Flight rain

 Took off in the afternoon and climbed above the clouds...dull but pretty.

Sometimes flying between layers of clouds, but then before landing, we had to go through lots of cloud.

Landing gear had been lowered and we approached the airport before we could see a thing.

 The next bit of fun was hiking through Atlanta's various escalators, trains and terminals to find the right gate for the next plane.

The view out my window didn't look too promising for picture taking.

But by the time we were 3rd or 4th in line for take off, I'd tried a few settings on the camera...and could do this.

We would see one plane land, then in a minute another would take off

Saying goodbye to Atlanta

Coming through the clouds to see our Connecticut destination.

On the ground, and the weather was still cloudy, but no more rain, for now!

And now I am in the arms of my loving family!

The rest of the journey

Cathy offered me a drink before the plane taxied away from the terminal.  How did I get so lucky?

When I went to the boarding gate counter, in Atlanta, to get my seat assignment for the second leg of my trip, the guy behind me in line apparently decided to be benevolent, and paid for my ticket to be upgraded to first class.

My first class seat

He and his wife were also traveling to on the same plane, but I didn't even see them after I got to my seat in the second row.  Wow.
My son thinks one of them worked for the airline and had some points or something...but whatever way it happened, I was so grateful.  I didn't do anything, and was so pleased.

So once again, just two seats on each side of the aisle.

My Santa just said it's a Christmas present.

I had the trusty camera out and played tourist the whole way.

 So my next post will be about the strange land I viewed through my camera.

Over the river and...modern days

I know she's taking that box and going away...

 I'm sleeping until I can sit on her while she tries to sleep tonight!

Sweet little plane out of Asheville

Yes, only 2 seats to a side!

Flight was fun as I met a nice gentleman on his way (with family) to visit Germany (including Paris & Vienna)...but he won't get to be with my family over Christmas. 

I started something, Jeff was soon taking photos of his family across the aisle from us!

More tomorrow on the second leg of my trip and the small blessing I received (big for me!)

Christmas past

Fun times for children...that's what I think my family motto for Christmas must be.

Grownups are there to provide the kiddies with fun (who wrote that rule anyway?)...which these days means lots of presents.

Well kids, this Grandmama' is just baking up a storm, and sent "care packages" to you all.  If you live in Florida, you should receive them by Sat. 20th, and need to open and eat those muffins immediately!  Chocolate chip or banana flavored home-made from scratch muffins!

Mary overseeing Zach, and Lisa holding Tai, 1982 or3

The picture above shows my sister amusing her kids and my youngest with one of the old favorite playthings...which even cats and dogs enjoy as well.  Now that's an inter-species toy!

Though this isn't a VERY old photo, I'm sharing this with Sepia Saturday meme...come on over and scroll to the bottom of the page to click on names of others who have also posted on their blogs...some rare and enjoyable photos!  And leave comments too...we're a friendly bunch.

Why we give presents

It's consideration of another's joy.

All that is, is love.

Not completely unconditional.  We want to be considered back in their eyes, I do think.

I am so happy to have finished mailing out things that need to be received by Christmas.  Actually they were baked goods and I wish they could have been shipped a bit faster.  I was used to thinking Priority mail got there the next business day...but this time of year it takes 3 whole days.  So Tuesday's mail will be received by Saturday.

To just about anywhere in the country we can have things shipped this way.  It sure costs more than it used to...but I won't go there.

Let's go back to sharing joy.

A friend and I don't usually share gifts...we see each other, send emails, or speak on the phone often, but the best thing we share is a lunch out.  I save my pennies so I can really enjoy this outing, because when I'm at the end of the month and the end of the budget, is NOT a good time for this kind of outing. She is such fun, and a professional potter so usually has some tidbits that I can learn from her.  We have many friends in common, who sometimes will join us as well.

Just wanted to let you know what makes joy in my life these days.  The postal clerk helped me find a box which would hold all my goodies and cost half as much to ship as the choice I had started with.  He was so nice while the people behind me were huffing and puffing!

I also love to be remembered by family and friends...in simple ways.  Don't we all?

On Aging

From Ram Dass on Aging.  Please click and read a few paragraphs of his words.

