Author: Jane

Cold

Hello kids. Jane is going to be less than her usual verbose self this week, as she is feeling a bit under the weather. Yes, it seems unthinkable that the bastion of inner strength that is I, could ever be taken down by a simple cold. But there it is, sitting on me like a wet blanket on a lovely party.

Speaking of lovely parties, a little bird tells me something wonderful is in the offing, but the big bird of authority hasn’t yet sent notice of this rumor’s veracity, so you all will have to content yourselves with that little teaser.

I just cracked myself up, that is exactly what I used to call dear friend Jackson: “Little Teaser”! Oh dear Lord, laughing with this chest full of distasteful gunk is not a pleasant experience; a paradox, that, well not really a paradox, more of an irony, but not that either…well never mind. My mind is awhirl with médicaments contre le rhume, cold medicine, but it sounds so much more intriguing en Français. And I’m particularly adept at the phlegmy “rh” sound just at this moment; I wish you all could hear it!

But perhaps not.

I’m babbling, I believe. Blame the meds, darlings! I’m as woozy as a musician with a paycheck.

I should go…Have a lovely week. Think healing thoughts for me, and for yourselves; we need all our fortitude during this last, desperate run-up to the holidays. “Seigneur nous donne la force“, as they say on the Champs Élysée!

…Here’s hoping my head is not floating several feet o’er my body when next we meet.

Love, Jane

Lesson Learned

Is it Monday? Already? Where have I been?

I’ll tell you where: Asleep. Asleep for three days. Well, not asleep for the entirety of these last three days, but much, much of them. “How is that possible,” you ask, and you would be right for asking.

As it turns out, all you have to do is make the mistake of not having turkey for Thanksgiving! I know, it is a sacrilege… But yes, I was taken for Thanksgiving dinner by some lovely friends. At a lovely restaurant, but not so lovely that I’ll name it.

It turns out that at this particular establishment, one can order things other than the holy bird. Who knew this was possible? Not I. And so I thought to myself, “Jane, you are in a holiday rut; you need to shake things up!” And so I did. Throwing caution to the wind, I ordered the prime rib! And it was delicious.

But it was not turkey.

And on the ride home, (my dear friends had graciously driven so that their dear Jane did not have to drive after dark) I began to feel that I had betrayed this most American of holidays. And I began to have a guilty hankering, or yen, well, really, a strong desire, urging, no, need, to make things right.

And so, after they had dropped me off at my little abode, waving bye-bye to the boys until they were ’round the corner; I hopped, perhaps “hopped” is a misnomer for what I did, but let me have my few delusions, into my darling Citroën 2CV, and off to the grocery store I went!

Once home, arms laden with the makings of holiday amends, I got to work. I mixed, I kneaded, I baked, and roasted! By 6 am the following morning my feast was complete, and I, well, I was a complete mess! But I felt so very redeemed.

After a short nap, I dug hungrily, and thankfully, into my after-holiday repas.

And there, my dears, is where the trouble began.

I ate, fell into a tryptophan haze, woke, ate some more, fell back into my tryp-snooze..woke, ate, snoozed. And there it was, from Friday until just moments ago: wake, eat, tryp, wake, eat, tryp, wake, eat…and on.

And here it is, Monday; the turkey, and all the fixin’s are gone. Yes, in the last three days I’ve eaten an entire 24 pound turkey and its corresponding side dishes! I’ve been a fiend, alternately eating, then sleeping. I’ve wasted an entire weekend in a chemically, and gluttony, induced semi-wasteland. But now, I’m awake. It is a new day. I am a new woman.

And I’ve learned never, never, to eat steak on Thanksgiving.

I hope you all had a safe, happy, and love-filled holiday!

Love, Jane

Time for Giving of Thanks

Hello, my dear little chipmunks!

I thought it would be nice, if, wholly, unoriginal, to use this week’s space giving thanks. Now I would like to think that, on a daily basis, I am a fairly thanks-giving woman. But even I am self-aware enough to know that days, weeks, well, to be truthful, sometimes even years, go by, wherein I haven’t though beyond my own personal realm. And so, the day of thanks and gluttony fast approaching…

First and foremost, I thank my mother. While not, by any means, a warm woman, she would have done anything to see me grow and thrive. She lives on in my heart, and also on a plaque in Poughkeepsie, New York.

Thanks to family, whether real, acquired, or extended. Family is not necessarily what you were born with, it is what you make, and I am grateful to have created the best family for which one could wish.

Thank you to loyal friends: What would this world be without you? The support and love, laughs and tears, shared with you…the value is immeasurable.

Also thanks to worthy foes, who in trying to tear down, only manage to build up. No mettle is truly tested and proved inviolable without strong opposition.

Thanks to whatever higher power one believes in, and if that is none, then to yourself. Creation is magic, whatever the source.

Thanks to the cosmetics industry, which has kept me looking relatively young, youthful, handsome, well into my later years. While it was a tiny emotional earthquake the day I realized that it was necessary to make the leap away from light-coverage foundation, I am thankful that full-coverage was there to catch me on the other side of that particular crevasse.

