What We're Taught and What We Teach

 I finally figured out my password so I'm back. The format of this blog space has changed. I hate the new appearance. I'm at an age where I hate almost anything new, and generally, I feel justified. The composing page is very white and I find it difficult to see. I might as well use paper so I can tell what I've written. The font keeps changing. Anyhow, as is obvious, I haven't been here for a long time. The pandemic has taken over my being, both physical, and mental, and I did not feel compelled to write anything on that particular subject. It's been  covered by many.

The media has bombarded us constantly with everything...facts,  fear, predictions, and horrible events happening to humanity. Our perceptions of the world have changed and not for the better. We have all had enough.

The following story was inspired by one of my recent outdoor hikes. I enjoy my quiet alone walking time when I can meditate, reflect, and remember. 

                         +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ 

''Pick that up right now and don't ever do that again!"

My mom was livid. She made me feel very tiny in my four foot tall, eight year old body. I had committed the ultimate faux pas, and I was shaking. How dare I?

What did I do that incurred her wrath you ask? I dropped a gum wrapper on the ground. Yes, it was a teeny tiny piece of Wrigley's foil, made even more compact because I first crumpled it in my youthful hand. I remember it as if it were yesterday. I recall the exact location, time of day, and what I was wearing. It's as though even now, I can see myself committing that heinous act.

I was scolded. "Put that in your pocket until you get home, or at least to a place where you can properly throw it out."

I was upset and embarrassed. I don't believe I have ever purposely littered since. By purposely, I'm not counting the occasional store receipt that brazenly escapes from a grocery bag on a gusty day.

Although I didn't always enjoy it when I was young, as an adult, I appreciate a lot of what my parents instilled in me. The subject of trash based on my experiences, has become a particular sore point. 

When I'm out going for a walk, I often think back on my upbringing and it makes me sad. There, littering the ground are pizza boxes, food wrappers, drink cans, toys, clothing, and more.***     

A rather large culprit these days seems to be pandemic masks. In the spirit of true confessions, I admit I have lost one. Since then, I have made certain it won't happen again by attaching them to a lanyard around my neck.

I was upset and yet somehow heartened to read this article about a wonderful woman in New Brunswick who is doing her best to help during these troubling times.

https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/new-brunswick/disposable-masks-litter-fredericton-1.5980976

I often think about my teaching days. Although I remained within the confines of the curriculum, I managed to deviate from time to time. If I had it to do again, I believe I would base my whole year around nature and environmental issues with an emphasis on litter. I'd add a few "adulting" skills like money management, and some fun but educational life skills...perhaps knitting, sewing, and the like.  

I could totally do this. Either that, or start my own Waldorf school.

 https://torontowaldorfschool.com/curriculum/environmental-initiatives/

My faith was restored recently, when I saw a man, late thirties I'm guessing, and his large furry Newfoundland dog, walking along a woodlot area. The man had a bag, gloves, a grabber, and was collecting trash. Impressed, I stopped and spoke to him and gave his dog a cookie. 

"I figured I might as well do this since I have to walk my dog anyhow, " he said. 

I thanked him for being a good citizen, moved on, and wondered about his upbringing. It also motivated me to think about doing the same thing in future.  After all, I have a grabber, some gloves, and lots of bags...just no non essential dog.

I think awareness starts with each individual. Perhaps someone will see me picking up trash and become inspired as well. Either that, or they'll wonder about the sad, weird old lady gathering the neighbourhood garbage. 

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

***RANDOM DISCOVERIES

of course, the masks

food packaging and energy drink cans

                                                                                                                                                          

miscellaneous clothing, shoes, even underwear

blender anyone? 

toys of all sorts

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ 

UPDATE - April 21, 2021

It's the day before Earth Day. I have been heartened to see pictures and articles of late about people cleaning up, picking up, and making future plans to do the same. Wouldn't it be nice though if this weren't necessary? If only people would think before they toss!

Where Have the Months Gone? A Pandemic Review

For awhile since self isolation,  I'd wake up in the morning with the title and melody from a Carpenters' song, "It's Yesterday Once More" swimming in my head. Although the song has nothing to do with our current situation, it does contain a poignant verse which spoke to me.

"Lookin' back on how it was in years gone by
And the good times that I had
Makes today seem rather sad, so much has changed"

I miss my friends, my trips, certain group activities, shopping, my appointments (yes even those), and mostly, my freedom. I suppose it is affecting me more since I am now considered "older", "senior", and "high risk group", during this time of covid-19 pandemic. The problem is that with age, there's also a certain element of urgency to get on with life, and to do all those things we always wanted to do while it's still possible. This isolation is severely impacting the time I have left to complete those activities.

Don't get me wrong, I'm not playing the world's tiniest violin here. I understand how fortunate I am. I know there are all kinds of horrific issues in the world, and there are people who were suffering prior to this, and even more so now as a result of this pandemic. The loss of jobs, the homelessness, the poverty, the hunger, the death toll, has escalated everywhere. I too have family members who are impacted.

Nonetheless, I'm no longer young enough to recoup this time, or to consider it as just a blip in my life.

On the bright side, there are things I've accomplished during my stay at home time. I'm trying hard not to think of them as "make work projects", since that would depress me. So, in an effort to make the best of my "captivity" as it were, here are some of my escapades and accomplishments over the last couple of months. This summary, is not meant to sound boastful. I have not found ways to save the world. It is rather an attempt to remind myself that I have managed to use some of the time to a good end.

It all started with new and inventive ways of cooking with food finds early on, while we were unable to shop. I've completed several blogs about that including  "Covid Cooking" 5/21/20 .