Embracing Aging within Society (Ram Dass)

Among other thoughts, he says:

we’ve ended up where we have alienated ourselves across generations instead of embracing ourselves across generations...in our society of course, where technology moves so fast we get outdated, so that the question of what wisdom elders have that is useful... and I realize now that I already can't talk the language of my friend’s twelve-year-old son and you know I moved from a typewriter to a computer..

 Richard Alpert, aka Ram Dass, has been an elder who I've listened to for about 40 years of my life....ever since reading his Be Here Now.  His teachings reflect those that were taught to him by his guru.  I chased the idea of having a guru for years.  After all, the Beatles had one.

Funny how I would be interested in the spiritual pursuits of a rock group.  But that shows just what Ram Dass is saying about how we look for wisdom in our culture of promoting youth and the glitz of showmanship, whether in the music industry or Hollywood.  Since when does a spiritual message come from those sources, I now ponder.  He did teach me to look to spiritual wisdom from those who were were seriously working on themselves, if I couldn't find the words of the "Masters"

So I read blogs these days.  They are another great way to share between like-minded friendly (mostly) people on topics that range all over the place.

And I pass along the wisdom in little bytes on Facebook everyday.  Some even gets clipped and shared here with you.

Tea Party History

First let's look a this reprint from last year...worth noting I think.

The coffee insurgency:

"Dec 16th 2013, 16:20 by P.J.W. and D.H.

The global rivalry of bean versus leaf

"EXACTLY 240 years ago today, (241 in 2014) uppity colonists barely disguised as Mohawk Indians defied the crown and ruined the private property of English merchants by dumping 342 chests of perfectly good tea into Boston harbour."

(See my post about the Edenton NC Tea Party held in October 1774, led by women...here.) 

"This illegal act, known as the Boston Tea Party, was part of a small rebellion that eventually led to independence and to today's Tea Party movement. Americans now quaff three times more coffee than tea, according to Euromonitor, a research firm. 

"Throughout most of the West, the bean bests the leaf. Yet the British consume three times as much tea as coffee, despite an invasion by the American Starbucks. And tea fuels the fast growth of BRICS countries (save for coffee-producing Brazil) and dominates Asia."

HA! 

So do you know what the BRICS countries are?  I didn't.  Wikipedia told me.

BRICS is the acronym for an association of five major emerging national economies: Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa.^[2] The grouping was originally known as "BRIC" before the inclusion of South Africa in 2011.

^{Now abuot the current TEA PARTY movement of the Republican Party...}

^{The Tea Party movement is composed of a loose affiliation of national and local groups that determine their own platforms and agendas without central leadership. The Tea Party movement has been cited as an example of grassroots political activity, although it has also been described as an example of corporate-funded astroturfing. Other observers see the organization as having its grassroots element "amplified by the right-wing media", supported by elite funding.}

 It is...

... known for its conservative positions and its role in the Republican Party ("GOP"). It demands a reduction in the U.S. national debt and federal budget deficit by reducing government spending and taxes. The movement has been described a mix of libertarian, populist, and conservative activists. It has sponsored multiple protests and supported various political candidates since 2009. It was successful in 2010, when the Republicans made major gains. It failed to defeat President Barack Obama's reelection in 2012. In 2013 it had escalating conflicts with the big business wing of the GOP, which began organizing to fight back.

"The movement's beginnings were kick-started by Republican Congressman Dr. Ron Paul in 2007. He continues to be a prominent force in the Tea Party movement, such as endorsing Tea party candidates, and also giving talks and speeches alongside prominent Tea party activist, and 2008 Vice Presidential candidate, Sarah Palin

 "National Tea Party organizations, such as the Tea Party Patriots and FreedomWorks, have expressed concern that engaging in social issues would be divisive. Instead, they have sought to have activists focus their efforts away from social issues and focus on economic and limited government issues. Still, many groups like Glenn Beck's 9/12 Tea Parties, TeaParty.org, the Iowa Tea Party and Delaware Patriot Organizations do act on social issues such as abortion, gun control, prayer in schools, and illegal immigration^.

And if you didn't follow the elections of 2014, or didn't vote...you may have missed the chance for our government to be able to accomplish anything in the next 2 years...with a Democrat for President and the total Congress in the hands of Republicans.

