivy come to mind. Hopefully Calvin just wandered off and will be back soon. Meanwhile the rest of the community is rallying around this poor family. 

*I really must write about the legendary Fouke Monster, but for now what you need to know is he's sorta like a Bigfoot. 

Stupid Haiku

March in like lion

Been sick since Arizona

Where's the lamb hiding?