Wednesday, May 4, 2022

Curses And Purses And Other Things


Here is your daily chicks-and-mama picture update. As you can see, they are all doing well. I have thrown out the last of the eggs that did not hatch as obviously Darla has no interest in sitting on them any longer. She has those chicks all over this yard. How they can cover so much ground on those tiny little legs, I do not know. She scratches and scratches and scratches and cluck-tuts for the babies to come and get what she's found. The chick-starter feed I had Mr. Moon buy has hardly been touched. This mama-raising situation seems to involve mostly natural food. She's tid-bitting the way roosters do when they find something tasty he wants to share with the hens. The noises she makes to call the babies even sound like the rooster's when he is calling his ladies. I have noticed that Darla does take rest periods with the children. She wallows down in the dirt and they settle in beneath her feathers, safe and cozy and invisible to predators. Yesterday evening I even got a little worried because one of their nap times seemed to be going on for a very long time and I was afraid that she would not get them into the roost by dark but I kept telling myself that she knows what she's doing and she really does. When I went to shut them up for the night, she had them all beneath her in the hen house in the little nest place I made up for her. 
Violet is still sitting and I feel so sorry for her. It's getting up into the nineties every day now and that can't be comfortable. As far as I can tell, she hardly ever touches the food or water I've put in the nest with her. I can't wait for her eggs to hatch so that she, too, can get off the nest and resume the daily activities of a chicken which involves scratching, eating, drinking water, and taking dirt baths in the sun. I really also hope that at least one or two of the eggs she's sitting on hatch. 
I could be wrong, but I think that Dottie, Darla's sister, may be getting ready to brood again too. She's been fluffing and spreading her tail feathers the way a broody hen does and making little broody sounds and as I recall, she did this last year before she settled on a nest. 
We shall see. 

I am still, quite understandably, very upset about the Supreme Court leak. It is so obvious that this whole save-the-unborn crap is pure-T bullshit. The people who spout it have no interest in the lives of the children who might result from unwanted pregnancies. They're the same ones who constantly vote to cut any sort of social services that might actually help the mothers and children who are struggling now. It is all such a smoke screen. It's a weird and bizarre kind of virtue signaling (which I despise even though I'm sure I do it too) because it's so fucking easy to cry and moan about killing babies. It's a hell of a lot harder to do anything about the poverty which leads to crime and imprisonment, or the rights of disabled people, or health care for mothers and children, or ensuring the type of education that produces people who are qualified and trained to join the work force. 
Oh, it's just all so fucked up. 
Regulate penises! Okay? You know what leads to unwanted pregnancies? 
Ejaculate. 
Every. Fucking. Time. 
Can you IMAGINE what would happen if suddenly the rules and laws and regulations were being made by women who decreed that men should not have the right to use their penises in the service of intercourse unless they are ready to sign a document stating that any child those organs cause will be financially and emotionally provided for by them? FOR THE REST OF THEIR LIVES?
As I have said recently, the older I get, the more the scales fall from my eyes concerning the way men are regarded and treated versus the way women are. And it is not pretty and it is not defensible. 
And it is in no way close to changing. 
Obviously. 

Breathe. Breathe. Breathe, Mary. 

So I went to lunch today with Lily and Jessie. We had a good time, eating Mediterranean-type foods and laughing about things that I am so grateful my daughters and I can laugh about together. I am so damn lucky there. And then I did something CRAZY and went shopping in an actual store. 
I have confessed before that I love and adore and have a sort of unhealthy relationship with purses. In the last several years, I have had the whole thing under control. I haven't bought a new one since before Covid. And the last one I bought I am still using and it is fine because I only buy good purses, quality purses, made of delicious leather. But lately I've been jonesin' for a new one. I have tried and tried to restore one of my oldest, favorite back-pack bags that I actually bought at a Goodwill many years ago. I used the leather products I have here. I ordered some super-recommended leather treatment online and used that. I have scrubbed and rubbed and it is still not supple and lovely the way I want it to be. Plus, it smells of mildew. 
So what the hell? I went to a Marshall's which was right down the street from where we ate lunch but their purse-selection was sad and uninteresting to me. 
Sigh. 
I did buy a hat and some stainless steel cleaner and some essential oils to sprinkle in the shower. Whoo-hoo! 
And then I went to Goodwill- the same one in fact where I bought my beloved back-pack bag so many years ago. The most interesting thing there was a lady I'd seen at Marshall's, too. What are the odds? She was a very tall woman and she sang to herself as she shopped in both places. She was gorgeous. She'd pull a dress off the rack at Goodwill and stop singing to say, "This is so cute!" The dresses she was obviously attracted to are what I would call club dresses. Short and elastic and shiny and glittery which she could pull off with great style and grace with her body and ten-foot long legs. As she shopped at the Goodwill, she was wearing a sort of sombrero with the tag hanging off it. 
I fell a little bit in love with her. 
She may actually have been a drag queen. I don't know. I don't care. She was awesome. 