Family stories

A long lost second cousin of mine, from San Antonio TX, contacted me when I wrote of our great grandfather we have in common, Charles Herman Miller.

Leslie said she had belonged to Ancestry in the past, and not at this time.  Her grandmother was Rowena Eugenia Miller Rogers.  My grandmother was Mozelle Booth Miller Webb Munhall, sisters.

I loved hearing from Leslie about our g-grandfather, Charles Herman Miller.  She's pretty sure he stowed away on a ship from Germany as a teen to come into the US.  That sure explains a lot of the mistakes in his various census reports as to when he arrived, how old he was, etc.

So I hope she has some more stories to tell.  I won't need to see photos of the graves, since Ancestry usually gives the connecting links to Find-A-Grave sites for people.

But the stories about our actual ancestors, the things that happened that aren't on papers, I can't wait!

Tonantzin..to Virgin?

If your world was suddenly turned upside down, say there were some strong and powerful people who conquered your culture and made you start to follow their rituals...then you might find that you would continue the traditions of your old culture in secret, and try to blend them into the newer rituals that were required.

After a while, the old ways would have died with the old peoples...a thing that used to happen more frequently, but now that we elders live longer, the memories are there longer.

Here's a great link to the tale of Tonantzin, who became absorbed into the Virgin of Guadalupe.

It was 1531 when Spaniards told indigenous people who lived in Mexico that they must become part of the new culture.

But today there are still Mexicans of indigenous descent who know Tonantzin's story.


Last year I also posted on Dec 12 about Tonantzin.  If you want more information look HERE>

Look into the cultures of your own heritage...does your family continue a tradition that was handed down in the family, rather than according to the media?  Perhaps favorite holiday foods...decorations, or opening presents on Hanukkah or Christmas Eve?

 I really miss having Christmas morning peeks at presents, though I've moved away from many of the rituals of celebrating Christmas itself.

Have Christmas cards become unimportant with daily instant contact through the internet and via cell phones.  But that's because "snail mail" represents just certain kinds of paper in the mail box now, which seldom includes chatty letters.  Did you ever wait eagerly to hear from someone, so whenever that mailman came there was such anticipation?

 I'm sharing this on Sepia Saturday this week, not at all on theme!  Sorry about that!  Maybe next week.

Acting my age...

"It's not Wednesday, so you can't have the Senior Discount that is only offered on Wednesday..." the young man checking my groceries said kindly.

"Oh, but I just had a Senior Moment.  Actually the whole time I was in the store I shopped thinking of that wonderful discount.  I wouldn't have purchased as much if I didn't think I had it."

Life's embarrassing, and expensive moments.

I was obviously in a spending mood, but not much spending.  Purchased some wrapping materials for my projects to go to my family next week.  Then stopped for some more food, than I'd already purchased earlier this week.  There was something special to get at this store on Wednesday (which I missed).  But I also forgot completely what special item that store had in order to purchase it.

So I got some of the goodies I like there, which are already discounted.

And I must share what I'm happily enjoying right now, some Gaelic Ale by Highland Brewing Co.  I had some before Thanksgiving, but it's long gone.  We shall see how long this is around.  I don't really like to drink wine, but love one beer either before bed, or before dinner, or after dinner, or in the afternoon...or whenever.

So I may not have all my marbles in the sack any more, but I'm happy.  The oven is full of my special mushroom noodle casserole.  The toaster oven has some Talipia ready to broil...or I guess I could just slide it into the big oven.  Oh my...what a smart idea I just had, didn't I?   I did forget to put the spinach in with the noodles too...so it will be a side dish.

What me worry?  (Five stars if you know who I'm quoting.)

Divine Feminine

More photos from this program will be published at my new blog....Pagans and Goddesses soon!

Susa Silvermarie

I'm am so pleased to have talented friends who put on a great program of poetry and music last Sunday.

Annelinde (Linda) Metzner

I mentioned it here on another of my blogs.

Linda and Susa both write poetry, and are published in the 2015 WeMoon calendars.  That's why the cover was posted, as they sold both wall and spiral bound forms of these calendars during intermission.

Susa Silvermarie, Annelinde Metzner and Kim Hughes

These are some of the photos I took of the performance.

