City Deer

Another popular lawn ornamentation in Wisconsin are deer statues. Some of us call them "city deer" since they are displayed in front of homes in the middle of a city where no deer would graze. The deer in this picture were found loitering in the lawn of a house near Walmart. Anyone familiar with Walmart knows no self-respecting deer would go near Walmart. Guns are sold at Walmart. Guns are sold at Walmart by people who should never be allowed near guns to people who should never be allowed to touch a gun. I am convinced city deer are in danger of being shot during deer hunting season but probably are in danger even in the off season -- especially near Walmart.

Do people buy "city deer" to bring the home owner closer to nature while living in town? Are they deer lovers? Do they worship the deer? Do they have an obsession with deer that stems back to the traumatization experienced from watching "Bambi" as a child?
So many questions.......

Book Quotes

The Worst Day of My Life, So Far by M.A. Harper holds three great quotes. Not your run-of-the-mill inspirational quotes but real people having a bad day quotes. The protagonist has come home to care for her elderly mother and the book tells the story of the mother and daughter at this time in their lives.

"Every morning that I woke up in Auletta and realized that I had not yet poisoned her, nor put my head in the oven, I figured I was doing okay."

"Never look at your high school yearbook when you're depressed, I learned. Unless you know for a fact that the Homecoming Queen now weighs three-eighty. Or is dead."

"Chocolate is a serotonin booster, cheaper than Prozac. As a matter of fact, chocolate and a couple shots of bourbon and a yearbook full of fat dead people have been known to induce actual laughing fits."

Down to earth and honest is what I like about these.

The War

This war is impacting our nation in so many horrific ways. The death of soldiers was not unanticipated. That doesn't mean the deaths are any less important or any less of a loss but death is a known entity of war. But what of the reprecussions of war now demanding attention?

Soldiers wounded in this war have a 90% survival rate which is applaudable while also presents the injured with rehabilitations never before seen in a war's wounded. Savage head injuries and facial disfigurations cause mindboggling challenges to the survivors. Loss of limbs have been a tragedy of war since wars began but ingenuity/progess in prosthetic design helps survivors better adapt to non-military life.

2007 soldier suicide rates were at an all time high and soldiers with facial disfigurement committed suicide at an even higher rate. (2100 soldiers injured or tried to kill themselves in 2007 compared with 350 in 2002; 210 succeeded in killing themselves)

And then there are the children of wounded soldiers. ABC News ran a segment tonight about the impact of parental war injuries on children. Head injuries and PTS can cause a parent to experience extreme mood swings, anger issues arise, wounds create physical challenges -- and it isn't just the soldier who deals with all this. Their children suffer from the changes in their parent.

It is clear our country's leaders did not prepare for this war in any capacity other than to invade Iraq. Troops were inadequately equipped, medical facilities in the US are embarrassingly shabby (think Walter Reed), and the VA is unable or unwilling to provide veterans with the care they need and deserve.

I despise this war and the leaders who got us into this situation. But the soldiers who volunteered are doing their job, at an embarrassingly low salary, and should be given excellent treatment upon their return. Their families must be recognized and healed also. I'd like to see our elected officials receive the care given to our returning soldiers; things would change quickly then.

Saint's Bracelet Continued

I've started wearing the Saint bracelet again. I wore it while in River Falls for Ann's college graduation and while paying the lunch bill at Mariachi Loco, the gentleman who waited on us complimented the bracelet. He then asked if I had a favorite picture and I showed him the angel that I like. He picked out three he liked and said that the picture of baby Jesus reminded him of his three year old son. Since this is a bracelet popular in Mexico I was tickled he liked it. He is from a small town near Guadalajara but only gets back there once a year.

This is a perfect example to a drive by conversation that I will always remember. The sincerity and interest shown by this stranger was endearing and, like many of these kinds of conversations, I would have loved to continue talking to him but time did not allow for it. As short as it was, the impact of this chat will be long.

Windmill Lawn Ornament

Windmills are popular lawn ornaments. In the Little Chute/Kimberly, Wisconsin, area windmill ornaments are a visible reminder of the significant Dutch population in the region. The windmill in this picture is very tasteful. This is not always the case. I have seen pink windmills, bright blue and white windmills, and some crudely crafted brick and arrow/twirly thingy creations that make Gladys's donkey look classy.

I spotted this windmill while out looking for more tacky lawn ornmaments. The quest continues.

Lawn Ornaments

Spring. Green grass, perky yellow dandelions, tulips, robins, lawn ornamentation.

There are tasteful lawn ornaments: birdbaths are one, hard-to-go-wrong decoration. Bird houses are another simple example. There are some attractive bronze/copper metal flowers. Important rule to remember in any lawn decorating with objects is that less is more. A few birdbaths are good -- 10 are not. 3 birdhouses are fine --- 12 aren't.

Walking the dog the other day I saw an interesting combination of outdoor decorations. A windmill, conastoga wagon, lighthouse, and miniature gazebo lined up in front of the house. This is in central/northeastern Wisconsin area. The gazebo would work here although this one must be for lawn gnomes, rabbits. A lighthouse would be good for a house on a lake. I suppose I could pardon the owner for the windmill if they are of Dutch heritage. But the conastoga wagon? This is a new lawn decoration. Maybe the homeowner moved from Colorado (or somewhere else out West where such wagons were common "back in the day.")

I don't get it. I hope it makes the home owner happy, though. But maybe just one of those items would be better than all of them. I vote for keeping the gazebo and planting flowers inside. Maybe put a lawn gnome inside. Just a suggestion.

Playing it Safe

I've never been a risk taker. I fear failure and don't always adapt well to change. As a child I never felt I quite measured up to people's expectations. It has taken 40+ years to get past worrying about what others think, but I still am not much of a risk taker. There are times when I so vey much want to spin a pencil on a map of the US, point the car in the direction indicated and drive. No plans, just drive. That in itself is a pretty safe venture but would still be fleeing some obligations and responsibilities for a time. Go as far as I want for as long as I want doing whatever I want on the way. I love reading stories of women who have done just that.

I want to escape. I want to take a risk at something. I think that is why the thought of teaching in Mississippi keeps coming back to me. Why don't I just get in the car and drive to Mississippi and see what it has to offer. What is to lose in doing that? Why am I so bogged down in what I know? I tell people about the Mississippi idea in a joking manner because I don't want to hear their objections. Some people I don't tell at all because I don't want to hear their opinions on why this would be a bad idea.

So much of my life has been lived inside my head because it is easier to live just with me than explaining and listening to others. A counselor once told me I am my own best friend because I've had to be. At the time I didn't consider that a positive but now I'm not so sure.

I envy people who can take a different route and pay no attention to the advice of others. If it doesn't work out they have gained experiences. At 53 years old I have been playing it safe my entire life. Am I going to die without having done anything exciting? Without taking any risks?