And I didn't find one other thing I wanted to buy. There was a rather nice vase of vintage make and design but they wanted twenty dollars for it and it had obviously been broken and repaired. 

When I got home I did something that I did yesterday as well. 



I sat down at my ancient, incredibly out-of-tune piano, got out one of my old childhood piano books, and played around. 




Oh my heart! I have never and will never have the least bit of facility on the piano or any other instrument but I did take lessons for a few years when I was young. My teacher, Mrs. Mueller, screeched (Flat, Mary! Flat!) at me regularly, knowing, without a doubt, that each and every hour she spent with me was a complete waste of time. She was a professional musician. She and her husband had a duo called "Harry and Hildred" and they were a popular act for local Women's Club luncheons and so forth. He was a short, round, jolly man who sang the hits. She had cat's-eye glasses that dangled from a bejeweled chain when they weren't perched on her nose, and accompanied him on the piano and harmonized as she played. 
To this day I could not and would not ever play a note in front of another human being and am slightly embarrassed to even play in front of the cats but I have to tell you that there is a joy in even the simplest chords, the most ill-timed measure, the fact that my fingers still remember where the notes on the piano are in regard to the notes written on the page.

Why do I deny myself this pleasure? 

I do not know. 

Love...Ms. Moon

 




44 comments:

  1. Schedule some piano joy into your life! You're worth it.
    I guess the chicken starter feed is for chicks with no mama finding all kind of good things for them. She definitely knows what she's doing. When my parakeets reproduced I made sure the mom, Harriet, had food and water and she ran her family just fine.

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    1. Moms know best! Well, sometimes. And yes- I'm sure you're right about the starter feed. Theses little ones are getting the real thing.

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  2. Oh my, oh my, oh my-- I recognize that piano music book cover.
    You and I were born the same year, and perhaps used it at the same time.
    Did you have "Teaching Little Fingers to Play"? Maybe that was the First Grade book?

    (I do have a lot of facility. Not bragging, just being factual. But enjoyment is enjoyment, yes?)

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    1. I STILL HAVE "Teaching Little Fingers to Play"!
      And how I envy those who can actually plan an instrument. It must be so gratifying.

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  3. still livid about this abortion rights issue.....the worst for me (as of yet) an interview with Rep. Jean Schmidt of Ohio? who thinks becoming pregnant by rape is a positive *opportunity*..... what? Love your description of the tall woman at Goodwill. Some women are statuesque and could wear a bag and rock it! I do think you should have your piano tuned by a professional. I believe it would be wonderful for you to keep playing. I never learned to read music, but had (have) a good *ear*....and played several instruments just with that. Sadly, last piano (that I never mastered, but sure enjoyed) had to be sold 25 yrs. ago because house we live in now couldn't support the weight of it . I still miss it. Have it tuned!
    Susan M

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    1. Some of the absolute best musicians I know can't read a lick of music. Music is in you or it isn't. As to having my piano tuned- my across-the-street neighbor is a musician and can tune pianos but I just can't justify the expense. I know- that's ridiculous.
      As to Rep. Jean Schmidt of Ohio: she can suck donkey dicks. Sorry. But seriously. Can you even imagine being forced to carry a child who was created via rape? Or incest? Such cruelty these people are capable of in the name of their god.

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  4. The majority of republicans seem to hate women and especially hate women having freedoms, even though they talk about freedoms all the time. A bunch of fucking hypocritical wankers.

    On a more positive note, those chicks are delightful and make me smile, so thank you for sharing them with me.

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    1. You're so right about the Republicans. (No pun intended.) And so many of them claim to be religious and if there are any more culturally accepted forms of patriarchal control than most religions, I don't know what that would be.
      Thanks for enjoying my little chicks. I'm enjoying them too.

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  5. I read something that the underground has been expecting this and has been doing things to make sure that women can get an abortion. Safe available abortion has been a boon to us but we will still get abortions and the good part is that all it takes is a few pills if you can get them in time. But the poor women who need an abortion because of medical life threatening causes...I don't know what will happen to them. The scariest part is that their justification can be used to get rid of so many other rights. And you know certain states will get rid of as many of them as their little hateful hearts can.

    Fucking assholes.

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    1. I saw some article about how Canada is telling American women that they can come there to get abortions which is nice of them but how many women can afford a jaunt to Canada to deal with an unwanted pregnancy? And the pills are great but in so many cases a pregnancy has progressed too far for many and various reasons to safely take them. You know all of this.
      Did you see what Biden said about how the Maga crowd will happily use this as a stepping stone to legalize all sorts of hatred? He's right. Fucking, fucking assholes.