Kim's singing was truly wonderful

Linda composed the music which Kim sang, and recited poems she wrote also

Susa's poetry included her dramatic gestures

Intermission included lovely snacks with proceeds to benefit the church in which the event was held.

The program about the Divine Feminine attracted many woman and a few men.  Shelly speaks with Kim during intermission.

Nels Arnold and Susa had a discussion

Three talented women who inspired the audience!

Thank you so much dear powerful, beautiful, goddessing women!  The photos are available in higher resolution by request from blackmtnbarb AT gmail DOT com...just email me!

That Protestant work ethic

Last night was the deadline to sign up for a Medicare plan for next year.
At least I hope the deadline was midnight...I only know the date.

So being a work before pleasure kind of woman...raised the proper way you know...I had to do that work before I could relax.

It wasn't easy, and I had notes and spread sheets comparing annual cost of doctors and drugs.  I finally decided, and then said, no let's look a bit further...what if I did that...

Then I was fed up with the whole thing.  Which tells me I'd better make a decision and just live with it.  The lessor evil.  None of the plans will give me my drugs, doctors visits and physical therapy at a reasonable cost that is like the last 7 years of my retirement.

They all will cost me more.  And in case you missed it, my cost of living increase in Social Security is a paltry 1.7% this year.

I would love to get 1.7% increase of a congressman's salary.   That would see me in great comfort all year long.  They are the ones who voted to give all us retired people that strange number to match the basically thousands of percents increase over nothing for drug beyond the cost of Medicare (last year) to now paying a monthly premium on top of the basic cost of Medicare.  I am not grateful for the way our elected representatives think they are saving someone money.  It's sure not me.

So the rich get richer.

The poor don't get as good of medical care (did they ever?) but have learned the values in their lives are not based upon dollars or material possessions. 

The things that are most worth-while in life haven't got a price tag on them. 

I'll be posting about the wonderful afternoon I had yesterday, which left me feeling really good and inspired!

Poetry and song

My friends Annelinde Metzner, Susa Silvermarie, and Kim Hughes are going to perform an afternoon of poetry and music today.
I'm recovering from my pottery ventures/adventures.
Going to enjoy myself, as well as work the sound board at the UU Church in Black Mountain for this program.

“THIS FIRE” POETRY AND SONG
SUNDAY DECEMBER 7TH 4 PM UUCSV BLACK MOUNTAIN

   An afternoon of original poetry and song with Annelinde Metzner, Susa Silvermarie and Kim Hughes. 
     Sunday December 7th, 4 PM at the UU Black Mountain, 500 Montreat Road.  Call 669-2293 for more info.

     Celebrating the release of the We’Moon Datebook and Calendar for 2015, which features poetry by Annelinde and Susa.  A donation of $10 is suggested.
     

Annelinde and Susa will present some of their inspiring and insightful poems, with songs by Annelinde unforgettably interpreted by soprano Kim.

Annelinde Metzner is a Black Mountain poet and composer of feminist and Goddess-centered works.  She produces multimedia concerts promoting her vision of a world where all women can be creative, safe, valued and loved.

 

 

Spoken word artist Susa Silvermarie is a widely anthologized writer, known both for her original work that delights the senses while calling the spirit, and for her engaging performance style. 

Kim Hughes sang 'leading lady' roles in NYC, such as Madame Butterfly, Tosca, The Marriage of Figaro, and Funny Girl.  She is a sound healer and spiritual counselor as well, with a private practice in Black Mountain.  Kim has been “fortunate to sing with Richard Shulman, Marina Raye, and now the wonderful composer Annelinde Metzner.”

Come help create a new world with us!!

living at 72 in 2015

If you don't have a fixed income... you don't need to read any further...you still have options.
If you don't have Medicare...skip this.

For those of us elders who have a small amount tucked away, but depend upon our Social Security checks (another kind of savings account which represents our earnings before we retired) then this might be your kind of headache.

I looked on line at the options for Medicare this coming year.  In my county, in my state (North Carolina) I will have to pay a new monthly premium.  Can't find a single private company which will honor the previous policy of taking the amount set aside for Medicare from my monthly Social Security check ($104.90/month). For the past seven years since I retired, Medicare has been covered completely by my SS.  Now all the policies will cost more than that figure.

