#1 – I woke this morning for the first time in four years wanting to hear the news. Everyday for the past four years I have waken dreading what may happen. The dreadful apprehension was not unlike those someone has who is living with a violent person whose actions you cannot predict. Those feelings were gone this morning. It felt good. I think of the Ferryman in the Russian folktale “The Luck Child”, who was trapped in his job, only to learn how to be released from his sorrow:
“For the first time in years, hope fires the Ferry-man. A smile is forming in his mind, a tiny smile growing, getting ready to be born”.
#2 – There are shenanigans afoot in the blogger world that I am not always able to leave comments for thems using Blogger.com. Perhaps the website is in cahoots with my laptop. I hope I can figure this as I hate dropping by without leaving a comment lest folks think I am not reading their prose.
#3 – Would anyone would like some Jello-salad?. The Board of Directors Here at Spo-Reflections over-estimated the attendance at last night’s ball at Heorot Johnsons, resulting in leftovers. Heaps in fact. Act quickly as cottage cheese and Salmon mold isn’t likely to keep. Also, there are a few Tupperware containers without masking tape labels.
#4 – Alas, Babylon! I won’t be having any free lemons this year. The lemon tree that overhangs the public sidewalk was severely pruned back last autumn and there is no sign of any fruit. Uncle Albertsons has lots of lemons but they are not as juicy as thems that fall off the local trees. I was worried I wouldn’t get any grapefruit as these are brought to the Mesa office and I haven’t been there since March. I thought to travel there to get some, when lo! a neighbor down the street set out by the curb eight bags of grapefruit, all for the taking. I took two bolsas, each filled with a dozen medium-sized yellow gems. I am a happy man. I must look up to see which way these lovelies effect my blood pressure meds. I am either going to stroke-out or drop from hypotension, depending which way the wind blows on the grapefruit/Rx interactions. Either way it’s worth it.
#5 – Speaking of five, I recently found on YouTube “The five Chinese brothers”. This story was a favorite in my youth; I was thrilled to hear it again. I remembered every picture. Oh the horror; oh the pain! It is so stereotypical it makes me squirm. It is along the line of ‘what on earth were we thinking?” I wonder how many other childhood story books of mine are now considered rude and racist? How times have changed – and I think for the better. The story remains a good one, so perhaps someone can redraw it with less discomfort.
46 comments
January 21, 2021 at 7:54 AM
jefferyrn
Yes yesterday was a great day for news. At last the clouds have lifted and a politeness not to mention complete sentences have returned. For some reason I am craving a burger from Five Guys.
January 21, 2021 at 7:58 AM
Urspo
no burgers!
You and I are on a mission!
When I get a craving one of the ways I say no to temptation is to think of you cheering me on and vice versa.
January 21, 2021 at 8:24 AM
rjjs8878
Watching the news now gives me hope.
January 21, 2021 at 8:30 AM
Urspo
Yes. Lots of folks (well the ones I know) are saying similar. I hope our initially hopeful feelings will see reality.
January 21, 2021 at 8:55 AM
anne marie in philly
I am currently monitoring comments on my blog since the tit spammer has returned. maddie is also monitoring comments cause the spammer got her too. I have published the comments you sent me.
TODAY IS A GREAT DAY TO DO GREAT THINGS!
I remember captain kangaroo reading that story. and yes, it is SO racist now!
January 21, 2021 at 9:34 AM
Urspo
I am glad to hear my comments are there; I didn’t want to think you were wondering where I went.
January 21, 2021 at 9:38 AM
Fit Studs
It’s a new day. 🙂 So much hope!! 😉
January 21, 2021 at 9:42 AM
Urspo
Let us hope this hope is valid and leads to good things.
January 21, 2021 at 9:41 AM
Parnassus
People with fruit trees can never consume their entire crop. If there are others with fruiting lemon trees, you can probably strike up a conversation and just ask them.
At least grapefruits and lemons are “store” fruits. When I asked strangers if I could collect some of their hickory or beech nuts, they looked at me as though I were crazy but told me to feel free.
–Jim
January 21, 2021 at 9:52 AM
Urspo
It is an annual January routine in AZ for everyone’s citrus trees to produce heaps of fruit all at once. Sacks of them are thrusted upon you at work. My retired boss still drops off his lot at work.