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  6. John Thompson, Second Grade Book! That was my piano book, too.

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    1. I made it up to Book Three but I don't think there was any hope I'd ever progress farther than that.

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  7. Well, there are a number of things I might say in relation to this wide-ranging blogpost but I will just say that a chicken's life does not just involve scratching, eating, drinking water, and taking dirt baths in the sun. They also watch Fox News on their smartphones - just in case there are any foxes in the area.

    Trump must be rubbing his tiny hands with glee when he sees his Supreme Court vision bearing the rotten fruit he desired.

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    1. Yes. It was one of my rambling posts. Some of us take rambling walks and blog about them, some of us have rambling thoughts and blog about them.
      Chickens can't have smartphones! They don't wear clothes and have no pockets to tuck them into!
      I think you are probably most correct about Trump and by god that image makes me want to vomit.

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  8. I also had that same piano book. My teachers name was Mrs. Bliss. Isn’t that a wonderful name? I was a bit afraid of her although she was always decent to me.
    Love the chickens and their shenanigans! As for the supreme court, i have nothing nice to say so i won’t say anything at all. Except, my husband has agreed to make me a sign for the yard. It will read, SCOTUS Leave your mitts off our Lady Bits! Your words are so much better than mine.
    Debbie

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    1. Mrs. Bliss! Was she a happy person? I hope so.
      Not a bad idea for your sign. I'm afraid if I made one it would involve profanity.

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  9. Something I read today. Long read, but it says it all!

    I'm not pro-murdering babies.
    I'm pro-Becky who found out at her 20 week anatomy scan that the infant she had been so excited to bring into this world had developed without life sustaining organs.
    I'm pro-Susan who was sexually assaulted on her way home from work, only to come to the horrific realization that her assailant planted his seed in her when she got a positive pregnancy test result a month later.
    I'm pro-Theresa who hemorrhaged due to a placental abruption, causing her parents, spouse, and children to have to make the impossible decision on whether to save her or her unborn child.
    I'm pro-little Cathy who had her innocence ripped away from her by someone she should have been able to trust and her 11 year old body isn't mature enough to bear the consequence of that betrayal.
    I'm pro-Melissa who's working two jobs just to make ends meet and has to choose between bringing another child into poverty or feeding the children she already has because her spouse walked out on her.
    I'm pro-Brittany who realizes that she is in no way financially, emotionally, or physically able to raise a child.
    I'm pro-Emily who went through IVF, ending up with SIX viable implanted eggs requiring selective reduction in order to ensure the safety of her and a SAFE amount of fetuses.
    I'm pro-Christina who doesn't want to be a mother, but birth control methods sometimes fail.
    I'm pro-Jessica who is FINALLY getting the strength to get away from her physically abusive spouse only to find out that she is carrying the monster's child.
    I'm pro-Vanessa who went into her confirmation appointment after YEARS of trying to conceive only to hear silence where there should be a heartbeat.
    I'm pro-Lindsay who lost her virginity in her sophomore year with a broken condom and now has to choose whether to be a teenage mom or just a teenager.
    I'm pro-Courtney who just found out she's already 13 weeks along, but the egg never made it out of her fallopian tube so either she terminates the pregnancy or risks dying from internal bleeding.
    You can argue and say that I'm pro-choice all you want, but the truth is:
    I'm pro-life.
    Their lives.
    Women's lives.
    You don't get to pick and choose which scenarios should be accepted.
    Women's rights are meant to protect ALL women, regardless of their situation!

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    1. Powerful, and amen, Catrina. This brings a huge lump to my throat and tears streaming
      Susan M

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    2. Agree with every powerful word. Maggi Mary Moons online friend from the UK

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    3. Catrina - that is exactly what I've been struggling to formulate in my mind. Thank you for sharing.

      Chris from Boise

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    4. Catrina- thanks for sharing that here. I've seen it on Facebook over and over and it bears repeating as much as possible. It sums up things very well.

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    5. 37Paddington: this is such a powerful testimony. Thank you so much for sharing it.

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  10. Mary As you know l don't comment much these days due to decrepitude difficulty typing etc. But I read every word you write usually in the dead of night here in the UK I had to comment on this truly marvellous many faceted post. You Rock my friend You totally rock. Mush love from this crazy Island to you and yours Maggi xxx

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    1. Hey Maggi! It's so good to hear from you! I'm sorry you're not doing well but I am glad to know that you're still reading here. I appreciate that very much.