So I called in a panic to the SHIP people, a state agency which helps elders for their insurance needs.  They had a cancellation for an appointment that very day, if I could drive the 30 miles to it.  I agreed.

But the woman wasn't able to answer my needs.

I don't have any increase in income.  But now I have an increase in expenses.

It's not much.  But when you count pennies it does represent several thousand.

The woman from SHIP was sorry she couldn't help.  She even called me at home later to say she had some other ideas, to call the Social Security people and ask for help.

So last night I did.  And waited for a live person for 20 minutes after the first 5 minutes of menu choices pre-recorded.  Then I hung up and again went through the menu until I got to the option of "we'll call you in 15 minutes."  I left my name and number, and someone did call.

Incidentally, the first thing the recording says is that Social Security has been increased for COLA (some cost of living formula) by 1.7% in 2015.  Thanks to our government.

And the SS woman was nice, but had no answers for my dilemma, and gave me back the SHIP phone number, and said there is an application which I can fill out if I already am purchasing a Supplement through Medicare.  But I won't find out if I'm approved for this until
1.) after the deadline date to sign up for Medicare
2.) 2 weeks to 30 days

So I didn't go to bed thinking things had been solved.

I have talked (before retiring 7 years ago) to a Social Worker about some of these problems.  That person had gone to college, passed a licensing test, and kept current on the issues of elders who lived on fixed incomes, had chronic medical conditions needing frequent treatment by doctors, and needed ongoing daily medications.

I am not so knowledgeable.  I don't have access to a Social Worker, but that is the person I most need at this moment.  From having gone to college many years ago, I was able to wade through the Medicare DOT gov site and learned more than I probably needed to know about things I didn't need to know at all.

I have called my primary doctor as well as asked about specialist coverage if I don't have an Advantage Plan, or Supplement Plan...which are donkeys and horses in Medicare-speak.  There are so many choices of each it's blinding...but none without monthly premiums.

I have a current plan that doesn't  cover my physical therapy treatment for a torn rotator cuff for less than the cost of a specialist, so I haven't received the course of treatment I needed.  I thought I might be able to look at several plans and find the one that offers lessor cost of physical therapy.  Nah.  That's not available.  There's no list of costs of services, just a generic list of "what an average elder person would need to spend" for everything.  What?

What kind of sales system do these private insurance companies offer?  You can't purchase things blind.  But that's exactly what this system seems to me.

I'm assuming Social Workers know that company "Humana" for instance has offered $25 physical therapy under such and such a plan, and company "United Healthcare" offers the same for $50 per visit.  Why can't they tell me that?

In the meantime, I refuse to sign up for any of them.  On Sunday night, when the deadline looms, I'll sign up for something I'm sure.  Today is the last business day to contact all those 800 numbers, so I'll try to get some answers on "assistance programs."  Not holding my breath however.

Cowgirls

Cowboys or cowgirls...

OK- this is the time I'll finally crop and save these photos so you can see them more clearly!

The theme for Sepia Saturday this week includes something to do with cowboys.  Come on over, pahd-ner, and see what others have been thinking about (down at the bottom after you get to Sepia Saturday, click on anyone's name to see their posts)  HERE

Too bad this is in B & W, because my cowgirl outfit is red with white fringe.  La la!

This may have been the only time we were allowed near the dam, for fear of being non-swimmers and taking a plunge.

We visited my great aunt's ranch somewhere in Texas.  Since the date my sister came up for the photos says I'm 10, I'll go along with it.  We came from St. Louis, MO to San Antonio, TX by train, then drove however far it was to this "ranch."  Our Great Aunt Dorothy Buchanan lived there.

I don't know if any part of it was a working ranch, besides the nice cool inside, and the scary dam with the river...which we couldn't play around.  I wish I had been befriended by someone who actually liked the outdoors, but all I remember is being inside where grownups had cocktails and played lots of cards.  Missed opportunities...

Oh, the other thing having to do with cowboys in my life is my own contact with Roy Rogers.  Since my name is also Rogers, when I went to the one and only rodeo I ever attended to see him, I yelled out, "I'm a Rogers too," when he was going around shaking hands.  Guess I just wanted some recognition.  His horse, as well as Dale Evans' horse, was so smart!  So was I.  But not as well trained.