January 21, 2021 at 10:38 AM
Bob Slatten
I, too, am enjoying a new day, waking up without wondering what was done and to whom and how and why.
It’s nice.
I have had the spammer comments, but I just go back through and remove them; other than that, I haven’t had issues.
January 21, 2021 at 10:57 AM
Urspo
I don’t think your site if one of the ones with which I am having troubles, but I will have a look-see. thank you for checking in onthis.
January 21, 2021 at 11:16 AM
BadNoteB
I share the euphoric feeling of the cloud of doom dissipating with national events of yesterday. Though I may require extended exposure to recapture a sunny disposition, it was encouraging and reassuring to see the rays continue to exist after a 4 year borrasca.
I haven’t eaten grapefruit in >20 years due to Rx warnings with cholesterol and, more recently, blood pressure meds. I have heard the meds are purposefully overloaded with excess dosage(s) due to our reluctance to metabolize them, with grapefruit enhancing absorption and potentially leading to danger of overdose. Absolutely no idea if this is true but hope you’ll share results of your lit review. No burning desire for grapefruit at breakfast, but I’d love to taste a Salty Dog once again at cocktail time before I die!
The climate in my area encourages apricots in late spring for those who continued irrigation through the winter and pomegranates (of all things!) in the fall. I envy your abundance of citrus as I settle for celebrating Meyer lemon season at Costco…
January 21, 2021 at 12:26 PM
Urspo
My patients tell me if they drink grapefruit juice (in or out of a Salty Dog) it makes their Xanax prescription ‘work better’ in a buzz. Oh the horror.
January 21, 2021 at 11:16 AM
johnmichael42003
I loved The Five Chinese Brothers. And I wish I had kept my copy of which I purchased at school (ordered it through classroom–which we did once a month). I must have read it hundreds of times.
I have found that I can’t comment on some blogs.
January 21, 2021 at 12:26 PM
Urspo
maybe it is a ‘wordpress’ thing not just my own lap top
January 21, 2021 at 11:50 AM
Sam
I suppose others may now be waking up thinking how so may of us did for 4 years, and I hope they get help for their heads. I’m sorry about the lemons. That would be a great loss.
January 21, 2021 at 12:27 PM
Urspo
not to be worrying; Uncle Albertson has heaps of them.
January 21, 2021 at 12:31 PM
Steven
Oh dear me! A blast from the past with the Five Chinese Brothers! You are so right about the stereotypes. I cringe remembering this.
January 21, 2021 at 1:41 PM
Urspo
I wonder if anyone has tried to ‘update it” ; it was a fun story.
January 21, 2021 at 12:57 PM
Moving with Mitchell
Oh, I remember The Five Chinese Brothers! I must have gotten it from the library a dozen times or more when I was a kid, having no appreciation of how racist it was.
I know you regularly have problems posting comments to my blog (they don’t appear immediately, so you post multiple times, and then they all show up). Just thought I’d point out that, like you, I’m on WordPress. I just don’t get it. I, too, have problems on particular blogger blogs but not on WordPress (lately).
January 21, 2021 at 1:42 PM
Urspo
It seems the 5 Chinese brothers was a popular book!
Thank you for the feedback; when I leave a comment/I do not see it I will wait to see if it pops up later on.
January 21, 2021 at 1:50 PM
Jennifer Barlow
I envy you all that good and free citrus fruit! What’s available at our grocery stores is rarely worth buying. It’s expensive and the quality is rarely there. In fact, there’s some blood oranges and tangerines in the fridge that I’ll probably end up throwing out, they’re so dry and bland tasting.
I don’t think I’m familiar with the five Chinese brothers! How bizarre!
January 21, 2021 at 3:21 PM
Urspo
It’s unfair isn’t it: people are literally throwing out sacks of oranges and grapefruit and others would give all for it.
January 21, 2021 at 2:23 PM
David Godfrey
CNN was on in the living room yesterday for the first time in years. I miss the news. I have intermittent problems with comments on blogger on my I-pad, at lunch time it wouldn’t let me comment on my own blog, but the Mac desktop in my bedroom would.