The cooking, then got interspersed with the dreaded housework, "Fanatical Tidying, Organizing, or Not! " 5/15/20, and as the weather improved,  gardening, "Pandemic Planting" 5/16/20.

For awhile, when we thought the pandemic would be short lived, we had special celebratory days. I decorated, we dressed up in costumes, and it was fun. Eventually, my poor hubby got tired of my silliness and I got sick of all the work involved, so we've put everything on a hiatus. It's only temporary, so shhhhh...don't tell.

First we celebrated the Blue Jays no home opener day this year.  We wore our fan gear and ate hot dogs, fries, and other ballpark delicacies.  Next came Maritime fish Fryday...self explanatory, but who knew I had an Anne of Green Gables outfit and would dress hubby as a fisherman in his yellow slicker?

German Day was a celebration of our heritage, complete with schnitzel, sauerkraut, spaetzle, and beer. Medieval Times was a lot of work. We wore elaborate costumes and wigs and performed feats of strength. Formal Friday was a suggestion by late night talk show host Jimmy Kimmel, even though I'd already thought of it. Then there was our Green Eggs and Ham party.  For Cinco de Mayo, which conveniently fell on Taco Tuesday, I made a papier mache pinata and sombrero.  Choice of food was obvious and simple.

Then,  after hearing everyone complaining about the length of their hair, it became time for a little haircutting fun.         

 Hobbies have managed to take on a new life. First, I painted a bookcase (details in blog "Now I Am An Old Purple Woman" 5/29/20).  The stool was an old rickety unpainted wreck. Now, it's an old rickety, weirdly painted wreck. I'll never be a Picasso, but I'm having fun. The easel has seen a few of my efforts.

I recently wallpapered the laundry room, practiced piano, and  reverse tie dyed a shirt (blog yet to come). I've also managed to make a dent in the pile of books I've been meaning to read.

Perhaps it's all been time well spent after all. At least that's what I'll tell myself.

There are countless jokes on the internet about the coronavirus, and this calendar year. There are comments about unused day planners, and those who say that 2020 doesn't count and we're really not a year older. I fear that I will be at least a year older before all this is over. 

After  I saw a rather humorous meme from Aunty Acid using the  movie "Groundhog Day", I now no longer hear the Carpenters' song "It's Yesterday Once More" in the morning.  Instead, I've started waking up to "I've Got You Babe".

Cool Tip I Learned in My Old Age

I can't imagine where the world would be without youtube videos to show us how to do anything and everything nowadays. It's especially useful during our current self isolation.

My daughter has become an expert at crochet. I have not as yet been quite as ambitious, although I have learned some new things. Who says you can't teach an old dog new tricks?

This morning, hubby opened the cereal cupboard and laughed when he saw this.

Why had nobody told me about this before? This is brilliant. I'm tired of ripped lids, and half open boxes, particularly cereal boxes.

I found a video on youtube that showed how to close a cereal box. Since I was tired of shredded, half open lids, I thought I'd try it.   https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FhEHnIypRM0

The first box was rather large, and I was unsuccessful, although, I was able to get it sealed enough that all I needed to add was a clip and it still looked neat.

Next, I attempted a smaller box. Wow... it worked.

Before long, my cereal cupboard was organized. I had managed to seal all the rest of the boxes as in the video. Another unnecessary pandemic self isolation project completed. 

Here's a repeat of how for those who haven't seen the video.

Step 1 - Close inside waxed paper containing cereal. Then, at the top of the box, fold in one large lid and two small end ones.

Step 2 -  Bend small end portions of box to from a V shape which points to the inside of the box.

Step 3-   Tuck the other large lid in on the far side of the V's against the first large lid.

Fantastic!

Amazing isn't it how these small efforts and successes keep us amused during the current health crisis?

Someone told me there's a hack to seal potato chip bags as well, to which I asked, "Who actually has partial potato chip bags?" Anyhow, I shall leave that little trick for someone else to post.

Pandemic Pancakes - Easy Peasy

I had forgotten about these very simple pancakes. I made them for myself this morning when my breakfast chef was not available.

Many years ago, I belonged to a diet group (Insert name of any diet group here. I've belonged to them all.)   I remember getting this pancake recipe. It's ridiculously simple, delicious, and filling. They're especially great if you don't have, or don't want to use flour, baking powder, or sugar.

The beauty of these is that the content is easily measurable in calories, protein, carbs, and fruit. There's no added sugar.

If you have a blender, it makes a more smooth pancake, but it's not essential. Basically, just toss all these ingredients together.


Ingredients    (makes 2 medium or one large)

1 egg     80 calories
1 slice bread (any kind you like, I used thin sliced) 70 calories
1/2 banana (good use for any that are starting to darken) 45 calories
1/2 tsp. vanilla extract
cinnamon if you wish

Total calories for a substantial breakfast 195 . I find these pancakes
to be quite sweet and moist enough on their own, but if you prefer to top them with a bit of syrup, honey, agave, or a dusting of powdered sugar, be sure to consider the extra sugar and calories.

If doubling the recipe, just use another slice of bread and another half banana.  I  have never used a second egg, but have added a splash of milk if the mixture looks too dry.

Directions

If using a blender, put egg and banana into blender and mix. Tear bread into a few pieces and add it along with vanilla. Blend briefly until smooth. Pour onto a pan as in photo.  (I used a tiny amount of spray olive oil to cook).

Recipe as I wrote it made 2 medium sized pancakes or if you prefer, one large.

If  you don't have or don't want to use a blender,  mash the banana and whisk
together with egg and vanilla. Break bread into very small pieces and add to banana and egg . Mix together. Pour into pan. If there are small pieces of undissolved bread, it's not really a problem.

I hope you enjoy them. I did.