Lynne Roberts and Roy Rogers in Billy the Kid Returns, 1938

Roy Rogers (born Leonard Slye)

Appalachian Potters Market this Saturday

Bring a friend, or two.  Come browse the best potters market in the area...just one day, indoors!
Look for Barbara Rogers and Cathy Babula's booth.  Tell me you saw this on my blog and I'll give you a 10% discount.  Hey, bloggers are great and deserve a break!

Do not use MapQuest to try to find the school!

Address for Global Positioning Systems (GPS)
600 McDowell High Drive Marion, NC 28752-9131
Directions
Traveling NORTH on US 221 or NC 226: Just after crossing I-40, US 221 and NC 226 merge to become the Marion Bypass (US 221/NC 226). Travelers on NC 226 should continue STRAIGHT. Travelers on US 221 should TURN LEFT onto the Marion Bypass. After about 5 miles the Bypass will end in a large intersection with Big Lots on the left and Taco Bell on the right. TURN LEFT. Go STRAIGHT through two intersections and TURN LEFT at the third. You will see a sign for West McDowell Junior High School. McDowell High is up the hill past the Junior High. Travel Time from I-40: 11 minutes Traveling EAST on I-40 from Asheville: Take EXIT 72 (Hwy 70 / Old Fort). WARNING: SLOW DOWN and follow the speed limit after leaving the Interstate. You will be traveling along main street in the town of Old Fort and the speed limit goes down to 35 MPH. Continue STRAIGHT on Hwy 70 for about 11 miles. When you come to the third intersection with a sign for West McDowell Junior High School, TURN RIGHT. McDowell High is up the hill past the Junior High. Travel Time from I-40: 12 minutes Traveling WEST on I-40 from Hickory: Take EXIT 86 (NC 226) and TURN RIGHT at the end of the ramp. Continue STRAIGHT through two intersections and onto US 221/NC 226 (Marion Bypass). After about 5 miles the Bypass will end in a large intersection with Big Lots on the left and Taco Bell on the right. TURN LEFT. Go STRAIGHT through two intersections and TURN LEFT at the third. You will see a sign for West McDowell Junior High School. McDowell High is up the hill past the Junior High. Travel Time from I-40: 11 minutes Traveling SOUTH on US 221 or NC 226: Once you enter Marion, you will come to a large intersection with Big Lots on your right and Taco Bell on your left. TURN RIGHT. Go STRAIGHT through two intersections and TURN LEFT at the third. You will see a sign for West McDowell Junior High School. McDowell High is up the hill past the Junior High. Travel Time from Marion City Limits: 4 minutes Do NOT use MapQuest to get Driving Directions. Much of the geographical data on MapQuest for our area is WRONG.

 See you Saturday!

This is my last holiday sale even this year...if you wish my pottery in your stockings (or ovens) after this you can contact me by email.  Look at my tabs under my pottery blog to see what's already available, or you can order anything by contacting me by email.  blackmtnbarb AT gmail DOT com.

Don't look if you hate other's vacation pics

Frequent flier miles from a dear relation, an invitation to visit re-offered a year later after a non-visit due to illness and delays last Thanksgiving, and great weather this year brought me many smiles.

That didn't mean that everyone had fair weather, because I did hear of at least one friend who's visitor didn't make it from New York for Thanksgiving.  But at least the rain in the southeast only gave our plane some qualities of a roller coaster for a while.

As anyone knows who has flown from one airport to another where you switch planes, it's a lot of the HurryUp and Wait game.

Made all my connections with minutes to spare, literally about 5 minutes on one time, but I was determined to pee before boarding so I wouldn't have to...you know.  TMI as the kids say these days.

Now where are those vacation pictures I've warned you about?

First days...

Since driving around in a big city means looking at a lot of sky, at least in FL, or just the traffic (PUL-EEZE), I was happy to see beautiful clouds showing that the cold front had already arrived (with me!)  No, I wasn't the person driving, so I got to take photos!

Next day I got to go for a walk while my son went to work.

Between palm trees and live oaks dripping with Spanish moss, I knew I wasn't in Kansas anymore. (Though you know I came from North Carolina...but we don't have those trees in the mountains either)