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Archive for February, 2013

jailedcat_01

Apparently, it must be National Be Mean to Old People Week.

Why didn’t someone warn me? How did I miss this memo?

After writing Monday about people treating the elderly disrespectfully, Captain Cavedweller and I arrived home last night to find a frantic message from his grandmother followed by a cryptic message from his mother which ended in “call me when you get home.”

CC called his mom to discover some scammer called his grandmother, pretending to be “her oldest grandson.”

When Grandma asked him what his name was, he couldn’t remember.

When she asked him why he sounded funny, he said he had a cold. (CC talks to his Grandma enough she’d recognize his voice if he had a cold – or was trying to holler into a windstorm.)

Not being the easy mark the scammer thought she’d be, he tried to play up a whole sob story about being in jail in Mexico and needing her to bail him out.

Since CC has never been in trouble with the law and never been to Mexico, both statements sounded fishy to Grandma.

So she hung up, called us, then called CC’s mom.

My most wonderful mother-in-law assured Grandma that if any of us were in jail in Mexico, she’d be the last person we’d call. (Not sure that helped Grandma’s ego at that point, but it was kind of funny.) Grandma was just glad for the assurance that CC had not completely changed his personality and turned to a life of crime and debauchery. We’re glad to know if something ever did happen and we needed her help, Grandma has got our back.

Anyway, to those who heard CC was in Mexico waiting for his grandma to bail him out – sorry to disappoint you. He was at work all day yesterday. I know that for a fact because we carpooled.

And to those of you who think it’s funny, cool, or clever to try and scam old people – knock it off. You obviously have creative skills that are not being put to good use.

Get a job.

Work for a living.

Be a contributing member of society instead of a trouble-making parasite.

She Who Has Had it With People Picking on the Elderly

 

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cookbook crockpot cover

I received a cookbook to review the other day. If you like sweets (particularly warm sweets) and enjoy using your slow cooker – this is the book for you!

Slow Cooker Desserts by Jonnie Downing, offers recipes for everything from custards and cobblers to pies, cakes and more.

cookbook crockpot pers

You can make yummy things like Pears with Caramel and Maple.

cookbook crockpot chocolate chip cookiesChocolate Chip Cookie Bars (that’s right!) in your slow cooker.

And my favorite…

cookbook crockpot browniesTriple Chocolate Brownies. Vanilla Ice Cream puddling off the top of a delicious, warm brownie – oh, my!

Downing, along with her daughter,  offers dozens of slow cooker recipes on her blog Crockpotninja.com 

They showcase everything from new recipes to tried and true favorites.

This cookbook gives you the best of her dessert recipes with full-color photos and easy to follow step by step instructions.

She includes information about the different types of slow-cookers, cooking times, measurement conversions.

From pineapple crisp and luscious lemon cake to sticky toffee pudding and banana bread, you’ll find a great assortment of delicious desserts. She even has a section at the back of the back titled “Emergency Desserts” with several fun recipes.

If you love your slow-cooker and have a sweet tooth, check out Slow Cooker Desserts.

Available from Ulysses Press, you can find it on Amazon or Barnes & Noble.

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If you’re as ready for spring as I am, here are a few fun party ideas to bring it on!

Colorful macaroons

Fabulous colors for a spring party from Punchbowl!

 

cupcake flowers

Cupcake Flowers from Sheek Shindigs. Love, love, love these!

 

tea sandwiches, scones 067Tea Sandwiches from Home Cooking in Montana. These are so fun!

 

nest with flowers

Three of my favorite symbols of spring: a nest, tulips and daffodils – from Martha Stewart.

pink tablescape

From The Party Dress, this amazing tablescape. I want to eat lunch there today, please.

She Who is Ready for Spring

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old hands

This weekend I had a front row seat to see how someone’s thoughtless, childish, rude behavior crushed two senior citizens.

Although I’ve known this for a while, you can get a perfectly clear picture about someone’s character from watching how they treat the elderly.

Just because a person’s skin is wrinkled, their vision has dimmed, and they no longer move with any speed, doesn’t mean they should be treated with less respect, care or kindness.

It also doesn’t mean they are stupid. Don’t assume just because someone is aged that their mind no longer functions.  A lot of them are as sharp as tacks, and those who assume otherwise are the ones I think aren’t hitting on all cylinders.

Getting old sucks.

Even if the mind is willing, the body is often lagging behind.  Things that used to come easily now are challenging and life seems to move both so fast and so slowly, making it difficult to keep up.

Despite their physical challenges, so many of the elderly have such great stories to tell, such wisdom to offer. Those who shun them or treat them disdainfully are hurting themselves the most because they are missing out on time spent with these walking time machines.

If you want to check out someone’s character, take them to a senior center or have them interact with a group of elderly. It will tell you more about them than hours spent in conversation.

Despite delusions that it won’t ever happen to us, we are all going to be old someday. It’s how things work.

I don’t know about you, but if that saying  “what goes around comes around” is true, I hope that those who are kind to the elderly now in their youth will receive similar treatment in their old age.

As for those of you who treat the elderly like something nasty stuck to your shoe – just remember there will be some self-centered, cruel person out there who will offer you the exact same treatment someday.

Be kind and patient with our senior citizens. Offer them encouragement and a helping hand. Ask them about their life. Engage them in meaningful conversation. You’ll be glad you did.

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