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  11. "Can you IMAGINE what would happen if suddenly the rules and laws and regulations were being made by women who decreed that men should not have the right to use their penises in the service of intercourse unless they are ready to sign a document stating that any child those organs cause will be financially and emotionally provided for by them? FOR THE REST OF THEIR LIVES?" Yes!!! And all the great dads I know would be honored to sign such a document.

    Chris from Boise

    PS Thank you for chicklet news - it's a blessing in these dark days.

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    1. I wonder how many great dad men there are out there? I am jaded, of course, by having had one terrible bio-dad and one worse stepfather. But I have seen good fathers in action and am so very lucky to be married to one and the mother-in-law to others.
      You will probably always get chicken news here.

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  12. I also had a couple of years of piano lessons when I was in my early teens. Some years ago I asked for a keyboard for Xmas, and I did try and play it for a while, but when my first dog was pts I lost the will to do anything much for a while, and never really got back to the keyboard. You have made me determined to give it another go.( 9 years on!!) I have lots of easy piano books that I got when I worked in the Oxfam books and music shop. My main problem is that I was taught by a blind man initially, and my fingering could never be corrected, so I never have the fingers in the right place !
    ps.. love seeing the chick photos.

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    1. I have realized after only three days of this playing around on my piano that my fingering is horrible. Ugh! But yes! Get out your keyboard and enjoy!

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  13. I hope you find the leather purse or backpack you are looking for and to keep it in good shape, get some saddlesoap, like they use for horse saddles to keep the leather clean and supple. My brother has some for his full-grain leather chesterfield sofa.

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    1. I'm sure you're right- I need some saddle soap. Thanks for the suggestion.

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  14. What a lovely and full (as always) post to return to - I especially liked the portrait of "Harry and Hildred". I play the saxophone and know that deep down I am no musician and yet I enjoy bashing out a tune. It is when it gets complicated and into jazz that I lose it - perhaps I should just keep it simple.

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    1. Yes! If simple is what makes you happy, then simple it should be. I think we all deny ourselves many pleasures because we feel we're not "good enough." Ha! So what?

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  15. I think I had that SAME piano book back when I took lessons as a fourth- or fifth-grader. Does it have a piece toward the beginning called "Runaway River"? I can still play that tune by heart -- the ONLY thing I can play on the piano.

    I agree with you on men and pregnancy. I do think we have to come up with a way to make men legally and socially more responsible for their contribution to a pregnancy.

    The minute you began describing your fellow Goodwill shopper, I thought, "Drag queen!"

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    1. I don't see "Runaway River" but perhaps it was in another book. If you can play that decently you are doing better than I am. There is not one song that I can play on the piano well. Not one!
      I should have amended my post concerning men and their penises. I should have said, "in the service of heterosexual intercourse." Obviously. I feel so foolish.
      I feel certain there has never been an unwanted pregnancy created by two men having sex although, a trans man...
      Yep. Probably a lovely drag queen.

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  16. I'm so comforted by your blog, your beautiful writing, all of it. I am glad you're playing the piano. So beautiful.

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    1. Well, it's more like playing around on the piano. But thank you, Elizabeth. Just the idea that anything I could do to bring you comfort right now is so lovely to me. I am thinking of you with so much love.

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  17. That looks like the piano book I had, altho, I think mine said "4th grade"! I have my standard 5 songs that I can still sit down and play but I haven't done that for awhile. I will have to give it a go...
    You are so right about regulating the penis! Ha! Great idea!

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    1. Well, as I said in another comment, I think I got up to book three. Probably never got through it. If you can sit down and play five songs I am impressed!
      Hell yes- let's regulate the penis!

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  18. I’ll never be a talented player either but there’s something soul soothing about making music. I have the same John Thompson books! I only had lessons for a brief while when we lived in Germany, I remember my dad bartered lessons for American Whiskey from the PX. I can still her Mrs Schmidt yelling “nein, nein das it not how we play!” accompanied by sharp raps on the knuckled. Fortunately it didn’t discourage me and I still play to soothe myself. Much love.
    Xoxo
    Barbara

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    1. It is so very soothing to make music, especially if you're not doing it for any purpose other than enjoyment. And ESPECIALLY if you don't have a teacher screeching at you. I'm so glad you still enjoy it.

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  19. Ms Moon, off topic and my apologies. Since the blogger who posted on "diversity" won't let any comment of mine see the light of day I just wanted to let you know I am glad you voiced your view.

    U

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  20. Darla decided Triplets was Enough... and she has Fine Triplets. Regulating Penis' and Ejaculation, you had me rolling with laughter, but ain't it the Truth, if Men were trying to be Oppressed and regulated, we'd see a whole other National Outrage and reaction, wouldn't we?

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  21. 37paddington: Sigh. I left a comment here a few days ago but it seems to have not posted. Oh Blogger.

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