January 21, 2021 at 3:22 PM
Urspo
curiously your Blogger account I have to sign into each time but I see the comment appearing for it. I’m glad.
January 21, 2021 at 2:29 PM
Linda Practical Parsimony
I do not recall hearing anything about the book, Five Chinese Brothers. If you get an abundance of lemons, just squeeze the juice and freeze it. The city cut down my pear tree that was on city property just because the tornado sort of broke it. I figured it would live and still produce. Its demise made e sad.
January 22, 2021 at 7:02 AM
Urspo
That’s the plan, man: freeze the juice for later needs.
January 21, 2021 at 3:34 PM
mcpersonalspace54
Just watching the inauguration yesterday has filled me with hope. And it is a good feeling!
January 22, 2021 at 7:03 AM
Urspo
Many felt likewise; it was a good feeling.
January 21, 2021 at 3:35 PM
Gigi Rambles
I vaguely remember The Chinese Brothers – odd what memories you stir up for me.
Please tell me it isn’t my Blogger blog giving you fits. Another friend informed me recently that she can’t comment – I’m beginning to wonder if it’s a WordPress/Blogger issue. Although, I did find a site that suggested if you can’t comment (usually from Safari) to try a different browser.
January 22, 2021 at 7:04 AM
Urspo
I will go have a look-see soon; if there are any shenanigans I will tell you.
January 21, 2021 at 5:40 PM
Linda Practical Parsimony
Just eat the Jello! Next time, just use one small box.
January 22, 2021 at 7:04 AM
Urspo
This weekend I make strawberry banana Jello, hot puppies !
January 21, 2021 at 7:05 PM
Old Lurker
Perhaps you could serve some of the Jello salad over pasta?
Maybe this is the year you make grapefruit marmalade?
January 22, 2021 at 7:05 AM
Urspo
OL – what a fantastic idea! This morning there are literally bags out on the curbside going to go to waste. If I make some I will send you some for reasonable attorneys fees.
January 21, 2021 at 7:44 PM
Robzilla, Native of Slam Diego
It was wonderful waking up to more good things, but I’m run down at the moment. I feel the same way I did when I graduated from college. All of the stress I carried went away, but now I’m exhausted from all the fighting.
I’m sure I’ll be fine in a few days.
January 22, 2021 at 7:05 AM
Urspo
Let us hope so!
January 21, 2021 at 8:07 PM
Alicia
I read this post this morning before work and had to go and find the story on YouTube and I listened to it. I had never heard it before, it was a cute story. I didn’t have time to leave a comment as I had to get to work but I came back and was getting ready to leave a comment when my daughter came in, she’s 39 and I asked her if she had ever heard the story and she said no, so I told her the story and when I was done she said “I’m sleepy now, just like I used to get when you told me stories when I was little”. That was a good memory for us both! Thank you for the storytime!
January 22, 2021 at 7:06 AM
Urspo
It is a fun tale – I wonder if it is an old folk tale or something ‘new’ – needs investigation.
January 21, 2021 at 11:48 PM
Mary
The Five Chinese Brothers were the super heroes of an earlier generation! Have you heard of a book for teens where a girl witnesses her friend being killed by a police officer? What’s that? In my teens I read Little Women. Now, it’s The Thin Man. I must be getting old. Is it the pink grapefruit that gives a buzz? Just curious.
January 22, 2021 at 7:06 AM
Urspo
It is yellow grapefruit and I suppose the buzz mixed with meds depends on the person and the meds. Please don’t try this at home, regardless.
January 21, 2021 at 11:55 PM
wcs
Are the five Chinese Bros quintuplets? They all look to be the same age. And mom looks fabulous!
January 22, 2021 at 7:07 AM
Urspo
It isn’t clear in the story if they are quints or racist ‘they all look alike”
January 22, 2021 at 5:06 PM
Pipistrello
So, I’m guessing there won’t be any more experiments with gelatine? Until such time as you do forget why you you’re not revelling in it and want to trip down memory lane again!
Blogger is fiddling with things – without anyone’s permission! – for we on that platform, so your being vexed is probably nought to do with your own stuffs.
January 22, 2021 at 8:14 PM
Urspo
I have my Jello box at the ready; it is on the weekend list of things to do.