I am thankful for the Arts, and entertainment in all forms. My life would never have been possible, well, the life I wound up leading, at any rate, without the Arts. They helped me escape my humble beginnings in Poughkeepsie. Took me to places of which a young girl, and then older woman, could only dream! Alas, they were also the cause of my first, and lasting, brush with the disillusionment and rancor that love can bring. But I shan’t think of that at the moment; I’m happy!

Taking a side path for a moment…Speaking of entertainment, I, yes I, am a semi-fan of the television show The X-Factor; not a big fan, mind you, but I watch. If I may be allowed to exorcize some of the rancor that has come flashing back into my mind by merely alluding to my late husband above, and I hope, below: I do not at all like that fellow who hosts. He dampens every moment he is onscreen. I am eagerly awaiting the episode in which he will be voted off.

But I do love that little Chris Rene. He reminds me of a young Tom Waits, whom I adore. I remember sitting with him, Tom, not Chris, in a less than reputable boîte in, if memory serves, Oklahoma; what can one do, one takes jobs, and sustenance, wherever one may. I remember I lifted a glass to him and said, “Oh, Tom, there will never again be anyone like you!” To which he mumbled something in reply. But I was wrong: I predict that Mr. Rene will have a long career singing honestly of life in America. There is nothing better than a good storyteller…well, perhaps a well-made Manhattan.

One more step on this path of digression. I cannot wait for Hugo to be released; what a visually stunning treat to the eyes those trailers have been!

And now stepping trippingly back onto the main path. I am very thankful for this lovely group of women with whom I find myself in such close company. “In no particular order,” as that vapid man from the X-Factor would say: Ellen, Sheila, Christina, and Martha, a girl couldn’t ask for a better group with which to share time and bandwidth.

And finally: To life. No, it is not always easy, never predictable, and ofttimes somewhat frightening, but my goodness, what a wonderful ride it continues to be.

Be safe in your travels, be they down the path, across the country, or from room to room.

Thanks and Love to you, too,

Jane

Late

Oh, my dears! What a day this has been!

I am sorry to be so late in posting. My aeroplane from Bulgaria was delayed, ah the travails of modern travel!

Yes, I hopped to Bulgaria for a quick respite from the daily grind. Jane was in need of her beloved town of Pomorie and its medicinal, healing spas. The people are lovely and the mud is heaven! A special “Thank You!” goes out to Benesj, my lovely young man with a trowel. His muddy hands are magic! Then, I had to pop down to Burgas to do a little shopping. And then, home I came.

What do I find upon my return? Scandal and stupidity! Truth be told, and I try to always be truthful, when I left the States, the Double S’s were omnipresent anyway. They seem so difficult to avoid these days. While I always expect to find gold when turning over rocks, I seem lately to find only…well, unpleasant creatures. ‘Tis a sign of the times, I suppose, and one that will undoubtedly circle ’round again, as the times always do.

I had a lovely time voting last week. (Thank you, ladies, for reminding me.) It was the last thing I did before flying out. I returned to find some I voted for had been elected, and some had not. All-in-all, I was not unhappy. I suppose I would have liked to see what Mr. McHale would have done with Reading, being a relative newcomer; not part of the existing, grinding, political machine, as it were. But “Hail” to Mr. Spencer, and God be with you as you take the wheel of this largish and ungainly ship.

And now, ‘ere this post becomes even later than it is already, I shall sign off. As my dear late friend, Mr. Welk, used to say, “Until next week, keep a song in your heart!”

Love, Jane

 

 

Autumnal Bliss!

Well, my dears! We find ourselves at my favorite time of year. Ah, the comforting chill of Autumn. Yes, Jane loves the knife’s edge in the air, the chance to wear woolly sweaters, the wafting scent of burning things. Well, of course, I do live in Reading, PA, so the air always seems to be redolent of burning things, but somehow, at this time of year, it seems more comforting than distressing.

We must now begin thinking of our annual Holiday card. I know, I know…I am aware that I am being awfully PC with this appellation, but when one has so many friends from so many backgrounds and ethnicities…Well, the table must simply be laid for everyone!

And so, I don my craft cap, which aids my creative process, and also keeps my ears warm. Yes, Jane does enjoy her home on the less temperate side; “pile on the warm cozies!”, is what I say.

So now I’ll go fire up my creative energies. Whilst I’m at that, take a moment for yourselves and enjoy the season: take a walk, sniff the air, and marvel at the glorious majesty of nature all dressed up for her Autumnal Ball.

Until next time, darlings.

Love, Jane

 

Exciting prep for the Gabfest!

Hello, darlings! I attended a pre-production meeting with my fellow (or is the “fellette”?) ladies, and the room never fell silent. Too bad we weren’t in-studio, as they say, for that meeting; it would have made for a wonderful, if far reaching, show!

All I have to say is: Look out, Reading, five intelligent, opinionated, and may I say, beautiful ladies across the generations, are heading your way. Get ready, Reading, here we come!

Love, Jane